How big were/are Led Zeppelin?

[Jiri]

Being more 'well known' is not the same argument as being bigger/more popular.

Yes, yes, yes. IT IS! That was my point. You just didn´t get it.

And, yes, I wasn´t aware of LZ havin a #1 in Germany. As much as I am not aware of who is the #1 right now. Get my drift...

Edited June 20, 2008 by Jiri

[euro]

Just to Stir the pot a litte more, I will rate Floyd,Queen and Zeppelin,interspersed with some other bands in terms of popuarity by country

USA and Canada

1)Zeppelin by miles

2 Floyd

3)Queen( a distant,distant third

Australia

1)Led Zeppelin

2)Queen

3)Pink Floyd

This is very debatable. I wonder where AC/DC ranks on this list?

New Zealand

1)Pink Floyd

2)Queen

3)Led Zeppelin

2 and 3 may be debatable

UK

1)Queen by miles

2)Pink Floyd

3) Zeppelin

Germany(Austrian market too?)

1)Queen

2)Pink Floyd

3)Deep Purple

4)Led Zeppelin

Italy, France, Greece

1) Pink Floyd by miles

2)Led Zeppelin

3)Queen

Latin America

1)Queen

2)Led Zeppelin

3)Pink Floyd

Japan

1)Queen

2)Led Zeppelin

3)Pink Floyd

Finland/Noway/Sweden/Holland

1)Pink Floyd

2)Queen

3)Led Zeppelin

Between countries Floyd and Queen may exchange 1 and 2

Looking forward to any input from people with respect to country they live in?

Edited June 20, 2008 by euro

[dragster]

I know this sounds sort of provoking. Especially to American fans. But let me tell you that Led Zeppelin have had a much smaller fan base in continental Europe than in the US.

Many of my American friends were surprised that Led Zeppelin is not a general memory of the 70ies but (has become) some sort of "music for specialists" in Europe. People here maybe know STH but "Dust in the Wind" or "Paranoid" or "Alright Now" are much more popular. On the other hand from what I´ve heard Deep Purple were nothing compared to the fame and glory of the Zep in the US.

Of course everybody knew LZ in Europe the 70ies. Immigrant Song, WLL and of course STH were (sort of) hits, but bands like Deep Purple or even Uriah Heep were more popular because of their more simple and radio-friendly-approach.

A friend of mine (b. 1957) told me that LZ were only for the people who were also into Yes or Zappa.

Another reason might be that continental Europe (to this day) never had important (Classic-) Rock stations or AOR stations like in the US. So LZ have been "gone" for quite a while. It was the music of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam who got younger people into Zep.

What do you think?

What was/is your perception?

How was/is the situation in the UK?

And how big are LZ in Eastern Europe (always special)?

I was in Australia in the 70s and (some other mates here might confirm this too ) Zep was PRETTY HUGE indeed!!! The Zep buzz wnet on right thru all the 70s and beyond.

Rob

[Jiri]

What made Queen so popular in the 80ies was their clever use of the new medium video. Over here everybody (even kids) knows the videos to "Radio Gaga", "Bohemian Rhapsody" or their (pseudo-)live footage. They had several #1-hits in the 80ies and released X-Mas singles

LZ made themselves quite special by not appearing on TV too much or releasing extensive film footage.

Pink Floyd made their way into the 80ies with their enormous success of "Another Brick In The Wall". After that it was their sheer bombast of their rare live performances, I think.

I don´t know what would have happened if LZ had decided to move on...IMHO it was better for their legacy to split up. They didn´t turn into a lame sellout as many other once very good bands...

[040879]

UK

1)Queen by miles

2)Pink Floyd

3) Zeppelin

Euro-really? 'By miles' are you sure? I saw Queen twice in the 1970's and they were just another rock band that you could see if you wanted to. No real sense of significance about their shows.No real sense of occasion or of being at an'event'other than a show by a good band. Zeppelin,on the other hand...the announcement of the Knebworth show[and then the second show,announced just after] was and still is probably the single biggest concert announcement I can recall.Until the O2 show, that is.

