IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR

I remember the huge amount of anticipation in 1979 for this album, the first new Led Zeppelin album in three years. The hype was enormous. And the LP was to be sold wrapped in brown paper, so you wouldn't know which album cover you were getting. That turned out to be the best part of the album.

"In Through The Out Door" turned out to be a very appropriate title. The phrase indicates moving in the wrong direction. So does the music. Legend has it that Jimmy Page was deep into heroin addiction, and John Bonham was an alcoholic when this was recorded. And it shows.

In The Evening is not bad, but the production always lost me. Carouselambra has a compelling keyboard line, but the song goes on way too long for what it offers. Hot Dog and All Of My Love just lost me at the first listen.

It's sad that this great band ended on such a sour note.