Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin 3 - Atlantic 1970 Comments:There are acoustic folk-inspired tracks on most Led Zeppelin albums, but it's hardly wrong to say that this third album is the most folkish of them all.
The album opens in majestic rock style with the magnificent "Immigrant Song", which was also the only single pulled from the album.
"Friends" is an acoustic number with conga drums, acoustic guitars and strings; but probably more blues than folk.
"Celebration Day" is blues rocker with Robert Plant at the top. Pure blues is "Since Been Been Loving You", a song that could well have been picked up on the group's debut album.
"Out on the Title" is probably the album's heaviest song, but the somewhat heavy guitar riff is lifted beautifully by the melodic chorus and Robert Plant's bright vocals.
The aforementioned folk-inspiration is most evident in the second half where "Gallow Pole" is a traditional song featuring mandolin, banjo and a lot of the more classic Led Zeppelin ingredients.
"Tangerine" is the album's most melodic song with plenty of great acoustic guitars; akin to "Stairway to Heaven" from the subsequent album.
"The Way of the Way" is also acoustic - more floating and bluesy.
"Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" is another acoustic - a bluesy and folkish stomp.
"Hats Off to Roy Harper" features lots of slide guitar - acoustic blues; perhaps the least interesting track on this otherwise very homogeneous album, where both Jimmy Page and Robert Plant really shine, sublimely supported by John Paul Jones and John Bonham.
|