Here are Led Zeppelin’s top albums in order of greatness. Led Zeppelin III (1970) When it comes to ranking Zeppelin's first six albums, any fan of the band will have a different list. Initial reviews were mixed, with Village Voice scribe Robert Christgau famously reversing course after initially mocking it, ultimately calling it “an artistic triumph.” Plant described it as “virile” and “carnal.” With plenty of “lemon juice” to spare, this is the top choice if you like your rock not only heavy but raunchy. Led Zeppelin III is often considered the "weakest" of their first six albums, but not always. 'Led Zeppelin IV' (1971) 2. Houses is off-beat for the band, but that’s its charm. In Through the Out Door. Led Zeppelin Albums Ranked Worst to Best 1. Zeppelin’s Ahmet Ertegun-honouring O2 Arena reunion show was a triumph, final proof that, if necessary, Zeppelin could still do Zeppelin. 'Led Zeppelin' (1969) 6. the gorgeous folk-rock number “Your Time Is Gonna Come”), Zeppelin seemed to be aping musical styles rather than re-interpreting them—although “Communication Breakdown” was a blueprint for generations of hard-rockers to come. Led Zeppelin is the debut album by English rock band Led Zeppelin.It was released on 12 January 1969 in the United States and on 31 March in the United Kingdom by Atlantic Records.. Led Zeppelin are widely considered one of the best 70s bands and one of the best rock bands of all time. 'Physical Graffiti' (1975) 3. Led Zeppelin’s albums ranked from worst to best: 9. J. Cole Albums Ranked. Led Zeppelin are one of the best selling musical artists of all time. 'In Through the Out Door' (1979) 'Houses of the Holy' (1973) 5. “D’Yer Mak’er” (pronounced “didja maker”) is the unforgettable Zeppelin take on reggae, with the tropical solo from Plant. #8 – In Through The Out Door. Led Zeppelin Master Forum ; Studio Albums Ranked Facebook; Twitter; YouTube; Instagram; Sign in to follow this . But their influence has lasted well beyond the decade of their existence, and continues to be felt with nearly every guitar-based rock group plying their trade today. Led Zeppelin's legend grew over an extended arc, as the foursome of Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham constructed a new alchemy from the rock-solid foundation of roots music. Tweet. © 2021 Paste Media Group. and join one of thousands of communities. So be sure to check out how Sarca Sim ranked Led Zeppelin's studio albums right… Led Zeppelin from United Kingdom. The re-issue would rank eighth on this list. 9. Led Zeppelin released eight studio albums, totaling nine discs, plus one extra single B-side, in a career of just a decade or so. Page’s solo in “Heartbreaker” inspired a generation of guitar gods including Eddie Van Halen, and his “Whole Lotta Love” riff may just be the most iconic in rock history. The results, outside of the odd greasy groover like 'In The Evening' or 'South Bound Saurez,' often couldn't be any further away from the monstrous blues rock that Zeppelin had unleashed 10 years before. Jason Bonham was an admirable substitute for his late father. Presence is usually rated higher than In Through The Out Door, and Coda is almost always last. This artist appears in 10,642 charts and has received 117 comments and 641 ratings from BestEverAlbums.com … Despite the fact that they only ever released nine studio albums throughout their run, they have still managed to sell over 300 million albums. Studio Albums Ranked. The iconic “Kashmir” defies categorization but is so hypnotic it’s guaranteed to chase away any uninvited ear worms. 'Led Zeppelin II' (1969) 3. 'Led Zeppelin IV' (1971) 2. Well done, everybody. The top ranked albums by Led Zeppelin are Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV), Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin. Everyone had a terrific time, and the Celebration Day double CD (and DVD, and triple vinyl) provides the ultimate souvenir of the occasion for all that attended. Led Zeppelin – rank the albums. Led Zeppelin IV … 1979 With Page and Bonham struggling with addictions, Plant and Jones were the main creative forces behind Led Zeppelin’s final studio album. Every rock genre is covered, from blues (“In My Time of Dying”) to acoustic (“Black Country Woman”) to funk (“Trampled Under Foot”) to even progressive (“In The Light”). Share. 'Presence' (1976) 8. 6. No, they were … From front to back, Bonham sounds like he’s going to pound his way right through the speakers and into your brain. Like Robert Christgau wrote at the time, “I could do without “No Quarter.’” But that track is listenable in the context of the entire album. Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. Presence. Honestly, the first 7 albums are all ranked pretty close, Coda is still ok, but i just have a hard time thinking of ITTOD as a Zeppelin album. The Best Led Zeppelin Songs, Ranked. Lower quality than the classic 8 studio albums as you should expect. That’s rock ‘n’ roll. 'In Through the Out Door' (1979) With Page and Bonham spiralling into substance abuse and booze, the other half of Led Zeppelin was left to piece together the group's latest iteration. 'Led Zeppelin III' (1970) 7. The ranking was compiled by combining the various versions, as tracked by Nielsen Music, of Led Zeppelin songs, whether from the original studio album, or one of their live albums… 'Led Zeppelin II' (1969) 4. Were they as good as they ever were? Page has said that the band didn’t really come together until Zeppelin II. This is the only Zeppelin album without any keyboards, and there’s only one appearance by an acoustic guitar. Houses marked a real departure for the band after four numeric juggernauts—Rolling Stone... 3. In fact, the only heavy song on this album is the opener, “Immigrant Song.” But Plant and Page work together fabulously on the bluesy “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” far more assured than we heard on their 1968 debut. Presence was recorded and mixed in just 18 days, which reportedly amazed The Rolling Stones, who had studio time following them for “Black and Blue.” The blues “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” showcases that classic Zeppelin stomp and a solid Plant harmonica solo, but overall Presence does sound rushed, lacking direction and any sense of forward momentum for the band. Zeppelin’s penultimate album—and the last with John Bonham—was reviled by many of the group’s rabid fans for seeming to jettison the signature Zeppelin sound for more contemporary stylings. Yet they often shunned the limelight – frequently refusing to release their most popular songs as singles and rarely appearing on TV. 'Led Zeppelin III' (1970) 4. “Tangerine” is the (relatively) unknown gem in their catalogue, a tight and pretty song that ultimately finds a rock groove and features great Plant singing and playing by the entire band. Ranking every Led Zeppelin studio album. To honor them, we've ranked their nine studio albums from worst to best. How I score albums. Zeppelin was a sprawling band, so... 2. Shop here for old rare collectible used vinyl records featuring the legendary classic rock band Led Zeppelin. 9: Led Zeppelin Coda A collection of unreleased tracks. The English supergroup of the 1970s is now the supergroup for the 21st-century superhero set, with its stomping 1970 classic “Immigrant Song” powering the Thor: Ragnarok trailer to record downloads and entering the Billboard charts for the first time since its release. All Rights Reserved. When Crowe, then 17, was assigned a 1975 Led Zeppelin cover story, the band initially declined to participate. With Led Zeppelin, the albums were always the thing. Bassist John Paul Jones has said that Zeppelin didn’t have much unreleased material at the time of Bonham’s death, and the only standout among the unreleased tracks cataloged here is “Wearing and Tearing,” a frenetic song that was guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant’s (it seems almost silly to identify them this way, like saying “baseball player Babe Ruth”) response to the punk movement, marketed as the antidote to their sprawling (or as punks said, “lumbering”) sound. Pin. Led Zeppelin Albums Ranked. Welcome to Reddit, the front page of the internet. Page’s most underrated guitar solo is on “The Rover,” which rocks hard along with about one side’s worth of material. Houses of the Holy (1973). “Good Times, Bad Times” hits you right away with a one-two punch of a riff, and when Bonham kicks in and Plant starts wailing you can’t help but imagine that everyone listening in the late 1960s instantly knew something new and unforgettable was happening. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin [IV] (1971) If this album didn’t exist, Led Zeppelin would probably still be ranked among the greatest bands of all time. But five of the other eight tracks (“Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “Misty Mountain Hop,” “Going to California” and “When the Levee Breaks”) are also heavy rock-radio staples to this day, with the swinging, organ-led “Misty Mountain Hop” rising above them all while nearly falling apart two minutes in and then getting it back together. