Stairway To Heaven

One of the most requested songs on FM radio stations, Stairway to Heaven was never released officially as a single, from Led Zeppelin IV, although limited promotional pressings were made in Japan. The song had its beginnings during the sessions for Led Zeppelin III at Bron-Yr-Aur, Wales, but was completed at Headley Grange, Hampshire and recorded at Island Studios, London. The lyrics, written by Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, was inspired by his search for spiritual perfection. A seminal influence was the book Magic Arts in Celtic Britain by Lewis Spence, which Plant had recently read and contained references to May Queens, pipers, and bustling hedgerows. The guitar solo was recorded using a 1958 Fender Telecaster, not the double-necked 1968 Gibson EDS-1275 which guitarist Jimmy Page later used for the live version. The song was first played live at Belfast's Ulster Hall on March 5, 1971.