Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy, 50 Years Later｜Vinyl Monday 

the crunge defenders: gather your torches and pitchforks here :) what's your favorite song on HOTH? comment here!

This is Zeppelin at their absolute peak. Their fluidity, power, musical depth and breadth were at their top in '72-'73. Absolutely stellar album, and criminally underrated

Wow, thank you for the reminder. _Houses of the Holy_ , _The Dark Side of the Moon_ , _Larks' Tongues In Aspic_ , _Sabbath Bloody Sabbath_ , _Quadrophenia_ , _Countdown to Ecstasy_ , _Selling England by the Pound_ , _Brain Salad Surgery_ ...all released in the same year. Still blows my mind just thinking about it....

I thought it was a breath of fresh air from the other four albums. I was there when it came out and still enjoy it today. Love the bass lines.......

Listening to Houses of the Holy, I can't keep my mind from thinking it is Zeppelin saying "Hey you guys, we don'k make esclusively blues rooted songs!" The apotheosis of this statement is "The Rain Song": I'm a musician, and I can tell for sure that this music is Page slapping everybody's faces and saying: "hey, do you think I can play only blues and exotic eastern-oriented songs? Well, listen to this..." It is so harmoniously intrincated! Almost a prog song. This song is so fucking brilliant that, for me, it'd have worked as good as if it was an instrumental. Nothing against bluesy songs: after all, may zep's favorite is their debut...

it’s quite possible “the rain song” is the greatest song ever made by anyone.

FUN FACT, TRUE STORY: When I was five (1974), I had this album - already had a bit of a record collection, thanks to a turntable 4th-birthday gift from my grandparents - and brought the vinyl to my kindergarten class' show-and-tell. On the way to school, I wrote the band name and album title on the cover in ball-point pen (still have it); my ultra-cool mom spelled it out for me as she drove us so that I could spell it correctly. We played the album in class... the entire thing. Also, my classmate brought in Steve Miller Band's The Joker that day. What a badass day of show-and-tell that was.

Diggin your hair homage & blouse choice to Plant😀😂😂

I think the first 3 songs on this album is the best stretch of their career. Such a genius sequencing

"It's four already and now it's steady, One, Two Three......." - The Ocean. Love it.

Wow , Robert Plant copied your hairstyle

To me this is pure Zeppelin , this is what they wanted to do , they did not care about critics just what they wanted to do as a band at this time , the lp always brings me back to the spring and summer ! Great job Abbey! Oh yes the Ocean is criminally underrated!

This is the sound of my childhood. My parents were hardcore hippies. I'm pretty sure you can just guess the scents of my childhood.

Physical Graffiti Side 3 is the most underrated chunk of music in Zeppelin's entire discography and I just adore it ❤

Like the tribute hair, same color and style!

As an old dude i appreciate what you provide, i got a couple of bans on youtube for sharing this, after appealing and informing them they were not naked the tyrants relented.

I remember seeing the album as a kid and thinking, “what is this?” It was ultimately just more album art to me. No big deal.

My favorite Zeppelin album is usually the last one I listened too.

Remember getting this album back in the day, it was the Rain Song that caught my imagination, had to 1979 to finally see the band... now at 62 I'm still playing all their albums. ❤

In 2010 I was on Hollywood Boulevard playing and singing every song I could think of. I took a moment, smoked a cig and settled into D minor, hardly audible at first until I got to the Riff - Ba-da-da-da-da, ba da-da-da-da-...ba da da du-da-dah...No Quarter. I was singing in Robert Plant's range because I can. I closed my eyes to concentrate on a slow-burn guitar solo. I finished the solo and opened my eyes and there were a dozen folk a few feet away filming on their phones. First time experience for me. Zep. Plus 15 bucks in the tip can.

Easily my favorite Led Zep album, mainly because it hasn't been overexposed like the rest. Rain song is one of my favorite songs period.

Digging the Robert Plant hairdo 😉 Congrats re. 10,000!

This reminds me of the 80's when I was a teenager and my whole life was Led Zeppelin, eventually you grow up and you still enjoy the music but you're not as obsessed about it as you were when you were young

Totally agree with the Physical Grafitti opinion. Side 3 is wonderful.

