Customer Reviews

Led Zeppelin III

5 star:		(127)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

LED ZEPPELIN III was the first album to emphasize the acoustic side of Led Zeppelin, and the results are great the best songs are "Tangerine" and "That's The Way." This album is the polar opposite of PRESENCE. Listen to them back to back and see what I mean.

The essential linchpin in Led Zeppelin's discography

Led Zeppelin's third album, unimaginatively titled LED ZEPPELIN III, shows the band in a much different light than the preceding two records. The first two records were constructed around hard-hitting, direct music, with a fairly straightforward sound. LED ZEPPELIN showed the band capable of classic dynamics and very textured music, sowing seeds to come. ZEPPELIN II, though, was a very direct sounding record, much more built on the riffs and acid blues of such contemporaries like Cream, Hendrix, and Jeff Beck. This all led to the general opinion that the band had a fairly limited sound, drawing frequent comparisons to Black Sabbath.

LED ZEPPELIN III, however, blew all such stereotypes out of the water. While this record still has a heavy, metallic sound on a couple of tracks, by and large III is largely an accoustic affair, especially on the last half of the album. Even the hard rockers aren't nearly as straight-forward as the ones found on their first two LPs. The second side shows Zeppelin quite masterfully working in a folk-blues tradition, turning in some wonderful music. The band still plays the blues, but these blues are seen through the prism of III's sound. Instead of building the blues on pummeling riffs they instead focus more on an acoustic foundation, giving the record a rich, warm sound. The only real fault here is that they left off the B-Side "Hey Hey What Can I Do," which fits in perfectly with III and would have been a very strong addition to the album. The very last song, which there's nothing wrong with, I don't much care for, but that's just my personal taste.

After ZEPPELIN III, Zeppelin went on to bigger and better things. However, just like The Beatles' RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER, III stands as the linchpin in the band's discography, because it is here that the evolution really begun to propel the band to a rich, varied sound. Black Sabbath never made this transition; they kept pummeling out the hard rock riffs and overtly satanic imagery. Page said that after they made III they never got compared to Sabbath again. Here Zeppelin shows themselves capable of much more than the blues-based heavy metal of their first two records. Had Zeppelin never made this transition, they would never have been such the major force in rock that they are today. In the end, had they kept churning out the same sound as the first two, the records would worsen and become stagnate, with no real musical evolution or growth. This is the record that set them on their journey to their most varied, musically adventurous albums (ZOSO, HOUSES, PHYSICAL GRAFFITI, and, though not wholly successful, IN THRU THE OUT DOOR). This is the album that set them apart, and really made you curious where they would go to next. Obviously these were some talented musicians with the ability to play with a very elastic sound, encompassing far more than conventional heavy metal and blues-based hard rock.

Over all, LED ZEPPELIN III stands as quite an achievement. Unfortunately, many of the Zeppelin imitators and copy the hard, direct music of the first couple of records and forget about how artistically adventurous this band was. In many ways, this is the record that propelled them into the monolithic presense they have over rock, because this is the record that should the world Zeppelin was a lot more than just a stereotypical heavy metal group.

it seems to some people that the less heavy blues based rock tracks ar on a LZ LP, the worse it is. the first half of the album contains some rockers, but this album gets knocks for it's second half being acoustic. this is one of the reasons why this paricular album is underrated in Led Zeppelin terms. but the fact it is underrated has preserved it's beauty. the lone hit contained in this album was Immigrant Song. fast-paced heavy tune, but the norse mythology thing wears on me after a bit. my personal favorite frenetic rockers include Celebration Day and Out on the Tiles. Friends is an interesting acoustic number that is a bit mysterious. Since I've Been Loving You is an awesome lengthy blues song. Gallows Pole is straight up folk, but hard enough to be zeppelin. Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp is a fun, acoustic folky, well.. stomp. Tangerine and That's the Way have to be too of the most beautiful songs in the Led Zeppelin catalogue, and probably a couple of the most beautiful i've ever heard. Tangerine reminds me a bit of the Rolling Stones song Wild Horses that would come out a year later. when i hear That's the Way, i feel as though i'm in another world. a slightly psychadelic aura to that song. the closing Hats off to Roy Harper, is a retitled, bizzarly arranged traditional blus number. Page's guitar coming out of one speaker while Plant's distorted voice is coming out of the other. on the first initial listen to this song you may think "What the f**k is this?" but in this album, it works.

Led Zeppelin is the most influential Rock in Roll band in the entire history of music; there is just simply no getting around that. They hold up with age and terrible bands like Dave Matthews, Coldplay, and this pop rock spoon-fed char topper pale in comparison. One more thing and then I am done venting, if you refuse to like Led Zeppelin and prefer bands like Duran Duran than keep your offensive, officious, overbearing, malodorous, monotone, mouthy jabbering out your review! You providential puts! If I read one more review that says "well, it's flower power" or " it's cheesy now and lacks the emotion found in Brittany Spears's work or Nickel Back's" I swear I'm going to snuff it, off myself, I can't take it!

I apologize to the harmless reader and now wish to continue. Led Zeppelin III took a quite different approach than their first two rock infused blues albums, not that that sound is not to be found on this album, far from it," Celebration Day" and "Out on the Tiles" give you plenty of the Led Zeppelin you love. What makes this album so spectacular are the folk and blue undertones of the acoustic pieces often overshadowed by the colossal radio hit "The Immigrant Song"(Lord of the Rings/ Similmarilion/ Norse Mythology based lyrics). Songs like "Friends" and " That's the Way" really set a nice change in pace from previous Led Zeppelin albums. Overall great album to have I know I love mine, but for the new Led Zeppelin fan go for the fourth album (Stairway to Heaven), then get three, and then end your collection with their later stuff like Physical Graffiti.

