Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti - Part 1

Album #242 - February 1975

Episode date - March 12, 2025

The Top 500 of The Top 40
    0:00
    0:00

    Is there a deliberate correlation between each Led Zeppelin album as they were released? In other words, was there a ‘master plan’ that caused them to move from ‘A’ to ‘B’ with some forethought regarding their ultimate direction toward their historical relevance?

    I suppose it’s an odd question, but the same could be (and has been) said about the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, et al., but in their case, I think there has been enough analysis to say that they all did develop within the expectations of their times. However, in the case of Led Zeppelin, the question is, were they simply producing music within the scope of their times, or did they have some unique vision that suggested predestiny?

    The answer is buried in their double album. The Beatles released a double album when, at the peak of their power, they felt that their relevance might be waning. Four years later, The Rolling Stone did the exact same thing. It’s interesting to consider that perhaps Led Zeppelin were doing the same thing on some level. In each of these examples, the audience was introduced to a looser version of the band - devoid of overt production values, or a deliberate need to reinvent…it’s just the sound of a band being the ‘presence’ in an environment that holds …’no quarter’. Regardless of your opinion regarding Led Zeppelin, you must recognize that in 1975, they held the cards regarding what was front and center in our musical culture. Listen closely to “Physical Graffiti” with a sense of critical appraisal and determine for yourself if it lands as a product worthy of the “White Album” or “Exile on Main Street” - because that is what it was determined to be.

    Featured tracks include:

    Custard Pie

    The Rover

    In My Time of Dying

    Houses of the Holy

    Trampled Under Foot

    Kashmir

    February 1975 - Billboard Charted #1

    Related Shows

    West Side Story: Original Soundtrack Recording

    West Side Story: Original Soundtrack Recording

    Album #20 - October 1961

      0:00
      0:00
      Frank Sinatra: Nice 'n' Easy

      Frank Sinatra: Nice 'n' Easy

      Album #19 - July 1960

        0:00
        0:00
        The Dave Brubeck Quintet - Time Out

        The Dave Brubeck Quintet: Time Out

        Album #18 - December 1959

          0:00
          0:00
          Dinah Washington - What a Diff'rence a Day Makes

          Dinah Washington: What a Diff'rence a Day Makes

          Album #17 - November 1959

            0:00
            0:00
            The Genius of Ray Charles

            Ray Charles: The Genius of Ray Charles

            Album #16 - October 1959

              0:00
              0:00
              Marty Robbins: Gunfighter Ballards and Trail Songs

              Marty Robbins: Gunfighter Ballards and Trail Songs

              Album #15 - September 1959

                0:00
                0:00
                The Everly Brothers: (Self Titled, Debut Album)

                The Everly Brothers: (Self Titled, Debut Album)

                Album #14 - January 1958

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  Nat King Cole -  After Midnight

                  Nat King Cole: After Midnight

                  Album #13 - 1957

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    Frank Sinatra: A Swingin' Affair!

                    Frank Sinatra: A Swingin' Affair!

                    Album #12 - May 1957

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      Little Richard: Here's Little Richard

                      Little Richard: Here's Little Richard

                      Album #11 - March 1957

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        Duke Ellington: Ellington at Newport

                        Duke Ellington: Ellington at Newport

                        Album #10 - October 1956

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong -  Ella and Louis

                          Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis

                          Album #9 - October 1956

                            0:00
                            0:00