Tangerine (Led Zeppelin song)

1970 song by Led Zeppelin

"Tangerine"

Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album  Led Zeppelin III
Released| 5 October 1970 (1970-10-05)
Recorded| May–June 1970 (?); 6 July 1970[1]
Studio| Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, Headley Grange, Hampshire; Island Studios, London[1]
Genre|

* Folk rock[2]
* country rock[2]

Length| 3:12
Label| Atlantic
Composer(s)| Jimmy Page
Lyricist(s)|

* Jimmy Page
* Keith Relf

Producer(s)| Jimmy Page

"Tangerine" is a folk rock song by the English band Led Zeppelin. Recorded in 1970, it is included on the second, more acoustic-oriented side of Led Zeppelin III (1970). The plaintive ballad reflects on lost love and features strummed acoustic guitar rhythm with pedal steel guitar.

The Yardbirds, with guitarist Jimmy Page, recorded an early version of the song in 1968, titled "Knowing That I'm Losing You". When it was released on the Page-produced 2017 album Yardbirds '68, Keith Relf's vocal was left out. "Tangerine" has been performed in concert by Led Zeppelin at different points in their career and has been recorded by other musicians.

## Background

[edit]

"Tangerine" dates back to Page's time as lead guitarist with the Yardbirds.[3] In April 1968, the group recorded demos for several songs at the Columbia Studios in New York City.[4][a] Page biographer George Case notes that "Knowing That I'm Losing You" is very similar to "Tangerine"[7] and suggests that Jackie DeShannon inspired the tune.[8] Recordings from these sessions (with producer Manny Kellem) and the concert performance later used for Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page were rejected for release at the time,[9] but were issued in 2017 on the Yardbirds '68 compilation album produced by Page. While the demo recorded by the Yardbirds featured a vocal by Keith Relf, the 2017 release does not include it.

To develop material for a follow-up album to Led Zeppelin II, Page and singer Robert Plant took a working holiday at Bron-Yr-Aur, a rustic retreat in South Snowdonia, Wales.[10] Plant in particular was inspired by the back-to-the-land trends in northern California and the British folk scene.[11] Accompanied only by acoustic guitar, hand-claps, and harmonica, the pair created tunes that served as the basis for several songs on Led Zeppelin III and later albums.[12] Although written earlier, "Tangerine" reflects this rural sensibility[13] and journalist Nigel Williamson includes it with the acoustic material born of the Bron-Yr-Aur sojourn.[14] Other earlier influences include songs recorded at Mickie Most's Donovan sessions, when John Paul Jones and Page were studio musicians.[3]

## Composition and recording

[edit]

The song begins with a guitar figure, then a pause to set the right tempo. The guitar proceeds with an A minor–G–D guitar progression.[7] Page actually plays two guitar parts – one on a six-string and the other on a twelve-string Giannini Craviola acoustic guitar[15] – which, due to the audio mixing, almost sound as one.

Plant then sings the first verse accompanied by the backing guitar chords:

> Measuring a summer's day
>  I only find it slips away to grey
>  The hours, they bring me pain

Bassist John Paul Jones complements Page on mandolin.

The second verse contains the chorus, at the beginning of which Jones on bass and drummer John Bonham come in – Jones follows the chord changes and Bonham plays a straightforward, backing beat. Through the use of double tracking, Plant provides a harmony vocal line.[16] Page also adds pedal steel guitar fills; however, he departs from the typical American country music approach by adding a wah-wah pedal tonal effect.[17] For the third verse, Plant returns to singing accompanied by guitar chording.

The verses are broken up with an instrumental middle section with Page, Jones, and Bonham. Page solos on a heavily sustained Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar, which is also double tracked. Led Zeppelin biographer Dave Lewis calls it "a smooth woman-tone solo"[17][b] After a second chorus, the song winds down with pedal steel fills and ends with an acoustic guitar figure. Led Zeppelin recorded the song at Headley Grange, Headley, East Hampshire, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio.[18] The song was engineered and later mixed by Andy Johns at Olympic Studios in London.[18]

## Personnel

[edit]

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[1]

* Robert Plant – vocals
* Jimmy Page – acoustic guitars (six-string and twelve-string), lead guitar, pedal steel guitar
* John Paul Jones – bass, mandolin
* John Bonham – drums

## Disagreement over lyrics

[edit]

Although writers do not question who composed the music for the song,[c] there is some disagreement over who wrote the lyrics. In addition to being credited as the songwriter on all Led Zeppelin releases, Page claims to be responsible for the lyrics: "I'd written it after an old emotional upheaval and I just changed a few of the lyrics for the new version".[20] "Tangerine" and "Dazed and Confused" are the only Led Zeppelin songs with lyrics that credit Page as the sole songwriter.[7][d]

However, Case, Shadwick, and Williamson identify the Yardbirds' song as a joint or co-composition by Page and Yardbirds' singer and primary lyricist Keith Relf.[7][3] Yardbirds' drummer Jim McCarty and bassist Chris Dreja both assert that Relf wrote the words for "Knowing That I'm Losing You";[19] they and Jane Relf (sister and singer who performed with Relf in Renaissance) believe some of his original lines found their way into "Tangerine".[7]

