Led Zeppelin were an English
rock band who recorded 108 songs between 1968 and 1980. The band pioneered the concept of
album-oriented rock and often refused to release popular songs as singles,[1] instead viewing their albums as indivisible, complete listening experiences, and disliked record labels re-editing their songs for single releases.[2]
Their self-titled debut album, Led Zeppelin, released in early 1969, contained songs that were influenced by the genres of
blues,
hard rock and
heavy metal.[3]Led Zeppelin II, released in October 1969, built upon their debut with a more direct, hard-hitting sound that has become a blueprint for heavy metal bands.[4]Led Zeppelin III (1970) marked a musical growth for the band; half of its songs were hard rockers while the other half were built upon
folk and
acoustic music that gave it "extra depth".[5] "
Immigrant Song", released as a single, was backed by the band's only non-album single, "
Hey, Hey, What Can I Do".[6] Their
untitled fourth album, commonly referred to as Led Zeppelin IV,[7] was released in November 1971.[8] Bringing together all the genres from their previous albums,[8] the album contains some of the band's best-known songs, including "
Black Dog", "
Rock and Roll", "
Going to California" and "
Stairway to Heaven", referred to as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.[9]
The band's following albums, Houses of the Holy (1973) and Physical Graffiti (1975), continued the band's musical growth.[10][11]Houses of the Holy contained a wider range of musical styles, from the ballad "
The Rain Song" to the
funk-inspired "
The Crunge",[12] while Physical Graffiti was a
double album that contained new songs as well as unreleased
outtakes from previous albums.[13] The album, like its predecessor, contained a variety of musical styles, including hard rock, funk, acoustic rock, blues,
soft and
progressive rock, and even
country rock.[14][15]Presence (1976) marked a departure from their previous albums by featuring more straightforward, guitar-driven songs with less emphasis on musical experimentation.[1][16]In Through the Out Door (1979), a direct contrast to Presence,[17] featured a
keyboard-heavy sound that was dominated by Jones.[18] The album would prove to be their last as a band, as after Bonham's death in September 1980, the remaining members decided to disband the group. Coda (1982) is a collection of outtakes from various sessions during the band's career.[19][20]
^The song was originally credited to "Trad.
arr. by
Jimmy Page".[36] Bredon was made aware of Led Zeppelin's version and since 1990 the song has been credited to Anne Bredon,
Jimmy Page, and
Robert Plant.[37]
^
abcdePlant was given a songwriting credit in later editions of the album.[48]ISWC: T-070.211.844-2
^
abcBonus track on the re-issue of Led Zeppelin III.[39]
^Features guest vocals from English singer-songwriter
Sandy Denny.[8]
^
abcdBonus track on the re-issue of In Through the Out Door.[30]
^
abcBonus track on the re-issue of Physical Graffiti.[43]
^The original Led Zeppelin II album notes credit
Jimmy Page and
Robert Plant.[45] The 2004 reissue and subsequent releases credit Dixon solely.
^The original BBC Sessions credits Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, and Sleepy John Estes.[52] The 2016 remastered edition includes "Contains interpolations from "Let Me Love You Baby" by Willie Dixon [and] "
Travelling Riverside" by Robert Johnson" and adds Dixon and Johnson to the credits.[53]
^An edited live version recorded on 9 January 1970 was released on Coda (1982).[19]
^Bonus track on the re-issue of Led Zeppelin II.[39]
^Originally uncredited,[45] after a lawsuit, the song co-credits Howlin' Wolf under his real name, Chester Burnett.[58][59]
^The song contains similarities to the Willie Dixon-penned "You Need Love", first performed by Muddy Waters.[60] Originally uncredited,[45] after a lawsuit in 1985,[37] Dixon is now credited as a co-writer.
^
abcdefghiCoda (liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 1982. 90051-1.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcdefgPresence (liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 1976. SS 8416.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcdefgIn Through the Out Door (liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 1979. SSK 59410.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcLed Zeppelin III (The Companion Disc gatefold notes). Led Zeppelin. UK:
Atlantic Records. 2014. 8122-79644-9.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcdefghijklmnoPhysical Graffiti (liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 1975. SSK 89400.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcdIn Through the Out Door (The Companion Disc liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 2015. 8122795579.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcPhysical Graffiti (The Companion Disc liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 2015. 8122-79579-3.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abLed Zeppelin (Super Deluxe Edition Box page 3 liner notes). Led Zeppelin.
Atlantic Records. 2014. R2-536179.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcdeCoda (Companion Audio liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK: Swan Song Records. 2015. R1-547430.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^
abcThe Complete BBC Sessions (Credits). Led Zeppelin. UK:
Atlantic Records. 2016. 8122-79439-0.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^"Immigrant Song" / "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do" (liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK:
Atlantic Records. 1970. 45-2777.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^Led Zeppelin II (The Companion Disc (2) liner notes). Led Zeppelin. UK:
Atlantic Records. 2014. R1-536180.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)