Led Zeppelin I One Of Rock’s Greatest Debut Albums Of All-Time

Author Screamin' Scott

January 2nd 2:11 PM

January marks the 55th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s groundbreaking debut album, released in 1969. Led Zeppelin’s front album artwork depicts a picture of the Hindenburg airship going down in flames. A symbolic of Led Zeppelin’s birth from the flames of The Yardbirds breaking up. Led Zeppelin formed in May of 1968, and the album was recorded in October of that year, within 36 hours, over a few weeks.

Led Zeppelin I debut album. Released on 12 January 1969 from Atlantic Records and turns 55 in 2024. The album was recorded in less than 2 months in 1968 in London. Didn’t discover them in my youth till the mid 70’s.

Led Zeppelin I One Of Rocks Greatest Debut Albums Of All Time

I remember in elementary school learning to spell the band’s name correctly. If you made the mistake the gang of kids would turn on you.”Good Times Bad Times and Communication Breakdown.” How could you not fall in love with those guitar riffs. Later in my teens got all the albums and 45s the band released.

Back before I discovered Led Zeppelin my music pallet was molded by bands like Elton John, Chicago, and The Beatles. This 1st album changed my life as it was nothing like I’d ever heard before coming through my speakers. Jimmy Page’s guitar sound was raw, crunchy, and fast yet could be slow and bluesy on other tracks like “How many more times.” The sound of Led Zeppelin made me change the whole way music moved me. Amazing how this album has stood the test of time.

Back of the Led Zeppelin First Album

The Critics Were Not Too Kind At First

Rolling Stone, John Mendelsohn heard weak, unimaginative songs from Page and tunes that he described as “very dull,” “monotonous,’ and “redundant” at various points. Read the review here

The Globe and Mail, the paper’s critic sounded positively bored. He described Page’s guitar style as “depressingly antiquated.” Click here to see the review.

An Investment In Greatness

Did you know it was Jimmy Page who put up all the money to make the first Led Zeppelin album? Some historians say he did that for a big reason. So that Jimmp Page had full creative control in the studio. In a 1969 interview with Guitar World, Page explained that he “wanted” complete “artistic control” of the album. Click Here to see the article

The album cost approx. $2,251 to produce. Which is pretty astounding compared to costs in the present day.

Led Zeppelin at the Gladsaxe Teen Club in Gladsaxe, Denmark March 17, 1969, showcasing some of the classic tunes from the Led Zeppelin I album.

Catch a weekday dose of Led Zeppelin with WCSX’s, “Whole Lotta Led.” weeknights at 8 pm on 94.7 WCSX

22 Albums That Turn 50 in 2024

• David Bowie - ‘Diamond Dogs’

  Diamond Dogs was David Bowie’s eighth studio album. It was released on May 24, 1974. In addition to its title track, the album also features the classic Bowie track “Rebel Rebel.”

• Queen - ‘Queen II’

  Queen released their second studio album, aptly named Queen II, on March 8, 1974. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the album features “Seven Seas of Rhye.”

• Queen - ‘Sheer Heart Attack’

  Queen sure was productive in 1974! Their third studio album, Sheer Heart Attack, was released on November 8. The album boasts “Now I’m Here” and the classic “Killer Queen.”

• Lynyrd Skynyrd - ‘Second Helping’

  Lynyrd Skynyrd released their second studio album, Second Helping, on April 15, 1974. The album notably features the iconic track “Sweet Home Alabama.”

• Kraftwerk - ‘Autobahn’

  The influential Kraftwerk released Autobahn in November 1974. The album’s title is an epic 22 minutes. Autobahn would peak on the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 5.

• The Rolling Stones - ‘It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll’

  It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll came out on October 18, 1974. The album was the last Stone LP to feature guitarist Mick Taylor. In addition to its classic title track, It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll also features a great cover of The Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”

• Aerosmith - ‘Get Your Wings’

  Get Your Wings is Aerosmith’s second studio album. It was released on March 15, 1974. The album features classic tracks “Same Old Song and Dance,” “S.O.S. (Too Bad)” and “Woman of the World.”

• Elton John - ‘Caribou’

  Caribou was Elton John’s eighth studio album. It came out on June 24, 1974. It features “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “The Bitch is Back.”

• Carly Simon - ‘Hotcakes’

  Carly Simon’s fourth studio album, Hotcakes, was released on January 11, 1974. The album features hits “Haven’t Got Time for the Pain” and “Mockingbird,” her duet with then-husband James Taylor.

• Brian Eno - ‘Here Come the Warm Jets’

  Here Comes the Warm Jets was the debut solo album from Brian Eno. It came out on February 8,  1974 and was the first release from Eno after he left Roxy Music. The glam masterpiece features “Baby’s On Fire” and “Needles in the Camel’s Eye.”

• KISS - ‘KISS’

  KISS’s self-titled debut album was released on February 18, 1974. While the album wasn’t an immediate hit, it features a bunch of classic KISS songs, including “Strutter,” “Firehouse,” “Cold Gin,” “Deuce” and “Black Diamond.”

• KISS - ‘Hotter Than Hell’

  Like Queen, KISS also released two albums in 1974. Hotter Than Hell came out on October 22. In addition to its title track, the album also features “Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

• Steely Dan - ‘Pretzel Logic’

  Pretzel Logic was Steely Dan’s third studio album. It came out on February 20, 1974. The album features the hit “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.”

• Rush - ‘Rush’

  The self-titled debut album from Rush came out on March 18, 1974. Rush is the only album to feature original drummer John Rutsey. The album comes to a close with the classic track “Working Man.”

• Bad Company - ‘Bad Company’

  Bad Company’s self-titled debut album was released on May 24, 1974. In addition to the titular track, Bad Company features the classic track “Can’t Get Enough.”

• Olivia Newton-John - ‘If You Love Me, Let Me Know’

  Olivia Newton-John’s If You Love Me, Let Me Know was released on May 28, 1974. The album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and featured the hit single “I Honestly Love You,” which was Newton-John’s first No. 1 hit in the United States.

• Cher - ‘Dark Lady’

  Dark Lady, Cher’s eleventh studio album, came out in May 1974. Its title track was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

• Eric Clapton - ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’

   

  Eric Clapton released his second solo album, 461 Ocean Boulevard, in July 1974. It notably features his cover of “I Shot the Sherrif.”

• Judas Priest - ‘Rocka Rolla’

  Rocka Rolla, Judas Priest’s debut album, was released on September 6, 1974. It’s a notable far cry from the band’s ’80s metal sound, not to mention it’s trademark ’80s metal look. Just look at the video below for proof.

• Billy Joel - ‘Streetlife Serenade’

  Billy Joel released his third studio album, Streetlife Serenade, on October 11, 1974. It features the hit “The Entertainer.”

• Suzi Quatro - ‘Quatro’

  The influential Suzi Quatro released her second studio album in October 1974. The album notably features “Devil Gate Drive,” which Quatro performed on Happy Days as Leather Tuscadero.

• Eagles - ‘On the Border’

  The Eagles released their third studio album, On the Border, on March 22, 1974. The album features “Already Gone,” “James Dean” and “Best of My Love.”

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Author Screamin' Scott

Category:

• WCSX
• All Music News
• Music

Tags:

Jimmy Page,Led Zepplin,Robert Plant