As has been pointed out here, Queen embraced video technology very early on .They also released and assiduously promoted singles from every album, which boosted their profile and kept them in the public eye in a very professional way. I tend to think of Queen as a very good, hard-working pop group. Their profile and image was almost as big than Zep's by 1979 and these increased on through the 80's

But...by 1979 they'd done nothing to compare with the Knebworth shows and their album sales excluding best of/big hits/greatest etc were small in comparison with Zep at that point. The single most significant thing that happened to Queen was that Zep withdrew in 1980,at which point Queen's career takes off and they approach ,but only approach[not actually arrive at,let alone surpass] Zep's popularity here[England]

[ZepFloyd]

For starters, I live in the midwest United States.

Here, they may play Zeppelin on the radio a few times, but its the same old songs (Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker/Living Loving Maid and Stairway to Heaven). What a shame! There is one station I've found that still plays whole albums on a certain night of the week, and Zeppelin's been on it a few times, but other than that, NOTHING.

I'm 23, and none of my friends are into them... they recongize that they are "good", but they will never be the ones to pop them into the stereo... its always me. They're more into modern stuff like Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, etc. (which I think are good too). Its not that they have bad taste in music, its just that I don't think they've really look into the roots of the music that all their favorite bands are playing

Most people I know in the U.S. just know Zeppelin for that one song (yes, Stairway to Heaven, which in my opinion isn't even among their top 25 songs). This is a crying shame.

I got into the Zeppelin when I was about 12 - my mother, yes, my mother, bought the BBC Sessions album, and the first time I heard it played, I stole it from her. I don't even know why she got it, she has never expressed particular interest in Zeppelin or that type of music.. its as if some higher power made her buy it just to introduce me to them. Needless to say, I blew out plenty of sets of speakers with it. Then I got every studio album (one way or another). Then I got the official DVD - the Royal Albert Hall performance on it inspired me to get into more live Zeppelin. Just within the last year I found out about the vasts amounts of bootlegs available, and now, I must have about 50 or so live performances.

For me, Zeppelin shapes my life, but as for the general populus, I don't think they really know Led Zeppelin, and only know them for "that one song".

a lot like my situation as well..i'm from the midwest as well...a lot of zeppelin on the oldies stations but the same songs...in the same age range, being 22, floyd and zeppelin being my fav bands...my friends really arent into them.

[Black_Dog_90]

They were/are pretty popular here in Bosnia And Herzegovina. Along with The Beatles, I think Led Zeppelin is the most popular foreign band in here.

[euro]

UK

1)Queen by miles

2)Pink Floyd

3) Zeppelin

Euro-really? 'By miles' are you sure? I saw Queen twice in the 1970's and they were just another rock band that you could see if you wanted to. No real sense of significance about their shows.No real sense of occasion or of being at an'event'other than a show by a good band. Zeppelin,on the other hand...the announcement of the Knebworth show[and then the second show,announced just after] was and still is probably the single biggest concert announcement I can recall.Until the O2 show, that is.

As has been pointed out here, Queen embraced video technology very early on .They also released and assiduously promoted singles from every album, which boosted their profile and kept them in the public eye in a very professional way. I tend to think of Queen as a very good, hard-working pop

group. Their profile and image was almost as big than Zep's by 1979 and these increased on through the 80's

But...by 1979 they'd done nothing to compare with the Knebworth shows and their album sales excluding best of/big hits/greatest etc were small in comparison with Zep at that point. The single most significant thing that happened to Queen was that Zep withdrew in 1980,at which point Queen's career takes off and they approach ,but only approach[not actually arrive at,let alone surpass] Zep's popularity here[England]

I am using album sales as a measure and I understand that over 50% of those sales are greatest Hits packages but that is the UK market for you. The gap is too big to ignore

"We will rock You" also helped Queen alot too in the UK. It really helps when people are trying to sell you a cd while your watching a stage performance.

Edited June 21, 2008 by euro

[Layali]

Italy, France, Greece

1) Pink Floyd by miles

2)Led Zeppelin

3)Queen

If that is correct (which I don't doubt) it would nevertheless look a bit strange for France alone.

Pink Floyd has always been the most popular by far until the 90's when Queen really swarmed radios. From those three, Queen is probably still the band which is the more often broadcasted on radios. Led Zeppelin is more less on air and almost always with Strairway to Heaven, still considered too long by some radios. A huge majority of people have known the Kashmir riff from the Godzilla soundtrack only.

