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Who played the recorder on Led Zeppelin’s 1971 masterpiece ‘Stairway to Heaven’?
John Paul Jones played the recorders heard in the middle section of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”. His contribution adds a gentle, almost Celtic-sounding passage before the song grows heavier, helping give the track its sense of journey and contrast.
The article says Jones recorded the part while exploring what the song needed, alongside his work on bass. It links the medieval atmosphere to Led Zeppelin’s interest in Tolkien and historical soundscapes, and argues that Jones’s arrangement made the recorder an effective part of the song’s distinctive sound.
In short
- John Paul Jones played the recorders on “Stairway to Heaven”.
- Their passage adds a medieval, almost Celtic quality.
- The arrangement helps shape the song’s changing atmosphere.
Explained simply
Led Zeppelin were a British rock band formed in 1968, known for combining blues, folk and hard rock. The group’s four members were singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboard player John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham.
“Stairway to Heaven” appeared on the band’s untitled fourth album, released in 1971. Its quieter opening and folk-influenced middle build into a louder rock ending, giving the song a changing sound across its length.
The recorder is a simple woodwind instrument often associated with folk and early music. Led Zeppelin drew on a range of musical influences, and Jones played several instruments as well as bass, including keyboards and recorder.