Retrospectives - Led Zeppelin IV: Critical Review

This is arguably one of the best Led Zeppelin albums and the remastering has made subtle but noticeable improvements when played on suitable audio equipment.If you already own one of the previous releases you would perhaps have to be a real fan to justify owning this edition as well, but I do think LZ are one of the most important bands ever in the evolution of music and are a personal favourite. As this is within my top 3 LZ albums it was a no-brainer purchase.The companion discs on these deluxe editions are interesting for a real fan and anyone with a keen interest in the band, as they do a great job of showing the evolution in the style of the band overall and individual tracks.I think this music was made for vinyl as it has a powerful, raw and authentic sound, with excellent sound staging and a few rough edges and distortions, all of which makes it sound like you have the band performing in your living room. It was recorded and mastered with care and passion for sure.This album contains no fillers at all and all tracks are superb, many being true classics known to almost everyone, whether fans or not.

After the blues rock of the first album, the concentration on rock of the second and the supposed folky feel, of the third, what were Led Zeppelin going to come up with for their fourth album in just over two years? A bit of everything, that’s what.TRACK LISTING1. Black Dog2. Rock 'n' Roll3. The Battle Of Evermore4. Stairway To Heaven5. Misty Mountain Hop6. Four Sticks7. Going To California8. When The Levee BreaksThe short but powerful “Black Dog” and the mighty, riffy “Rock n Roll”, with John Bonham’s iconic cymbal intro, are classic upbeat Led Zeppelin rock. However, “The Battle Of Evermore” is as mysterious and folky as anything on “III”, as indeed, is “Going To California” and then, of course, there is “Stairway To Heaven” where all styles meet in possibly the band’s most well-known song. The early acoustic verses take a while to reach the climax (over five minutes or so) when Jimmy Page’s guitar kicks in for real, and how. One of the best endings to a song ever.“Misty Mountain Hop” isn’t the folky tune its title may suggest, but a pounding drum and keyboards insistent rock shuffle. The monumental “When The Levee Breaks” is one of those classic, extended, thrilling blues numbers that wouldn’t have been out of place on “I” or “II”. “Four Sticks” has an almost funky drum intro and provides a flavour of the sort of material that would later appear on “Houses Of The Holy” and “Physical Grafitti”.Overall, there is as much “folky” material on here as there is on “III”, and in some cases they are more obviously so. Popular opinion would have it that the blend is fully realised here, however, (“every song has its correct place within the album” and so on). Personally, I prefer “III”.

I've recently got back into vinyl records, after buying my first turntable since I my early teens! I got Led Zeppelin' s "Houses Of The Holy" for Christmas, and, using the Amazon voucher I also got, I bought this!Containing some of my favourite Led Zeppelin songs, this is an absolute classic album, in every sense of the word! "Rock n Roll", "Stairway To Heaven", "Black Dog"....every song a masterpiece!I've got the "Remasters" and "How The West Was Won" albums on CD, but listening to this on vinyl is a completely different experience! This is how music was MEANT to be heard! It just sounds more 'alive'....and the crackle of the needle on the grooves? That just makes me happy.I can't stop listening to this album! In fact, I'm listening to it on my Kindle right now as I type this! I love the fact that Amazon give you a digital copy as well as the vinyl! Already ordered a couple more Led Zeppelin vinyl albums.....happy days!

Some bar steward nicked my copy of this classic album which not only has stairway to Heaven on it, but the absolute classic When the Levee breaks , which is mesmerisingly brilliant. Chuck in Black Dog and Rock and Roll and you have the Zep album to beat all Zep albums.( except Physical Graffiti and maybe LZ1)Anyone who thinks this is only a one star album must have breeze blocks where their ears should be.

This re-mastered Stairway to Heaven sounds fantastic - well done Robert Plant and is one of those albums that just doesn't age. I remembered the lyrics to it from hearing my brother's vinyl version (through the door) when I was ten. Just goes to show how powerfully the music and lyrics were imprinted on my mind. My new favourite album.

I'm not a big fan of remastering vinyl classics, but this one is well done to the point of being a little disappointing. I had hoped that the truly epic drumming on "When the Levee Breaks" would have had more of its huge dynamic range restored, having said that it still has the warmth that that the analogue recording had which is a real achievement.Like the other reviewers have pointed out this album is NOT "Stairway" with a load of filler tracks, all the other tracks are exceptional as well. Indeed the version of "Stairway" on this album is still for me the definitive version. The BBC sessions CD has an early version which shows the development of this classic well. Plant's harp playing on "Levee" is superb and is maybe a bit more audible in this remaster. This is Led Zeppelin at the very pinnacle of their powers. For so called Prog Rock this was about as good as it gets and is a timely reminder of just how tight an outfit they were.I saw them play many of these tracks live over the years, but as the booze,drugs and egos intruded more and more into the performances these songs lost their structure and turned into sprawling demonstrations of what ultimately was, for me, faltering musicianship. So if your recollection of these tracks is the hugely extended live versions and you like them that way (nothing wrong with that!), then this probably is not for you, but if you want to appreciate one of the greatest rock bands at the height of their powers then buy it! You won't be disappointed!