Bron-Yr-Aur (song)

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Bron-Yr-Aur
Appears on Physical Graffiti]]
Published by Flames of Albion Music
Registration ASCAP
Release date 24 February 1975
Recorded July 1970 at
Island Studios, London.
Mixed at Olympic Studios, London.
Genre Folk
Language English
Length 2 minutes 7 seconds
Composer Jimmy Page]]
Label Swan Song Records]]
Producer Jimmy Page
Engineer Andy Johns

'Bron-Yr-Aur' is an acoustic guitar instrumental tune by England|English]] Rock music|rock]] band Led Zeppelin]], and, at two minutes and seven seconds in duration, is the shortest studio recording under the band's name.

Overview

The song was initially written and recorded in 1970 by Jimmy Page]] during the sessions for the album, Led Zeppelin III]], but was eventually released in 1975 on Physical Graffiti]]. It was named after Bron-Yr-Aur]], a cottage in Gwynedd]], Wales]] where the members of Led Zeppelin spent time during the recording of Led Zeppelin III.[1] ('Bron-Y-Aur Stomp]]' is a different song from Led Zeppelin III.)

'Bron-Yr-Aur' is a reflective and relaxed piece, and one of the last acoustic tunes released under the band's name. It features a characteristic open-C6 tuning (C-A-C-G-C-E) and is played on a 1971 Martin D-28.[2] This same tuning was also used by Page on the tracks 'Poor Tom]]' and 'Friends (song)|Friends]]'.[3] Some minor string squeaks and small mistakes were left in by Page to keep the live feel.

The studio version of 'Bron-Yr-Aur' is played in the concert film]] The Song Remains the Same]], at the point when the band members are shown driving through New York, New York|New York City]] in a limousine]] (although it is not featured on the The Song Remains the Same (album)|accompanying soundtrack album]]). An excerpt of the tune can also be heard in the film Almost Famous]], one of the rare instances when the band allowed part of their catalogue to be used for a motion picture]].

Live performances

The tune was rarely performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts]], but can be heard on some Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings|bootleg recordings]] from their Led Zeppelin North American Tour Summer 1970|sixth American concert tour]] in August-September 1970, when it was sometimes played as part of their acoustic set.[4] It can be heard on the famous Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings|bootleg album]] Live On Blueberry Hill]], on which Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant]] explains the origins of 'Bron-Yr-Aur':

This is a thing called 'Bron-Yr-Aur'. This is a name of the little cottage in the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, and 'Bron-Yr-Aur' is the Welsh equivalent of the phrase 'Golden Breast'. This is so because of its position every morning as the sun rises and it's a really remarkable place. And so after staying there for a while and deciding it was time to leave for various reasons, we couldn't really just leave it and forget about it. You've probably all been to a place like that, only we can tell you about it and you can't tell us.

Credits

Personnel
  • Musicians:
    • Jimmy Page – acoustic guitar, producer, remastering, digital remastering
  • Production:
    • Peter Grant]] – executive producer
    • Keith Harwood]] - mixing
    • Andy Johns - engineer
    • Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s)
    • George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990)

References

  1. Sutcliffe, Phil (2003). "Led Zeppelin: Back to Nature". Q: 34. ISSN 0955-4955.
  2. Tolinski, Brad (January 1998). "Jimmy Page's Guitar Army: Backstage 1973". Guitar World: 107. ISSN 1063-4231.
  3. Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 71. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
  4. Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 71. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1.