"Draw the Line" | ||||
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Single by Aerosmith | ||||
from the album Draw the Line | ||||
B-side | "Bright Light Fright" | |||
Released | October 6, 1977 | |||
Format | Record | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Hard rock, blues rock | |||
Length | 3:24 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Writer(s) | Steven Tyler and Joe Perry | |||
Producer(s) | Jack Douglas | |||
Aerosmith singles chronology | ||||
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"Draw the Line" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, and was released in 1977 as the first single (and title track) from the album Draw the Line. It peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on their album Greatest Hits.
The song encompasses many of the typical things Aerosmith is known for, including the strong rhythm backbeat by Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer, the back-and-forth interplay between guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. The song slows down before building to a climax showcasing Steven Tyler's trademark scream.
Lately in concert, however, the chief focus is on lead guitarist Joe Perry, who plays an extended guitar solo before the song's climax, and makes use of the open tuning used for the song by performing a number of tricks made possible by said tuning. These include placing the guitar on the floor and beating it with his shirt and having drummer Joey Kramer beat a rhythm over the strings with his drumsticks. The song appears as a hidden track on Live! Bootleg following their cover of James Brown's "Mother Popcorn".
On more recent tours, he has also been known to employ a theremin in an extended breakdown of the song, often imitating Jimmy Page's use of one in Led Zeppelin's heyday. The band often follow with a brief snippet of Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" before returning into the song.