When the Levee Breaks
Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie wrote “When the Levee Breaks”; Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy put out the earliest release of it on file, in 1929. John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are on the credit through Led Zeppelin’s 1971 version. Also recorded by Led Zeppelin (released 1971), A Perfect Circle (released 2004) and Great White (released 1999).
That drum sound you know has a co-writer who got there in 1929, cutting it first with Kansas Joe McCoy. Put this on and hear the song before anyone plugged it in.
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▶When The Levee Breaks (Album Version)Credited writers: Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie.
John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are on the credit through Led Zeppelin’s 1971 version.
Earliest release on file: this one, 1929.
- Led Zeppelin1971
- Judge1990
- W.A.S.P.1992
- Mojo Nixon & the Toadliquors1993
- John Campbell1993
- Kristin Hersh1994
- Jimmy Page & Robert Plant1994
- Killdozer1995
- Great White1999
- Magic Slim feat. James Cotton1999
- Out of Phase2001
- John Paul Jones2004
15 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.
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