Houses of the Holy cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

Houses of the Holy Songwriting Credits by Led Zeppelin

1973 Atlantic Records 8 tracks 40 min

Produced by Jimmy Page  ·  Engineered by Eddie Kramer, George Chkiantz, Keith Harwood

Atlantic Records Hard RockArt RockFunkReggae
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 8 of 8 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 8 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 8 tracks with documented writers, by whether Led Zeppelin carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
8 trackswritten by Led Zeppelin 0 tracksoutside writers
Led Zeppelin's roles on this album

Share of the 8 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

8
Tracks
4
Lyricists
1
Producers
11 million
US Copies Sold
1973
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Best Album Package (1974, Nominated)
Data Insight

By 1973 all four members of Led Zeppelin were contributing to the writing, and Houses of the Holy is almost entirely original material rather than the blues adaptations that drew authorship disputes on the band's earlier records. 'No Quarter' is credited to John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant, with Jones's keyboards driving the track and giving him unusual prominence in the credit line. 'D'yer Mak'er' is a reggae and doo-wop pastiche credited to all four members, including John Bonham, whose drumming sets its loose backbeat. The credits here are genuinely the band's own work, so the album carries fewer of the attribution questions that shadowed songs on Led Zeppelin I and II.

Houses of the Holy is the 1973 fifth studio album by Led Zeppelin and moved the band's hard rock toward cleaner, more expansive and art rock arrangements. Recorded between December 1971 and August 1972 at studios including the Rolling Stones Mobile at Stargroves and Headley Grange, Island Studios, Olympic Studios, and Electric Lady Studios in New York, it was produced by Jimmy Page and engineered by Eddie Kramer. Robert Plant sang lead while Page played guitar, John Paul Jones added keyboards, Mellotron, and synthesizers, and John Bonham played drums, on songs such as "The Song Remains the Same", "The Rain Song", and "No Quarter". The album reached number 1 on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart and was later certified 11 times platinum in the United States. Its Hipgnosis cover art became one of the most recognizable images in rock.

Track Listing & Credits 8 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

More from Led Zeppelin

Frequently Asked Questions Houses of the Holy

How do you pronounce D'yer Mak'er by Led Zeppelin?
It is pronounced to sound like 'Jamaica' (roughly 'juh-MAY-kuh'). The title comes from an old British joke in which 'Did you make her?' said in an English accent sounds like 'Jamaica,' punning on the West Indian island that inspired the song's reggae feel. The spelling deliberately disguises the pun.
Where was the cover of Houses of the Holy photographed?
The cover was shot at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland by Aubrey Powell of the design studio Hipgnosis. Two child models were photographed and then multi-printed to create the figures climbing the rocks. The images were hand-tinted to give the sleeve its unusual color cast.
Did the title track Houses of the Holy appear on the album?
No. Despite giving the album its name, the song 'Houses of the Holy' was held back and released two years later on Physical Graffiti in 1975. The album title instead refers to the band's affectionate term for the concert venues filled with their audiences.
Who wrote the songs on Houses of the Holy?
The album is largely original material written by the four band members rather than adapted from older blues songs. 'No Quarter' is credited to John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant, while 'D'yer Mak'er' is credited to all four members including drummer John Bonham. Most remaining tracks are credited to Page and Plant.
What genres does Houses of the Holy cover?
It is primarily a hard rock and art rock album, but it ranges widely across styles. 'The Crunge' is a James Brown style funk workout, 'D'yer Mak'er' is a reggae pastiche, and 'The Rain Song' and 'Over the Hills and Far Away' lean on acoustic folk textures. This stylistic range is one reason the record is considered a stretch beyond the band's blues-rock roots.
How successful was Houses of the Holy commercially?
The album was hugely successful, certified Diamond and later 11x Platinum by the RIAA for over 11 million copies sold in the United States. It also went 2x Platinum in Australia and Platinum in the United Kingdom, with Gold certifications across several European countries and Argentina. It topped album charts in both the US and UK on release in 1973.
Did any singles from Houses of the Holy chart on the Billboard Hot 100?
Yes. 'D'yer Mak'er' was the bigger hit, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late December 1973. 'Over the Hills and Far Away' also charted but stalled at number 51.

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