Product Description

After a two-year recording gap (the longest in their recording career up to that point), Led Zeppelin followed the rampant eclecticism of HOUSES OF THE HOLY with the embarrassmentof riches that is PHYSICAL GRAFFITI. One could be forgiven for thinking of this expansive double-length set as Zeppelin's WHITE ALBUM. It's a great schizophrenic beast, the first side containing the most concentrated dose of pure hard-rockenergy the band had delivered since their first two albums,and the second showing off the more subtle nuances of theirtalent.
This is really Jimmy Page's album, from the masterfully moody Eastern setting of "Kashmir" to the poignant liquidity of "Down by the Seaside" and the furious riffing of"Trampled Under Foot". The 1950s-style rocker "Boogie with Stu" (featuring Stones pianist Ian Stewart) and the rural romp "Bron-Yr-Aur" add yet more colours to the spectrum of what may be the most emotionally satisfying album in the Led Zeppelin canon.

Track Listing

1. Houses of the holy
2. Trampled underfoot
3. Kashmir
4. Custard pie
5. Rover
6. In my time of dying
7. In the light
8. Bron Y Aur stomp
9. Down by the seaside
10. Ten years gone
11. Night flight
12. Wanton song
13. Boogie with Stu
14. Black country woman
15. Sick again

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #576 in Music
• Released on: 1997-08-25
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered

Amazon.co.uk Review
This 1975 release came smack in the middle of a long and nearly mythic career. Physical Graffiti is the last great Led Zeppelin title, recorded before the influences of the day (synthesizers, disco) ended Zeppelin's reign as the kings of loud and sexy blues-metal. Playfully experimenting with new sounds, the band blended Middle Eastern rhythms, folk-stylings, heavy blues, and deeply impassioned rock riffs into a two-disc set that sounded as if they were still enjoying their place in the rock pantheon. As sprawling and adventurous as this collection is, there are some tracks so tightly focused--so ultra-Zeppelinesque--that it's tempting to name this as a number one or number two must-have. "Trampled Underfoot" and "Custard Pie" alone are almost worth the double-disc price tag. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews

Serious contender for best double album ever
When Led Zeppelin went into the studio to record Physical Graffiti in early 1974 there was no intention to record a double album. The band eventually produced eight songs from the sessions at Headley Grange but somewhere along the line the band decided to include songs from previous album sessions and re-record them. Songs were taken from the sessions for Led Zeppelin 3 & 4 and from "Houses Of The Holy" -including the title track which was, rather oddly, never included on that album .
Now the greatest double album ever debate is , of course , entirely subjective. I would hurl The Beatles "White Album", XTC,s "English Settlement" , Husker Du,s "Warehouse Songs And Stories" , Frank Zappa,s "You Are What You Is", The Swans "White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity", The Tindersticks second album and Isaac Hayes "Black Moses" into the debate . Yet what could not be argued about what so ever is that Physical Graffiti is a serious contender. It is one of the truly great rock albums, double or otherwise.
It seems incredible listening to this album that songs on here were deemed superfluous to requirements for other albums. "Bron -Yr-Aur" the instrumental originally slated for Led Zeppelin III is a terrific little track, and i am usually scathing about instrumental tracks on albums as they are usually lazy filler material. "Night Flight" , "Boogie With Stu" and the gorgeous lilting "Down By The Seaside" were originally recorded for Led Zep 4 while "The Rover" , "Black Country Woman" along with the subsequently discarded rollicking title track were for "Houses Of The Holy".
Of the eight new tracks surely everyone has heard the magnificent "Kashmir" with it,s distinctive dramatic eastern flavoured strings. Side two of the old double vinyl version must be a contender for one of the best sides of a rock album ever. "Trampled Under Foot" has a truly riotous riff as has the opening track the almost rabid "Custard Pie" complete with almost hysterical Plant vocal. There is also the moody epic "In My Time Of Dying ", the only song on the album where the writing credits are given to all four band members apart that is from "Boogie With Stu" which is also credited to Ian Stewart who played piano on the track and Richie Valens because the track was heavily influenced by the late rockers "Oohh My Head".
Add in the gruff rock blues of "Sick Again" and and Ten Years Gone", the swelling rock chords of "The Rover" and the boogie woogie romp of "Black Country Woman" and you have a surprisingly diverse album. A message underlined by the spectral liquid tones of "In The Light" , arguably the most purely beautiful track they ever wrote.Rolling Stone wrote at the time that Physical Graffiti was the bands "bid for artistic respectability". Putting aside the fact that the band had undoubtedly already achieved that end long before the release of this album in 1975( It,s release was delayed by an illness to John Paul Jones) Physical Graffiti is a monumental achievement by a band at the height of their considerable powers. Robert Plant has stated that this is his favourite Led Zeppelin album. Who am i to argue with him.

Best album ever!
Led Zeppelin are my favourite rock and probably always will be. I always used to think the first 4 albums were the best, but the more i listened to this album, the more I loved it and I now realise it is a lot more versatile than the previous albums and better tracks, especially kashmir, the rover, ten years gone, sick again, in my time of dying and the wanton song. It is now my may favourite album, not just just by led zeppelin, but every band I like.

Mixed feelings.....
Some heavy rocking on CD1 with some great riffs.... CD2 is of another slant.... creative use of instrumentation ..all in all a classic but not quite making the 5 mark