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.
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