Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
My late 80s high school friend group was more into 70s rock bands than 80s pop and New Wave. Our favorites were The Who, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.
That Led Zeppelin fandom, for me at least, spanned six albums: Led Zeppelin II, III, and IV, plus Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti, and In Through the Out Door. 1976’s Presence never broke through.
That was also the popular consensus. Though Presence went triple Platinum, it was the band’s worst-selling album and their least critically acclaimed.
Presence is heavy on electric guitar, with none of the keyboards and acoustic guitars that added texture to the band’s most popular material. The hard rock style was reminiscent of the band’s debut album (another one I didn’t fully embrace).
Style aside, what really separates this album from the rest is the lack of memorable songs. Even the most casual Zeppelin fan — hell, even people who don’t like the band at all — can identify a dozen of their hits from the opening licks alone. The songs on Presence are comparatively hookless.
It’s always interesting when a massively popular and respected artist or group releases its first disappointment. Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait might be the most famous example — a sloppy mess coming on the heels of nine masterpieces.
Presence isn’t exactly in that league (I’m sure it’s the favorite album of some die-hard blues rock lovers) but it definitely stands apart in Zeppelin’s catalog.
Well
Oh, baby, baby, don’t you want a man like me?
Oh, baby, baby, I’m just as sweet as anybody could be
Oh, baby, baby, I want to look to your eyes of blue
Oh, baby, baby, it’s more than anybody else could do
[Verse 2]
Well
Oh, baby, baby, you know when I see you walking down the street
Oh, baby, baby, well you looking good enough to eat
Oh, baby, baby, I don’t believe I’ve tasted this before
Oh, baby, baby, I want it now and every mouthful more of you
[Chorus]
Talk about you, you, talk about you
[Verse 3]
Oh, baby, baby, you know that I wanted it more
Oh, baby, baby, I’m about to kiss goodbye to this store
Oh, baby, baby, it ain’t the wrapping that sells the goods
Oh, baby, baby, I got a sweet tooth when my mouth is full of you
[Chorus]
Talk about you, ooh, you, talk about you
You, talk about you, ooh, you, talk about you
[Bridge]
Ooh, ooh
Baby, it’s alright, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh
Baby, it’s alright, it’s alright
[Verse 4]
Well
Oh, baby, baby, oh you sting like a bee
Oh, baby, baby, I like your honey and it sure likes me
Oh, baby, baby, I got my spoon inside your jar
Oh, baby, baby, don’t give me too much, don’t make me starve
[Verse 5]
Oh, baby, baby, sugar sister on a silver plate
Oh, baby, baby, I need a mouthful and I just can’t wait, no
Oh, baby, baby, see the shaking in my hand
Oh, baby, baby, don’t mean to fumble but it tastes so grand
Tastes so grand, tastes so grand
Tastes so grand, tastes so grand
[Outro]
Ooh, ooh, yeah
Baby, it’s alright, oh, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh
Oh, baby, it’s alright, oh, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh
It’s alright, oh, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh
It’s alright, yeah, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh
It’s alright, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh, ooh
It’s alright, it’s alright
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah
It’s alright, it’s alright
Ooh, ooh, yeah
Alright
Meet Me In Montauk 
As you were listing the titles of your favorite Zeppelin albums, I was thinking, “Isn’t that all of them?” I’ve never even heard of Presence! Sounds like I’m not missing much.
speaking of famous and great artists having a loser album I think of Sinatra’s wonderful Watertown that was considered a flop sales wise. Go figure 🤷♀️