| "Going to California" | |
|---|---|
| Song byLed Zeppelin | |
| from the albumLed Zeppelin IV | |
| Released | 8 November 1971 (1971-11-08) |
| Recorded | 1971 |
| Studio | Headley Grange, Hampshire, England |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:32 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Songwriters | Jimmy Page,Robert Plant |
| Producer | Jimmy Page |
"Going to California" is a ballad recorded by the English rock bandLed Zeppelin. It was released on theiruntitled fourth album in 1971.
In 2012,Rolling Stone ranked "Going to California" number 11 on their list of the 40 greatest Led Zeppelin songs of all time.[4]
"Going to California" is afolk-style song, withRobert Plant on vocal, acoustic guitar byJimmy Page andmandolin byJohn Paul Jones. Page uses an alternative guitar tuning (D–A–D–G–B–D or double drop D tuning) for the recording.[5]
The song started out as a song about Californianearthquakes and when Jimmy Page, audio engineerAndy Johns and band managerPeter Grant travelled toLos Angeles to mixLed Zeppelin IV, they coincidentally experienced a minor earthquake.[6] At this point it was known as "Guide to California".[6]
According to music writer Nick DeRiso,Joni Mitchell also inspired the song: "Plant makes a clear reference to 'I Had a King', the opening song from Mitchell's debut album, 1968'sSong to a Seagull: 'To find a queen without a king', he quietly offers in the final verse. 'They say she plays guitar, cries and sings.'"[7] In an interview forSpin magazine, Plant admitted that it "might be a bit embarrassing at times lyrically, but it did sum up a period of my life when I was 22."[7]
AtLed Zeppelin concerts the band performed this song during their acoustic sets, first playing it on theirSpring 1971 tour of the United Kingdom.[6] One live version, from Led Zeppelin's performance atEarls Court in 1975, is featured on disc 2 of theLed Zeppelin DVD and again on theMothership DVD. The song was also performed at all shows on Led Zeppelin's mammoth 1977 US tour.
It was performed on Plant's solo tours during 1988/1989 and at theKnebworth Silver Clef show in 1990. He played it again on hisMighty ReArranger tour, with additions of adouble bass and asynthesiser.
The Black Crowes andSlash performed a cover of the song on January 30, 2025 atKia Forum inInglewood, California forFireAid to help with relief efforts for theJanuary 2025 Southern California wildfires.
A different version of this song is featured on the second disc of the remastered 2CD deluxe edition ofLed Zeppelin IV. Known as "Going to California (Mandolin/Guitar Mix)", it is an instrumental recorded on 29 January 1971, with theRolling Stones Mobile Studio at Headley Grange with engineer Andy Johns.
According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[8]
Includes quote fromSpin
