Official Led Zeppelin Top 40 Countdown Thread!! (Top 2 revealed!!)

[The Realm]

23 In My Time of Dying
Appeared on 15 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 3 (Dream Team)
7 Top 10 Finishes

22 The Battle of Evermore
Appeared on 17 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (Zoom E, jingle.boy)
4 Top 10 Finishes

In My Time of Dying - my number 24. Great song.

The Battle of Evermore - unranked. Not a big fan of this one, as I said earlier this has been a strange countdown from where I sit. A number of songs have made the top 40 which were not even close for me and this is another one.

[twosuitsluke]

In My Time of Dying didn't rank for me. The Battle of Evermore came in at #27.

40. Dancing Days
39.
38.
37. Houses of the Holy
36.
35.
34.
33. The Ocean
32.
31.
30. Nobody's Fault But Mine
29.
28. How Many More Times
27. The Battle of Evermore
26.
25. Misty Mountain Hop
24.
23.
22.
21.
20.
19.
18.
17.
16. Trampled Under Foot
15.
14.
13.
12.
11.
10.
9. Communication Breakdown
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

In My Time of Dying, I rated 9th.  It missed 8 lists!?!?!?  What in the actual fuq??  2nd best song on PG.

Well, tastes I guess

[jingle.boy]

Touche!

[pg1067]

23 In My Time of Dying

...

22 The Battle of Evermore

Cannot stand In My Time of Dying.  HOF got it exactly right.  "11 minutes of heavy, sludgy blues."  Bleh.  Not only did I not rank it; I didn't even include it in the list of songs that went into the ranker.

Evermore...based on memory, I ranked it at #11.  I then listened to it (I listened through the box set after I submitted my rankings), and it really grated on me, and I kinda agree with Tim about whiny ass vocals.  I'd probably still have it in my top 40 because I like a lot of it, but I'd rank it lower if I had a do-over.


My rankings so far (14/19)...

40 
39 
38  Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)
37  Hey, Hey, What Can I Do
36 
35 
34 
33  Dancing Days
32 
31 
30  Misty Mountain Hop
29  Trampled Under Foot
28 
27 
26 
25  Houses of the Holy
24  The Ocean
23 
22 
21  Going to California
20 
19 
18 
17 
16  All My Love
15 
14 
13  Fool in the Rain
12 
11  The Battle of Evermore
10  Communication Breakdown
9 
8 
7  The Rover
6 
5  Carouselambra
4 
3 
2 
1 

NOT RANKED:
Nobody's Fault But Mine
In the Light
How Many More Times
Thank You
In My Time of Dying

[twosuitsluke]

Touche!

Sorry, couldn't help myself 

[DTwwbwMP]

The whiney ass vocals. The annoying whatever type of guitar that's playing. I've never liked it, and have never warmed to it.

And it ain't gonna be the first classic track from that album I left off either.

 

[twosuitsluke]

The whiney ass vocals. The annoying whatever type of guitar that's playing. I've never liked it, and have never warmed to it.

And it ain't gonna be the first classic track from that album I left off either.

 

[Dave_Manchester]

The Battle of Evermore juuuust about crept over the line at #40. Nice lil ditty but I'm not hearing what people who think it's a masterpiece are hearing. In My Time of Dying took the #7 spot. Love it, especially when all the themes come together towards the end.


40. The Battle of Evermore
39.
38.
37. Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)
36.
35.
34. All My Love
33.
32.
31.
30. In The Light
29. Houses of the Holy
28.
27.
26.
25.
24.
23.
22.
21. Thank You
20. Dancing Days
19.
18.
17.
16. How Many More Times
15.
14.
13. The Ocean
12.
11.
10. Nobody’s Fault But Mine
9.
8.
7. In My Time of Dying
6.
5.
4. The Rover
3.
2.
1.


Not ranked:

Hey Hey What Can I Do
Carouselambra
Fool In The Rain
Communication Breakdown
Trampled Under Foot

[KevShmev]

Two from II today!

