Saturday, June 25, 2011

Top 200 Albums of All Time: Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin (1969)
Led Zeppelin took blues-rock to another plain of existence. After the Yardbirds’ demise, Jimmy Page formed a new band to fulfill contractual obligations. The “New Yardbirds” performed Yardbirds standards, but also some new material. Following the tour, Page changed the group’s name to Led Zeppelin and the new material turned up on their first album. Interestingly, the album received poor reviews. Perhaps the poor reviews occurred because nothing sounded like it.

Key Tracks:

Good Times Bad Times

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

Dazed and Confused

Communication Breakdown

Led Zeppelin II: Led Zeppelin (1969)
Led Zeppelin continued the themes on their debut with their second album. Their blues-rock continued to progress. Led Zeppelin II provided the blueprint for heavy metal acts which followed. It also marked Robert Plant’s emergence as a songwriter.

Key Tracks:

Whole Lotta Love

Thank You

Heartbreaker

Ramble On

Moby Dick

What Is and What Should Never Be

Led Zeppelin III: Led Zeppelin (1970)
Led Zeppelin expanded their musical parameters to include acoustic and folk music shocking fans and critics alike. As a result of their changing style, the album was savaged by some critics. However, it represents a band in transition and maturing.

Key Tracks:

Immigrant Song

Since I’ve Been Loving You

Gallows Pole

Led Zeppelin IV: Led Zeppelin (1971)
Led Zeppelin IV is probably the band’s most popular album. The album is not only known for its classic tracks, but also its lack of title. Each member designed a symbol for the cover. Sometimes fans call the album “ZoSo” for its symbol.

Key Tracks:

Black Dog

Rock and Roll

The Battle of Evermore

Stairway to Heaven

Misty Mountain Hop

Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy (1973)
Fans dubbed Led Zeppelin concert venues “Houses of the Holy”, so the band appropriated the term for their fifth album. The work included all original songs for the first time. It also marked a change as Zeppelin began to fiddle more and more with layering and other various production techniques.


Key Tracks:

The Song Remains the Same

Over the Hills and Far Away

Dancing Days

The Ocean

Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti (1975)
This is Led Zeppelin’s greatest album. It included hard rock, funk, blues, acoustic, a ballad, and even eastern influence. The band threw everything into this album. Robert Plant argued that it represented the band at its most creative. Jimmy Page thinks it’s their best work.

Key Tracks:

Houses of the Holy

Kashmir

Ten Years Gone

No comments: