A spectral presence loomed over the making of Led Zeppelin’s IV, with Jimmy Page convinced that ghosts haunted the house of Headley Grange where the band did much of the recording for their classic album. But it was a very real-world guest who influenced the title of Black Dog, IV’s exhilarating opener named for an elderly Labrador that kept wandering in and out of the grounds.
The Genesis of Black Dog: John Paul Jones’s Train Ride Inspiration
The track originated from a searing blues riff by John Paul Jones, the bassist influenced by Tom Cat, a song on the Muddy Waters album Electric Mud that similarly revolves around a lithe, repetitive lick. Jones had scrawled the idea down on a train home from a rehearsal at Page’s boathouse in Berkshire. “My dad had taught me this very easy notation system using note values and numbers,” Jones told Mojo in 2007, “so I wrote it on a bit of paper on the train.”
Black Dog: Led Zeppelin’s Efficient Collaboration
For Plant, Black Dog summed up one way that Led Zep could work speedily and efficiently. “Sometimes John Paul would contribute the leading part of a song and then it would be a pretty quick arrangement of bits and pieces so that the song fitted together rather quickly,” Plant said in Joe Smith’s 1988 book Off The Record.
Perfecting the Irregular Groove: Challenges and Triumphs
Black Dog, though, might have been the exception – it took a few attempts for the band to lock into its irregular groove. “It was originally all in 3/16 time,” Jones recalled in Classic Rock, “but no one could keep up with that.” Bonham, in particular, struggled with the song’s shifting rhythms. “I told Bonzo he had to keep playing four-to-the-bar all the way through Black Dog,” Jones said. “If you go through enough 5/8s, it arrives back on the beat.” Whilst that take on the song suggests you might require a master’s in math and musical notation to revel in its magnificence, Black Dog’s thrills are much more visceral. The band initially experimented with a 3/16 time signature, but the complex rhythm proved challenging. They eventually settled on a more accessible time signature to create a captivating and energetic composition.
Bonham’s Struggles and the Solution
Bonham, known for his incredible drumming skills, faced difficulties keeping up with Black Dog’s ever-shifting rhythms. Jones intervened and instructed him to maintain a consistent four-to-the-bar pattern throughout the song. This adjustment allowed the song’s intricate time signature changes to seamlessly flow back to the main beat.
Black Dog’s Enduring Appeal
Decades after its release, Black Dog continues to captivate listeners with its dynamic energy and intricate musicality. Led Zeppelin’s ability to transform a repetitive blues riff into a timeless classic showcases their musical genius and creativity. The song’s irregular groove and powerful performance make it an enduring favorite among rock enthusiasts worldwide.
Led Zeppelin’s track “Black Dog” stands as a testament to the band’s innovative approach to music and their ability to turn a repetitive riff into a killer track. Despite initial challenges in finding the right groove and time signature, the band created an explosive and timeless opener for their classic album IV. Through their collaborative efforts, Led Zeppelin crafted a captivating composition that continues to resonate with music lovers to this day.
