Led Zeppelin and their catalog as a whole have become more beloved and revered with time as they’ve been passed down through generations and become standards for which future bands are measured.
So, how do you honor one of the greatest, most influential bands of all time? Hunker down with a fifth of Jack Daniel’s, a 2-liter of Coke and dive headfirst into the “Zep-a-Thon.” Dubbed so by Jack Black when the band received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012, the “Zep-a-Thon” is a musical binge session where you listen to all of Zeppelin’s eight studio albums (plus the 1982 compilation album Coda) in one sitting.
“Led Zeppelin: The greatest rock and roll band of all time,” said Black. “Better than The Beatles, better than the Stones, even better than Tenacious D.”
Black continued, “If you don’t agree with me, it’s because you never did the ‘Zeppelin Marathon.’ The ‘Zep-a-Thon’ is when you sit your ass down and listen to all nine Zep albums in a row … [It’s] the thing every true fan must do at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage to heavy metal Mecca.”
For the author, this binge wasn’t all for pleasure, On Christmas Eve Eve, I did the #ZepaThon where I binged listened to all eight of @ledzeppelinâs albums (plus âCodaâ) in one sitting and live tweeted it all. It was exhausting, fulfilling research I will use to rank all of Zeppelinâs songs in honor of their 50th anniversary. https://t.co/SR78FCtfPm
Exhausting? Yes. A bit much? Maybe, but crazier things have likely been committed in the name of Zeppelin throughout the past five decades. We’re positive a simple Google search will yield many things that prove this statement correct. However, we’re almost too afraid even to find out what those things are.
Where do your favorite Zeppelin tracks rank? Scroll through the gallery below to find out!
Additional song descriptions by Brian Ives.
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92. âSick Againâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareMuch of Led Zeppelinâs catalog hasnât aged at all... but this song about underage groupies has. The ick-factor on this track goes to 11. (EB)
91. â10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Podâ – ‘Presence’ (2015 reissue)
ShareThis was a previously unreleased track from the recent Zeppelin catalog reissue campaign orchestrated by Jimmy Page. Sometimes, bonus tracks on reissues deliver hidden gems, and sometimes, theyâre tracks that shouldâve just been hidden. This instrumental is a case of the latter. (EB)
90. âSt. Tristanâs Swordâ – ‘Coda’ (2015 reissue)
ShareSimilar to â10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod,â this is just another unreleased track used to justify a reissue campaign. (EB)
89. âLa Laâ – outtake from ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareAn instrumental jam that didnât make it to the bandâs second LP, it was poppier sounding than the rest of the album, opening with a bright, R&B-tinged organ riff. Itâs interesting to imagine what this could have turned into, but as it stands, itâs a curiosity, not a classic. (BI)
88. âCarouselambraâ – ‘In Through The Out Door’ (1979)
ShareThere are plenty of âepicsâ in the Zeppelin catalog, but this is the only one youâll likely find yourself thinking, âIs it over yet?â Much like an actual carousel, this song goes around and around without really going anywhere. (EB)
87. âTea For Oneâ – Presence (1976)
ShareFor a band whose catalog is so steeped in blues, this blues track is just one big âmeh.â (EB)
86. âSunshine Womanâ – ‘The Complete BBC Sessions’ (2016)
ShareLong bootlegged and finally getting an official release on the reissue of âThe BBC Sessions,â the less-than-sterling audio quality doesnât do this track any favors. The song as a whole didnât bring anything alarmingly great to the BBC reissue other than just simply being something we hadnât heard before. (EB)
85. âSugar Mamaâ – ‘Coda’ (2015 reissue)
ShareA previously unreleased outtake from the 2015 âCodaâ reissue, it oddly sounds more like something Greta Van Fleet would release now than Zeppelin. (EB)
84. âThe Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hairâ – ‘BBC Sessions’ (1997)
ShareThe band performed this song just once, on June 6, 1969, on the BBC show âChris Grant's Tasty Pop Sundae.â Unreleased until 1997âs âBBC Sessionsâ collection, the band shared the songwriting credit with bluesmen Sleepy John Estes, Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson, whom they borrowed from here (and elsewhere in their catalog). (BI)
83. âRoyal Orleansâ – ‘Presence’ (1976)