Concerning sales there is a chart of the top selling artists in France (estimated) between 1995 and 2006 here. (Pink Floyd is #20, Queen is #47 and Led Zep #142)

Thanks to all of you for sharing your stats by the way

Edited June 23, 2008 by Layali

[euro]

If that is correct (which I don't doubt) it would nevertheless look a bit strange for France alone.

Pink Floyd has always been the most popular by far until the 90's when Queen really swarmed radios. From those three, Queen is probably still the band which is the more often broadcasted on radios. Led Zeppelin is more less on air and almost always with Strairway to Heaven, still considered too long by some radios. A huge majority of people have known the Kashmir riff from the Godzilla soundtrack only.

Concerning sales there is a chart of the top selling artists in France (estimated) between 1995 and 2006 here. (Pink Floyd is #20, Queen is #47 and Led Zep #142)

Thanks to all of you for sharing your stats by the way

Thankyou for sharing your input and perspective. The only thing I would add that from what i recall Zeppelin back-catalog is stronger than the numbers would suggest. Zep I 11 and IV are always chart on catalog seller charts( I think they are called mid-price charts in France if memory serves me correctly)

Edited June 24, 2008 by euro

[Dharmabum]

Another perspective...with regard to the bands being discussed...

I was 8 in 1980 so I can only speak from the aftermath but, Led Zeppelin had an awe about them that most bands didn't by the time I got around to paying attention. Queen was huge in NY/USA for We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions. I also remember going to the Flash Gordon movie and getting into Queen for the first time. Later, Mike Myers did wonders for Bohemian Rapsody in the Wayne's World movie. Other than that, I don't think Queen is too well known. Pink Floyd, on the other hand, had always been a favorite. Particulary, Dark Side and The Wall. In fact, I remember when big sisters and brothers (of friends) were out buying the latter album for the first time. I was a newbie. In any event, the Zeppelin mystique was real...it even frightened me at that young age. Years later, during junior high, my buddies and I got some beer and were drinking at the school when two older...burn outs...appeared and indicated their love for Zep and Floyd. In a sense, they epitomized the sentiments of an American generation. We had a grand time until I stumbled home and pissed on my parent's couch...live and learn.

[Suz]

I remember being afraid of a picture of Robert Plant that a local radio station used. He was at the top of a collage of rock stars, and he looked like Marty Feldman. It looked like he had one eye lookin' this way, and the other eye lookin' that way Yikes. The sideburns didn't do it for me either, but I was just a little kid. Man, the bands looked weird back then when you think about it. They still play the hell out of Zeppelin here, but alas it is not as many songs as they used to. I don't even know if they still play whole sides of albums anymore, but they used to do that with LZ a lot in the 80's, and I think the 90's, too.

One thing I'll never understand is why The Rain Song wasn't a bigger hit. Was it overseas?

[Dzldoc]

Back in 77 when I saw Zeppelin it was as close to Zepmania as you could get.

People myself included stood in line in the freezing rain just to get tickets for a show in march which was postponed til may. People were bending yes bending steel barachades and trampoling each other to get to the box office.

After you purchased you're tickets you actually had to climb on top the box office to get outta there and jump 10-12 feet to the ground it was madness.

But worth every minute of it.

Let it be noted that New Orleans was Zeppelins Hideaway away from home.

Long Live The Hammer Of The Gods!

[Zepaholic]

Well, they've been big in my house for 30 years and gosh darnit, they will remain big here. That's really where my interest lies...kinda selfish that way i suppose.

[amberkerri]

Here in the UK we knew Zep were more massive in the US.They were still well supported,though looked upon as a bit'underground'To some they waned nearing the end of the 70s,but 400,000 people made the pilgrimage to worship them at the Knebworth shows, Me included

[the-ocean87]

This is the 'UK Top Selling Album Artists' list (to end of 2006)

30.Led Zeppelin - 8.510m

Led Zeppelin & ABBA hold the record for consecutive no.1 albums in the UK with 8.

That can't be true....

