| "Custard Pie" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album Physical Graffiti |
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| Released | 24 February 1975 | ||||
| Recorded | 1974 | ||||
| Genre | Hard rock | ||||
| Length | 4:13 | ||||
| Label | Swan Song | ||||
| Writer | Page/Plant | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Physical Graffiti track listing | |||||
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"Custard Pie" is the first track on English rock band Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. The lyrics to the riff-heavy song pay homage to the blues songs of the Robert Johnson era; specifically "Drop Down Mama" by Sleepy John Estes, "Shake 'Em On Down" by Bukka White, and "I Want Some Of Your Pie" by Blind Boy Fuller.[1]
The song contains somewhat difficult-to-comprehend lyrics, but, like several other songs on the album, they are full of sexual innuendo. In this case, "Custard Pie" refers to a woman's sexual organs and the song is rife with references to oral sex: "Your custard pie, yeah, sweet and nice / When you cut it mama, save me a slice", as well as "chewin' a piece of your custard pie".
"Custard Pie" contains a wah-wah solo by guitarist Jimmy Page, which was played through an ARP synthesizer.[1] It also features an electric clavinet played by John Paul Jones and a mouth harp solo by vocalist Robert Plant.[1]
Despite being rehearsed for Led Zeppelin's 1975 US Tour, this track was never completely played live at Led Zeppelin concerts.[1] On Led Zeppelin's 1977 US Tour the band briefly performed a portion of the song as part of their acoustic set during a concert in Houston, Texas on 21 May 1977.
In later years, Robert Plant incorporated a chorus of the song on the end of the live version of his solo song, "Tall Cool One". Page also produced his own live version on his Outrider tour. Page and Plant finally performed the complete song together on occasion in 1996 while touring behind their No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded album. In 1999, Page again performed the song, this time whilst on his tour with The Black Crowes. A version of "Custard Pie" performed by Page and The Black Crowes can be found on the album Live at the Greek.
This song is also the basis of Dread Zeppelin's "Viva Las Vegas".
Contents |
Formats and tracklistings
1975 7" single (Thailand: Atlantic TKR 278)
- A1. "Custard Pie" (Page, Plant) 4:13
- A2. "Boogie with Stu" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, Stewart, Mrs. Valens) 3:51
- B. "Trampled Under Foot" (Jones, Page, Plant) 5:35
Personnel
- Robert Plant - vocals, harmonica
- Jimmy Page - guitars
- John Paul Jones - bass guitar, Clavinet
- John Bonham - drums
Cover versions
Album versions
- 1995: Helmet with David Yow (Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 1998: L.A. Guns (Hollywood Rehearsal)
- 1999: Eric Gales (Whole Lotta Blues: Songs of Led Zeppelin)
- 2000: Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes (Live at the Greek)
- 2002: Derek Trucks, Eric Gales, & Matt Tutor (All Blues'd Up: This Ain't No Tribute to Rock & Roll's Finest)
- 2005: Hampton String Quartet (Take No Prisoners!)
- 2006: Greg Reeves & Erica Stock (Dub Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 2007: Frankie Banali & Friends (24/7/365: The Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 2007: Zepparella (Pleasing Pounding)
Samples
- 1986: Beastie Boys ("Time to Get Ill")
- 1988: Robert Plant ("Tall Cool One")
Sources
- Lewis, Dave (2004) The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
- Welch, Chris (1998) Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
References
- ^ a b c d Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
External links
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