Led Zeppelin: Worst to Best - Albums Ranked
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This is a great video!! I like the reference to “Spirit” near the end. Very sly... I feel this is an accurate ranking.
Anyone that was so insecure that they changed their name because Hendrix couldn’t remember your real name has issues. Randy California is lucky he wasn’t from Poland.
I dont get the reference :( Bonhams drinking habit maybe?
@@Slipmahoney21 Randy California insecure? What a ridiculous thing to think
Yep...a good vid. I think this guy nailed it, too. Also, the 'Spirit' mention was pretty slick; I don't suspect many people got it. MF
I think it was the family of Randy California who were trying to cash in on it. If Randy felt they ripped him off he would've sued them years ago while he was still alive. Bloody spongers.
To me Physical Graffiti is their best album. It is my go to album when I just want to rock.
Many great songs on Physical, agreed.
Mine too.
Ten Years Gone and Down by the Seaside is extremely underated
I feel similarly with LZ2
I would just like to say regarding Physical Graffiti, from what I know they recorded eight brand new songs in 1974 for the upcoming album Physical Graffiti. The songs were
Custard Pie
In My Time of Dying
Trampled Under Foot
Kashmir
In the Light
Ten Years Gone
The Wanton Song
As a result the time length was more than a single album. So they pulled songs that were recorded during their former albums (Led Zeppelin III,- The Fourth Album,- & Houses of the Holy) sessions, which makes up the other half of Physical Graffiti.
I have nothing against Physical Graffiti, or the songs that were added on to the album….I understand there was not enough space for those eight songs to make a single record album. I also understand they did not want to sacrifice one of those eight songs to make a single album. If it were possible back then to make a single album with those eight songs , I wonder what Physical Graffiti would’ve been like without the added seven songs from their former albums outtakes.
Zep changed it up every album...never got boring or repetitive. It’s why all their albums were great!
Their debut is definitely my favorite & the remastered bonus live tracks is awesome. They were raw & bluesy.
I love the way you explain things rather than just ranking the album. Your love of music shows in every episode.
The guitar work in Presence it's just amazing. Maybe the most particular and innovative he ever did.
I agree. I think that Presence is their most underrated album. It is probably my 4th favorite after IV, Physical Graffiti and Houses of the Holy.
I have to agree! Presence had Jimmy Page's most aggressive and ambitious guitar work, so
I have a special affinity for that album, but in general, all of the first 7 Led Zeppelin studio albums are all gems in their own right, and it's really difficult to rank them..
I could basically switch my preferred order on any given day, based on mood, but Presence is definitely the most underrated one for sure..
"In through the out door" would have been a worthy addition to the magnifcent seven, if someone had the sense to edit out the boring half of Carouselambra and added the outtake "Wearing and Tearing" at the end of the album side, which, btw, ended up there on the Coda album. 😉
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1990 when they were being reassessed, they were deeply unfashionable for all of the Eighties, Page said ' Achilles Last Stand ' was his favourite Zeppelin number that showed all of the band working together. His slide guitar is astonishing as is Bonham.
@@jerryjohnson9531Hard agree. I’ve always loved this album.
Beyond the first album having great tracks, it was also groundbreaking. And for those who experienced that first hand, it's a powerful influence.
A wonderful breakdown and ranking of the Zeppelin catalog. The still-greatest thing about the Internet is finding people who really know their stuff.
Thank you - do subscribe and check out my other videos
Fast becoming my fav reviewer around these parts.
Keep up the great work.
Seeing Led Zep II down at number five hurt big time lol!!
Yeah, that was a kick in the gut... lol!
2 is my #1!
Yeah wtf is this
Yea 2 is my 2. 4 is my one.
Led zep 2 is their best for me with 4 second then physical graffiti then 1. Not a big fan of houses or presence
Agreed. Led II is my #1
I remember hearing Led Zep 4 for the first time when it came out. The sound on this is absolutely amazing, way ahead of its time. I played it about 10 times on that first day.
Led Zeppelin (1) has always been my favorite due to that face punching impact when it came out that just couldn’t be repeated.
