Best Led Zeppelin Album?

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (548 of them)
It's a tough one innit? But I had to go for Physical Grafitti. But I could change my mind plenty times over.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 16:57 (seventeen years ago) link

houses of the holy

though i don't think i believe it in my heart of hearts

Charlie Howard, Thursday, 12 April 2007 16:58 (seventeen years ago) link

III or IV

going with III today

abanana, Thursday, 12 April 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

IV, no contest. Even Chuck says so.

Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 12 April 2007 18:16 (seventeen years ago) link

III

Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Houses Of The Holy

Bee OK, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:17 (seventeen years ago) link

i went for physical graffiti but on another day it could've been IV or Houses of the Holy or III or even Presence.

I've never quite understood the old standbye that II is their "best." It's a big ponderous sometimes, although the jams on it are real amazing jams.

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Presence for me.

Rock Hardy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:24 (seventeen years ago) link

III or Grafitti. I hate II with a passion rivalling my feelings for post-rehab Aerosmith.

Bill Magill, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Presence? Really? Are you the guy who wrote that article for Rolling Stone that said that Presence is their best album and proved that Rolling Stone still doesn't get Led Zeppelin, almost three decades after the fact?

Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:40 (seventeen years ago) link

what's wrong with presence? i like it's grim, grungey cocaine feel. plus, achilles last stand might be the most epic zep song.

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:44 (seventeen years ago) link

given that 'how the west was won' is barred, then IV - for black dog, misty mountain and levee.

m the g, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:50 (seventeen years ago) link

PG... bron-yr-aur AND kashmir AND in my time of dying AND 10 years gone AND in the light....

Steve Shasta, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:52 (seventeen years ago) link

actually, if we could nominate non-proper albums, i'd probably take disc 3 of the original 4-disc box set:

1. Kashmir
2. Trampled Under Foot
3. For Your Life
4. No Quarter
5. Dancing Days
6. When The Levee Breaks
7. Achilles Last Stand
8. The Song Remains The Same
9. Ten Years Gone
10. In My Time Of Dying

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Coda is the best, come on people!

kornrulez6969, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:15 (seventeen years ago) link

I've never written for Rolling Stone, and Matt OTM.

Rock Hardy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Physical Graffiti is the easy winner - IV & Houses come close, Presence opens real strong but runs out of steam

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I listen to "In the Evening" all the time now.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link

I was being hyperbolic. That article just bemused me.

I know there's backlash against "Stairway" for being the most played song in the history of ever, but there's no denying that it's just an astonishing piece of music.

Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah its coda is just completely fucking unbelievable & doesn't really get old

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:29 (seventeen years ago) link

tough call. PG or III most days. but yeah, Coda's fierce.

will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:34 (seventeen years ago) link

no I meant the coda to Stairway, the "as we walk on down the road" part

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:38 (seventeen years ago) link

man i'm listening to "trampled underfoot" right now! i'm so glad i voted for physical graffiti. this song makes me want to strut around the office like i'm the cock of the walk!

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:41 (seventeen years ago) link

what's that stevie wonder type keyboard that makes the "wocka wocka" sound? the clavinet? they must use that on this song...

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:46 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah pretty sure that's a clavinet.

will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

and Trampled Underfoot kills!

will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:50 (seventeen years ago) link

the version of 'trampled' on the led zep DVD (which is actually their greatest achievement) absolutely destroys all in its path. it's the total embodiment of its title.

m the g, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

yep - JPJ is rockin the clavinet during "Trample Underfoot" on the "How the West Was Won" DVD. He has kind of a grueling part to keep up through that whole song!

Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:52 (seventeen years ago) link

if this were poll were best led zep song...'immigrant song'. surely there can't really be any dispute there? thought not. case closed.

m the g, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Am I the only one who loves The Rover?

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:10 (seventeen years ago) link

no sir

will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:13 (seventeen years ago) link

"communication breakdown" owns you, whoever you are reading this

pretzel walrus, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:14 (seventeen years ago) link

(or ma'am)

will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:17 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm glad to hear it.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Presence !!!

chaki, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:23 (seventeen years ago) link

listening to the Rover right now...it's great though the vibe is really elusive, which come to think of it is a big part of Zeppelin's appeal imo

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:45 (seventeen years ago) link

fuckn "in my time of dying" owning everything ever

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Houses of the HOly is like surprisingly mindblowing

Surmounter, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link

I voted for Physical Graffiti because I wanted to

The last time I was at Strictly Discs I found a used copy of the remastered In Through the Out Door and bought it. My least favorite clerk was like "Really? Out of all their albums?" I said "IT IS AWESOME." Just like that. He meekly replied "most people go for one of the others" and I raised myself to my full eight feet, unfurled my black leathery wings, and intoned ""I AM NOT MOST PEOPLE""

he got the hint i think

Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:52 (seventeen years ago) link

fuckn record store clerks

Okay, I'm reviving my old "rank anything" thread for this.

