Sometimes, we just need to appreciate talent like art.
Jimmy Page quickly demonstrated in “Led Zeppelin” that he was a guitar solo master. The group’s debut album from 1969 features some of his finest guitar solos, and each of their subsequent albums featured their guitarist in the spotlight.
Page’s playing on “The Ocean” may be his most underappreciated solo, although he has contributed to several masterpieces. Unlike their moniker, “Led Zeppelin” quickly reached the stratosphere after their launch.
Fans in the United States responded enthusiastically to the band’s music, validating Page’s belief that he had assembled an exceptional group. Led Zeppelin’s admirers came out in droves to see the band perform, and the band dedicated “The Ocean” by Houses of the Holy to them.
It is not a coincidence that the group eclipsed the Beatles’ concert attendance record shortly after the album’s release. Plant sings about singing to the ocean of listeners and hearing the ocean below in response.
The main guitar riff of “The Ocean” rises and falls like crashing waves on the shore, but Page’s closing solo is the highlight. “We will not dispute that “Stairway to Heaven” is a classic or that “Since I’ve Been Loving You” is one of the finest guitar solos ever. However, “The Ocean” contains one of Page’s most impressive solos.”
On the studio version, Page used multiple guitar tracks. In keeping with the semi-nautical theme, one stereo channel contains his solo; simultaneously, the other has some faintly surf-inspired strumming behind it.
“The Ocean” may also be Page’s finest example of string bends. He was an expert at manipulating notes with bends as he employed them to significant effect in his concluding solo.
He employs a few minor string bends before a massive rise at 3:50, just before he engages in some quick-fingered playing in the middle of his second solo. During his time in the limelight, the guitarist also performs all his stunts.
In addition to the large bends and dazzling fingerwork, Page adds texture to his solo with multiple string rakes throughout his performance. Production-wise, Page’s “The Ocean” solo may be among his brightest-sounding solos.
According to the guitarist, “Houses of the Holy” was the most enjoyable “Led Zeppelin” album to record. Between the notes he plays and the solo’s crystal-clear sound, we can hear how many pages enjoyed playing solo.
Page’s performance is restrained and controlled during the concluding solo, yet still emotional. “The Ocean” is one of Page’s most underappreciated solos due to its rakes, bends, fast fingerwork, production, and multi-tracked stereo guitars.
Led Zeppelin opposed the release of singles, so “The Ocean” was never released as a single. “D’yer Maker” and “Over the Hills and Far Away” were the only singles released by “Houses of the Holy.” Nonetheless, “The Ocean” concluded one of Led Zeppelin’s most lucrative albums.
“Houses of the Holy” debuted in the top half of the Billboard Albums chart in mid-April 1973 and ascended to the number one spot by mid-May. During its 106 weeks on the rankings, the record reached number one for two weeks.
Houses were certified gold by the RIAA with 500,000 sales less than two weeks after its release, eventually achieving the platinum status of one million sales eleven times over.
Jimmy Page’s second solo on “The Ocean” may be one of his hidden career highlights with “Led Zeppelin.” During his moment in the spotlight, he employs every technique in his arsenal, including multi-tracked guitars, bright production, enormous bends, string rakes, and quick fingertips. It was heard in the final moments of “Houses of the Holy,” but it was well worth the wait.