Alternative ‘Stairway to Heaven’ mix to be released

LONDON – Agence France-Presse

Led Zeppelin's vocalist Robert Plant is still rocking with his solo career across the globe. REUTERS Photo

Led Zeppelin is to issue an unreleased version of their most famous song, “Stairway to Heaven”, the legendary rock band, after more than four decades hidden in the vaults.

The alternative mix of the epic track will be released alongside a reissue of the British heavy rock group’s untitled fourth album, commonly referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV”, due out on October 27.

It will appear on a companion disc accompanying the album, as part of a remastering of the group’s entire catalogue.

Guitarist Jimmy Page has sifted through vintage studio recordings to unearth different versions of the eight tracks on the album, which first came out in 1971.

The unreleased version of “Stairway to Heaven” comes from mixing sessions done at Sunset Sound studios in Los Angeles.

The final released version was mixed at the Island Records studio in London.

Led Zeppelin’s fourth album has sold more than 29 million copies, and in the United States has gone platinum more than 23 times over.

“Stairway to Heaven” was in the news earlier this year when a U.S. lawyer said he was gearing up to sue Led Zeppelin for allegedly pilfering another band’s music for the classic song.