Led Zeppelin’s fourth record (Vinyl record album review)

Album name: (Untitled), aka IV, aka Zoso, aka Four Symbols

Group name: Led Zeppelin

Year: 1971

Number of discs: one

Label: Atlantic Records

Collection: Brenner / Gessner

Distinguishing characteristics: “Brenner” written on record, indicating that my mother owned it (though I would have guessed that this was my father’s)

Buy it on Amazon: $23.16

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I did not grow up listening to Led Zeppelin, but started liking them as a teenager when I heard them on classic rock radio. I bought the CD box set of all their records in college, and have probably listened to this around 500 times.

The two previous Led Zeppelin records that I’ve reviewed were:

Led Zeppelin (I) (1969): 5/5

Led Zeppelin II (1969): 5/5

What I expected

Rock, blues rock, hard rock, Stairway to Heaven.

What it was actually like

I definitely would not say that I like Led Zeppelin’s fourth record as much as the first three, but it’s still a classic, and Rock and Roll is one of my favorite songs of all time (and one of my top two favorite Led Zeppelin songs, along with Kashmir).

On this listen, I was particularly impressed with the percussion throughout the record, and the droning effect on When the Levee Breaks.

I could listen to this every day and be very satisfied, but if I had to pick a least favorite song, it would be Misty Mountain Hop.

Also, I think Stairway to Heaven is a great song, but even after thirty years, I still am not able to listen to it without immediately thinking of the guitar shop scene from Wayne’s World.

Grade

5/5: love it