Led Zeppelin III was my first Led Zeppelin album. As thus, it naturally has special �sentimental value� to me. Looking back, I realize that I usually get into most bands through the wrong album or something. I wouldn�t recommend someone getting into Led Zeppelin to listen to this first (I�d rather tell them to try Led Zeppelin IV). Though, it�s still a great album.
Immigrant Song: This was the first Led Zeppelin song I heard. When I heard it and heard the scream and everything, I thought, �Wow, this is unlike anything I�ve heard yet.� It�s short for a Led Zeppelin song, being only�what, two minutes or something? I must admit, I can�t figure out what the title means, but it�s still a killer song. (By the way, Pippin�s Mondegreens has a mondegreen for it.)
Friends: When I first heard this song, I thought it was a little weird, and to be honest, I still think it�s weird. It�s really quite odd, especially for the fact that it features a string section (something Led Zeppelin usually wouldn�t do). But it�s still a highlight of the album.
Celebration Day: This is one of the few songs on this album I don�t like. It�s slow when it feels like it ought to be fast. It�s okay, I guess. I sometimes skip this when I listen, though.
Since I�ve Been Loving You: Led Zeppelin shows off their skills at doing the blues, and this is one of their blues songs. I must admit, even though I�m a fan of long songs (especially when Led Zeppelin does them), I get bored of this one. Plus the fact that a few of the lyrics sound more spoken than sung makes me dislike it a bit. Heck, it�s still better than celebration day.
Out on the Tiles: Now this is one cool song! I usually don�t dance to songs or anything, but this � this one makes me wanna dance or at least get up and move! I like to sing along with it when I listen. (Pippin�s Mondegreens has a very bad mondegreen for this song.) A big highlight.
Gallows Pole: If I�m correct, I don�t think Led Zeppelin wrote this song themselves. It�s a traditional song, as far as I know. Led Zeppelin does a really good take on it. I like the fact that it speeds up at the end. I love songs that do that. It�s also a little bit funny to me (I don�t know why, though). A cool fact is that this is the only Led Zeppelin song that has a banjo.
Tangerine: This is probably my favorite song from the album. It�s certainly the most beautiful. The lyrics are so reflective and filled with emotion that when I listen to it, I can�t help but feel that he really did experience the thing he�s singing about not too long ago (that is, not too long after writing it).
That�s The Way: When I listened to the album, I wasn�t paying attention, and I thought this was an extension of Tangerine. They seem to go into each other well. It�s a nice transition, as Tangerine sings of a sadness, and That�s The Way sounds like the singer is accepting what happened to him. It�s such a reassuring song.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp: Don�t ask me how to pronounce that name. I don�t know how. As far as I know, Jimmy Page wrote it for his dog, Strider (yes, Strider like from Lord of the Rings). It�s a fun song that makes me think of two friends having a good time in the great outdoors.
Hats Off to (Roy) Harper: Ugh. They should have left this off the album. I believe you can�t go wrong with Led Zeppelin � except for this song. The lyrics are a tad inane, and it sounds bad, too. When listening to this album, I pretend it ends at Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and then turn it off. Still, the album itself is not bad.
Best tracks: Immigrant Song, Out on the Tiles, Gallows Pole, and Tangerine.
Send all questions and comments to: [email protected]