21 What Is and What Should Never Be
Appeared on 16 of 21 lists
Highest Finish:  5 (hefdaddy42)
1 Top 10 Finish

This has been my favorite song from II for as long as I can remember, and to this day, it still is.  I ranked it 13th.  Just a tremendous song and arrangement.


20 Heartbreaker
Appeared on 19 of 21 lists
Highest Finish:  6 (kingshmegland)
2 Top 10 Finishes

I know some have said that this song has the definitive rock guitar solo, and I sorta get that.  I always joke that Jimmy Page's playing often sounds like he is on the verge of losing the plot, but somehow he manages to keep it together, and the solo in this one embodies that really well.  I ranked this 17th.

Sidenote: I did chuckle when I saw that Living Loving Maid finished at 40 and Heartbreaker at 20. 

[Dave_Manchester]

I had What Is...at #18 and Heartbreaker at #24. Heartbreaker was the biggest 'riser' on my re-listen to the catalogue. Initially I didn't think it would make my list at all.   


40. The Battle of Evermore
39.
38.
37. Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)
36.
35.
34. All My Love
33.
32.
31.
30. In The Light
29. Houses of the Holy
28.
27.
26.
25.
24. Heartbreaker
23.
22.
21. Thank You
20. Dancing Days
19.
18. What Is And What Should Never Be
17.
16. How Many More Times
15.
14.
13. The Ocean
12.
11.
10. Nobody’s Fault But Mine
9.
8.
7. In My Time of Dying
6.
5.
4. The Rover
3.
2.
1.


Not ranked:

Hey Hey What Can I Do
Carouselambra
Fool In The Rain
Communication Breakdown
Trampled Under Foot

[TAC]

21 What Is and What Should Never Be
Appeared on 16 of 21 lists
Highest Finish:  5 (hefdaddy42)
1 Top 10 Finish


20 Heartbreaker
Appeared on 19 of 21 lists
Highest Finish:  6 (kingshmegland)
2 Top 10 Finishes

I had What Is And What Should Never Be at #23. A really cool song that I used to hear a ton on the radio. I'm not a huge Jimmy Page guy, but I like his playing here.

I had Heartbreaker at #16. When preparing for the list, I was pleasantly surprised how much I still enjoyed this. I was a bit shocked it ended up as high on my list as it did.


Top 40                                                                      Not Rated
40.                                                                           Communication Breakdown
39.                                                                           Misty Mountain Hop
38. Thank You                                                           The Battle Of Evermore
37. Carouselambra
36.
35. Living Loving Maid
34.
33. Dancing Days
32.
31.
30.
29. Going To California
28.
27. All My Love
26.
25. Hey Hey What Can I Do
24.
23. What Is And What Should Never Be
22. The Ocean
21. Trampled Under Foot
20.
19.
18. How Many More Times
17. Nobody's Fault But Mine
16. Heartbreaker
15. Fool In The Rain
14.
13. Dancing Days
12.
11.
10.
9.
8. In My Time Of Dying
7. The Rover
6.
5.
4.
3. In The Light
2.
1.

[devieira73]

About Heartbreaker/Living Loving Maid, I ranked them at #38/#39 and never heard them together (well, nor separately) on radio!
Also: "Jimmy Page's playing often sounds like he is on the verge of losing the plot, but somehow he manages to keep it together". Perfect description!

[jingle.boy]

LLM = 31 for me.  I actually prefer it over Heartbreaker, but separating these two is like separating We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions.

And as such, Heartbreaker was #30 for me.

What Is took #35 for me.  This was one of the songs I was figuring might not make the collective list. 

[twosuitsluke]

Nearly got those two spot on. Had What Is at #20 and Heartbreaker at #23.

