“How Many More Times” is the ninth and final track on Plant/Page/Jones/Bonham’s 1969 debut album, Led Zeppelin.
At eight and a half minutes, “How Many More Times” is the longest song on the album. It’s one of three Led Zeppelin songs on which Page used bowed guitar.
In an interview he gave to Guitar World in 1993, Page stated that the song “was made up of little pieces I developed when I was with the Yardbirds, as were other numbers such as ‘Dazed and Confused’. It was played live in the studio with cues and nods.”
The title and Plant’s vocals reference Howlin’ Wolf’s “How Many More Years” (1951), as well as other songs by blues musicians he admired at the time of recording.
John Mendelsohn of Rolling Stone called “How Many More Times” the album’s “most representative cut”. Mendelsohn especially complimented Page’s guitar solo and Bonham’s drumming.
This song is also included in my newest Spotify playlist: Stormbringers & Mammoth Riff Ridersâa heavy package of big lumbering brontosaurus riffs to kick out coronavirus. Other than Led Zeppelin there’s also old school veterans from the likes of Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Grand Funk Railroad, Kiss, AC/DC, et al.
Speaking of the video, Plant-Page-Jones-Bonham, such a powerhouse of the godforsaken rockers, dontcha think?