ShareThis track starts off with a bang thanks to a dueling Page and Bonham, but it doesnât go anywhere further than that. (EB)
82. âWalterâs Walkâ – ‘Coda’ (1982)
ShareThere were a handful of standouts on âCoda,â but unfortunately, this âHouses of the Holyâ outtake wasnât one of them. (EB)
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Share80. âHots On for Nowhereâ – ‘Presence’ (1976)
ShareThis would be a throwaway track on any other Zeppelin album, but it holds its own on âPresence.â But if it werenât for the beyond catchy âla-laâsâ this song would be a tough listen. (EB)
79. âCandy Store Rockâ – ‘Presence’ (1976)
ShareThe only single released from âPresence,â âCandy Store Rockâ is an attempt at a rockabilly romp, but it just lacks the Bo Diddley energy Zeppelin were clearly trying to channel. (EB)
78. âBlack Country Womanâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareAn undoubtedly pleasant acoustic tune from the âHouses of the Holyâ recording sessions, but it just doesnât stand out among the other stellar tracks on âPhysical Graffiti.â (EB)
77. âFor Your Lifeâ – ‘Presence’ (1976)
SharePerhaps it suffered from having to follow âAchilles Last Stand,â but âFor Your Lifeâ just seems to drag. Plantâs vocals sound strained, but thatâs likely due to him still recovering from a nasty car accident. It makes you wonder what could have been if he was at full health. (EB)
76. âNight Flightâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareThe elements of a great song are here, but âNight Flightâ just doesnât take off. (EB)
75. âPoor Tomâ – ‘Coda’ (1982)
ShareâPoor Tomâ would be an album track for an average band, but Zeppelin cut it from the âLed Zeppelin IIIâ sessions. The harmonica at the end of the song is absolutely killer. (EB)
74. âBoogie With Stuâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareThe âStuâ in the songâs title is Ian Stewart, a founding member of the Rolling Stones, who was relegated to non-membership status by their original manager Andrew Loog Oldham; he deemed the pianistâs cleancut image inappropriate for the band. A fan of early rock and roll and âboogie-woogie,â Ian Stewart was the perfect guy to tickle the ivories on this song. The songwriting credit was split between all four Zep members, Stewart and âMrs. Valens,â the widow of Ritchie Valens, as they built the song around Valensâ â50s-era hit âOoh My Head.â (BI)
73. âWeâre Gonna Grooveâ – ‘Coda’ (1982)
ShareBased on the Ben E. King song âGroovinâ,â âWeâre Gonna Grooveâ was originally intended for âLed Zeppelin II.â While that record has no fat on it at all, this would have fit in well if Zeppelin decided to make their sophomore album ten tracks long instead of just nine. (BI)
72. “Hats Off to (Roy) Harper” – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareAnother blues arrangement. This time the inspiration was based on Bukka Whiteâs Delta blues song âShake âEm On Downâ as an ode to Zeppelin friend and folk singer Roy Harper. (Fun fact: Harper provides lead vocals on Pink Floydâs âHave a Cigar.â) Itâs a weird closing song for âLed Zeppelin IIIâ but nonetheless enjoyable. (EB)
71. “You Shook Me” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareThis cover of Willie Dixonâs âYou Shook Meâ isnât bad, but compared to other Zeppelin blues arrangements and interpretations, it just doesnât measure up. (EB)
70. âDown By the Seasideâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareAn outtake from âLed Zeppelin IV,â its dreamy, Neil Young-influenced twang wouldâve been a bit out of place on that album but fits in nicely on the mellow side three of âPhysical Graffiti.â (EB)
69. âWearing And Tearingâ – ‘Coda’ (1982)
ShareAn outtake from âIn Through The Out Door,â this showed that the band could be as aggressive as the punk rock and new wave bands that were all the rage by the end of the â70s. Why it wasnât included on the album is a mystery. (BI)
68. “Black Mountain Side” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareA subtly brilliant instrumental track that serves as a great transition between the mellow âYour Time Is Gonna Comeâ and the intense âCommunication Breakdown.â (EB)
67. âOut On the Tilesâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareThe closer of side one on âLed Zeppelin III,â âOut On the Tilesâ starts off well enough with a strong riff, but it comes off as repetitive by the songâs end. Itâs not bad by any stretch, but it just always feels like the song as a whole couldâve been more. (EB)
