8 Short But Great Led Zeppelin Songs

Led Zeppelin thrived in uniqueness. They were never the imitators; rather, they were the ones whose styles were copied. Led Zeppelin pushed back so many boundaries, including creating songs that were either too long or too short. Below, we take a glimpse at these 8 short but incredibly great songs that only Led Zeppelin could pull off.

 

“Black Mountain Side” – Led Zeppelin (1969)

Although Page played an acoustic guitar in “Black Mountain Side,” he did it in a way that evoked Indian music and instruments. As the song came to a close, his quick arpeggios evoked sitar playing, and the tablas’ driving rhythm drove home the Eastern flavor. The song clocks at 2:12 minutes.

“Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)” – Led Zeppelin II (1969)

Despite Jimmy Page’s frustration with the song, many radio DJs alternated between “Heartbreaker” and “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)” due to the seamless transition between the two tracks. The song clocks at 2:39 minutes.

“Communication Breakdown” – Led Zeppelin (1969)

Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown” belongs in the DNA of punk music. The Ramones were undoubtedly influenced by Page’s chugging downstrokes on the guitar, a signature of early punk bands. “Communication Breakdown” clocks at 2:30 minutes.

“Good Times Bad Times” – Led Zeppelin (1969)

The opening song on Led Zeppelin’s debut album was a comprehensive introduction to the band for anybody considering becoming a fan. Page intended for all band members to have significant musical contributions. It wasn’t going to be Jimmy Page and His Trio up there; everyone in the band will get their moment in the spotlight. “Good Times Bad Times” clocks at 2:46 minutes.

“Royal Orleans” – Presence (1976)

This song was unusually short for the Presence album, as every other track was at least four minutes and two were over nine. In “Royal Orleans” Robert Plant ridiculed John Paul Jones in the song’s lyrics by describing a man and his cross-dressing companion as the arsonists of a hotel. The bassist supposedly had the same experience during one of their tour stops. “Royal Orleans” clocks at 2:59 minutes.

“Immigrant Song” – Led Zeppelin III (1970)

Fans of all ages and musical backgrounds respond strongly to “Immigrant Song” because of its chugging riff, relentless rhythm, Plant’s alien cry, and enduring lyrics. It’s one of Led Zeppelin’s shortest songs, but it’s also one of their greatest. The song clocks at 2:26 minutes.

“Bron Yr-Aur” – Physical Graffiti (1975)

Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti had both their longest and shortest tracks. Led Zeppelin often over their career demonstrated their ability to compose compelling epic songs. Even in their simplest songs, they were able to deliver compelling themes in a time frame of less than three minutes. The song is Zeppelin’s shortest, clocking at 2:06 minutes.

“We’re Gonna Groove” – Coda (1982)

“We’re Gonna Groove” clocks at 2:38 minutes, making it one of the shortest Zeppelin songs of all time. The song penned their posthumous album, Coda. Moreover, it’s possible that it’s also their heaviest. The live rendition of the Ben E. King song was edited by Page to sound more like a studio production, emphasizing the heavier portions.