Author Allen M Werner

In my early teens, when I began branching off from the music my parents liked to the music I enjoyed, Led Zeppelin and Kansas were the two stand bearers.

The band Led Zeppelin began in 1968 and released their first two albums, Led Zeppelin I and Led Zeppelin II in 1969.

Because of my age and my parent’s taste in music, I didn’t start listening to Led Zeppelin or any other rock bands for that matter until 1977-78.

Led Zeppelin released their last official album, In Through The Out Door, in 1979 and disbanded in 1980 after the tragic death of drummer John Bonham. They were new to me when they were just ending. In a statement on December 4, 1980, the band said that John Bonham was a dear friend, and a deep sense of undivided harmony between the members made it impossible to replace him with another drummer.
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham were the only four members of Led Zeppelin. Something you hardly ever see in the music industry.
From start to finish, four talented musicians.

So here is my list of Led Zeppelin’s albums…

#9 – Coda (1982)

Ok, technically, Coda is not an official Led Zeppelin album. It was a collection of outtakes from the band’s past, songs that did not make it onto other albums. And it was released in 1982 after the band had already disbanded.

I’m including it on the list because it is Led Zeppelin, and because I was still relatively new to Led Zeppelin music when it was released. It felt like a new album. And we all still had hopes that the band would eventually reunite – but that never happened.
Coda contains several songs I like, although I don’t really listen to it in its entirety anymore. It’s mostly a nostalgic thing now.

If I were to recommend listening to anything off of it, it would be ‘Ozone Baby’ and ‘Wearing And Tearing’ which were both made while recording their last album, In Through The Outdoor.
‘Poor Tom’ recorded back in 1970 for Led Zeppelin III isn’t too bad either.

There is also a live track of ‘I Can’t Quit You, Babe,’ from 1970.

#8 – Presence (1976)

Presence is Led Zeppelin’s 7th album and was their lowest selling album although it still went triple-platinum.

The album starts with my favorite track on the album ‘Achilles Last Stand.’ The song is 10:26 minutes long which probably turns off a certain audience of listeners who prefer songs in the 3-5 minute range.

‘Achilles Last Stand’ is a complex piece featuring various musical influences. I think it is fun to listen to.

‘For Your Life’ is a decent song although I think it is a bit too long at 6:21. I think it would have been better if they could have tightened it up.

‘Royal Orleans’ is a spirited but nondescript song that I often forget about, sort of like two more songs later on the album, ‘Candy Store Rock’ and ‘Hots On For Nowhere.’

‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’ has the classic “call-and-response” exchange between Plant’s voice and Page’s guitar that they had done on earlier albums. The song gets right in your face even though it has a traditional blues structure to it.

‘Tea For One’ is the last song on the album coming in at a robust 9:27, and I’ll admit, even as a Zeppelin fan, I hardly ever listen to this song unless I’m just listening to the album in its entirety.

#7 – Houses of the Holy (1973)

Houses of the Holy is Zeppelin’s 5th album and seems to me to be an interesting blend of their first four albums. It bridges a bit of each.

I don’t feel that the first track on the album, ‘The Song Remains The Same,’ should have been the first track. I personally feel it is one of the weaker songs on the album and should have been placed near the end of side two. The next song, ‘The Rain Song’ may be one of my least favorite Zeppelin songs, if not least.

‘Over The Hills And Far Away’ is an absolute classic. This is my favorite song on the album.

‘The Crunge’ is a more charged up version of ‘The Rain Song’ to me. I could do without this song. Odd song.

‘Dancing Days’ and ‘D’yer Maker’ are mainstream Zeppelin. They are perfect examples of what this band is and was.

‘No Quarter’ is one of those songs that I’m sure a lot of people overlook as it is 7:12 minutes long and features Jones’ keyboards. It has a lot of thick, heavy tone made even darker by Plant’s singing. It also changes, going from quiet to hard with simple ease. It’s one of those songs I love to listen to on headphones.

The final song is ‘The Ocean’ which is my second favorite song on this album. It’s a catchy, upbeat Zeppelin song that gets your head bobbing.

#6 – Led Zeppelin III (1970)

Zeppelin’s 3rd album was a departure from their first two albums which had been bluesy and hard rock. III is primarily a folk-rock album which incorporated various string instruments and synthesizers.

The album does, however, begin with a rock classic that can wake up the dead, if not all the Viking’s in Valhalla. ‘Immigrant Song’ is one of the best Zeppelin songs ever made with Plant singing about the lands of ice and snow with the hammer of gods. Epic.

The next song “Friends’ initiates the listener into the new sound of Zeppelin that they will be hearing on the rest of the album. ‘Celebration Day’ keeps the folk-rock sound going.

‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ momentarily whisks the listener back to the heavy drumming, blues chords of Zeppelin I.

‘Out On The Tiles’ is a very good song that seems a bit out of place on this album. It seems to me to be a precursor to their album Physical Graffiti which won’t be released until 1975.

‘Gallows Pole’ is an amazing song that I absolutely love. Nothing like a strong folk-rock song about a man about to die hoping someone will come and save him at the last minute.

