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Why did Houses, Graffiti, and Out Door take so long to be released?


RoundingRover

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As I understand it, nowadays a 2 year release cycle between albums is pretty much the norm, but in the '70s, two years between albums was considered essentially forever. At a time where you had The Rolling Stones, Zep's main rivals, releasing albums each year from 1968-1974, Zep's turn around period begins to slow starting with Houses of the Holy.

Where the Stones released Sticky Fingers in '71, then Exile in '72, in 1972 we got no new Zep, and Holy didn't come out until early '73.

Where the Stones released IGoat's Head Soup in '73, t's Only Rock N' Roll in '74, it took until early '75 to get Graffiti

Where the Stones released Black and Blue in '76 and Some Girls in '78, it took Zep three years from Presence to produce Out Door.

Why the long turn around period post IV? The only exception being Presence.

I'm not looking for a "Zep vs. Stones" thing in this thread, merely comparing the release cycles of the two biggest rock bands of the '70s and wondering why Zep wasn't as prolific in the mid-late 70s?

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Zep went from nobody's to some of the most famous musicians from 69-73, that's a lot of work! They just needed a break from it all, which messed up their momentum. In 75 they began a tour and released PG then Presence in 76 (Plant had been in a bad car wreck causing the band to wait to perform) but then they toured again in 77 but then Plant's son died in July 77 and that likely accounted for why ITTOD wasn't created and released a year or two earlier.

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I don't think it was intentional. Houses was recorded in 72 but the release was delayed due to problems with the artwork. Initial sessions in 73 for PG were put on hold when JPJ decided he wanted to leave and reconvened in 74 when he decided to stay. 76 was spent recuperating after Roberts accident, 77 Robert's son died. ITTOD was recorded in 78 but again there were delays which pushed back the release till late august 79.

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Yes, I think there was artwork issues with all 3 of those albums which did delay release dates by months. Not sure if that was what you were asking but it contributed. That and touring/personal issues.

Edited by Mullard
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