Fool in the Rain

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"Fool in the Rain"
Single by Led Zeppelin
from the album In Through the Out Door
B-side "Hot Dog"
Released 7 December 1979 (1979-12-07) (U.S.)
Format Seven-inch 45 rpm record
Recorded Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden, November–December 1978
Genre Rock,[1] samba rock
Length 6:08 - LP/Single Version 3:20 - Radio Edit Version
Label Swan Song (no. 71003)
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Jimmy Page
Led Zeppelin singles chronology
"Candy Store Rock" / "Royal Orleans"
(1976)		 "Fool in the Rain" / "Hot Dog"
(1979)		 "Travelling Riverside Blues"
(1990)
Audio sample
file info · help

"Fool in the Rain" is the third track on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. It was their final U.S. single before they formally disbanded in 1980. It reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1980.

Overview

The song exhibits a Latin feel. The main section is in 12/8 meter; this section employs an unusual polyrhythmic groove, with the piano and bass playing six beats per measure and the melody (and parts of the drum kit) playing four beats per measure. The result is that most of the instruments appear to be playing quarter-note triplets against the swing of the melody and drum kit. Drummer John Bonham plays a shuffle beat similar to the "Purdie shuffle" rhythm, along with a samba-style breakdown and hop-skip riff arrangement.[2] A master drum track shows that the samba breakdown (2:25) was recorded separately.

Bassist John Paul Jones and vocalist Robert Plant developed the idea for the samba beat from watching the 1978 FIFA World Cup tournament in Argentina.[2] Guitarist Jimmy Page used an MXR Blue Box effect pedal during the solo to produce the octave sound.

Lyrically, the song is about a man who is supposed to meet a woman on a certain street corner. When the woman does not appear, he is filled with sorrow at being stood up. By the final verse, he realizes that he has not gone to the right place, making him "just a fool waiting on the wrong block," as Plant sings.

Live renditions

This song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts, as it was heavily studio-based. However, on 5 October 2005, Plant performed the song with Pearl Jam at a Hurricane Katrina benefit show.[3][4]

Formats and tracklistings

1979 7" single edition (U.S./Australia/Canada/New Zealand: Swan Song SS 71003, Ecuador/Uruguay: Atlantic 45-73015, Germany/Holland: Swan Song SS 19421, Japan: Warner Pioneer P-530N, Mexico: Swan Song Gamma G-2269, Spain: Swan Song SS 45-1295)

  • A. "Fool in the Rain" (Jones, Page, Plant) 6:08
  • B. "Hot Dog" (Page, Plant) 3:15

1979 7" single radio edit (U.S.: Swan Song SS 71003 SP, Italy: Swan Song PR 097)

  • A. "Fool in the Rain" (Jones, Page, Plant) 3:20
  • B. "Hot Dog" (Page, Plant) 3:15

Chart positions

Single

Chart (1980) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 21
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles[6] 31
U.S. Record World The Singles Chart[7] 34
Canadian RPM Top 100 Chart[8] 12
New Zealand Top 50 Singles Chart[9] 44

Single (Digital download)

Chart (2007) Peak position
Canadian Billboard Hot Digital Singles Chart[10] 69

Personnel

Cover versions

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Main article: List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs

Sources

  • Lewis, Dave (2004) The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
  • Welch, Chris (1998) Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, ISBN 1-56025-818-7

References

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  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
  3. ↑ Robert Plant jam Archived 19 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
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