This great acoustic Zeppelin tune comes off 1971’s Led Zeppelin IV. This is quite possibly the first Cover Wars selection where the original studio take does not feature any drums. Though there is a tambourine in the mix.

Cover Wars

Also, this song is supposedly about Joni Mitchell – go figure.

The Contestants:

Dread Zeppelin: Longtime readers may remember Dread Zeppelin’s winning combination of an Elvis Impersonator and a reggae band from the All Of My Love edition. Source: Hot & Spicy Beanburger

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Robert Plant on the band:

READ ON for the scoop on the rest of this week’s contestants…

Great White: Do NOT skip this version in your listening. It’s ridiculous how authentic this one sounds. Unreal. Source: Great Zeppelin: Tribute To Led Zeppelin

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Jake Shimabukuro: Really gorgeous stuff from this Hawaii-born ukulele phenom. Shimabukuro also released a studio version of Going To California on his 2007 release My Life. Source: 11-7-2007

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Some Bonus Video:

John Cowan Band: I featured a John Cowan medley a few weeks back in Last Week’s Sauce, but that was not the inspiration for this week’s selection. The real reason I picked this song, well partially, is because at time of publishing, I’ll be on an airplane to California. Source: 2-23-2008

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New Monsoon: Oh don’t you worry, I wasn’t going to forget the jambands all together this week. New Monsoon’s instrumentation and vocal range fits perfectly for this tune. Source: 7-28-2006

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Ryan Montbleau Band: Ryan Montbleau has been showing up in a lot of recent Cover Wars pieces, but I assure it’s merely coincidental. His band keeps showing up when I search for the song I have selected, and it’s always too good to not include in the running. Source: 7-28-2005

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Checking in on last week’s Sultans Of Swing Cover Wars, there is no big surprise – the readers have given a mandate to the arrangement by the Trey Anastasio Band.