The Led Zeppelin Studio Albums
Jan 6, 2012 14:25:13 GMT -8
Post by Jason on Jan 6, 2012 14:25:13 GMT -8
I will now be ranking Led Zeppelin's studio albums from least best to favorite. I will not include Coda, because it is a compilation album of unreleased tracks and has been rereleased multiple times with different songs.
When it comes down to it, there is only one way to rank these albums: Quality of music.
Let's get started!
When it comes down to it, there is only one way to rank these albums: Quality of music.
Let's get started!
#8
Presence
We kick off the countdown with their seventh studio album, Presence. Jimmy Page described this album as Led Zeppelin's most important. I don't believe he means musically important, but mentally important. Presence was recorded during a time of anxiety, stress and frustration. Robert Plant had been in a car accident just weeks prior to recording the album. He suffered a broken ankle and a fractured elbow. He spent the entire recording in a wheelchair and it was unknown if he'd ever be able to walk again. On top of his injury and the band's worry of Plant's recovery, there were also questions regarding the structure of the band itself. It seemed their glory days were fading and it was unknown if they still had what it takes to stay on top of the rock scene. There was a sense of urgency. Led Zeppelin needed a new album, and fast. They pushed themselves harder than they'd ever pushed themselves before. They were running on pure emotion and sleep deprivation with this album. They managed to record the album in 18 days.
Led Zeppelin had survived.
Personal Highlights:
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Achilles Last Stand
Candy Store Rock
#7
In Through The Out Door
Led Zeppelin's eighth and final album before the death of drummer, John Bonham. The band themselves were not particularly fond of this one, however, songs did shine for them, and me. The songs are very bluesy and heavy with emotion.
The cover(s) of the album is one of the most unique in the history of vinyl. What you see is the outer sleeve, but on the inside is one of six different covers, each depicting the point of view of a different person inside a bar, looking at a man who is burning a "Dear John Letter". The concept is gloriously arbitrary.
Personal Highlights:
Hot Dog
All My Love
Carouselambra
#6
Houses Of The Holy
Led Zeppelin's fifth studio album, and possibly their most versatile album, musically. No Quarter is their masterpiece from this album, in my opinion. The sound of the song almost seems as if it was played underwater. They even generated reggae-based tunes (D'yer Mak'er), went to funk (The Crunge) and back to rock, with each track on the album providing its own unique sound.
Personal Highlights:
No Quarter
The Ocean
Over The Hills And Far Away
D'yer Ma'ker
#5
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin's debut album. Widely considered to be one of the greatest debut albums of all time. This is a special one, for me. The music I listen to (such as this) has been dubbed "Old Man Rock" and other various names similar to that, but what amazes me is that the entire band was in their early twenties when this album was recorded. Listening to Plant's awe-inspiring vocal performance of "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (he was barely 20 years old!), Page's brilliant guitaring in "Dazed And Confused", Bonham's unique and rhythmic drumming in "Good Times Bad Times" and the ridiculously catchy bassline from John Paul Jones in "How Many More Times" is a constant reminder that this is not "Old Man Music", this is the music of the Gods. To say "You can't get much better than Led Zeppelin" (while true) is a severe understatement. Few music artists even dwell within their presence.
Personal Highlights:
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Dazed And Confused
I Can't Quit You Baby
You Shook Me
#4
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin's third album. Many of the songs on this album (and albums to come) were written in a small cottage in Wales called Bron-Yr-Aur. Prior to this, Led Zeppelin spent so much time touring that they generally wrote songs on the road. Plant recommended the cottage to Jimmy Page where they spent time there writing music. This was their first true vacation since hitting big in the rock scene. Bron-Yr-Aur is where Page and Plant began to know each other musically and personally. The time they spent together brought Led Zeppelin closer together.
Personal Highlights:
Immigrant Song
Friends
Celebration Day
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
#3
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin's second studio album. It is here that Jimmy Page's appearance became much more apparent. The album contains some of the greatest rock & roll riffs in history. If there is one thing Led Zeppelin can do well, it is taking an old blues tune, throwing in their own creativity and applying it to the rock genre. "Whole Lotta Love" and "Bring It On Home" are two examples, and possibly the two best songs on the album.
Personal Highlights:
Whole Lotta Love
Bring It On Home
Heartbreaker
Living loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
Ramble On
The Lemon Song
#2
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin's sixth studio album, released as a double album. If there is only one album to pick that showcases each band members unequaled talent, this would be the one. This album is just loaded with great, unique tunes. Going from one of the greatest bluesiest rock songs ever in "In My Time Of Dying" to "Houses Of The Holy", then "Trampled Under Foot" to "Kashmir" one right after the other is just a treat to any fan of rock & roll. We were definitely spoiled with this album.
Personal Highlights:
Kashmir
In My Time Of Dying
Boogie With Stu
Trampled Under Foot
Houses Of The Holy
Bron-Yr-Aur
In The Light
#1
Led Zeppelin's fourth album. This album is widely regarded as not only Led Zeppelin's best album, but the best album in music history. Each song generates its own powerful impact in the world of rock & roll. The album is untitled and is generally referred to as Led Zeppelin IV or The Four Symbols. The idea of the symbols came from Jimmy Page that each band member can choose or design their own symbol. The idea to not have an album title and replace it with the symbols was very risky, but worth the risk. It became an instant best seller.
Some of the greatest songs ever made are included on this album. My personal favorite Led Zeppelin tune "When The Levee Breaks", is the final track of the album, ending the untitled masterpiece with a powerful boom. The world of rock had never heard a song anything close to "Black Dog" when this album was released, and I think everyone knows how impactful "Stairway To Heaven" is.
