Fool in the Rain. Led Zeppelin. Bass cover.

Led Zeppelin (originally named the New Yardbirds) were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are one of the best-selling music artists of all time; various sources estimate the group’s record sales at 200 to 300 million units worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine described them as “the heaviest band of all time“, “the biggest band of the Seventies“, and “unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history“. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum’s biography of the band states that they were “as influential“ during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s. “Fool in the Rain“ is the third song on Led Zeppelin’s 1979 album In Through the Out Door. It was the last single released in the US before they formally disbanded in 1980. The song reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 16 February 1980. It was an attempt to combine a samba rhythm with a basic rock tune, resulting in a polyrhythm part way through the song. The idea was inspired by Plant explaining that the group must explore new musical territory in order to remain current. The album was named by the group to describe its recent struggles amidst the death of Robert Plant’s son Karac in 1977, and the taxation exile the band took from the UK. The exile resulted in the band being unable to tour on British soil for over two years, and trying to get back into the public mind was therefore like “trying to get in through the ’out’ door“. This is the final album released prior to the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, shortly after which the band decided to dissolve. The song exhibits a Latin feel. The main section is in 12/8 meter; this section employs an unusual polyrhythmic groove, with the piano and bass playing six beats per measure and the melody (and parts of the drum kit) playing four beats per measure. The result is that most of the instruments appear to be playing quarter-note triplets against the swing of the melody and drum kit. Drummer John Bonham plays a shuffle beat similar to the “Purdie shuffle“ rhythm, along with a samba-style breakdown and hop-skip riff arrangement. A master drum track shows that the samba breakdown (2:25) was recorded separately. I think I have 85% or so of the bass line. The missing parts are difficult to hear in the muddled mix but knowing Led Zeppelin there is much more beneath the surface on this studio recording. And a few flubs along the way but a long song to get through easily and flublessly. Others have covered this song and each one is a bit different and this is my interpretation.