An early version of No Quarter has been called “perfect” by fans of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin.
The song would feature on the group’s Houses of the Holy release, though a “rare” early recording shared to YouTube has been hailed as the superior version. Fans have speculated that this early version was played and recorded in time to feature on Led Zeppelin IV, but was cut. While there is no confirmation of this, it proves to be a popular theory among fans in the comment section of the early version shared on the video-sharing platform. The “freaking killer” version of the song is seen as a much better rendition than the one featured on the group’s 1973 release, though a few fans have speculated how the “creepy yet beautiful” song evolved in time for the group’s follow-up to their untitled fourth album.
One fan wrote: “The jazzy and Brazilian vibe is amazing! I’m loving this version so much!” Another added: “This is freaking killer! John Bonham baby!” A third shard: “Something about this early track is just so perfect to my ears.”
A listener has since shared their thoughts on how the song became a post-Led Zeppelin masterpiece for the group, suggesting the key change and “down tuning” used by the band is crucial. They wrote: “The secret to the finished studio version of this song is Page recorded the music in the key of D, at normal speed, in standard E tuning.
“Then the wizard slowed the tape down for Plant to sing over the finished song. By slowing the tape down, he dropped the pitch from D to C which made it sound much more heavy and foreboding.
“It’s a similar effect to down-tuning. Like Tony Iommi did in early Black Sabbath. This is why No Quarter sounds so epic, creepy, yet so damn beautiful! One of my top five Led Zeppelin songs ever, because it almost sounds like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath had a baby!”
Another user agreed with the assessment of the song being a “beautiful” recording, with one stunned by how “clean” the solo sounds. They wrote: “How clean is that fucking solo? Jimmy Page, you are a god. Thank you for uploading this, man. So many gems on your channel.”
A third shared: “Sounds like a piece that could be made today. The sombre tone and melodies of No Quarter are so good…” Some are keener on this version than the released and final piece, which does not have as much of the samba and jazz influence as heard here.
One listener wrote: “I really like this earlier arrangement, which brings out the Samba-Jazz in this. The harmonic structure can be explained concisely (and simply?) in terms of modes: ‘D’ dorian mode, moving (‘C’ is a transition pitch in bass) to ‘B-flat’ Lydian mode, and then ‘E-flat’ Lydian mode.
“Then it’s back to ‘d’ dorian — with the ‘d’ minor (7?) and ‘G’ Major chords (Jimmy’s guitar riff). A female vocalist should have sung on this. Imagine this being like Yours is the Light on Santana’s Welcome album, which was from 1973.”
