Kashmir (song)

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"Kashmir" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. Featured on their sixth studio album Physical Graffiti (1975), it was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant with contributions from John Bonham over a period of three years with lyrics dating to 1973. John Paul Jones was late arriving to the studio for the recording sessions, so did not receive a writer's credit.

The song became a concert staple, performed by the band at almost every concert after its release. It has been described as one of Led Zeppelin's two most overtly progressive epics (the other being "Stairway to Heaven").Template:Sfn

Composition

File:Jimmy Page's Rig - 1961 Danelectro Model 3021, ca.1962 Harmony Sovereign H1260 (serial no. 9631111260), 2× Marshall 1959 Super Lead, Super Bass, 3× 4×12in. cab., etc. - Play It Loud. MET (2019-05-13 19.09.34 by Eden, Janine and Jim).jpg

The song was recorded on the Danelectro guitar on the right

Page uses a guitar tuning of D–A–D–G–A–D, which he had used for the instrumentals "White Summer" and "Black Mountain Side".Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The song combines different rhythmic meters: the guitar riff is in triple meter, while the vocal is in quadruple meter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Plant felt that the drumming was an important component of the song and that Bonham did not overplay his part.Template:Sfn "Kashmir" is one of a few Led Zeppelin songs where Page used a Danelectro guitar, rather than his usual Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster models.<ref>https://www.guitarworld.com/features/jimmy-page-anthology-2020-interview</ref>

Page recorded a demo version with drummer Bonham late in 1973, when John Paul Jones was late for the recording sessions. Plant later added lyrics and a middle section; in early 1974, Jones added orchestration.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Session players were brought in for the string and horn sectionsTemplate:Sfn and Jones added a Mellotron part.Template:Sfn

The lyrics were written by Plant in 1973 immediately after Led Zeppelin's 1973 US tour.Template:Sfn None of the group members had visited Kashmir.<ref name=burroughs>William S. Burroughs, Rock Magic: Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, and a Search for the Elusive Stairway to Heaven, Crawdaddy!, June 1975.</ref> Instead, Plant was inspired during a drive through a desolate desert area of southern Morocco.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Live performances

"Kashmir" was played live at almost every Led Zeppelin concert after its debut in 1975.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A version from Knebworth in 1979 appears on the Led Zeppelin DVD (2003).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The surviving members performed the song at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Page and Plant recorded a longer, live version, with an Egyptian/Moroccan orchestra for No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded (1994)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and performed the song with an orchestra on their 1995 tour.

Led Zeppelin, with John Bonham's son Jason on drums, performed "Kashmir" at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at The O2, London on 10 December 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That rendition – released on Celebration Day in 2012<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – was nominated in 2014 for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance at the 56th Grammys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:"'Kashmir' actually isn't that difficult", Page remarked during rehearsals for the show. "But it helps to have a drummer who understands the part and a bass player who can play bass with his feet. Sometimes it sounds like John's got three feet. It's intense."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Reception

All four members of Led Zeppelin have agreed that "Kashmir" is one of their best musical achievements.Template:Sfn John Paul Jones suggested that it showcases all of the elements that made up the Led Zeppelin sound.Template:Sfn Led Zeppelin archivist Dave Lewis comments:

Unquestionably the most startling and impressive track on Physical Graffiti, and arguably the most progressive and original track that Led Zeppelin ever recorded. "Kashmir" went a long way towards establishing their credibility with otherwise skeptical rock critics. Many would regard this track as the finest example of the sheer majesty of Zeppelin's special chemistry.Template:Sfn{{#if:|

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In a retrospective review of Physical Graffiti (Deluxe Edition), Brice Ezell of PopMatters described "Kashmir" as Physical GraffitiTemplate:'s "quintessential track".<ref name="pop matters">Template:Cite web</ref> Ezell called "Kashmir"'s "doomy ostinato riff and rapturous post-chorus brass/mellotron section" as "inimitable moments in the legacy of classic rock".<ref name="pop matters" />

Accolades

The song is listed highly in a number of professional music rankings:

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
Classic Rock	US	"The Top Fifty Classic Rock Songs of All Time"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1995	20
Classic Rock	UK	"Ten of the Best Songs Ever!!.. (Bubbling under)"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1999	23
VH1	US	"The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2000	62
Rolling Stone	US	"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2010	141
Rolling Stone	US	"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2021	148
Blender	US	"Standout Tracks from the 500 CDs You Must Own"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2003	*
Q	UK	"1010 Songs You Must Own!"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2004	*
Q	UK	"Ultimate Music Collection - Rock"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2005	*
Q	UK	"100 Greatest Songs of All Time"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2006	74
VH1	US	"VH1 Greatest Hard Rock Songs"<ref name="VH1">Template:Cite web</ref>	2009	21

(*) designates unordered lists

Charts and certifications

Single (digital download)
Chart (2007)	Peak position
UK Singles ChartTemplate:Efn	80
Swiss Singles Chart<ref name="Swiss singles chart">Template:Cite web</ref>	64
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs Chart<ref name="US digital songs chart">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	42
US Billboard Hot Digital Tracks Chart<ref name="US digital tracks chart">Template:Cite web</ref>	49
Canadian Billboard Hot Digital Singles Chart<ref name="Canadian digital singles chart">Template:Cite web</ref>	33

Certifications Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom

Copyright issue

The 1988 Schoolly D song "Signifying Rapper", which samples "Kashmir", was the target of lawsuits following its use in the 1992 film Bad Lieutenant.<ref name="tobias">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1994, Page and Plant successfully sued Home Box Office to have the song removed from televised showings of the film<ref>Jeffrey, Don. "Plant, Page Oust Song From Film", Billboard, 5 March 1994: 12</ref> and Live Home Video and distributor Aries Film Releasing were ordered to destroy any unsold copies of Bad Lieutenant as part of a copyright infringement ruling.<ref name="sandler">Sandler, Adam (14 December 1994). Live Must Destroy 'Bad' Vids Sez Judge. Variety</ref>

Personnel

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:Template:Sfn

Robert Plant – vocals
Jimmy Page – electric guitars (six- and twelve-string)
John Paul Jones – bass, Mellotron
John Bonham – drums
Unidentified musicians: strings and brass

Notes

Footnotes Template:Notelist

Citations Template:Reflist

References

Bibliography

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External links

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