Led Zeppelin IV

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Compact disc.
Lyrics to Stairway to heaven in container.
Black dog -- Rock and roll -- The battle of evermore -- Stairway to heaven -- Misty mountain top -- Four sticks -- Going to California -- When the levee breaks.
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

A Must-Have Release submitted by mark_a_jay on June 20, 2012, 3:23pm Although the word 'classic' is over-used these days, the word actually applies here. Much has been written about Led Zeppelin by many, but I do have to say that no rock music collection is complete without this record.

For better or worse, this is the album that contains "Stairway to Heaven", a tune that just about every living person on the planet knows or has heard. However, that tune alone should not be a reason to try this record out, or to reject it either. The album is a very even release, that is, there are no tracks that were obviously added as 'filler' in order to have a sufficiently-long record.

This record opens with "Black Dog", a brilliant rocker that has some real quirks to it (deliberately so). While I can't really describe this in accurate musical terms, all you need do is listen, and you will hear what I mean - there's 'jump' to the ryhtym that you first notice right around the 0:42 mark; rumor has it that this quirk was suggested by John Paul Jones (bass / keys) in order to render the tune one to which people could neither dance or 'groove'. He may have been right about the former, but make no mistake - this is one classic groove.

Next up is "Rock and Roll", which apparently came to be as a consequence of a jam session in the studio when 'Zeppelin, working on a completely different track ("Four Sticks", also found on this release), were having issues working out that particular track...and as a tension-releaser, they started to jam on this 12-bar blues structure, and John Bonham (drums) started playing the intro to a Little Richard tune...with Page then coming up with the riff. Magic...and now it's truly a 'classic' tune...covered by scores of bands to this day.

All of the tracks are 'hits' (not in the radio airplay sense per se) in the sense that none of them lack groove, emotion, or musicianship, and there are some great dynamics to this record. That's not to say the dynamic range on any of these tracks is great (it is after all, mostly rock music), but that the record moves from full-tilt rock (especially due to the first two tracks), and then throttles down the engines by going into "The Battle of Evermore", a mandolin-driven folk-meets-rock creation which also features a guest vocal by Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention).

The placement of "The Battle of Evermore" works perfectly with the next track ("Stairway to Heaven") as 'Stairway starts in the same gentle manner in which 'Evermore moves; these are very complementary tunes. Say what you will about 'Stairway, but I still find it to be a great tune. Overplay, yes...way overplayed, but still, it's a great tune owing to its movement from what amounts to folk, and then slowly, but steadily progresses into a rock assault. Stairway really is an amalgam of styles, and one could argue that the first several minutes are anything but rock, but could far more aptly be described as "folk".

Next up "Misty Mountain Hop". This one has a bit of a nod to the '60's and the various happenings that were taking place in major cities around the world. I find this tune to be a lot of fun and features some nice keys by John Paul Jones, but to be perfectly honest, I always felt this song needed to be played at a somewhat faster tempo than it is. Then again, my surname is neither Page or Plant...so I should probably just shut up about that.

Then we have "Four Sticks". Wow...I have always loved John Bonham's drumming, and this track is but one example (in a long list) of why so many people (including myself) consider him to be the best rock drummer of all time. Like the segue between 'Evermore and 'Stairway, the segue between 'Hop and 'Sticks also works really well in terms of the record's 'pace'.

Which brings us full circle to the quiet side of the band - "Going to California". This is a great number that, like many Zeppelin tracks, paints a picture for the listener of the things that the singer really wants (a full life, happiness, love, comfort, family) and how his willingnmess to 'make a new start' holds the promise of bringing these things to fruition. This is a very gentle ballad comprising only vocals (Plant) guitar, and mandolin (Page).

And then ... the hammer drops. The record closes with "When the Levee Breaks". This track, like so many Zeppelin tracks, was recorded at Headley Grange. You have to love the natural reverb on the sound that Bonham gets from the drum kit (which was accomplished by situating the drum kit in the four-story foyer at headley Grange, with mics hung overhead, and Bonham playing the kit in that space - all natural reverb). As for the tune itself...this is classic Zeppelin in the sense that it's blues-driven (and features some great harmonica playing by Plant).

Again...if you listen to rock music, chances are this is already in your collection...but if it's not...and if by chance you have not heard it (or are just new to Led Zeppelin) you really need to hear this record. Like I said at the start of this review, the word 'classic' is over-used, but in this case, it's an apt descriptor.

Trust me - this one's a "Must Have".

classic 70's rock submitted by Jackie77 on August 14, 2015, 2:59am My favorite led zeppelin album. I love every single song on here. Staorway to heaven is the best oneof all.

Led Zeppelin IV submitted by Fevvers - STAR473 on August 4, 2016, 1:03am Quite simply one of the greatest rock albums ever. Amazing individual tracks, and it is a well-constructed journey of an album as a whole. It's a classic for many reasons, not just because it's the one with "Stairway To Heaven" on it. There are no duds, no songs I skip when relistening to this album, which I have done countless times. An apex of rock - boundary-pushing, dreamy, hard, brilliant.