10 Greatest Classic Rock Led Zeppelin Songs
1. Black Dog
So, what could possibly beat Led Zeppelin's most classic song of all time? "Stairway to Heaven" has a presence that goes far beyond anything the band will ever create and will be around long after they've departed from this Earth. Though the song is praised for good reason, "Black Dog" is a better example of everything great that Zeppelin has to offer.
After a few bits of guitar chatter, Plant's bluesy voice leads into the groove, with Jimmy Page's riff hitting you like a ton of bricks. Though the initial construction of the riff was made by John Paul Jones, the way Page interprets the riff takes it from a complex note configuration to an undeniable rock and roll stomp.
The song is built from the riff outward, but John Bonham's drums are key to holding the entire track together. The atypical call and response dynamic between instruments and voice lives and dies on Bonham's entrance, which showcases just how much of an original talent he was in his prime.
"Stairway to Heaven" may have the more classic aura in its favor, but "Black Dog" is the ideal song that you put on if you want to know the reason why Led Zeppelin are kings of the classic rock genre to this day.