By Nina Derwin,
Parade partner publisher ·
More than 50 years after its release, Led Zeppelin IV is still dominating. It’s latest triumph? Being ranked the No. 1 classic rock album of the 1970s.
Released in November 1971, the band’s fourth studio album is technically untitled, though it’s widely known as Led Zeppelin IV or, as some describe it, the one with artwork of an old guy carrying sticks. The album followed a run of already massively successful records, but this one cemented the band’s place among the greatest acts in rock and roll.
Of course, much of its enduring legacy is tied to “Stairway to Heaven,” the eight-minute epic that became one of the most iconic songs in rock history. But, the ranking underscores something fans have long argued: the album’s greatness extends far beyond that single track.
Across its eight songs, Led Zeppelin IV moves seamlessly between acoustic folk influences and thunderous hard rock. Tracks like “Black Dog” and “Rock and Roll” deliver explosive, riff-driven energy, while songs such as “Going to California” and “The Battle of Evermore” showcase a softer, more introspective side of the band. The dynamic shifts give the album a dramatic arc that feels both ambitious and carefully paced. It’s an album that is greater than the sum of its parts.
That balance, between quiet and bombastic, mystical and grounded, helped define the band’s sound at its peak. The record’s sequencing is often praised for its flow, with each track building naturally into the next, culminating in one of the most memorable side-two experiences of the era.
Commercially, the album was a juggernaut. It became one of the best-selling albums of all time and remains a cornerstone of classic rock radio decades later. Critically, it continues to top “greatest albums” lists, a testament to its longevity and influence.
More than 50 years later, it still sounds just as monumental.