‘Tangerine’ feels like one of those songs I shouldn’t like as much as I do. It’s not special in anyway but it’s a perfect fit for this album.

‘That’s The Way’ is a forgettable song. ‘Bron-Y-Aur Stomp’ is better than the song before it but not particularly memorable. ‘Hats Off To (Roy) Harper’ is another song, at the bottom of Zeppelin songs. I don’t think I ever really listen to it anymore. Not my kind of song. This album would be ranked lower had it not been for the strength of ‘Immigrant Song’, ‘Friends’, ‘Since I’ve Been Gone’, ‘Out On The Tiles’, and ‘Gallows Pole’.

#5 – Physical Graffiti (1975)

Physical Graffiti is Led Zeppelin’s 6th album, their only double studio album. It was also the first album to be released on their own label, Swan Song Records.

8 of the songs were created for the album while the other songs came from previously unreleased material.

I’ll admit, when I was younger, this was the most difficult Led Zeppelin album for me to listen to. It strangely didn’t interest me like the other albums, but I have since grown into liking it more.

It starts with the song ‘Custard Pie’ which is a below average rock song in my opinion.

‘The Rover’ is a little better than Custard Pie and harkens back to the harder bluesy stuff of Zeppelin I and II.

‘In My Time Of Dying’ sounds like an outcast from Zeppelin III.

The album improves immensely with the song ‘Houses of the Holy’. Great song.

‘Trampled Under Foot’ is my favorite song off this album. It’s a straight in your face rocker with the guitars and lyrics.

‘Kashmir’ is a classic Zepplin song that even those who claim to have never heard Zeppelin, have heard. It captures much of the mystique of Stairway to Heaven.

‘In The Light’ is a weak song that I hardly ever listen to. Very strange and trippy.

‘Bron-Yr-Aur’ is a pleasing to the ear instrumental, short and sweet. One of my favorite Led Zeppelin instrumentals.

‘Down By The Seaside’ is another first-rate Zeppelin song that would have fit well on Presence and In Through The Out Door. It has a ‘what is coming next’ feel to it.

‘Ten Years Gone’, ‘Night Flight’, ‘and ‘The Wanton Song’, are average to below average Zeppelin songs that I probably would have problems distinguishing from other songs if I heard them randomly played.

‘Boogie With Stu’ is another great song with an old school rockabilly sound. Good mix of the 50s and 60s in one song. I can listen to this one anytime. Great vibe.

‘Black Country Woman’ and ‘Sick Again’ finish off the album and are below average Zeppelin songs.

Like I said, I didn’t appreciate this album much when I was younger and, in its entirety, it is still a difficult album for me to listen to. But there are a handful of strong songs that make up for its overall weaknesses.

#4 – In Through The Out Door (1979)

As I have stated previously, In Through The Out Door, was Led Zeppelin’s final album. And by most accounts, it was a bit of a departure from their earlier material.

Because I was just discovering Zeppelin in the late 70s, I listened to this album a lot in my youth. The lead track, In The Evening, has an extended intro that I wish wasn’t so long, but the song itself is hard and wonderful. I love Plant’s voice.

The next two songs, ‘South Bound Suarez’ and ‘Fool In The Rain’ are perfect examples of Led Zeppelin material. The song ‘Fool In The Rain’ was their last single before disbanding, rising to #21 on the Billboard.

‘Hot Dog’ sounds like a short filler song with a fifties-rockabilly twist.

I like ‘Carouselambra’ which is 10:28 minutes long, their 2nd longest song. I think this song in particular caught most of the vitriol thrown at the album. Critics panned it for its length, saying it was repetitious and simple, dictated by keyboards more than guitar and drums. It’s not one of my favorite Zeppelin songs, but it is not one of the worst either.

The radio classic, All Of My Love, is next. It is a rock ballad written by Robert Plant for his son, Karac, who had recently died at the age of 5.

The last song on the album, I’m Gonna Crawl, is a staple-blues sounding song much like those on their earlier albums, but a bit slower and not as catchy as those previous songs.

#3 – Led Zeppelin II (1969)

Down to the last three albums on my list and as far as I am concerned, these three Led Zeppelin’s albums should be in the collection of any rock music enthusiast. It is difficult for me to pick one over the others but here we go.

It is the second of two albums released by the band in 1969. And I think it is fair to say that Led Zeppelin II it is the heaviest Led Zeppelin album although three songs are based on old blues songs.

The album starts out strong with one of the greatest rock songs ever made, Whole Lotta Love.

The second song, What Is And What Should Never Be, was one of my favorite songs to listen to when I was growing up. I loved to listen to music on headphones and the change of pace and panning effects were magical to me.

The Lemon Song is one of those strong blues-based songs that gave credit to Howling Wolf (Chester Burnett) and the song ‘Killing Floor’ for inspiration.

Thank You is a brilliant ballad that gets much of its strength from John Paul Jones’ keyboard playing.

