Genre Hard rock Label Swan Song | Length 4:20 | |
Released 24 February 1975 (1975-02-24) Recorded Headley Grange, Headley, England, 1974
Olympic Studios, London, 1974 Writer(s) Jimmy Page
Robert Plant | ||
"Custard Pie" is the opening track on the English rock band Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975.
Contents
Lyrics
The lyrics to the riff-heavy song pay homage to several blues songs; specifically "Drop Down Mama" by Sleepy John Estes, "Shake 'Em On Down" by Bukka White, and to a lesser extent "I Want Some of Your Pie" by Blind Boy Fuller.
The song contains somewhat difficult-to-comprehend lyrics, but, like several other songs on the album, they are full of sexual double entendres. In this case, "Custard Pie" refers to a woman's genitals and the song is rife with references to sex: "Your custard pie, yeah, sweet and nice / When you cut it mama, save me a slice", as well as "chewin' a piece of your custard pie".
Recording
"Custard Pie" contains a wah-wah solo by guitarist Jimmy Page, which was played through an ARP synthesizer. It also features an electric clavinet played by John Paul Jones and a harmonica solo by vocalist Robert Plant. Bonham's drumming is prominent throughout the track.
Live performances
Despite being rehearsed for Led Zeppelin's 1975 North American tour, this track was never completely played live at Led Zeppelin concerts. The band briefly performed a portion of the song as part of their acoustic set during a concert in Houston, Texas on 21 May 1977.
In later years, Robert Plant incorporated a chorus of the song on the end of the live version of his solo song, "Tall Cool One". Page also produced his own live version on his Outrider tour. Page and Plant finally performed the complete song together on occasion in 1996 while touring behind their No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded album. In 1999, Page again performed the song, this time whilst on his tour with the Black Crowes. A version of "Custard Pie" performed by Page and the Black Crowes can be found on the album Live at the Greek.