40. Dancing Days
39.
38.
37. Houses of the Holy
36.
35.
34.
33. The Ocean
32.
31.
30. Nobody's Fault But Mine
29.
28. How Many More Times
27. The Battle of Evermore
26.
25. Misty Mountain Hop
24.
23. Heartbreaker
22.
21.
20. What is and What Should Never Be
19.
18.
17.
16. Trampled Under Foot
15.
14.
13.
12.
11.
10.
9. Communication Breakdown
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

[HOF]

These are both well known tracks for me that sort of typify my ambivalence towards LZ. That sound just doesn’t really excite me. Take the Heartbreaker solo for example. It has merit for sure, and I can definitely see how it was an influential solo for guys like EVH and many others. But it just sounds kind of unpleasant.

I can identify other things in these songs that are cool, like Bonham’s drums on the chorus of What Is and What Should Never Be, or the little tag on the end (though not sure about Plant’s little freestyle there). Heartbreaker has that big memorable main riff. But I don’t think I’d have been high on either if I were ranking these.

[Mladen]

Heartbreaker is great. Such a heavy song. 

[DTwwbwMP]

40 Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) #25

39 Hey, Hey, What Can I Do #39!

38 Nobody's Fault But Mine #11

37 Carouselambra #24

35 (t) All My Love NR

35 (t) Fool In The Rain NR

34 In The Light NR

32 (t) Dancing Days #7

32 (t) How Many More Times NR

31 Thank You #3

30 The Ocean NR

29 Communication Breakdown #28

28 Houses of the Holy #9

27 Misty Mountain Hop #32

26 Going to California #29

25 Trampled Under Foot #6

24 The Rover #26
 
23 In My Time of Dying NR

22 The Battle of Evermore #15

21 What Is and What Should Never Be #27

20 Heartbreaker #35

[Zoom E]

I have What Is and What Should Never Be at #24 and Heartbreaker at #21, so pretty close to where they ended up on the collective list.

[The Realm]

21 What Is and What Should Never Be
Appeared on 16 of 21 lists
Highest Finish:  5 (hefdaddy42)
1 Top 10 Finish


20 Heartbreaker
Appeared on 19 of 21 lists
Highest Finish:  6 (kingshmegland)
2 Top 10 Finishes

Two great songs today.

I had What is and What Should Never Be at 19 and Heartbreaker at number 7, just missed the top ranking.

[pg1067]

21 What Is and What Should Never Be

...

20 Heartbreaker

Didn't consider WIAWSNB.  Really surprised to see it this high.  I had Heartbreaker at #15 but wish I had ranked it lower.


My rankings so far (15/21)...

40 
39 
38  Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)
37  Hey, Hey, What Can I Do
36 
35 
34 
33  Dancing Days
32 
31 
30  Misty Mountain Hop
29  Trampled Under Foot
28 
27 
26 
25  Houses of the Holy
24  The Ocean
23 
22 
21  Going to California
20 
19 
18 
17 
16  All My Love
15  Heartbreaker
14 
13  Fool in the Rain
12 
11  The Battle of Evermore
10  Communication Breakdown
9 
8 
7  The Rover
6 
5  Carouselambra
4 
3 
2 
1 

NOT RANKED:
Nobody's Fault But Mine
In the Light
How Many More Times
Thank You
In My Time of Dying
What Is and What Should Never Be

[KevShmev]

We move on...

19 Since I’ve Been Loving You
Appeared on 15 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 3 (DragonAttack, Dave_Manchester)
8 Top 10 Finishes

This song, somehow, was a bit of an afterthought for me for a long time, but in the last five years of so, it has become one of the LZ songs I listen to the most.  Huge fan now. I ranked it 10th.


18 Ramble On
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (jingle.boy)
4 Top 10 Finishes

Always dug this one a lot.  It is very worthy, if for no other reason than the bass playing of John Paul Jones.  Granted, he slays it in many songs, but this feels like one of his standouts.  I ranked it 25th.

[twosuitsluke]

We move on...

19 Since I’ve Been Loving You
Appeared on 15 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 3 (DragonAttack, Dave_Manchester)
8 Top 10 Finishes

This song, somehow, was a bit of an afterthought for me for a long time, but in the last five years of so, it has become one of the LZ songs I listen to the most.  Huge fan now. I ranked it 10th.


18 Ramble On
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (jingle.boy)
4 Top 10 Finishes

Always dug this one a lot.  It is very worthy, if for no other reason than the bass playing of John Paul Jones.  Granted, he slays it in many songs, but this feels like one of his standouts.  I ranked it 25th.

Now we're talking! I'm not a huge fan of Led Zep III, but it is literally saved by Immigrant Song and Since I've Been Loving You. These two songs are so good, and SIBLY made it to #8 for me. It's the emotion this song brings up that I'm in love with, and the beautiful guitar solo, just stunning stuff really.

As for Ramble On, I was always quite lukewarm on it. Surprisingly it's due to my wife that this made it to number 14 for me. She's far from a Led Zeppelin fan but she loves Ramble On and plays it quite often. Actually, she also loves Travelling Riverside Blues, but literally just those two songs   

It's all about those plucky little Hobbits, how could you not love it.



40. Dancing Days
39.
38.
37. Houses of the Holy
36.
35.
34.
33. The Ocean
32.
31.
30. Nobody's Fault But Mine
29.
28. How Many More Times
27. The Battle of Evermore
26.
25. Misty Mountain Hop
24.
23. Heartbreaker
22.
21.
20. What is and What Should Never Be
19.
18.
17.
16. Trampled Under Foot
15.
14. Ramble On
13.
12.
11.
10.
9. Communication Breakdown
8. Since I've Been Loving You
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

[jingle.boy]

Couple of top 10s for me - #8 for Since I've Been Loving You, and #2 (as noted) for Ramble On.

When it comes to the latter, it's just the slow / acoustic buildup (and dat bass!), along with Plant's soft vocal delivery ...  it's just perfect.  And then they slap you in the face rockin chorus that made me fall in love with the tune from the very first time I played II - more on that experience later when a certain other track (invariably) shows up.  That back-and-forth formula of soft/soothing verses and intense/rocking choruses is

[HOF]

When Since I’ve Been Loving You Started, I thought “oh great another bluesy song,” but man they killed this one. The recording itself just sounds great, as do all of the individual performances. Finally a solo with a tone that I like, and this has to be one of Plant’s finer vocal performances. It all sounds fresh rather than cliche, which is a big pitfall for blues songs in general. I genuinely enjoyed this one.

Ramble On has always been one of the Zeppelin songs that I’ve liked, but Rick Beato’s What Makes This Song Great breakdown gave me a deeper appreciation for it. The instrumentation is great, especially that bass line. But there’s just a lot going on on the track that was cool to see him break down. And of course a good Tolkien reference always helps. This would have been in my top 10 for sure.

[Mladen]

Two fantastic songs. I ranked both very high, especially Since I've been loving you.

[DTwwbwMP]

40 Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) #25

39 Hey, Hey, What Can I Do #39!

38 Nobody's Fault But Mine #11

37 Carouselambra #24

35 (t) All My Love NR

35 (t) Fool In The Rain NR

34 In The Light NR

32 (t) Dancing Days #7

32 (t) How Many More Times NR

31 Thank You #3

30 The Ocean NR

29 Communication Breakdown #28

28 Houses of the Holy #9

27 Misty Mountain Hop #32

26 Going to California #29

25 Trampled Under Foot #6

24 The Rover #26
 
23 In My Time of Dying NR

22 The Battle of Evermore #15

21 What Is and What Should Never Be #27

20 Heartbreaker #35

19 Since I've Been Loving You NR

18 Ramble On #13

[Zoom E]

My rankings:
Since I’ve Been Loving You - #36
Ramble On - #28

[TAC]

19 Since I’ve Been Loving You
Appeared on 15 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 3 (DragonAttack, Dave_Manchester)
8 Top 10 Finishes

18 Ramble On
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (jingle.boy)
4 Top 10 Finishes

I had Since I've Been Loving You as Not Rated. I mean, it could've just as easily been on the list, albeit the tail end. I'm not a huge fan though. You'd have to lap up the Robert Plant on it, and I just don't.


