Nobody's Fault but Mine

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Nobody's Fault but Mine
Appears on Presence
Published by Flames of Albion Music
Registration ASCAP 440088148
Release date 31 March 1976
Recorded November-December 1975
Genre Blues rock, Hard rock,
Language English
Length 6 minutes 27 second
Composer Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Label Swan Song Records
Producer Jimmy Page
Engineer Keith Harwood

'Nobody's Fault but Mine' is a song recorded by England|English rock music|rock band Led Zeppelin, and released in 1976 on their album Presence. The title was inspired in-part by a traditional blues song entitled 'It's Nobody's Fault but Mine'. Led Zeppelin had previously included a photograph of Blind Willie Johnson on the 1969 album Led Zeppelin II, who recorded a 1920s arrangement of 'It's Nobody's Fault but Mine' and served as an inspiration. The Led Zeppelin song is registered with copyright association American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP, with the unique title code 440088148.[1]

Overview

The Led Zeppelin version contains different lyrics in the song such as 'brother he showed me the gong', 'I got a monkey on my back' and 'Devil he told me to roll',[2] which do not appear in 'It's Nobody's Fault but Mine'. The Led Zeppelin song structure also includes differences in the arrangements within the verse-chorus.[3] Musically there are changes to the tempo and the track features a phase-treated, delta blues-based riff in E minor (and later E major) from Jimmy Page which is complemented by vocalist Robert Plant. The solo in E Minor Pentatonic, switches to E Major Pentatonic, back to E Minor Pentatonic, and concludes in E Major Pentatonic. Page triple-tracked his guitar intro; playing one guitar an octave higher than the others.

Drummer John Bonham and bass guitar|bassist John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones maintain the rhythm of the song, adding some Syncopation|syncopated accents during repetitions of the introductory phrase. The first half of the song also features a harmonica accompaniment by Plant.[4]

Live history

From Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1977|1977 onwards, 'Nobody's Fault but Mine' became a vital component of Led Zeppelin concerts, and was played at virtually every show until the group's final Tour Over Europe 1980|tour of Europe in 1980.[5] One live version, from Led Zeppelin's performance at Knebworth Festival 1979|Knebworth in 1979, is featured on disc 2 of the Led Zeppelin (DVD)|Led Zeppelin DVD. During live performances, Plant often exclaimed, 'Oh Jimmy!' right before Page went into his guitar solo.

'Nobody's Fault but Mine' was performed at Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert|Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the The O2 arena (London)|O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007.

Credits

Personnel
  • Musicians:
    • Jimmy Page – electric guitar, producer, remastering, digital remastering
    • Robert Plant – vocals, harmonica
    • John Paul Jones – bass guitar
    • John Bonham - drums, percussion
  • Production:
    • Peter Grant – executive producer
    • Keith Harwood - engineer, mixing
    • Jeremy Gee – tape engineer
    • Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s)
    • George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990)

References

  1. ASCAP ACE: Title search. ASCAP. Retrieved on 19 May 2014.
  2. Welch, Chris (2009). Led Zeppelin: The Stories Behind Every Led Zeppelin Song, Revised. London: Carlton Books, 123. ISBN 978-1-84732-286-9. 
  3. Shadwick, Keith (2005). “Unforseen Circumstances”, Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968-1980. London: Omnibus Press, 248. ISBN 978-0-87930-871-1. 
  4. Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 81. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
  5. Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 81. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1.