We might as well get this out of the way now. THIS is the greatest rock band of all time, prog or not. Furthermore, Jimmy Page proved himself to be one of the greatest music engineers, even better than most who got the majority of the credit for many years.

When I was in high school my crowd was into lighter stuff--Dylan, the Beatles, my hero at the time was Neil Young. We jammed all the time, but on acoustic guitars. One day, we were on a school field trip, on a school bus, when someone turned me on to Led Zeppelin. I was sitting on the bus with a kid from a different crowd, listening to IV or Physical Graffiti, I'm not sure, and ranting about how great it was. It was thought of as so different from what we listened to (it isn't really), my girlfriend was in a rage at me, I mean she was hurt and angry. "How can you listen to that junk? What are you doing?" She could hardly have been more angry if I had been flirting with another girl on that bus. We managed to stay together for the time being, but it was never quite the same after I crossed that line.

Led Zep IV - Agree with you. Best rock album ever. Front to back. Songwriting, musicianship, beautiful production. Misty Mt Hop, bridges the late 60-'s hippy scene with the 70s. I agree that this is their best... better than PG. Love it! 9th grade I made a t-shirt using the inside of the album wizard. Solid with no faltering on this album. Thx!

Back in the winter of 71, 72. I was 18 and I just bought this album. Had to play it on the front room combination TV, AM/FM, record player. Didn't have my own component system yet. So, playing this on there, and "The Battle Of Evermore" is playing, and my dad (who is 40 years older than me) walks into the living room, and says to my mom, "See what he's listening to?".

huge zep fan here,physical graffitti is my no 1,then zep 4.when i left my parents home as a youth,i left most of my metal/rock albums with a friend for safekeeping,and later gave away a lot of them to my friends metalhead son,some i regret giving away now,like original vinyls of judas priests sad wings of destiny and black sabbath vol 4,what was i thinking,but moving around a lot next few years,i kept a few,all my led zep albums,miles davis,mahavishnu,pink floyd etc zep are my fave rock band, and i never tire of listening to them,apart from maybe stairway.met robert in the shakespeare bar,stoke newington london,when he was doing guest vocals for the afro celt soundsystem,lovely chap,and he bought me a pint,and had a music chat for 15 mins.he was there to play the pub quiz,like myself lol he also commandeered the juke box,and everyone was quite happy to listen to roberts selections all night,which ranged from old blues,reggae,funk,rock,elvis,little richard ,basically all styles,i suppose zep were a kind of fusion band,but not jazz fusion,though no quarter is quite fusionesque,they had a kind of chemistry,mystique that other bands didnt have,and that thing people talk about,the 5th member,the vibe created by the ensemble.dont know what page was up to,but the zep magic or should that be magick,never seems to wane

Four Sticks is the most underrated LZ song. Had it been on a lesser album (let’s say Presence or ITTOD) I think it would be better known.

When this album came out, I was 10 or 11, and my ears had not warmed up to heavier music, and not even too much of the Beatles. It took me another 3-4 years for heavier rock to grow on me. But when it did, I was quick to recognize the different vibe that Led Zep had. The Beatles are far and away my favorite band, but Led Zep is pretty damn good.... And IV is just an awesome recording.

This is a great lesson in Music Appreciation of such an iconic Rock album ...

Thanks for the video Andy. I think of IV as the definitive Zep album. It is the one I'd play to someone who had never heard them before if they wanted an introduction to Zeppelin. Thinking back to the seventies it would be hard to describe to someone today just how huge a deal Led Zeppelin was back in their heyday. Absolutely colossal. Appreciate the singing by the way - just be grateful that we can't sing our comments back to you!

Preach it Brother!

I live opposite where Page grew up in his teens…although I’m more of a jazz guitarist, I still feel it’s my duty to continue the tradition & force guitar upon my neighbours 😂 a couple of whom still remember him

Jimmy Page is a Genius! Robert Plant is a Genius! John Paul Jones is a Genius! John Bonham is a Genius! Zeppelin Rules!! 🍋💯

Nice man thank you 👍☺️🙏❤️🌈

Led Zeppelin changed my life, as trite as that sounds! Love the band more than I can adequately convey. I was determined to be the next Jimmy Page... which didn't quite happen. ; ) I did have a very brief opportunity to meet Jimmy in '86 when The Firm played in East Rutherford, NJ. I was in the arena early, Jimmy was just walking on the stage. I shouted to him, he gestured to me, made it to the stage where he asked my name, thanked me for coming and told me to enjoy the show. A soft spoken gentleman, 40 minutes later he was jamming through "The Chase" that included his signature guitar / bow solo. Nothing to do with Zeppelin IV, but just wanted to share a little story.

