Oh bands had sensed the forthcoming change in the air like dogs can sniff out a fire. A few even dabbled around the edges of creating a new sound. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were gently nudging the public into accepting new and innovative sounds. But it was all such a safe transition from 50s pop that there was no real shake up.
Then one day in 1968, Atlantic records announced their signing of a little British band that used to be called The New Yardbirds and like an atomic bomb on the horizon Led Zeppelin exploded into the consciousness of disillusioned youth.
Their sound defines the 70s - screaming, impossible guitar riffs from the inimitable Mr Page, explosive spacey vocals from Robert Plant, driving yearning bass from John Paul Jones and of course the first taste of powerfilled, hypnotic and change-every-minute drum fills from the too early taken John Bonham.
In their 12 years recording Zeppelin were a true force to be reckoned with. Seemingly set on world domination in as short a time frame as possible they produced eight albums (In the beginning at a rate of nearly one a year), all of which reached the US top 10 – the only band to be able to boast such an achievement.
Rumoured to be the band Cameron Crowe based his semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous on, Zeppelin became legends in their own lifetime.
And then, on September 25 1980, the dream ended as suddenly as it had begun. John Bonham was found dead – and the remaining members agreed that the passion and flair they had created together was a balance that could not be recreated, and disbanded.
Twenty-seven years on and the band are back. If it weren't for the fact that they seem to have waited for John's son, Jason to grow up and step in for their sadly missed percussionist in an attempt to recapture the chemistry, it could be argued that they've seen how well The Who were received and jumped on the Bandwagon.
But it's Led Zeppelin, so who cares! Pre-empting their reunion gig on December 10 (postponed since Jimmy has injured his finger – not surprising if he didn't warm up properly for some of those famous frantic chord changes and the man is close to collecting his bus pass) is this 'best of' release – Mothership and it is absolute definitive Zeppelin.
Ignoring all the snobbery that has arisen over such 'overplayed' classics as 'Stairway to Heaven', the required basics for a good lesson in the history of rock are well accounted for.
Each track is not only a standalone gobsmacker that shows the heights that modern day bands continually fail to reach, but combines to create - yes a 'best of' where you've heard it all before - but still an album that strikes note perfect.
Never is there a moment of boredom – Zeppelin are the band that spawned a billion wannabe rockstars.
For those that already own everything the band have created, of course it's a little pointless, but for everyone else, 'Mothership' is an absolute must own, as an introduction to Led Zeppelin, and the history of rock in general.

This CD is available to buy now in Woolworths.