Dopers old enough to remember rock radio in 1971: Did you recognize "Stairway to Heaven" as a instant classic?

I wasn’t old enough, either (I was only 6), but as the song wasn’t ever released as a single in the U.S., I suspect that, at the time of the album’s release, it was likely only getting significant airplay on album-oriented rock stations. I’ll be curious to hear what slightly older Dopers say, as well.