Rock Hardy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Trampled Under Foot FTW

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 22:01 (seventeen years ago) link

or Dazed And Confused (but really, like the beatles and the stones and bowie, theres LOADS to choose from.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 22:03 (seventeen years ago) link

IV. It has "Stairway To Heaven" and also a couple nice acoustic numbers. But most of the others have their moments too.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 12 April 2007 22:18 (seventeen years ago) link

this thread has encouraged me to get drunk & listen to Physical Grafitti so right on this thread

Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 22:21 (seventeen years ago) link

house of the holy! all the good stuff about both the early blooze stuff and the later period epic 10 minute stuff rolled into one.

Emily Bjurnhjam, Thursday, 12 April 2007 22:28 (seventeen years ago) link

The 1st 6 are pretty much perfect.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 13 April 2007 00:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Which one was the "metal" one again? That one.

NYCNative, Friday, 13 April 2007 00:47 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm actually surprised that there's much disagreement on the issue. Houses of the Holy is, to my mind, easily best. Best song: the Song Remains the Same.

professor ganson, Friday, 13 April 2007 01:40 (seventeen years ago) link

3!

funny farm, Friday, 13 April 2007 01:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Which one was the "metal" one again? That one.


That will be II. III is seen as the folk one.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 13 April 2007 01:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah that's in my list. I wonder if it's organized along a narrative timeline like a lot of the oral histories, or just a bunch of interviews slapped together?

Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 11 August 2015 17:34 (eight years ago) link

The real question is why didn't concert promoters think of raising prices sooner. Rock music had existed for forty years before somebody thought to themselves "Hey ya know what? We could make some serious dough if we just charged more money for tickets."

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, August 11, 2015 11:52 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Well, it's kind of counterintuitive. I mean arena rock shows are at their core mass populist spectacles, so it made sense that tickets would have been in the reach of the common man. But there have also been huge shifts in the demographics of rock audiences -- in 1975 there probably weren't enough highly-paid professionals (or aging, financially established folks) who were also rock fans to fill arenas in every city at high ticket prices.

five six and (man alive), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 18:06 (eight years ago) link

But I think people are out of their goddamn minds to pay over 100 (let alone 200, 300, or 400) for an arena show where the band will be tiny and the sound will be boomy. I've never paid anything like that for a concert, and if I were going to, I'd want a smaller venue.

five six and (man alive), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 18:08 (eight years ago) link

Yeah, like my living room.

Those Jorts Are Upsetting (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 18:35 (eight years ago) link

I paid $135 to see Prince play a club that holds approx 500 people; our vantage point was a balcony about 20 yards from the stage

this was the second-best concert experience of my life (the best was Colin Stetson at Eaux Claires this year)

I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 18:45 (eight years ago) link

My first concert other than Chicago at age 4 was the Who/Clash at Shea Stadium--was in the last few rows with my parents, guess I was 12 or so...sorry to add to derailing of the thread. I thought the crowd was a little scary!

Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 11 August 2015 18:46 (eight years ago) link

I saw the 1982 Who/Clash show at the LA Coliseum and I believe it was $18. I think the first time I spent > $50 for a ticket was to see the Stones on the Steel Wheels tour - also at the Coliseum and with Guns N Roses opening.

Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 12 August 2015 21:13 (eight years ago) link

you couldn't pay me to see a stadium show

Οὖτις, Wednesday, 12 August 2015 21:15 (eight years ago) link

BTW, Erik Davis' 33 1/3 book on Zeppelin IV is my fave book on LZ. Even though it's not about LZ at all.

Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 12 August 2015 21:17 (eight years ago) link

Love that book

Corn on the macabre (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 12 August 2015 22:12 (eight years ago) link

LOVE that book. it gets pretty ridiculous at times but deliberately and in a way befitting its subject.

balls, Thursday, 13 August 2015 01:39 (eight years ago) link

I paid $135 to see Prince play a club that holds approx 500 people; our vantage point was a balcony about 20 yards from the stage

this was the second-best concert experience of my life (the best was Colin Stetson at Eaux Claires this year)

most i've ever paid was $55 to see prince from the rafters in an arena like 12 years ago. easily the most worthwhile $55 i've ever spent

mookieproof, Thursday, 13 August 2015 01:58 (eight years ago) link

I think the most I ever spent for tix was for a NYE show, and it was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and it was still only something like $60 or maybe $80 per person, and the venue turned out to be pretty enjoyable even though it was some weird underground level theater near times square, and I only spent that much out of feeling bad at never doing anything spendy on NYE, and we had a blast.

five six and (man alive), Thursday, 13 August 2015 02:02 (eight years ago) link

And the last time I saw a stadium concert was probably the Tibetan Freedom Concert when I was in college, and the sound was so atrociously bad and the bass actually made me feel ill at some points.

five six and (man alive), Thursday, 13 August 2015 02:03 (eight years ago) link

a thread: the priciest / most expensive concert ticket you've bought

mookieproof, Thursday, 13 August 2015 02:08 (eight years ago) link

How did II not win this? I always thought Four Sticks bogged down IV and if I never hear Rock & Roll again it'll be too soon.

