Led Zeppelin playlist
 

Okay, here's the deal. I am the owner of a Led Zeppelin boxed set, after expressing some interest in same as a gift idea. Seemed like a good fit -- I generally like and appreciate their music, but never enough to go out and buy it. So, the 4-disc boxed set made sense, as it didn't overlap with stuff I already owned. Fine.

So, here I sit- with 4 discs of Led Zeppelin. That's fine, but there probably aren't a ton of situations where I want to fire up 5 hours or so of any one band to listen to. What would be useful to me, though, would be a workable "playlist" that might include a few of the familiar radio clips that I already like, and a few more things that I'd be likely to enjoy as I become more familiar.


So - I'm looking to those who might know the band better than I do for some help. Can you give me some titles that would assemble well in this way? If you want to think of a particular order, that would be great, but probably more than I have a right to ask for. I'm just looking to burn a dozen songs (give or take) in some order that I could use for a more traditional hour-at-a-time intallment now and again.

Any help?


(p.s. - I'm unlikely to include Stairway to Heaven on my playlist, but probably want Kashmir and a couple other radio standards}

This thread would be fun if it were Dread Zepplin.

It would take some work to come up with a specific track list, but I'd encourage you to work in a few songs from Led Zeppelin 3. Immigrant Song was the only huge hit there, but many of the lesser known tracks (Friends, Celebration Day, Tangerine, That's The Way) are some of Zeppelin's absolute best work.

Also, how interested are you in getting a full glimpse of their career in this mix? Because if push comes to shove I would probably omit some albums entirely on a 12 track mix.

Hmmm, will have to give this some thought (we have the same boxed set), but one absolute "must have" in my opinion: When the Levee Breaks

dman you QS, I will have to listen Led Zep tonight :D

I actually am more familiar with DZ than LZ, I'm ashamed to admit. I've even seen DZ.

My interest is more for enjoyment than enrichment. No problem at all if you leave out some stylistic movement of theirs in the interest of giving just 12 songs that are enjoyable to listen to.

Depends on what you're looking for, some are more blues than others, some more rock...and of course some are quite long. My favorites from each disk:

Disk 1:
Whole Lotta Love (old standard)
What is and What Should Never Be
I Can't Quit You Baby
Dazed and Confused (ok, maybe long and slow for some)
Traveling Riverside Blues
Hey Hey What Can I Do

Disk 2:
Immigrant Song (even without the Viking Kittens...)
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (upbeat)
Gallows Pole (pretty upbeat too - tempo, not subject - know some that hate the song)
Custard Pie (like the riff)
Rock N' Roll (unless you are sick of it from the Caddy commercials)

Disk 3:
Kashmir
Trampled Underfoot (possibly my favorite Zep song)
When the Levee Breaks
Ten Years Gone
In My Time of Dying

Disk 4
In The Evening (good lead in)
The Ocean (another great riff)
Houses of the Holy
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Fool In The Rain
Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreux (instrumental)
All My Love (spent much time trying to get the solo down right on my keyboard - was actually able to do it at one point. Gratifying.)

You'll probably have to give everything a listen and find what you like, I think it really depends on what your taste is. There are songs that most like that I don't like nearly as much as others (Thank You)...and some that I like just because.

Still disappointed they didn't put 'Boogie with Stu' on here...

Cool.........

Probably my favorite LZ song.

:)

I really think Ramble On is some of their best work and worth including on a playlist.

I was in a used CD store the other night and found a CD of 5,000,000 to replace an old cassette.

you would OF loved it.

Going to California.

Rock and Roll (although it has been somewhat ruined by Cadillac).

Dyer Maker

Here's is a solid list of Zepp's best:

Over the Hills and Far Away
The Ocean
The Song Remains the Same
Black Dog
Rock & Roll
The Battle of Evermore
Stairway to Heaven
Misty Mountain Hop
Four Sticks
Going to California
When the Levee Breaks
Dancin' Days
D'yer Mak'er
Whole Lotta Love
Ramble On
Immigrant Song
Dazed and Confused
Good Times Bad Times
All My Love (a ballad, so don't include it if you want to rock)
Houses of the Holy
Kashmir

Led Zepplin is my favorite band. I generally like most of their songs, but if I were to be stranded on the proverbial island and could only take 12 songs with me they would be

