LED ZEPPELIN IV

I'm sure the people at Atlantic Reords were picking their jaws up off the floor when the band told them they didn't want their name on the album cover, especially after their third record didn't sell as well as they (Atlantic Records) had hoped.

The record opens with "Black Dog" named after a black dog that was hanging around the grounds of the studio.This song features Bonham's thunderous drums as well as Plant's incredible vocals, as Page chips in with a scorching solo. I must say I prefer the live version on "How The West Was Won". "Rock And Roll" is a fast paced rocker with an excellent drum roll in the intro as Page then comes in and grinds away with his guitar in the back ground throughout the song. Some piano from Jones as Bonham graces us with a good drum outro. "The Battle Of Evermore" opens with guitar that builds as Plant's vocals are given a break after the first two blazing numbers. He actually sings with Sandy Denny from FAIRPORT CONVENTION on this one. Check out the guitar at 4:20. Love the lyrics "The sky is filled with good and bad, that mortals never know".

"Stairway To Heaven" opens with acoustic guitar and flute as the song slowly accelerates. I love the line "There's a feeling I get when I look to the west", I find that part so uplifting . Page plays a solo 6 minutes in then Plant lets it rip ! And I get goose bumps. "Misty Mountain Hop" is about hippies. It's hard not to move some part of your body when this song is playing. The lyrics, and the way Plant sings them are fantastic ! "Four Sticks" is a song that I just listen to so intently because of the unbelieveable drumming. So intricate and with four sticks too. Check out how Plant changed the tone of his vocals for this one. Great song ! This was released on the "B" side of "Rock And Roll" when it was released as a single. "Going To California" would have fit well on their previous record, an acoustic song with mandolin. "When The Levee Breaks" is my favourite on this record. The hands of Bonham are like lightning and every time he strikes the drums with his sticks you hear loud thunder. It's truly amazing ! This song is so heavy and Plant's kick ass harmonica playing is a nice touch.

I remember buying the Lp version of this around 1977 in Toronto along with RUSH's "A Farewell to Kings". I asked a guy who worked there for LED ZEPPELIN's "zoso" album, well he went on to explain that "zoso" wasn't the name of it and that those were symbols. I just remember thinking "I just want the record, whatever it's called".