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intereact!Led Zeppelin
Retail Price (not our price): $18.98
Release Date: 1994-08-16
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...
| Disc 1 |
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
After plundering the Yardbirds' legacy and Willie Dixon (among others) for their blues-riff-heavy first two albums, Jimmy Page and company surprised many listeners with the strong acoustic/folk sensibility displayed on III. Page aficionados shouldn't have been caught off guard; the guitarist had toyed with similar sensibilities and modalities during his brief tenure with the Yardbirds (most notably "White Summer" from the Little Games album). Ever the creative thieves, Zep kick off the album by nicking the riff from "Bali Ha'i" no less, with Robert Plant wailing it to punctuate the thundering FM warhorse "Immigrant Song." Even other electric rockers like "Celebration Day" and "Out on the Tiles" have an inventive, offbeat musicality to them that suggest the band was already wary of stereotyping. But it's the decidedly mellower acoustic groove of the album's latter half that's the news here, from the graceful beauty of "That's the Way" and "Tangerine" to the raw, folksy charm of "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp," "Hats Off (to Roy Harper)," and the traditional "Gallows Pole." --Jerry McCulley
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
1) Early Graffiti [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Led Zeppelin III always struck me as an early attempt to achieve what was done so masterfully on Physical Graffiti, which is to explore, more fully than has been done thus far, all of Led Zeppelin's many and varied musical interests and abilities. While it's not fully successful in achieving this goal, the album is still very strong, though perhaps not so strong as their other albums, through Physical Graffiti. The album does have very strong moments, however, beginning with the heavy, roaring "Immigrant Song," which is often considered inspirational to the later genre of viking metal. This is really a great song, and instantly recognizable. "Friends" has a darker mood that plays nicely into the more upbeat "Celebration Day." A true album highlight can be found on the slow, bluesy "Since I've Been Loving You," which really showcases the band's soulfulness, both on instrument and in voice."Gallows Pole" is an effective midpoint for the album, combining blues, a partially bluegrass feel, and some great vocals, before the mellow "Tangerine" changes the mood once more. In fact, a good deal of the second half of the album is based on more acoustic blues and bluegrass, which is why this is a fairly experimental album from Zep. It's very good, but I think they do it better on Physical Graffiti, which is so huge and expansive. But by listening to this, you can really tell where they were planning to go with that album.2) For Led Zeppelin Fans [Rating: 5 out of 5]
My girlfriend's uncle is a Led Zeppelin fan and he was very happy to receive this gift from me for Christmas. A must own for Zeppelin fans.3) Ties with "Electric Ladyland" for my favorite rock album [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Yes, I think that there are, technically speaking, actually a FEW greater classic rock albums of the 20th Century, (e.g., Led Zeppelin II, Sgt. Pepper), but this one ties with Hendrix's "Electric Laydyland" for my personal all-time favorite album. I can play it over and over without burning out. The more I hear it, the more I like it.The songs are fairly short by Led Zeppelin standards and there are just a glut of brilliant rock music "ideas" on here, astonishingly innovative. The song "Tangerine" is an absolute killer and I think is probably definitive of the entire work. This is the true, raw Led Zeppelin that we savoured prior to too much studio polishing of subsequent albums.Folks, you won't get hurt on this one! Get it -- turn it UP!!!See my "listmania lists" for more great period classic rock choices.4) Zep III earns an A- [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Led Zeppelin's third album was a bit of a departure from the previous two albums, blues and rock-riff oriented, respectively. On their third go `round the band expands this to include a more folk-oriented, acoustic-based attack. You really get the sense that Zeppelin simply wasn't interested in going to the same old well each time or risk becoming stagnant, although the band hardly discards their signature sound altogether. It's a high risk, high reward proposition. On one hand, it keeps the chemistry interesting and the material fresh, but on the other hand the potential to sidetrack and befuddle the fickle fan-base exists. So how does LZ III hold up despite its creative detours? Let's see!1. Immigrant Song: Simply put, one of the all-time classic Zep songs and a fantastic album opener. A riff that fits right in with those on II, the tune is unrelenting...featuring Plant's signature shriek-laden wail and a thundering rhythm bed. The ascending bass line during the "...with thrashing oar..." lyric line is merciless. The song is an exercise in giving fans too little of something good, because it's over almost before it's begun. (Ironically Zeppelin sometimes is a bit long-in-the-tooth, arrangement wise...so this is an unexpected twist). Nothing but compliments here. No solo is needed. You're pummeled by the riff alone. (A +)2. Friends: I'd almost forgotten about this tune to be quite honest with you, as it's one of about 10 Zeppelin songs not usually played on the radio every single day. Imagine my surprise returning to this song that I can only describe as deliciously-haunting behind the lush, Eastern-flavored strings. (It's one of the highlights on the orchestrated Page-Plant Unledded performance, as it's done up quite enthnically and properly). This tune is quite high on atmosphere and ambiance. After a more familiar opening in Immigrant Song, this is your first hint that the album has some surprises in store for the listener. The droning descended note at the end is an excellent touch. Quite overlooked. (A-) 3. Celebration Day: Didn't have much memory of this song either and initially it struck me as a bit unmemorable, but a few listens had me bobbin' along and