66. âBring It On Homeâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareZeppelin would sample from the well of Willie Dixon multiple times, but sometimes they got a bit too close to that well, and didnât give credit, resulting in legal battles. And like many times in their history, they would settle out of court and rectify the song credit omission. Regardless, âBring It On Homeâ still brings âLed Zeppelin IIâ to a solid close. (EB)
65. âBron-Yr-Aurâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareA lovely instrumental from Jimmy Page, this was an outtake from âLed Zeppelin III,â but it made a nice home for itself as a palate cleanser of sorts on âPhysical Graffitiâ after âIn the Light.â (EB)
64. âSouth Bound Saurezâ – In Through The Out Door (1979)
ShareA fun honky-tonk jam, Jones on the piano is the obvious highlight to this track. (EB)
63. âBonzo’s Montreuxâ – ‘Coda’ (1982)
ShareEssentially a John Bonham solo song. âBonzoâs Montreuxâ features his powerful and innovative drumming; Jimmy Page added some electronic effects to the percussion-fest. Most drum pieces are only interesting to drummers; thatâs not the case here. If this had been released during his lifetime (it was recorded in 1976), it may have become as iconic as his âMoby Dickâ drum solo. (BI)
62. âCâmon Everybodyâ – âLed Zeppelin DVDâ (2003)
ShareA live cover of a 1959 rockabilly classic by Eddie Cochran, this is Zeppelin at their most raw, and their most fun. (BI)
61. âIâm Gonna Crawlâ – ‘In Through The Out Door’ (1979)
SharePlant really wails on this album closer accompanied by Jonesâ synth, but itâs hard not to get wistful when listening to it now, knowing that what it really was was the end of Zeppelin. (EB)
60. âSomethinâ Elseâ – ‘BBC Sessions’ (1997)
ShareAnother cover of yet another 1959 rockabilly classic by Eddie Cochran, it was recorded by the band in â69 for the BBC show âChris Grantâs Tasty Pop Sundae.â John Paul Jones seems to be having a blast on the piano; indeed, itâs one of Zeppelinâs most joyful performances. (BI)
59. âHot Dogâ – ‘In Through The Out Door’ (1979)
ShareWhile Zeppelin always wore their blues influences on their sleeves, on âHot Dogâ they put their love for rockabilly and â50s rock and roll on full display. Is it their greatest song? No, but itâs fun hearing Robert Plantâs Elvis Presley impression. It may have worked better as a B-side, though. (BI)
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Share57. âOzone Babyâ – ‘Coda’ (1982)
ShareOne of the highlights from âCodaâ that was leftover during the recording of âIn Through The Out Door.â If the then-current state of Zeppelin was different, it wouldâve been fascinating to see what more they couldâve done with this track in studio. (EB)
56. âIn the Lightâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareJohn Paul Jones and his synthesizer are front and center on this track, the second longest on âPhysical Graffiti,â with ebbs and flows that are utterly hypnotic. (EB)
55. âKey To The Highway/Trouble In Mindâ – outtake from Led Zeppelin III
ShareYou almost feel like youâre intruding on Jimmy Page and Robert Plant when you listen to this acoustic jam from the âLed Zeppelin IIIâ sessions. âKey To The Highwayâ was popularized by Big Bill Broonzy, and was also covered by Eric Clapton with Derek and the Dominoes, John Lee Hooker, the Band and the Steve Miller Band. âTrouble In Mind,â meanwhile, is a blues song from the 1920s that has appeared in the repertoires of Nina Simone, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Spencer Davis Group. (BI)
54. “I Can’t Quit You Baby” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareOf the two Willie Dixon covers on Zeppelinâs debut, âI Canât Quit You Babyâ is the superior by leaps and bounds, even though it doesnât stray too far from the source material. Plantâs acrobatic vocals donât hurt either. (EB)
53. âThe Crungeâ – ‘Houses Of The Holy’ (1973)
ShareZeppelinâs tribute to James Brown wasnât quite as successful as their many tributes to their blues heroes, but âThe Crungeâ is one of their funniest songs, particularly when Robert Plant puts his spin on Brownâs âtake it to the bridge!â cry: âHas anybody seen the bridge? Have you seen the bridge? I ain't seen the bridge! Where's that confounded bridge?â (BI)
52. âHey, Hey What Can I Doâ – âLed Zeppelin Boxed Setâ (1990)
ShareIt makes sense why many of Zeppelinâs âunreleasedâ cuts didnât make it onto whatever album their respective recording session was attached, but âHey, Hey What Can I Doâ not making it on âLed Zeppelin IIIâ is still baffling. It was notably the b-side to âImmigrant Songâ on the trackâs U.K. release but wouldnât get an official release stateside until 1990. (EB)
