D'yer Mak'er

"D'yer Mak'er" (intended to be pronounced with a British non-rhotic accent as "Jamaica", is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy.

Overview
This song was meant as a tribute to reggae music. Its genesis is traced to Led Zeppelin's rehearsals at Stargroves in 1972, when drummer John Bonham started with a beat similar to 1950s doo-wop, and then twisted it into a slight off beat tempo, upon which a reggae influence emerged. The distinctive drum sound was created by placing three microphones a good distance away from Bonham's drums.

"D'yer Mak'er" is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs where all four members share the composer credit. This track, as well as another song from the album entitled "The Crunge", was initially not taken seriously by many listeners, and some critics reserved their harshest criticism for these two arrangements.

Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones has expressed his distaste for the song, suggesting that it started off as a joke and wasn't thought through carefully enough. However, "D'yer Mak'er" has gathered critical respect in the years since, and has grown into something of a Led Zeppelin classic. Upon the album's release, Robert Plant was keen to issue the track as a single in the United Kingdom. Atlantic Records went so far as to distribute advance promotional copies to DJs (now valuable collectors' items). While it was released in the US, and the single peaked at #20 in December of 1973, it was ultimately never released in the UK.

This song was never performed live in its entirety at Led Zeppelin concerts, although snatches of it were played during "Whole Lotta Love" during the 1975 concert tour of the United States and "Communication Breakdown" at the Earls Court shows in the same year. On 23 June 1977 at Los Angeles Forum Robert Plant sang the, "Oh, Oh, Oh" refrain and first line during the acoustic set.

Song title pronunciation
The name of the song is derived from a play on the words "Jamaica" and "Did you make her", based on an old joke ("My wife's gone to the West Indies." "Jamaica?" "No, she went of her own accord.") On 21 July 2005, Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant discussed the song during an interview with Mike Halloran, a DJ on radio station FM94/9 in San Diego. During the interview, he talked about the different interpretations and pronunciations of the name of the song. The title, which appears nowhere in the lyrics, was chosen because it reflects the reggae flavour of the song.

Formats and tracklistings
1973 7" single (US/Australia/New Zealand: Atlantic 45-2986, Austria/Germany: Atlantic ATL 10377, Canada: Atlantic AT 2986, France: Atlantic 10377, Greece: Atlantic 2091236, Japan: Warner Pioneer P-1265A, Mexico: Atlantic G-1275, Peru: Atlantic ALT 2986, Spain: Atlantic HS 987, Venezuela: Atlantic 5-001, Yugoslavia: Atlantic 26077)
 * A. "D'yer Mak'er" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 4:23
 * B. "The Crunge" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 3:17

1973 7" single (Holland: Atlantic ATL 10374)
 * A. "D'yer Mak'er" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 4:23
 * B. "Gallows Pole" (trad. arr. Page, Plant) 4:56

1973 7" promo (UK: Atlantic K 10296, South Africa: Trutone 45)
 * A. "D'yer Mak'er" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 4:23
 * B. "The Crunge" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 3:17

1973 7" EP (Mexico: Atlantic GX 07-818)
 * A1. "D'Yer Mak'er" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 4:23
 * A2. "Over the Hills and Far Away" (Page, Plant) 4:47
 * B1. "Black Dog" (Jones, Page, Plant) 4:56
 * B2. "Misty Mountain Hop" (Jones, Page, Plant) 4:38

1973 7" EP (Argentina: Music Hall 40.019)
 * A1. "D'Yer Mak'er" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 4:23
 * A2. "The Crunge" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 3:17
 * B1. "The Ocean" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 4:31
 * B2. "No Quarter" (Jones, Page, Plant) 7:00

Album versions
• 2

Samples

 * 1994: Backyard Rangers ("What's It Gonna Be?")
 * 2007: Sean Kingston ("Me Love")