Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” Named Greatest Classic Rock Song for Iconic Drum Beat
Atlantic Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A Drum Intro That Still Echoes
More than fifty years after its release, a 1971 track by Led Zeppelin has been ranked the “Greatest Classic Rock Song” of all time. According to a list compiled by Great Bands, the top honor went to “When the Levee Breaks,” a song many fans link directly to its famous drum intro.
The track first appeared as the closing cut on the band’s untitled fourth album in 1971. Over time, it has become known for the powerful sound created by drummer John Bonham. One fan wrote in the ranking’s comment section, “Most memorable drum beat ever.”
Praise From Critics and Musicians
That opinion has been shared by music writers for decades. In Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music, author Dave Lewis described the recording as featuring “one of the most powerful drum sounds ever committed to tape.” The two-bar break that opens the song has since become part of rock history.
A 2013 article in Esquire looked at rap samples and called the intro “one of the most monumental pieces of rock drumming ever recorded.” The same piece noted that it is one of the most widely sampled drum parts, used by artists such as Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Beastie Boys.
From Blues Roots to Rock Standard
“When the Levee Breaks” was not originally written by Led Zeppelin. The song was first recorded in 1929 by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie. It was inspired by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
Singer Robert Plant kept much of the early lyrics when the band created its version. Guitarist Jimmy Page built a new riff around the words, turning a country blues tune into a heavier and more layered track. The finished piece closed an album that also featured “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” and “Rock and Roll.”
Bonham died in 1980 at the age of 32 due to pulmonary aspiration. After his death, Led Zeppelin decided to disband.
The Rest of the Top 10
The complete Top 10 ranking of “Greatest Classic Rock Songs by Great Bands” includes:
“When the Levee Breaks” – Led Zeppelin
“A Day in the Life” – The Beatles
“Gimme Shelter” – The Rolling Stones
“Echoes” – Pink Floyd
“Sultans of Swing” – Dire Straits
“Baba O’Riley” – The Who
“Kashmir” – Led Zeppelin
“Brothers in Arms” – Dire Straits
“Come Together” – The Beatles
“Light My Fire” – The Doors
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