Nice video! As always! I played Led Zep IV for some kids from inner city DC who had never listened to anything except hip hop. They told me they didn’t like rock music and didn’t like old white dad music. And they were completely uninterested until When The Levee Breaks. And then they suddenly wanted to know all about it. They just thought that song was the most emotionally powerful song.

I.agree

You have a wonderful gift for capturing the minute details that truly make music magic. (Please, please give Slylarking by XTC a proper review)

Terrific video

As a drummer and a fan of this album, you may dig the following anecdote about John Bonham's reaction to it. As a drummer for Robert Plant, you may well have heard it told by ***him*** well before I even heard it, lol! But: Carole Miller's radio show, "Get the Led Out," had a story a few years ago about how Bonham had an early copy of "IV," an played the entire thing in one sitting for his friend Carmine Appice, drummer for Vanilla Fudge. Apparently Bonzo was just bursting with pride over how great the album was, and of course this included acoustic-only, drum-free wonders like "Battle of Evermore" and "Going to California." I've always felt that the sense of utter joy I sense in Bonham as he's just effing owning the drumkit on "Kashmir," "Achilles last Stand," and other songs performed in the Knebworth videos, is a reflection of his knowing that he had found, and was in, a band that was worthy of him. And the thing is, I think each member could say, and perhaps in some way did feel, the same, and thus you have the glorious SUM that was Led Zeppelin. "Four" indeed.

I think Four Sticks is my favourite on Led Zep 4 because it’s so unearthly. Stairway is a bit like the Mona Lisa - too famous to appreciate. (I agree with Kavus Torabi in that Dirty Boy is my favourite rock epic.)

sure, I could get into more Zep videos - especially with your unique insights, go for it

You totally 'got' IV: it is a perfect album. The effect of first hearing the introduction of "Black Dog" on my adolescent ears was profound. Every song that followed created a deep chapter in a complex unity. The classic rock of the first two cuts is balanced by the English folk of "... Evermore" (with the shimmering Sandy Denny vocals). "Stairway to Heaven" is still epic, even if, by being overplayed and overpraised, it has lost some wonder. There's always something to luxuriate in, if not those innocent sounding recorders then the Wagnerian guitar solos. This is the album that everyone of my friends had when it came out and we played Side One constantly. Eventually, the further revelation. Flip the vinyl to hear a keyboard-driven comic protest pop song: I always get sucked in by the deceptive intro ("rhythmic displacement", well spotted, Andy!) and the sarcastic lyric. "Four Sticks" was the 'grower' for me: seemed like a monotonous riff and dumb vocal. However, the bridge combining the acoustic and synthetic sounds provides the perfect break; as I became more exposed to the kinds of rhythms that artists such as Fela Kuti were producing, the brilliance of Bonham's drumming seemed all the more obvious. Even a simple acoustic number like "Going to California" has its place: a breathing space between the complexity that came before and the bone-crushing heaviness of "... the Levee...". An apocalyptic climax to this kaleidoscope of sound and meaning. It simply was the greatest hard rock album in that time and place and it remains the band's masterwork. Enjoyed your analysis, a cappella excerpts included! I'll join the chorus and hope that you find the time to do detailed breakdowns of other LedZep albums.

I can’t imagine being a drummer with Robert Plant onstage. Great input.

Great analysis Andy. I love hearing musicians discussing Led Zeppelin, my favorite band. One thing I’d like to note is that the thing about Zep’s acoustic music, which is actually present on all their albums except Presence, is how powerful each song is. Whether it’s because a heavy drum beat is juxtaposed against the acoustic guitars (Gallow’s Pole, Hey Hey What Can I Do, Black Country Woman), or whether the subject matter is powerful and emotional (That’s the Way, Going to California) or just the composition and performance is so powerful and stirring (Battle of Evermore is as hard charging as anything they’ve done in my opinion), Zeppelin somehow made acoustic rock actually ROCK. Of course, their greatest songs of all time blended acoustic and electric rock in highly innovative and emotional arrangements (Stairway, Ten Years Gone, Over the Hills etc.). Brilliant!

