Greatest Led Zepplin song?

Blades of Vanatar · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 4:51pm

I was dragged into an arguement with friends while having a few of Lini's Shandies this weekend. It was over what song is Led Zep's best? For me, it is Kashmir, hands down. But amazingly, with 6 people in the conversation, all had different answers. Stairway to Heaven, When the Levee Breaks, Houses of the Holy, Whole Lotta Love and the Battle of Evermore.

dmc · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 5:22pm

Discounting the fact that some of these are and were more overplayed than the others, I have to say that the greatest song they did was Stairway. It was very interesting musically (certainly fairly groundbreaking with the acoustic intro morphing in the the electric after setting the stage), it has one of the most recognizable guitar solos ever, the lyrics hold together and tell enough of a story to hook the listener, the drumming is tight (not superb IMO like other Zep songs, but it is very well done for the song), and John Paul Jones did what he always did, provide a solid bass track while the rest of the maniacs did their thing.

Musically, Kashmir was cool with its eastern tonality and all that, but I just found the song itself to be uninteresting and repetitive and found that the lyrics were so-so.

Just my opinion.

Splunge · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 5:29pm

I can't remember the name, but my favorite is the one with the driving guitar and heavy drums.

I guess I'll go with Whole Lotta Love. Which is odd, because I hated the song when it first came out; of course, I was more into jazz and jazz fusion at the time.

Edit: oops, just realized the topic is "greatest", not "favorite", which aren't necessarily the same thing. I guess greatest would be Stairway.

Déise · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 9:11pm

My favourite would be the Immigrant Song.

Blades of Vanatar · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 9:54pm

Where I think Stairway is a great song, after Kashmir and Stairway I'm a big fan of "Ramble On".

Mesmero · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 10:47pm

Greatest: Stairway

Favorite: Dazed and Confused

Darion · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 10:48pm

Stairway is the best.

But Dye Maker is groovy!

dmc · Wed, 13th Jun '12, 11:54pm

Yeah - I had been treating this as greatest. My favorite varies entirely on my mood at the time.

Dice · Thu, 14th Jun '12, 4:40pm

Without a doubt, "Friends" is my favorite Zepplin song. Something about the tune that really gets me. I suppose it is still one of my all-time favorites. In fact I might have to go look it up on You-tube right now just to get a fix

.

Needless to say I chose the "other" catagory.

--
Ok, I'm playing it right now. Its the chords - really makes it.

LKD · Fri, 15th Jun '12, 4:45am

D'yer Maker is awesome and underrated!

Beren · Fri, 15th Jun '12, 6:45am

Agreed, but I'll buy that Stairway anyway.

Harbourboy · Fri, 15th Jun '12, 10:40am

Stairway to Heaven.

But I also like Rambe On and anything with meaningless Lord of the Rings references.

dogsoldier · Thu, 30th Aug '12, 1:47am

I vote "Ramble On" and "Going to California."

I've never been a big fan of "Stairway to Heaven," but it is very difficult to argue against it. It has had an enormous influence on rock and roll and is continually regarded as one of the best songs ever recorded by critics and other artsy types.

Marceror · Mon, 29th Oct '12, 11:35pm

Somebody voted, which made this thread appear fresh. Now it's going to appear that I necroed the thread. Oh well.

I'd have to say Stairway was their greatest song. But my favorite has always been "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". That song gets me every time. I LOVE Paige's guitar in that song, and Robert Plant's voice has never sounded better.

Dazed and Confused is way up there too, as is Black Dog. Another one that I love, that isn't generally as popular is Over the Hills and Far Away.

Geez, I could probably keep adding and adding, so I'll leave it at that.

EDIT: Oh, and we should probably go ahead and clarify that these would be Zeppelin songs, rather than Zepplin songs.

(Adding Your Time Is Gonna Come to the list, while I edit

-- Led Zeppelin I is by far my favorite album of theirs, so a number of those songs are on my list)

EDIT2: Added Youtube Video

dogsoldier · Tue, 30th Oct '12, 3:55am

Oh yeah. And "That's the Way" and "Down by the Seaside." And "The Rain Song."

