Physical Graffiti is a 55 minute powerhouse journey through Led Zeppelin’s most stylistically ambitious album. Originally released as a double album in 1975, the new Deluxe Edition features seven unearthed bonus tracks that will leave you wanting more. It is somewhat surprising that even more bonus material wasn’t released, as the original album consisted of a large portion of studio outtakes dating back to 1970. Jimmy Page, Zeppelin’s guitar player and original producer, has re-mastered the original album with musically subtle and stunning sonic improvements.

The re-mastered version is available in CD, vinyl and as a high resolution 96kHz/24-bit digital download. Page makes few changes to the musical texture of the album and rightfully so. Physical Graffiti has stood the test of time for 40 years as an epic double album and you don’t fix what isn’t broken. The real value of this re-mastered version is the sonic improvements that 40 years of advances in studio technology has to offer. In comparison to the original version, the re-mastered version sounds alive and dynamic. Take for instance the first 30 seconds of the song “Houses of the Holy”. John Bonham’s drums are crisp and punchy while the cymbal crashes decay into thin air. The infamous bass drum pedal squeaks away in all its glory. The pulsing interplay between Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones is palpable. The original recording sounds dull and muted in comparison. The horn section in the song “Kashmir” really shines through, adding to the texture of the orchestral part of the song. Page’s brilliance and musicality is highlighted in the 2 minute song “Bron-Yr-Aur”. Every note is captured as his fingers run up and down the fret board of his acoustic guitar.

Physical Graffiti spans so many genres, including blues, hard rock and country. Eastern influences are also very apparent and there is even a little funk of “Trampled Under Foot” thrown into the mix. Somehow, like the Beatles White Album, it all works. If you do not already own a copy, do yourself a favor and pick up the Deluxe Edition in any format. If this is your 2nd, 3rd or even 4th copy, don’t even hesitate to do the same.