## Release and influence

[edit]

"Tangerine" was issued as an album track on Led Zeppelin III on 5 October 1970 in the US and 23 October 1970 in the UK and quickly went to number one on the album charts.[22] It was included on the LP record's second side, which featured more acoustic- and folk-influenced tunes.[23] Williamson notes that "the song also points the way to the future ... the acoustic guitar intro can easily be seen as an early template for 'Stairway to Heaven'".[16] During Led Zeppelin's 1971–72 tours, they regularly performed the song and recordings appear on several bootleg albums.[24]

## See also

[edit]

* Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings
* List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs § Tangerine

## Notes

[edit]

Footnotes

1. ^ Several writers use a date in May or June 1968 for the recording session, although 4 April 1968, appears in Yardbirds' biographies by Gregg Russo[5] and Alan Clayson.[6]
2. ^ Eric Clapton used what he called a "woman tone" for several guitar parts in Cream's "I Feel Free" and "Sunshine of Your Love".
3. ^ Page/Led Zeppelin biographer Case notes: "The strummed A minor–G–D guitar figure and pedal steel licks are doubtless all Page's invention".[7] Yardbirds' drummer Jim McCarty also believes the music was Page's: "Jimmy must have had that musical idea already – he had those chords. When he did it, I thought it was the strongest song."[19]
4. ^ After legal action, the credit for "Dazed and Confused", which the Yardbirds also performed, was changed to "By Page – Inspired by Jake Holmes".[21]

Citations

1. ^ a b c Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 194.
2. ^ a b Moskowitz 2015, p. 388.
3. ^ a b c Shadwick 2005, p. 138.
4. ^ Russo 2016, pp. 105–106.
5. ^ Russo 2016, p. 105.
6. ^ Clayson 2002, p. 191.
7. ^ a b c d e f Case 2011, eBook.
8. ^ Case 2007, pp. 53, 96.
9. ^ Russo 2016, pp. 106–107.
10. ^ Shadwick 2005, p. 1112.
11. ^ Shadwick 2005, p. 112.
12. ^ Shadwick 2005, p. 114.
13. ^ Case 2007, p. 102.
14. ^ Williamson 2007, p. 77.
15. ^ Schiller 2019, p. 187.
16. ^ a b Williamson 2007, p. 226.
17. ^ a b Lewis 2012, eBook.
18. ^ a b The Complete Studio Recordings (Boxed set booklet). Led Zeppelin. New York City: Atlantic Records. 1993. Led Zeppelin III CD liner notes. OCLC 29660775. 82526-2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. ^ a b Russo 2016, p. 106.
20. ^ Yorke 1993, p. 116.
21. ^ Led Zeppelin (Reissue liner notes). Led Zeppelin. Burbank, California: Atlantic Records. 2014. Inside gatefold. OCLC 884474979. R2-536127.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. ^ Wall 2010, p. 185.
23. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Led Zeppelin III – Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
24. ^ Lewis & Pallett 2005, pp. 155–182.

References

* Guesdon, Jean-Michel; Margotin, Philippe (2018). Led Zeppelin All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Running Press. ISBN 978-0-316-448-67-3.
* Moskowitz, David V. (2015). The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781440803406.
* Case, George (2007). Jimmy Page: Magus, Musician, Man – An Unauthorized Biography. New York City: Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-1-4234-0407-1.
* Case, George (2011). Led Zeppelin FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Greatest Hard Rock Band of All Time. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-025-0.
* Clayson, Alan (2002). The Yardbirds. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-724-2.
* Clayson, Alan (2006). Led Zeppelin: The Origin of the Species: How, Why and Where It All Began (1st. ed.). UK: Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1-84240-345-1.
* Lewis, Dan; Pallett, Simon (2005). Led Zeppelin: The Concert File. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-659-7.
* Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: A Celebration. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857128195.
* Power, Martin (2016). No Quarter: The Three Lives of Jimmy Page. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1783235360.
* Russo, Greg (2016). Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up. Floral Park, New York: Crossfire Publications. ISBN 978-0-9791845-7-4.
* Shadwick, Keith (2005). Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968–1980 (1st. ed.). San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-87930-871-1.
* Schiller, David (2019). Guitar: The World's Most Seductive Instrument. New York City: Workman Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5235-0772-6.
* Wall, Mick (2010). When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0-312-59039-0.
* Welch, Chris (1998). Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song. New York City: Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 1-56025-818-7.
* Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin. Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1-84353-841-7.
* Yorke, Ritchie (1993). Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography. Underwood-Miller. ISBN 0-88733-177-7.