The Great Snook · Tue, 30th Oct '12, 3:12pm

Stairway is their greatest, however my favorite is Immigrant Song

View Poll Results: Greatest Led Zepplin Song
Kashmir	2	14.29%
Stairway to Heaven	5	35.71%
Whole Lotta Love	2	14.29%
When the Levee Breaks	0	0%
Battle of Evermore	0	0%
Houses of the Holy	0	0%
Other?	5	35.71%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

Wed, 13th Jun '12, 4:51pm	#1
Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,554 Like: 36 Liked 41 Times in 29 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 9,781 Level: 29 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 54.35% Daily Activity 53.57% Weekly Activity 29.86% Monthly Activity 67.72% Achievements Awards	Greatest Led Zepplin song? I was dragged into an arguement with friends while having a few of Lini's Shandies this weekend. It was over what song is Led Zep's best? For me, it is Kashmir, hands down. But amazingly, with 6 people in the conversation, all had different answers. Stairway to Heaven, When the Levee Breaks, Houses of the Holy, Whole Lotta Love and the Battle of Evermore.
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Wed, 13th Jun '12, 5:29pm	#3
Splunge SPS Account Holder Bhaal’s financial advisor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: In hiding after Bhaal became Lord of Murder when I had him put everything into subprime mortgages. Posts: 6,545 Like: 13 Liked 57 Times in 38 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,912 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 59.29% Achievements Awards	I can't remember the name, but my favorite is the one with the driving guitar and heavy drums. I guess I'll go with Whole Lotta Love. Which is odd, because I hated the song when it first came out; of course, I was more into jazz and jazz fusion at the time. Edit: oops, just realized the topic is "greatest", not "favorite", which aren't necessarily the same thing. I guess greatest would be Stairway.
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Wed, 13th Jun '12, 9:54pm	#5
Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,554 Like: 36 Liked 41 Times in 29 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 9,781 Level: 29 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 54.35% Daily Activity 53.57% Weekly Activity 29.86% Monthly Activity 67.72% Achievements Awards	Where I think Stairway is a great song, after Kashmir and Stairway I'm a big fan of "Ramble On".
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Wed, 13th Jun '12, 10:47pm	#6
Mesmero How'd an old elf get the blues? Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,957 Like: 2 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,318 Level: 18 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 53.62% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Greatest: Stairway Favorite: Dazed and Confused
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Wed, 13th Jun '12, 5:22pm	#2
dmc SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member Moderator Speak softly and carry a big briefcase 3 Card Poker Champion! Balloon Shoot Champion! Bumper Golf Champion! Falldown Champion! Plumber 2 Champion! Rotations Champion! Towerball Champion! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 6,497 Like: 18 Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,914 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23.22% Daily Activity 53.57% Weekly Activity 15.29% Monthly Activity 47.78% Achievements Awards	Discounting the fact that some of these are and were more overplayed than the others, I have to say that the greatest song they did was Stairway. It was very interesting musically (certainly fairly groundbreaking with the acoustic intro morphing in the the electric after setting the stage), it has one of the most recognizable guitar solos ever, the lyrics hold together and tell enough of a story to hook the listener, the drumming is tight (not superb IMO like other Zep songs, but it is very well done for the song), and John Paul Jones did what he always did, provide a solid bass track while the rest of the maniacs did their thing. Musically, Kashmir was cool with its eastern tonality and all that, but I just found the song itself to be uninteresting and repetitive and found that the lyrics were so-so. Just my opinion.

Wed, 13th Jun '12, 9:11pm	#4
Déise I am both happy and miserable, without the happy part! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 626 Like: 1 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,671 Level: 13 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 72.45% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 9.95% Achievements	My favourite would be the Immigrant Song.

Wed, 13th Jun '12, 10:48pm	#7
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Wed, 13th Jun '12, 11:54pm	#8
dmc SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member Moderator Speak softly and carry a big briefcase 3 Card Poker Champion! Balloon Shoot Champion! Bumper Golf Champion! Falldown Champion! Plumber 2 Champion! Rotations Champion! Towerball Champion! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 6,497 Like: 18 Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,914 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23.22% Daily Activity 53.57% Weekly Activity 15.29% Monthly Activity 47.78% Achievements Awards	Yeah - I had been treating this as greatest. My favorite varies entirely on my mood at the time.

