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.