Unfortunately, bad recording.
Unlike most reviewers I have always put Presence on the top of my list. I know that band went through a serious issues during preparing and recording material for Presence, bur for me there's something very unique and magical about this LP. There's really no weak track for me on this album and everything flows together very well.
I find Presence a very solid LP when you consider the state of the band at the time. I wish they'd stayed in the studio during this period & churned out more while in the same creative vein.
It's in my top picks by Zep.
Agree 100%
I agree Presence was under rated. I’m still not sure where to put it?
Me too. It always gets dissed but I think it is superior to HotH
This is easily the finest review of Led Zeppelin's catalog that I have ever experienced. Your eloquence and richness in the details reflect my views and feelings on the individual songs quite closely. Thank you for doing such a great job.
The first album will always be my fav, the raw power and the lack of studio production give the songs that live feel. After that it was off to the races with the studio production...
They don't really mellow out on that album either. Even Babe I'm Gonna Leave You gets pretty bombastic. It feels more consistent than II.
Yes, yes and a thousand times yes.
You sir have away with words. I just found you on TH-cam, and I am staying as long as you are going to be doing this channel. Cheers and thanks for a great channel!
Amazing appreciation, Barry! I started delving into some of your earlier videos and came upon this masterpiece. My own ranked Zep list would be similar, although I'd put Physical at #1, and move Zep I and II up past Zep III. Led Zeppelin is my all-time favorite band, and I thoroughly enjoyed this!!
Very good, interesting and thoughtful list. There is a case for ranking all the studio albums as #1. ITTOD was my introduction to Zeppelin. I still love it. Very future-looking while being consistent with their sound. Never understood why it wouldn't rank above Presence, which is fine and good, but very interesting compared to the rest.
Another excellent review! I would only switch your 3 with your 1. Simply because IV has been played to death and I think III will always be my favorite for the very reasons you stated and because its one that hasn't been played to death and I can always return to it and enjoy it. Rock on, mate. Cheers!
Hi, great ! review, I'm a huge Led Zeppelin fan but I'm also a huge Santana fan ( love your shirt! ) been fallowing both bands since album 1, glad you mentioned the rain song it's my no. 2 favorite Zeppelin tune, stairway to heaven was my no.1 until they played to death hear in the U.S. unfortunately the classic rock radio stations in the U.S. play only certain Zeppelin songs and that's it. I can't believe that out of the whole Physical Graffiti album they only play Kashmir, It's an epidemic all over the country and it's very frustrating.
Absolutely! said the same dam thing - there is so much more to that album, they play Kashmir ,thats it.
It's been that way for at least 30 years. I remember classic rock radio in LA back in the 90s playing songs like Black Dog into the ground but never played songs like Ten Years Gone, another brilliant gem which was absent from the airwaves.
Zeppelin never put out a bad album. Not many other bands can say that. Their albums ranged from good to incredible. For me it's definitely Physical Graffiti, my favorite album ever by anyone..
Yup. Few indeed. The Beatles (though not the movie soundtrack LP despite the great 'Hey Bulldog' I'm less into Abbey Road and Let it Be I think they were done by 1969), The Doors (#3 and then #2 being their weakest IMHO but still good), Zeppelin (though to be honest not a fan of their last or 'Coda', Zep were really done by 1975 IMHO). #4 Jimi Hendrix's 4. Some other bands have a great run like Pink Floyd; 'Meddle' thru 'Animals' (4 LPs in a row as well) all with no filler, unlike the overrated 'The Wall' and most of the earlier post Syd Barrett stuff (the 1970 'BARRETT' with Floyd doing the music is another CLASSIC bitter psychedelia). The Dead from 1969 to 1979. Psychedelic Furs, Bowie, Depeche Mode.
Interesting summation of the Led Zeppelin studio albums. Physical Graffiti is my number one. Just so eclectic and. impactful. Interesting views on Presence. Fans seem to be split on that one. For me its number 3 after LZ II Love the immediacy of Presence, it almost sounds like a live album with some great guitar work and drumming especially on Achilles Last Stand, Nobody's Fault But Mine and Tea For One. I always thought that Plant's harmonica playing was underrated. It certainly added to the songs it featured on.