singin' Pagey's slide licks, sounding like an interesting amalgam of the first two albums. Pretty simple little rockin' number that subsists on pure adrenaline, workmanship, and solid structure. Good tune. (B)4. Since I've Been Lovin' You: This tune is straight from the first album, flavor-wise. Wonderful blues number...popping with little Page runs and set over a bed of some lush organ chords. Plant's smokey-throated vocal melody is seductive and subdued in the first verse and perfectly emotive from the second verse onward. A great building dynamic is happening here in the song structure and you can feel the build. Page rips off a guttural solo that draws on all his influences and inspirations from the genre. A pitch-perfect blues companion piece to Babe I'm Gonna Leave You from LZ I. (A+)5. Out On The Tiles: My relative unfamiliarity continued through to this song, which I have to say I'm still struggling to fully enjoy and have increasingly realized why this isn't amongst the oft-played in the Zep catalogue. It really reminds me (both melodically and tonally) of Rush's Take A Friend, which is to actually say that Rush really reminds me of Zeppelin here...the horse coming before the cart and all. But I'm afraid it's not an overwhelming compliment in any order. It's not a particularly offensive song, but it lacks a real dynamic. It has a generic feel to it, especially given some of the creativity rampant on II and III to this point. Banality is its biggest roadblock. Average songs earns an average score. (C)6. Gallows Pole: I've always loved this song. Great up-tempo romp that starts with a mournful intro and subdued vocal. The dulcimer (and what sounds like a banjo later in the song) is a wonderful touch, another example of Zeppelin diversifying their layers and textures. The tune slowly and deliberately adds layers of acoustics. Bonham's intro signals that the song is just getting started. The background vocals and bluegrass fiddles in the final 90 seconds are quite un-Zep-like and I can see where some fans mightn't have dug this turn initially. But it's quite the success. I enjoy this a lot. (A-)7. Tangerine: Gorgeous little ballad with a simple-but-effective acoustic intro and some fine vocal melodies throughout....accented by some tasty wah-wah chords from Jimmy in the back of the chorus. The fuzzy and distorted solo is a nice textural contrast to the lush sound. Another little victory here. A fine song. (A-)8. That's The Way: I rediscovered this song somewhat accidentally on the Zeppelin DVD, Earl's Court performance. It was quite captivating done at the front of the stage, unplugged and stool-bound. Here in the studio almost nothing is lost. Quite honestly it's a top 3 Zeppelin tune for me and on most days of the week, it might just be my favorite song in their entire catalogue. It's an almost perfect marriage of textures here, specifically the haunting steel guitar fills simply crying and wailing underneath those crystalline acoustic strums. Plant's vocals are wonderful and in an ideal register for this song, even when it picks up in the chorus. The slight flanger effect on his vocal track gives a slight ethereal quality to his voice which works well with the music. Lyrically it speaks to me as well. What a marvelously simple and understated tune. Sometimes the best songs are this way. (A+)9. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp: Another highlight of the Earl's Court performance, this folksy song (about Plant's dog) is a literal foot-stomping pleaser. Not for every Zep head, surely, this country-flavored, porch-aspiring diddy works for me. It's a fitting addition to the flavors afoot on III, featuring some incredible picking and strumming from Page, simple-but-impossible-to-ignore kick drum beats, spoon-clacking and corresponding claps. Again, while it's not in the same category as Heartbreaker's hard rocking edge, it's another facet to Zeppelin. Rocker purists may or may not appreciate it, but fans of music and musicianship might. (B +)10. Hat's Off To (Roy) Harper: I've read the full gamut of thoughts on this one, from brilliant to the band simply putting ANYTHING down on record and counting on fans to embrace it, no matter how apparently uninspired and lazy. While I'll concede that Harper isn't necessarily a song I'm going to list as a personal favorite, what I think it lasts in recurring listenability it makes up for in tone and, more so, intent. Perhaps more earnestly than ever, Zeppelin taps into a culture and sound that was very prevalent in the deep south of the United States and sticks it on as a footnote to this diverse record. Plant's distorted vocals, to me, are almost unnerving and disturbing in their warble and accent. I really feel him channeling the vibe and atmosphere of the men who used to play this music. The bottle-neck guitar is muddy and buried in the mix. The end result is a song that sounds like some ghostly remembrance. As a song out of context it's what you make of it. But as a part of the diversity of Led Zeppelin III, and in the context of the first three albums to this point in their career, it's less ignorable. I get it. (B-)I can see where Zeppelin III might've been a bit underwhelming given the hardcore blues element of the debut album and the hard rock, riff-dominated guitars of the second release. III, while it has its rockin' moments to be sure, is content to be something...else. That understanding requires a bit of patience if you came to the album with expectations. With understanding, the album is quite satisfying and lush and full. It lacks the abrasive quality of each of the first two to be sure, but doesn't sacrifice sincerity, ability or effort in the process of sounding like its own thing. In the canon of the entire catalogue, it's as different as it could be from everything else, and a welcome thing for that reason.Led Zeppelin III richly deserves an A-5) A different Led Zep but stil very good [Rating: 4 out of 5]
More acoustic songs on this cd than what we have been use to by the band, but this is another very good cd. Don't worry, they still rock hard, in songs like "Immigrant song" or "Celebration day". They still can play blues too like "Since I've been loving you", but you'll discover the acoustic side of Lez Zep and once again, they're quite good there too !