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

    Al Green Is Love

    Al Green: Al Green Is Love

    Album #253 - August 1975

      0:00
      0:00
      Bruce Springstein: Born to Run

      Bruce Springstein: Born to Run

      Album #252 - August 1975

        0:00
        0:00
        Fleetwood Mac

        Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac

        Album #251 - July 1975

          0:00
          0:00
          Neil Young: Tonight's The Night

          Neil Young: Tonight's The Night

          Album #250 - June 1975

            0:00
            0:00
            Stephen Stills: Stills

            Stephen Stills: Stills

            Album #249 - June 1975

              0:00
              0:00
              Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes

              Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes - Part 2

              Album #248 - June 1975

                0:00
                0:00
                Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes

                Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes - Part 1

                Album #248 - June 1975

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger

                  Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger

                  Album #247 - May 1975

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

                    Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic

                    Album #246 - April 1975

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      Steely Dan Katy Lied

                      Steely Dan: Katy Lied

                      Album #245 - March 1975

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        Young Americans - David Bowie

                        David Bowie: Young Americans

                        Album #244 - March 1975

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World

                          Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World

                          Album #243 - March 1975

                            0:00
                            0:00