True.
What happened?;
why did he stop?!.
A very fair and thoughtful review. I have been into Zep since 1976 and I have never got tired of listening to them. Graffiti has always been my favourite but I listen to most of the others often. Lately I just cant get enough of LZ3!
1. Houses of the holy
2. Physical graffitti
3. Zep II
4. Zep IV
5. Zep III
6. Zep I
7. In through the out door
8. Presence
Houses of the Holy is by far better than Led Zeppelin IV. The production, the arrangements, the solid composition of every song, makes it the true master piece of Led Zeppelin. If Stairway to Heaven wasn't in LZIV it would be an average album, in my opinion.
Flip houses and physical and it agree
@@alexcolin2066 What can I say. The only song you rate is the one overplayed to death. 'When the Levee Breaks' and 'Battle for Evermore' are unique and stand out pieces. Both LPs are great to me. However I find Robert's voice on 'Houses of the Holy' kind of tinny and the live versions of both 'No Quarter' and 'The Song Remains the Same' are far more hard hitting and have greater presence. It is still a great LP with Bonham at his best, JPJ doing his keyboard and bass thing and Page still fresh and inventive.
Enjoyed the reviews. But really, I listened more to Led Zeppelin I and II more than almost any album I have, for the past 50 years. I love all Zeppelin's stuff, but really - the first two albums should be at the top! When I heard "You Shook Me", at age 15, it was a revelation. I had never heard anything like that before! These two albums were the precedent for all the hard rock (and blues) to come, through the 70's and through today.
Perfect.
Great video, I always think it's Ian Anderson here speaking, which is meant to be a great compliment. Thank you - I enjoy your reviews so much and became a Marillion fan too ;-)
Wow, thank you! Glad you enjoy the videos
While I don't entirely agree, I find your style captivating and eloquent. Great work...
Cool, thanks!
I've always been a huge Zeppelin fan, but could never wrap my head around Achilles Last Stand, just never sounds good to me, but other fans say it's their favorite song
I think the trio: LZ1, LZ3 and Physical Graffiti rises above the rest. LZ1: Freshness, raw, blues-based, the expression of deep emotions. LZ3: A band at the peak of their skills. My choice as 'objectively the best'. PG: mature singing, great riffs, good sound. The LZ album I have listened to the most.
I agree. Those are my 3 favorite albums as well 👍
LZ IV is basically perfect, I remember just playing the vinyl until it turned into ashes. Curiously though, with the years LZ III went up and up and up in my consideration, you don’t need volume to sound powerful.
Gustavo Al agreed. Few people would pick III as their favorite Zeppelin album, but it would be A Completely respectable choice. It is the one I am not tired of hearing.
Headphones on relaxing to the delicate that's the way, the Indian vibe of friends and then Bonzo's drumming on out on the tiles, it don't get much better.Then you have the other great tracks like SIBLY.
@@777jones all people pick 4 as the best zep album but ITS overrated
1. STAIRWAY to heaven
2. When the levee breaks
3. Going to California
@@andreijurca5546 You forgot Black Dog, Rock and Roll, Misty Mountain Hop, and Battle of Evermore. How exactly is it overrated? It's brilliant, sold 37 million copies, considered a top 5 rock album of all time, and it includes one of the greatest rock songs ever composed. Just because many people consider it their best does not mean it is overrated. It may be that it is just that good.
@@robertcorona3362 Rock and roll and black Dog are not that good...misty mountain hop and four sticks are pretty weak the rest is really good...every led zep album is almost perfect
Liked your commentary on Presence. I remember reading somewhere that Page said he thought it was the most accurate or authentic representation of the band's sound out of all of their records.
What a pleasure to listen to your extremely intelligent critiques.
Superb overview that Barry and a fascinating analysis. The quality and consistency of their albums is second to none and your ranking is pretty much my own, apart from the number one slot. For me that's the second album - a rock masterpiece from start to finish.