This, in my opinion, is the greatest Led Zeppelin album ever made.
Personal Highlights:
When The Levee Breaks
The Battle Of Evermore
Stairway To Heaven
Black Dog
Misty Mountain Hop
Going To California
Presence
We kick off the countdown with their seventh studio album, Presence. Jimmy Page described this album as Led Zeppelin's most important. I don't believe he means musically important, but mentally important. Presence was recorded during a time of anxiety, stress and frustration. Robert Plant had been in a car accident just weeks prior to recording the album. He suffered a broken ankle and a fractured elbow. He spent the entire recording in a wheelchair and it was unknown if he'd ever be able to walk again. On top of his injury and the band's worry of Plant's recovery, there were also questions regarding the structure of the band itself. It seemed their glory days were fading and it was unknown if they still had what it takes to stay on top of the rock scene. There was a sense of urgency. Led Zeppelin needed a new album, and fast. They pushed themselves harder than they'd ever pushed themselves before. They were running on pure emotion and sleep deprivation with this album. They managed to record the album in 18 days.
Led Zeppelin had survived.
Personal Highlights:
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Achilles Last Stand
Candy Store Rock
#7
In Through The Out Door
Led Zeppelin's eighth and final album before the death of drummer, John Bonham. The band themselves were not particularly fond of this one, however, songs did shine for them, and me. The songs are very bluesy and heavy with emotion.
The cover(s) of the album is one of the most unique in the history of vinyl. What you see is the outer sleeve, but on the inside is one of six different covers, each depicting the point of view of a different person inside a bar, looking at a man who is burning a "Dear John Letter". The concept is gloriously arbitrary.
Personal Highlights:
Hot Dog
All My Love
Carouselambra
#6
Houses Of The Holy
Led Zeppelin's fifth studio album, and possibly their most versatile album, musically. No Quarter is their masterpiece from this album, in my opinion. The sound of the song almost seems as if it was played underwater. They even generated reggae-based tunes (D'yer Mak'er), went to funk (The Crunge) and back to rock, with each track on the album providing its own unique sound.
Personal Highlights:
No Quarter
The Ocean
Over The Hills And Far Away
D'yer Ma'ker
#5
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin's debut album. Widely considered to be one of the greatest debut albums of all time. This is a special one, for me. The music I listen to (such as this) has been dubbed "Old Man Rock" and other various names similar to that, but what amazes me is that the entire band was in their early twenties when this album was recorded. Listening to Plant's awe-inspiring vocal performance of "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (he was barely 20 years old!), Page's brilliant guitaring in "Dazed And Confused", Bonham's unique and rhythmic drumming in "Good Times Bad Times" and the ridiculously catchy bassline from John Paul Jones in "How Many More Times" is a constant reminder that this is not "Old Man Music", this is the music of the Gods. To say "You can't get much better than Led Zeppelin" (while true) is a severe understatement. Few music artists even dwell within their presence.
Personal Highlights:
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Dazed And Confused
I Can't Quit You Baby
You Shook Me
#4
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin's third album. Many of the songs on this album (and albums to come) were written in a small cottage in Wales called Bron-Yr-Aur. Prior to this, Led Zeppelin spent so much time touring that they generally wrote songs on the road. Plant recommended the cottage to Jimmy Page where they spent time there writing music. This was their first true vacation since hitting big in the rock scene. Bron-Yr-Aur is where Page and Plant began to know each other musically and personally. The time they spent together brought Led Zeppelin closer together.
Personal Highlights:
Immigrant Song
Friends
Celebration Day
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
#3
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin's second studio album. It is here that Jimmy Page's appearance became much more apparent. The album contains some of the greatest rock & roll riffs in history. If there is one thing Led Zeppelin can do well, it is taking an old blues tune, throwing in their own creativity and applying it to the rock genre. "Whole Lotta Love" and "Bring It On Home" are two examples, and possibly the two best songs on the album.
Personal Highlights:
Whole Lotta Love
Bring It On Home
Heartbreaker
Living loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
Ramble On
The Lemon Song
#2
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin's sixth studio album, released as a double album. If there is only one album to pick that showcases each band members unequaled talent, this would be the one. This album is just loaded with great, unique tunes. Going from one of the greatest bluesiest rock songs ever in "In My Time Of Dying" to "Houses Of The Holy", then "Trampled Under Foot" to "Kashmir" one right after the other is just a treat to any fan of rock & roll. We were definitely spoiled with this album.
Personal Highlights:
Kashmir
In My Time Of Dying
Boogie With Stu
Trampled Under Foot
Houses Of The Holy
Bron-Yr-Aur
In The Light
#1
Led Zeppelin's fourth album. This album is widely regarded as not only Led Zeppelin's best album, but the best album in music history. Each song generates its own powerful impact in the world of rock & roll. The album is untitled and is generally referred to as Led Zeppelin IV or The Four Symbols. The idea of the symbols came from Jimmy Page that each band member can choose or design their own symbol. The idea to not have an album title and replace it with the symbols was very risky, but worth the risk. It became an instant best seller.
Some of the greatest songs ever made are included on this album. My personal favorite Led Zeppelin tune "When The Levee Breaks", is the final track of the album, ending the untitled masterpiece with a powerful boom. The world of rock had never heard a song anything close to "Black Dog" when this album was released, and I think everyone knows how impactful "Stairway To Heaven" is.
This, in my opinion, is the greatest Led Zeppelin album ever made.
Personal Highlights:
When The Levee Breaks
The Battle Of Evermore
Stairway To Heaven
Black Dog
Misty Mountain Hop
Going To California