## External links

[edit]

* "Tangerine" (remaster audio) on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Led Zeppelin songs

Discography

Led Zeppelin|

* "Good Times Bad Times"
* "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
* "You Shook Me"
* "Dazed and Confused"
* "Black Mountain Side"
* "Communication Breakdown"
* "I Can't Quit You Baby"
* "How Many More Times"

Led Zeppelin II|

* "Whole Lotta Love"
* "What Is and What Should Never Be"
* "The Lemon Song"
* "Thank You"
* "Heartbreaker"
* "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)"
* "Ramble On"
* "Moby Dick"
* "Bring It on Home"

Led Zeppelin III|

* "Immigrant Song"
* "Celebration Day"
* "Since I've Been Loving You"
* "Gallows Pole"
* "Tangerine"
* "That's the Way"
* "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp"

Untitled
(Led Zeppelin IV)|

* "Black Dog"
* "Rock and Roll"
* "The Battle of Evermore"
* "Stairway to Heaven"
* "Misty Mountain Hop"
* "Four Sticks"
* "Going to California"
* "When the Levee Breaks"

Houses of the Holy|

* "The Song Remains the Same"
* "The Rain Song"
* "Over the Hills and Far Away"
* "The Crunge"
* "Dancing Days"
* "D'yer Mak'er"
* "No Quarter"
* "The Ocean"

Physical Graffiti|

* "The Rover"
* "In My Time of Dying"
* "Houses of the Holy"
* "Trampled Under Foot"
* "Kashmir"
* "In the Light"
* "Ten Years Gone"
* "The Wanton Song"
* "Sick Again"

Presence|

* "Achilles Last Stand"
* "For Your Life"
* "Nobody's Fault but Mine"
* "Candy Store Rock"

In Through
the Out Door|

* "In the Evening"
* "Fool in the Rain"
* "Carouselambra"
* "All My Love"

Coda|

* "We're Gonna Groove"
* "I Can't Quit You Baby"
* "Bonzo's Montreux"
* "Wearing and Tearing"

Other songs|

* "Baby Come On Home"
* "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do"
* "Travelling Riverside Blues"
* "White Summer"
* "The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair"
* "Somethin' Else"

* v
* t
* e

Led Zeppelin

* John Bonham
* John Paul Jones
* Jimmy Page
* Robert Plant

Studio albums|

* Led Zeppelin
* Led Zeppelin II
* Led Zeppelin III
* Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV)
* Houses of the Holy
* Physical Graffiti
* Presence
* In Through the Out Door
* Coda

Live albums|

* The Song Remains the Same
* BBC Sessions
* How the West Was Won
* Celebration Day

Compilations|

* Coda
* The Best of Led Zeppelin
* Mothership
* Led Zeppelin Deluxe Edition

Box sets|

* Boxed Set
* Remasters
* Boxed Set 2
* The Complete Studio Recordings
* Definitive Collection

Singles|

* "Good Times Bad Times" / "Communication Breakdown"
* "Whole Lotta Love" / "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)"
* "Immigrant Song" / "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do"
* "Black Dog" / "Misty Mountain Hop"
* "Rock and Roll" / "Four Sticks"
* "Over the Hills and Far Away" / "Dancing Days"
* "D'yer Mak'er" / "The Crunge"
* "The Ocean" / "Over the Hills and Far Away" / "Dancing Days"
* "Trampled Under Foot" / "Black Country Woman"
* "Candy Store Rock" / "Royal Orleans"
* "Fool in the Rain" / "Hot Dog"
* "Travelling Riverside Blues"
* "Baby Come On Home"
* "Whole Lotta Love"
* "The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair"
* "Kashmir"
* "Rock and Roll" (Sunset Sound Mix) / "Friends" (Olympic Studio Mix)

Films|

* The Song Remains the Same
* Led Zeppelin DVD
* Celebration Day
* Becoming Led Zeppelin

Tours|

* Scandinavia 1968
* U.K. 1968
* North America 1968–1969
* Scandinavia 1969
* North America Spring 1969
* U.K. Summer 1969
* North America Summer 1969
* Europe Autumn 1969
* North American Autumn 1969
* U.K. 1970
* Europe 1970
* North America Spring 1970
* Iceland, Bath & Germany 1970
* North America Summer 1970
* U.K. & Ireland Spring 1971
* Europe 1971
* North America 1971
* Japan 1971
* U.K. Winter 1971
* Australasia 1972
* North America 1972
* Japan 1972
* Europe 1973
* North America 1973
* North America 1975
* Earls Court 1975
* North America 1977
* Knebworth 1979
* Over Europe 1980
* The 1980s, Part One (cancelled)

Reunions|

* Live Aid (1985)
* Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary (1988)
* Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert (2007)

Bootlegs|

* Live on Blueberry Hill
* Destroyer
* Listen to This, Eddie
* For Badgeholders Only
* Burn Like a Candle

Lists|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Cover versions by others
* Led Zeppelin songs written or inspired by others

Related|

| Articles|

* Swan Song Records
* Three Week Hero
* "Beck's Bolero"
* Bron-Yr-Aur
* The Starship
* Caesar's Chariot
* Led Zeppelin Played Here
* Out Through the In Door

|

Bands|

* The Yardbirds
* Band of Joy
* XYZ
* Page and Plant
* Them Crooked Vultures

Books|

* Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga
* Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored
* When Giants Walked the Earth
* Led Zeppelin: The Biography

People|

* Jason Bonham
* Peter Grant
* Richard Cole

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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