The question of Led Zeppelin’s greatest album may never be answered. After all, the band’s towering catalogue is replete with gems – from that epic debut album through to they final work together. It’s a series of recordings that moves from primordial hard rock through to acid folk, via proto-metal, stadium largesse, and even reggae.
Robert Plant was integral to all of it, a pivotal vocalist who helped to enshrine the modern image of the rock frontman. During interviews, he’s often cited a number of works as being close to his heart, including Led Zeppelin’s song ‘Kashmir’.
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Speaking to Rolling Stone, the frontman mused on the collaborative nature of the work, and how it shows each member’s individual strengths. “It’s one of my favourites… that, ‘All My Love’ and ‘In the Light’ and two or three others really were the finest moments,” he reflected.
“‘Kashmir’ in particular. It was so positive, lyrically. It’s the quest, the travels and explorations that Page and I went on to far climes well off the beaten track… That, really to me is the Zeppelin feel.”
With the swirling strings, crunching guitars, and four-dimensional drumming of John Bonham, ‘Kashmir’ could well be the definitive Led Zeppelin song. But the definitive album…?
Robert Plant knows which one he’d choose: “’Physical Graffiti’, strong stuff. And it sounded good, too. It sounded very tough, but it was also restrained, exhibiting a certain amount of control as well.”
Re-visit ‘Physical Graffiti’ below.
