|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Get $1 in Amazon MP3 credit with qualifying purchase. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
This 1975 release came smack in the middle of a long and nearly mythic career. Physical Graffiti is the last great Led Zeppelin title, recorded before the influences of the day (synthesizers, disco) ended Zeppelin's reign as the kings of loud and sexy blues-metal. Playfully experimenting with new sounds, the band blended Middle Eastern rhythms, folk-stylings, heavy blues, and deeply impassioned rock riffs into a two-disc set that sounded as if they were still enjoying their place in the rock pantheon. As sprawling and adventurous as this collection is, there are some tracks so tightly focused--so ultra-Zeppelinesque--that it's tempting to name this as a number one or number two must-have. "Trampled Underfoot" and "Custard Pie" alone are almost worth the double-disc price tag. --Lorry Fleming
Product Description
UK remastered reissue of 1975 album, packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve with original die-cut artwork. 15 tracks. Warner. 2003.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
112 of 120 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Containing some of Zeppelin's very best tracks, "Physical Graffiti" is definitely worth the price of two discs. Like most double albums, it can get a little excessive... but if you've purchased their first 4 albums and still can't get enough, this is a must have! "Kashmir" is essential by itself and possibly the best song the group ever recorded... a majestic epic that fuses rock, blues, and middle eastern influnces... all the things Zep is known to do best! Then there's the blistering "Trampled Under Foot" which has one of Page's best riffs of all time and a funky clavinet played by the multi-talented John Paul Jones. Plant is in top form on the spiritual catharsis of "In My Time of Dying" with John Bonham providing the raw energy all the way through.
Disc one is more consistent, but disc two offers a wide variety of gems such as the building ballad "Ten Years Gone" which offers some of Robert's best lyrics to date, the fun old-timey feel of "Boogie With Stu", the countrified acoustic track "Black Country Woman", and the wild "Wanton Song". Many of these tracks have the feel of b-sides (which is essentially what they were) and makes them even more fun to listen to.
One of the few double LPs to truly be worth purchasing (along with the Beatles White Album, Stevie Wonder's Songs In the Key of Life, George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, and Pink Floyd's The Wall), Physical Graffiti is the high water mark of Led Zeppelin's career.
192 of 217 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you can understand sheet music and are attempting to master any instrument (from a cello to a tuba) you might want to take a look at the scripts for this album. You'll be devistated! Also, if you are interested in making an album and happen to own a studio, you might find a listen to Physical Graffiti to provide a very instructive statement the limits of how complex mixing and multi-tracking get.
Sure, a few tracks on the ablum: Custard Pie and Trampled Under Foot, are probably the best embodiment of the blues-rock Zep-sound that most people are familiar with, but after those tracks, the album turns into a zen statment on overindulgence. Normally, I might agree that musical overkill is a bad thing, but there's a right time and place for everything; and within the framework of this album, overkill becomes baroque. I argue that only Zep could pull this off.
Beginning with Kashmir, the album lays track upon track until many songs (ie: In the Light, Ten Years Gone) are orchestrated with somtimes 7 or 8 different guitar tracks and 3 or 4 different bass tracks. Bach himself might be proud of such hefty orchestration. Throw in JPJ's keyboards, along with several exotic instruments such as mellotrons and vibrophones, and you've got yourself a saturated hard-rock symphony. Many of the songs, such as Kashmir, In The Light, and Ten Years Gone, are very cerebral, creating a soothing Indian Raga-like effect, while others sustain a hectic Occidental pace (ie: Rover, Night Flight) but are never abrasive to the ear.
I feel that the overall album gets a bum rap sometimes, because many people would prefer to hear the more concise and abbreviated sound associated with the pentatonic riffs of earlier Led-days (ie: Whole Lotta' Love, Heartbreaker). They complain that this album is overindulgent, solos are extended too long, etc.. But they never really explain why this makes the album less worthy than say, the Runes Album. I think that the intent of the album was to push the manifold of hard-rock overindulgence and the result is the raga-like, baroque musical symphony from the '70s that is Physical Grafitti.
I would not hesitate to say that this is the best album from the 70's hard-rock genre; if not the best rock and roll album of all time.
Sure, a few tracks on the ablum: Custard Pie and Trampled Under Foot, are probably the best embodiment of the blues-rock Zep-sound that most people are familiar with, but after those tracks, the album turns into a zen statment on overindulgence. Normally, I might agree that musical overkill is a bad thing, but there's a right time and place for everything; and within the framework of this album, overkill becomes baroque. I argue that only Zep could pull this off.
Beginning with Kashmir, the album lays track upon track until many songs (ie: In the Light, Ten Years Gone) are orchestrated with somtimes 7 or 8 different guitar tracks and 3 or 4 different bass tracks. Bach himself might be proud of such hefty orchestration. Throw in JPJ's keyboards, along with several exotic instruments such as mellotrons and vibrophones, and you've got yourself a saturated hard-rock symphony. Many of the songs, such as Kashmir, In The Light, and Ten Years Gone, are very cerebral, creating a soothing Indian Raga-like effect, while others sustain a hectic Occidental pace (ie: Rover, Night Flight) but are never abrasive to the ear.
I feel that the overall album gets a bum rap sometimes, because many people would prefer to hear the more concise and abbreviated sound associated with the pentatonic riffs of earlier Led-days (ie: Whole Lotta' Love, Heartbreaker). They complain that this album is overindulgent, solos are extended too long, etc.. But they never really explain why this makes the album less worthy than say, the Runes Album. I think that the intent of the album was to push the manifold of hard-rock overindulgence and the result is the raga-like, baroque musical symphony from the '70s that is Physical Grafitti.