I had Ramble On at #34. I certainly don't consider this a Top 20 LZ track. Feels high to me.


Top 40                                                                      Not Rated
40.                                                                           Communication Breakdown
39.                                                                           Misty Mountain Hop
38. Thank You                                                           The Battle Of Evermore
37. Carouselambra                                                    Since I've Been Loving You
36.
35. Living Loving Maid
34. Ramble On
33. Dancing Days
32.
31.
30.
29. Going To California
28.
27. All My Love
26.
25. Hey Hey What Can I Do
24.
23. What Is And What Should Never Be
22. The Ocean
21. Trampled Under Foot
20.
19.
18. How Many More Times
17. Nobody's Fault But Mine
16. Heartbreaker
15. Fool In The Rain
14.
13. Dancing Days
12.
11.
10.
9.
8. In My Time Of Dying
7. The Rover
6.
5.
4.
3. In The Light
2.
1.

[Stadler]

The whiney ass vocals. The annoying whatever type of guitar that's playing. I've never liked it, and have never warmed to it.

And it ain't gonna be the first classic track from that album I left off either.

There's a version floating around by the cover band "Get The Led Out"; their thing is, recreating the albums as faithfully as they can, even if it means bringing three or four other musicians on stage.  And they don't care about "looking like" the band either.  They have a live DVD out, from Red Rocks I think, and they SLAY that song. Really make it special, IMO.

(The male singer is Paul Sinclair; the female is Diane DeSantis, Paul's wife, and sadly she passed about a year ago from breast cancer. RIP.)

[jingle.boy]

The whiney ass vocals. The annoying whatever type of guitar that's playing. I've never liked it, and have never warmed to it.

And it ain't gonna be the first classic track from that album I left off either.

There's a version floating around by the cover band "Get The Led Out"; their thing is, recreating the albums as faithfully as they can, even if it means bringing three or four other musicians on stage.  And they don't care about "looking like" the band either.  They have a live DVD out, from Red Rocks I think, and they SLAY that song. Really make it special, IMO.

(The male singer is Paul Sinclair; the female is Diane DeSantis, Paul's wife, and sadly she passed about a year ago from breast cancer. RIP.)

That's the exact same formula as Classic Albums Live ("note for note; cut for cut").  I've talked about them plenty (for instance, it took 11 people to deliver most of A Night at the Opera).  I've seen them do both Zeppelin II and IV.  I'll definitely be checking out that vid, Bill.   

[pg1067]

19 Since I’ve Been Loving You

...

18 Ramble On

I didn't rank Since I've been Loving You.  I just have zero interest in that sort of bluesy anthem.  I had Ramble On at 28.  Despite the cheesy Lord of the Rings lyrics, it's a solid song, and I agree with Kev's comments about JPJ's performance.  Also, a timely selection in light of what James LaBrie posted on FB today:  https://fb.watch/hK3cSfI2qZ/ (I guess he did a cover on one of his solo albums?).


My rankings so far (16/23)...

40 
39 
38  Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)
37  Hey, Hey, What Can I Do
36 
35 
34 
33  Dancing Days
32 
31 
30  Misty Mountain Hop
29  Trampled Under Foot
28  Ramble On
27 
26 
25  Houses of the Holy
24  The Ocean
23 
22 
21  Going to California
20 
19 
18 
17 
16  All My Love
15  Heartbreaker
14 
13  Fool in the Rain
12 
11  The Battle of Evermore
10  Communication Breakdown
9 
8 
7  The Rover
6 
5  Carouselambra
4 
3 
2 
1 

NOT RANKED:
Nobody's Fault But Mine
In the Light
How Many More Times
Thank You
In My Time of Dying
What Is and What Should Never Be
Since I've Been Loving You

[KevShmev]

It's Friday, which means we get three songs today, including my number 1! 

