Led Zeppelin IV

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	To oppose or discuss a nomination, please go to CZ:Proposed for deletion and follow the instructions. For the monthly nomination lists, see Category:Articles for deletion. Led Zeppelin IV Type Studio album Artist Led Zeppelin Release Date 8 November 1971 (US), 12 November 1971 (UK) Recorded December 1970 – August 1971 at Island Studios, London; Headley Grange, Hampshire, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio; Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California (U.S. state). Mixed at Island Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London. Genre Hard rock, blues rock, folk rock Language English Length 42 minutes 34 seconds Label Atlantic Records Catalogue Atlantic SD 7208 (US), Atlantic 2401 012 (UK) Producer Jimmy Page Engineer Andy Johns Led Zeppelin IV is the conventional, but unsanctioned designation of the untitled fourth album of English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was issued on 8 November 1971 in the United States of America and 12 November 1971 in the United Kingdom. Although several of Led Zeppelin's early albums sold well and made an impact on the world of music, Led Zeppelin IV enjoyed the greatest commercial success of all of the band's albums and is the band's best-known album (charting at number two in the US and number one in the UK, Canada and Japan respectively). Containing such classics as 'Black Dog', 'Rock and Roll', and the epic eight-minute 'Stairway to Heaven', the album combined the blues influenced hard rock of the first two albums and the folk of the third, with the band finding a perfect balance on their fourth album. Synopsis Almost immediately after the release of Led Zeppelin III, the band headed back to the studio to record a fourth album. The LP was at first recorded at Island Records' Basing Street Studios, London prior to final sessions taking place at Headley Grange, a secluded Victorian era manor in East Hampshire, England, in addition to overdubs and mixing at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California (U.S. state), which delayed the album's release until November 1971. Chief songwriters Page and Plant previously wrote some songs at Bron-Yr-Aur, and they arrived at Headley Grange with 12 taped demos, including the chord structure of a tune that would evolve into the epic 'Stairway to Heaven'. They'd rehearsed previously there, but now, in the depths of winter, the place had deteriorated and was cold and damp but due to Led Zeppelin's gruelling touring schedule they only needed to write and rehearse for a week. Then the Rolling Stones' mobile recording studio was booked to record the album, which was hired for just six days, with engineer Andy Johns and Page at the controls. The hallways and stairwells at Headley Grange however proved ideal for recording John Bonham's booming drum sound. There was some talk of calling the album Led Zeppelin IV, but the band insisted, perhaps as a way of confusing the critics, that the album remain nameless. 'The music is what matters,' said Page. 'Let people buy it because they like the music. I don't want any writing on the cover! Period!' Subsequent to the perplexed and sometimes indifferent reception Led Zeppelin III was greeted with in the autumn of 1970 by the music press, producer Jimmy Page resolved that the following Led Zeppelin album would not have a name, but would in its place present four representative glyphs on the interior sleeve and spine, each one selected by the group member it symbolised. 'We decided that on the fourth album, we would deliberately play down the group name, and there wouldn't be any information whatsoever on the outer jacket', Page elucidated. 'Names, titles and things like that do not mean a thing.' Obligated due to the lack of an official name, Atlantic Records originally disseminated typefaces of the glyphs in various font sizes to the media for insertion into album reviews and charts. The release was one of the earliest to be shipped without traditional identification, and this conveyed an anti-establishment standpoint that was contentious at that point in history (especially among some accountants at Atlantic Records). The album was released on 8 November 1971, in the United States, and on 12 November 1971, in the United Kingdom. This album also had variety like the third one, with some grinding songs and some acoustic songs, Led Zeppelin IV continues to be a recurring choice on classic rock programming and introduces highlights such as 'Stairway to Heaven', one of the most celebrated and requested rock epics ever recorded. Meaning © Image: Atlantic Records Four symbols as appeared on the album Led Zeppelin IV, representing (l. to r.) Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Robert Plant. It has no endorsed appellation published anywhere on the album's frontispiece, but is normally called Led Zeppelin IV after the group's preceding three releases. Atlantic Records' catalogue libraries have used the titles Four Symbols () and The Fourth Album interchangeably; it has also been monikered as ZoSo, which the first sigil appears to signify, as well as Untitled. The album has also been referred to as Man with Sticks. Led Zeppelin guitarist Page commonly refers to the title in interviews as either Four Symbols or Led Zeppelin IV, while vocalist Robert Plant deems it as 'the fourth album, that's it'. It is one of the greatest selling albums in history, with over 23 million units shifted in the United States of America, currently third on the all-time sales list. The lack of any information on the sleeve of the album was also in response to the prevalent trend amongst music critics of the day to label successful bands as being 'hype'. The band wanted the music to solely speak for itself. All band members selected a personal insignia for the project: Jimmy Page's symbol is usually referred to as 'ZoSo,' though it is in fact meant to represent a non-alphabetic non-pronounceable sigil with a basis in alchemical hermeticism. It's true meaning has not been deciphered although it is similar to esoteric symbols representing the planet Saturn and the elemental symbol for fire. John Paul Jones' symbol is a solitary ring with overlapping triquetra. According to calligrapher Rudolf