In the Light
| "In the Light" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin | |
| from the album Physical Graffiti | |
| Released | 24 February 1975 |
| Recorded | 1974 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | |
| Length | 8:46 |
| Label | Swan Song |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Jimmy Page |
"In the Light" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The song was composed primarily by bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones on synthesiser, though singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page also received songwriting credits.
Composition and recording
[edit | edit source]The unique sound of the intro was created by Page using a bow on an acoustic guitar, as a backdrop to Jones' opening synthesiser solo.[6] The song is based on an earlier band composition titled "In the Morning".[7]
Led Zeppelin also recorded an alternative version of the song, "Everybody Makes It Through" (In the Light) [Early Version/In Transit]". This version was released on 23 February 2015, as part of the remastering process of all nine albums. Led Zeppelin never performed "In the Light" in concert.[7]
Reception
[edit | edit source]In a contemporary review of Physical Graffiti, Jim Miller of Rolling Stone gave "In the Light" a mixed review, saying that while the track was "one of the album's most ambitious efforts", the track "fizzles down the home stretch."[8] Miller continues "the problem here is not tedium but a fragmentary composition that never quite jells: When Page on the final release plays an ascending run intended to sound majestic, the effect is more stilted than stately."[8]
In a retrospective review of Physical Graffiti (Deluxe Edition), Jon Hadusek of Consequence of Sound called "In the Light" one of his favorite Zeppelin songs; Hadusek believed the song's arrangement "shouldn't work, but it does".[9] Describing the track, Hadusek said the track "erratically builds from solo organs and doom riffs to a cheerful chorus of major scales."[9]
In an interview he gave to rock journalist Cameron Crowe, Plant stated that this song was one of Led Zeppelin's "finest moments".[10] Similarly, Page has stated that this is his personal favourite track on Physical Graffiti.[7]
In popular culture
[edit | edit source]"In the Light' was featured in the season 1 finale of the Netflix series Mindhunter as lead character Holden Ford suffers a panic attack following a threat by a serial killer.[11][12]
Personnel
[edit | edit source]According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[13]
- Robert Plant – vocals
- Jimmy Page – electric guitars, bow
- John Paul Jones – bass, synthesiser, Clavinet
- John Bonham – drums
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 402.
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- ^ a b c Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
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- ^ Liner notes by Cameron Crowe for The Complete Studio Recordings.
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- ^ Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 400.
Bibliography
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