Behind the Recording of Led Zeppelin III 

“That’s the way” is my fave Zep song 🤷‍♂️

IMO, just as essential as the first two. They went whole hog into another facet of their young selves!

Loved the first two but have a soft spot for III

Back in May 2022, I was writing new music for an independent solo record simply titled *Hope.* I had intended with the recording of these 12 tracks (partly motivated by dialogue from Wayne's World) to try homogenizing the disparate musical flavours of Led Zeppelin and the Bee Gees. Feeling closer to the latter stylistically, I went through the Zeppelin catalog one album a day (a practice I've done with other acts' recording catalogs). When I got to *Led Zeppelin III,* I was already aware of how disappointed their fans were when this album first materialized. It was still a great listening experience for me. Later on, there were two things that popped in my mind. One of them was how people who even today take issue with this particular LP don't take issue with the untitled follow-up which is hardly less musical or eclectic. The other thing is the watermark it includes for John Paul Jones; over the 70s, he became known for being one of those giants interlacing intricate keyboard and synthesizer passages with all else in the mix. That began here when he first played the Moog synthesizer on the transition between "Friends" and "Celebration Day".

Zep III has Since I’ve Been Loving You on it, which makes it one of my favorite Zep records. I also really enjoy the acoustic numbers. It rocks and it also mellows you out.

the video doesn’t mention that “Tangerine” has already been recorded by The Yardbirds under the title “Knowing That I’m Losing You”

Zeppelin III is one of my favorite albums. It really showcases their versatility.

You left out mention of the recording studio assistant who, after realizing he'd accidentally erased the beginning of Celebration Day, ran out of the studio for fear of his life! True story.

People forget now - and ignored back then - that out of 15 tracks on their first two albums, six featured acoustic playing. I guess it's just that, while the acoustic stuff is excellent, the heavy stuff was their main forte. Nobody had their combination of excellent indivdual musicianship (including lead vox) and excellent/versatile songwriting plus a great (though erratic at times) live show that was unique and innovative (the violin bow, etc...). Then throw in excellent production and the drive to always change and move forward, and you get a group that made the other early hard rock bands all sound like lame garage bands.

III is my fav.

It's a beautiful album - a left turn and a gutsy work from the previous two

I absolutely love this album! ❤ Then again, I absolutely love most of their albums. Good times, wild memories of a time when I was a teenager, exploring music and a whole lotta love with my friends. If I could only relive those days. 🥹

That’s The Way is one of my favorite Zep songs ❤️

Friends/Celebration Day together, is incredible.

Contains the best song (only song?) ever written about a collie dog.

Love John's squeaky bass pedal on Since I've Been Loving You.

Out on the tiles. Tangerine. Thats the way.

Another interesting video... I love LZ3....

I don't want to increase the mystery/confusion around it, but per the prompting (5:32) on that SIBLY guitar amp... ;) I remember reading an interview with Page where he relates the story pretty much as presented here: an amp in the corridor either belonging to the studio, or someone from another band that was also recording there, which he brought in and had a go with--what's more it was reportedly a solid state amp. Damn, now I'm going to have to track that interview down...! =) Brilliant vid on LZIII--thank you MMO!

Out on the Tiles...one of Zep's best rock song's...the sound of Jimmy's guitar!! Tangerine...one of the best guitar solo's ever!!

how about Who’s Next next?

Outstanding job on this vid. So much regurgitated rubbish out there on my favourite band ever. Really interesting details, and beautifully presented. Thankyou very much.

I'd often wondered the same thing, about why Zep 3 was so different. The only reason I can suggest might be that as other bands started to kick into the heavier sound inspired by Zeps 1 and 2 Page may have felt he wanted to distance this record from the crowd. Just thinking.

Might be worth clarifying the ‘hit singles’ were American releases as they never released a single in the UK.

just commenting to give you major props! I've been scouring RU-vid for videos like this for over a decade now, and these have been the most informative & entertaining. bravo sir!!!

A masterpiece. Three in a row. 5 more to go.

Backlash, kind of like Signals from RUSH for polar opposite reasons, and it also holds up as one of their Best Albums I always wondered how it was received at the time being so different. One of my Favorites (except for the Immigrant Song, I never liked that one). He does get a great tone on Since I've been loving you, and in one take, makes it more enjoyable.

Great pictures and video. I always thought this album wasn’t recorded well. Immigrant song is great but it sounds kind of small and a bit thin, kind of like communication breakdown, not big and fat like whole lotta love or good times bad times. There’s almost no bass drum on celebration day. The acoustic guitars on bron yr sour stomp are thin and treble-y. That’s the way and hey hey what can I do sound really great though.

Their best album.

I was skeptical about the possibility of another revisionist / rehashed rock history, from a person who might not have experienced it back in the day… But I’m going to say that you did very well, and the mention of the Helios console says everything about your research and what you personally bring to the table. Thank you, this was a very good video

Great video 🤙

Zep 3 was the first Zeppelin album I bought. I hadn't even heard the first 2 and was barely 13 years old. To me, the third album sounded so far beyond the other music I was hearing. My fav song was then, and still is now, Friends. The C6 tuning is so full and orchestral. But the whole album is great. Fantastic songwriting. Fantastic musicianship. Fantastic production. Still fantastic 50 some years later.

That mobile studio - the Stones’ van for “Exile on Main Street” (and SO many other incredible albums like “Harvest”, LZ4 and which famously featured in Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” - resides today in … Calgary Alberta Canada!! It’s part of the (in)famous King Eddy Hotel, part of the National Music Centre’s StudioBell.

I heard a story years ago, before the internet, about that sound at the start of Immigrant Song. The repeated hit at the beginning was caused by improper tape storage. The first three are ghosts of the big first chord at the start of the song from multiple layers of tape, the first being the quietest because it was physically furthest away from the actual first chord of the song. . . . Allegedly. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

And minors was used 😮

*21st century blues:* Johnny B. Jabbed. No job. No joke. The trouser snake has not been fed in weeks.

My favorite crash cymbal sound ever... Very glassy long sustain.... Compressor has to be quick attack slow release....

This album totally lacks bottom end - I hate the way it is mixed. The first two albums sound great!

Another brilliant Zeppelin vid mate! 3 is one of my favourites from Zeppelin, it’s a great album! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I love the first one, but III, IV and Physical Grafitti are special.

Favorite album from my favorite band,the diversity on this album is astounding.

Their finest release & tour 1970!!! ❤

No such thing as too much LZ. Thanks MMO.

I have a reel to reel copy of a master copy of LZIII

Out on the Tiles!...one of their hidden gems!!!

Page and plant 😂 you mean tavistok music agendas.

Brilliant thanks for making this !

666 views baby!!

Immigrant Song always needs to be played loud!

RTB not Andy in the photo mate.

Okay okay.. the kick on gallows pole.. wtf???is he doing 16 th notes???? Help me. Someone

Great album and excellent video! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Thank you!

My favorite!!