led zepplin

[SarahC]

i got my first introduction to led zepplin this weekend(not counting the songs that are played on the "classic" rock radio station in town), and i am really impressed. i mean they aren't really life-altering songs, but they are really great, and some of the guitar and bass parts are really clever from an analytical standpoint. either way, i'm impressed.

i just bought that 2 disc set of "early days" and "latter days".

 

anybody have any suggestions for full albums to pick up.

 

next on my list to get is some t.rex stuff.

[rghammo]

Every single album has something to offer but I'm a complete fanboy. Note that the spelling is Zeppelin. My ranking is:

 

III

Physical Graffiti

II

I

Zoso

Presence

Houses of the Holy

In Through the Out Door

 

Coda is a collection of leftovers that is certainly better than ITTOD. For starters, I would suggest III, Zoso (75% of it you'll probably already know by heart), or Houses of the Holy (not a personal favorite of mine but very popular with fans). Physical Graffiti is the "hardest" of the albums but a close contender for first for me and a favorite of lot of fan's that I know. Prepare to be amazed. They are so much better than classic rock radio or their reputation would suggest.

[solace]

get Houses of the Holy

[LouieB]

I

II

III

 

LouieB

[ction]

get Houses of the Holy

[El Picador]

Houses of the Holy

II

III

Physical Graffiti

[LouieB]

I personally think the first Led Zepplin album was one of the great debuts of all time....

 

LouieB

[MrRain422]

I barely listen to Zeppelin at home anymore (because I still hear them all the time everywhere I go), but when I do, it is almost always Physical Graffitti. The rest of the time it's Houses of the Holy.

[bobbob1313]

I've not had my Zeppelin phase yet. I'm trying to put it off until at least mid-twenties.

[cryptique]

Hard to rank 'em, as I tend to go through different phases with Zeppelin. Currently, I'd put them in this order:

 

Houses of the Holy

Physical Graffiti

I

III

Presence

II

IV

In Through the Out Door

[ben]

I wish I didn't Zeppelin myself out about 15 years ago. For about 5 years I listened to very little but them. Now I can't really listen to them anymore. I'll always say that they are one of my favorite groups, and maybe in short time I'll be ready to get back into them. But here is the list:

 

Houses of the Holy

Physical Graffiti

Presence

III

II

I

IV

In through the out door

[WilcoFan]

I rank them according to when I enjoy listening to them:

 

Spring

Presence

In Through the Out Door

Houses of the Holy

 

Early Summer

Houses of the Holy

 

Summer

Physical Graffiti

 

Fall

I

II

 

Winter

IV

 

Dead of Winter

III

[froggie]

i love the band too. i saw page/plant down here in early 96 and it was one of my favourite concerts of all time. it was the end of the whole No quarter tour.

 

as for the album, i'd rank them as:

 

physical graffiti

presence

IV

in through the out door

II

III

I

houses of the holy

coda

 

 

.. not that i dont like the bottom ones.. they're all great.

 

also, dont underestimate robert's solo career. under the 80s production there are some very strong songs

[WilcoFan]

By the way, I was at my neighbor's house a couple of months ago and he broke out the vinyl "The Song Remains the Same" EP on his super awesome sound system and cranked it up. We were drinking and smoking and I completely fell in love with Zeppelin -- all over again. Not as much as Jimmy Page this time though; completely all about the rhythm section more this time around.

Edited September 18, 2006 by WilcoFan

[Synthesizer Patel]

If you were surprised by what you heard because it was different to the normal Led Zeppelin songs on the radio I'd start off with III as it's the most different to what people think the band are. Then get Physical Graffiti as it's very varied in sound, then IV, II and I and finally House of the Holy. Then the other 3 if you really have to.

[street spirit]

I

II

III

 

LouieB

 

I concur.

 

III is my favourite. "Out on the Tiles" and "Since Ive Been Loving You"

[mpolak21]

Two, Three and Four are my personal favorites, though I probably listen to Physical Graffti the most, for Ten Years Gone. They are a very easy band to take for granted, but they were able to sucessfully blend a lot of styles and have a deep rewarding catalouge. I think I'll cue up Going To California right now actually.

 

--Mike

[brokendowntele]

I had a buddy with a Led Zep tribute basement where we used to jam and imbibe as we got older.

 

Very similar to Wilco in that each Zep album has its own timbre to it.

 

I - almost entirely hard blues

II - very similar but a step up in recording and sound expansion

III - Very varied with some great acoustic stuff, some blues, and some rockers - "Celebration Day" is better live though.

IV - You already know most of it from Classic rock radio - hold off if you are looking for something new

Houses - Change in musicianship - very production based - Less straight forward rockers

Physical Graffiti - my favorite - underplayed and undervalued in the mainstream. Unbelievable with headphones - great soundscapes - blew my mind when I was fifteen

Presence - It's OK - some great ones - Achilles Last Stand is some of Jimmy's best guitar work - you can tell they are getting older

In through the Out door - just more maturing Zep - which I don't know is a good thing

 

I have the DVD of the several concerts as well as the BBC cd - They are quite wothwhile.

[Scalzunfield]

As far as I'm concerned, getting the 3-disc set "How The West Was Won" is enough. It's got nearly all the modern rock radio treasures and some killer 20+ minute versions of Dazed and Confused and Whole Lotta Love. This collection reminds me a lot of a Dead show: the first set is relatively short songs and the second set really turns the corner and takes you to an area of music not many bands can get to.

[SarahC]

i'm pretty sure "dazed and confused" is my favorite song right now.

 

thanks for the suggestions...

[LouieB]

i'm pretty sure "dazed and confused" is my favorite song right now.

From 1 as I recall.

 

If you have a turntable go get nice cheap vinyl copies. Zep only sold a billion LPs in its day and you can find them all over.

(I remember like yesterday hearing Zep for the first time one night in 1969.....)

 

LouieB

[Mr. Heartbreak]

I'm sort of envious. It must be nice discovering such a great band and being able to delve into their catalog. Not that I can't do that - I just can't do it with Led Zep.

 

They were permanently ruined for me by overexposure to "classic" album-oriented rock stations in the 70s and 80s. Good Times Bad Times, Communication Breakdown, Dazed and Confused, Black Dog, Ramble On, and yes, especially Stairway to Heaven ... couldn't escape them in people's cars, at parties, and every New Year's when Stairway was always the winner of the Top 1000 Songs of All Time countdown on the radio (Freebird was always #2 ... another classic ruined for me forever).

 

At one point I liked them, then grew indifferent to them ... and now I can't stand to hear them. I even tried listening to some of that "Western Front" live set to see if I could get through a track and I just couldn't do it. I could probably sit through Misty Mountain Hop and Goin' to California if I had to, but I'm not guaranteeing it.

 

Seriously, though, enjoy. They are a great, influential band. Just don't try to make your parents listen to them.

[SarahC]

From 1 as I recall.

 

If you have a turntable go get nice cheap vinyl copies. Zep only sold a billion LPs in its day and you can find them all over.

(I remember like yesterday hearing Zep for the first time one night in 1969.....)

 

LouieB

cool. i'll see if i can get myself to the used record store sooner or later.

i have to go out to where it is to pick my f.horn up in a couple days, so maybe i can beg my dad.

[Willkoman]

Physical Graffiti - my favorite - underplayed and undervalued in the mainstream. Unbelievable with headphones - great soundscapes - blew my mind when I was fifteen

 

Yep.

[Edie]

My rankings:

 

I

I

I

I

 

then try

 

II

IV (Zoso)

III

 

then everything else.