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. Readers’ Poll: The 10 Greatest Led Zeppelin Albums 1. Here’s where it starts to get tough. Led Zeppelin vinyl LP record albums for sale. The top rated tracks by Led Zeppelin are Stairway To Heaven, When The Levee Breaks, Kashmir, Dazed And Confused and Whole Lotta Love. Coda released after drummer John Bonham’s death via alcohol poisoning in 1980 effectively killed the band as well. The top 5 are quite interchangeable as they are all masterpieces. Led Zeppelin III (1970) After having made a name for themselves with the blues-rock of their first two records, Led Zeppelin decided to make a bit of a stylistic departure when they shacked up at the Headley Grange mansion to record Led Zeppelin III. Physical Graffiti. This is the group’s classic-rock champ. The album was recorded in September and October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London, shortly after the band's formation. 'Physical Graffiti' (1975) 8. The thing about the evolutionary history of Led Zeppelin is that you can watch their progression throughout each album and still identify where they stay true to what made them who they are. With its celtic acoustics and country vibe, Zeppelin III was the antithesis of Led Zeppelin II— meaning way more Zeppelin (light/acoustic) than Led. But then three straight six-plus-minute tracks follow with “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” actually clocking in longer than “Dazed and Confused.” With a few exceptions (e.g. Along the way, they'd stir in heavier sounds, delicate folk, Celtic  and Eastern influences, orchestral thunder and primal sensuality. Houses marked a real departure for the band after four numeric juggernauts—Rolling Stone initially hated it, before ultimately bestowing a five-star rating 30 years later. Zeppelin was a sprawling band, so the Zeppelin experience should begin here, in their eight-million-unit selling double LP that finds them at the peak of their musical and production prowess. “Carouselambra,” at 10:32, is the second-longest Zeppelin studio song—and sounds it. As a result, they rose from the ashes of the Yardbirds into arguably the most dominant rock band of the '70s. (Or is that Liam?) In Through the Out Door. That’s probably because guitarist Page took over the making of the album while Robert Plant recovered from a serious car accident. Led Zeppelin II. 'Presence' (1976) 7. “Stairway to Heaven” is perhaps the most played song in the history of FM radio—on its 20th anniversary in 1991, it had reportedly been played often enough to fill 44 years straight through. This album made it certain that this would be the case. III. 1 . Become a Redditor. Led Zeppelin | Albums Ranked. still has some great songs. But now that it’s back on the air and seducing a new generation of listeners, perhaps it’s the perfect time to revisit the group’s catalogue and sort it out for an audience eager to explore Zeppelin’s legendary 11-year recording career. Physical Graffiti (1975). The band was tired at the end of their 1973 tour and not quite in top form. ... Zeppelin put out eight albums over the course of a dozen years, until the death of drummer John Bonham ended the band in 1980. Before it soundtracked a Marvel movie trailer, of course, “Immigrant Song” was the opening track from Led Zeppelin’s 1970 monument, Led Zeppelin III, with Robert Plant’s banshee wail heralding a new era of hard rock and metal. The acoustic, black-magic inflections of “Friends,” “Gallows Pole” and “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” revealed Page’s budding fascination with the British and American folk revival, particularly with Scottish folk guitarist Bert Jansch. “The Song Remains the Same” is kinetic but the sped-up Plant vocal is love-it or hate-it. Self-indulgent sonic virtuosity has never sounded better. 'Coda' (1982) 9. 'Led Zeppelin I' (1969) 6. Led … List of the best Led Zeppelin albums, including pictures of the album covers when available. Drake Albums Ranked. “The Rain Song” soars. Their legacy, unlike Jimmy Page's antecedent group the Yardbirds, was built not on singles but on longform statements of purpose. Page summed up their unboastful credo perfectly: "Ever onward.". 