Kasmir-needs no explanation
Since I've been loving you-powerful slow bluesy ballad shows off Plant's range
In my time of dying-great slide guitar on this one
Tangerine-For all their bombastic power, Zep was great "unplugged" and this captures it
That's the way-see above, though this is a much sadder song
How many more times-As a recorded piece, this best captures what their live sound, complete with 50's rockabilly and blues medly.
Song Remains the same-Not sure why, I just like it. The lyrics touch on the band's eclectic tastes
Bring it on home-raw edgy bluesy jam
Achille's last stand-Complete with Jimmy Page's wall of guitar sound.
Over the Hills and far away-My favorite song and a great example of LZ's soft-heavy stylings. Or as Jimmy Page put it- light and shade
Whole lotta love-let's face it, Robert Plant was quite the pervert in his day. And you need something on here that gets radio play.
Moby Dick-because Bonzo was the best
Rain Song-this is a sentimental inclusion as it was the first dance with my wife at our reception. I think folks thought we were crazy dancing to an 8 minute ballad from Led Zepplin.
All of My Love-another sentimental inclusion. Plant wrote this for his son who passed at a young age. It takes on new meaning to me now that I have a son of my own. And it gives you another radio song.

I believe all of these are on the four disc set, but I'm not sure as I haven't seen the list for that in years.

You are on that list now.

I love this one too, but I didn't see it on the track listing for the boxed set?

edit: South Bound Suarez would be another I like that is not in the set...

It may not have been. The box set got me hooked in the early 90's but I quickly got each album and I don't even know where my old box set cassettes are so I don't recall the list that much.

The best investment is to go to BMG and sign up for 11 CDs for the price of 1. You can get all of Zepp's remastered albums, including their live How The West Was Won, for about $60.00.

That's what I did a few weeks back to update my collection.

scooper, no "Black Dog" . It's my favorite.

Zep is funny - there are so many great songs. I don't think there's a band I can think of where there are so many potential "favorite" songs. For example, I know most people love Kashmir...it's not even in the top 10 (or 20) faves for me.

give me some time to think, I'll post mine...

here's a quick 15 going almost chronologically. Leaves off some HUGE songs though - Stairway, The Rain Song, Ramble On, When the Levee Breaks, Kashmir, The Ocean...and on and on and on.

1) Whole Lotta Love (II)
2) Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (I)
3) Heartbreaker (II)
4) Immigrant Song (III)
5) Gallows Pole (III)
6) Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (III)
7) Black Dog (IV)
8) Rock and Roll (IV)
9) Misty Mountain Hop (IV)
10) Over the Hills and Far Away (Houses)
11) In the Light (Physical)
12) Bron-Y-Aur (Physical)
13) Nobody's Fault But Mine (Presence)
14) In the Evening (ITTOD)
15) We're Gonna Groove (Coda)

second (or third, or whatever) Tangerine, Going to California, and Hey hey what can I do. I consider these the casual Zeppelin fan's songs as I really don't care for any of the louder, more famous and popular songs.

the beauty of Zep - you could easily make a CD (or 2) of the gentler stuff, or a CD (or 2) of the heavy stuff. Personally, I like both

I think all you need is:

Misty Mountain Hop
Four Sticks
Going to California
When the Levee Breaks

ref that!

Babe Im Gonna Leave You
What Is And What Should Never Be
I Cant Quit You Baby
Dazed And Confused
Ramble On
Black Mountain Side
Over The Hills And Far Away
Going To California
Dyer Maker
Misty Mountain Hop
Kashmir
No Quarter
Dancing Days
When The Levee Breaks
The Song Remains The Same
The Ocean
Houses Of The Holy

And if you like the blues side of Zeppelin then you should check out CD 1 of their Live BBC Sessions.

This reminds me of a little skit I saw on TV a few years back about some stoner telling paranormal stories:

My friend Jimmy was going down the mountain to get some more beer. He lost control of his van and fell down into a 1000 foot revene. They didn't find him for three days.

Guess what, dude? Stairway To Heaven was still playing on the tape deck!

Well, he just needs IV then.

No Stairway!

DING!

Tangerine has always been my fav of theirs.

Personally, I'f were talking one album it has to be III or Houses of The Holy for me.

