Jimmy Page told us he looks back fondly at the sessions for Led Zeppelin's classic album, Houses Of The Holy, which turns 45 this week. The album, which was the band's fifth set, was released in North America on March 28th, 1973, went on to hit Number One the following May 12th, and held down the top spot for two weeks. The album -- which also topped the charts in England, Canada, and Australia -- was nominated for the Best Recording Package Grammy award. To date, Houses Of The Holy has sold over 11 million units in North America alone.
The eight-track album includes many of Zeppelin's best loved tunes: "The Song Remains The Same," "The Rain Song," "Over The Hills And Far Away," "The Crunge," "Dancing Days," "D'yer Mak'er," "No Quarter," and "The Ocean."
We caught up with Jimmy Page, who produced Houses Of The Holy -- as well as all the Zeppelin albums -- and asked him about the sessions the band held at Mick Jagger's English country estate, Stargroves. Seeing as how Zeppelin would be following the Who into the residence after they wrapped their own sessions -- we asked him if he asked either producer Glyn Johns and/or Pete Townshend about some of the prime spots to record in at Jagger's place: ["I did actually go over to check out Stargroves and the Who were there -- I don’t know if they were recording or rehearsing or what, to be honest with you. I just remember walking in and I’d hate that if someone walked in on my session. I sort of was invited into the house and they were sort of playing, and just remember seeing Pete Townshend on this orange Gretsch. But it was a trip! Y’know, it was Mick Jagger’s country home and there were certain areas of the upstairs wing -- where the bedroom was -- it was out of bounds.”]
- On October 28th, 2014, Led Zeppelin released a new, remastered edition of Houses Of The Holy, which features previously unreleased audio content in a variety of packages -- including a limited edition “Super Deluxe” box set.
SIDE NOTES
- Out now is the newly remastered reissue of the Led Zeppelin 2003 live collection, How The West Was Won.
- The collection is available in multiple formats including triple-CD, the first ever vinyl and Blu-ray Audio editions -- with the Blu-ray containing hi-res 5.1 surround sound -- and the LP version spread over four discs.
- How The West Was Won was originally released on May 27th, 2003 featuring tracks culled from two Southern California shows recorded at the L.A. Forum on June 25th, 1972 and Long Beach Arena on June 27th, 1972. Jimmy Page sequenced the set to replicate a single concert from beginning to end.
- The performances also capture the band introducing songs from its then-unfinished album Houses Of The Holy, which would be released nine months later. The album peaked at Number One on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
- The tracklisting to Led Zeppelin's How The West Was Won is: "L.A. Drone," "Immigrant Song," "Heartbreaker," "Black Dog," "Over The Hills And Far Away," "Since I've Been Loving You," "Stairway To Heaven," "Going To California," "That's The Way," "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp," "Dazed And Confused," "Walter's Walk," "The Crunge," "What Is And What Should Never Be," "Dancing Days," "Moby Dick," "Medley: Whole Lotta Love/Boogie Chillun/Let's Have A Party/Hello Mary Lou/Going Down Slow," "Rock And Roll," "The Ocean," "Bring It On Home," and "Bring It On Back."
CHECK IT OUT: Led Zeppelin's recent promo clip for "Over The Hills And Far Away":
CHECK IT OUT: Led Zeppelin in July 1973 performing "The Song Remains The Same" and "The Rain Song" from The Song Remains The Same: