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"Carouselambra"
Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album In Through the Out Door
Released15 August 1979 (1979-08-15)
RecordedNovember–December 1978
StudioPolar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Genre
Length10:34
LabelSwan Song
Songwriters
ProducerJimmy Page
Audio sample

"Carouselambra" is the fifth song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. The title refers to the first section of the song that has similarities to carousel music. At more than 10 minutes in length, the song is the second-longest the band recorded in the studio.[3] John Paul Jones' synthesizers dominate the song, with Jimmy Page's guitar playing a supporting role.

Composition and recording

[edit]

With its early working title of "The Epic", "Carouselambra" was conceived during the band's rehearsals at Clearwell Castle in May 1978.[4] The song itself is split in three sections. The first section is a fast-paced showcase of Jones on synthesizer (he overdubbed bass guitar or already recorded it as part of the backing track), with Robert Plant's vocals mixed down slightly underneath Jones, the drums of John Bonham and Page's guitar chord progression. The second section is much slower in pace, highlighting Page's use of the Gibson EDS-1275 double-necked guitar, the only time he used that instrument on a Led Zeppelin studio song,[4] while Plant sings some reflective lyrics. The final section returns to an up-tempo beat, with all four band members performing in unison. Page's deep, droning guitar sound was produced with a Gizmotron, a device that creates infinite sustain, unusual harmonics, and allows the guitar to sound like a string section.[4] A Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer was also used on this track.[5]

Reception

[edit]

In a contemporary review for In Through the Out Door, Charles M. Young of Rolling Stone described "Carouselambra" as having "an extremely lame keyboard riff" and said the song was too long, clocking in at "an absurd 10:28".[6] Young also called the song extremely repetitive, and while "repetition to weave a hypnotic effect has always been part of the Zeppelin sound, what they are repeating here is not worth the effort."[6]

In a retrospective review of In Through the Out Door (Deluxe Edition), Andrew Doscas of PopMatters gave "Carouselambra" a negative review, calling the song something you would hear from either Styx or Genesis and not Zeppelin.[7] Doscas found Plant "mumbling inaudible inanities for about 60% of the song."[7] While Doscas found the song's synthesizers catchy, he found that Zeppelin fans will find it hard not to skip over "Carouselambra" after the four minute mark "in favor of the final two tracks."[7] On the Deluxe Edition, Doscas found Plant's vocals on the "Carouselambra" rough mix (titled "The Epic") much more clear than those of the original version.[7]

Live renditions

[edit]

"Carouselambra" was never played live by the band at List of Led Zeppelin concert tours. The song was reputedly discussed for inclusion in the setlist for the planned autumn 1980 tour of North America, which was ultimately canceled after Bonham's sudden death during rehearsals.[8][9][10] During the 1995–1996 Page and Plant tour, Plant would often sing the middle verse of the song when he and Page performed "In the Evening".[11]

The Epic

[edit]

A rough mix of the song with fewer overdubs was re-released in 2015 on In Through the Out Door (Deluxe Edition), with the title "The Epic".[12]

Personnel

[edit]

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[13]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Carouselambra" is an epic song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released as the fifth track on their eighth and final studio album, , on August 15, 1979. Clocking in at 10 minutes and 32 seconds, the track showcases the band's signature blend of heavy rock, synthesizers, and intricate arrangements, credited to guitarist , vocalist , and bassist/keyboardist for the music, with lyrics by Plant. The song's recording took place at in , , amid significant internal band tensions following their 1977 North American tour, which was overshadowed by the death of 's five-year-old son, Karac. and Jones typically worked on the track during morning sessions, while Page and Bonham added their contributions late at night, resulting in a layered composition featuring Page's double-neck guitar and the innovative use of a Gizmotron device for sustained string sounds. Lyrically, "Carouselambra" delves into themes of disillusionment, , and the search for meaning, with 's words reflecting the interpersonal strains and emotional turmoil within during its final years. Despite rehearsals for a potential live rendition ahead of a planned tour, "Carouselambra" was never performed in due to Bonham's in September , which led to Led Zeppelin's disbandment. Reception has been mixed, with some critics and fans praising its ambitious structure and keyboard-driven innovation as a highlight of the album, while others noted its overproduction; himself expressed in a Mojo , stating, "I thought parts of ‘Carouselambra’ were good… And I rue it so much now, because the lyrics… were actually about that environment and that situation. The whole story of Led Zeppelin in its latter years is in that song… and I can’t hear the words!"

Background and Release

Album Context

In the late 1970s, Led Zeppelin faced significant challenges that impacted their trajectory, including the tragic death of frontman Robert Plant's five-year-old son, Karac, from a stomach infection in July 1977, which led to an extended band hiatus. This personal loss for Plant, combined with ongoing issues such as guitarist Jimmy Page's and drummer John Bonham's struggles with , contributed to internal tensions within the group during their time away from recording. The band's eighth studio album, , emerged from this turbulent period, with recording sessions marked by these strains and a noticeable shift toward a keyboard-heavy sound driven by bassist , who co-wrote six of the seven tracks and emphasized synthesizers in the arrangements. "Carouselambra" appears as the fifth track on the album, which was released on August 15, 1979, by . In Through the Out Door achieved substantial commercial success, reaching No. 1 on both the in the United States, where it held the position for seven weeks, and the , topping it for two weeks. The album has sold over 6 million copies worldwide, including 6 million certified shipments in the United States by the RIAA as of 1997. This release marked Led Zeppelin's final studio album before the death of on September 25, 1980, which ultimately led to the band's disbandment.

Initial Release

"Carouselambra" debuted as the fifth track on Led Zeppelin's eighth and final studio album, , issued on August 15, 1979, in the United States by . The album was packaged in a distinctive brown paper bag outer sleeve, concealing one of six variant inner sleeves featuring different views of a tavern scene, designed by . Clocking in at 10:34, the track stands as the second-longest in Led Zeppelin's studio catalog, surpassed only by "" at 11:08 from . It appeared on all initial formats of the album, including vinyl LP, cassette, and , though "Carouselambra" itself received no standalone single release. The song's title derives from the carousel-like quality of its opening section, a name devised by during rehearsals.

Musical Composition

Structure and Instrumentation

"Carouselambra" features a three-part structure that unfolds over its 10:34 duration, beginning with a fast-paced synthesizer-driven section from 0:00 to 4:30 that establishes a dynamic, keyboard-led momentum. This is followed by a mid-tempo reflective interlude featuring arpeggios on from 4:30 to 7:00, providing a contrasting contemplative mood before transitioning into an energetic up-tempo finale from 7:00 to 10:34 that builds to a climactic close. The song's key instrumentation centers on John Paul Jones's work on synthesizers, including the , alongside his bass lines that underpin the rhythmic foundation. delivers layered vocals that weave through the sections, adding vocal depth and texture, while provides rhythm guitar support using his double-neck guitar. The arrangement incorporates notable tempo shifts, with a fast-paced opening, slower mid-tempo interlude, and accelerating up-tempo finale to heighten the dramatic progression. Harmonically, the verses emphasize a progression in and chords, creating modal ambiguity that enhances the song's exploratory feel.

Innovations and Techniques

"Carouselambra" features several innovative techniques that distinguish it within Led Zeppelin's catalog, particularly in its integration of electronic effects and processing to expand the band's rock sound. utilized the Roland GR-500 during rehearsals in May 1978, employing it to generate sustained tones and string-like swells that added a synthetic orchestral depth to the track, especially in the middle section. This device allowed to trigger polyphonic voices from his guitar, blending traditional guitar playing with electronic timbres for a novel texture. Complementing the synthesizer, Page attached a Gizmotron to his guitar, a mechanical device that produces bowing effects by vibrating strings with rotating wheels, mimicking the sustained resonance of bowed string instruments without requiring an . This innovation created haunting drones and infinite sustain in the song's slower central portion, evoking an eerie, cello-like quality that enhanced the atmospheric mood. The Gizmotron's ability to generate unusual harmonics and polyphonic was pivotal in achieving these orchestral simulations. John Paul Jones dominated the arrangement with multi-tracked , overdubbing layers to craft intricate arpeggiated patterns in the opening section that simulate the whirling motion of a , giving rise to the song's title and its titular illusion. These synthesizer elements, integrated into the band's heavy rock framework, represented a bold incorporation of progressive electronic influences, with the repetitive, cycling motifs providing a foundation across the track's three-part form. Robert 's vocals underwent processing with echo and reverb to impart an ethereal, distant quality, aligning with trends of the late 1970s that emphasized spatial effects for immersive soundscapes; however, the final mix buried these vocals amid the instrumentation, a decision Plant later expressed over for obscuring the lyrical delivery. This treatment contributed to the song's otherworldly ambiance, though it prioritized instrumental layers over vocal clarity.

Lyrics and Themes

Content and Interpretation

"Carouselambra" opens with the evocative lines "Sisters of the bide their time in quiet , / Await their place within the ring of calm," portraying figures in a state of mystical waiting and poised tranquility amid potential turmoil. This imagery introduces a theme of anticipation, where the "sisters" stand ready for moments of release, suggesting a deliberate pause before inevitable change. The recurring chorus intensifies the sense of and with its insistent repetition: "Where was your word, ? / Where was your helping, where was your bow?" These questions underscore a profound search for direction, support, and meaning in a disorienting . Central to the song's themes is disillusionment with the cyclical nature of existence, embodied in the title "Carouselambra," which evokes the repetitive motion of a carousel intertwined with an ambient, dreamlike quality. The lyrics depict entrapment in endless loops of chaos and fleeting joy, as seen in references to a "ring of calm" disrupted by darker passages like "Dull is the armor, cold is the day." has described the words as a reflection of Led Zeppelin's internal strife and the hollow illusions of fame during the band's waning years, capturing a sense of collective exhaustion and fractured unity. Interpretations often view allusions to "singers" and "players" as metaphors for the group's dynamics, symbolizing conflicts among creative forces trapped in their own performance. The pursuit of serenity amid permeates the text, with lines like "Take of the fruit but guard the " implying a cautious preservation of essence despite surrounding excess and overrun. This search for resolution hints at broader existential struggles, briefly touched by Plant's personal bereavement in , yet primarily centered on thematic rather than specific events. Poetic repetition throughout fosters a that reinforces the carousel's endless turning, while in phrases such as "ring of calm" lends a soothing sonic texture to the underlying tension.

Personal Context

"Carouselambra" was composed in the aftermath of the tragic death of Robert Plant's five-year-old son, Karac, on July 26, 1977, from a stomach virus, an event that plunged Plant into profound grief and strained his relationships within Led Zeppelin. The lyrics subtly reflect this personal loss and Plant's frustration with the emotional distance shown by bandmates, particularly , who did not attend Karac's funeral alongside , leaving Plant feeling unsupported during his crisis. Plant later interpreted lines such as "Who cares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand?" as a veiled reproach toward absent companions who failed to provide solace, underscoring Page's unreliability amid Plant's vulnerability. In a 2003 Mojo interview, Plant expressed deep regret over the song's lyrics, which openly voiced the mounting tensions within during their 1978 recording sessions for , stating, "I rue it so much now... The whole story of Led Zeppelin in its latter years is in that song, and I can’t hear the words." He wished for a different outcome, lamenting how the track captured unresolved interpersonal conflicts that he would have preferred to handle more privately. This disclosure highlighted Plant's hindsight on the 1978 sessions as a period of emotional rawness, where grief intertwined with band disillusionment. Plant's , centered on the being overshadowed in the mix, has been reiterated in media coverage since, including articles in 2020 and 2024, but stems primarily from his 2003 reflections on the fraught dynamics post-Karac's death and the lack of communal support. He connected the song directly to his individual struggles, viewing it as an inadvertent airing of private band frictions that might have altered their trajectory if addressed differently.

