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Song Stories

“The Rain Song”

Led Zeppelin | 1973

Thought to have been written in response to George Harrison's alleged challenge to John Bonham that Led Zeppelin didn't do any slow songs, this mellow change of pace from Houses of the Holy is a prime example of "the ethereal Page and Plant," as the singer put it to Rolling Stone. "Sometimes we have backing tapes of tracks worked out and somebody goes, 'Well, we got no bloody lyrics,'" Plant explained. "'The Rain Song' was just sort of a little infatuation I had. The next morning I'd scribble it out. If I had done it the day after, it would have been no good."

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“Hickory Wind”
The Byrds | 1968
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“Hot Burrito #1 / Hot Burrito #2”
The Flying Burrito Brothers | 1969

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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