Michael Moran
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Led Zeppelin, despite their public perception as the archetypal Heavy Metal band, were actually talented and inquisitive musicians, more likely to hypnotise with folky subtlety than hammer an audience with bludgeon riffola. When they did choose to rock, though, they were without peer. Here are ten classic Zeppelin songs every aspiring guitarist should learn.
A deceptively tempting ostinato that lures the guitar novice with its endearing brute stupidity before exhausting them with the minefield of tricksy anacrusis concealed within. Still, audiences should be bludgeoned into submission by the riff or distracted by the singer’s shrieking long before the guitarists’ fingers wilt from exhaustion.
It could well be that even Jimmy Page doesn’t really know what time signature Black Dog is in. The mixture of outlandish syncopation underpinned with Bonzo’s apparently unrelated tub-thumping produces an occult alchemy that has to be heard to be believed, and even then is only imperfectly understood.
3: Whole Lotta Love
To a certain generation this will always be ‘The Top of the Pops Riff’ even though the recording used in the BBC’s flagship (arguably only) pop show was by CCS, a loose aggregation of session players led by Alexis Korner. If Mankind ever does encounter an extraterrestrial species, and for some reason needs to explain what a guitar riff is, this is the one to play them.
The sound of a million guitar shops, the arpeggiated introduction to Stairway rather overshadows the crudely effective restatement of the three descending chords at the end of the song that is, mercifully, within even the most inept guitarist’s compass.
Another riff that sounds easy, but defies the tightest bands and illustrates what a sensationally together band Zeppelin were. It’s worth persevering to see if you can get to the halfway mark for the guitar solo that definitely inspired some of Nigel Tufnel’s best work.
With its eastern harmonies and exotic meter, Kashmir wouldn’t seem the obvious place to look for a powerhouse guitar riff but the hypnotically looping chug of guitar (which also underpins P.Diddy’s Godzilla soundtrack song and a wildly irresponsible Schooly D. rap) is one of the most compulsive pieces of music ever put to tape. At almost nine minutes long, it’s still too short.
7: Nobody’s Fault but Mine.
Played by a good guitarist, the Nobody’s Fault but Mine riff is a masterpiece of blues-rock economy. Played in unison by guitarist and bassist, as it is for about half of the Zeppelin recording, it’s one of those nuggets of music that gets into your ear and refuses to leave. Few listeners get to the end of the song without wishing it were just another false ending.
A riff which takes the basic Chuck Berry rock'n'roll template and wrings it by the neck. If Chuck were ever to be possessed by Satan, he’d probably play this.
9: Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin aren’t conventionally thought of as a funk band, but the swaggering riff at the heart of Houses of the Holy (which, confusingly, was left off the album which bears its name) is as funky as any Meters number, just a good deal heavier.
Famed for its drum intro but also possessed of a rolling, looping slide guitar rhythm ostinato that just will not quit. The ideal choice for a guitarist who’s unexpectedly found a bottleneck in the bottom of his case and is keen to impress with some southern fried heavy metal blues.
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These ten songs are the "hard rock" best of led zeppelin's career. Obviously it is almost impossible to say which of led zeppelin's songs are the best so I just listen to all of them
Thomas, Granbury,
what about Thank You it's such a
beautiful song and What Is and
What Should Never Be? there
are too many great Zeppelin
song's to just pick ten
patricia mc cafferty, glasgow, scotland
I would think that you should know every single song ever made by Led Zepp. But these are a few great ones to know. I really agree with putting heartbreaker and Nobody's Fault But Mine.
shane, rockville,
Definitely 10 are not enough. But any top 10 MUST include "Since I've Been Loving You" and "The Rain Song". Neither Page nor Plant want to be remembered by "Stairway".
Angie, Savannah, GA USA
What about "Since I've Been Loving You" and "Communication
Breakdown?" Miss the old days... no one has yet to wail 'em out like Plant. Thought I was going to faint when my 15 yr. old nephew cranked up a Zep CD the other day. What a wonderful flashback!
R.K. Hardee, Lincoln,, Alabama
Their music flies me "over the pond" , to the top of ancient castles & mountains,over moors & through deep forests just by closing my eyes--- Plant's haunting vocals , deep passion & feeling he puts into every song is palpable. The best band that has ever existed -- no other can compare. Rock on guys.... & pray I will someday be able to get tickets to a live show!!!!!!!
Lisa`, charlotte, USA, North Carolina
Side One of Houses of the Holy ("The Song Remains the Same", "The Rain Song", "Over the Hills and Far Away", "The Crunge") is the best album side in the history of rock. I know some will disagree because of "The Crunge", but it does add some fun to the record after the three sublime songs that precede it. That album side demonstrates all the many facets of Led Zeppelin.
Bill Huelbig, Weehawken, NJ/USA
Beatles led the way but Zep took it further......... Beatles made Revolver after 3 and a half years in the studio....some progression !!!... Zep took it to the limits ( sorry Jimmy H ) and their body of work is absolutley stellar...
Enjoy the best , it doesnt come arround often... Be thankfu.
I cant pick a tune from thier catelogue ... can you ?
alan ashworth, liverpool, england
The 'exotic meter' of Kashmir? Sorry to nit-pick, but it's in 4/4! But what a great piece of music - I remember it hooking me on first hearing as a teenager. The guitar figure is in a 6/8 cross-rhythm, but what I think makes the riff so magical is the inspired choice by Bonham to play in a slow straight four, especially with that massive back beat he had. Killer!
It's very easy on the guitar, by the way, if you know the right tuning (DADGAD). But how could you leave out all the acoustic repertoire, after praising it in your intro? What about Going To California, with all that terrific mandolin playing by Jones?
