I Rank all the Studio Albums from Best on Down
Introduction
With the first song ranking post out of the way I will give the Album Ranking genre a shot here. Again getting my feet wet with a legendary band that I know very well and have so much appreciation for. To me one thing that stands out about Led Zeppelin’s discography is the percentage of quality music on each album there is. For most bands, even ones I love, you’ll maybe have half the songs on the album which are just OK (If I was tier-ing them they’d be C-Tier or below), But with Led Zeppelin a vast majority of their music has something to offer and push it to a quality track.
Led Zeppelin released albums over a 10 year span (Not counting Coda) and man did they do a lot in those 10 years, especially the first few where they were pumping out 1-2 albums per year. And even in a short span you could see their growth from the Bluesy Rock to the overall rock legends they became, and even hear what influenced so many bands that came after. For this ranking I focused more on what I thought was extraordinary rather than an album’s influence; as all these rankings on the internet are, this is personal opinion and I wouldn’t do it any other way.
I list out 3 of my favorite tracks from each album. Each song can be found on a Spotify playlist I made in Album Ranking Order. That way you can go to the whole song rather than the 30 second clips (and I think for this post it will be cleaner than Youtube embeds).
Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68khpCUDGbWsO1uT15lzT0?si=497cdc84dc634eaa
Album Rankings
1. Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
I guess this one is more of an untitled album, but most people just call it Led Zeppelin IV and it is probably their most famous album. I’d argue it is their most complete album; there is no track on this album I’d put below B-Tier. And amazingly each track has a quite different and unique sound to the others. “Black Dog” you have that signature bluesy rock sound they were perfecting on Zeppelin I and II, but probably the best they’ve done it; and innovatively laying the vocals over cut out sound and having the riffs come in after; well done. “Rock and Roll” almost has a southern rock sound to it (which this may have even pre-dated southern rock); and just has a hell of a drum intro as well as main riff. “Four Sticks” you have a bit of a carnival type sound (though not as much as “Carouselambra” on In through the Out Door); and even heavy Synthesizers thrown in. “Going to California” is that acoustic ballad that doesn’t get too high (though it does “rise into darkness” in that one verse “Seems that the wrath of the gods…”); and it’s truly a beautiful melody of finger picking throughout. “When the Levee Breaks” is just in your face (right from the first drum intro sound), sludging right through to you (and I’d say has a Black Sabbath sound to it as well). Then of course you have “Stairway to Heaven”, one of the most famous rock songs of all time. Sometimes I think to myself, how the hell did they sit down and just create this? What was that inspiration (apparently a story). It really takes you on such a fantastic journey both in story and tune and tempo. Beautiful melodic intro into more of a rhythm middle; to a bridge that perfectly transitions into a slamming solo; and when you’re out of the solo they still have you at that high and the vocalization/guitar lick pairs just carry you into that high energy final verse (where even Plant’s inflection is changed); Epic should have this song as it’s definition in the dictionary, it checks the boxes for sure. I’m not always in the mood for this album above other Led Zeppelin Albums but I cannot deny they created some of their most inspired music on this record (with just 8 songs total). The public obviously agrees as it is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Stairway to Heaven”, “Going to California”, “When the Levee Breaks”
2. Physical Graffiti (1975)
Ambitious release in that it was a double album; it is hard enough to not have filler in one album, but double albums sometimes just get inundated with C-Tier and below songs. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this album is that it delivers 2 albums without filler, I’d say every song could be B-Tier and above; maybe a little weaker of a B-Tier than Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy, but again every track has something worth your time. “In My Time of Dying” is a great example of this, not an overly riveting song (and very long) but it throws this Deee-De-Dee lick that kind of just burrows in your brain, and then the riffs with the drums on top just add a unique element to the song, its worth the listen. “Trampled Under Foot” has a great marching tone to it (and a little bit of a strained inflection with Plant’s voice); and the rolling bridge to the “chorus” is really catchy. You got “In the Light” just kind of getting you lost between