10 Best Hard Rock Ballads

Led Zeppelin will forever be the band people reference when it comes to classic rock and roll. From their blues-belters to their swaggering riff showcases, Zeppelin practically wrote their own chapter in the almighty Book of Rock. For as rocking as the band is, their defining fourth album offered a lot of sonic diversity amongst its 8 tracks.

Sure, there are some of the best rock songs known to man on this record from "Black Dog" to "When the Levee Breaks," but the acoustic comedown of "Going to California" almost sneaks up on you with its understated beauty. With its bare-bones instrumentation, the song feels like its coming from the other side of the world as Robert Plant tells the story of a man leaving his lover in the dust. Even though our protagonist is a bit jaded, he is confident that greater pleasures await him once he reaches California.

Though he is known for his trademark screaming passages, Plant's vocal delivery is restrained while still being unbelievably haunting. As he reaches the end of the tune, the echo of Plant's pained voice goes past your speakers and right into your soul. On an album full of heavy rockers, "Going to California" holds up as the ballad that packed just as much punch as any headbanger would.