Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
(1970)
Reissued: 3 June 2014
Original Album Information:
- Released: 5 October 1970 (Atlantic Records U.S. SD 7201 / U.K. 2401 002)
- Producer: Jimmy Page
- Executive Producer: Peter Grant
- Engineer: Andy Johns
- Recorded & Mixed: 13 December 1969 and 29 May to 13 December 1970, Olympic Studios and Island Studios, London, with Eddie Kramer
Original Album Notes:
- The track 'Immigrant Song' (backed by 'Hey, Hey, What Can I Do') was released as a single in the U.S. on 5 November 1970.
Remastered Album Information:
- Released: 3 June 2014 (Atlantic Records 8122796449)
- Total Length: 1:29:39
Remastered Album Notes:
- The track ‘The Immigrant Song (Alternative Mix)’ was released on 22 May 2014 to promote the reissue.
The Original Album Remastered
Original Album Remastered Tracks:
- Immigrant Song (2:26)
- Written by Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Recorded May / June 1970, Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire, England.
-
Mixed 18/19 August 1970, Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Friends (3:55)
- Written by Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Recorded May / June 1970, Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire, England.
-
Mixed 18/19 August 1970, Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Celebration Day (3:29)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Paul Jones / Robert Plant.
- Recorded May / June 1970, Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire, England.
-
Mixed 18/19 August 1970, Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Since I've Been Loving You (7:25)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Paul Jones / Robert Plant.
- Recorded May / June 1970, Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England.
-
Mixed 18/19 August 1970, Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Out On The Tiles (4:04)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Bonham / Robert Plant.
- Recorded May / June 1970, Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England.
-
Mixed 18/19 August 1970, Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Gallows Pole (4:58)
- Written by Traditional, arrangement Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Tangerine (3:12)
- Written by Jimmy Page.
- That's The Way (5:38)
- Written by Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp (4:20)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Paul Jones / Robert Plant.
- Hats Off To (Roy) Harper (3:41)
- Written by Traditional, arrangement Charles Obscure.
Original Album Personnel:
- Robert Plant - Vocals / Harmonica
- Jimmy Page - Acoustic, Electric and Pedal Steel Guitars / Bass Guitar / Banjo / Dulcimer / Backing Vocals / Production
- John Paul Jones - Bass Guitar / Double Bass / Hammond Organ / Moog Synthesizer / String Arrangements / Backing Vocals
- John Bonham - Drums / Percussion / Backing Vocals
Original Album Additional Personnel:
Original Album Track Notes:
The Companion Disc
Companion Disc Tracks:
- The Immigrant Song [Alternate Mix] (2:25)
- Written by Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Friends [Backing Track (No Vocal)] (3:43)
- Written by Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Celebration Day [Alternate Mix] (3:18)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Paul Jones / Robert Plant.
- Since I've Been Loving You [Rough Mix Of First Recording] (7:16)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Paul Jones / Robert Plant.
- Bathroom Sound [Backing Track (No Vocal)] (4:00)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Bonham / Robert Plant.
- Gallows Pole [Rough Mix] (5:17)
- Written by Traditional, arrangement Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- That's The Way [Rough Mix With Dulcimer & Backwards Echo] (5:22)
- Written by Jimmy Page / Robert Plant.
- Jennings Farm Blues [Rough Mix Of All Guitar Overdubs That Day] (5:54)
- Written by Jimmy Page / John Paul Jones / Robert Plant.
- Key To The Highway / Trouble In Mind [Rough Mix] (4:05)
- Written by Big Bill Broonzy / Charlie Segar / Richard M. Jones.
Companion Disc Notes:
Companion Disc Track Notes:
My Thoughts:
- Of the 8 original albums, the companion disc here is probably my favourite. The alternate mixes included are generally a nice view of the inner workings of their creative process.
- The rough mix of 'Since I’ve Been Loving You' is great, and the vocals in some places are more raw and emotional than on the album version, and the overall sound quality on tracks like 'That’s The Way' are incredibly clear - probably due to the recordings not being bounced over and over as overdubs are added.
- Although 'Gallows Pole' is pretty much the exact same basic track as the completed version it is amazing to listen to just the 4 musicians doing what they do without overdubs. The track is just voice, acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. Hearing it so stripped back also gives an appreciation of how simple some of these songs are at their core. It is amazing how much a few overdubs can add.
- Of the 2 new tracks included I dare say 'Jennings Farm Blues' is the more important of the two, but it is well known to collectors, with tapes of the entire recording session circulated previously. It’s a brilliant alternative to 'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp', and I think I actually prefer it. I would love to have heard it finished with vocals. 'Key To The Highway / Trouble In Mind' isn’t ground-breaking, but it is a nice closer, and I think would have been a far better choice to close the original album that 'Hats Off To (Roy) Harper' (the song that seems to be the least appreciated of their entire discography).
- Why 'Hey, Hey, What Can I Do' is not included here puzzles me? As a b-side of the 'Immigrant Song' single it is forever connected to the album, even if people weren’t aware of when it was recorded - so why not put it here amongst the other songs of the period? It left the companion disc feeling incomplete without it.
- The still unreleased (except for on the Led Zeppelin DVD from 2003) 1970 Royal Albert hall concert would have worked wonderfully here as a 3th (and possibly 4th) disc. I really hope sometime in the future we see this concert properly released, as it is one of their best.
Note - Recording & mixing dates are often guestimates only, based on interpolation from various (often unauthorised) sources.