Best Led Zeppelin Album?

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Might as well do this one. What is your favourite (studio) Led Zeppelin album?

Poll Results

Option	Votes
Physical Grafitti	32
IV	25
Houses Of The Holy	22
III	20
None of them, I Don't Like Led Zeppelin	16
II	7
Presence	6
I	5
In Through The Out Door	2

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 16:50 (nineteen years ago)

I or II... but II it is

― Tom D., Thursday, 12 April 2007 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

III or IV

going with III today

― abanana, Thursday, 12 April 2007 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

IV, no contest. Even Chuck says so.

― Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 12 April 2007 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

III

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:17 (nineteen years ago)

Houses Of The Holy

― Bee OK, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:17 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

Presence for me.

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:24 (nineteen years ago)

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

― Bill Magill, Thursday, 12 April 2007 19:27 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

Coda is the best, come on people!

― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

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

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:22 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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

― Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

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

― will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:34 (nineteen years ago)

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

― Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

yeah pretty sure that's a clavinet.

― will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

and Trampled Underfoot kills!

― will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

Am I the only one who loves The Rover?

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

no sir

― will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

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

― pretzel walrus, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

(or ma'am)

― will, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

I'm glad to hear it.

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

Presence !!!

― chaki, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:23 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

fuckn "in my time of dying" owning everything ever

― Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:47 (nineteen years ago)

Houses of the HOly is like surprisingly mindblowing

― Surmounter, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

fuckn record store clerks

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

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

Trampled Under Foot FTW

― Hans Rott, Thursday, 12 April 2007 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

The 1st 6 are pretty much perfect.

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

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

― NYCNative, Friday, 13 April 2007 00:47 (nineteen years ago)

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 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 448 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I couldn't find a thread and don't have time to do make a poll, but what's the best book on Zep that focuses more on the music rather than just the rockstar bullshit? I mean, that's a big part of their story and you can't escape it totally, but you know what I mean.

― Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 11 August 2015 17:19 (ten years ago)

I haven't read this one, but it sounds interesting.

― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 17:30 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

Yeah, like my living room.

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

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

you couldn't pay me to see a stadium show

― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 12 August 2015 21:15 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

Love that book

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

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

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

― mookieproof, Thursday, 13 August 2015 02:08 (ten years ago)

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 (ten years ago)

'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 (ten years ago)

one year passes...

III

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

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 (nine years ago)

Presence

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 5 April 2017 05:09 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 5 April 2017 15:56 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

(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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

Love them all but adore III.

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

Yes even. Oda.

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

Damned iPhone.

Yes, even Coda.

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

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

― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Thursday, 6 April 2017 14:59 (nine years ago)

III has become my favorite. It and HOTH.

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

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

― Neanderthal, Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:16 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

Yes on Coda

― calstars, Thursday, 6 April 2017 15:53 (nine years ago)

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

― veronica moser, Thursday, 6 April 2017 17:37 (nine years ago)

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

― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:13 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

who isn't robert plant?

― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:21 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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

― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 8 April 2017 00:35 (nine years ago)

'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 (nine years ago)

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 (nine years ago)

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