| "Trampled Under Foot" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Netherlands single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single byLed Zeppelin | ||||
| from the albumPhysical Graffiti | ||||
| B-side | "Black Country Woman" | |||
| Released | 2 April 1975 (1975-04-2) (US) | |||
| Recorded | February 1974; April–May 1974[1] | |||
| Studio | Ronnie Lane Mobile Studio, Headley Grange, Hampshire; Olympic, London[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:38 | |||
| Label | Swan Song | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Page | |||
| Led Zeppelin singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"Trampled Under Foot" is a song by Englishrock groupLed Zeppelin. A funk-influenced piece withJohn Paul Jones onclavinet, it was included on their 1975 albumPhysical Graffiti. The song was released as a single in several countries and was frequently performed in concert.
The lyrics were inspired by blues musicianRobert Johnson's 1936 song "Terraplane Blues".[10] ATerraplane is a classic car, and the song uses car parts as metaphors for sex—"pump your gas", "rev all night", etc. The themes of these songs however differ; "Terraplane Blues" is about infidelity, while "Trampled Under Foot" is about giving in to sexual temptation.[11]
The song evolved out of a jam session in 1972 and is credited toRobert Plant,Jimmy Page andJohn Paul Jones.[12] Much rehearsal went into perfecting the relentless semi-funk riff that dominates this song.[10] John Paul Jones has creditedStevie Wonder with the inspiration for the beat ("Superstition", 1972), which he played on aclavinet.[10][13] Page played through awah-wah pedal and, as producer, employedreverse echo on the recording.[10][14]
Billboard described "Trampled Under Foot" as "the most commercial single [Led Zeppelin] put together in several years" and as having "a powerfulstaccatto beat."[15]Cashbox called it a "high-powered effort" that "packs a punch that is sure to be felt on top of the charts."[16]Record World said that "As Zeppelin-sanity begins to reachBeatlemaniacal proportions, the stage is set for the heavy metalmen to take their first single fromPhysical Graffiti to the top."[17] Released in April 1975, it reached number 38 on theBillboard Hot 100.[18]
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] | 60 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] | 41 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[18] | 38 |
| USCashbox[21] | 28 |
| USRecord World[22] | 39 |
"Trampled Under Foot" became a standard part ofLed Zeppelin concerts from 1975 onwards, being played on every tour until 1980.[10]In 2012, the song was performed during theLondon Olympics opening ceremony as a part of a selected playlist.[23]
A rough mix of the track with less overdubbing was titled "'Brandy & Coke'(Trampled Under Foot) [Initial Rough Mix]". It was released on 11 February 2015 (on iTunes), as part of theremastering process of all nine albums.[24] The rest of the album was released on 23 February 2015.
According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[1]
The keyboard-driven, hard rock track "Trampled Under Foot" was popular on FM stations.
"Houses of the Holy" and "Trampled Under Foot" were tightly constructed, even danceable hard rock tunes.
The tracklist is like the Ten Commandments of hard rock, wielding "Custard Pie", "The Wanton Song", "Trampled Under Foot", "Ten Years Gone", and "Kashmir".
