The Crunge

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	To oppose or discuss a nomination, please go to CZ:Proposed for deletion and follow the instructions. For the monthly nomination lists, see Category:Articles for deletion. The Crunge Appears on Houses of the Holy Published by Superhype Music Registration ASCAP 330195589 Release date 17 September 1973 Recorded May 1972 at Stargroves with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. Mixed at Electric Lady, New York. Genre Funk rock Language English Length 3 minutes 10 seconds Composer John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant Label Atlantic Records Producer Jimmy Page Engineer Eddie Kramer 'The Crunge' is a song by English Rock music|rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. It was also released as the B-side of 'D'yer Mak'er'. Overview The song evolved out of a jam session in the studio. John Bonham started the beat, John Paul Jones came in on bass, Jimmy Page played a funk guitar riff (and a chord sequence that he'd been experimenting with since 1970), and Robert Plant started singing. For the recording of this track, Page played on a Stratocaster guitar and it is possible to hear him depressing a whammy bar at the end of each phrase. This song is a tribute to James Brown's style of funk in the same way that 'D'yer Mak'er' (which it backed on a single release) experiments with reggae. Since most of James Brown's earlier studio recordings were done live with almost no rehearsal time, he often gave directions to the band in-song e.g. 'take it to the bridge' - the bridge (music)|bridge of the song. Plant pays tribute to this at the end by asking 'where's that confounded bridge?' (spoken, just as the song finishes abruptly). An EMS VCS3, was used to make the strange hornlike parts. These parts were overdubbed separately to create a polyphonic 'brass section.' The song was created mostly live in the studio as an improvisation, to not only reinforce the funk dance feel, but also add structure to the long, repetitive jam. Jones considers this to be one of his favourite Led Zeppelin songs. A voice is audible at the beginning asking Bonham if he's 'ready to go.' The voices that can be heard talking on the recording just as Bonham's drums begin on the intro are those of Jimmy Page and audio engineer George Chkiantz. Time signatures Some of the humour of the song derives from the juxtaposition of James Brown funk against utterly undanceable shifting time signature|time signatures. One way to count out the song is as follows: Intro measure: 1 x 9/8 Part 1: 7 x 9/8 (or 4/8 + 5/8) 1 x 8/8 (or 4/8 + 4/8) Part 2: 3 x 4/4 1 x 5/8 1 x 2/4 3 x 2/4 1 x 5/8 1 x 4/8 3 x 4/4 1 x 2/4 1 x 2/8 then return to 'Part 1', play through pattern two more times, end with roughly 23 x 9/8 (last one ends in the middle of the measure, with drums ending on the fifth beat and the synthesizer continuing for a beat or two). Live performances Prior to 1975, 'The Crunge' was only heard live at Led Zeppelin concerts during the band's 'Whole Lotta Love' medley and their Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 tour version of 'Dazed and Confused (Led Zeppelin song)|Dazed and Confused'. One example of this arrangement is presented on the live album How the West Was Won (album)|How the West Was Won, where it also appears with 'Walter's Walk' on a 25 minute medley. However, on the Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1975|1975 tour of the United States the song was performed almost entirely several times, in the funk jam that would link 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Black Dog' at the end of the concert. References in other media In the film Almost Famous a reference is made to the song. On the shirt of the Led Zeppelin fanatic, Vic, is written the four 'runes' from Led Zeppelin IV and 'Have You Seen the Bridge?' This song was the title of a season five episode of That 70s Show. All season five episodes were named after Led Zeppelin tunes. Credits Personnel Musicians: Jimmy Page – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, producer, remastering, digital remastering Robert Plant – vocals John Paul Jones – bass guitar, harpsichord, Mellotron, EMS VCS3 John Bonham - drums, percussion Production: Peter Grant – executive producer Eddie Kramer – engineer, mixing Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s) George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990) References