Production

Recording Process

The initial ideas for "Carouselambra" were sketched during Led Zeppelin's rehearsal sessions at Clearwell Castle in the Royal Forest of Dean, , , in May 1978, under the working title "The Epic", marking the band's first gathering following a period of personal turmoil. These sessions, arranged by , aimed to test the viability of continuing as a unit amid emotional strain, though the atmosphere proved creatively subdued. The full recording of "Carouselambra" took place from November to December 1978 at in , , ABBA's newly established state-of-the-art facility equipped for analog multitrack production. The studio's unusually dry acoustics presented an adjustment from the band's prior experiences with more reverberant spaces, necessitating careful integration of John Paul Jones's synthesizers—particularly the —with live drum tracks and other elements. Multiple overdubs were employed to layer vocals and apply guitar effects, supporting the track's complex, synth-dominated structure. The sessions unfolded amid significant band exhaustion, exacerbated by Robert Plant's ongoing grief over his son's death and Page's heroin addiction, which contributed to disjointed work patterns—daytime efforts by Plant and Jones contrasting with nocturnal contributions from Page and John Bonham. Despite these difficulties, the track was completed by the end of 1978, with final mixes overseen by Page at the studio.

Personnel

The recording of "Carouselambra" featured the core members of Led Zeppelin, with no additional session musicians involved.
  • Robert Plant – lead and backing vocals. Plant provided the primary vocal performance, layered with backing elements to enhance the song's dynamic shifts, but contributed no instrumental parts.
  • Jimmy Page – electric guitar (Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck), Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer, producer. Page's guitar work supported the track's texture, utilizing the double-neck for rhythmic and lead passages, while the Roland GR-500 added synthesized tones processed through effects like the Gizmotron for distortion. He also co-produced the album.
  • John Paul Jones – bass guitar (Fender Precision), synthesizers (Yamaha GX-1), piano. Jones handled the foundational bass lines and dominated the arrangement with synthesizer layers from the , creating the song's prominent polyphonic keyboard motifs, alongside contributions in transitional sections.
  • John Bonham – drums, percussion (Ludwig kit). Bonham delivered the rhythmic drive using his signature Ludwig setup, emphasizing complex fills and grooves that underpinned the track's evolving tempos.
The engineering was handled by Leif Mases at in , .

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Upon its release in August 1979, "Carouselambra" elicited mixed responses from critics, who often highlighted its ambitious length and synthesizer-driven sound as both innovative and overly indulgent. In a review for published on October 18, 1979, Charles M. Young described the track as a "ten-minute monstrosity" built on an "extremely lame" and repetitive keyboard riff, criticizing its excessive duration, lack of dynamics, and directionless progression that failed to coalesce into a compelling whole. American music publications offered similarly divided takes, praising the song's experimental scope while faulting its progressive excesses. Some U.S. outlets noted the track's bold incorporation of , but lamented its overindulgence in prog-rock flourishes that overshadowed the band's traditional strengths. In the , press coverage framed "Carouselambra" as an experimental pivot toward futuristic synth textures, yet critiqued its execution for burying Robert Plant's vocals beneath dense keyboard layers. Chris Bohn's August 11, 1979, review in called it a sprawling, synth-dominated epic that aimed for mastery through its structural changes, but faulted Plant's strained, self-important delivery as macho-mannered and lacking excitement amid the sluggish, prominent work.

Retrospective Views

In the years following its release, "Carouselambra" continued to elicit mixed responses in retrospective analyses, often highlighting its departure from Led Zeppelin's traditional sound. A 2015 review of the deluxe edition of In Through the Out Door in PopMatters described the track as a "synth epic that people would expect from either Styx or Genesis," criticizing its length and the dominance of synthesizers over Jimmy Page's guitar, though it conceded the tune's catchiness could leave listeners humming despite its flaws. By the 2020s, opinions had shifted toward greater appreciation for the song's ambition and innovation, positioning it as an underrated gem in the band's catalog. Articles in Far Out Magazine from 2023 and 2024 praised its thematic depth, portraying it as a poetic exploration of disillusionment and introspection that captured Led Zeppelin's late-period tensions through progressive soundscapes and a ten-minute structure blending synth-driven sections with rock grooves. This appreciation continued into 2025, with pieces framing the song as signaling the band's end due to internal dysfunction while highlighting its experimental value. Similarly, a 2023 piece in Society of Rock lauded "Carouselambra" as a "highly experimental and keyboard-driven journey," emphasizing its adaptability and dynamic progression as evidence of the band's willingness to evolve, marking it as one of their most ambitious lesser-known compositions. A 2021 analysis in Ultimate Classic Rock further reinforced this view, calling it a "glorious, 10-minute mess" fusing , prog, , and heavy metal elements that would stand as a career highlight for lesser bands. Among fans, the song has seen growing appreciation for its musical complexity, frequently ranking in the mid-tier of Led 's in modern polls and rankings. In a 2023 Ultimate ranking of all 92 Zeppelin songs, "Carouselambra" placed 69th, reflecting its polarizing yet respected status as a bold experiment rather than a outright dismissal. Academic and musicological perspectives have also reevaluated the track's significance in the broader rock landscape, noting its heavy reliance on John Paul Jones's synthesizers.

