Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV, was recorded primarily at Headley Grange in Hampshire, England in January 1971 using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, with additional sessions at Island Studios in London. Produced by guitarist Jimmy Page and engineered by Andy Johns, the album features the core lineup of Page on guitar, Robert Plant on vocals, John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards, and John Bonham on drums. The eight tracks move between acoustic folk, blues, and heavy rock, with "Stairway to Heaven" building from a quiet fingerpicked introduction to a full-band crescendo that became one of the most widely recognized compositions in rock history. "Black Dog" opens the album with an interlocking riff built on an unusual time feel, while "When the Levee Breaks," rooted in a Memphis Minnie blues, is known for Bonham's cavernous drum sound, recorded in the stairwell at Headley Grange and later widely sampled. Released on Atlantic Records in November 1971, the album has sold over 37 million copies worldwide and is certified 24 times platinum in the United States. The band deliberately left it untitled, identifying each member with a symbol on the inner sleeve rather than printing names.