I'm with you on 2 being their #1.
It's just the most satisfying LZ album for me from start to finish. It's a rocker, but it's also infused with all the other styles LZ does so well including two of their greatest blues songs, "Lemon Song" and "Bring it on Home". John Paul Jones bass on Lemon Song is still absolutely mind blowing to me every time I hear it. To make an ironclad case for 2, you really only need to recite the tracklist.
@@MonkyMonk729 Yes, it is the most satisfying of their albums. Sonically it's amazing and Robert's vocal control was never better. The finest rock singer at his very best. I don't think he was ever quite as good after this album.
I love your analysis. Excellent job. My ranking was similar, but not exact. I had III a little lower in the ranking, and I flip flopped IV and Physical Graffiti. I ranked them this way:
1. Physical Graffiti
2. IV
3. Houses of the Holy
4. II
5. I
6. III
7. Presence
8. In Through the Out Door
9. Coda
Nice list mine is almost a carbon copy.
Fabulous background note explanations of my favourite Zep albums. I was never disappointed by Led Zep III.
Great video, keep them up
An enjoyable trip through the Zeppelin catalogue. I’d match you man for man on the ranking apart from putting Physical Graffiti over LZ4. Side 3 of PG is my favourite sequence of songs by LZ, with Ten Years Gone delivering more and more detail and nuance every time I listen to it.
You're right about PG.. often there is only a slither of light between them... all great albums
1. Houses of the Holy
2. IV
3. II
4. III
5. I
6, Physical Graffiti
7. In Through The Out Door
8. Presence
9. Coda
(This was really hard, especially ranking I, II and III, ask me on another day and I'd put these three in a different order in those positions)
Very very good video of my favorite band
This made me think about the level of self reflection it would take to compose such a list.
These were the soundtracks of my life growing up.
Never could have imagined how music would just fail to put out anything as perfect in quality as the years went by. We were going up, up, up.
Progress. Evolution.
These albums and others of the late 60's-70's were the apex of music.
No one is more surprised than I.
Their first four albums are my favorites. Great commentary.
My ranking is probably very unusual…
1. In through the out door. 2. Led Zeppelin 111
3. Presence
4. Led Zeppelin 11
5. Physical Graffiti
6. Led Zeppelin 1
7. Led zeppelin 1v
8. Houses of the holy
I was 14 when out door came out, and at the time thought the last thing they released was houses of the holy. I loved it immediately and it was very of its time. I then got presence and loved its simplicity and no keyboard approach. And Zepp 11 is high because at the age of 7 or 8, used to get blasted with it when my parents were out by my brother.
I think out door is very underrated
Great video! Like the way, the albums are presented.
I agree with the ranking too, except for two minor changes - I like "Houses of the Holy" a bit more than LZ III and my favorite album is "Physical Graffiti" closely followed by IV (untitled). Anyway, there is no bad album by LZ, just less great ones 😉
Excellent analysis...
You REALLY know your stuff. Total kudos
My sense is that the Led Zeppelin catalog lends itself to exactly the ordering that you presented. I would rank the albums exactly as you did. On a personal note, I saw Zeppelin in concert twice, once in 1973 (about 6 weeks after Houses of the Holy was released) and again in 1977. The first concert was a transcendent experience; the second seemed more about technical proficiency than spell weaving. Regardless, unforgettable events.
Love your shirt!
CODA was released for tax and contractual reasons in 1982. Two tracks (We're Gonna Groove & I Can't Quit You Baby) were taken off of a bootleg from a 1970 concert they did at Royal Albert Hall. Page took the master tape and reworked it in studio. Walter's Walk was left off of Houses of the Holy. Poor Tom was left off of Zep 3. Bonzo's Montreux was recorded on it's own in Switzerland with an unclear plan for it's release. Ozone Baby, Wearing and Tearing, and Darlene were out-takes from In Through the Out Door.
very good video and I agree with your list!
You’ve prompted me to revisit Prescence. Thank you
Nice work. Well thought out. Personally I would rank In Through The Out Door higher. Carouselambra is the most underrated Zeppelin Song. Fool In The Rain, All My Love and In The Evening are masterpieces. I'm Gonna Crawl is excellent. Stunning cover. Ranks #4 for me.
from Japan.