LimbsKing, Thursday, 13 August 2015 05:16 (eight years ago) link

'Four Sticks' is fucking awesome, though!

You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 13 August 2015 06:08 (eight years ago) link

one year passes...

III

Carlotta's Portrait (Ross), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 00:44 (seven years ago) link

Houses of the Holy is my favorite -their most diverse. After that I'd go I then III.

PURE, BEAUTIFUL OIL (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 05:08 (seven years ago) link

Presence

flappy bird, Wednesday, 5 April 2017 05:09 (seven years ago) link

I would recommend either I or IV for Zep newbies, if you don't like them you won't like anything they've done. But Presence and Out Door have been my personal favorites lately. The drums!!

Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 5 April 2017 11:20 (seven years ago) link

Yeah IV is a great starting point - it covers a lot of ground considering it's only eight tracks. I think HotH is the best though.

Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 5 April 2017 11:49 (seven years ago) link

1. Physical Graffiti
2. II
3. IV
4. III
5. Houses of the Holy
6. I
7. Presence
8. In Through the Out Door

...so music and chicken have become intertwined (Turrican), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 13:42 (seven years ago) link

im w Sparkle Motion, it's HOH/III for me

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 15:56 (seven years ago) link

Presence > PG > Houses > IV > III > Out Door > I > II

some days I would switch III and IV

― WmC, Monday, April 6, 2009 3:40 PM (seven years ago)

Revised to Presence > PG > IV > III > Houses > Out Door > I > II

scattered, smothered, covered, diced and chunked (WilliamC), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 16:49 (seven years ago) link

PG then III then HOTH then II then I then IV then Presence then ITTOD then CODA

hot bech babes lick the feemer and get the skeletor fever. (stevie), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 18:26 (seven years ago) link

III is the one that got me into Zep because it seemed different to their other work

Carlotta's Portrait (Ross), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 21:34 (seven years ago) link

(III = IV = Houses = PG) > (II = Presence = I) > Out Door

My Body's Made of Crushed Little Evening Stars (Sund4r), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 22:51 (seven years ago) link

III has "Immigrant Song" and "Since I've Been Loving You" as well as "Friends". that's a fuckin monster trio there.

Neanderthal, Thursday, 6 April 2017 02:58 (seven years ago) link

I sometimes think my favourite III jam might be Hats Off To Harper

hot bech babes lick the feemer and get the skeletor fever. (stevie), Thursday, 6 April 2017 06:43 (seven years ago) link

I would (in fact I did) keep Houses of the Holy, and Physical Grafitti. The rest I don't bother with.

Mark G, Thursday, 6 April 2017 06:45 (seven years ago) link

Love them all but adore III.

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Thursday, 6 April 2017 14:34 (seven years ago) link

Yes even. Oda.

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Thursday, 6 April 2017 14:34 (seven years ago) link

Damned iPhone.

Yes, even Coda.

Acid Hose (Capitaine Jay Vee), Thursday, 6 April 2017 14:35 (seven years ago) link

physical graffiti > presence > houses of the holy > in through the out door > the rest

ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Thursday, 6 April 2017 14:59 (seven years ago) link

III has become my favorite. It and HOTH.

the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:12 (seven years ago) link

Houses of the Holy was my original favorite, so many jangling geetar riffs.

Neanderthal, Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:16 (seven years ago) link

Love the crispness of the drums, the excitement, and the middle section of "we're gonna groove." Favorite b side, besting the formula of "traveling riverside" and ultimate banality of "hey hey what can I do"

calstars, Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:26 (seven years ago) link

is there a studio version of that? only one i've heard is from the live DVD @ albert hall

global tetrahedron, Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:28 (seven years ago) link

Yes on Coda

calstars, Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:53 (seven years ago) link

the albert hall version is the one on Coda…only difference is vocal and guitar overdubs…

veronica moser, Thursday, 6 April 2017 17:37 (seven years ago) link

it's been a long time since the book of love

reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:13 (seven years ago) link

making vows, just can't work right
OH YEAH
open yours arms [Xhowever many time motherfuckers], let me love come running in, oh yeah
it's been a long time

reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:16 (seven years ago) link

who isn't robert plant?

reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:21 (seven years ago) link

it's a super close race butI is my favorite most of the time. they got deeper and more majestic later on but the first album is such a solid explosion of rock power, with lots of neat quiet parts too.

a but (brimstead), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:33 (seven years ago) link

oh i haven't really listened to the three albums after Physical Graffiti

a but (brimstead), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:35 (seven years ago) link

'Achilles Last Stand' from Presence is so classic it isn't even funny, and may be their best ever track. It's certainly my favourite thing they've ever done - the rest of the album could never have possibly lived up to it. The highest point of Led Zeppelin, IMO.

...so music and chicken have become intertwined (Turrican), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:45 (seven years ago) link

Achilles gets a lot of love in this household. Definitely an all time Page production.

PURE, BEAUTIFUL OIL (Sparkle Motion), Saturday, 8 April 2017 02:33 (seven years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.