51. âThe Wanton Songâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareA standout on side four of âPhysical Graffiti,â âThe Wanton Songâ is certainly one of the more straightforward hard rock tracks on the entire album thanks to the energetic riff from Page. (EB)
50. âFour Sticksâ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)
ShareKnown for its unusual time signatures and John Bonhamâs use of two sets of drum sticks (hence its title), âFour Sticksâ is truly a showcase for Bonzo and yet another example of his brilliance. (EB)
49. âCustard Pieâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareJohn Paul Jones and his clavinet makes its first appearance on the opening track of âPhysical Graffiti,â but it wouldnât be the last, and the best was yet to come. As for the lyrics, it doesnât take a cunning linguist to figure out what this oneâs about. (EB)
48. âThe Lemon Songâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareâSqueeze me baby, 'till the juice runs down my leg.â Even the less-than-astute could figure out whatâs going on here. Howlinâ Wolf, of course, would soon after receive a writing credit on the track, which was more than a little inspired by his own âKilling Floor.â (EB)
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Share46. âBaby Come On Homeâ – ‘Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2’ (1993)
ShareâBaby Come On Homeâ was recorded during the âLed Zeppelin Iâ recording sessions, but it wasnât released until 1993 as the focal point of âLed Zeppelin Boxed Set 2.â It makes sense why it was left off Zeppelinâs debut, but this Hammond organ-fuelled beauty of a tune still managed to net success on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart peaking at number four over a decade after Zepâs demise. (EB)
45. “How Many More Times” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareThe second appearance of Jimmy Pageâs bowed guitar on Zeppelinâs debut, âHow Many More Timesâ brings âLed Zeppelin Iâ to a close in epic fashion and sets the table for what was to come a mere nine months later on âLed Zeppelin II.â (EB)
44. âFriendsâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareAn undeniable, incredible groove, âFriendsâ served as the first acoustic taste on the mostly unplugged âLed Zeppelin IIIâ (âImmigrant Songâ opens the album, âFriendsâ is track two). The John Paul Jones-arranged string section on the track takes things to a whole new level of sublime. (EB)
43. “Your Time Is Gonna Come” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareSide two of âLed Zeppelin Iâ kicks off with this track, and it brings a complete mood change to the album thanks to John Paul Jonesâ organ playing. (EB)
42. âGallows Poleâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareAnother arrangement triumph, the source material for âGallows Poleâ comes via the traditional folk song "The Maid Freed from the Gallows," which was covered by Lead Belly in 1939, but Zeppelin more than made it their own. (EB)
41. âTravelling Riverside Bluesâ – ‘Led Zeppelin Boxed Set’ (1990)
ShareOne of the few true gems released after their breakup, Zeppelinâs take on this Robert Johnson song was originally recorded in 1969, but upon its official 1990 release, it made its way up the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart peaking at number seven. (EB)
40. âTangerineâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareIt wasnât Zeppelinâs first song about heartbreak and it certainly was not the last, but thanks to the steel guitar, it might be the bandâs loveliest song about love lost. (EB)
39. âBron-Y-Aur Stompâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareEasily one of the coolest songs ever to feature spoons and castanets, which were somehow made badass thanks to John Bonham, this jam sees Zeppelin go âhamâ on folk music without losing their edge. The song title, of course, is a shout out to the infamous Wales cabin where they wrote a majority of âLed Zeppelin III.â (EB)
38. âNo Quarterâ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)
ShareAn about-face on side two of âHouses of the Holyâ following upbeat jams âDancing Daysâ and âDâyer Makâer,â itâs one of the most haunting tracks in the entire Zeppelin catalog and shows just how much John Paul Jones can change the mood of the room with his piano playing. (EB)
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ShareMegan Fox arrives at the 18th Annual MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre on May 31, 2009 in Universal City, California.