I am a bit surprised to find In Through the Outdoor is low ranked from the most.
For me this whole album sounds like a symphony, I like I'm Gonna Craw played when I need to leave this world (time won't come for 30 years at least) . It could be a requiem, besides being a deepest love song.
The album is truly a masterpiece, it entered into a rock orchestra.
@@silentbeathd7953 You are right. Most people don't appreciate Zeppelin's forays into, shall we say, more sophisticated musical forms. They just want hard rock and blues. They don't realize that Zeppelin is all that and much much more!
Another great ranking. However my top few: III / I / II / in order ! Thank you.
Our list would differ but you sure know how to string those words together for your reviews. Good job. 👍🏻
When Zep called it a day shortly after Bonzo's death, they still contractually owed Atlantic Records 1 more album. Page cobbled together leftovers, and 'Coda' was the result. It wasn't bad, but hardly great either. It still sold a million copies largely off the Zeppelin name. Don't know why Page didn't include 'Traveling Riverside Blues', and 'Hey Hey What Can I Do' - that would have made Coda a cut above average.
Those songs were included when it was reissued on cd in ‘93.
@@johnbenard9550 Yep.
I love Coda, I rank it pretty high. We get a lot of B-sides which were pretty awesome songs.
It's awful
I liked Coda much more than I ever did Presence
Very lucid and articulate reviews. And I like the high ranking you give to Physical Graffiti.
Glad you liked it!
nice. I can't argue with you.
#.- Zep 1
#3 - Houses of the Holy
#2b - Runes/ZoSo/Zep 4
#2a - Zep II
#1 - Physical Graffiti
Awesome video, Led Zeppelin is my favourite band of all times! My list changes everytime, but for now, that's it:
9- CODA
8- Through the Out Door
7- Led Zeppelin I
6- Presence
5- Led Zeppelin III
4- Led Zeppelin II
3- Houses of the Holy
2- Led Zeppelin IV
1- Physical Graffiti
Great analysis. Here's my ranking:
1) 4
2) 2
3) Physical Graffiti
4) 1
5) Houses of the Holy
6) 3
7) Presence
8) In Through the Out Door
9) Coda
Thanks for sharing!!
How do I rank Led Zeppelin, worst to best albums, from the band that I think is the Greatest Rock Band of All-Time! Man, your putting me on the spot, but here it is.
#9. Coda
#8. In Through the Out Door
#7. Presence
#6. III
#5. Physical Graffiti
#4. Led Zeppelin
#3. Houses of the Holy
#2. II
#1. IV
I was young when John Bonham passed away, but I already loved their music because my Uncle played in a garage band, and they attempted to play some of their songs. Rock n' Roll is all I listened to growing up. I am so thankful that in 1995, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page played a show
at Irvine Meadows Amp. I stood up in the 5th row, and those two Kicked Ass that night. I know it's not seeing Led Zeppelin in concert, but it was the next best thing!
Good job. It’s all personal. I agree with your assessment of LZ3 and I think I would put PG below HOTH. Also , I think Out Door was amazing.
This is a tough list...much like pulling molecules apart with pliers! 😊
I agree 100%
I like all of these and wouldn't skip anything, but here's my list:
9) Coda
(but still a really good album!)
8) Presence
7) Led Zeppelin III
(never really clicked for me)
6) In Through the Out Door (this holds a nostalgic place for me and ranks a bit higher for me than most would put it)
5) Physical Graffiti
4) Led Zeppelin
3) Led Zeppelin II
2) Houses of the Holy
("No Quarter" and "Over The Hills..." are two of my favorite songs of theirs)
1) Led Zeppelin IV
(the second half of this one is one of the best sides of music ever recorded)
Nothing really seperates my top 4. Any of them could be #1 on any given day depending on my mood. Thanks for your list. I always enjoy your content!