Very nice. I’d like a discussion about the biggest English rock drummers of that era. Bonzo, Moon, Ward. Maybe I missed it. I think Ward is grossly underrated.

Your drum stool is knackered!

Good all around- good video, good on the 4K subs and good haircut.

Wonderful Video Andy

Enjoyed your Tribute ... LZ had a fantastic run from 68 to 73. A lot of Songs from 1975 Physical Grafitti had been recorded already at Headley Grange . I can only think of the Beatles having recorded so much great music in such a short time

Great episode! Love your channel. Keep up the great work. ✌️❤️🇨🇦

I love all the Zep albums....not so much with In Thru the Out Door, but my favorite is Physical Graffiti....just so much variety of material....the pinnacle of Page's genius could be the track Ten Years Gone

Thank you for your insights and *please* do give your insights for each Zep album. I had heard a story about Bonham wanting to bring in a second bass drum and the others thinking he was a lunatic but didn't know they'd go off hiding it in various places to drive him nuts! LOL Please also do share whatever anecdotes you are willing/able to share whether about the music or antics. I don't mean anything salacious, but stuff like hearing about them hiding Bonzo's gear is hilarious. Thanks again for your time.

The riff to ‘Black Dog’ owes a big debt to ‘Oh Well’ by Fleetwood Mac. I think JP Jones has said as much.

Only 30 seconds (?) on Four Sticks? Damn. When do you interview Mr. Plant for the channel. Maybe he will talk about why he chose you for that seat and why he chose Phil Collins as well. Lastly, how about some technical information about your own drumming. Love the channel. JT

A great great video....also, congratulations on 4k subscribers! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻.

Andy, loved this album breakdown. Your singing pretty close to being in original key! So, did Robert ever talk to you about the alleged backmasking on Stairway? A silly gossip issue, but fun sidebar Zep lore.

Zeppelin IV is certainly their most classic but I've heard it so many times over the past 45 years it's not my "go-to record" from them. Physical Graffitti is the one for me. The musical range and diversity on PG is unmatched. Even the album cover is epic. Another well-known album critic called PG "the aircraft carrier of rock albums plowing across the ocean" which is a good analogy.

Excellent video Andy. Another classic rock album that starts with an acapella vocal is "Selling england by the pound" by Genesis. Keep up the great work Andy.😀

Levee connects Zeppelin to William Faulkner in that the song is about the 1927 Mississippi flood and Faulkner's ''The Wild Palms'' uses the same flood in the book.

Led Zep III was one of my 1st 3 LPs (ABRAXAS & the Jackson 5's ABC were the other 2).;-) Never heard of LZ at the time. Picked it because of their name & the cover. So...when IV was released (still have the original LP)...right, there was nothing on it to know what it was...but a sticker. Otherwise, I woulda picked something else. But, wow, the 1st tune, "Black Dog"! Bulls-eye for someone just moving away from AM Pop & into FM Hard Rock. I'll never forget it.

"I'm not Rick Beato, I _sing_ the tracks" 🤣

One video I'd like to see would be a discussion of the relationship between The Beatles and Led Zeppelin in the context of "the British aesthetic"

Great words about the time on "Black Dog" & "MMH". I musta played along to "Black Dog" on the turntable a 1000xs. So, I could fake it with the guys in the garage. When I got older & tried to break it down...it is weird. If you can't feel it, you better be able to count. :-) And duh. I always wondered why "Four Sticks" was not called "Five Sticks" (it's in 5). Now I know. BTW, I love the version on the Page/Plant album NO QUARTER.

Going To California is an excellent track (maybe the lack of drums has you biased, hah). It is quite emotive with a gentle, creative guitar collaboration. The calm before the storm to what follows: When the Levee Breaks, perfectly situated on the album to wake one up from their stupor.

Runes album - our mums embroidered the symbols on our jean jackets. Stick that in your Drake and smoke it.