5th October 2017. Led Zeppelin Albums From Worst To Best Counting Down October 29, 2014 12:11 PM By Ryan Leas Counting Down October 29, 2014 12:11 PM By Ryan Leas A full-circle compilation of more blues-focused outtakes, appropriately titled Coda, ended their initial canonical run of recordings – one highlighted, defined but never limited to the strikingly diverse, 23-times platinum IV. Led Zeppelin Albums Ranked. This is definitely the peak of the band’s already-great career and is their most fully-realised album overall. Anyway, point is, this is a great album in the latter days of Led Zeppelin and everyone in the industry agrees. Page thought the album was “a little soft.” But the group rarely sounded better than on “Fool in the Rain,” with a piano hook for the ages and a great Plant vocal. Self-indulgent sonic virtuosity has never sounded better. If you’re looking to get the Led out, it’s best to start with the best. By Gene Kosowan Published May 18, 2020 Led Zeppelin Albums, Ranked 1. The transition to the more eclectic style would find its apex on Physical Graffiti. The reissue included a far more representative set and better songs: “Black Dog,” “Over the Hills and Far Away,” “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” and “The Ocean.”, but it was too little too late. II. Surprisingly, Bonham was big fan of the ballad “All of My Love,” at least as it relates to Plant’s singing. And “Over the Hills and Far Away” is arguably the greatest Zeppelin song ever. Our list of All 92 Led Zeppelin Songs Ranked Worst to Best gathers every track from their nine albums, as well as some odds and ends that have … Here are all of Led Zeppelin’s albums ranked, from their 1968 debut to their 1982 swan song, Coda. (There’s also a rumor swirling that Zeppelin may reunite for this summer’s Desert Trip Festival.). Here are Led Zeppelin’s eight studio albums, ranked from worst to best. Led Zeppelin I (1969) O ne of the all-time great debut albums, it still sounds like a monster today. Alex Wise April 16, 2020 May 8, 2020. Coda. Led Zeppelin, the original hammer-swinging band of rock gods, is back—and all it took was Chris Hemsworth to pull it off. Led Zeppelin Albums Ranked My Ranking of Led Zeppelins Discography. 'The Song Remains the Same' (1976) 9. Sarca Sim and I have one final tandem Led Zeppelin post for you! By Bonzo_fan, 3 hours ago in Led Zeppelin Master Forum. 3. This live, two-disc soundtrack for Zeppelin’s 1976 concert film was remixed in 2007, and the whole thing has a “I guess you had to be there” vibe. There’s no reason to endure the 26-minute “Dazed and Confused” or the 12-minute “Moby Dick” extended drum solo. Meanwhile, the gentle strums of “Thank You” and “Ramble On” presaged the folk leanings of Zeppelin III. IV. After a two-year recording hiatus that, laughably by today’s standards, was unbearably long at the time, Zeppelin had too much material for a single LP. “Dancing Days” really is danceable. But it still carries all the Zeppelin signatures. For all its innovation and impact, though, few fans rank Led Zeppelin III as the band’s finest hour. I. The effort is considered the group’s best by both Plant and Page. Share 41. Led Zeppelin's Highest-Grossing Albums Of All Time, Ranked With a solid showing of tracks produced, Led Zeppelin has released phenomenal hits, and here are the band's highest-grossing albums. Houses of the Holy. Released in 1979, it’s fair to say that just over a decade after their formation, Led Zeppelin had hit a creative wall. It’s a truth universally acknowledged* that Led Zeppelin’s second album is their greatest work ever. A bundle of brilliant tunes makes this the top choice of many, but it’s a different Zeppelin than what ultimately emerged—way more “Led” than “Zeppelin.” It’s heavy metal and sounds raw given the haphazard recording. In fact, this determinedly album-oriented band's catalog continues to yield intriguing new insights, as you'll see in the following list of Led Zeppelin's albums ranked from worst to best. 1. After all of those album reviews, we thought it would be fun to sunset the series by ranking all of them in order from worst to first. Led Zeppelin Albums Ranked: 1: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II: 2: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV: 3: Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti: 4: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin: 5: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III: 6: Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy: 7: Led Zeppelin In Through the Out Door: 8: Led Zeppelin Presence: 9: Led Zeppelin Coda By Tim Chester. Were Gonna Groove and Poor Tom come to mind. 'Houses of the Holy' (1973) 5. So it’s not really a group effort. The best Led Zeppelin songs revolutionised rock music, while Led Zeppelin sold millions of albums and experienced success on a level most bands couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams. Followers 0. Only Bonham's 1980 death could stop Led Zeppelin, which appeared to be on the crux of a never-finished final transformation with its pop-focused In Through the Out Door. Posted on March 6, 2019 July 1, 2020 by James.