December 24, 2018

1970 - October - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III

43 minutes

“Led Zeppelin III” by Led Zeppelin

Brian presents this CLASSIC album, “Three” — by Led Zeppelin. Giants of the rock genre and precursors to the heavy metal sound, Led Zeppelin would set the standard for decades as one of the big four (along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who) super groups of Rock and Roll. Powered by Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, Robert Plant on vocals, and John Bonham on percussion, Led Zeppelin was a household name in the rock world by 1970 when they released their third album, simply known as Led Zeppelin III. This album is a great one, but often underrated due to the fame of Led Zeppelin's second and fourth albums. Today we travel back to October 1970 to check out Led Zeppelin III and a number of other tunes at the turn of the decade.

“That's The Way”

This track has a heavy folk and acoustic influence. The album was recorded using a mobile studio, and takes a much mellower tone as a whole than many of the other Led Zeppelin albums. The song was originally called "The Boy Next Door."

“Tangerine”

This song was written in 1968 while Jimmy Page was still with The Yardbirds. Less acoustic than "That's The Way," but still a mellow, almost Pink Floyd feel.

“Gallow's Pole”

This is an updated arrangement of a folk song called "The Maid Freed from the Gallows." John Paul Jones plays mandolin, and Jimmy Page plays banjo on this song, while Plant's vocals soar.

“Hey, Hey, What can I do”

Originally cut as a B-side to "The Immigrant Song," this song was re-released on their Coda album. "I said I got a little woman and she won't be true!" "Gonna leave her with the guitars playing."

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from “Sesame Street”

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) began broadcasting in 1970, ad Sesame Street was one of the first and key shows.

STAFF PICKS:

“Empty Pages” by Traffic

Rob's pick has a funky jazz feel. Steve Winwood's distinctive vocals front this psychedelic group. From the fourth Traffic album “John Barleycorn Must Die.”

“All Right Now” by Free

Paul Rodgers fronted this short-lived group, which is why it sounds so similar to Bad Company. “Now don't you wait, or hesitate, let's move before they raise the parking rate!”

“Green-eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf

Wayne points out the iconic bass line. A “two hit wonder,” this American band had two big hits, “Don't Call Us, We'll Call You,” and this song.

“Out in the Country” by Three Dog Night

Brian highlights this song written by Paul Williams. There was a huge environmental movement in 1970, and this song taps into that energy.

LAUGH TRACK:

“A Girl Named Johnny Cash” by Jane Morgan

A parody of...a parody... kind of like Inception, maybe? We finish up with Morgan's spoof of Johnny Cash's spoof entitled “A Boy Named Sue.”

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks and Brian Dickhute

4.8

4646 ratings