1968

a lot of blues rip-offs but an absolutely smashing debut album

Robert was only 19 when this was recorded and released

my fav track: "Good Times, Bad Times"

1969

Starting to come into their own, still heavily blues-influenced. Some of Jimmy's most infamous guitar work and Bonzo's legendary drum solo on "Moby Dick"

Fav track: "Ramble On", "Moby Dick"

1970

My favorite album. the bnd got a lot of flack at the time for this being too acoustic and not a true "rock n roll album" but people choose to conveniently forget about "Immigrant Song", "out on the tiles", and Celebration Day" AND there's acoustic stuff on I & II. Anyway I find this to be their most tender album while still being thoroughly badass.

fav tracks: "Since I've Been Loving You", "That's the Way" 

1971 (Thats right! 4 classic albums in 4 years)

This is their most popular album and came out right as they were reaching superstardom. It's timeless and belongs in any rock lover's collection. 

Fun facts: this album features Sandy Denny, the only guest singer to appear on any LZ album. Also, "When the levee breaks" was recorded in a stairwell at Headly Grange (old house in the English countryside) which gave track its legendary drum sound which is so distict the band never performed it live becuase they could never replicate the recording satisfactorily.

Fav track: "when the levee breaks"

1973

This was the first LZ album I listened to back-to-front around age 12. I fell in love with the whimsical world the album created. Over the Hills and Far Away was a particular favorite. 

Fun fact: The same design company that did Dark Side of the Moon, Hypgnosis, designed this cover (and others).

Fav track: "The Ocean" (note Bonzo's count-off on this. Apparently he was prone to rhyming)

1975

To many, this double LP is the band's magnum opus. I tend to agree in terms of sheer range and dramatacism. To me, Physical graffiti falls in line with Tommy and Bohemian Rhapsody. A lot of this material didn't make it on to previous records. 

Fav tracks: "10 Years Gone", "Boogie with Stu" (feat. Ian Stuart, the Rolling Stones' old pianist)

1977

Ah... Presence...not my favorite but still really solid. This was Jimmy's baby and was recorded after the death of Robert's son. I feel this album is a bit more mature and has some darker themes. The band had lost their youthful abandon at this point. 

Fav track: "Tea for One"

1979

This one was kind of a jonesy take over production-wise bc Jimmy was off trying to kick a heroin habit (alas, the ol' rockstar krytonite). Bonzo died the following year during tour rehearsals and that was end of Zeppelin. Tragic, but I feel the band would have sputtered out in the 80s if this album is any indication...They seemed to be heading in an unfortunately synth-y/hair metal direction. I hate to admit it but I find I skip songs off these albums when i shuffle their discog.

Fav Track: "in the Evening"