Performances and Legacy

Live History

"Carouselambra" was never performed live by Led Zeppelin during their active years. The song's elaborate structure and technical demands made it a challenging candidate for stage adaptation, and despite considerations for inclusion in their planned 1980 North American tour, it remained unplayed in concert. The band had tentatively included "Carouselambra" on a proposed setlist for the fall 1980 tour, which was intended to follow their successful European leg earlier that year. During the 1980 European tour, Led Zeppelin performed other tracks from In Through the Out Door such as "In the Evening" and "All My Love," but "Carouselambra" was not included in those setlists. This tour would have marked Led Zeppelin's return to North America after a three-year absence, with tickets already on sale for dates in cities like Detroit and Chicago. However, the tour was abruptly canceled following the death of drummer John Bonham on September 25, 1980, from pulmonary edema caused by excessive alcohol consumption; Bonham had passed away after a day of heavy drinking during what was meant to be the band's first rehearsal for the outing on September 24. This tragedy not only ended the immediate touring plans but also led to the band's dissolution announcement on December 4, 1980, foreclosing any future opportunities for a live rendition. Several factors contributed to the song's unsuitability for live , including its length of over 10 minutes, the prominent role of synthesizers requiring multi-instrumental proficiency from , and the intricate transitions between its three distinct sections. Jones would have needed to simultaneously handle complex bass lines—played with his left hand—while performing lead keyboard parts with his right, a feat that posed logistical difficulties without additional onstage support. These elements, combined with the band's evolving sound toward keyboard-heavy arrangements on their 1979 album , clashed with their traditional guitar-driven live format. Partial rehearsals of the track, originally titled "The Epic," were conducted at Clearwell Castle in May 1978 during pre-production for , and these early arrangements have been documented in bootleg recordings that capture an incomplete version of the song. No evidence exists of further rehearsals specifically for the 1980 tour, underscoring how the band's final days curtailed any potential development for live execution.

Later Uses and Alternate Versions

During the 1995–1996 Page and Plant world tour, Robert Plant incorporated the middle verse of "Carouselambra" into live performances of "In the Evening," creating an extended medley that highlighted the song's thematic connections to Led Zeppelin's later work. This integration occurred on multiple dates, such as the May 13, 1995, show at the San Diego Sports Arena, where the blend added an intriguing layer to the setlist drawn from In Through the Out Door. In 2015, the deluxe edition reissue of included a previously unreleased of "Carouselambra," retitled "The Epic," featuring fewer overdubs and a rawer presentation of the synthesizers compared to the original version. Clocking in at 10:46, this alternate take strips back some of the polished production elements, offering listeners a glimpse into the song's developmental stage during the 1978–1979 recording sessions at . "Carouselambra" has not inspired major covers by prominent artists, with no notable samples or official remixes documented in music databases. Instead, it has appeared in fan-created edits and tributes, including vocal-boosted remixes and instrumental covers shared online in the 2020s, such as a 2023 fan emphasizing Plant's and a 2020 tribute by the internet-based Led Zeppelin Peoples Front of Zeppelin. The 2015 remaster of , overseen by , enhanced the clarity of "Carouselambra," bringing forward subtler instrumental layers like John Paul Jones's textures and John Bonham's fills that were less prominent in earlier pressings. This updated audio has sustained the track's presence in modern listening formats, contributing to its rediscovery among newer audiences through digital platforms.

References

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