Album Review: Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 3LP Vinyl)
3 min read
Rock goliaths Led Zeppelin are marking a major milestone this year with the 50th anniversary of Physical Graffiti, one of the most ambitious and celebrated albums in their legendary catalog. Originally released in 1975, this sprawling double album captured the band at their creative peak, blending thunderous hard rock with genre-defying experimentation and timeless songwriting.
To honor the occasion, the band has reissued the album in a special Deluxe Edition 3LP vinyl package, carefully repackaged to reflect its historic significance. More than just a simple reprint, this anniversary edition comes with a number of thoughtful extras tucked inside its sleeve, making it a worthy tribute to a landmark release in the Zeppelin discography.
The 50th anniversary reissue of Physical Graffiti is a solid celebration of one of Led Zeppelin’s most iconic albums. This is a Deluxe Edition 3LP vinyl set, featuring the 2015 remastered double album plus a Companion Audio disc, all pressed on 180-gram black vinyl. Inside the set, there’s also a replica of a 1975 promotional poster – a nice bonus that adds a nostalgic touch for longtime fans and collectors.
The windowed sleeve on this release is especially impressive, faithfully recreating the original die-cut artwork that made the album so visually distinctive. While the outer packaging is thoughtfully done, the standard paper inner sleeves are a bit underwhelming; sturdier archival-quality sleeves would have been more fitting for a release of this stature.
Sonically, the audio sticks with the same 2015 remaster that Jimmy Page oversaw, so don’t expect a radically new listening experience. That said, this pressing is clean, well-balanced, and full of punch. The vinyl plays quietly, with good overall quality control, making it one of the better pressings available for this album.
Musically, Physical Graffiti remains a monster of a record. The range is wild – from the heavy groove of Custard Pie and The Rover, to the hypnotic grandeur of Kashmir, and delicate acoustic moments like Bron-Yr-Aur.
The Companion Disc features a collection of studio outtakes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the album’s creative process with alternate takes and rough mixes that are rawer, but fascinating. Tracks include Brandy & Coke (an early version of Trampled Under Foot), Sick Again, In My Time of Dying, Houses of the Holy, Everybody Makes It Through (an alternate version of In the Light), Boogie With Stu, and Driving Through Kashmir. These versions strip away some of the polish, revealing the evolution of the songs – a real treat for fans who appreciate the band’s studio work.
If you already own the 2015 deluxe version, this reissue doesn’t break new ground sonically. But the Deluxe Edition packaging, bonus poster, and Companion Audio disc make it a worthy pickup for collectors or anyone seeking a great-sounding, handsomely presented vinyl edition of this landmark album. It’s a thoughtful and well-executed anniversary release that gives Physical Graffiti the respect it deserves.
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