Never thought about it but you are right the Rain song and No Quarter are thought of as stand alone and the album as a whole was never given it’s rightful place.🤘

Hearing the live version of Over The Hills & Far Away on How The West Was Won was such a sonic revelation. The studio version is cool, but the live version blew my face off! It's so assaultive. Houses Of The Holy is loaded with awesome memories for me. Dancing Days, The Ocean & The Rain Song are songs that still give off summer vibes. Kudos for calling John Paul Jones Led Zep's secret weapon. As a bass player, I'm in awe of his insane playing on The Song Remains The Same. Only Jonesy could play it like that. Thanks Abby!

Abby, you shouldn't be surprised at your success, you are more than half my age and know more than I will ever know about classic rock/music in general. Doesn't hurt that you embrace the fashions of the era's also. You walk the walk and talk the talk!!! You are authentic and legit!!! I do wonder though if you were 22 in the 60's if Vinyl Monday would have focused on Swing music and Jazz from earlier eras?

The mood change whiplash in the transition from D'yer Mak'er to No Quarter borders on farcical

Jason Justice for D'yer Mak'er lol ! Way back in '84 I was in fourth grade and my uncle had this on 8-track, I ended up trading another tape to him for HOTH. At the time I hated it minus D'yer Mak'er. That little reggae flavored ditty was addictive to me. Even still, I ended up recording over the whole 8-track, making it a mixtape of radio songs, lol. Flash forward to grade six and I order HOTH from the Columbia House record club on cassette. At this point I am immersed in Zeppelin and the album really clicks with me. After 37 years of history with it, it is now my second favorite LZ album behind PG. D'yer Mak'er has devolved to my second least favorite, with The Crunge being my least favorite song here. Having said that, I love the whole thing front to back. Another amazing episode Abbie, long-winded comment but I had to get it all out haha.

Hi, I'm Jim, I have a lot of records too :-) In fact you inspired me to hook up my stereo for the first time in years and start listening to my vinyl again. I had forgotten how good they sound. I set it up in the basement with 4 speakers and a subwoofer and I sit right in the middle. It's heaven. BTW, I thought I was going crazy until I realized that you replaced the pic of the girl on the album with one of you! LOL

Your track sequence makes for an actually really great LZ album, Abigail.

Great. I turned 65 last May and LZ for Houses at Kezar was my first concert....'They're changing the weather...." violin bow for Dazed, the clouds roll in,,, Full band, sun is shining again. man, about 10 years ago, i stop by a B&N while my wife goes shopping. See a "Guitarist" mag from the UK. hmmm, LZ on the cover. That was from this gig !!! Pricey so passed. She bought it for me. btw, fave track,,,,The Ocean,,,,always loved that 'do woopy'. ending oh, so good :).

Both me and my guitar teacher have spent hours gushing over how great the rain song is

I love The Crunge and D'yer Maker

Spot on! You really do your research and you make it fun and entertaining as well. 👍🏻

I like the artsy composite album art. I don't have any problem with it any more than I have a problem with a photo of someone taking a picture of the marble statue of David, dropping it into photoshop, and then colorizing it with psychedelic colors.

Listening to you talk about Zeppelin is better than therapy. Please do a Presence video #JusticeForPresence

Adore HotH--such an excellent episode, thanks Abby!! I'm a new-ish subscriber and just wanted to say it means so much to hear a woman's voice on music-tube, talking about music I love but that sometimes feels a bit gate-kept--you're brilliant and such a wonderful storyteller, thank you for doing what you!

Your videos are so enjoyable!!! Def one of my favorite vinyl channels

Love ‘The Rain Song’ (and your sense of humor!). Actually had a chance to walk on the Giant Causeway in. Northern Ireland. A beautifully scenic place.

You called it...”it’s too hard to pick a favourite”😊

Led Zeppelin's 5th racket. I love it.

"Since some of you seem to have the media comprehension skills of swiss cheese, holes and all, I'm gonna use the ... art as a teaching moment here." You had me at that! New sub here. Keep it up. I grew up with these albums and enjoy your 'zoomer' take on them. Well done!

My favourite Zeppelin album The D'yer Maker thing comes from a joke... "My wife's gone to the West Indies." "Jamaica?" "No, she wanted to go".

the ocean is my absolute favorite Zeppelin song!!!!

