Posted on 11/12/2011 8:23:42 AM PST by FatherofFive
Forty years ago an incredible classic rock band hit their creative peak when they released Led Zeppelin lV. I remember at age fourteen being handed this record for the first time, and being awe struck by stunning song-craftsmanship and lyrical prowess. The album itself which was released November 8th 1971 was a major success and sold 23 million copies alone in the United States, but only peaked at number 2 on the charts.
Many Zeppelin Fans know this album as the one that contains Stairway to Heaven, but among rock critics and fanatics of Zeppelin the whole album is a masterpiece. Led Zeppelin was never known for creating phenomenal singles, but created a name for themselves as a record band. They saw that every song recorded for the album should be done masterfully, and should compliment other tracks on the album. Its not easy to convince the novice Zeppelin fan that Stairway to Heaven is not the best song on Led Zeppelin lV, but give them a few years and they will be hailing Zeppelin IV for songs such as Black Dog, Rock and Roll, and When The Levee breaks. This album is a must for an classic rock enthusiast, and should be apart of any album collection.
Steve Winwood and Go Crossing the Line
Custard Pie always gets me rocking...just a classic Zep tune...
I graduated from high school in 1973. Stairway to Heaven was our senior song! Still love that song all these years later.
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I am pretty sure that Frank was visiting here from another planet.
Kashmir. My all-time favorite “go to” rock song.
Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpys1c3jCNs
Robert Plant sang a live version of this song with verses from Kashmir at the 1992 Freddie Mercury memorial concert.
Whoops... you beat me to it. Listening to Stairway to Gilligan’s Island is like having a train wreck in my head. :) The story about the pressing of that single, and subsequent destruction of nearly every copy at the behest of Led Zep’s lawyers, is interesting. Quite a collector’s item today.
If you're a Jason Bonham and/or Zep fan, you owe it to yourself to check out Black Country Communion (BCC). Best new rock band in a LONG time. Like listening to classic rock, except all new. Many of their songs actually sound Zep-like, plus they do Zep covers like No Quarter on occasion. Best part of all is BCC's lead guitarist Joe Bonamassa. He is quickly becoming my favorite guitarist ever, even supplanting Jimmy Page - which I once thought would never happen (yeah, I've always been a big Zep fan).
I like it too.
It seems like Zep settled down a little. Got a groove going.
"Who Knows Where the Time Goes"
“In Through The Out Door” is one of my favorites too. It’s synthier than their other albums but it has some great guitar moments too, like the solo on I’m Gonna Crawl.
I remember seeing them twice at the Chicago stadium when concert prices were affordable. Once I was about 7 rows away from the speakers. That may have contributed to my need for the hearing aids I wear.
Awesome concerts!
Excellent.
I saw Pink Floyds Animal tour from the front row.
It sounded awesome.
What?
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