10 Fascinating Covers Of Led Zeppelin Classics

10. Dennis Caplinger - Going To California

The sadly-departed (1963 - 2021) Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Dennis Caplinger was a musician's musician. Fiddle, banjo or guitar, if an instrument had stings, Caplinger could make it sing. Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale are just two of the many notable artists who sought out Caplinger's talent to grace their recordings. “There was nothing with strings on it that Dennis couldn’t play," observed fellow Grammy-winner, Steve Vaus, "if heaven’s angels have harps, there’s no doubt he (Caplinger) is already teaching them new licks.” Caplinger's also contributed to soundtracks for film and television across multiple genres, including HBOs Deadwood, which provided the perfect backdrop for his music.

Caplinger's version of Going To California is a delight. Sublime banjo picking flits like sunlight on water, fiddle adds a perfect bitter-sweet touch, and acoustic rhythm guitar provides the jogging, kicking back-beat. This track, as much as any ever recorded, brings out the song-writing strength and deep folk roots of Led Zeppelin, whose original version first appeared on their seminal fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV (sometimes referred to as Four Symbols).

According to Robert Plant, the song encompassed, “me reflecting on the first years of the group, when I was only about 20 and was struggling to find myself in the midst of all the craziness of California and the band and the groupies.” The cover that you will hear above is a wonderful tribute to a unique band from an equally unique player.