“George was talking to Bonzo one evening and said, ‘The problem with you guys is that you never do ballads.’ I said, ‘I’ll give him a ballad’”: How a light-hearted comment from a former Beatle inspired one of Led Zeppelin’s greatest songs

Jimmy Page in 1973.

Looking back across the decades it’s not difficult to find examples of songs and albums that have been heavily criticised by journalists on their release, only to be widely acclaimed years later. Time, it seems, can be a great healer when it comes to critical appraisal.

Such was the case with The Rain Song, a gloriously emotive and sprawling ballad that appeared on Houses Of The Holy, the fifth album from Led Zeppelin, which was released in March 1973.