Led Zeppelin IV Trivia Quiz

Answer: An old countryman

The cover of the old countryman, according to Jim Page, was made for several reasons. Jimmy Page said in 1977, "It represented the change in the balance which was going on. There was the old countryman and the blocks of flats being knocked down. It was just a way of saying that we should look after the earth, not rape and pillage it." In 2001, Page said, ""The cover wasn't meant to antagonize the record company.

It was designed as our response to the music critics who maintained that the success of our first three albums was driven by hype and not talent... So we stripped everything away, and let the music do the talking." Later in 2010, he said, "The cover was supposed to be something that was for other people to savour rather than for me to actually spell everything out, which would make the whole thing rather disappointing on that level of your own personal adventure into the music."

Answer: The Battle of Evermore

"The Battle of Evermore" is one of their more beautiful songs with (to a sci-fi/fantasy nut) interesting lyrics. There are several references to Tolkien's works such as "the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on."

Answer: Stairway to Heaven

"No Stairway. Denied!" said the shocked Wayne in the movie "Wayne's World," possibly in recognition of the overplaying of Led Zeppelin's most famous song. Despite this, VH1 recognized it as the third greatest song (in 2000) and "Rolling Stone" magazine placed it as number 31 in 2004.

Its success is especially impressive since it was never released as a single and its run time is over eight minutes (both important facts in the old days of top 40 radio). There was actually a movie in 1946 called "Stairway to Heaven" and in 1960 Neil Sedaka had a song of the same name.

Answer: Black Dog

"Black Dog" has been recognized by "Rolling Stone" magazine as one of the greatest 500 songs of all times (number 300 in 2010). Although the lyrics do not sound like a tribute to a dog, Robert Plant (in 2007) said of the lyrics: "Not all my stuff is meant to be scrutinized. Things like 'Black Dog' are blatant, let's-do-it-in-the-bath-type things, but they make their point just the same."

Answer: Misty Mountain Hop

The song "Misty Mountain Hop" ends with the lyrics, "So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains, where the spirits go now, over the hills where the spirits fly. I really don't know." However, the Misty Mountains may actually refer to mountains in Wales.

The beginning of the song is supposedly about a run-in with the police. According to rollingstone.com, Robert Plant said the lyrics referred to "being caught in the park with wrong stuff in your cigarette papers."

Answer: When the Levee Breaks

Thanks to compressing the sound, slowing it down and adding echo, the song "When the Levee Breaks" has an amazing drum sound. As Jimmy Page noted, "...you've got backwards harmonica, backwards echo, phasing, and there's also flanging; and at the end, you get this super-dense sound, in layers, that's all built around the drum track" (May 2008 "Uncut Magazine"). Only Robert Plant's vocals are at normal speed. Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie actually first recorded the song.

Answer: Rock and Roll

Although Alan Freed in the 1950s is often credited with using the words "Rock and Roll" to describe the music of the late 1950s, the terms (together or separate) go back to the 1920s. By the 1930s, "rock" began to be associated with a good beat. Not surprisingly, the origins of this song began with a John Bonham drum riff similar to Little Richard's "Keep a Knockin" and Jimmy Page following along with his guitar.

Answer: Four Sticks

Reportedly, "Four Sticks" was named because the drummer, John Bonham, played with two drumsticks in each hand. Interestingly, it is the only song NOT remastered from "Led Zeppelin IV" for the 1990 "Led Zeppelin Box Set: The Complete Collection".

Answer: Going to California

Although the song was originally to be about an earthquake due to their experience in California, it evolved into a song about finding a woman. The woman was, in fact, Joni Mitchell. Robert Plant would often say her name after singing the lyrics "To find a queen without a king, They say she plays guitar and cries and sings... la la la." Joni Mitchell had a song called "I Had a King."

Answer: It was untitled

There is no official fourth (or IV) title, nor is it Zoso (the four symbols on the album are not letters but are individually designed by each member for different reasons). According to "Guitar World", band member Jimmy Page said not naming the album was in response to the critics. "After all we had accomplished, the press was still calling us a hype. So that is why the fourth album was untitled.

It was a meaningless protest, really, but we wanted to prove that people were not buying us for the name.," Page said. "So that is why the fourth album was untitled."