I got into Zeppelin quite late. All I really knew was the riff to Whole Lotta Love, and a few titles, with no sonic experience to back them up. So, when I bought Presence, not long after it's release, I had no knowledge of the classic Zep - that would start a few months later, with the release of The Song Remains the Same, movie and soundtrack album. To be confronted from the outset with the beast that is Achilles Last Stand, at the age I was then, had the sort of impact you would recognise in yourself when discussing Court of the Crimson King. I bought Physical Graffiti, not long after. But, by the end of '77, I'd been lured into Punk (the Clash) and New Wave (Television - Marquee Moon) and Presence, seemed a distant lifetime ago. That said, the album still holds a weird hold on my psyche, and stands out because of that period, and I agree, it's well worth a revisit. It's better than many remember
Wonderful ranking! For me, Physical Graphite is No.1. Page had the time, the technology to layer riff upon riff. Ten Years Gone, with 14 guitar overdubs, might be his production masterpiece. In The Light also presents more riffs within a single song, than most guitarists can muster in their entire career!
Physical Graffiti was helped by being a double album so there were plenty of long tracks; Kashmir, In My Time of Dying, Ten Years Gone.
WTF is Physical Graphite ? Graphite is pencil lead, you Dufus.
Good to see Tea For One getting some love.
I think it is an absolute gem that is somehow overlooked.
I couldn't do a vid like this......I would have to redo it on regular basis as my favorite changes so often.
Just for the record, Robert Plant's favourite is Led Zeppelin 3 and Jimmy Page rates ' Physical Graffiti ' as being the best album that he ever worked on. I would also like to add that ' In Through the Outdoor' contains several of my favourite Zeppelin songs including 'In The Evening' and 'Carouselambra' !
Did I mention Robert Plant's favourite album? I'm not sure I did. I'm glad you like 'In through the Our door' - I think they're all great.
No you never mentioned Plant's personal favourite but I was just adding a bit of extra info that I had picked up over the years. My top 3 choices are 3) 'Houses of the Holy' with 1st and 2nd favourites interchanging between Zep4 and 'Physical Graffiti'. I agree that they are all great albums !
+78y
I think the reason LZIII was a disappointment was everyone was expecting a LZII Part 2, me included as a teenager. However, that album grew on me as I got older.
Zeppelin were mature songwriters
A lot of III still holds up.
Saw JPJ interview where he talked about the reception III got from fans wanting Whole Lotta Love part 2,3 & 4. II is my favorite because it has so many different facets of what LZ does well. Lemon Song is one of their best blues trips.
Hey there
Interesting and eloquent ranking of the Zep discography .30 odd years ago, I first got into Zep through a friend who discovered OG albums owned by his considerably older brother. Physical Graffiti was the first I listened to in it's entirety and is still probably my favourite. Houses, 4, 3 and 2 all tie in second place.Debut next, then Presence, in through and CODA last.I never really liked the soundtrack live album, although the LP packaging was nice!.
For me, based on sentimental value & nostalgia of growing up.
1. Led Zeppelin II
2. Physical Graffiti
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Led Zeppelin III
5. Led Zeppelin IV
6. Houses Of The Holy
7. Presence
8. In Through The Out Door
9. Coda
8. Presence
7. In through the out door
6. I (unpopular opinion, i know)
5. III
4. Houses of the Holy
3. Physical Graffity
2. II
1. IV
Nice ranking! Here’s mine:
9. In Through the Outdoor
8. Coda
7. Houses of the Holy
6. Presence
5. Led Zeppelin III
4. Led Zeppelin IV
3. Led Zeppelin I
2. Led Zeppelin II
1. Physical Graffiti
LZ2 is my absolute favorite. I like all the songs on this album. I can't say that about any other LZ album.
As a teeny, I listened Physical Graphity many times over headphones from start to end, and I always came back from another planet
I've finally decided. 3 is my favourite. Followed by 2, 1, 4, Physical Graffiti, Houses Of The Holy, Presence, In Through The Out Door and then Coda.
I THINK!
Hi Barry, awesome video. Great pick for number I.