Side two of the album comes right back at you with Heartbreaker, another classic Zeppelin hard rock song. Some consider Jimmy Page’s guitar solo on this song to be one of the best ever.

The very second Heartbreaker ends, the next song, Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman) kicks in. I think many of us have been conditioned to expect the ending of Heartbreaker to be followed by Living Loving Maid because of the album and the way AOR radio stations always played them together. Jimmy Page has admitted his dislike for Living Loving Maid (about a groupie), and it was evidentially never played live.

Ramble On is nearly perfect in its folksy composition, the lyrics influenced by Tolkien’s book series, The Lord of the Rings.

Moby Dick is an instrumental known for its extended drum solo which works and is memorable and entertaining. Drum solos are not something you usually associate with a studio album.

The final song, Bring It On Home, is not a bad song but it is my least favorite song on this album.

#2 – Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

It’s difficult making this classic Led Zeppelin album, one of the bestselling albums of all-time, number 2 on my list. Led Zeppelin IV was one of the first two albums I bought with my own money. (The other album was Kansas’ Leftoverture. I can’t remember which album I purchased first, but I got them both a week or two apart and listened to them a lot.)

The album doesn’t have a title, but tradition has been to refer to it as Led Zeppelin IV since it was their 4th album.

This was also the first Led Zeppelin album to feature guest performers.

The album starts with the powerful song, Black Dog. Few who listen to rock music have never heard this song. It is instantly recognizable as is the second song, Rock And Roll. John Bonham’s drums on Rock And Roll are masterful. And it has, in fact, been called one of the best rock songs ever made.

The Battle of Evermore is a challenging folk song that employs mandolins and guest singer, Sandy Denny, who was the lead singer of Fairport Convention. With allusions to Tolkien again, Zeppelin transports the listener on a journey of sound and lyrics few bands have ever pulled off. It’s wonderful to listen to on headphones.

The next song, Stairway To Heaven, is for me one of the best songs ever made. Although it was played repeatedly on AOR radio stations, I never tire of its building, mounting, majestic presentation. Glorious in all aspects of song making.

Side two starts with the energetic, Tolkien inspired, Misty Mountain Hop. It has a definitive sixties feel to it with its jumpy keyboards as the lyrics focus on the events of a ‘legalize pot rally’.

Four Sticks is another instrumental with extended drumming but I don’t think it is quite as good as Moby Dick from Led Zeppelin II.

Going To California is a powerful folksy rock song, one of their best songs. The lyrics are amazing and the craftmanship of the song is genius.

The final song on the album, When The Levee Breaks, is probably Led Zeppelin’s heaviest blues-laced songs. John Bonham’s drumming is out of this world. Absolutely love this song.

#1 – Led Zeppelin I (1969)

Led Zeppelin I was the second Led Zeppelin album I bought, and it opened my ears to blues-rock. I had never really heard blues rock until I listened to this album, only what I got off of Led Zeppelin IV.

To hear an entire album almost solely dedicated to heavy blues rock was mind blowing. I loved it right away and started listening to it more than IV. I wore out needles and LPs listening to this. I think I bought several since I would wear the albums out.

The album starts off with a classic rock song, Good Times, Bad Times. It was their first single and got into the top 100, although Led Zeppelin were never known for singles. The strength of Led Zeppelin has always been the creation of whole albums rather than trying to create a hit single.

Babe. I’m Gonna Leave You, is a hard-folk song that begins to give a new listener an idea of what Robert Plant can do with his amazing voice.

You Shook Me, is blues rock song written by Willie Dixon and J.B. Lenoir, and is to this day, one of my favorites. All four members of the band are in such perfect cohesion, and it sounds absolutely magical.

Dazed And Confused takes You Shook Me to a different level. It is another song inspired by older material and was originally played by Jimmy Page when he was still with the Yardbirds. I don’t think Page realized how powerful the song would really become until Robert Plant joined and changed some of the lyrics and added his passionate vocals to it.

Your Time Is Gonna Come is a mellow classic that rides the strengths of John Paul Jones’ keyboards.

Black Mountain Side is, for me, a weak instrumental by Jimmy Page that gets a bit repetitious even after only two minutes. They could have left this one off, and I would have been fine with that.

Communication Breakdown is a far better use of two minutes, a quick rock song that is unrelenting and pounding. Easily recognizable.

I Can’t Quit You Baby is a blues-rock song credited to Willie Dixon. It is probably one of my least favorite Zeppelin blues rock songs although it is not a bad song. It just doesn’t measure up to their other classics.

The album ends with How Many More Times, a true classic blues rock song that feels like a longer version of You Shook Me and Dazed And Confused. It is a perfect ending for a nearly perfect album.

In Conclusion

So that is my best of Led Zeppelin albums list.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree?
For me, Led Zeppelin is still one of the best bands to ever exist and helped mold my taste in music. I was never the same after listening to Led Zeppelin IV and I.
Led Zeppelin II further cemented my love for the band and this genre of music.

Allen M Werner is the author of the epic dark fantasy books, The Crystal Crux Series, available where books are sold.