Here are 101 versions of the song that doesn't remain the same, depending on whether it's the the Australian music hall version, the Gilligan's Island version, the backwards version, the backwards splice-and-dice quarter note version, the glass harmonica version, the Doors version, the reggae version and on and on (all MP3s). Much of this came from former FMU DJ KBC's CD of the same name, which took much of it's content from this 1992 LP.
Dusty Cowshit | Hard-Ons | Little Roger & The Goosebumps | Rock Lobsters
Neil Pepper | SCTV | Glass Harp | Leonard Teale | Beatnix
Ludwig Von 88 | Leif Norbergs | John Paul Young | Pardon Me Boys
Kalocin | Fargone Beauties | Richard Cheese | Robyne Dunn
Rolf Harris | GS Incorporated | Australian Doors Show
Dixie Power Trio | Kate Ceberano & Ministry of Fun | Thomas Dimuzio
Sandra Kahn & Michael Turkic | Pat Boone | Tiny Tim & Brave Combo
Nashville Super Pickers | Congo Natty
Foo Fighters | Vienna Symphonic Orchestra | Dolly Parton
Nileppez Del | Dread Zeppelin | Leningrad Cowboys & The Red Army Chorus
UPDATE: Dutch artist Jeroen Offerman learned how to sing Stairway backwards. Here's a page about it from listener Neil's blog, with the full video. Thanks Mike and Neil!
UPDATE 2: Here's version number 39, an instrumental from Redd Kross. Thanks Arthur!
UPDATE 3: Here are a batch more versions I received since my original post. Click below the jump for 17 more Stairways:
Mitsuhiro Nishiwaki (Musicbox) | Nick Barker and The Reptiles | Splice of Life, Inc
Venetian Snares and Speedranch | Norelpref | Barry Crocker & The Doug Anthony Allstars
Etcetera Theater Company | Helen Jones | James Kochalka Superstar
Jodie Gillies | Judi Connell | London Symphony Orchestra
Far Corporation | Stanley Jordan | Sydney Philharmonia
Those Darn Accordians | Toys Went Berserk
Thanks to Norelpref, Eric, Lukas, Matt, Dan and Frank for this last batch!
Also, here is the Stairway Suite page, with MP3 samples of the song as if it were composed by six well known composers. Thanks to Dave B!
Will the number of Stairways we exceed the number of Tico Ticos? We're getting close...
UPDATE 4: Here are four more, bringing the grand total to 60. Thanks to: Lukas, Mark, John and Al!
Iron Maiden | Me First and The Gimme Gimmes
UPDATE 5: We've done it! With the addition of these four versions, we've exceeded the number of versions of Tico Tico, and it's still rising. Will we reach 100 versions? Including in this batch is one by the National Cynical Network, which combined the first 50 or so covers for their version, and a mashup by DJ Earworm. Thanks Phineas, Earworm, Maarten and Noah!
National Cynical Network | DJ Earworm
UPDATE 6: Alas, only two one new version to add today, plus a famous old andt-Stairway diatribe. But more are reportedly on the way. Thanks to Rich, Steven and Barrett! (Later, I realized I already linked Richard Cheese. This is a bad sign, when even I've lost track of what's up here...)
Die Zorros | Richard Cheese | Michael Mills (Spoken Diatribe)
UPDATE 6: Here's three more, courtesy of Eric and John:
Bellanova | Gregorian Masters of Chant | Guster
UPDATE 7: Our man in The Netherlands, Eric, has sent five four more:
Vogelfrai | Not Moby | Final Fantasy X
UPDATE 8: Whoa - hit the jackpot today! Here are 14 more versions, including a Banjo version (Todd Taylor), a yodeling version (Mary Schneider), a string quartet and more. Thanks Eric (aka NaN), Carl and Theo!
