The next wave of releases in the ongoing Led Zeppelin reissue campaign includes a expanded version of 1971’s Led Zeppelin IV, which features one of the all-time great rock anthems, “Stairway to Heaven.”
In a new BBC News video feature, guitarist Jimmy Page discusses how the epic song was written as he listens to the remastered vinyl version of the track.
Page points out that he wanted the beginning of the tune to feature “quite a fragile, exposed acoustic guitar” reminiscent of the Bach “Bourree” from the composer’s Suite in E Minor for lute.
He then notes that the recorders heard early in the song, which were played by John Paul Jones, added a medieval feel.
Jimmy explains that the concept and structure of the song was thought out in advance.
“The idea of ‘Stairway” was to have a piece of music…whereby it would just keep unfolding into more layers and more moods,” he notes, “and…the subtlety and the intensity of the overlay of the composition would actually accelerate as it went through on every level — every emotional level, every musical level.”
Page points out that putting the song together was “somewhat complicated” because, initially, there were no vocals to anchor the track since Robert Plant had yet to write them. Jimmy says he marveled at how quickly Plant came up with the words once he did get down to writing, something he did in the studio while the rest of the band was running through the track.
The 70-year-old rocker says that when it came time for the tune’s now-iconic guitar solo, he wanted a section that resembled “a sort of fanfare” to create “a definite transition.”
Following the soaring solo, the song reaches its finale, a section in which, Page notes, “the passion has just unfolded [in] every respect.”
As the song comes to an end, Page reflects on the fruitful period during which Led Zeppelin recorded “Stairway to Heaven.”
“It really was an inspired time,” says Page. “It sort of shows. The lasting quality of this music over all these years is the fact that everyone’s playing so honestly and with such conviction.
Expanded and remastered editions Led Zeppelin IV and 1973’s Houses of the Holy will be released on October 28.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio
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