As part of the ongoing series of Led Zeppelin reissues with coveted bonus tracks, next month will see the re-release of what is arguably the band’s greatest moment in their recorded history, the two-record set Physical Graffiti, which was originally released 40 years ago this year.

A bonus track from the upcoming re-mastered package has gone viral, an early, previously unreleased and rough around the edges mix of one of the band’s most well known tunes, the FM radio staple “Houses of the Holy,” which was originally recorded in 1972 and was intended to be the title song of Zep’s 1973 record of the same name, but was pulled at the last minute as the band felt it “didn’t fit” on that release.

To hear the previously unreleased version of the song “Houses of the Holy” from the upcoming reissue, Rolling Stone has it streaming.

On this version, drummer John Bonham‘s chunky funky backbeat is brought to the surface, as is the vocals by Robert Plant. John Paul Jones‘ bass is also more on the forefront, which leaves Jimmy Page‘s riffs almost the undercurrent of the song, which adds even more to its aural allure. In many ways, this mix outshines the original, if for no other reason than its extreme novelty value.

Comprised of new material and outtakes which were recorded as far back as Led Zeppelin III, Physical Graffiti ushered in another supernova phase for the English quartet, in which, on the strength of the work before them, put the band over the top, especially in terms of American success and sales. Full of adventurous and stripped-down rock and roll, ranging from “Custard Pie,” to the epic quasi-Middle Eastern strains of “Kashmir,” to almost Pink Floyd leanings with “In the Light,” and out and out rockers like “The Rover,” “The Wanton Song,” and “Night Flight,” Physical Graffiti remains one of the high watermarks of one of the most revered, successful, and legendary rock units of all time.

The upcoming re-release will also sport versions of “Trampled Underfoot” (which is called the boozy “Brandy and Coke”), “Sick Again,” “Boogie With Stu,” and an orchestra mix of “Kashmir,” more directly titled “Driving Through Kashmir.” There’s also a new version of the song “In the Light,” in which the band proclaims is starkly different than the original.

[Source: Rolling Stone]