The Greatest Led Zeppelin Album of All Time
To pay tribute to the legacy of Led Zeppelin, Audio Ink Radio names its pick for the greatest Led Zeppelin album of all time. – Author: Cat Badra, Photo via Ken Settle
Led Zeppelin broke out in the 1970s and became one of the most legendary and pioneering bands in the hard rock genre. While Zeppelin had a varied and diverse style to their music, the band really became recognized for their influence on hard rock and heavy metal. While some say the first heavy metal album came from Black Sabbath, others disagree and say it was from Led Zeppelin. Really, either answer is correct, and both sides and agree that these bands are a huge part of the rock and metal music that’s around today.
Zeppelin formed in 1968 and featured Robert Plant on vocals, Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass and keyboard and John Bonham on drums. Bonham sadly passed away in 1980, and the band has expressed multiple times that they have no desire to reunite for a tour or new music.
Led Zeppelin played their very first show in September 1968 under the name the New Yardbirds, which was a take on celebrated British blues band the Yardbirds, for which Page famously played. They eventually changed their name to Led Zeppelin, and that’s really proven them well.
Before breaking up after Bonham’s death in 1980, Zeppelin released eight studio albums, and all of them went multi-platinum. The band also broke concert attendance records that dated back to the Beatles.
The Best Led Zeppelin Album
Of course, it’s nearly impossible to pick a best Led Zeppelin album, because they are all so fantastic. But, Audio Ink Radio has selected 1971’s “Led Zeppelin IV” as the greatest Led Zeppelin record of all time. Why? Well, this album is simply one of the most influential albums in the entire rock genre, as well as metal. Here, each member is at their best, showing off their brazing skills while also playing for the song. Led Zeppelin was never a showy band that flexed in their musical muscles, but listening to “Led Zeppelin IV,” it’s obvious that these guys have incredible skills.
“Led Zeppelin IV” captured a moment in time, and it was perhaps the best moment for the band. Plant’s warm, sweet vocals wrap around each song’s instruments in perfect harmony, and there is really no other record like it. Oh, and let’s not forget that a song called “Stairway to Heaven” is on this album. It, of course, is the most well-known song from the band ever, so for that reason alone, “Led Zeppelin IV” stand sabove the rest. Rolling Stone readers also picked “Led Zeppelin IV” as their favorite record of all time from the group, with the outlet stating that the record won in “blow-out.”
It’s worth noting that 1975’s “Physical Graffiti” was a close second. It could have easily been No. 1, but listening to “Physical Graffiti” from front to back, it’s a bit repetitive and can seem like a long listen. OSure, there’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s a classic album. But, “Led Zeppelin IV” is simply a more dynamic set and keeps the listener engaged from start to finish.
Also find Audio Ink Radio’s tally of the “big four” bands of the 1970s.
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