Boogie with Stu
"Boogie with Stu" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 studio double album Physical Graffiti. The track is notable for its blend of rock and roll with boogie-woogie piano, and its informal, jam-session feel.
Origins and Composition
"Boogie with Stu" originated during the recording sessions for Led Zeppelin's fourth album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV, in 1971. The song was developed from an impromptu jam that took place at Headley Grange, a mansion in Hampshire, England, which the band used for several recording projects.
Led Zeppelin had hired the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio and were accompanied by the Rolling Stones' road manager and piano player, Ian Stewart, who ended up jamming with the band on piano. Ian Stewart, known affectionately as "Stu," added a boogie-woogie piano style which heavily influences the track, providing a lively and rhythmic foundation to the song. John Bonham's drumming was improvised in the studio. It has been reported that vocalist Robert Plant also played guitar on the track (with Jimmy Page playing mandolin). The slapping guitar sound came from an overdub session with an ARP guitar synthesizer.
The original working title for this song was "Sloppy Drunk", a title that Plant came up with.
This song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts.
Recording and Production
Led Zeppelin recorded "Boogie with Stu" during the same sessions that produced much of the material for Physical Graffiti. The band members were:
Musicians:
- Jimmy Page – acoustic guitar, mandolin, ARP synthesizer, producer, remastering, digital remastering
- Robert Plant – vocals, acoustic guitar
- John Paul Jones – acoustic bass
- John Bonham - drums, percussion
Production:
- Peter Grant – executive producer
- Keith Harwood - mixing
- Andy Johns - engineer
- Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s)
- George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990)