1. Physical Graffiti
2. Led Zeppelin IV
3. Houses Of The Holy
4. Led Zeppelin III
5. Presence
6. In Through The Out Door
7. Led Zeppelin II
8. Led Zeppelin I
9. Coda
Keep going with the channel - hopefully you'll get some more subs.
Classic Album Review Thanks Barry. Yes, slowly but surely.
There's no wrong order. But I'd shift a couple of them around. I like that you rated #4 as your top album. Too many folks automatically downplay this record simply because one or two songs have been overplayed. Only because its too popular. My list would be 1. LZ 4
2. Houses of the Holy
3. LZ 3
4. Physical Graffiti
5, LZ 2
6. LZ 1
7. In through the out door
8. Presence
9. Coda
Very well spoken analysis as usual! I really wish I could listen to LZ4 all the way through and appreciate it for what it is, but I've just been oversaturated with about half of the album's songs. I think one reason why Physical Graffiti is a perennial fan fave is that it's so generous with "secret" gems in the Led Zep catalog, wonderful songs that were never put in 'eternal heavy rotation' on FM radio.
Saying "worst" to "best" really doesn't work with Zep. I certainly have my favorites, but with a bad Zep tune being such a rarity, it just comes down to a subjective feel. Personally, I never listen to "Tea for One," "Thank You," nor am I a fan of "Down by the Seaside" or "In the Light," but for some Zep fans, I've just ignored their favorite songs. Oh well. My favs:
1. Houses of the Holy
2. Physical Grsffitti
3. Zep III
4. Presence
5. Zep IV
Surely "Misty Mountain Hop" is about getting busted in a park and not "Going To California"?
I always make a few little errors with these - especially when I just get into the flow of it. I usually discover them later - anyway thanks for pointing it out.
Interesting ranking I guess I'm not surprised. I like in through the outdoor a lot better than most and I'm not a huge fan of houses of the Holy otherwise I pretty much agree I like Zeppelin 3 a lot as well I think my top three well that's a hard question I like presence a lot I like Zeppelin 3 and I think we can all agree on Physical Graffiti.
My favourites are Zep 2, Zep 3 and Zep 4. I always struggle to split them because perfection warrants no ranking. I will say that Zep are the best band of all time, in the best genre and that 'Since I've been loving you' is the best track of all time. IMHO of course.
Because I am just listening to a number of your old ranking videos I am commenting on several of them on the same day! At the age of 19 I bought Led Zeppelin I. And as far as musical appreciation is concerned, my life changed at that point....Previously heavy music was the Pretty Things! Perhaps for that reason I have always preferred that disc to all their others including Led Zeppelin 4. While I respected and admired their exploring of every genre possible over the next 10 albums, the first two were always my favourites because they were blues based and because they changed popular music forever. Of course we all have different preferences but the one comment of yours I will challenge is on the recording quality of Led Zepp I. Classic Records in the US released a special addition of all Zeppelin's music, recorded on 180 g vinyl at 45 rpm. Each disc was only cut on one side to ensure it remained completely flat. This meant on some discs there was only one track! For example the absolutely monumental In my Time of Dying. On an excellent vinyl system, the drums on this track exceed anything I have ever heard in terms of sonic power. But my point of mentioning this edition is that the tracks from Led Zeppelin I sound absolutely fantastic and certainly equal to anything on Led Zeppelin II. (Communication Breakdown excepted which I never much liked.) I would argue that the three greatest debut albums in rock have been LZI, In the Court of the Crimson King, and Texas Flood by Stevie Ray. And the first and the third of these at least were recorded in a very short time for not much money. Perhaps that tells us something
Sunday i bought the first four albums of LZ, still have a few to go to complete the collection. I am seriously blown away by there music
1-physical graffiti
2- presence
2- houses
2- iii
3- ii
3- I’ve ( spellcheck for ruins ??)
