Editing Houses of the Holy (section)

==Release and reception==
{{Album reviews
| title = Retrospective professional reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |author1-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Houses of the Holy'' – Led Zeppelin |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/houses-of-the-holy-mw0000190648 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507162612/https://www.allmusic.com/album/houses-of-the-holy-mw0000190648 |archive-date=7 May 2021}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev2score = A−<ref name="Christgau">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=0-89919-025-1|chapter=Houses of the Holy|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2014|access-date=5 September 2018|via=robertchristgau.com|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014224/https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Larkin |editor1-first=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2007 |publisher=Omnibus |page=833 |edition=5th concise |ol=11913831M}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = A<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Tom Sinclair |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/06/20/recordsled-zeppelin/ |title=Entertainment Weekly Review |magazine=EW.com |date=20 June 2003 |access-date=9 August 2011 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205135710/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,458337,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Great Rock Discography]]''
| rev5score = 8/10<ref>{{cite book |last1=Strong |first1=Martin C. |title=The Great Rock Discography |date=2004 |publisher=Canongate |location=New York |page=870 |ol=18807297M}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev6Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=Durchholz|editor-first2=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|isbn=978-1-57859-061-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/662 662]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/662}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev7score = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19834-led-zeppelin-ivhouses-of-the-holyphysical-graffiti/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150227053925/http://m.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19834-led-zeppelin-ivhouses-of-the-holyphysical-graffiti/ |url-status=live |archive-date=27 February 2015 |last=Richardson |first=Mark |title=Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV/Houses of the Holy/Physical Graffiti |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=24 February 2015 |access-date=22 February 2025 }}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/houses-of-the-holy-20030730|title=Houses Of The Holy|first=Gavin|last=Edwards|date=30 July 2003|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=24 August 2018|archive-date=8 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008040634/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/houses-of-the-holy-20030730|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=DeCurtis|editor1-first=Anthony|editor1-link=Anthony DeCurtis|editor2-last=Henke|editor2-first=James|editor3-last=George-Warren|editor3-first=Holly|chapter=Led Zeppelin|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|publisher=[[Random House]]|year=1992|isbn=0-679-73729-4|edition=3rd}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Tom Hull – on the Web]]''
| rev10Score = A−<ref>{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|date=n.d.|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Led+Zeppelin|title=Grade List: Led Zeppelin|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|access-date=18 July 2020|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718153558/http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Led+Zeppelin|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
This was Led Zeppelin's final studio release on Atlantic Records before forming their own label, [[Swan Song Records]], in 1974, which would be distributed by Atlantic.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=89}} It was also the only Led Zeppelin album that contained complete printed lyrics for each song.<ref name=sleeve>{{cite AV media notes|title=Houses of the Holy|publisher=Atlantic Records|year=1973|id=K50014}}</ref>

{{quote box|align=left|width=25em|quote="The epic scale suited Zeppelin: They had the largest crowds, the loudest rock songs, the most groupies, the fullest manes of hair. Eventually excess would turn into bombast, but on ''Houses'', it still provided inspiration."|source=—Gavin Edwards, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' (2003)<ref name=rsreview>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/albums/album/120527/review/5940338/houses_of_the_holy |title=''Houses of the Holy''" review |access-date=4 September 2008 |author="Edwards, Gavin |date=30 July 2003 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=16 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016060708/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/albums/album/120527/review/5940338/houses_of_the_holy |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

Although intended for release in January 1973, delays in producing the album cover meant that it was not released until March, when the band was on its 1973 European tour.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=53}} The album was promoted heavily before the commencement of Led Zeppelin's subsequent [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1973|North American Tour]], ensuring that it had ascended the top of the American chart by the beginning of the tour. Because much of the album had been recorded almost a year previously, many of the songs which are featured on the album had already been played live by Led Zeppelin on their [[concert tour]]s of North America, Japan, Europe and the UK in 1972–73.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|pp=53, 89, 94}}

