Favorite Led Zeppelin Music
This is my Led Zeppelin page, which includes a sortable listing of the songs from their 9 albums, ranked by my personal preference. I also include some additional notes below the table. For background on the group, see the Wikipedia entry.
I like pretty much all of their music, though a good many songs I don't listen to very often. The "ratings" are on a 1-5 scale, and is based on similarity groups (it is too hard to rank them beyond that). A "1" is an absolute favorite, and "5" are the ones I don't listen to very often. Anything "4" or higher is on a playlist of mine. Within a rating group, there is no sub-order based on preference (i.e., I like all the "3" songs about the same).
Lastly, the info column has links to the Wikipedia entry for the particular song if I could find one (only for the songs I like the most, many more of their songs have Wikipedia entries as well).
| Title | Rate | Album | Year | Time | Info |
| Stairway to Heaven | 1 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 8:01 | WP |
| Kashmir | 1 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 8:33 | WP |
| Moby Dick | 2 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 4:20 | WP |
| Immigrant Song | 2 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 2:24 | WP |
| Tangerine | 2 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 3:09 | WP |
| The Battle of Evermore | 2 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 5:51 | WP |
| No Quarter | 2 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 7:03 | WP |
| Over the Hills and Far Away | 2 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 4:50 | WP |
| The Rover | 2 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 5:38 | WP |
| Achilles Last Stand | 2 | Presence | 1976 | 10:27 | WP |
| All My Love | 2 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 5:55 | WP |
| Thank You | 3 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 4:47 | WP |
| Your Time is Gonna Come | 3 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 4:34 | |
| What Is and What Should Never Be | 3 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 4:47 | WP |
| Ramble On | 3 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 4:35 | WP |
| Gallows Pole | 3 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 4:56 | WP |
| Going to California | 3 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 3:35 | WP |
| Misty Mountain Hop | 3 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 4:38 | WP |
| When the Levee Breaks | 3 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 7:07 | WP |
| The Song Remains the Same | 3 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 5:29 | WP |
| The Rain Song | 3 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 7:39 | WP |
| Houses of the Holy | 3 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 4:04 | WP |
| Bron-Yr-Aur | 3 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 2:06 | WP |
| Whoe Lotta Love | 4 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 5:34 | |
| Bring It on Home | 4 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 4:19 | |
| Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) | 4 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 2:39 | |
| Babe I'm Gonna Leave You | 4 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 6:42 | |
| Good Times Bad Times | 4 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 2:46 | |
| Celebration Day | 4 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 3:29 | |
| Bron-Y-Aur Stomp | 4 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 4:19 | |
| Friends | 4 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 3:53 | |
| That's the Way | 4 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 5:37 | |
| Out on the Tiles | 4 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 4:05 | |
| Black Dog | 4 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 4:56 | |
| Four Sticks | 4 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 4:44 | |
| Dancing Days | 4 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 3:45 | |
| The Ocean | 4 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 4:30 | |
| Down by the Seaside | 4 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 5:16 | |
| In My Time of Dying | 4 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 10:51 | |
| Trampled Under Foot | 4 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 5:38 | |
| Ten Years Gone | 4 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 6:34 | |
| Night Flight | 4 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 3:37 | |
| Nobody's Fault But Mine | 4 | Presence | 1976 | 6:13 | |
| In the Evening | 4 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 6:51 | |
| Carouselambra | 4 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 10:34 | |
| Fool in the Rain | 4 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 6:10 | |
| South Bound Suarez | 4 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 4:13 | |
| Bonzo's Montreux | 4 | Coda | 1982 | 4:18 | |
| I Can't Quit You Baby | 5 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 4:42 | |
| You Shook Me | 5 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 6:28 | |
| The Lemon Song | 5 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 6:19 | |
