Fool in the Rain

"Fool in the Rain"

German single picture sleeve
Single by Led Zeppelin
from the album In Through the Out Door
B-side "Hot Dog"
Released 7 December 1979 (1979-12-07) (US)
Format 7-inch 45 rpm
Recorded Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden, November–December 1978
Genre
Length 6:08
Label Swan Song
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Jimmy Page
ISWC T-070.057.685-7
Led Zeppelin singles chronology
"Candy Store Rock"
(1976)		 "Fool in the Rain"
(1979)		 "Travelling Riverside Blues"
(1990)
Audio sample
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"Fool in the Rain" is the third track on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. It was their final US single before they formally disbanded in 1980. It reached number 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.[3] 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.[3] 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. However, on 5 October 2005, Plant performed the song with Pearl Jam at a Hurricane Katrina benefit show.[4][5]

Formats and track listings

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)

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

Chart positions

Single

Chart (1980) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] 21
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles[7] 31
U.S. Record World The Singles Chart[8] 34
Canadian RPM Top 100 Chart[9] 12
New Zealand Top 50 Singles Chart[10] 44

Single (Digital download)

Chart (2007) Peak position
Canadian Billboard Hot Digital Singles Chart[11] 69

Personnel

Cover versions

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Stephen (1985). Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 291. ISBN 0-345-33516-3.
  2. ↑ Jon Bream (17 September 2010). Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time. Voyageur Press. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-7603-3955-8.
  3. 1 2 Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
  4. ↑ Robert Plant jam Archived 19 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Pearl Jam and Robert Plant - Fool in the Rain - improved aud. YouTube. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Hot 100 Singles - 16 February 1980". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  7. ↑ "Top 100 Singles - 23 February 1980". Cash Box. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  8. ↑ "Top 40 for 1980 - February 1980". Record World.
  9. ↑ "RPM Singles Chart - 23 February 1980". RPM. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  10. ↑ Scapolo, Dean (2007). "Top 50 Singles - February 1980". The Complete New Zealand Music Charts (1st ed.). Wellington: Transpress. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  11. ↑ "Hot Digital Singles - 1 December 2007". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
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