the two albums with that intro heavy in Synth, and then the attitude of the vocals just busting you into the 2nd disc. “Night Flight” is a really fun song as well with a seemingly never ending build up (til’ you realize it’s not really a buildup but probably a loop). This Album has 2 solid S-Tiers on it (one of each album), “Kashmir” and “Ten Years Gone”. “Kashmir” is just so relentless! That progressing riff (which I heard was born out of a guitar tuning exercise Jimmy Page would use) paired with Bonham’s subtle drum backing, this song just slowly keeps coming after you; I could listen to that main riff all day (which you almost do as the song is long). Then they contrast is the secondary riff with the digressing chords and builds a great contrast. Finally, it’s got some of Plant’s most powerful vocals and you have yourself a masterpiece (kind of X2 because the song essentially repeats its structure). Then on Disc 2 you have “Ten Years Gone” and it’s such a soft subtle start, it’s a really beautiful tone. Even the main riff has that softness but also really meaty sound when the 2nd guitar overlays onto it; I give that riff credit to pushing this song into the S-Tier especially when the vocals are put on top the second go-round; you really just groove to it. Exceptionally good Album, before the (arguable) downfall of the band begins. This and Led Zeppelin III go interchangeably in the rankings for me but I’ll give this one the slight edge for producing more tracks of high quality (being a double album)
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Kashmir”, “Ten Years Gone”, “Night Flight”
3. Led Zeppelin III (1970)
Thank goodness for this album because it brought Led Zeppelin into the upper echelon of transcendent bands. This is the sound the first two albums were progressing to; and amazingly this was released on Jan 1, 1970, which almost made it 3 albums in one calendar year with such a jump and contrast in sound, if you really think about it for a second, that is incredible! It comes out in a flurry with three great songs. “Immigrant Song” you really feel like you’re on the tundra; and even if it is just a simple riff played over and over again it sounds badass every time I listen to the track. “Friends” has that catchy and bouncy groove which I believe must be in some minor key or chord, I don’t think that is standard tuning; but it gives it a great darkness sound and paired with Robert Plant’s high voice it just goes great. And “Celebration Day” keeps it going, sounds like a party (and was my ringtone for many years as it really grabs your attention and has a ringer sound too). Few albums are perfect though and this one does lull in the middle before picking back up with some good melodies in “Gallows Pole”, “Tangerine” and “That’s the Way”. But before going out it gives us one more classic in “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”. Besides being hard to pronounce this one is just a really fun song. Starts with a ding dong chord into some great chord play (outside the standard note chords and even with some licks built in). Very grand and unique acoustic song, even with some clapping hah; its just a hoot of a song. This album really pushes Led Zeppelin into one of the most exciting bands of their time and had listeners ripe with anticipation to what they can put out in the future; this despite the critics not as high as the public was, I think sometimes they just want to write something provocative.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Immigrant Song”, “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”, “Celebration Day”
4. Houses of the Holy (1973)
They lose the naming conventions of Led Zeppelin # (though they put the title track on the next album, weird right?) but they don’t lose their now established sound; this is a very strong follow up to a masterpiece album (Led Zeppelin IV). I would argue that “The Song Remains the Same” may be the best album opener ever; not saying it is the best song that sits at the first track position of any album, but it plays the lead off spot extremely well; it pulls you right in immediately. That opening riff with the echoed reverb and the drum smash right into the contrasting alt pick sound, and you are right inside, and they just keep adding to it until it breaks into the substance of the song (though not to never return to that amazing medley). Doesn’t take long to slow it down into “Rain Song” and “Over the Hills and Far Away”; The latter of which is a S-Tier song. The opening acoustic licks just pull you on a string, and the vocals/lyrics just take you on that internal dialogue of Plant. The rest of the album, this is again one I’d say they never go below B-Tier as every track offers something great that it’s hard not to be in the mood to listen to when it comes on. “Dancing Days” you got Plant grooving over Page’s licky riff wonderfully. “D’yer Maker” sounds like a somber island song, those don’t always go together but they pulled it off. Quick shoutout to “No Quarter” for giving the psychedelic (almost tripping on acid) sound a shot; don’t think they had tried it before to this degree. “The Ocean” has a really groovy main riff, and they rock out at the end in a similar theme to that main riff. Also Led Zeppelin gets a reputation for “borrowing” or outright stealing the sound of other bands or genres but at least on this one they can claim it doesn’t contain material from outside sources.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Over the Hills and Far Away”, “The Song Remains the Same”, “The Ocean”
