English rock band The Yardbirds have a rather short tenure on the US charts given their tremendous influence. The band was also the early stomping grounds where superstars like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page honed their craft. The Yardbirds got off to a promising start in the US in 1965 as "For Your Love" and "Heart Full Of Soul" soared to #6 and #9, respectively. They'd follow these babies up with other classics like "I'm A Man," which hit #17, and "Shapes Of Things," which hit #11 and became a R&R Hall of Famer. The group would achieve two more Top 40 entries in 1966 with "Over Under Sideways Down" (#13) and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (#30). After several personnel changes, the group would break up in 1968. Members found other successful projects or solo work. Jimmy Page formed The New Yardbirds, which grew into Led Zeppelin. Sadly, lead singer and harmonica player Keith Relf died in 1976 at the age of 33 after suffering a massive electric shock while playing guitar. "I Ain't Done Wrong" did not chart, but showcases the raw energy of a bold new band aiming to reform rock and roll. The song builds into a fierce climax that foreshadows the heavier edge that Led Zeppelin would later bring to the table.
It is virtually impossible to pick the greatest song from Led Zeppelin's uncharted classics, largely because so many of their well-known songs surprisingly never charted, including "Communication Breakdown," "Ramble On," Dazed and Confused," and even their epic ballad, "Stairway To Heaven." These legendary pioneers of hard rock did score some top 20 hits with "Whole Lotta Love" (#4), "Immigrant Song" (#16), "Black Dog" (#15), and "D'yer Mak'er" (#20). While many associate Led Zeppelin with the gritty and blazing guitar of Jimmy Page and the banshee rock vocals of Robert Plant, some seem to forget how diverse the music of Led Zeppelin was. They effortlessly jumped between hard rock, psychedelic rock, the blues, symphonic rock, and acoustic rock. They should have had more chart hits, but their influence on rock and roll still lives on today. "All My Love" showcases yet another dimension of the band, a rare and tender moment. The heartfelt song is about the death of Plant's son and rips me up every time I hear it. It is also one of the first to feature synthesizers, played by bassist John Paul Jones. Led Zeppelin faced another tragedy when drummer John Bonham died in 1980, at which point they decided to disband.
