LED ZEPPELIN III

Led Zeppelin III was released in 1970 and was something of a surprise for many. The two first Led Zeppelin albums had been more or less blues rock but Led Zeppelin III incorporates a couple of new elements that really makes this album stand out in Led Zeppelin´s discography. I have a special relationship with Led Zeppelin III because it was my very first meeting with Led Zeppelin. I knew a guy who worked on a garbage disposal central and he occasionally found old LPs that people had thrown out. He came by one day and gave me a whole box of different LPs and one of the LPs in that box was Led Zeppelin III.

The music is still mostly based in the blues rock tradition like on the first two albums from Led Zeppelin but the band has chosen a more folky acoustic approach on this album. It´s most evident on Side 2 of the original LP with songs like Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and That's the Way. On side 1 of the original LP we´re presented with classics like Immigrant Song and the excellent slow blues Since I've Been Loving You. Friends needs to be mentioned as well as it´s one of my alltime favorite Led Zeppelin songs. Really dark and beautiful.

The musicianship is more tight this time compared to the first two albums from the band. It´s such a joy to listen to Jimmy Page playing acoustic guitars and pedal steel guitar.

The production on Led Zeppelin III is the best on any Led Zeppelin album. By far the most polished sound. I really like the production which gives the songs the right sound and mood.

If I should ever be tempted to give a Led Zeppelin album 5 stars I would be tempted to do so in this review. Led Zeppelin III is my favorite Led Zeppelin album but a 4 star rating will do.