If you've heard Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, you know it's massive. Easily one of their heaviest albums - a towering double LP, the first on their own Swan Song label, packed with powerful new songs ("Kashmir," "Trampled Under Foot," "Ten Years Gone") as well as some choice outtakes that didn't make it to previous Zeppelin albums ("Houses of the Holy," "Night Flight," "Bron-Yr-Aur"). Indeed, on March 22, 1975 the album was sitting pretty atop the Billboard 200.
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But it's what happened in its second week at No. 1 on the chart that really underscored the power of Led Zeppelin. On March 29, Physical Graffiti was so big it pulled the band's entire discography back into the charts!
At No. 84 came the band's fourth, technically-untitled album, released in 1971 and previously a No. 2 hit. Holding court just eight spots below at No. 92 came their most recent work, the 1973 chart-topper Houses of the Holy. Moving in at No. 104, the chart-topping Led Zeppelin II made a triumphant return, with the band's self-titled debut just under it at No. 116. Holding up the rear at No. 124 was Led Zeppelin III, another previous No. 1 record.
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While a new album lifting up previous hits isn't anything new - especially in the streaming era - there was nothing quite like this back in '75, and wouldn't be for many, many years. It just shows what a tremendous act Led Zeppelin were in their time.
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