The album covers of all 9 Zeppelin albums ranked. Partly based on personal preference but mostly recognisability, significance etc.

9: Coda (1982)

Bland, boring, simple, not eye catching at all. That might've been what they were going for but either way, I don't like it, and for me it only adds to the general dullness and depressing nature of this album. Yes, it wasn't a proper studio album, but the cover doesn't exactly scream for you to pick it up.

8: Presence (1976)

Again, similar to Coda, it's just a bit plain and dull. The washed out image on the front isn't obviously related to any of the songs and the blank whiteness behind it doesn't help much. There's probably some underlying meaning to the artwork but whatever it is, I don't like this cover much at all.

7: In Through The Out Door (1979)

Now this cover is one I personally quite like. It's an interesting image to look at, and it does reflect the mood of some of the music inside. However, I didn't rank it higher as it just isn't very recognisable. This is partly because the album itself isn't one of their best, but the image isn't one people would immediately associate with Led Zeppelin like some of the others.

6: Led Zeppelin II (1969)

This is where the judging got tricky. Personally I like this cover, and it carries on with the zeppelin/war aesthetic from Led Zeppelin I, but like In Through The Out Door it isn't as recognisable as some of the others so couldn't be placed any higher. A shame, as the editing of the band's faces into the original picture was done pretty well for the late 60s.

5: Led Zeppelin III (1970)

A beautiful mess of psychedelic drawings and pictures. Immediately recognisable, imaginative and creative. The more you look at it, the more weird and wonderful things you find. It also reflects the more folky nature of this album compared to their previous ones

4: Physical Graffiti (1975)

This cover is much more recognisable than the ones before. The image is interesting, clever and is one that lots of people would know was from a Led Zeppelin album straight away.

3: Houses Of The Holy (1973)

The image is a little more out there than many of their other covers, but it's definitely iconic and one of Zeppelin's most famous covers even if it wasn't from one of the best known albums. It's bright, colourful and surreal, and is a beautiful piece of art.

2: Untitled (IV) (1971)

Led Zeppelin's best selling album. Not their most recognisable cover ever, but it's the significance behind it earned it its high place on the list. It has no title and no sign of the band name on it, a deliberate move to go against the press calling the band overhyped. This album is also regarded by many as their best by the band. Not only that but also one of the best albums in rock history.

1: Led Zeppelin (1969)

I only had to look back to where it all began to find first place on this list. I just had to put this one first. As significant as IV's cover is, as recognisable as the cover of Houses Of The Holy is, no Zeppelin album cover is more iconic than the image of the Hindenburg disaster with the burning zeppelin that they used for their first album. It reflects the music of the first album and is immediately striking and eye catching. My favourite of them all.

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What's your favourite album cover of Led Zeppelin and do you agree with my order? Comment here.

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