Led Zeppelin III (1970.) Led Zeppelin's third album.

In 1969, Led Zeppelin released two albums that were nothing short of excellent - Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II. It's very rare that a band can shell out two five-star albums in a single year, but the guys managed to do it nonetheless. Both of the band's previous albums followed a similar style - blues-based hard rock, which worked surprisingly well. Although no one can deny the pure excellence of the band's first two albums, the band must have realized that they couldn't go on doing the same thing forever. So they got progressive. And in 1970, the band released its third studio album, appropriately entitled Led Zeppelin III. Read on for my review.

This album is kicked off with Immigrant Song, the fast-paced rocker that would go on to become the most popular song on this album. It's an excellent song, however, it does NOT speak for the rest of the album. Being both the first track and the most popular song to emerge from the album, you'd expect the other tracks to be similar in style. Well, my friends, the opposite couldn't be more true. As a whole, this is probably the most different-sounding Led Zeppelin album. The second track, Friends, is a folksy-styled acoustic track. Although this isn't what the average person is used to hearing from the band, it's a solid track nonetheless. It's followed up by Celebration Day, which uses similar stylings to its predecessor but throws some electric guitars in the mix to keep things interesting. The most underrated track on this entire album would have to be Gallows Pole. If you want an excellent Led Zeppelin track that gives you everything, you've come to the right place. Don't overlook this little gem! The band also tries their hand at some simplistic acoustic-style songs, Tangerine and That's The Way. The band is generally recognized by fans for its hard rock sound, so it's easy to overlook the softer stuff - and it's actually quite good! Two pretty strange songs finish off the album. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp is a another folksy-style track, which sounds like it had some Bob Dylan influence. Hats Off To (Roy) Harper finishes off the album. It's an old blues song that gets an excellent update. Strange as they may be, these closing songs are still excellent.

In the end, Led Zeppelin III comes off as one of the band's most different-sounding albums. It's probably the weakest of the "classic four" albums that the band released, but it's still damn good (I gave it four and a half stars, didn't I?) It may take a few listens to get into this album, unlike the others which generally hook you on the first listen, but in the end you should agree - this album is an underrated little gem. Just make sure you listen to this one with an open mind.

Sure, Led Zeppelin could rock, that is undeniable. I have never heard anyone nor will anyone ever be able to play like jimmy page did. He was a God, and Robert Plant's voice was so spiritual and so hard to copy, he is in a league of his own. Zeppelin's first two albums were so sexy and hard that when Zeppelin 3 came out, everyone was shocked to see a lighter side of of the boys.
I think its very important to listen to this album a few times before really judging it, kind of like "Pet Sounds." This album is so haunting its unreal. One time i drove to cleveland and listened to Zeppelin 3 over and over the whole way. Just driving down the highway by yourself in the summer listening to songs like "Thats the way" and "Tangerine" is pure bliss in everyway. songs like this make you really think about where your going in life, especially at my age of 19. These songs are so beautiful and i do not think that Zeppelin could ever touch these types of songs there afterwards. I am so thankful that Zeppelin took some time out of thier hard rocking days to put out something suggestive like this and lovely. I will always consider zeppelin 3 as my favorite zeppelin album because it means so much to me and my direction in life and i will always be greatful for music like this.

The best of Zepp albums. Jimmy Page definitely can play, and he never did it better than here. Beautiful acoustic songs, including English folk and bluegrass influences which -unfortunately- would be replaced by silly macho-rock attitude and tech effects for the next albums. A pity Zepp did not explore the acoustic way deep enough.

Led Zeppelin 3 is actually one of the band's most musically diverse recordings, featuring as it does the incendiary hard rock masterpiece "Immigrant Song" and all 7 minutes and 25 seconds of slowburning, intense blues, "Since I've Been Loving You", which betray a strong Janis Joplin vocal influence on Robert Plant's part. There are even gentle,folky accoustic songs
that can bring a tear to your eye-"Tangerine", "That's The Way" and "Friends". All throughout, their Blues influence is strongly apparant and at top form. This album has it all - Blues, Country, Hard Rock, Folk and almost nothing on here has been beat to death on "Classic Rock" stations, so it ensures you will not ever get tired of this underrated classic.

when people think of led zeppelin cds usually this one doesnt come up in their minds first. its either the hits of IV or the nice jams of II or the newbie fury of I or even houses of the holy. but after listening to some of their albums and deciding for myself, i find this album to be my favorite. and the reason i love this the most is simply because it is in between the jams of II and all of their hits in IV. it was right in the middle of those two cds and thats why i like it so much.

Composed in every Led Zeppelin album the roots you are based on down south blues and the traditional old folk tunes from these ladds' childhood music memories , enbbeded like rocks in a stream reciteing poetry from timeless tones.

For example the Led Zeppelin III Album recording entirely demonstrates all of these qualities. Let's start with Since I'VE Been Loving You. This song besides bieng great also it employees all the tradioal blues in the world , Galloows Pole is pure traditional folk music. Tangerine, also includes the same qualities as well as That's The Way, GAlloos Pole burst with such pure FOLK TRADITION...WITCH ONE CAN'T EXPLAIN ITS PURE IMPACT WITH WORDS or its INTENSETY...

The Immigrant Song is very catachy tune and the band uses all their gem qualities. Well The Led Zeppeln III ALBUM is my favorite and everyone should hear it and decied for themselves if memories overlooked or maybe it will bring some golden magic of times ago and times to come, but pure joy it's brought to me for decades..

I CAN'T WAIT for the SACD AND I'LL BE THE FIRST TO PURCHASE IT!!!

I LOVE AND ENJOY ALL GENRES OF MUISIC... Thank you...