Check out the US Sales

Artist Certified Units in Millions

BEATLES, THE 170

BROOKS, GARTH 128

PRESLEY, ELVIS 118.5

LED ZEPPELIN 111.5

EAGLES 100

JOEL, BILLY 79.5

PINK FLOYD 74.5

STREISAND, BARBRA 71

JOHN, ELTON 69.5

AC/DC 69

STRAIT, GEORGE 67.5

AEROSMITH 66.5

ROLLING STONES, THE 66

SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 63.5

MADONNA 63.5

CAREY, MARIAH 61.5

JACKSON, MICHAEL 60.5

METALLICA 57

VAN HALEN 56.5

HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54

ROGERS, KENNY 51

U2 50.5

DION, CELINE 50

FLEETWOOD MAC 48.5

DIAMOND, NEIL 48.5

KENNY G 48

TWAIN, SHANIA 48

JOURNEY 46

ALABAMA 46

SANTANA 43

CLAPTON, ERIC 42.5

JACKSON, ALAN 42

SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 41

MC ENTIRE, REBA 40.5

GUNS 'N ROSES 39.5

PRINCE 39.5

SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5

CHICAGO 38

FOREIGNER 37.5

DYLAN, BOB 37

BACKSTREET BOYS 37

STEWART, ROD 37

2 PAC 36.5

DEF LEPPARD 35

NELSON, WILLIE 35

BON JOVI 34

COLLINS, PHIL 33.5

KELLY, R. 33

TAYLOR, JAMES 33

QUEEN 32.5

DENVER, JOHN 32.5

DOORS, THE 32

MC GRAW, TIM 32

BOSTON 31

SPEARS, BRITNEY 31

MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 31

DIXIE CHICKS 30.5

RONSTADT, LINDA 30

PEARL JAM 30

OSBOURNE, OZZY 28.75

PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28.5

'N SYNC 28

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 28

LYNYRD SKYNYRD 28

BOLTON, MICHAEL 28

MANILOW, BARRY 27.5

MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5

BOYZ II MEN 27

EMINEM 27

BROOKS & DUNN 26.5

JAY-Z 26

ENYA 26

BEE GEES 26

JACKSON, JANET 26

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 26

SINATRA, FRANK 25.5

ZZ TOP 25

NIRVANA 25

RUSH 25

HILL, FAITH 25

MILLER, STEVE BAND 24.5

VANDROSS, LUTHER 24.5

CARPENTERS, THE 24.5

CREED 24

GILL, VINCE 24

CARS, THE 23.5

EARTH, WIND & FIRE 23.5

MOTLEY CRUE 23.5

BUFFETT, JIMMY 23

POLICE, THE 22.5

CHESNEY, KENNY 22.5

HENDRIX, JIMI 22.5

SADE 22.5

RICHIE, LIONEL 22

DOOBIE BROTHERS 22

OUTKAST 22

GREEN DAY 22

KEITH, TOBY 22

BEASTIE BOYS 22

TLC 22

[Jiri]

Why not? LZ sold the most records in the states. Or am I mistaken?

And if you add the numbers of other European countries, South America, Australia and Asia you´re up to 300 Millions.

Edited July 3, 2008 by Jiri

[barrios]

That can't be true....