5. In Through the Out Door (1979)
I don’t think a lot of people thought this album was going to happen with what was going on with the band, but I am glad they got together to pump this one out. Would’ve been really a shame to end on the mediocrity of Presence. I personally think this is a very underrated album. Sure, it is their “late stuff” (with a lot of synthesizer) but stand-alone this album has some great enduring tracks. “In The Evening” (first track), “Fool in the Rain”, and “All My Love” are carrying this album to a place you must give it recognition. “In the Evening” you got that damn good riff carrying it throughout (and I’d argue an influential classic rock sound; if not borrowed?). “Fool In the Rain” almost has that soundtrack feel. This one is again single riff driven but I guess that is the formula of this album; however this track adds great lyrics and vocals on top of it (“Light of the Love that I Found” is a tremendous lyric). And then “All of my Love” is probably the most underrated Led Zeppelin song there is. The violin sound you don’t hear much from them just is incredibly refreshing. The song has a regal feel and an extraordinarily strong chorus. And I cannot understate how great this solo is (for a band that isn’t really solo driven). The first solo is a horn sound which again is just unique, and the second is a very melodic and pretty bridge into the licks transitioning back to the main verses, each sharp lick really lifting you back, it’s a great sound. The other tracks on the album aren’t bad either, with “Carouselambra” and “I’m Gonna Crawl” also offering some sounds worth listening to, but I wouldn’t say it was a full redemption after Presence back to the level of the previous three albums but it’s not an album to sleep on either. They also did some “fun” things in the record release like 6 different covers (same scene, different perspectives) and some interactive inner sleeve art; would’ve been really cool to get at the time. While the next album on the list probably had more quality songs, this one edges it out due to how good the best songs really were.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “All My Love”, “Fool in the Rain”, “In the Evening”
6. Led Zeppelin II (1969)
Amazingly released their second album the same year their first one came out, and you can already hear a shift in their sound. “Whole Lotta Love” is obviously a behemoth of the industry, one of the most famous rock songs of all time. I personally don’t think it is anything special though I can see it being groundbreaking at the time. A strong riff that carries the song, everyone was all over it, but if you hear it today, the riff isn’t even that special; and then the middle gets all trippy which again probably a product of the time. Not a bad song at all, it goes into the Solo pretty well, but I wouldn’t put this anywhere near the top of Led Zeppelin’s library. That is the opener to the album and after that you have some good tracks of course. One thing I notice is you are starting to hear their sound progress from their pure bluesy Zeppelin I stuff to their more signature sound (which I would argue that their signature sound is just producing unique tracks not heard of at the time); although I will say “Heartbreaker” sounds like a leftover from Zeppelin I. “Ramble On” is probably the best song on the album (and fun fact their first Tolkien Inspired track). You got those soft bongo sounding drums and also the bridge from the verse to the chorus is a great hook and feels like something you’d hear 10-30 years later (I feel like that is a Dave Matthews sound, LZ probably was one of their influences). The Mid-tier songs on this album like “What is and What Should Never Be” and “Thank you” are stronger than Led Zeppelin I’s Mid-tier songs so for that I would give it an edge in ranking; it would be no brainer if Zeppelin I didn’t have that masterpiece (“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”) but it’s not enough to overtake II. This one was also much anticipated and even knocked off Abbey Road from the charts, you cannot deny its power and influence even if it isn’t toward the top of the total discography.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Ramble On”, “What Is and What Should Never Be”, “Whole Lotta Love”
7. Led Zeppelin I (1969)