Maybe not a ding. He just needs side 2 of Led Zepplin 4

He would never have to take the cassette out of his car player, either.

Does it realy matter?? any LZ song in any order you never go wrong. As the #1 LZ fan/expert and someone who has seem them live, every song is great.

At one time I was 15, straight A pencil neck geek than someone handed me my first beer and a LZ album...the rest is history.

I also would guess I am the only one here with the 4 LZ symbols tatooed on his back...LOL

If you must lesin to only 1 song try ... Nobody's Fault

ooooh, somebody is a wee too into a band

C'mon Fritz. We know about the portrait of the Go Go's tatooed on your left buttock.

dude, I has such a thing for Charlotte Caffey....

SPROING

I must be a few years younger than you. I've got the Bangles tattooed on my ass.

and tiffany's tattooed on my nutsack, but i don't like to talk about that

QS:

Led Zeppelins is my #2 favorite band of all time (behind RHCP). if you want the ultimate playlist, i'll give it to you. and i'll give it to you in a nice order so that it flows. here is goes:

1. Communication Breakdown
2. Hey Hey What Can I Do
3. Immigrant Song
4. Houses Of The Holy
5. Ramble On
6. Song Remains The Same
7. I Can't Quit You Baby
8. Lemon Song (my favorite LZ song)
9. No Quarter
10. Going To California
11. Tangerine (top 5 LZ song)
12. Good Times Bad Times
13. Traveling Riverside Blues (#2 favorite LZ song)

this is it. all you need. i left off the major stuff becuase you can hear those songs on any major classic rock station and didn't include that much from their later albums because vocally Robert Plant's voice wasn't as rocking as the earlier stuff after his accident. i might just burn this CD for my own personal enjoyment, i really like the flow this mix will have.

III is great, but Physical Graffiti, to me, is simply their best, produced in the middle of their careers, and more dynamic than anything they did before or since.

Bought the box set (and the other 2-disc set) when they came out and I would find it impossible to pick just 12 tunes. When I first bought the box set, I found myself listening to disc 2 more often than the others, but after a couple of months, I learned to appreciate the others just as much, if not more. Point being, listening to the discs as they are now would be my advice because they are pretty well put together in that they flow really well as is.

I'm not surprised no one's mentioned my favorite Led Zep song - "The Crunge". Robert Plant doing James Brown ought to be really, really awful, but it's not. I find it totally hilarious and unlike the rest of what I've heard from LZ (which I will confess doesn't stretch very far).

you like the Lemon song over Tangerine?

well yes (hence it being my #1 favorite song). but not that the list is done by priority. i did it by the flow. it just worked out that way. the best tip for making mix cd's is an obvious one -it is to spread out the gems, don't backload the gems or frontload them or else it becomes rather easy to skip over large parts of the cd. song placement is key, you just want to rock out with your cock out, you don't want to be sitting my the computer ready to skip over songs 2-6 because you're dying to hear song 7. just pop it in and let the rocking do the rest.

why not just make a smaller mix of nothing but gems?

well, that's what this is. but do diamonds not outshine emeralds?

One cannot compress a body of work to a 10 song playlist when the entire catalog is worthy of that top 10 spot. From the brain bashing simplistic beauty of 'Immigrant Song' to the haunting riffs of 'Achilles Last Stand,' each song has so much to offer that you can listen to them time and again and never "hear" the same song twice.

Bonzo is my favorite drummer of all time. You can stick your Pert's and Moon's up your ass. Nobody bashed the skins like Bonzo. He is the heart of Zeppelin and is why they couldn't go on without him. Concentrate on the drum tracks in each song and you will be amazed at what is going on.

With that said, a quick list:

The Rover
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Houses of the Holy
Night Flight
Walter's Walk
Immigrant Song
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Misty Mountain Hop
Hot Dog
Dancing Days

Well, thanks for the many responses. I gave a listen through the whole box set, keeping a particular eye on the songs that people have recommended here. And, I've come up with a pretty workable play list, I think:

Kashmir
In The Evening
Trampled Under Foot
When the Levee Breaks
In My Time Of Dying
Over The Hills And Far Away
Immigrant Song
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Houses Of The Holy
Tangerine
I Can't Quit You Baby
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Your Time Is Gonna Come
Ramble On


Thanks again for the thoughts. I'll let you know if I become a true convert.