I would not hesitate to say that this is the best album from the 70's hard-rock genre; if not the best rock and roll album of all time.
68 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Wow. As Zeppelin's most ambitious statement, and their first and only double album, Physical Graffiti would hypothetically be a contender for greatest rock album of all time it it weren't for Zoso (Not that I'm complaining or anything! :-))
Custard Pie is blues on speed, while being squashed under the skillful wah-wah pedal of Jimmy Page.
The Rover simply rocks. It combines headbanging with flair in a musical statement that is hard to overestimate.
In My Time of Dying contains some of the best spitfire-blues slide guitar you'll ever hear.
Houses of The Holy is a great, catchy pop-rock song that just makes you wanna get up and get your schwerve on.
Trampled Under Foot is pure, 100%, unfiltered headbanging enjoyment.
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant both agree that "Kashmir" was their greatest work. I say they're just being humble about "Stairway to Heaven", but Kashmir is a close second. (Man, Puffy really pissed me off when he did "Come With Me"! Ruined a great song! (Yeah I know Jimmy helped him, but I think Jimmy was just trying to expose a new generation of listeners to Zeppelin, which is honorable))
In The Light has two distinct moods: A peaceful, glorious side, and a dark, foreboding, heavy metal side. These two moods throw you back and forth until you're dizzy, which is a good thing.
Bron-Y-Aur is an acoustic track kinda hidden amidst greatness, but it's actually Jimmy Page's best perfomance on this album! As a guitarist, trust me. This is NOT an easy song to play! Very pretty, too.
Down By The Seaside is a really peaceful little song, with really cretive use of a tremolo effect on Page's guitar. Gets you in the mood for the next two songs.
Ten Years Gone is the middle track of PG's "mellow part", and really lets the listener appreciate Zeppelin's flair and subtleties.
Night Flight is a great ballad that, while overall pretty subdued, starts to rock up the album a little again, as to get you ready for....
The Wanton Song! Headbanging conviently wrapped in a sleek, 4:06 package for your enjoyment!
You'll find Boogie With Stu kinda silly the first couple times you hear it, but the more you listen to it, the more you're gonna wanna get up and, well, boogie!
Black Country Woman is some great acoustic blues that really convey the blues to the listener.
And finally, Sick Again is a great romping, rockin' closer that, along with the overall effect of the album, will leave you breathless.
So BUY THIS ALBUM, for god sakes!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Epic to End All Epics
Here it is, ladies and gentlemen: the ultimate Led Zeppelin album.
Led Zeppelin II (1969) may have been more influential and Led Zeppelin IV (1971) may be more iconic... Read more
Led Zeppelin II (1969) may have been more influential and Led Zeppelin IV (1971) may be more iconic... Read more
Published 29 days ago by JLR
LZ GET PHYSICAL
ONE OF LZ'S BEST ALBUMS, EVERY TRACK IS GREAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AWESOME SHM AUDIO FORMAT. MUST HAVE FOR ANY CD COLLECTION, BUT DON'T PAY THESE RIDICULOUS OVER-INFLATED RIP OFF... Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. Georgopoulos
MANY GREAT SONGS!!!!
PHYSICAL GRAFFITI got many great songs like THE ROVER, IN MY TIME OF DYING, CUSTARD PIE, TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT and the monster hit KASHMIR... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rio Fluzão
The Best Album Ever By The Best Band Ever Period!
custard pie-a great fun rock song.
the rover-menacing melodic rock
in my time of dying-great blues riffs
houses of the holy-another fun rock song with swing! Read more
the rover-menacing melodic rock
in my time of dying-great blues riffs
houses of the holy-another fun rock song with swing! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Cyndie
SWEET!!
I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend. He loves it!!! I love it!!! It was in great condition!! Would recommend to anyone who collects records or any Zeppelin fan!! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mandible85
The Archetype for The Eclectic Hard Rock Album
While it seems that Led Zeppelin IV (aka "ZOSO") and Led Zeppelin II are both lauded as the band's most exemplary work (with "Stairway To Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love" being the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Gordon
Classic Zepp
My first Led Zepp album. I had friends that had their earlier stuff, but when this came out in 75 I saved up the pennies to get it. To sum this up it is pure classic Zeppelin. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sly Stone99
In need of some restraint
Led Zeppelin / Physical Graffiti: This double LP (CD) is good. With a little restraint, this could have been a great single album. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Bynum
Awesome transaction!!!
Description of product was right on target. Fast delivery, great person to deal with. I ordered this c.d. right before christmas for a present and it was shipped right away. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Londa
**** 1/2 Two for the show.
"Physical Graffiti" #1 (1975).
Led Zeppelin's 6th studio album "Physical Graffiti", is a double album of wild experimentation. Read more
Led Zeppelin's 6th studio album "Physical Graffiti", is a double album of wild experimentation. Read more
Published 4 months ago by ScottE
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
SoundUnwound - the personal music encyclopedia
Led Zeppelin's album Physical Graffiti was produced by Jimmy Page.
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Jason Bonhamhave been a member of Led Zeppelin.
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Jason Bonhamhave been a member of Led Zeppelin.
Passionate about music?
Learn more at SoundUnwound, the personal music encyclopedia, or challenge your friends with our Rock music quiz.
You might be interested in PeterWingert's library
With 15 releases, PeterWingert is a fan of Led Zeppelin
Their library contains 525 releases from artists including The Who and The Rolling Stones
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Music > Classic Rock
- Music > Hard Rock & Metal
- Music > Pop
- Music > Rock
