Led Zeppelin discography
English rock band, pioneers of album-oriented rock.
tony morelli · via Wikipedia: Led Zeppelin discography · CC BY-SA 2.0
Led Zeppelin, an English rock band from London formed in 1968, comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. Their recorded output includes nine studio albums, four live albums, ten compilations, nineteen singles, sixteen music videos, and nine digital downloads. Worldwide sales are estimated at over 300 million records, placing them among the best-selling musical acts ever. Billboard ranks them as the 40th Greatest Artist of All Time and the 11th Most Successful Artist on the Billboard 200 chart. They achieved seven number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and have sold 112.5 million certified albums in the United States, making them the fifth best-selling album artist in RIAA history.
The band championed album-oriented rock and often avoided releasing singles. Their debut, *Led Zeppelin* (1969) on Atlantic Records, reached number six in the UK and number ten on the US Billboard 200, earning an eight-times multi-platinum certification from the RIAA and a Diamond from Music Canada. The follow-up, *Led Zeppelin II*, recorded while touring, hit number one in the UK and US and was certified 12-times multi-platinum. Its single "Whole Lotta Love" became the band's highest-charting single, peaking in the top ten of several charts. *Led Zeppelin III* (1970) shifted toward a softer, folk-influenced sound and also topped charts in the UK and US.
Their untitled fourth album, often called *Led Zeppelin IV* (released 8 November 1971), is their most commercially successful. It received a 24-times multi-platinum certification from the RIAA—the fifth-highest for any album and fourth-highest excluding greatest-hits compilations. *Houses of the Holy* (1973) also topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic and earned an 11-times multi-platinum certification. In 1974, the band founded their own label, Swan Song Records, which released all subsequent studio albums. The first was the 1975 double album *Physical Graffiti*, certified 16-times platinum. *Presence* (1976) achieved triple platinum. On 20 October 1976, they released their first concert film, *The Song Remains the Same*, recorded over three nights at Madison Square Garden during their 1973 US tour. Their eighth studio album, *In Through the Out Door*, earned a sextuple platinum certification.
- Formed
- 1968
- Origin
- London, England
- Genre
- Rock
- Members
- Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham
- Albums
- 9 studio albums, 4 live albums, 10 compilation albums
- Best selling album
- Led Zeppelin IV (24× platinum in US)
- Riaa rank
- 5th best-selling album artist in RIAA history
Lore & Background
Led Zeppelin pioneered the concept of album-oriented rock and often refused to release popular songs as singles. Their debut album, Led Zeppelin (1969), released by Atlantic Records, charted at number six on the UK Albums Chart and at number ten on the United States Billboard 200. It received an eight-times multi-platinum certification from the RIAA and a Diamond from Music Canada. Their second album, Led Zeppelin II, reached number one in several countries and produced their highest-charting single, 'Whole Lotta Love'. Led Zeppelin III (1970) was a softer, more folk-based effort.
The band's untitled fourth album, often called Led Zeppelin IV and released on 8 November 1971, is their most commercially successful album, receiving a 24 times multi-platinum certification from RIAA. In 1974, the band set up their own vanity label, Swan Song Records. Their eighth studio album, In Through the Out Door, was the last released before Bonham died of alcohol poisoning in 1980; Led Zeppelin disbanded less than three months later. In 1982, they released their last studio album, Coda, containing outtakes.
Reader's Guide
Led Zeppelin's discography comprises nine studio albums, four live albums, ten compilation albums, and numerous singles and videos. Their impact on rock music is immense, with an estimated 300 million records sold worldwide. According to Billboard, they are the 40th Greatest Artist of All Time and the 11th Most Successful Artist on the Billboard 200 history. The band scored seven number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and sold 112.5 million certified albums in the United States, making them the 5th best-selling album artist in RIAA history. Their untitled fourth album remains one of the best-selling albums ever. After disbanding, the band released compilation and live albums, including How the West Was Won, which peaked at number one on the Billboard charts. 'Stairway to Heaven', never released as an official single, became available digitally. To celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2018, the band unveiled three new digital-only releases.
Did You Know?
- Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album received a 24 times multi-platinum certification from RIAA, the fifth-highest of all albums.
- Led Zeppelin disbanded less than three months after drummer John Bonham died of alcohol poisoning in 1980.
- Their highest-charting single was 'Whole Lotta Love' from Led Zeppelin II.
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