Todd Taylor | Camper Van Beethoven | Mary Schneider, Yodeling Queen of Australia
Sisters of Mercy | White Skull | Sons of Ishmael | Whipper Snappers
Stereofeed String Quartet | Orchestra National De Jazz | Havanarama
Reverend Billy C Wirtz | Zakk Wylde | Johnny Bic
UPDATE 9: As we approach the 100 mark, I should announce now my intention to not turn Stairway To Heaven into my life's work - I'll be stopping additions when I reach 101 versions, although after that point, I'll add new versions that are outstanding or unusual, and retire some of the more boring verrsions I've already posted. Here's seven more, thanks to Nan and Mr. You-Know-Who.
The Raleigh Ringers | The Sauerkraut Project | Steve Morse
The Lounge-O-Leers | Helloween | The Dick Twang Band (Dick's page)
UPDATE 10: With these eight versions, we make it to a nice round 101 covers, and I hereby end this little project there. (I removed two other versions, one of which was a duplicate, and another which was a Zeppelin acoustic version!) I'm still open to receiving more versions and I may occasionally rotate dull versions out for new, unusual versions. But no more daily updates. Thanks to Diego, NaN and M-Slick da ninjA for this final round, and thanks to everyone else who submitted versions in the last week!
Dash Rip Rock (Stairway to Freebird) | Short Attention Span Stairway
Jana | Iron Horse | Ann Wilson
Del Pueblo Del Barrio | Jon Brion | M-Slick da ninjA
UPDATE 11: I've eliminated a few misspellings pointed out in the comments, and also deleted links to identical songs with different titles. As a result, we've fallen below 101 versions. If anyone has a version not here, e-mail me at ken at wfmu dot org and I'll add it, so we can get back to 101. (I'm counting the backwards Dutch version as one of the original 101 versions.)
UPDATE 12: We're back up to 101 versions. Thanks Delano and Jeff! The previous version by Heart was in fact Ann Wilson solo, this is Heart live from 1976.
"Unless you're counting the original, which isn't listed for download, there are, at this time, only 55 versions, not 56."
I'm counting that Jeroen Offerman version, even though it's not a download. I think it's the most amazing version of all.
-ken
Posted by: Station Lanager Ken | May 07, 2006 at 12:02 PM
have a listen to the track: ''taurus'' off of the first album by SPIRIT. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. what year is that record? hmmmmmmmmm. were they obscure and unheard of. well, no i don't theenk so.
Posted by: chiefly | May 07, 2006 at 12:45 PM
have a listen to the track: ''taurus'' off of the first album by SPIRIT. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. what year is that record? hmmmmmmmmm. were they obscure and unheard of. well, no i don't theenk so.
Posted by: chiefly | May 07, 2006 at 12:46 PM
Uhm, that's not really the Doors, is it?
They sound too good (sober) for starters, and SWTH was released october 1971, some 3 months after Jim Morisson's death...
Posted by: Erdna | May 07, 2006 at 03:33 PM
I've always preferred Dread Zeppelin's version, though one needs to actually see TORTELVIS (the lead singer) in full Elvis regalia to "get" the complete "effect"
Every beach party I've ever been to always (somehow) happens to have some guy attempting to play "Stairway" on someone's borrowed acoustic guitar 'round the fire pit...
Posted by: Alexa | May 08, 2006 at 01:45 AM
umm, no. it's the australian doors show, as it says in the mp3 filename a tribute band, who dress up like the doors, are selcted for the band on their ability to resemble members of the doors, etc, etc. we have a great tradition of these bands in australia, including, acca dacca (ac/dc), beyond the dark side (pink floyd - who apparently put on a pretty big production, pink floyd endorsed imitation of the dark side of the moon live show, i know a guy who was part of this band... he was kicked out for improvising in the parts where the floyd would, rather than playing the recorded versions note perfect), jet, the vines, and so on...
pick of these for me is the glass harp version.
and who cares if they ripped it off from spirit, it wouldn't matter if they ripped it off from fucking xenakis, it's still a dire piece of crap. all it goes to show ids these guys weren't smart enough to rip off good ideas...
do i sound bitter??
