Not only is this my ALL-TIME favorite Zeppelin song, but it's definately one of my ALL TIME faves by anyone. I'm a sucker for Zeppelin's ballads such as "Thank You" and "All Of My Love", which I have ran threads on here as well. But man, "The Rain Song" is simply the shit. If anyone ever asks what's so special about this band, play them this. If anybody ever ask what's so special about Jimmy Page, definately play them this. His chord progressions on this song is brilliant. I mean, he never ceases to run out of chords on this one. The arrangement is perfect and the production is simply beautiful. Sure, Jimmy's very good on the electric, and his leads are coldblooded, but I think he's at his best on the acoustic or on the 12 string/6 strings electric double neck set on a clean tone. It's an epic song and could have easily been an instrumental, the music is that great. Even on the end of the song where it's just Page, the melodies that he plays are just...beautiful. Who else digs "The Rain Song"?

I LOVE this song. Jimmy Page was in the hands of God..(or Satan?) when he came up with this. There's just so much going on in this jam it keeps you interested. I played the intro on acoustic one time for this chick (at a party) and she was digging it because she thought I wrote it. Then right on cue, my buddy blares it thru the boom box. (Almost killed him..lol).

Just a great song..moody and sensual. Zep had so much soul. Great pick as always Brutha B.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Thanx, kindred soul. u were about to get them drawers too! Homeboy with the boombox was just playa hating!

LOL..U know it! Yeah he killed my flow!

I've always loved this song and i think its perfect the way it's almost tied to The Song Remains The Same. They work so well together. It's a song that really does transcend itself live. I always prefer listening to concert versions of this track. The version on TSRTS album is perfection.

WildheartXXX said:

The live version is cool too.

The first three on HOTH are

No Quarter is a damn fine track, too.

Cloudbuster said:

Hell yeah it is!

blackguitaristz said:

Yes, yes, and YES!

I listed it as one of my top 10 favorite songs ever, by any artist. Just absolutely beautiful.

I agree about Page on acoustic as well. He just blows me away. And like Wildheartxxx said as well, the live version from The Song Remains the Same soundtrack is just amazing.

I actually have pics of him playing it live..... hehehe

I'll post them in a bit.
[Edited 5/17/06 10:42am]

Cloudbuster said:

I was just listening to No Quarter from TSRTS yesterday (I hadn't in a while) and again, the way the band is working together on this one is just astounding. Another favorite.

minneapolisgenius said:

A pic? Whaaaat?! Val/Lori, u and me, we're going to The Rainbow so get dressed! Get your platforms and those skin tight jean bellbottoms. Hold my hand and I'll carry you back to 1975. We're on the guess list anyways, but we have to leave right now cuz the place is going to be packed! I'll send a message to Pagey via message with my black crow. He told me that's the best way to reach him. I'll tell him that you are coming.

was a perfect composition, from the string arrangements t the enveloping rock finale by Plant.
The Rain Song, is quite possibly one of their best songs ... ever...

blackguitaristz said:

Let's go to '73 instead.

And he already knows that I'm coming.


"The Rain Song" from The Song Remains the Same (1973)

minneapolisgenius said:

Pagey: Oh Chris, my chap. Bloddy glad that you were able to make it. "Thank You" for bringing Val/Lori. I see you two have the best seats in the house, courtesy ole' Cole. I told him to make sure you two were treated right. I've always fancied The Forum, you know. Can't wait untill this bloddy concert is over though so we can shimmy over to The Rainbow. See you two there, yes?

Chris: Yep. Oh, can I have your backup double neck SG?
Pagey: We'll see...

blackguitaristz said:

We'll have to kick some of these girls out first.

minneapolisgenius said:

Wow Val/Lori, that's a great pic of u on the far end. Those big beautiful brown eyes and that long dark hair. U know I'm a sucker for those elements. Oh and uh, don't worry about those other birds. Pagey has plans for them with his whip. Besides, two of them are going with me.

blackguitaristz said:

You see Page in the back there? Apparently he ran back there when he saw the photographers come in because he didn't want to be photgraphed with Lori. The media was getting wind of his "relationship" w/ her and he could have been arrested.

minneapolisgenius said:

U KNOW I'm hip to that. Remember when we first met, I started calling u Lori right out the gate. But yeah, she was hella under age. When I was in my teens, I always thought that the cat that's holding the tray with the beers was Jeff Beck! I was like "Huh?! Why is Beck carrying that tray?"

And poor ole John. He looks like he's ready to murder the cat taking that pic.

Have u ever seen those mags from the early to mid 70's called "Star"? Not that tabloid shit, but it was actually a magazine that featured all of these "starlets" who hung out with rock stars. They are collector items now. Really hard to find. I have four that I bought on Melrose. That cat didn't know what he had and was selling them real cheap. The mag is very "English Disco", you know. Very 70's Hollywood/Beverly Hills.

blackguitaristz said:

It DOES look like Jeff Beck!

There's a pic taken right after this one where Jonesy (behind the girl standing) is giving one of the photographers the finger.

And Robert really IS pissed off, apparently because Sable Starr jumped on his lap so she could be photographed with him. I guess she was really annoying and they didn't like her much. Maybe they tolerated her because she was friends with Lori.

blackguitaristz said:

Yes I know what you're talking about. I've never seen one in its entirety, but I've seen pics from them. I believe, that's where Page first saw Lori. She was "modeling" underwear or something (at age 13!) in one and he saw her and had someone track her down for him.

I do have lots of groupie pictures though. But damn, I wish I could get a hold of one of the original mags. I mean, those were the days when the groupies actually had their own magazines.

I believe there was even an earlier version of that, from the late 60s in the earlier days of Miss Pamela's time. I guess the groupies had a network and had "newsletters" made up that made their way across the country.


Why do I even know these things?!

minneapolisgenius said:

Cuz u hella cool, that's why. I'm hip to it as well so what does that say about me?!

blackguitaristz said:

Well, that you're just as crazy as me, for one.

minneapolisgenius said:

I can dig it!

minneapolisgenius said:

I've not heard that album for years.

SPYZFAN1 said:

That's funny that u should question if Pagey was in the hands of God or Satan cuz listening to those chord changes,...man..I think ole Page had spent some time in that woodshed Robert sings about in reverse in Stairway. U KNOW what I'm refering to.

The Rain Song is the song that made me get into Zep. Before that I put them in the same kind of category as Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, kinda white trash music. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard that song because it blew me away so much.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Thank God you took them out of that category.