My intuition was that they knew they proved they were GOAT level after IV, so they decided that they just wanted to have fun with this album. Fast froward to this year, and I read a recent Jimmy Page interview. He basically said that you can tell they had fun making this album. They were under no stress. Thanks for such a fun video.

Go Abigail ! what a joy you are.

It was 1993. I was a freshman in high school being educated by the two biggest geniuses of my generation. Yes, you know who I'm talking about. Beavis and Butthead. The boys were on the couch watching TV, of course, and Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away" comes on. Beavis is weary and tells him to change it. Butthead says no way this song gets cooler later. And it does. I went out and bought Houses of the Holy with my own money. "Borrowed" my dad's Led Zeppelin II Cassette tape. He also has Zeppelin III but the pads were worn out Actually, if anyone knows how to fix the pads let me know. Anyways, been a fan ever since. Zeppelin always seemed in my opinion great opening songs on albums.i mean Led Zeppelin I right off the bat gets you hooked. I think it's one of there best pure blues. And I will fight you if you disagree. I always like "The Song Remains the Same" is another that kicks off the album with a punch. Though, I would put it in the middle of my favorites it is still a great album. Favorite songs: The Song Remains the Same, The Ocean, and Over the Hills and Far Away. D'yer Maker for some reason gets played to much and it becomes boring. Cool Video.

I'm so glad your channel was suggested! Finally, talking about my favorite thing... Classic LPs. Your presentation was soooo GOOD.

Dyer Maker is my favorite song on the album. The reggae beat is often mentioned but I really like the way that it is a tribute to old time rock'n'roll. Robert seemingly channelling every rock singer that ever existed including people like Ricky Nelson, James Brown (listen to him pleading, "please, please" at the fade out), and Doris Troy ("Just One Look"). Jimmy Page takes a very James Burton sounding lead break on the song which is so spot on. It is like a love letter to old rock.

Her face is so perfect it is hard to concentrate on anything else!

Really hyped for next weeks album too, can’t wait to see it!!

Even when I don't like the record "House's of the Holy" I find you entertaining ..Peace and Love

Wow, I can't believe this month was the 50th anniversary of HotH, thanks for celebrating this with your lovely overview! I clearly remember buying this record when it first came out, unwrapping the cellophane and listening to it for the first time when I was 12. I was already a fan even at that young age but specifically remember waiting for this one with high expectations. At my first listen, I was not disappointed. The first track The Song Remains the Same is so many-colored, so multi-layered, and each song that follows also delivers. The Crunge is one of its most fantastic pieces because its groove is not only rich but because as any guitarist, bassist or drummer can attest its time signatures and changes are perfectly complex, there is no other song quite like it. The Rain Song too is a masterpiece. I was lucky to see them live in Los Angeles in 1977 at the LA Forum, 33rd row! I enjoyed your analysis of the cover art as well because I've always thought this album cover was beautiful and I do not remember ever hearing any controversy regarding the naked boy and girl in the photos. I've always seen it simply as a wonderful tribute to the hippie poster aesthetic of the late 1960's.

The first 4 Zep albums are like the first 4 chapters of my rock n roll bible but i really think HOTH is where they came completely into their own sound largely leaving the blues borrowing behind despite some 'joke' songs. I once had a shirt with the cover art on it. I didn't think much when I bought it but never felt comfortable wearing it in public. No Quarter is truly epic!

The Rain song is not only my favorite on Houses of the Holy....it's my favorite Led Zeppelin song period. 🕊️♥️

HOTH got me through the pandemic. Driving into work everyday listening to HOTH. Its one of my favorite Zep albums!

not a huge Zep fan here but this album rocks. Dyer Maker is genuinely a great song, and was the song that is basically the reason I learnt about music theory and chord progressions. also congrats on 10k!

Houses of the Holy, and especially Over the Hills and Far Away, were a huge hit around the Great Lakes. Like a massive hit, as big as stairway to heaven. Even still today if you toss on the radio you are guaranteed to hear "Over the Hills" if you listen long enough. At least here in Canada that is. It has to do with the Michigan/Ontario Auto boom in the 70's. At that point the Great lakes area had the biggest economy in the world. This album is like the ultimate Nostalgia for the good ol' days.