Posted by: jpeatt | May 08, 2006 at 03:56 AM
The Nashville Super Pickers version is actually those spoof-about-music hicks, Hayseed Dixie, whose versions of AC/DC songs are still the best.
Posted by: Tom McCartney | May 08, 2006 at 12:08 PM
geez man...i remember the damn show "the money or the gun" with host andrew denton(he's still around).....he was good back then but now he sux and is like the "bono" of australia.......yuck.
Posted by: LUKEY from ozz | May 08, 2006 at 08:32 PM
What, nothing about Reverend Billy C. Wirtz's tribute "Stairway to Freedbird?" I'm shocked!
Keep up the fine work, guys! If you run any extra versions of LOUIE LOUIE along the way, send 'em my way, OK?
E.P. at LouieLouie.net
Posted by: E.P. | May 08, 2006 at 10:05 PM
Frank Zappa's 1988 Broadway The Hardway Tour
had 59 Performances of Stairway To Heaven
The arrangement is the most advenrurous of any version ever recorded with the 5 piece horn section and Mike Keneally doing Page's solo note for note.
Zappa weaves his magic taking this track from an opening Reggae Vamp at a Mexican Carnival to Satan's Snoffer Misleading a bunch of highly rythmic individuals only mking me wonder why this song gets no airplay whatsoever.
Kill Ugly Radio
Commercial Radio is afraid of Zappa. He could take any song ever written where once he puts his eyebrows on it became Zappa where his genious in comparoson to what has ever or will ever happen in the rock & roll world is mediocre at best.
200 years from now Frank Zappa's impact on music will continue to vinbrate loud and strong like a big note where The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin will be Rock and Roll bands from 200 years ago.
Posted by: Hall900 | May 09, 2006 at 08:55 AM
completedebt@internode.on.net
Posted by: completedebt@internode.on.net | May 09, 2006 at 12:22 PM
"200 years from now Frank Zappa's impact on music will continue to vinbrate loud and strong like a big note where The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin will be Rock and Roll bands from 200 years ago."
Is Hall900 right? You betcha!
Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not wisdom
Wisdom is not truth
Truth is not beauty
Beauty is not love
Love is not music
Music is the BEST!
Posted by: NaN | May 09, 2006 at 03:19 PM
how does today's link to the Richard Cheese version differ from the original link to the exact same file in the same location posted in the original branch? My browser even shows it as a visited link...
Posted by: Al | May 09, 2006 at 04:00 PM
Great to hear the SCTV version, especially since the rights issues deep-sixed this skit's inclusion on the recent box set
Posted by: jamie | May 09, 2006 at 06:46 PM
If anyone has video's from The Money or The Gun I would *love* to have a copy. Either as AVI or I'll pay to have the copy sent... my favourite was the opera version (with the fat lady climbing the staircase ... brilliant!!!!). allan_evans at hotmail.com
Posted by: Alkemist | May 11, 2006 at 10:15 AM
There's also a live version by Guns n' Roses. I have it, but I don't see any e-mail where I can send it, so mail me ;-)
Posted by: Michel | May 12, 2006 at 10:09 AM
@ Michel >>>>
"E-mail it to me at ken at wfmu dot org or send me the URL where I can download it and I will add it."
--> ken@wfmu.org
Stairway song rules !
Grts from Belgium
Veyzie
Posted by: Veyzie | May 13, 2006 at 04:40 AM
@Veyzie: did you recieve it by mail?
Grtz from above (Nederland ;-))
Posted by: Michel | May 14, 2006 at 07:10 AM
"Unknown Acoustic Version" is a Led Zeppelin demo from the fourth album sessions in January 1971. I don't know if Led Zeppelin versions should go towards the total... there are around 200 live versions available on various bootlegs.
