October 20, 2016 - Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain (1979)

I remember hearing Fool in the Rain on the radio in 1980 and calling the radio station to find out what it was. I wasn't too familiar with Led Zeppelin yet, so I was later surprised at how poppy this song was compared to stuff like Whole Lotta Love. The middle samba section is fun, but the best part of the song is the awesome fill that comes out of it at 3:44. I get fixated on it sometimes and have to rewind and listen to it multiple times. Jimmy's guitar solo after the break is also one I like a lot. It's a bit sloppy, but so is standing in the rain.

Fool in the Rain is Robert Plant channeling his inner Elvis Presley and Bill Murray's Nick the Lounge Singer. He sings like he's suavely strolling on a Vegas stage with a glass in his hand...Well there's a light in your eye that keeps shinin' (thayouverymuch), like an ol star that can't wait for the night (you know what I'm talkin about), somebody get me a scotch and tonic, it's gonna be a long night, hrumph.

And I stand in the rain on the corner (with no umbrella mind you) just watchin people go shuffling on down-town-uh. Look at those crazy ol people, they gonna turn it aroun, roun roun. (hey where's Charlie Hodge with my scarf, I'm sweatin like a pig here, ladies and gentlemen). I'm a fool in the rain, I'm just a fool in the rain. I'm all wet and I'm cold and don't you know that I'm a fool in the rain, (scats: 'see I was on the wrong corner all along and so all this worryin was really unnecessary'). Hit it, Ron. (big drum roll and ensemble flourish) Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you.

I still don't know why Robert makes that spitting sound at 1:05 after and you said you would always be true...puxchh. What's up with that?

I remember seeing the below image from Knebworth 1979 and thinking John Paul Jones (left) must be the coolest guy in the band. Then I watched The Song Remains the Same and he was so geeky. Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum! Of course I liked him even more once I imagined him the cool geek of the group. Brush with fame moment: I shook his hand in 1994 or 1995 when he was in Portland supporting Diamanda Galas.