4- outdoor
5- 1 ( I don’t care what the neighbors say )
6- coda ( and I love coda )
A fine review, to be sure. One aspect that I am sure would be hard to value - ITTOD and Presence ( and Coda) were the albums that were released IN my ( and many others ) aware lifetime- and as such were very relevant to us. This was LZs music for us, as opposed to the historic landmarks that came before I (us)could comprehend. It all means so much to me (us). Forever
Side note - after I had a better understanding of where LZs power resided, I only listened to,and collected bootleg live performances- forsaking the studio work for decades. All the events that I had missed- it hurt some
It's sad that you value music just because it was released after you were born. Shows how limited and limiting your mind is,.
Agree with Ole Rocker, 'Since I've been loving you' is an amazing song with a killer guitar solo.
Excellent. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Presence the only album without any keyboards? Any way, love when a new video of yours pops up! Keep up the excellent work. Here’s 1 guy’s opinion.
1. Physical Graffiti
2. 4
3. 3
4. Houses of the Holy
5. 2
6. In Through the Out Door
7. 1
8. Presence
9. Coda
My top 3. Led Zeppelin 4, Led Zeppelin 3 and Physical Graffiti... All Led Zeppelin albums are different and that's why they will always be one of the greatest rock bands ever!
1. Led Zeppelin
2. Physical Grafitti
3. Presence
4. lll
5. IV
6. ll
7. Houses of the Holy
8. In Through the Out Door
9. Coda
There all good in there own way. It’s the only band I can listen to every song on every album. They never had any dull songs I can’t stand. Favorite song though is Since I’ve been loving you!
Wading into this debate is dicey at best. So many valid opinions, so much emotion. At the end of the day you like what you like...That being said, here's yet another list:
-Coda
-In Through the Out Door
-Houses of the Holy
-II
-III
-I
-IV
-Phys Graf
-Presence
I cant quit you baby from Coda is from the Royal Albert hall show in 1970 with an overdubbed guitar solo
1. Physical Graffiti
2. Houses of the Holy
3. III
4. IV
5. Led Zeppelin
6. Presence
7. In Through the out Door
8. II
9. Coda
Thank you for chosing FOUR as the best LED album. So much , I was 14 when it was a hit, I am 64 next week, I am privileged to have grown up on Led 4, Uriah Heep : Gypsy, Elton John : Goodybe Yellow Brick Road, David Bowie : Alladin Sane, Jethro Tulll: Acqualung ,, and the list goes on.......... great times even in Boring Switzerland back then
1) Graffiti
2) III
3) IV
4)I
5) II
6) Houses
7) Presence
8) Out Door
Led Zeppelin one and two will always be my favourites, then four, with various songs from all the others. Just love 'When the Levee Breaks' and 'Kashmir' of course
I am amazed to see Zeppelin II appear so low. I get that these rankings were probably very close but side 2 for me competes with Zeppelin 4 side 1 for my all time favorite side of vinyl, All 5 traks are outstanding.
Also I don't quite get the hype behind Physical graffiti, I've played to it many times and I've never viewed it as particularly special, at lest compared to the rest of Zeppelin's catalogue that is.
The cool thing about Led Zeppelin is that many people have a different album of theirs as their favorite.
Anyways here’s my ranking:
1. Led Zeppelin 2
2. Led Zeppelin 4
3. Houses Of The Holy
4. Led Zeppelin
5. Physical Graffiti
6. Led Zeppelin 3
7. In Through The Out Door
8. Presence
Fantastic understanding of the band. The fourth album that's it! Great ending.
Please listen to Wire and talk about it. The first four albums are so brilliant and influential. Cheers
Yeah I'm a "casual Zep listener". I like In thru the Out Door a lot...
I appreciate your take on the albums, but having Zep 2 fifth on the list is a joke! In my humble opinion, its the best rock album ever. But like you said at the beginning of the video, its your opinion. This is my ranking: 2, 4, PG, 1, HotH, 3, ITTOD, Presence, and CODA.
Great lot of albums. I think most would more or less agree with the ranking order
Led Zeppelin ONE will has been and always be #1 for me, #6? Now Way. When that album came out (next to Hendrix Are You Experienced) helped pave the way for rock music forevermore, every song one that album was like no other (at the time) Led Zeppelin TWO might be better overall but their first holds a special place for being well...the first.