Led Zeppelin. Houses of the Holy (1973)

Houses of the Holy is the fifth album by English rock band Led Zeppelin released by Atlantic Records on 28 March 1973. The album title is a dedication by the band to their fans who appeared at venues they dubbed "Houses of the Holy." It was the first Led Zeppelin album to not be, at least unofficially, titled after the band.

This album was a stylistic turning point in the lifespan of Led Zeppelin. Guitar riffs became more layered within Jimmy Page's production techniques and departed from the blues influences of earlier records. In the album's opening opus, "The Song Remains the Same", and its intricate companion suite, "The Rain Song", Robert Plant's lyrics matured toward a less overt form of the mysticism and fantasy of previous efforts. Houses of the Holy also featured styles not heard on the first four Led Zeppelin albums. For example, "D'yer Mak'er" is a reggae-based tune; "No Quarter" features foreboding keyboard sounds and an acoustic piano solo from bassist John Paul Jones; "The Crunge" is a funk tribute to James Brown; and "The Rain Song" is embellished by Jones on mellotron. The album's closing song "The Ocean" is dedicated to "the ocean" of fans who massed to Led Zeppelin concerts.

Track Listing

Side One

1. "The Song Remains the Same" (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 5:32
2. "The Rain Song" (Page, Plant) – 7:39
3. "Over the Hills and Far Away" (Page, Plant) – 4:50
4. "The Crunge" (John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Page, Plant) – 3:17

Side Two

1. "Dancing Days" (Page, Plant) – 3:43
2. "D'yer Mak'er" (Page, Plant, Jones, Bonham) – 4:23
3. "No Quarter" (Page, Plant, Jones) – 7:00
4. "The Ocean" (Page, Plant, Jones, Bonham) – 4:31

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