"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released as the second track on their fourth studio album in 1971. The song contains a guest performance by original Rolling Stones' pianist and co-founder Ian Stewart. In 1972, American music critic and journalist Robert Christgau called it "simply the most dynamic hard-rock song in the music."^[5]

According to guitarist Jimmy Page, "Rock and Roll" developed from a spontaneous jam session, while the band were trying to finish recording "Four Sticks", at the Headley Grange mansion they had rented in Hampshire, England.^[6] John Bonham began playing the drum intro to the 1957 song "Keep A-Knockin'" by Little Richard, to which Page added a Chuck Berry-style guitar riff.^[7][8] The tapes were rolling and fifteen minutes later the basis of the song was completed.^[9] The song is performed in the key of A at a relatively fast tempo of 170 beats per minute.^[10]

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:^[1]

• Robert Plant – vocals, tambourine (?)
• Jimmy Page – guitars
• John Paul Jones – bass
• John Bonham – drums
• Ian Stewart – piano

Cash Box described it as a "rip-apart performance of one of best r&r revivalist tunes ever."^[11] In 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 9 on its list of the 40 greatest Led Zeppelin songs.^[12]

"Rock and Roll" was a key component of the band's setlist at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1971 on. Initially, Plant referred to it on stage as "It's Been A Long Time", which is the opening lyric line of the song.^[8] In 1972, it was elevated to the opening number of all concert performances and it retained this status until 1975. For the band's 1977 North American tour, it became part of a medley encore with "Whole Lotta Love", and during 1979 and 1980 it became an encore in its own right.^[8]

In 2001, "Rock and Roll" became the first Led Zeppelin song to be licensed for commercial use, when American car maker Cadillac featured it in television advertising.^[13] Plant commented:

I think that's appropriate ... I don't know how people view it, but as far as a young generation goes, if you hear that music in as many possible places as you can outside of the normal home for it, then it can only be a good thing.^[13]

As well as earning Led Zeppelin a large licensing fee, the advertising campaign increased Cadillac sales by 16 percent in 2002.^[13]

(*) designates unordered lists

• List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs § Rock and Roll