White Summer
Encyclopedia
"White Summer" is a guitar instrumental by English
rock guitarist Jimmy Page
, recorded with both The Yardbirds
and, later, with Led Zeppelin
.
. An alternate take has been released on Cumular Limit
. Page performed "White Summer" live with the group, and it also appears on the album Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page
- the latter being a recording of a concert by the Yardbirds at the Anderson Theatre in New York City
on 30 March 1968. Page would play the piece solo or with just percussion accompaniment during Yardbirds concerts. When playing the song live with The Yardbirds, Page used a Danelectro
guitar. In an interview he gave in 1977, he commented:
"White Summer" is based around the traditional Irish melody "She Moved Through the Fair
", and specifically the British folk guitarist Davey Graham
's arrangement of the song, which was the first recorded example of a piece played in DADGAD tuning (of which Graham was the originator). By incorporating elements from India
n rāgas, Graham hoped to demonstrate the similarities in the modality of the Celtic folk tradition and the music of the Orient.
broadcast made from the Playhouse Theatre
on 27 June 1969, for the pilot of Radio One
's In Concert series, which took place during the band's U.K. Tour of Summer 1969
. Middle Eastern, Egyptian and Indian styles are incorporated into the song, which is played in the DADGAD
tuning.
As with most of the live versions of this song, Page dove-tailed the end of it straight into the instrumental "Black Mountain Side
", which was a track from Led Zeppelin's first album
. "Black Mountain Side" is also based on a traditional folk song. The recording remained shelved for many years, but was eventually included on the 1990 Led Zeppelin Box Set
under the combined title "White Summer/Black Mountain Side". The piece was later included as a bonus track on the 1993 boxed set The Complete Studio Recordings.
Jimmy Page often performed "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" at Led Zeppelin concerts
as part of the standard set list during 1968-1970 and again on the 1977
, 1979 and 1980
tours, segueing it with "Kashmir
". He used his Danelectro
guitar to play this piece, as shown on the Led Zeppelin DVD which includes his performance of the song at the Royal Albert Hall
in 1970.
On 26 April 1970, Page performed the piece on the Julie Felix
Show. Page would also play versions of this song when he was with The Firm, and again during his Outrider
tour, seguing into White Summer/Black Mountain Side in the solo section for "Midnight Moonlight".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, recorded with both The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds
- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...
and, later, with Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
.
The Yardbirds version
Page initially recorded "White Summer" for the Yardbirds' final album, Little GamesLittle Games
1992 Expanded editionAn expanded Little Games edition entitled Little Games Sessions and More, was released as a 2 disc set featuring additional sessions and alternate takes from the period, plus the singles "Ha Ha Said the Clown", "Ten Little Indians", and "Goodnight Sweet...
. An alternate take has been released on Cumular Limit
Cumular Limit
Cumular Limit is an album of previously unreleased live and studio recordings by English blues rock band The Yardbirds released in 2000. It features alternate versions of recordings from Little Games , live-recordings from Offenbach, 16 March 1967 and France TV and previously unreleased material...
. Page performed "White Summer" live with the group, and it also appears on the album Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page
Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page
Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page is a live album released by English blues rock band The Yardbirds in 1971 of their live performance at the Anderson Theatre in New York City on 30 March 1968...
- the latter being a recording of a concert by the Yardbirds at the Anderson Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 30 March 1968. Page would play the piece solo or with just percussion accompaniment during Yardbirds concerts. When playing the song live with The Yardbirds, Page used a Danelectro
Danelectro
Danelectro is an American manufacturer of musical instruments and accessories, specializing in rock instruments such as guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers and effects units.-History:...
guitar. In an interview he gave in 1977, he commented:
"White Summer" is based around the traditional Irish melody "She Moved Through the Fair
She Moved Through the Fair
"She Moved Through the Fair" is a traditional Irish folk song, existing in a number of versions and which has been recorded many times.-Origins:...
", and specifically the British folk guitarist Davey Graham
Davey Graham
David Michael Gordon "Davey" Graham, originally spelled Davy Graham, , was a British guitarist and one of the most influential figures in the 1960s British folk revival...