Koch, It signifies an individual with self-assurance and proficiency, and has links with the elements of water. John Bonham's symbol is a trio of intertwined rings of identical size. The three rings signify father, mother and child, and form an inverse of Jones' symbol. The selection of Jones' and Bonham's emblems emphasises the interlocked rhythm section of the band, whereby each shape compliments and balances each other. The symbol has links to the element of earth. Robert Plant's symbol is am ostrich quill representative of the Egyptian goddess Ma'at, enclosed by an unbroken ring. The quill is symbolic of balance, honesty, and justice and the ring eternity. For this particular album, vocalist Sandy Denny's symbol chose three touching triangles, which according to Koch represents the 'godhead'. The usage of the symbols appeared on stage equipment following the release of the album. Page's 'ZoSo' sigil was hand-painted onto the front of his Marshall amplifier stack, Bonham's bass drum featured his symbol, Jones' symbol was painted upon a white sheet fixed to the front of his keyboards and Plant PA cabinet featured his symbol. Page and Plant would later use their symbols for the Page-Plant series of tours, and Page's sigil appeared again during his tenure with the Black Crowes. Cover design The portrait on the album's frontispiece, presents an old man burdened by a sheaf of firewood. The painting is attached to the peeling wallpaper of a decaying house with skyscrapers rising in the background, was meant to carry the symbolism of an old simple way of life being replaced by the isolation of a new one. Reputedly purchased from a second-hand store in Reading, Berkshire by Plant, who wished to work it into the rustic appeal of Led Zeppelin III but found use for it on Led Zeppelin IV. Reaction In 1998, Q magazine subscribers voted Led Zeppelin IV the 26th greatest album of all time; in 2000 'Q' positioned it at number 26 in its register of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. It is listed at number 7 on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Albums of the 1970s. A 2005 audience survey conducted by Toronto, Ontario classic rock FM station Q107 christened Led Zeppelin IV the number 2 best classic rock album of all time. In 2006, the release was ranked number one on the Classic Rock magazine's '100 Greatest British Albums' poll; that same year it was voted number 1 in Guitar World 100 Greatest Albums readers' poll and was rated number 7 in ABC media's top ten albums. Reviews Reviewer Country Review Year Score Scott Floman (Goldmine) United States Rock and Soul Album Reviews 2002 A+ Accolades Publication Country Accolade Year Rank Mojo United Kingdom The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made 1996 24 Grammy Awards United States Grammy Hall of Fame Award 1999 * The Guitar United States Album of the Millennium 1999 2 Classic Rock United Kingdom 100 Greatest Rock Album Ever 2001 1 Q United Kingdom The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever 2004 * Robert Dimery United States 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005 * Q United Kingdom 100 Best Albums Ever 2006 21 Classic Rock United Kingdom 100 Greatest British Rock Album Ever 2006 1 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame United States The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time 2007 4 (*) designates unordered lists. Track list Album information Track listing: Side 1: 'Black Dog' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones) – 4:57 'Rock and Roll' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham) – 3:40 'The Battle of Evermore' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 5:52 'Stairway to Heaven' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 8:01 Side 2: 'Misty Mountain Hop' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones) – 4:38 'Four Sticks' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 4:46 'Going to California' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 3:31 'When the Levee Breaks' (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Memphis Minnie) – 7:07 Chart positions Album Chart (1971) Peak Position Japanese Albums Chart 2 Norwegian Albums Chart 3 UK Albums Chart 1 US Billboard The 200 Albums Chart 2 German Albums Chart 9 French Albums Chart 2 US Cash Box Top 100 Albums Chart 1 US Record World Top Pop Albums Chart 1 Chart (1972) Peak Position Canadian RPM Top 100 Albums Chart 1 Spanish Albums Chart 8 Australian Go-Set Top 20 Albums Chart 2 Singles Year Single Chart Position 1971 'Black Dog' US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart 15 1972 'Rock and Roll' US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart 47 Sales certifications Album Country Sales Certification Argentina (CAPIF) 60,000+ Platinum Brazil (ABDP) 50,000+ Gold Canada (CRIA) 2,000,000+ 2× Diamond Switzerland (IFPI) 50,000+ Platinum France (SNEP) 600,000+ 2× Platinum Spain (PROMUSICAE) 80,000+ Platinum Germany (IFPI) 300,000+ Platinum* United States (RIAA) 23,000,000+ 23× Multi-Platinum Netherlands (NVPI) 60,000+ Platinum* United Kingdom (BPI) 1,800,000+ 6× Platinum Australia (ARIA) 630,000+ 9× Platinum Note: (*) Remastered sales only Certification history Organization Level Date RIAA – USA Gold 16 November 1971 RIAA – USA Platinum 11 December 1990 RIAA – USA 10× Platinum 11 December 1990 RIAA – USA 11× Platinum 18 December 1992 RIAA – USA 16× Platinum 26 January 1996 RIAA – USA 17× Platinum 25 November 1997 RIAA – USA 21× Platinum 3 May 1999 RIAA – USA 22× Platinum 15 November 1999 RIAA – USA 23× Platinum 30 January 2006 Credits Personnel Musicians: Jimmy Page – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, producer, remastering, digital remastering Robert Plant – vocals, harmonica John Paul Jones – bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, mandolin, recorders John Bonham - drums, percussion Guests: Sandy Denny – vocals (on 'Battle of Evermore') Production: Peter Grant – executive producer Andy Johns - engineer, mixing George Chkiantz – mixing Richard Digby Smith - assistant engineer Graphreaks – design coordinator Barrington Colby MOM – inside illustration (The Hermit) Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s) George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990) References