Check out the US Sales

Artist Certified Units in Millions

BEATLES, THE 170

BROOKS, GARTH 128

PRESLEY, ELVIS 118.5

LED ZEPPELIN 111.5

EAGLES 100

JOEL, BILLY 79.5

PINK FLOYD 74.5

STREISAND, BARBRA 71

JOHN, ELTON 69.5

AC/DC 69

STRAIT, GEORGE 67.5

AEROSMITH 66.5

ROLLING STONES, THE 66

SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 63.5

MADONNA 63.5

CAREY, MARIAH 61.5

JACKSON, MICHAEL 60.5

METALLICA 57

VAN HALEN 56.5

HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54

ROGERS, KENNY 51

U2 50.5

DION, CELINE 50

FLEETWOOD MAC 48.5

DIAMOND, NEIL 48.5

KENNY G 48

TWAIN, SHANIA 48

JOURNEY 46

ALABAMA 46

SANTANA 43

CLAPTON, ERIC 42.5

JACKSON, ALAN 42

SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 41

MC ENTIRE, REBA 40.5

GUNS 'N ROSES 39.5

PRINCE 39.5

SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5

CHICAGO 38

FOREIGNER 37.5

DYLAN, BOB 37

BACKSTREET BOYS 37

STEWART, ROD 37

2 PAC 36.5

DEF LEPPARD 35

NELSON, WILLIE 35

BON JOVI 34

COLLINS, PHIL 33.5

KELLY, R. 33

TAYLOR, JAMES 33

QUEEN 32.5

DENVER, JOHN 32.5

DOORS, THE 32

MC GRAW, TIM 32

BOSTON 31

SPEARS, BRITNEY 31

MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 31

DIXIE CHICKS 30.5

RONSTADT, LINDA 30

PEARL JAM 30

OSBOURNE, OZZY 28.75

PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28.5

'N SYNC 28

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 28

LYNYRD SKYNYRD 28

BOLTON, MICHAEL 28

MANILOW, BARRY 27.5

MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5

BOYZ II MEN 27

EMINEM 27

BROOKS & DUNN 26.5

JAY-Z 26

ENYA 26

BEE GEES 26

JACKSON, JANET 26

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 26

SINATRA, FRANK 25.5

ZZ TOP 25

NIRVANA 25

RUSH 25

HILL, FAITH 25

MILLER, STEVE BAND 24.5

VANDROSS, LUTHER 24.5

CARPENTERS, THE 24.5

CREED 24

GILL, VINCE 24

CARS, THE 23.5

EARTH, WIND & FIRE 23.5

MOTLEY CRUE 23.5

BUFFETT, JIMMY 23

POLICE, THE 22.5

CHESNEY, KENNY 22.5

HENDRIX, JIMI 22.5

SADE 22.5

RICHIE, LIONEL 22

DOOBIE BROTHERS 22

OUTKAST 22

GREEN DAY 22

KEITH, TOBY 22

BEASTIE BOYS 22

TLC 22

the proof is in the pudding, led zep have sold 300 million records worldwide, 115 million in the usa. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to realise that the remaining records have been sold in the major popular music markets (belive it or not, that inevitably includes europe and south america, japan australia etc)..........that's approx 180 million records...end of thread....good night....pointless discussion....

it's cool to knock led zeppelin....last yr 20 million people scambled to get tickets for their gig, in 1979, when they were considered out of fashion in a country "they were not that popular in" 400,000 people saw them in play 2 outdoor gigs,

i'm off to play my les paul...

[Midnight Rambler]

Actually many of those British Rock Stars are very petite.

[_Lena_Zep]

I know this sounds sort of provoking. Especially to American fans. But let me tell you that Led Zeppelin have had a much smaller fan base in continental Europe than in the US.

Many of my American friends were surprised that Led Zeppelin is not a general memory of the 70ies but (has become) some sort of "music for specialists" in Europe. People here maybe know STH but "Dust in the Wind" or "Paranoid" or "Alright Now" are much more popular. On the other hand from what I´ve heard Deep Purple were nothing compared to the fame and glory of the Zep in the US.

Of course everybody knew LZ in Europe the 70ies. Immigrant Song, WLL and of course STH were (sort of) hits, but bands like Deep Purple or even Uriah Heep were more popular because of their more simple and radio-friendly-approach.

A friend of mine (b. 1957) told me that LZ were only for the people who were also into Yes or Zappa.

Another reason might be that continental Europe (to this day) never had important (Classic-) Rock stations or AOR stations like in the US. So LZ have been "gone" for quite a while. It was the music of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam who got younger people into Zep.

What do you think?

What was/is your perception?

How was/is the situation in the UK?

And how big are LZ in Eastern Europe (always special)?

Khm.

Older generations loved Balkan rock&roll (which is also great). And I'm talking about southeast of Europe. I asked my mom (born 1954) and she said Deep Purple were popular back in the 70s, so does The Beatles (I guess)... Then I asked my best friend's parents and her dad showed me... All Zep albums. They were listening to them in 77-79. People listened to Zep but not that much as in the US. Not even close. Europe was not made for Led Zeppelin apparently.

These days kids in Serbia listen to Iron Maiden, Metallica, AC/DC and pretty much anything metal. Oh, and three kids in my town listen Zep.

*Just to add: I don't think people had enough money to buy vinyls or go to the concerts back then (OR NOW). I still try to sneak on the concerts. It's too expensive for me. *

[BonzoLikeDrumer]

Khm.

