Led Zeppelin‘s Jimmy Page worked as a session musician before his career really took off. He played on one of the biggest pop songs to come out of the British Invasion. During that session, a pop star almost fell over because of the talents of Page and the people working with him.

Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page worked on Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ with dozens of others

During a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Petula Clark discussed the origins of her signature song “Downtown.” “In 1964, I was a huge star in France, but the swinging ’60s were starting to take hold in London, and I wasn’t part of it,” she said. “Tony Hatch, a junior producer at Pye Records, came to see me in Paris and told me I had to record again in English. I was in the kitchen making some tea when I first heard him playing the melody to ‘Downtown.’ I ran in and said: ‘What’s that?’”

Clark was enamored with the music. “At that point, it was just a melody and a title, but I said: ‘If you can write a lyric as good as that melody, I’d love to sing it,’” she said. “Two weeks later, I was walking into a studio in London with 40 musicians. They were all top guys — the guitarist was Jimmy Page — and when I first heard the orchestration, it was so great I nearly fell over, even though Tony was still finishing the lyrics in the bathroom.”

Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ couldn’t be farther from a Led Zeppelin song

When people think of 1960s music, they often think of the rock ‘n’ roll of the time. Bands like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones expanded the boundaries of popular music. However, a lot of listeners were keen on hearing the same old same old. Some 1960s artists like The Four Seasons and The Shirelles continued to make 1950s-style pop music. Meanwhile, other stars from the 1950s, like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, still had hits without changing their sound much.

“Downtown” is one of the most beloved traditional pop songs of the 1960s. The fact that Page could write “Whole Lotta Love” and bring “Downtown” to life speaks to the breadth of his talent. The best artists can switch between being old-school and being cutting-edge, and Page is part of that elite few.

Jimmy Page worked on other classic 1960s hits by other artists

“Downtown” continues to be acclaimed. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked “Downtown” one of Page’s best songs from his time as a studio musician. The magazine noted that Clark’s magnum opus is a far cry from Led Zeppelin’s typical style. Furthermore, Rolling Stone revealed that Page’s Gibson Les Paul Custom can be heard most easily during the song’s midpoint.

Page had a legendary career as a session musician, playing on other 1960s hits such as Shirley Bassey’s James Bond theme “Goldfinger,” The Rolling Stones’ “Heart of Stone,” and Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman.” Even if Page only worked his magic for other artists, he would have an incredible musical legacy, but he really came into his own when he performed with Led Zeppelin. 

While “Downtown” isn’t the most rockin’ song, it helped one of the most influential rock stars of all time make a name for himself.