Love your channel, Abigail! Your insight into this terrific album is wonderful!

LUV this video Abbie! BTW, my favorite track from Houses is "Over The Hills and Far Away", I always loved the harpsichord at the end, I always got chills hearing it, the distant echoey sound--Somebody in the band must have heard that in real life before they put that on the record.

Zeppelin 3 is my all time favorite,the diversity is astonishing.

I love "The Ocean". Played bass on our cover of it in the seventies. I have some great memories of playing that one.

Thank you for pronouncing my favorite song. I've never heard it spoken before. Now I get it.

I distinctly remember my first listen to HOTH and my brothers and I looking at each other saying "what's happened to his voice?". The use of the Theremin after the line-(the dogs of Doom are howling more) made the hair on my neck stand up! It was also used to good effect live with Dazed and Confused. I have several boots from the 77 Tour were D&C is FORTY FIVE minutes long. I know I go on about live Lps, there some wickedly creative stuff in those jams. This was well supported work. 👍👍

If they had been more careful with this album it would have been the best album of all time: as it is it's one of the best. As for no quarter -- wow

Hi Abbey 😁💖🎶 Yet again, ANOTHER GREAT ALBUM! And it's always great to see you 😍😘 my lil hippie 😁

This is such a good record, fantastic choice for this weeks episode!

What I find amazing about Zeppelin is with the 11 years as a group and the 9 studio albums produced, of all the songs they recorded, how few of them were not very popular. Usually an album has maybe 3 to 4 great songs and the rest are filler. It's the opposite with Zep. I would say that there are maybe 10 in their entire catalog that are not that great. Truly a testament to their talent and work together to really make timeless music!

In 1974 I would play albums, loudly, in my apartment on the weekends and I got to know what the building liked and did not like. No one ever protested HOTH (leaving off the Grunge). Folk also liked In a Silent Way (Miles Davis) and Ravel's Bolero. Also the neighbors liked All Things Must Pass. I lived in a pretty hip old crumbling Deco (1930) building. Iggy Pop lived in the basement apartment, 50 bucks a month.

No quarter is so good. Listen to into driving at night in the snow/rain

Your observation about IV and PG being sister albums and III and HotH too is spot on! I’d never noticed that before, and you’re so right.

Justice for The Crunge! I thought it was fun especially with Plant's line at the end, but what made me appreciate it more was Joshua Redman's version. Just something about a sort of funky jazz version that just works and I love Brian Blade on drums. p.s. heard your new tracklisting and it was straight fire 🔥

Thank you for feeding my current Led Zeppelin obsession!

Great video and I totally agree about the title track belonging to this album. It was the only time Zeppelin ever had a title track and it's so crazy it don't even appear on the album. The Crunge would be a perfect side 4 Physical Graffiti track. My favorite Houses Of The Holy track is easily No Quarter, shows how much that critic knew bashing it.

Thanks for having a nuanced view on the album cover “subjects”. A lot of extremes nowadays and I agree a lot of this stuff is case by case

Eyyy another Hipgnosis appreciator! I initially knew of them through their work with Black Sabbath in the late '70s on Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die!, and later through UFO, Scorpions, Wishbone Ash, 10cc, Renaissance, Genesis, and the Alan Parsons Project. Honestly can't get enough of their work , wonderful vid!

this is easily my fave Zep album along with LZ4, also congrats on 10k! ALSO, completely unrelated but when I went to a Lana del Rey listening party, I saw MC5’s Kick Out the Jam in my local record store and I instantly thought of you!

I love how your favorite old albums are the same as all my favorite old albums. I thank the RU-vid algorithm gods for offering up your videos because your channel has instantly become one of my favorites.

Nice job, very thorough and well thought out...now I feel like I need to re-visit this album.

The Crunge is one of my favorite Zeppelin songs.

Sorry you had to endure the scorn of the Elders over the BF episode, but you smack back very nicely. 🙂 Your take on the BF cover vs. the HotH cover is spot on. With your outfit choice this week you may have inadvertently invented Robert Plant cosplay. If you don't already have it scheduled yet, a great 50th anniversary album to cover from 1973 is Innervisions from Stevie Wonder.

Wow I just tried this album first time (because of your video) just listening to AirPods from my phone and I’m already loving this. These songs are so easy to listen to. Wow.