John Maher, Sydney, Australia
Decent choice but not very original.
You left out "what is and what should never be", "babe I'm gonna leave you" "the ocean", "ten years gone" and "all of my love" off the seriously under-rated "In through the out door."
Ian, Dublin,
What Is And What Should Never Be' was a great example of the band's 'light and shade' approach. I think that 'Four Sticks' is under-rated, while the album highlights from the first 5 LPs are Dazed And Confused, Ramble On, That's The Way, Black Dog, and No Quarter. 'How Many Times' is another under-rated epic. While the mighty Zep were conquering the world, Mick and Keef were churning out 'It's Only Rock And Roll' in a video with sailors' suits on them. Dear oh dear. No contest!
Gary Watton, Belfast, Northern Ireland
No Quarter, that one shows the genius of JPJ
Tomas Lucena, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
'In My Time of Dying' and 'The Rain Song' - the two sides of Zep at their best
Raj castillo, London, UK
How can you leave out 'Dazed and Confused' the song is clearing missing from your top ten list.
F. McAndrew, Saignon, France
ACHILLES LAST STAND.....Nothing more to say
Lisa Haak, Keasbey, New Jersey, USA
Wow.. you just can't move enough to Led Zeppelin .Absolute masters of their art. I wore out Rock n Roll on Zepp 4 Vinyl listening over and over...because the power hits you so hard.Never mind Kashmir.....The Immigrant Song, Bron yr Aur stomp(welldone JImmy) and Bonzo killing a drum Kit on Achilles last stand...send me tickets!!!!!!
Hamish Hill, Blairgowrie, Scotland
No artist to my knowledge could fill albums with such quality.the diversity was quite exquisite.you could smell the travels of this band through east and west and back again.such imagery!!! They were unique and anyone who says the who' cream ,purple ,Hendrix or the
beatles had done it all before ,not to this standard and imagination they did'nt.Zep used there travels to feel out a new dimension to music mix it to a unique soulful groove/riff.In short Page is a musical genious who laid down some of the most beautiful stomping even erotic riffs ever.He also new how to record,no other artist even today has captured the pure drum sound of Bonham,listen to those recordings from 1969/70 unparalled!!!!
Chris, langham, rutland
Achillies Last Stand....Thank You......Ramble On.....Bron-y-aur Stomp....my list is endless......
Donna, Adelaide, Australia
The Rain Song: delicately gorgeous guitar work on this masterpiece.
Achilles Last Stand: THIS is why they're called the Hammer of the Gods, jack.
Over the Hills & Far Away: fantastic countryish acoustic opening to a rollicking classic. I always peel that one off in music stores.
Communication Breakdown: deathless riff.
Out on the Tiles: See above.
Ramble On: "...I met a girl so fair - then God or the Evil One crept up and slipped away with her...."
Bring It on Home: another Music Store Special. Get the DVD and see Jimmy rip it up at the '70 Royal Albert Hall show.
Jay Charles, Crimora, Virginia
The Rain Song from the song remains the same has got to be included in a list that should not be kept to 10 Plants powerful voice will be with us forever
Evan, Inverness, United Kingdom
Don't forget Tangerine. Listen to the words.
Name Withheld, Rotherham, Yorks
What about Dazed and Confused ? How can you leave that out?
Jim Napier, Sun City, USA/AZ
What about "Since I've Been Loving you", "Dazed & Confused" ???
ZowieZiggy, Wavre, Belgium
My favourite Zep track is Since I've been loving you,their best song in my opinion and I was lucky enough to see them twice,three times if you count Page and Plant!But yeah they very rarely made a bad song,the best rock band ever and they will never be another like them ever.Nuff said!!!
Patrick McCulloch, CHESTERFIELD, ENGLAND
Great list, but ten tracks isn't enough for Led Zeppelin.
You missed:
Dazed and Confused, How Many More Times, What Is And What Should Never Be, The Ocean, Over The Hills And Far Away, Custard Pie, The Rover, In My Time Of Dying, Trampled Underfoot, In The Light, Wanton Song, Sick Again, Achilles Last Stand (how on earth could you leave that out?)
ps: Physical Graffiti - best rock album ever made.
Gary Carter, Shrewsbury, UK
Great list ,but missing one of their most haunting and beautiful pieces, "In The Evening".The only album produced by one of rock's most unappreciated musicians and Zep's John Paul Jones.
Cliff, monroe, usa,ct
I agree with Declan, ALL of Led Zepplin's music should be on the list. This is seriously one of the greatest bands of all time.
Becky, OKC, OK, USA
Thank you thank you thank you for including "When the Levee Breaks".
So many people choose to overplay "Black Dog", "Stairway", "Rock & Roll" but seem to forget about one of the densest, groovin'est, bluesiest tunes ever. (although samplists seem to realize that Bonzo knew what he was doing )
JC, OKC, OK, USA
Thank you, Mr Moran. It's an early on a hung over Saturday morning but after reading this I'm going to turn the CD (how old-fashioned) up to 11 and rattle through this lot. Wonderful stuff!
Kevin Browne, Reading, Berkshire, England
Hell. Yes.
Led Zeppelin.
The. Best.
Period.
Rezekial, Annapolis, USA / MD
Only ten? You could have added another 50 songs from Zeppelin equally as good. They've the most consistently brilliant body of work in the history of Rock and Roll. The Beatles, Elvis, the Stones, etc. are popular music in its infancy. Rock and Roll reached its apotheosis with Led Zeppelin, and its been in a downward trajectory ever since Bonzo died in 1980.
Declan, Perth, Australia