Since I've Been Loving You

"Since I've Been Loving You" is a blues-rock song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on their 1970 album Led Zeppelin III.

Overview
This was one of the first songs prepared for the Led Zeppelin III album. The song was recorded live in the studio with very little overdubbing. John Paul Jones played Hammond Organ on the song, using the bass pedals for the bassline. It was the only track from the third album that the band had played live prior to the recording sessions, but was reportedly the hardest to record. One version mentions Jimmy Page taking a break following a series of attempts to track the solo. Seemingly unable to get the tone he was desiring, he set about a walk around the studio to clear his mind. Sitting outside of the recording area was his unplugged Supro amplifier, which he utilised, and recorded the final solo on the next take. Audio engineer Terry Manning called it "The best rock guitar solo of all time."

Because of the live recording, this is one of a few songs in which one can hear the faint squeak of John Bonham's bass drum pedal in the studio, the others being "The Ocean" and "The Rain Song" from 1973's Houses of the Holy, "Ten Years Gone" from 1975's Physical Graffiti, and "Bonzo's Montreux" from 1982's Coda and "I Can't Quit You Baby" from the same album. In an interview he gave to Guitar World magazine in 1993, Page made comment of this whilst discussing the remastering of Led Zeppelin tracks:

The only real problem I can remember encountering was when we were putting the first boxed set together. There was an awfully squeaky bass drum pedal on "Since I've Been Loving You". It sounds louder and louder every time I hear it! [laughs]. That was something that was obviously sadly overlooked at the time.

As an improvisational showcase for all four group members, and especially for Jimmy Page's electric blues guitar solos, "Since I've Been Loving You" became a staple and fan favorite of Led Zeppelin's live concert performances from 1970 until the end of their ninth American tour in summer 1973 (it was performed less frequently thereafter). It was played on the 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1979 and 1980 tours, as well as a few times on the 1975 North American tour. Just before this 1975 tour, Page broke the tip of his left ring finger in a train door mishap. They went on with the tour but they had to drop this song and "Dazed and Confused" from the set lists as he couldn't play them properly until his finger healed. In live performances of the song from 1977 onwards, Page would sometimes incorporate some of the solo of "Tea for One", a track from the band's 1976 album Presence that is similar in style to this song.

Page's guitar prowess is well demonstrated in different performances of the song from Madison Square Garden in July 1973, as seen in the group's concert films The Song Remains the Same (and accompanying soundtrack) and Led Zeppelin DVD. There is also a June 1972 live recording of "Since I've Been Loving You" which can be heard on the album How the West Was Won, and another live version on Disc 2 of Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions.

Page and Plant recorded a version of the song in 1994, released on their album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded. Plant also used a sample from this on his solo track "White, Clean, and Neat". "Since I've Been Loving You" was performed at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007.

Accolades
(*) designates unordered lists.

Album versions
• 2

Live versions

 * 2007: John Paul Jones with Gov't Mule

Samples

 * 1988: Robert Plant ("White, Clean and Neat")
 * 2000: Sebutones ("Nibiru")