Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (Full album - 1975)

“Physical Graffiti” is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released as a double album on 24 February 1975 by the group's new record label, Swan Song Records.
The band wrote and recorded eight new songs for the album in early 1974 at Headley Grange, a country house in Hampshire, which gave them ample time to improvise arrangements and experiment with recording. The total playing time covered three sides of an LP, so they decided to expand it into a double by including previously unreleased tracks from the sessions for the earlier albums Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy. The album covered a range of styles including hard rock, progressive rock, rock 'n' roll and folk. The album was then mixed over summer 1974 and planned for an end-of year release. It was delayed because of the sleeve, which was designed by Peter Corriston and featured a theme around a tenement block in Manhattan, New York.

”Physical Graffiti” was commercially and critically successful upon its release and debuted at number one on album charts in both the US and the UK. It was promoted by a successful US tour and a five-night residency at Earl's Court, London, and has since been viewed as one of the group's strongest albums and the artistic peak of their career. The album has been reissued on CD several times, including an expansive 40th anniversary edition in 2015. “Physical Graffiti” was later certified 16x platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2006, signifying shipments of over eight million copies.

“Physical Graffiti” este al saselea album de studio al trupei engleze de rock Led Zeppelin. A fost lansat in dublu album la 24 februarie 1975 de catre compania de inregistrari a trupei, Swan Song Records.
Trupa a scris si inregistrat opt cantece noi pentru album inca de la inceputul anului 1974 la Headley Grange, o casa la tara in Hampshire, fapt ce le-a furnizat mult timp pentru a improviza aranjamente si experimente cu inregistrarea. Timpul total de muzica a acoperit trei parti ale unui LP, asa ca s-au decis sa se extinda intr-un dublu album, incluzand piese anterioare nelansate, din sesiunile timpurii pentru Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV si Houses of the Holy. Albumul a acoperit o gama de stiluri incluzand hard rock, progressiv rock, rock ‘n’ roll si folk. Albumul a fost imbinat in vara lui 1974 si planificat pentru lansare la sfarsit de an. A fost intarziat din cauza copertii, care a fost conceputa de Peter Corriston si expunea o tema cu un bloc cu apartamente de inchiriat din Manhattan, New York.
“Physical Graffiti” a fost un success comercial si de critica chiar de la lansare si a debutat pe locul 1 in ambele chart-uri de albume din Marea Britanie si Statele Unite. A fost promovat de un turneu de succes in Statele Unite si de o rezidenta de cinci nopti la Earl’ Court in Londra si a fost vazut ca unul dintre cele mai puternice albume ale trupei si ca  un varf artistic al carierei ei. Albumul a fost relansat pe CD de cateva ori, incluzand o expansiva aniversare de 40 de ani in 2015. “Physical Graffiti” a fost certificat mai tarziu cu 16x platina in Statele Unite, de catre RIIA, in 2006, semnificand expedierea a peste 8 milioane de copii.

List of tracks

Side 1

1.       "Custard Pie"         January–February 1974, Headley Grange, Hampshire          4:13

2.       "The Rover" May 1972, Stargroves (Houses of the Holy outtake)       5:36

3.       "In My Time of Dying" (John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Page, and Plant)    January–February 1974, Headley Grange          11:04

Side 2

4.       "Houses of the Holy"       May 1972, Olympic Studios, London (Houses of the Holy outtake) 4:01

5.       "Trampled Under Foot" (Jones, Page, and Plant)          January–February 1974, Headley Grange      5:35

6.       "Kashmir" (Bonham, Page, and Plant) January–February 1974, Headley Grange      8:37

Side 3

7.       "In the Light" (Jones, Page, and Plant)         January–February 1974, Headley Grange 8:44

8.       "Bron-Yr-Aur" (Page)   July 1970, Island Studios, London (Led Zeppelin III outtake)       2:06

9.       "Down by the Seaside"    February 1971, Island Studios, London (Led Zeppelin IV outtake)       5:14

10.      "Ten Years Gone"  January–February 1974, Headley Grange         6:31

Side 4

11.      "Night Flight" (Jones, Page, and Plant)         January 1971, Headley Grange (Led Zeppelin IV outtake)    3:36

12.      "The Wanton Song"        January–February 1974, Headley Grange         4:06

13.      "Boogie with Stu" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, Ian Stewart, Mrs Valens)        January 1971, Headley Grange (Led Zeppelin IV outtake)        3:51

14.      "Black Country Woman" May 1972, Stargroves (Houses of the Holy outtake)   4:24

15.      "Sick Again"          January–February 1974, Headley Grange         4:43

Personnel

Led Zeppelin

John Bonham – drums, percussion

John Paul Jones – bass guitar, keyboards, mandolin, acoustic guitar, string and brass arrangements

Jimmy Page – electric, acoustic, lap steel and slide guitars, production

Robert Plant – lead vocals, harmonica

Extra musicians

Ian Stewart – piano on "Boogie with Stu"

Engineers

George Chkiantz – engineering at Olympic (1972)

Keith Harwood – engineering at Olympic (1974)

Andy Johns – engineering at Island (1970 & 1971) and Headley Grange (1971)

Eddie Kramer – engineering at Stargroves (1972)

Ron Nevison – engineering at Headley Grange (1974)

Artwork

Peter Corriston – artwork, design, cover design

Mike Doud – artwork, design, cover design

Elliot Erwitt – photography

B. P. Fallon – photography

Roy Harper – photography

Dave Heffernan – illustrations

Others

Peter Grant – executive producer

George Marino and Jimmy Page – remastered CD release