This Album definitely feels like their most Bluesy. You have Jimmy page (Who helped finance the first album) coming fresh off the Yardbirds (which produced legendary guitarists Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck), a relatively new singer in Robert Plant, everyone playing together for the first time, and they produce a blues album, though a really good one. I don’t care that much that the sound is “borrowed” from other cultures or even just covering other songs (and maybe not giving credit??); I personally believe they do this sound better (Hot take). You got maybe one of my favorite songs EVER with “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, which sounds a million times better than Joan Baez’ version, and probably the version they both borrowed from. Robert Plant’s emotion is just so raw in the song, and the chords (finger picked and otherwise) are just an amazing melodic sound. Both this song and “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix in 1968, you could argue these tracks in a fledgling rock and roll genre as it sounds today by two pioneers, it is amazing both were covers of titans of folk, huh. You got other staples like “Good Times, Bad Times”, “Dazed and Confused”, “Your Time is Gonna Come”, “Communication Breakdown”; I feel like all these songs are good but not great because as much as I was saying they do the sound better… it’s not really my sound, at least not to this degree. I am forever grateful they took these Blues elements and progressed it into their more signature sound on future albums. The Album art of course signifying something pretty close to the band name, the Hindenburg Zeppelin going down.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, “Dazed and Confused”, “Your Time is Gonna Come”
8. Presence (1976)
After four very solid top to bottom albums in a row, you start to see some diminishing returns in Presence. Don’t get me wrong, it’s got some solid tracks. You also get some duds in my opinion which hurts the standing of the album when you compare to the others. But once again, objectively there are some good ones here including the epic “Achilles Last Stand” (which happens to be the opener, probably an excellent choice to distract from the flaws of the rest of the album). This track is a masterclass in guitar structure by Jimmy Page; how they lay on top of each other just brings this song to another level. Each one brings another element to the song; many of which are very grandiose, contributing to the epic status. This song could’ve been a successful instrumental but works with vocals as well. Other than the opener of the album, you got a few other catchy tunes like “Royal Orleans”, “Nobody’s Fault but Mine”, and “Hots on for Nowhere”; but even these are struggling to even be in the B-Tier (except “Nobody’s Fault but Mine”, that is a really solid track with its slashy riff/lick). But sad to say, without “Achilles Last Stand”, this would’ve been an even larger regression and massive disappointment of an album. Robert Plant was injured when recording this album and some say it has a more guitar driven tone; even as someone who really loves guitar driven music (Especially Jimmy Page), it doesn’t really come together on this one.
Favorite 3 Tracks: “Achilles Last Stand”, “Nobody’s Fault but Mine”, “Royal Orleans”
Honorable Mention: Coda
This one is an honorable mention, as it was a release after the band broke up, and I believe it was just a collection of the tracks that didn’t make the other albums or were partially finished (and to fulfill a contractual agreement with the prior record label, convoluted stuff like that). I will say that the best song isn’t even on the original release but rather the Deluxe Edition (though probably originally on some previously released B-Side). You may have guessed, it is “Hey, Hey What can I Do”. It’s got the softer melodic sounds you hear in the self-titled days and is a fun throwback in that way. And you almost feel for the guy who is just hung up on an unfaithful lady but ain’t that the blues? The rest of the album I haven’t really given much chance or thought to, because they aren’t the strongest songs which is why they didn’t make the other albums.
Quality Stats by Album
Just a little content for you stat nerds…
Quality Index = B-Tier or Above / Total Songs on Album (Includes Honorable Mention)
Hit Rate: A-Tier or Above / Total Songs on Album
Led Zeppelin I
Quality Index: 8 Tiered / 9 Total = 89%
Hit Rate: 2 S/A-Tiers / 9 Total = 22%
Led Zeppelin II
Quality Index: 7 / 9 = 78%
Hit Rate: 3 / 9 = 33%
Led Zeppelin III
Quality Index: 7 / 10 = 70%
Hit Rate: 4 / 10 = 40%
Led Zeppelin IV
Quality Index: 8 / 8 = 100%
Hit Rate: 5 / 8 = 63%
Houses of the Holy
Quality Index: 8 / 8 = 100%
Hit Rate: 4 / 8 = 50%
Physical Graffiti
Quality Index: 15 / 15 = 100%
Hit Rate: 8 / 15 = 53%
Presence
Quality Index: 4 / 7 = 57%
Hit Rate: 2 / 7 = 29%
In Through the Out Door
Quality Index: 5 / 7 = 71%
Hit Rate: 3 / 7 = 43%