's arrangement of the song, which was the first recorded example of a piece played in DADGAD tuning (of which Graham was the originator). By incorporating elements from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n rāgas, Graham hoped to demonstrate the similarities in the modality of the Celtic folk tradition and the music of the Orient.
Led Zeppelin version
This recording comes from the live BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcast made from the Playhouse Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt in 1907 and still retains its original substage machinery...
on 27 June 1969, for the pilot of Radio One
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's In Concert series, which took place during the band's U.K. Tour of Summer 1969
Led Zeppelin United Kingdom Tour Summer 1969
Led Zeppelin's Summer 1969 United Kingdom Tour was a concert tour of the United Kingdom by the English rock band. The tour commenced on 8 June and concluded on 29 June 1969. It included a single show in Paris, France, performed for French television...
. Middle Eastern, Egyptian and Indian styles are incorporated into the song, which is played in the DADGAD
DADGAD
DADGAD, D modal tuning or Celtic tuning is an alternative guitar tuning most associated with Celtic music, though it has also found use in rock and other genres. Instead of the standard EADGBE tuning, the six guitar strings are tuned, from low to high, DADGAD...
tuning.
As with most of the live versions of this song, Page dove-tailed the end of it straight into the instrumental "Black Mountain Side
Black Mountain Side
"Black Mountain Side" is an instrumental by English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured on the band's 1969 début album Led Zeppelin. It was recorded at Olympic Studios, London during October 1968.-Song structure:...
", which was a track from Led Zeppelin's first album
Led Zeppelin (album)
Led Zeppelin is the debut album of the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London and released on Atlantic Records on 12 January 1969 in the United States and 31 March 1969 in the United Kingdom. The album featured integral contributions from each...
. "Black Mountain Side" is also based on a traditional folk song. The recording remained shelved for many years, but was eventually included on the 1990 Led Zeppelin Box Set
Led Zeppelin (box set)
The Compact Disc edition contains the same track listing and order as the vinyl release, with disc one comprising sides one, two and three; disc two being sides four, five, and six; disc three being sides seven, eight, and nine; and disc four being final three.-Sales chart performance:-Sales...
under the combined title "White Summer/Black Mountain Side". The piece was later included as a bonus track on the 1993 boxed set The Complete Studio Recordings.
Jimmy Page often performed "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" at Led Zeppelin concerts
Led Zeppelin concerts
From September 1968 through the summer of 1980, English rock group Led Zeppelin were one of the world's most popular live music attractions, performing hundreds of sold-out concerts around the world.-History:...
as part of the standard set list during 1968-1970 and again on the 1977
Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1977
Led Zeppelin's 1977 North American Tour was the eleventh and final concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour was divided into three legs, with performances commencing on 1 April and concluding on 24 July 1977...
, 1979 and 1980
Tour Over Europe 1980
Tour Over Europe 1980 was the last concert tour by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. The tour commenced on June 17 and concluded on July 7, 1980...
tours, segueing it with "Kashmir
Kashmir (song)
"Kashmir" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their sixth album Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant over a period of three years, with the lyrics dating back to 1973.-Overview:The song centres around a signature chord progression...
". He used his Danelectro
Danelectro
Danelectro is an American manufacturer of musical instruments and accessories, specializing in rock instruments such as guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers and effects units.-History:...
guitar to play this piece, as shown on the Led Zeppelin DVD which includes his performance of the song at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in 1970.
On 26 April 1970, Page performed the piece on the Julie Felix
Julie Felix
Julie Ann Felix is a folk rock recording artist, who was notably produced by Mickie Most on his RAK Records label.-Career:...
Show. Page would also play versions of this song when he was with The Firm, and again during his Outrider
Outrider (album)
Outrider is an album by Jimmy Page, released by Geffen Records on 19 June 1988. It is his first genuine solo album, and the first time since 1969 he recorded with a record label other than Atlantic Records/Swan Song Records. It was recorded at The Sol, Page's personal studio...
tour, seguing into White Summer/Black Mountain Side in the solo section for "Midnight Moonlight".
Sources
- Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9