| Dazed and Confused | 5 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 6:28 | |
| Black Mountain Side | 5 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 2:12 | |
| Communication Breakdown | 5 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 2:31 | |
| How Many More Times | 5 | Led Zeppelin I | 1969 | 8:28 | |
| Heartbreaker | 5 | Led Zeppelin II | 1969 | 4:13 | |
| Hats Off to (Roy) Harper | 5 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 3:39 | |
| Since I've Been Loving You | 5 | Led Zeppelin III | 1970 | 7:23 | |
| Rock and Roll | 5 | Led Zeppelin IV | 1971 | 3:40 | |
| The Crunge | 5 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 3:15 | |
| D'Yer Mak'er | 5 | Houses of the Holy | 1973 | 4:24 | |
| Custard Pie | 5 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 4:16 | |
| In the Light | 5 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 8:50 | |
| The Wanton Song | 5 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 4:09 | |
| Boogie With Stu | 5 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 3:53 | |
| Black Country Woman | 5 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 4:32 | |
| Sick Again | 5 | Physical Graffiti | 1975 | 4:43 | |
| Candy Store Rock | 5 | Presence | 1976 | 4:11 | |
| Hots on for Nowhere | 5 | Presence | 1976 | 4:42 | |
| Royal Orleans | 5 | Presence | 1976 | 2:59 | |
| For Your Life | 5 | Presence | 1976 | 6:23 | |
| Tea for One | 5 | Presence | 1976 | 9:22 | |
| Hot Dog | 5 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 3:18 | |
| I'm Gonna Crawl | 5 | In Through the Out Door | 1979 | 5:29 | |
| Wearing and Tearing | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 5:29 | |
| We're Gonna Groove | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 2:37 | |
| Poor Tom | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 3:03 | |
| I Can't Quit You Baby | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 4:19 | |
| Walter's Walk | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 4:30 | |
| Ozone Baby | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 3:36 | |
| Darlene | 5 | Coda | 1982 | 5:07 | |
Additional Notes
- Comments on particular songs:
- Stairway to Heaven - If I had to pick an all-time favorite song, from any and all artists (not just LZ), it would probably be Stairway to Heaven. Not a unique choice by any means, but it is a great song.
- Kashmir - The orchestral brass and strings make this an incredible piece. My understanding is that it was Robert Plant's favorite.
- Moby Dick - One of my favorite rock instrumentals, though not quite as good as Edgar Winter Group's Frankenstein.
- Battle of Evermore - The use of the mandolin (along with the lyrics) makes this one so memorable.
- No Quarter - Jones' keyboard work is incredible, and the lyrics are powerful: they describe Norse warriors braving the winds of Thor to deliver important news, and not being able to pause for rest before doing so. A very inspiring piece.
- The Rover - I don't remember this song getting much radio airplay, and I don't know how much of a "hit" it ever was. But I've always thought it was one of their best.
- Gallows Pole - This one tends to stick in my head each time I hear it.
- Led Zep Homepage. The Led Zeppelin homepage is of course located at www.ledzeppelin.com.
- Tolkien references. There are several LZ songs with Tolkien references. Some are clear, some a bit less so (see this website for more information and some analysis). These include at least the following:
- Ramble On - Lyrics include "...years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air; T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair; But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her."
- The Battle of Evermore - see the extensive discussion at the Wikipedia entry
- Misty Mountain Hop - the "Misty Mountains" could be a reference to Tolkien's The Hobbit.
- Album Ranking. Here is how I would rank the LZ albums (WP links are the Wikipedia pages, and the Amazon.com links usually provide a lot of info on each album plus links to audioclips):
- Related Albums. A few words on some related albums, listed in chronological order. Excluded are boxed sets and other greatest hits compilations, as well as the great many "tribute" albums that are available. I will add to this list as I acquire more of them.
- The Song Remains the Same (1976). The soundtrack album of the concert film of the same name. (WP, Amazon.com)
- No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded (1994). A live album of the reunion of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page in August 1994 (re-released in 2004). (WP, Amazon.com)
- BBC Sessions (1997). A compilation album featuring material from three different 1969 BBC sessions and most of the April 1, 1971 concert from the Paris Theatre in London. (WP, Amazon.com)
- Kashmir: Symphonic Led Zeppelin (1997). Led Zeppelin songs as performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. (Amazon.com)
- How the West Was Won (2003). Material from concerts in 1972. (WP, Amazon.com)
- The String Quartet Tribute to Led Zeppelin (1999). 11 classic Led Zeppelin performed with mostly strings. (Amazon.com)
- Lyrics. You can find a complete listing of Led Zeppelin lyrics here.
- Favorite Lyrics. -- TBD!
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