# Best Led Zeppelin Album (POLL) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 29, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964 "2022-10-29T13:31:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/41 "2022-11-04T20:43:56Z")
Agreed, especially about that cover. The LZ cut IS a 6-star performance on a 5-star scale. Oh, and Going to California and Battle of Evermore are essential to the album, flow and all. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/42 "2022-11-04T21:06:13Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > except Coda…Coda sucks Coda sounded exactly like what it was: a bunch of songs that weren’t good enough to go on the albums they were recorded with. There was a reason they were left off. A good reason. However, if they had put “Hey Hey What Can I Do” on it, it would have sold millions. > [@pulykamell](#): > > I guess I’m one of the weirdos, because “Kashmir” just bores the bejesus out of me. I think Kashmir sounds like the audio equivalent of riding a camel across the interminable desert with no water an no hope of relief. I think it takes just as long, too. Or at least, it seems to. I think IV is brought down by the weak songs. No more lame LotR references, please! I went with the live album. Only the first side is skippable for me. I love the looooooong versions. 28 minutes of Dazed is not enough. More bowing! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/43 "2022-11-04T21:16:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I guess I’m one of the weirdos, because “Kashmir” just bores the bejesus out of me. I mean, it’s got a great groove – the drums are fantastic with Bonham at his best for those swaggering pocket grooves but the song just does nothing for me. “Levee” on the other hand - that’s my jam. That cover is reasonable, but it ain’t got the power of LZ’s version. Bonham’s drums on that are just BIG. Everybody knows that when it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/44 "2022-11-04T21:17:55Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I think IV is brought down by the weak songs. What do you consider the weak songs? As much as I don’t really care for “Stairway,” I don’t think it’s necessarily a weak song. The only thing that comes close for me is “Four Sticks,” but that’s still pretty good. “Going to California” is one of my favorites. “Evermore” is fantasticly hypnotic. “Misty Mounty Hop” is a fun romp. “Levee” is perhaps my favorite. I just can’t really find a truly weak song on there. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/45 "2022-11-04T21:18:25Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Everybody knows that when it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV. Is that from a movie? It sounds like a quote from a movie, but I can’t quite place it. _Fast Times_? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/46 "2022-11-04T21:19:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is that from a movie? It sounds like a quote from a movie, but I can’t quite place it. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Damone says it to Ratner, who then plqys Kashmir (ostensibly because Ratner is a screwup, but actually because Cameron Crowe couldn’t get the song rights to LZIV). ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/47 "2022-11-04T21:27:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The only thing that comes close for me is “Four Sticks,” but that’s still pretty good. Hehe, and it’s one of my favorites off of IV. It totally gets by on its odd time signature and riff, but ohhhh, they’re both so good. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/48 "2022-11-04T21:28:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > What do you consider the weak songs? My opinion only! Black Dog Four Sticks Battle of Evermore Misty Mountain Hop is a bit like Fool in The Rain. It’s not a bad song, it just got overplayed, and a bit too cloying. And I remembered, the _really_ annoying LotR references are in Ramble On. Every album has some weak ones. Thank goodness for mix tapes (and now, iTunes) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/49 "2022-11-04T21:31:59Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And I remembered, the _really_ annoying LotR references are in Ramble On. JPJ’s bass playing on that trumps any LOTR references. (I didn’t know those were LOTR references anyway until I was well in my 20s, as I’ve never read the books. I should say in my 20s I read the first third of LOTR and then just lost interest.) But, yeah, “Black Dog” is up there with my favorites. (Along with “Ramble On” just mentioned. “Ramble On” is maybe top 3 Zep for me.) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/50 "2022-11-04T21:40:07Z")
It’s hard to say. Every album had several bangers, every album had some sleepers, there wasn’t much fluff in any of them. LZ 1 is as good or better as any, but I give it extra weight because it’s an amazing debut. A brand new band put out an entire album of absolute bangers (yes they’re cribbed from old blues standards, but I don’t care, it’s about the novel performance and arrangement). LZ 3 is not widely considered to be an album of hits, but I don’t think there are any weak songs on it. This is the only one I feel like stands as a coherent and distinct album in itself (as opposed to being a collection of hits that stand alone). And it’s nice that they showcase their full authentic creative range, taking some breaks from shredding, wailing, and ripping off blue standards. I have a similar feeling to “Houses of the Holy”, but by that point they’re a much bigger band and sound, and to me that kind of overpowers the boutique feel of some of the deeper cuts. ---
**Author:** ![MissMiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missmiss/32/12315_2.png) [@MissMiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMiss)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/51 "2022-11-05T00:24:17Z")
_speaking of Fast Times at Ridgemont High_ I remember that my 1st crush [ended up being the guy that I gave my virginity to] used to say that he had to “ramble” when he was going to leave, he tried to make it a thing, failed Lol He got away with it though he still had enough charisma - he spent all of senior year with an arm in a cast from punching a wall; he kept his leather jacket slung over it continually… Lol ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/52 "2022-11-05T02:17:58Z")
That’s really awesome. I am so tempted to try it out.😅 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/53 "2023-02-18T15:44:54Z")
I don’t think Zep IV winning is a surprise. It won with over a third the votes and an easy lead over 2nd. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964/54 "2023-02-20T03:58:20Z")
I chose Physical Graffitti which is cheating a bit since it is a double album. But even if you limited it to sides one and two of PG, which have The Rover, Trampled Under Foot, and Kashmir, it would still win. But LZ IV would be a close second. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-led-zeppelin-album-poll/973964.md?page=2)