"Doug Anthony All Stars" and "Barry Crocker & The Doug Anthony Allstars" is the same version, both taken from "The Money Or The Gun - Stairways To Heaven".
Posted by: CPD | May 15, 2006 at 11:40 AM
I'm a bit surprised noone has posted about this yet. Here's one attempt at the lyrics to the backwards version I've seen. I know of a couple others, but this is the best. And just to give some context, here are a couple of quotes from Robert Plant about the lyrics:
"You can't find anything if you play that song backwards. I know, because I've tried. There's nothing there. We never made a pact with the Devil. The only deal I think we ever made was with some of the girls' High Schools in San Fernando valley." (Q magazine, 1988)
"Everybody can interpret them however they will. It's potential optimism, lyrically. It's saying that if you hold tight, you can make it all right."
Stairway Backwards
Play it backwards - hear why it's sung here, oppositioner! (0:05-0:16)
Oh, here's the soundtrack, all arising! (0:37-1:18)
They all sin and they are won
Shall I loathe you now, parishoner?
Oh hear Him christian within me?
Oh it stirs my skin: the river
Oh she snows without lovin' us
Oh liar, it will end before Him!
We're all outside an' I know I saw they shout:
"Hear the Lord! My God now will save me"
Ohh I will now sing world, 'cause I live with Satan (2:29-2:55)
One wish today - world pray with three who will make it here late
Pray now an' you'll win - The 'Lord' turned me on but
Oh, I was the shaggy fool clothed in agony, lost at a height
Ohh! (3:01-3:13)
There's no escapin' it!
All at war, here's t' my sweet Satan (3:21-3:42)
No other made a path, for it makes me sad, whose power is Satan
He'll give those with him 666
And all the evil, it was there, they made our souls must have Satan
Whoah oh oh
With fire you all get loose, they're all for me! (4:11-4:33)
All that soothes the water
Always will be as we know now
"I see runes" said he, "the world they offered me"
Who is the Lo-ord if we lose feather? Say you'll save me!
And no-one's gonna be the ruler (4:39-4:54)
And no-one can do
Hunt next to th' sword, 'cause they see all from there (5:02-5:24)
See here's the news, who walks with me?
Please! Perhaps no-one found me
Heavy, lift me out - make me leave someday
Say it with whose one line-up, they gotta leave for Satan
And no-one's gonna rule (5:27-5:45)
And no-one can do
And he said lots, both have our laws: mass must (6:05-6:30)
He is superb - master Satan
Over the ab he who should love me
Any man that serves my, my swan music
They worship with snow, I wish them over my master, Satan
Only hear word's sung, the oppositioner oooh (6:31-6:56)
He who snow
They make his snow worthy
So look for us, now answer me!
There's one chance - take his snow
Hold thy head (6:58-7:09)
Hear words sung! The oppositioner
Who owns this earth built below?
Oh sweet Israel
Posted by: CPD | May 15, 2006 at 11:51 AM
Thanks a lot for uploading my version! I'm flattered! ;)
Posted by: (Don) Diego | May 15, 2006 at 02:11 PM
there is no version from the Guns n'Roses : it's the song from Led Zeppelin's BBC session.
Posted by: Akichorios | May 15, 2006 at 03:59 PM
That Zakk Wylde one does not sound at all like him. Sounds more like Don Dokken, but not Zakk! Can't be him.
Posted by: mel | May 18, 2006 at 12:38 AM
Didn't see Stairway to Gilligan's Isle covered on your awesome blog.
http://www.gilligansisle.com/stairway.html
As for Zappa: Ah Frank, we hardly knew ya. Saw him in Berkeley Ca.
Posted by: paul nickerson | May 19, 2006 at 10:55 PM
There is a version by The Austrailian Doors on the the cd single of the rolf harris version. Its quite bizzare as it sounds like Jim Morrison is alive and covering the tune in only the way he could.
Posted by: Stu | May 20, 2006 at 10:21 AM