Led Zeppelin released their sixth album, Physical Graffiti, on February 24, 1975. The double album showcased the band’s full range of capabilities and ambitions over 15 tracks. Physical Graffiti includes straightforward rockers like “The Rover” and “The Wanton Song.” These songs feature Jimmy Page’s crunchy guitar grooves and John Bonham’s pummeling beats.
The album also has songs with suggestive lyrics, such as “Custard Pie” and “Trampled Under Foot.” Robert Plant’s vocals turn blues tropes into something uniquely Zeppelin. “In My Time of Dying” is the band’s finest blues interpretation on the album. The 11-minute song builds tension before exploding into a heavy blues-rock crescendo.
“Houses of the Holy” and “Down by the Seaside” reveal Page and Plant’s knack for classic pop hooks and structures. These tracks were left off previous albums but found a home on Physical Graffiti.
Physical Graffiti’s enduring legacy
The centerpiece of the album is “Kashmir.” Page’s droning riff and the lush orchestration make the song swirling and mysterious. It represents the mystical aura and power that are staples of Led Zeppelin’s mythology. Physical Graffiti was a critical and commercial hit.
It spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was the first to go Platinum from preorders alone and has since been certified 16-times Platinum in the U.S.
Notable songs include “Houses of the Holy,” which was left off the previous album of the same name, and “Kashmir,” known for its classic opening riff. “Kashmir” went on to become a staple at Led Zeppelin live shows.
Physical Graffiti remains a testament to Led Zeppelin’s greatness 50 years later. Each of its 15 songs contributes to the album’s legacy as a landmark double album and the band’s magnum opus.