GREAT WORKS: LED ZEPPELIN - IV

1970. Led Zeppelin has already released their 3^rd album “III”, which, except the hard rock anthem “Immigrant Song”, is a mix of folk, hippie and west coast rock staff. Irrelevant, that the album had very good sales and all the Led Zeppelin shows were sold out, the music press generally, and the British especially, condemned that album. This fact pissed off Jimmy Page, band’s guitarist, who decided to write the best music that he could and to release the new album without the band’s name, without a headline and any further information. Jimmy Page, with that action aimed, all those who would buy the album, will have to concentrate to music and nowhere else. It was his revenge.

Their music label, Atlantic Recordings, didn’t accept to release the album under these circumstances, but Page refused to give them the bobbins with the recordings, so Atlantic Recordings buckled and the album released on 1971. The band took a huge risk releasing the album in that way and refusing to release “Stairway to heaven” as a single, after continuous requests from the label. Finally the album reached No. 1 in British and No. 2 in US music charts. Endless tours followed shortly after album’s release and the band was building its myth. As of July 31, 2006, IV has sold 23 million copies in the US, making it one of the top four best selling albums in the history of the US music industry. Worldwide, it ranks at number eleven in album sales.

Musically the album is the probably best that Led Zeppelin ever released. It contains hard rock songs (Black Dog, Rock ‘n’ Roll), dance (Misty Mountain Hop), hippie (Going to California), folk (The Battle of Evermore, Four Sticks) and blues (When the Levee Breaks) staff. Last but not least, the album contains the monumental song Stairway to Heaven. Any interpretation relevant with this song is simple blasphemy.

The album has several names. “IV” is one, following the naming of their earlier albums (I, II & III). Another naming is “Four Symbols”, because of the 4 mystical symbols () used at the artwork, which represented each member of the band. One more name is “The Untitled Album”, for obvious reasons.

This is an album that reached immortality for all the above reasons. Led Zeppelin created a true monument of music, with which a couple of generations grew, by listening to it, and numberless musicians have influenced by its content. This is an album that his absence from any music suggests lack of knowledge and loss of many unique moments.