LED ZEPPELIN - FOOL IN THE RAIN

'Now I will stand on the rain on the corner, 

watch the people go shuffling downtown'

A new era, a new direction or at least a new diversion for Led Zeppelin. One of my personal highlights from In Through The Out Door, a refreshing blast of new influences meeting their power and crunch. Robert would talk about the musical and social influences of the time, in particular the 1978 Football World Cup in Argentina.

Consequently Fool In The Rain mixes the devastating might of Led Zeppelin's muscle with powerful and seductive Latin and South American rhythms and time signatures. Bonzo's dexterity is so obvious and important here, so precise and dextrous. Over the unusual riff, Robert weaves his tale of being stood up with aplomb, stretching his vocal chords with no little amount of joy and delight.

The extra percussion, including whistle from John's late brother Mick, is brilliant, adding an army of percussion to the mix, while Jimmy treats his solo through an octivider and fuzz face pedal to add a unique sound to a wonderfully dissonant treat. 

After returning to the main theme, overdubbed acoustic guitars emphasise the Latino edge and complexity of the arrangement. I always smile hearing Jimmy's acoustic brilliance during the heightening intensity of the coda. For me this is one of his best contributions of the album sessions, adding colour and melody, all for the best for the song. Genius.

Recorded on November 22nd 1978, it's one of the highpoints of the sessions for me. It looks forward while utilising the latent power of Led Zeppelin with ease. Robert is at his best on this, soaring and weaving through the scales and signatures and the rhythm section is just so. Led Zeppelin into the 1980's,or so we thought and hoped.

Sadly Fool In The Rain was never played live. We have a bare bones outtake and the astonishing Bonzo alone drum backing track, but no live or rehearsal versions. 

It was chosen as the single from In Through The Out Door, along with Hot Dog and there are numerous Worldwide singles in usually uninspiring picture sleeves out there. The rarities are the various promo editions, from the USA to Japan and South America.

A link to the future with a nod to the past. Shame we never got to hear the fruition of the next phase of Led Zeppelin into the 1980's.

We do have a nice treat in a live version by Pearl Jam with Robert guesting, plus Jason has performed it live with his 'Led Zeppelin Experience'.......Enjoy!