Abigail, your thoughts on how the playlist for HOTH should have been.......SPOT ON! l had never thought of it that way but yes, would have made much more sense. Excellent video and love your segments. Keep up the great work.

By the time I started listening to Led Zeppelin, at the time I was already listening to bands like The Sisters Of Mercy, The Mission, The Cure, etc. But... when I heard "No Quarter" for the first time, it felt like I'd heard the first Gothic Rock song ever created ! Jimmy Page has just started a RU-vid Channel in the last couple of days. And, his first post is a reworking of an opening track for Houses Of The Holy "The Seasons". Just RU-vid -- Jimmy Page The Seasons .

What do I think? It is my favorite Zep album and has been for years. TSRTS is an incredible opener, and for my money the greatest windows down driving song of all time (though Plant's pitched up vocals are a bit grating near the end). I love almost everything else too, but I can never forgive them for giving the Cringe a spot on the record over the title track. I think it was a joke that only they thought was funny and by album number five no one could tell them "No". Shoutout to the inner gatefold image as well, the colors are gorgeous and the imagery has such an air of mystery with the light peeking over the wall. Feels like a secret photo of an ancient ritual

Love it! Thanks! I think I like your track list better. I appreciate your perspective and obvious tons of work!

When I first saw your video pop up, I thought you were going to be one of the kids on the front cover of Houses Of The Holy 😆 thanks for your vinyl posts

This is the greatest live band, was at their last American concert in Oakland. Always love the live stuff! ✌️😎🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶 p.s. Abigail, you are one cute lady!

One of the greatest albums ever made. No quarter...a prelude to grunge

I'm watching you at the truck stop here in Indiana and I come inside and they are jamming zeppelin on the radio

I was born in the 60's so you know i have this LP.

While this isn't my favorite Led Zeppelin album (their untitled fourth album hits that mark), this might be the best analysis of a record I've heard yet on RU-vid! I really appreciate that you not only describe liking (or not liking as much) various aspects of the work, but delve into the reasons why. And it was a fascinating new angle for me to consider parallels between 'Led Zeppelin III' (for me the weakest of their first run of six consecutive classics) and 'Houses of the Holy', which I agree is a mixed bag, but still a securely canonical entry in the Led Zeppelin corpus. And this album does enshrine two of my all-time favorite Led Zeppelin tracks, "The Rain Song" and "No Quarter". Great job, all around!

Just found your channel today, outstanding review of HOTH. I'll definitely be doing a deep dive on your videos, keep 'em coming!

Dear Abby. I agree. Everything you said. Your alternate track listing was spot on. I like the Crunge but a bigger album like Graffiti could absorb it effectively. I have no problem with the artwork but I do find the Blind Faith problematic. Someone back then must have too because we got that worst ever replacement cover with a photo of the group. TOOL do a killer cover of No Quarter. This album represented progress for Zep. Probably the biggest change in sound from the previous albums. I love it. I love The Ocean. Thanks.

The most "fun" Zep record for me. Has a looseness and a diversity of sounds that none of the others have. Not my favorite (that would be Graffiti), but probably the one I listen to the most.

She has Robert plant’s hair from the 70’s!!

My favorite record. It got me serious about the guitar after 5 years of lessons... Remember the troll banter on your threads is what makes it go viral... Enjoy the ride.

Well done video. I’ve been listening to Led Zeppelin IV for the past few weeks. To my ears the band really started sounding completely unique among their contemporaries of the time. Houses of the Holy doesn’t sound like anything else from 1973. Cheers! I hope to catch more of your videos.

I dig your revised track sequence, got me thinking how I would rearrange the album. I think the first side of Physical Graffiti is perfect so I'd leave The Rover there, swap Over The Hills and Rain Song for better flow, and keep The Crunge at the end of side one for comic relief and give side two a bit of an overhaul so the album goes like like this: side 1 The Song Remains The Same Over The Hills And Far Away The Rain Song The Crunge side 2 Dancing Days Houses Of The Holy No Quarter D'yer Mak'er The Ocean that makes fora 24 minute second side and more than 20 mins on a side makes for crap sound quality so either The Ocean or Houses would have been on the chopping block, but we have the technology to move songs around now that we live in the future. keep rockin