Older generations loved Balkan rock&roll (which is also great). And I'm talking about southeast of Europe. I asked my mom (born 1954) and she said Deep Purple were popular back in the 70s, so does The Beatles (I guess)... Then I asked my best friend's parents and her dad showed me... All Zep albums. They were listening to them in 77-79. People listened to Zep but not that much as in the US. Not even close. Europe was not made for Led Zeppelin apparently.

These days kids in Serbia listen to Iron Maiden, Metallica, AC/DC and pretty much anything metal. Oh, and three kids in my town listen Zep.

*Just to add: I don't think people had enough money to buy vinyls or go to the concerts back then (OR NOW). I still try to sneak on the concerts. It's too expensive for me. *

Money, that's the whole thing in a nut shell, back in the 1960's and 1970's the US was rolling in good time's! Prices where low and lot's of the population could afford to spend money on anything and everything! This why all the group's where concentrating on the state's with there selling and live show resources at that time.

It was just great business since to do that, they did it and I don't blame them one bit!

[dpat]

This is the 'UK Top Selling Album Artists' list (to end of 2006)

7.Robbie Williams - 15.760m

11.Oasis - 13.033m

12.Simply Red - 12.466m

18.Cliff Richard - 11.096m

24.Westlife - 9.271m

27.The Shadows - 9.088m

From a view from the United States (I'll play The Ugly American):

• WTF is a Robbie Williams?!!
  
• Oasis has a so-so following over here; their biggest hit was "Wonderwall" or whatever it was called. All we hear is that the Gallagher brothers fight each other.
  
• Simply Red had a couple of hits (Holding Back the Years; If You Don't Blow Me Right Now)
  
• Only one hit (and a good 'un) for Cliff Richard: "(She's Just a) Evil Woman (with evil on her mind)"
  
• WTF is a Westlife?!!
  
• WTF is a Shadows? Weren't they a band from the 1950s? The band name sounds like they were surf rockers or something similar. If so, kudos to them.
  

Edited August 5, 2009 by dpat

[dpat]

From a view from the United States (I'll play The Ugly American):

• WTF is a Robbie Williams?!!
  
• Oasis has a so-so following over here; their biggest hit was "Wonderwall" or whatever it was called. All we hear is that the Gallagher brothers fight each other.
  
• Simply Red had a couple of hits (Holding Back the Years; If You Don't Blow Me Right Now)
  
• Only one hit (and a good 'un) for Cliff Richard: "(She's Just a) Evil Woman (with evil on her mind)"
  
• WTF is a Westlife?!!
  
• Weren't The Shadows a band from the 1950s? They were surf rockers or something similar. If so, kudos to them for selling a gazillion albums!
  

[_Lena_Zep]

Money, that's the whole thing in a nut shell, back in the 1960's and 1970's the US was rolling in good time's! Prices where low and lot's of the population could afford to spend money on anything and everything! This why all the group's where concentrating on the state's with there selling and live show resources at that time.

It was just great business since to do that, they did it and I don't blame them one bit!

And exactly the opposite here! There wasn't much money to spend on anything and everything though i thought the situation wasn't that bad during the late 70s/early 80s.

Money - they say it can't buy everything... But (unfortunately) I think it can.

[BonzoLikeDrumer]

And exactly the opposite here! There wasn't much money to spend on anything and everything though i thought the situation wasn't that bad during the late 70s/early 80s.

Money - they say it can't buy everything... But (unfortunately) I think it can.

Sorry to hear that Lena, must have been hard. A while back I worked with some folk's from your part of the world, they like it here better than there but they miss there home to.

The state's has it's pit fall's but the slandered of living is better (I believe) than most places in the world, I've never lived any where else but it seems to be that way.

I can remember when a gallon of gas was around 30 cent's (US) and in the mid 1970's I can still see my dad getting mad when 5 dollar's didn't fill the tank of our family car. I was 10 years old or so and he also told me about how expensive gas was over in Europe when he went there in the 1950's while he was in the Navy. "Boy, the price of gas over there was 2 and 3 dollar's a gallon"! Back in the state's at that time it was about a nickle or a dime a gallon!