What was Zeppelins' Best Year?

[LedZep1969]

Even though all years were great 72-73 was their best.

Edited July 27, 2008 by LedZep1969

[Black Dawg]

'69 The Perfect number and year. It can't get any better than that.

[a clockwork tangerine]

`74-`75. They were at the height of their creativity then, recording PG in `74 and playing some great shows in `75.

[EddieShouldHaveListened]

72- April 73

[frankzeppelin]

Definately 1972-1973 Cuz they broke world records in terms of audience attendance back then. 56,800 fans for a single performance on May 5, 1973. Also How the West Was Won and The Song Remains the Same was recorded back then. And in How the West Was Won, Jimmy Page even stated that that was Zeppelin at its best. Also they had their Starship back then and they were #1 on the charts too. I would have liked to live those magical years.

[andyk]

Hi

This is quite difficult voted 1974/5, saw them twice at Earls Court and was pretty blown away (although I recall finding Moby Dick a bit boring)really love some of the bootlegs from that year.

I also like some of the 1972/3 bootlegs, saw them in 1972 at Ally Pally but don't remember the sense of occasion that Earls Court bought.

If I am being honest I have favourite bits from all years so maybe should have voted all of them.

Why restrict yourself to any given period when you can enjoy it all.

Andy

[Electrophile]

I said 74-75. Of all the boots I've heard, some of the best came from that time span, and also that's when PG was released, and that's my favorite album. 72-73 would be in 2nd place.

[Oracle]

I said 74-75.

Nice pick! That's the first year they DIDN'T play one LIVE/IN CONCERT note as a band.

GREAT year !

[Electrophile]

You are aware that the poll choice was 74-75, right? Obviously the boots I have/have heard are from 1975, but I couldn't choose just 1975.

Slow your roll.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Electrophile

[duckman]

I guess the combo 1969/1971 is not possible.

1971 really shines if you dig the interplay and sublime set structure. The light and shade balance is simply perfect. As a group all the band members are now equal in all respects.

Page dominated 1969 cause he was the seasoned perfomer. But I wouldn't miss the 69 high octane shows; Tea Party, Winterland, Fillmore, Texas Pop...terrific!

The Europe 73 jaunt, the 'Groove' era (1970) and the 1972 US summer tour would be my third, fourth and fifth picks.

[Reggie29]

1972.

The year they played Sydney!

[babyzoso]

I say 72 - 75 were their best and biggest highlight of their career and the whole band i can't say 68 - 69 i mean come on they were new comers and 70 - 71 they were on the rise around the time LZ 3 was out and some people of their fans didn't like LZ 3 at the time. I say after Stairway To Heaven they were ripping the whole media, the haters, and the industry in to shed.

[Kiwi_Zep_Fan87]

`74-`75. They were at the height of their creativity then, recording PG in `74 and playing some great shows in `75.

My thoughts exactly!

[danelectro]

I didn't pick because for me I have different preferences for live and studio stuff. I thought they were fantastic live in 68-69 but I prefer the more mature sounds of the later studio albums.

[BlackDog71]

'72-'73. They had the first 4 albums behind them and HOTH on the way in '73. Plus the records they set with their concerts around that time is still the stuff of legends.

[silvermedalist]

Looking at it from a perspective of getting to see them live 77 wins easily. Why, because you had all of the material except "In Through the Outdoor". I wish that the movie The Song Remains the Same had been made post Physical Grafitti. PG is such a great album.

[Zeppelin Led]

Overall '73 there best IMO There best album was released and they embarked on one of there best tours.

77 Is up there though

[dazedcat]

'70-'71

That would have been Led III and then IV.............imho the very best of them all.

[TheStairwayRemainsTheSame]

The raw energy they had 68-69 beats any other band EVER.

"The Cosmic, the energy, then whoom BASH!"

[John1972]

It's such a hard one to answer. From the time they stepped off the plane onto American soil until they were done in 1980 they were Earth's best band. I think in many ways you'd have to put 74-75 as your answer because of all that was accomplished. The release of Physical Grafitti was epic, and its interest shot all their previous albums into the Billboard Top 200. That feat had never been accomplished before.

The flip side is, there's also a beauty about the 71 and 72 shows before it got too huge for a normal stage crew and security force to contain.

I will go on record as saying I can't answer this one!

[Scott78]

I would say 72-73 , they had 5 great albums to play from live by 73 . Jimmy's playing was at it's best and Roberts voice imo was better live during this time than later in the 70's . 72-73 was Zeppelin at their best

[bluecongo]

70-71. Peak of their creativity, Plant's voice was still intact, Jimmy wasn't strung out yet. They were absolute magic at that point.

[RocknRoll64]

I chose '72-'73, but was very close to choosing '74-'75. I love PG, but I enjoy HOTH even more! (Mainly the Rain Song) Not to mention, this was at there height of their popularity, the numbers at Tampa are probably the best to describe this. Or, to simply put it, Led Zeppelin were at their peak from '72-'75.

[Amstel]

74'-75'

Why? It's the period Led Zeppelin recorded and released Physical Graffiti - my favorite. 75' was also my favorite Led Zeppelin tour. That North American tour of 75' was phenomenal.

[BestBandStill]

1969