Vinyl-y Ever After: Led Zeppelin IV

Once Upon a Time we all listened to music on vinyl.

And one of the great perks of vinyl—besides better sound—was the cool album covers. It was the poor person's means of collecting some stellar art. It was especially exciting when one of your favorite songs happened to be tucked within one of your favorite covers.

Such was the case with the un-named Led Zepplin album often referred to as Led Zepplin IV. It featured the mythic tune, "Stairway to Heaven" which ranks as my Second Greatest Tune of All Time.

The cover itself would also become iconic—an amazing feat for a design that didn't include the name of the band or a title. And one would have hardly thought that the victorian image of an old man (often referred to as "the stickman") would be a good one to associate with rock-n-roll.

The Pastoral Cover of Led Zeppelin IV

My BFF, Sheila, gave me the album on my 18th birthday. Sadly, it was the only gift I received at the time because we were just two days into our freshman year of college and everyone was so busy running around to their new classes and buying school supplies that my INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT MILESTONE OF ENTERING ADULTHOOD was not something anyone had the time or desire to celebrate. So I was grateful when Sheila ran into my dorm room and tossed the unwrapped LP into my lap with a breathless, "Happy Birthday Weirdo!" before dashing straight back out the door to do school stuff. So much for cake and candles! But no matter because all I wanted to do was play "Stairway to Heaven" a gazillion times and stare at the cover because I loved the image so much.

Now when I say "loved" I mean "LOVED"! Maybe it was because I had grown up on a farm or maybe it was because I dreamed of living in England or maybe it was both, but I was smitten with the image.

I even painted a copy of the cover for one of my art projects in college. It turned out well but unfortunately my mom decided to let it disintegrate from mold in her basement—alongside other precious artifacts from my college days.

Led Zeppelin's lead singer, Robert Plant, was responsible for the image on the cover. Supposedly he discovered the photo in an antiques store near Jimmy Page's home.

In a 2023 episode of Digging Deep with Robert Plant podcast, the iconic frontman likened himself to the “stick man”.

“The old guy with the sticks on his back on Zeppelin IV — I’m now that guy!” Plant said jovially. “I pick up kindling everywhere I go and wrap it around with a piece of baling twine and shunt it on my back just in case anyone’s driving by, and they go, ‘There’s that bloke from the Led Zeppelin IV album cover!'”

I can picture it—can't you?

He probably looks just like this now!

Only in color.

Robert Plant as the Stick Man

My slightly redesigned Led Zeppelin LP cover featuring Robert Plant

Now it just so happens that I live in a forest and often pick up a lot of sticks. It seemed like a good opportunity to become the thatcher on the cover of the Led Zep LP as well. (I've always wanted to be an album cover. Haven't you?) This probably occurred to me because I've had Robert Plant on the brain as of late after recently learning that if I don't brush my hair after a wash it dries in ringlets—somewhat like Robert Plant's curls of olde. This may seem like a weird thing to mention but I gotta tell you that I’ve been aware of my own head for pretty much my whole life and yet I never knew this fact till now. (I guess I was too busy impersonating Mick Jagger in my youth to notice.) Learning I have Led Locks feels like a meaningful Fangirl discovery. 

And now that I know that Mr. Plant also has an affinity (and a resemblance) to the thatcher man I figured that I—with my Plant-ish hair—might bear a resemblance too. So I tested my theory during a recent pick-up-sticks session.

Something's not right. I look like a rhinoceros.

Better! But really hard to balance these small trees on my back.

At this point I was like, "Just snap the dang photo. This is as good as it's gonna get." My poor husband.

Actually, this isn't my first time 'becoming an album cover'.

It probably won't be my last either.

My husband has finally embraced this fact and doesn't even roll his eyes anymore when I ask him to take the photos.

My dog wanted to be a part of the photoshoot because STICKS!

Below is the result of my Fangirl Photoshoot in video form.

It was fun to juxtapose images with the beautiful "Stairway to Heaven" song.

In fact, I may create a longer version someday—once I figure out how to control the length of the video. I couldn't quite manage it this time around, so the tune cuts out and all we hear is

"She's buying a stair . . ."

Apologies + Spoiler Alert:

She's buying the WHOLE stairway.

And it 's to Heaven.

Allegedly.

Enlarge for the best viewing experience.

The Gang's All Here!

If you are interested in the story of the photo then click on the image below to get the low-down.

And here are some more fun videos for your "Stairway to Heaven" viewing pleasure.

All are worth a watch.

A Led Zeppelin Home Movie with "Stairway" like you've never heard it.

Jimmy Page talks "Stairway".

The iconic Wayne's World/ Stairway scene.

One of cinema's greatest BUT DELETED scenes. I wish they could have left it in the movie Almost Famous.

And just in case you weren't there in the 70s to see Led live . . .

Finally, give Dolly Parton's beautiful version of the song a listen.

And for those of you that are interested in more Fanfare regarding the song and the album, the link below contains a variety of reported details on a lot of the controversy and myths that surrounded this particular LP.

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/led-zeppelin/stairway-to-heaven

NOTE: The photograph I used of Robert Plant's face was taken by the amazing Alyssa Gafjen.

Visit her website for some beautiful photography of more musical icons.

https://www.alyssegafkjen.com/