36. âCelebration Dayâ – Led Zeppelin III (1970)
ShareNot just a classic song, but the title of the bandâs one and only full-length reunion concert from November 19, 2012 (and the subsequent live album). Although oddly enough, they didnât actually perform âCelebration Dayâ at the show. âMy, my, my, I'm so happy⌠I'm gonna join the bandâ was how thousands of budding musicians reacted to hearing Zeppelinâs music in 1969 and 1970⌠and in the decades since. (BI)
35. âThatâs The Wayâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareIs it a love song about two lovers from different worlds or is it a song about two friends from different worlds? Perhaps, itâs both. One thing for certain is that itâs one of Zeppelinâs best acoustic songs in their entire catalog. (EB)
34. âThank Youâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareLed Zeppelin wasnât all about lust, and they proved that with âThank You,â which is an unbelievably sweet love song. With lyrics like, âWhen mountains crumble to the sea/There will still be you and me,â itâs hard not to swoon, regardless of your gender⌠or your dating status. (EB)
33. âThe Battle of Evermoreâ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)
SharePlantâs vocals dance beautifully with the late Sandy Dennyâs on this mandolin ballad, which is also one of the more subtle nods to Lord of the Rings from the Zeppelin catalog. Fun fact: Denny was the only guest vocalist to ever record with Zeppelin. (EB)
32. âMisty Mountain Hopâ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)
ShareOne of Zeppelinâs funkiest numbers, the song is powered by John Paul Jonesâ electric piano and John Bonhamâs heavy drums. The âmisty mountainsâ are a clear Tolkien reference, but the songâs lyrics deal more with hippies and cops than Hobbits and dragons: after âsitting on the grassâ with people who had âflowers in their hairâ asking, âHey, boy, do you want to score?â a police officer showed up. â[He] Said please, hey, would we care/To all get in line⌠Well, you know, they asked us to stay for tea And have some fun.â If only all busts were that friendly! (BI)
31. âAll My Loveâ – ‘In Through The Out Door’ (1979)
ShareIn the realm of songs about loss, this one doesnât get enough of its due. A tribute to Plantâs 5-year-old son, Karac, who died from a stomach virus, âAll My Loveâ is as beautiful as it is devastating. (EB)
30. âLiving Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)â – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareThis track was the b-side to âWhole Lotta Love,â which is strange considering how itâs literally inseparable from âHeartbreaker,â and radio still plays both tracks together as if they are one song. But the riffs on âLiving Loving Maid (Sheâs Just A Woman)â are oddly complementary to those in âWhole Lotta Love.â (EB)
29. âIn My Time Of Dyingâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareItâs difficult to choose the best example of how great Zeppelin was at song arrangements, but âIn My Time Of Dyingâ certainly has to be in the running. Zeppelin transformed a traditional gospel tune into a blues-rock opus; the song clocks in at 11-minutes, but it feels like much less. (EB)
28. âThe Rain Songâ – ‘Houses Of The Holy’ (1973)
ShareRobert Plant himself has cited this as his finest vocal performance with Zeppelin, and who are we to argue? It also has one of his best lyrics: âUpon us all a little rain must fall,â indeed. (BI)
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Share26. âGoing To Californiaâ – Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
ShareOne reason why Zeppelin defies categorization is that they were so good at so many things. Sure, they influenced every hard rock and metal band who followed them, but they were also amazing at creating beautiful acoustic songs. âGoing To Californiaâ is a prime example. (BI)
25. âMoby Dickâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareOstensibly an instrumental Page/Jones/Bonham jam, Page and Jones split after about a minute (and return at the end), giving John Bonham a showcase for his powerful yet tuneful playing. Most drum solos get old after youâve heard them a few times: thatâs not the case with âMoby Dick,â which stands proudly alongside the rest of âLed Zeppelin II,â and alongside the rest of the bandâs catalog. (BI)
24. âD’yer Mak’erâ – ‘Houses Of The Holy’ (1973)
ShareOn âDâYer Makâerâ (pronounced more like âdid you make herâ than âdire makerâ), Led Zeppelin looked to Jamaica for inspiration. Like the Beatlesâ âOb-La-Di, Ob-La-Daâ a few years earlier, it may not have been legit reggae, but it became a rock radio classic in the States. And the âOh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!â chorus makes the song an irresistible earworm. (BI)
23. âTen Years Goneâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareâDid you ever really need somebody/And really need 'em bad/Did you ever really want somebody/The best love you ever had.â Plantâs lyrics add significant heft to the track, which Page had planned to be an instrumental. While the instrumental could have stood alone, the lyrics take âTen Years Goneâ to another level. (EB)
22. âThe Oceanâ – ‘Houses Of The Holy’ (1973)
ShareThereâs a lot of competition for the title of âJimmy Pageâs Greatest Riff,â but âThe Oceanâ may own it; at the very least, itâs in the top five. It also has pretty cute lyrics, a rarity in the Zeppelin canon. âI'm singin' all my songs to the girl who won my heart,â Robert Plant wails. âNow, she's only four years old, and it's a real fine way to start!â He was, of course, singing about his daughter. (BI)
21. âFool in the Rainâ – ‘In Through The Out Door’ (1979)
ShareConsidering the state of the band at this point, with Plant mourning the loss of his son, Karac, and Page and Bonham battling addiction, itâs amazing they were able to produce such an upbeat song. Then again, once you commit to a samba rhythm, youâre probably going to end up with an upbeat song. Sadly, however, this would be Zeppelinâs final single released before the untimely death of Bonham. (EB)
20. âDancing Daysâ – ‘Houses Of The Holy’ (1973)
ShareWhen thinking of Led Zeppelin, the old âAmerican Bandstandâ phrase âIt's got a good beat and you can dance to itâ isnât probably the first thing that comes to mind, but it definitely applies to âDancing Days.â Itâs one of the poppiest tunes in the bandâs catalog. Sure, there are those who donât care for it, but those people hate fun and should be ignored. (EB)
19. âAchilles Last Standâ – ‘Presence’ (1976)
ShareAt ten and a half minutes long, itâs one of the bandâs lengthiest tracks, and showed that they could be as proggy as their peers in Yes, King Crimson and Emerson Lake & Palmer. Its length may not have helped its popularity, but the song definitely has its fans: Chris Cornell and Temple of the Dog covered this song on their too-brief 2016 reunion tour. (BI)
18. âSince Iâve Been Loving Youâ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)
ShareLed Zeppelin werenât blues purists, but they could have gone down that path, judging by this song. Propelled by John Paul Jonesâ Hammond organ playing, the song features one of Jimmy Pageâs best guitar solos. (BI)
17. âHouses Of The Holyâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareMore cowbell! Years before Blue Oyster Cultâs âDonât Fear The Reaper,â John Bonham was hitting the cowbell on this song, originally recorded for the bandâs 1973 album. Plantâs lyrics arenât too subtle: âLet me take you to the movies/Can I take you to the show?/Let me be yours ever truly/Can I make your garden grow?â (BI)
16. “Communication Breakdown” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareMost punk rock bands either hated Led Zeppelin, or denied being influenced by them. And, of course, all punk bands love the Ramones. So, thereâs a bit of irony in the fact that Johnny Ramone developed his guitar style by playing along to âCommunication Breakdown,â as he revealed in the documentary âRamones: The True Story.â Itâs one of Zepâs shortest songs, and one of their most powerful. (BI)
15. âTrampled Under Footâ – Physical Graffiti (1975)
ShareThe clavinet is more closely associated with the funk music of the â70s (notably Stevie Wonder) than Led Zeppelin, but John Paul Jonesâ playing of that electric keyboard is what makes this track so damn catchy and memorable. Itâs perhaps the most toe-tapping hook in Zeppelinâs entire catalog. (EB)
Watching The Birds with Dave Gibson at PJ’s at Washington Township on 12/3/18
Share13. âRamble Onâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareâThe Lord of the Ringsâ film franchise may have grossed an obscene amount of money, but never did director Peter Jackson make Tolkienâs trilogy this cool! Gollum would probably consider this song precious. Zeppelin fans sure do. (EB)
12 . “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareWhile Plantâs voice can move mountains, even a sustained vocal performance could still deliver the chills. This might be the best example of that in the entire Zeppelin catalog. (EB)
11. âOver The Hills And Far Awayâ – ‘Houses Of The Holy’ (1973)
