What time signature is the Crunge?

'The Crunge' is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. It was also released as the B-side of 'D'yer Mak'er'.

Overview

The song evolved out of a jam session in the studio. John Bonham started the beat, John Paul Jones came in on bass, Jimmy Page played a funk guitar riff (and a chord sequence that he'd been experimenting with since 1970), and Robert Plant started singing.[1][2] For the recording of this track, Page played on a Stratocaster guitar and it is possible to hear him depressing a whammy bar at the end of each phrase.[3]

This song is a tribute to James Brown's style of funk in the same way that 'D'yer Mak'er' (which it backed on a single release) experiments with reggae.[4] Since most of James Brown's earlier studio recordings were done live with almost no rehearsal time, he often gave directions to the band in-song e.g. 'take it to the bridge' - the bridge of the song. Plant pays tribute to this at the end by asking 'where's that confounded bridge?' (spoken, just as the song finishes abruptly).

An EMS VCS3, was used to make the strange hornlike parts. These parts were overdubbed separately to create a polyphonic 'brass section.' The song was created mostly live in the studio as an improvisation, to not only reinforce the funk dance feel, but also add structure to the long, repetitive jam. Jones considers this to be one of his favourite Led Zeppelin songs.[5]

A voice is audible at the beginning asking Bonham if he's 'ready to go.' The voices that can be heard talking on the recording just as Bonham's drums begin on the intro are those of Jimmy Page and audio engineer George Chkiantz.[6]

Time signatures

Some of the humour of the song derives from the juxtaposition of James Brown funk against utterly undanceable shifting time signatures. One way to count out the song is as follows:

Intro measure: 1 x 9/8

Part 1: 7 x 9/8 (or 4/8 + 5/8) 1 x 8/8 (or 4/8 + 4/8)

Part 2:

then return to 'Part 1', play through pattern two more times, end with roughly 23 x 9/8 (last one ends in the middle of the measure, with drums ending on the fifth beat and the synthesizer continuing for a beat or two).

Live performances

Prior to 1975, 'The Crunge' was only heard live at Led Zeppelin concerts during the band's 'Whole Lotta Love' medley and their 1972 tour version of 'Dazed and Confused'. One example of this arrangement is presented on the live album How the West Was Won, where it also appears with 'Walter's Walk' on a 25 minute medley. However, on the 1975 tour of the United States the song was performed almost entirely several times, in the funk jam that would link 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Black Dog' at the end of the concert.

References in other media

In the film Almost Famous a reference is made to the song. On the shirt of the Led Zeppelin fanatic, Vic, is written the four 'runes' from Led Zeppelin IV and 'Have You Seen the Bridge?' This song was the title of a season five episode of That 70s Show. All season five episodes were named after Led Zeppelin tunes.

Credits

References

1. ↑ Tolinski, Brad; Greg DiBenedetto (May 1993). "Inside the studio with Jimmy Page". Guitar World 14 (5). ISSN 1063-4231.
2. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 62. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
3. ↑ Tolinski, Brad; Greg DiBenedetto (May 1993). "Inside the studio with Jimmy Page". Guitar World 14 (5). ISSN 1063-4231.
4. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 62. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
5. ↑ Long, Andy (March 2002). "Get the Led Out". Global Bass Online. Retrieved on 27 April 2014.
6. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 62. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 

1973 single by Led Zeppelin

German single picture sleeve

• John Bonham
• John Paul Jones
• Jimmy Page
• Robert Plant

"The Crunge" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. The song is a takeoff on James Brown's style of funk similar to the group's attempt at reggae with "D'yer Mak'er".[1] It was also released as the B-side of "D'yer Mak'er" in the US.

Composition and recording

The song evolved out of a jam session in the studio. John Bonham started the beat, John Paul Jones came in on bass, Jimmy Page played a funk guitar riff (and a chord sequence that he had been experimenting with since 1970), and Robert Plant started singing.[2][1] For the recording, Page played a Fender Stratocaster guitar and it is possible to hear him depressing a whammy bar at the end of each phrase.[2]

Reception

In a contemporary review for Houses of the Holy, Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone gave "The Crunge" a negative review, calling it a "naked imitation", along with "D'yer Mak'er", as well as "easily" one of the worst things the band has ever attempted.[3]

Fletcher added, "[It] reproduces James Brown so faithfully that it's every bit as boring, repetitive and clichéd as "Good Foot". Yakety-yak guitar, boom-boom bass, astoundingly idiotic lyrics ("when she walks, she walks, and when she talks, she talks") — it's all there. So is Jones' synthesizer, spinning absolutely superfluous electronic fills."[3]

See also

• List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs – "The Crunge" entries

References

1. ^ a b Lewis, Dave (1994). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
2. ^ a b "Jimmy Page Interview with Guitar World". Guitar World. May 1993. Retrieved 16 June 2021 – via Classicrockreview.
3. ^ a b Fletcher, Gordon (7 June 1973). "Houses of the Holy". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017.

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