THE RECEPTION

• Led Zeppelin IV climbed to the No.1 spot on the UK chart on December 4 ,1971, where it stayed for two weeks before being dislodged by Electric Warrior by T.Rex. IV would go on to spend 61 consecutive weeks on the chart.

• In America it remained on the chart longer than any other Zeppelin album, although it was kept off the top spot by Carole King’s mega-selling now-classic Tapestry.

• Since its release in 1971 Led Zeppelin IV has racked up worldwide sales of nearly 40 million. It’s one of the highest-certified albums in the Recording Industry Association Of America, having attained platinum status 23 times over.

• In the UK, an error at a pressing plant resulted in a few pressings of Led Zeppelin IV appearing on the Asylum Records label. This occurred in 1972 when distribution of the Atlantic label was switched to the Kinney stable under the WEA imprint (Warner, Elektra, Atlantic).

• A unique and very rare gold-and-black vinyl multi-coloured pressing of the album surfaced in Canada in the mid-70s.

• In November 1978. IV was officially released on lilac vinyl in the UK by Atlantic in a limited pressing. Those copies now change hands for up to £100.

• The completed and mixed fourth Led Zeppelin album was cut at Trident Studios in London, with more lacquers being made at The Beatles’ Apple Studios in the midsummer of 1971.

• Reviewing IV for Rolling Stone, future Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye ended his review with the curt summary that it was “not bad for a bunch of Limey lemon squeezers’’.