''Houses of the Holy'' originally received mixed reviews, with much criticism from the music press being directed at the off-beat nature of tracks such as "The Crunge" and "D'yer Mak'er". Gordon Fletcher from ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called the album "one of the dullest and most confusing albums I've heard this year", believing the band had digressed from "the epitome of everything good about rock" to a watered down heavy metal act.<ref name="rolling stone">{{cite magazine|last1=Fletcher|first1=Gordon|title=Houses of the Holy|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/houses-of-the-holy-19730607|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=14 August 2017|date=7 June 1973|archive-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814103701/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/houses-of-the-holy-19730607|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the album was a commercial success and topped the UK charts and spent 39 weeks on the [[Billboard 200]] albums chart including two weeks at number one (their longest stint since ''Led Zeppelin III'').{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=129}} The album was number four on Billboard magazine's top albums of 1973 year end chart.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=200 |title=BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S (USA) TOP ALBUMS OF 1973 |access-date=21 September 2019 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224123243/http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=200 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981), [[Robert Christgau]] appraised ''Houses of the Holy'' favourably. While mocking the solemnity of "No Quarter" and finding some tracks derivative of previous albums, he found side one "solid led" with "sprung rhythm" and a "[[James Brown]] tribute/parody/ripoff" in "The Crunge" that complements the second side's "two amazing, well, dance tracks" in "Dancing Days{{"'}}s "transmogrified [[shuffle rhythm|shuffle]]" and the reggae of "D'yer Mak'er".<ref name="Christgau"/> "Throughout the record, the band's playing is excellent," wrote [[AllMusic]]'s [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]], "making the eclecticism of Page and Robert Plant's songwriting sound coherent and natural."<ref name="AM"/>

In 2003, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it at number 149 on the magazine's list of the "[[List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]."<ref name=Stone>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/houses-of-the-holy-led-zeppelin-19691231 |title=Houses of The Holy ranked 149 in 2003 |access-date=19 February 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902072718/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/houses-of-the-holy-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 }}</ref> It was re-ranked at number 148 in a 2012 revised list,<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/led-zeppelin-houses-of-the-holy-37372/| title=Houses of the Holy ranked 148 in 2012| access-date=19 February 2021| magazine=Rolling Stone| date=31 May 2009| archive-date=28 February 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228164723/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/led-zeppelin-houses-of-the-holy-37372/| url-status=live}}</ref> and re-ranked at number 278 in 2020.<ref name="rollingstone.com"/> In 1991, [[Chuck Eddy]] ranked ''Houses of the Holy'' 45th in his book of the 500 best heavy metal albums, writing that as with "[[the Byrds]] in the sixties and [[college radio]] in the eighties", the band "forfeit hookage for [[jangle|janglage]]". He noted that despite fans of the band's "lead mode" being critical of the funk and reggae excursions, "fun" songs like those and "Dancing Days" mark the album's best material, highlighting Bonham's great [[steel drum]]-esque sounds on "D'yer Maker", as well as praising "The Rain Song" for being "my kinda [[new age music|new age]]".<ref name="Eddy">{{cite book |last1=Eddy |first1=Chuck |title=Stairway to Hell: The 500 Best Heavy Metal Albums in the Universe |date=1991 |publisher=Harmony Books |location=New York |isbn=0517575418 |pages=35-36}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+Accolades for ''Houses of the Holy''
|-
! scope=col| Publication
! scope=col| Country
! scope=col| Accolade
! scope=col| Year
! style="text-align:center;" scope=col|Rank
|-
| ''The Book of Rock Lists''
| United States
| "The Top 40 Albums (1973)"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/dmarshal.html#70 |title=The Top 40 Albums 1973 |access-date=10 February 2009 |publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106064504/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/dmarshal.html |archive-date=6 January 2009 }}</ref>
| 1981
| 13
|-
| [[Grammy Award]]
| United States
| "[[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.super70s.com/Super70s/Music/1973/Grammys.asp |title=Grammy Award for Best Album Package (Hipgnosis)&nbsp;– 2 March 1974 |access-date=10 February 2009 |publisher=Grammy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026080944/https://www.super70s.com/Super70s/Music/1973/Grammys.asp |archive-date=26 October 2008  }}</ref>
| 1974
| Nominee
|-
| ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]''
| United Kingdom
| "100 Greatest British Rock Album Ever"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock2.htm |title=Classic Rock&nbsp;– 100 Greatest British Rock Album Ever&nbsp;– April 2006 |access-date=10 February 2009 |work=Classic Rock |archive-date=15 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515072650/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock2.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
| 2006
| 90
|-
| [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]
| United States
| "The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200 |title=The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time |access-date=10 February 2009 |work=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (United States) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927013446/http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200 |archive-date=27 September 2008  }}</ref>
| 2007
| 51
|-
| ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| United States
| "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]"<ref name="rollingstone.com"/>
| 2020
| 278
|-
| [[Pitchfork Media]]
|United States
|"Top 100 Albums of the 1970s"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5932-top-100-albums-of-the-1970s/3/ |title=Staff Lists: Top 100 Albums of the 1970s |website=Pitchfork |date=23 June 2004 |access-date=9 August 2011 |archive-date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411011310/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5932-top-100-albums-of-the-1970s/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|2004
|75
|}

<small>(*) designates unordered lists.</small>