Thu, 14th Jun '12, 4:40pm	#9
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,477 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 50 Times in 29 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,390 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.65% Daily Activity 53.57% Weekly Activity 8.01% Monthly Activity 22.28% Achievements	Without a doubt, "Friends" is my favorite Zepplin song. Something about the tune that really gets me. I suppose it is still one of my all-time favorites. In fact I might have to go look it up on You-tube right now just to get a fix . Needless to say I chose the "other" catagory. -- Ok, I'm playing it right now. Its the chords - really makes it.

Fri, 15th Jun '12, 4:45am	#10
LKD Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Winterfell Posts: 6,204 Like: 20 Liked 31 Times in 22 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,659 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 92.62% Daily Activity 53.57% Weekly Activity 8.01% Monthly Activity 19% Achievements	D'yer Maker is awesome and underrated!
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Fri, 15th Jun '12, 6:45am	#11
Beren SPS Account Holder Moderator\|Writer Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 2,259 Like: 1 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 6,819 Level: 25 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 32.74% Daily Activity 155.61% Weekly Activity 22.58% Monthly Activity 21.05% Achievements Awards	Agreed, but I'll buy that Stairway anyway.

Fri, 15th Jun '12, 10:40am	#12
Harbourboy SPS Account Holder Take thy form from off my door! Join Date: May 2003 Location: North Harbour Posts: 13,220 Like: 53 Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 28,186 Level: 45 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 71.74% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 11.59% Achievements Awards	Stairway to Heaven. But I also like Rambe On and anything with meaningless Lord of the Rings references.

Thu, 30th Aug '12, 1:47am	#13
dogsoldier Gems: 6/31 Latest gem: Jasper Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 181 Like: 12 Liked 13 Times in 11 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 587 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 63.02% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 26.4% Achievements	I vote "Ramble On" and "Going to California." I've never been a big fan of "Stairway to Heaven," but it is very difficult to argue against it. It has had an enormous influence on rock and roll and is continually regarded as one of the best songs ever recorded by critics and other artsy types.

Mon, 29th Oct '12, 11:35pm	#14
Marceror SPS Account Holder Editor Chaos Shall Be Sown In Their Footsteps Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sword Coast Posts: 2,394 Like: 21 Liked 92 Times in 75 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,824 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 66.47% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 3.37% Achievements Awards	Somebody voted, which made this thread appear fresh. Now it's going to appear that I necroed the thread. Oh well. I'd have to say Stairway was their greatest song. But my favorite has always been "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". That song gets me every time. I LOVE Paige's guitar in that song, and Robert Plant's voice has never sounded better. Dazed and Confused is way up there too, as is Black Dog. Another one that I love, that isn't generally as popular is Over the Hills and Far Away. Geez, I could probably keep adding and adding, so I'll leave it at that. EDIT: Oh, and we should probably go ahead and clarify that these would be Zeppelin songs, rather than Zepplin songs. (Adding Your Time Is Gonna Come to the list, while I edit -- Led Zeppelin I is by far my favorite album of theirs, so a number of those songs are on my list) EDIT2: Added Youtube Video
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Tue, 30th Oct '12, 3:55am	#15
dogsoldier Gems: 6/31 Latest gem: Jasper Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 181 Like: 12 Liked 13 Times in 11 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 587 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 63.02% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 26.4% Achievements	Oh yeah. And "That's the Way" and "Down by the Seaside." And "The Rain Song."

Tue, 30th Oct '12, 3:12pm	#16
The Great Snook Gems: 30/31 Latest gem: King's Tears Join Date: May 2003 Location: West of Boston MA Posts: 3,625 Blog Entries: 15 Like: 19 Liked 42 Times in 26 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,280 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 37.89% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 15.29% Monthly Activity 57.85% Achievements	Stairway is their greatest, however my favorite is Immigrant Song
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