| "How Many More Times" | |
|---|---|
| Song byLed Zeppelin | |
| from the albumLed Zeppelin | |
| Released | 12 January 1969 (1969-01-12) |
| Recorded | 3 October 1968[1] |
| Studio | Olympic, London[1] |
| Genre | Blues rock[2] |
| Length | 8:28 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Jimmy Page |
"How Many More Times" is the ninth and final track on Englishrock bandLed Zeppelin's 1969 debut albumLed Zeppelin. The song is credited in the album liner toJimmy Page,John Paul Jones, andJohn Bonham, butRobert Plant was later added to theASCAP credits.[4]
At eight and a half minutes, "How Many More Times" is the longest song on the album. It is one of three Led Zeppelin songs on which Page usedbowed guitar.[5]
In an interview he gave toGuitar World magazine in 1993, Page stated that the song "was made up of little pieces I developed when I was with theYardbirds, as were other numbers such as 'Dazed and Confused'. It was played live in the studio with cues and nods."[6]
The "Rosie" and "Hunter" components of the song came spontaneously to the group on the night of the recording session.[5] "The Hunter" was recorded by bluesmanAlbert King withBooker T. & the MGs[7] and was written by Carl Wells and the members of Booker T. & the M.G.'s (Steve Cropper,Donald "Duck" Dunn,Al Jackson, andBooker T. Jones).
The title and Plant's vocals referenceHowlin' Wolf's "How Many More Years" (1951), as well as another Howlin' Wolf tune, "You Gonna Wreck My Life", plus other songs byblues musicians he admired at the time of recording.[8]
In 1970, "How Many More Times" was dropped from Led Zeppelin's typical setlist, although they continued to perform it on occasion until the early stages of their1975 North American tour, when it was re-introduced in full as a result of Jimmy Page's injured finger, which temporarily prevented him from playing the more challenging "Dazed and Confused".[5]
In a contemporary review forLed Zeppelin on release, John Mendelsohn ofRolling Stone called "How Many More Times" the album's "most representative cut". Mendelsohn complimented Page's guitar solo and Bonham's drumming but criticized Plant's vocals, calling them "strained and unconvincing".[9]
According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[1]
John Baldwin,John Bonham,James Patrick Page,R A Plant
