3. Led Zeppelin - Moby Dick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uD2uo85JDI
Find it: Led Zeppelin II (1969) Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant may be renowned as one of the finest singers in the history of rock and roll, but one of his band's most memorable moments arguably came when he stepped away from the microphone. Appearing on the standout 1969 album Led Zeppelin II, 'Moby Dick' features some impressive drop-D guitar work that's blown out of the water by an absolute behemoth of a drumming performance from John Bonham - a suitably epic turn for a song named after the Herman Melville classic. In essence, the song is actually part of a much longer recording of Bonham's jam sessions, pieced together to form an extended drum solo and bookended by some crunching blues riffs from Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Whether you're listening to the album version or a longer live recording, Bonham hammers away at his drum set while retaining all the skill and dexterity that continues to see him ranked among the best drummers of all time. For a band that made a habit of playing with unconventional rhythms (see
'Black Dog'), this track epitomises the drummer's central role in keeping the Led Zeppelin rollercoaster on track. Setting so much time aside for a single instrument - Bonham's undulating display often lasted up to 20 minutes on early tours - is the kind of move that only a band like Led Zeppelin could get away with. And yet there's something wonderful about sitting back and enjoying this song for what it is: a breathtaking bit of showboating from a performer in his prime.