17 Over the Hills and Far Away
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (KevShmev, DragonAttack)
5 Top 10 Finishes

This has been my favorite LZ song for as long as I can remember, and it still is to this day.  Just love everything about it.  I thought it would finish a little higher than this, but I blame the three who left it off their lists for that.   With only five top 10 finishes, though, it looks like a song many really like rather than love.


16 In the Evening
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 6 (nobloodyname)
3 Top 10 Finishes

On the other hand, I was surprised to see this one finish this high.  I ranked it 31st and figured it would be top 20-25, but 16?  A surprise to me.  This is the highest ranked song from In Through the Out Door.  Good song for sure.


15 Ten Years Gone
Appeared on 14 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (WilliamMunny)
7 Top 10 Finishes

I ranked this one 12th, so I am a big fan.  Being left off seven lists was a bit of a stunner, but seven top 10 finishes, including one number 1 finish, helped push it into the top 15. 

[Podaar]

It's Friday, which means we get three songs today, including my number 1! 

17 Over the Hills and Far Away
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (KevShmev, DragonAttack)
5 Top 10 Finishes

This has been my favorite LZ song for as long as I can remember, and it still is to this day.  Just love everything about it.  I thought it would finish a little higher than this, but I blame the three who left it off their lists for that.   With only five top 10 finishes, though, it looks like a song many really like rather than love.

Page's production skills are never on greater display than on this song. The guitar layering is subtle, impactful, and masterful. JPJ tears this one up too. Great song.

[jingle.boy]

I had Over The Hills at 24, and Ten Years Gone at 18, so just a tad off on each.  Couple of Top 3 songs from each of their respective albums, afaic.

In the Evening was one of my final cuts.  Excellent song for sure, but it's not *my* flagship song for IttOD.  Which now makes 10 songs here that I didn't rate.   Methinks my love for III is going to go largely unrequited.  Surely, there has to be one more coming from it - which will probably make it the last one 

[WilliamMunny]

It's Friday, which means we get three songs today, including my number 1! 

17 Over the Hills and Far Away
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (KevShmev, DragonAttack)
5 Top 10 Finishes

This has been my favorite LZ song for as long as I can remember, and it still is to this day.  Just love everything about it.  I thought it would finish a little higher than this, but I blame the three who left it off their lists for that.   With only five top 10 finishes, though, it looks like a song many really like rather than love.


16 In the Evening
Appeared on 18 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 6 (nobloodyname)
3 Top 10 Finishes

On the other hand, I was surprised to see this one finish this high.  I ranked it 31st and figured it would be top 20-25, but 16?  A surprise to me.  This is the highest ranked song from In Through the Out Door.  Good song for sure.


15 Ten Years Gone
Appeared on 14 of 21 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (WilliamMunny)
7 Top 10 Finishes

I ranked this one 12th, so I am a big fan.  Being left off seven lists was a bit of a stunner, but seven top 10 finishes, including one number 1 finish, helped push it into the top 15.

Man, "Ten Years Gone" has remained my favorite Zeppelin song for thirty years. From the moment I first heard it, I was taken aback by, well, by everything.

The song has a prog-tinged, borderline-epic arrangement. The guitar parts are like an orchestra in and of themselves, and Plant's lyrics manage to capture something that has hit me in different ways over the years.

All of that said, the live rendition that appears on the Jimmy Page/Black Crowes live album is worth a listen, as it totally captures many of the nuances from the recording (thanks to the three guitars)

I rarely give a second thought to where songs fall on lists—after all, people like what they like. That said, I'm happy this song fared better (at least in part) on the strength of my placement