UAWIL #218: Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti Part 1

The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast

1975, Led Zeppelin were at the height of their rock god power. They'd made 5 albums that sold off the charts, especially in the US where they enjoyed the fruits of their labors on the Sunset Strip. They were a top touring act that could fill arenas and stadiums with four of the best individual musicians in any band. They founded Swan Song Records to not only handle their own records but even signed acts like Bad Company and Detective to the label. So after some time off they headed back to Headley Grange where they'd recorded for Led Zeppelin III & IV in early 1974 to lay down some tracks.

The results were among the heaviest, funkiest, longest, most epic and groovy songs in the Zeppelin catalog. But because they made more than 1 LP's worth of material, they decided to dust off a few tunes from previous sessions, rework them and fit them all into what would be Zeppelin's only double album, Physical Graffiti. The first album to ship platinum in the US, it would eventually go 16x platinum (but only 2x platinum in the UK). Hitting #1 on both sides of the Atlantic, it's too epic for just one episode. So we've divided into LP/CD one on this episode and UAWIL 219 will go in depth on LP/CD 2.

The first disc of Physical Graffiti is an extraordinary album on its own. From the riff & groove of Custard Pie, maybe the best opening track on an LZ album, to the epic and otherworldly Kashmir the boys flex and stretch like they hadn't before. Jimmy Page is at his best laying down killer slide on In My Time Of Dying, riffing out on The Rover and leading the boys in jams on Trampled Under Foot. John Paul Jones is killer on the bass and the clavinet which give different textures to the tunes. John Bonham is at his thunderous best while his mate Robert Plant still had the range and emotion that made him a legend.

Going track x track and watching some old Zeppelin footage from Earls Court 1975 and Knebworth 1979 reminds us that we missed one of the greatest bands to walk the Earth and they should be celebrated. Part 2 will be episode 218 out soon!

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