As a drummer John Bonham did not need two bass drums! The guy was a genius!

I don’t know if kids still do the garage band thing. I guess it’s too Dad Rock or whatever they call it. When I was a teen we had a band of friends that couldn’t really tune a guitar never mind play it. But we persevered and eventually we got to the point where we could play a pretty good cover of Devo song “Sloppy” which people really liked. It was all about band chemistry and since we were all friends we had a certain type of band personality that made us seem a bit better than we actually were and we were very loud. We were the band that played Sloppy ! Long live Rock and Roll !

My favorite Led Zep is from Houses of the Holy to Physical Graffiti, when things start to get a bit weirder and funkier

Earl Palmer was Little Richard's drummer, mate.

Lovely stuff. Would like to hear your thoughts on Van Morrison.

as an appreciation and gift for 4k subscribers Training tip: Compare the O2 rehearsals to the O2 concert Both on youtube The rehearsal videos are a treasure

Recorders on Stairway to Heaven and I've Seen All Good People by Yes, both 71. Mellotron flutes used live. Why didn't they use Mellotron flutes on the records? I suppose Led Zep didn't need to pay a session musician for the recorders (Colin Goldring, of Gnidrolog, played on the Yes track) and Tony Kaye hated touching anything other than a Hammond.

Yee hee

Waiting for this video to be taken down because of your a cappella 8-P

When the Levee breaks is the best song on the record and maybe the best thing they ever did. The menace in that song is a great as anything by sabbath etc and its one of the songs I would use to define "heavy"

Why in your opinion would The Battle of Evermore not be Prog?

How can this be the greatest rock album when its not even the greatest Led Zeppelin album? Disclaimer: popularity does not factor in the ranking for me

I heard there's a band that has ripped off the first few notes of stairway and built it into another song.

The first two and Houses of the Holy were better. To me. Of course, I heard the first when it first came out and it's hard to explain how absolutely mind blowing that was. But to be as objective as possible, even listening today Plant's performance on that record is ungodly! HE never matched it. The second album was slicker and more commercial and actually a bit of a disappointment to many fans of the first. But it's a bass tour d force and that makes it special for me. The third has its moments but overall, it's too acoustic. IV is great but I actually felt as if they lost a little edge. I recognized Stairway as a great song at the time but I could go the rest of my life without ever again hearing it. HOUSES was a step up in terms of compositions and arrangements. After that, they lost me. A decent track here and there but their major influence and innovative impact was gone.

Congratulations on this finely balanced eulogy But don't sing too much or they'll demonetize you

Hahahaha

The song I like least on LZ IV is Four Sticks, and that is simply because I don't like extended drum solos. Oops, no offence.

Absolutely not the greatest rock album, LoL 😂 DeepPurple In Rock is miles above this crap

Thank you for your personal thoughts.Simply the Greatest Rock Album of All Time. This is a very Dark Album/ winter/This is the story of the Journey of the HERO.It's an Album of Supreme Paradoxes in that it's an Esoteric Magickal MegaHit a Blockbuster Arcanum. The Myth & the Dark Magick are cleverly interwoven in the Musical Cosmos. First side has 2 rockers the Folk piece & the Epic/ So Does the 2nd side.But what it does it Transport you to a NeatherWorld of Mystery,Lust,Hobbits,Stairways,Misty Mountains and the Quest of Immortality. The 4 Runes are not pronounceable like YHWH the name of GOD.The fact Stairway has so many interpretation's that there is no end to the meaning of the Song. Did they get Help? Jimmy wouldn't reveal anything including what his personal Signet means ZoSo is not a word after all. Any "REAL" LedHed KNOW and enuff said. But the Album Hits You in So many ways between your ears and between your legs. But what remains is Wonder. Yes the Music Speaks for itself but there's a lot going on in the Ether. When the Levee Breaks you can hear the Earth Shake into Psudo Delta Physical Graffiti then The Musical Orgasm that Zenith's on a Path running straight n High. Nothing comes but Pure Hedonism yet in its sleaze there is a sence of Nobility and Sacredness that NONE have ever come close. It is the Perfect Album/ No Title Needed/It stands on Olympus Forever/ ZoSo!