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White Summer

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Wikipedia article




"'White Summer'" is a guitar instrumental by English rock guitarist Jimmy Page, that incorporates Indian and Arabic musical influences. Page initially recorded and performed it with the Yardbirds and later included it in many Led Zeppelin concerts.

According to biographer Keith Shadwick, it is based on an old Irish folk song, "specifically derived from 'She Moved Through the Fair' in the 1963 version by [Davy] Graham, which he in turn credited to Padraic Colum". The later Led Zeppelin song "Over the Hills and Far Away" was "spun off"

from "White Summer" as well as an unreleased 20-minute instrumental recorded in early 1974 at Headley Grange.

Yardbirds song



"White Summer" was recorded 2829 April 1967 at De Lane Lea Studios in London. Jimmy Page was the only band member to perform on the recording and was accompanied by Chris Karan on tabla

and an unidentified oboe player doubling the melody line. The song combines elements of traditional Eastern as well as Western music. In a 1977 interview, Page commented, "I used a special tuning for [the song]; the low string down to D, then A, D, G, A and D. Its like a modal tuning, a sitar tuning, in fact". He added that he called this tuning "'C.I.A.' tuningCeltic-Indian-Arabicbecause that's what it was ... DADGAD was something going around the folk scene during the 1960s" and was used by Davy Graham for his "She Moved Through the Fair".Various versions by Graham have appeared over the years, including on reissues of 'The Guitar Player' and 'Folk, Blues and Beyond'.

"White Summer" was released on the Yardbirds' last album, 'Little Games'. An alternate take/mix without the accompaniment was included on the 1992 Yardbirds compilation 'Cumular Limit'. It was a staple of live Yardbird performances with Jim McCarty usually providing a drum part and appears on the albums 'Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page' and 'Glimpses 19631968'. When playing the song live with the Yardbirds, Page used a 1961 Danelectro 3021 guitar.



Led Zeppelin renditions



Led Zeppelin frequently performed "White Summer" as part of a medley with "Black Mountain Side" during their 196870 tours

and again on the 1977 US, 1979 and 1980 Europe tours. A live performance during the band's U.K. Tour of Summer 1969Dave Lewis (1994), 'The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin', Omnibus Press, . was recorded by the BBC at the Playhouse Theatre in London on 27 June 1969 for the pilot of Radio One's 'In Concert' series. This recording was produced by Jeff Griffin and released in 1990 on the 'Led Zeppelin Boxed Set' with the combined title "White Summer/Black Mountain Side". The piece was later included in the expanded 1993 reissue of 'Coda' from 'The Complete Studio Recordings' and 'Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection' (2008) box sets.

Page used his Danelectro to play the medley, as shown on 2003's 'Led Zeppelin DVD', which was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 January 1970. On 23 April 1970, Page performed the piece on the 'Julie Felix Show'. Page also played it when he was with the Firm and again during his 'Outrider' tour, seguing into "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" as part of the solo section of "Midnight Moonlight".

References



Category:1967 songs

Category:The Yardbirds songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Mickie Most

Category:Led Zeppelin songs

Category:Rock instrumentals

Category:Songs written by Jimmy Page

Category:1960s instrumentals

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