Led Zeppelin – III (Vinyl)
Atlantic Records (1970 / This Pressing 2014)

2 reviews for Led Zeppelin – III (Vinyl)
Atlantic Records (1970 / This Pressing 2014)

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Geoff – May 11, 2022

   Not many rock albums come close to the greatness of III! The third Zep album was influenced by pastoral sounds and acoustic folk and stands as a near-flawless event at the zenith of their power, inspiration and synergy. The band allowed a deeper, more internal and markedly acid-dosed element into the music. Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones wrote some of their best material during this period -- songs that would continue appearing on future albums years later. The weighty "Immigrant Song" screams of the Nordic conquest of Europe. The strangeness of "Friends" is a moving tribute as it transitions into the quirky and soulful "Celebration Day". Shining moment, "Since I've Been Loving You" is warm and sympathetic, with one of the most soaring vocal performances in music history, guitar spilling over with emotion, a heartfelt organ performance from Jones, and Bonham's unshakable clockworks. "Out on the Tiles' shows this outfit's clever and unmistakable rock stylings. Page's steel strings and Jones' upright bass take over for the rest, giving us one gem after another; the maudlin and desperate folk tale "Gallows Pole", the loss in "Tangerine", forbidden love and Old World courtship of "That's the Way", light-hearted hoedown thud of "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" and psychedelics of "Hats Off". Not many rock albums come close to the greatness of III!
2. 

   5 out of 5

   AMG – August 14, 2021

   Led Zeppelin III is built on a folky, acoustic foundation that gives the music extra depth. Includes "Immigrant Song", Gallows Pole" & "Since I've Been Loving You”.



 On their first two albums, Led Zeppelin unleashed a relentless barrage of heavy blues and rockabilly riffs, but Led Zeppelin III provided the band with the necessary room to grow musically. While there are still a handful of metallic rockers, III is built on a folky, acoustic foundation that gives the music extra depth. And even the rockers aren't as straightforward as before: the galloping "Immigrant Song" is powered by Robert Plant's banshee wail, "Celebration Day" turns blues-rock inside out with a warped slide guitar riff, and "Out on the Tiles" lumbers along with a tricky, multi-part riff. Nevertheless, the heart of the album lies on the second side, when the band delve deeply into English folk. "Gallows Pole" updates a traditional tune with a menacing flair, and "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" is an infectious acoustic romp, while "That's the Way" and "Tangerine" are shimmering songs with graceful country flourishes. The band hasn't left the blues behind, but the twisted bottleneck blues of "Hats off to (Roy) Harper" actually outstrips the epic "Since I've Been Loving You”.