It might seem funny to recommend one of the most popular bands of all time for a “Listen Again,” but of the 15 songs on this double album, only a handful have been in radio rotation for the past 50 years. Physical Graffiti was a huge hit for England’s Led Zeppelin upon its February 1975 release, reaching No. 1 and selling 16 million copies in the U.S. Rolling Stone included it in its Greatest Albums of All Time list, and it’s placed on similar lists by Pitchfork, Guitar World, and Mojo.
Possibly the most popular track on the record is “Kashmir.” Ironically, vocalist Robert Plant’s lyrics were inspired by a drive through Morocco; at the time, he’d never been to Kashmir, the disputed territory overseen by India, Pakistan, and China. Another stand-out is “Houses of the Holy,” which somehow was left off their previous album (uh, Houses of the Holy). It evokes the pull between dark and light, a notion that frequently appears in the band’s lyrics.
Though Zeppelin disbanded in 1980 after John Bonham’s death, their music has been a constant presence ever since.
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Comments
Still a vintage favorite Led Zeppelin album, for sure. Robert Plant definitely kept the exotic Moroccan influence in his subsequent solo work as well. ‘Heaven Knows’ from 1988’s Now and Zen album is a great example.