ShareA song about moving on after heartbreak,âOver The Hills And Far Awayâ is a lyrical departure for Zep. Surely countless souls recovering from a breakup have taken solace in âMany have I loved, and many times been bitten/Many times I've gazed along the open road.â Translation: sure, youâve been dumped, but this, too, shall pass. (BI)
10. âHeartbreakerâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareSide one of âLed Zeppelin IIâ closed with the beautiful love song âThank You,â but when you flipped over to side two, listeners were greeted by this tale of lust coupled with another monster riff and solo from Jimmy Page. (EB)
9. âStairway to Heavenâ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)
ShareThereâs probably a lady (or man) whoâs sure this song is ranked too low, but thereâs good reason for it. Part of what made âStairwayâ legendary was the legend behind it involving the band writing the song at Bron-Yr-Aur, an isolated cottage in Wales. However, Jimmy Page testified during the recent âStairwayâ copyright lawsuit that the song wasnât written at Bron-Yr-Aur after all. Is the song still an influential, incredible piece? Yes, but thereâs no doubt that in recent years, âStairwayâ just doesnât glitter like it once did. (EB)
8. âWhen The Levee Breaksâ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)
ShareZeppelinâs update of the Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie blues song released in 1929 was one of their finest moments. John Bonham in particular shines with one of his most iconic drum performances, but Robert Plant also adds some of his best harmonica playing and vocals. Many of Zeppelinâs peers covered early blues songs, but few of them captured the sense of dread that Zep did here. (BI)
7. “Dazed and Confused” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareDespite this track lifting and arranging Jake Holmesâ 1967 track of the same title -- initially without credit -- âDazed and Confusedâ remains one of Zeppelinâs best songs thanks in large part to the soulful, angst-ridden lyrics and Robert Plantâs vocal performance. Oh, and Jimmy Page breaking out the bow doesnât hurt things either. (EB)
6. “Good Times Bad Times” – ‘Led Zeppelin I’ (1969)
ShareA crushing Jimmy Page riff. John Bonhamâs funky but powerful drumming. A 20-year old Robert Plant wailing, âIn the days of my youth/I was told what it was to be a man.â And John Paul Jonesâ understated but vital bass playing. Those elements kicked off the first song on side one of Led Zeppelinâs debut. It was also the bandâs first single, so âGood Times Bad Timesâ provided a powerful introduction to the band for rock fans in 1969. At the end of the song, Plant sings, âRealize, sweet babe, we ain't ever gonna part,â and it was sort of prophetic: although the band would last only a little over a decade, millions of fans have never stopped loving Zeppelin, and they keep picking up new followers with each new generation. (BI)
5. âBlack Dogâ – Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
ShareZeppelin had a knack for picking out the perfect opening album track and with âBlack Dog,â it was a bold signal of what was to come on âLed Zeppelin IV.â It's hard rock perfection, from Plantâs opening acapella intro to Pageâs rolling solo bringing the track to a fading close. Itâs also one of Zeppelinâs most successful singles peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. (The only other Zeppelin single to perform better was âWhole Lotta Love,â which peaked on the Hot 100 at number four.) For any other band, a track like this would be the highlight of an album, but Zeppelin werenât any other band, and âLed Zeppelin IVâ is certainly not any other album. (EB)
4. âKashmirâ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)
ShareâKashmirâ was the closest thing a hard rock band came to Phil Spectorâs âWall of Sound.â Itâs the best example of Zeppelin at their most ambitious. Itâs so good, weâll even forgive the band for allowing Puff Daddy to rap over it for the 1998 track âCome With Meâ (which actually featured Jimmy Page!) from the Godzilla soundtrack. (EB)
Watching The Birds with Dave Gibson at PJ’s at Washington Township on 12/3/18
Share2. âWhole Lotta Loveâ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)
ShareFrom Jimmy Pageâs iconic riff and solo to the dizzying overdubs to Robert Plantâs wailing roar, âWhole Lotta Loveâ is perhaps the perfect example of Zeppelinâs overall bravado. Dripping with hard rock lust, âWhole Lotta Loveâ is the sound of a band that is confident and quite aware of the sheer force they are and arenât afraid to share that with the world. (EB)
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