🎧 Drop the Needle, Landscapes of Yesteryear Pt. 103: Led Zeppelin's 'III', the Album That Marked a 'Turning Point'
This is 'Foxtrot,' a coffee shop where music lovers from the neighborhood naturally gather.
With Kazuhiko, the master who loves UK rock, Ami, an aspiring copperplate print artist, and Yukihiro, a childhood friend and music magazine writer, stop by from time to time to engage in quiet yet passionate music discussions over records and coffee.
Led Zeppelin, 'Led Zeppelin III' (1970)
The Explosive Power of Rock and 'III' as a 'Turning Point'
Kazuhiko: 'Shall we talk about Led Zeppelin's third album, "III," today? It's often called a "turning point" compared to their first two.'
Yukihiro: 'True. It was met with mixed reactions at the time of its release. A band thought to be strictly hard rock suddenly increased their acoustic-leaning sound. While it seemed to betray listener expectations, it was actually an album that really brought out the essence of the band.'
Ami: 'Wait, I had an image of Led Zeppelin as heavy rock. Is the third one really that different?'
Kazuhiko: 'It is, Ami. They still have their "signature sound," of course, but it's a work that suddenly reveals a breadth of composition beyond just the intensity of rock. First, the opening track, "Immigrant Song." That sound is like warriors from Norse mythology charging through; it's one of Zeppelin's signature songs.'
Yukihiro: 'The way John Bonham's drums come in is a calling card in itself. There weren't many rock songs at the time that started with that much momentum. Robert Plant's "Ahhh!" shout also grabbed young rock fans at the time in an instant.'
Ami: 'I know that song. It was used in commercials, right?'
Kazuhiko: 'Exactly. But the essence of this album lies in the "stillness" behind that. There are many songs that use acoustic guitars. There's a story that fans at the time were confused, wondering, "What happened?"'
Yukihiro: 'Zeppelin was a band deeply immersed in American roots music from the start. Folk, blues, country. On "III," that influence suddenly came to the surface. It was truly a "return to roots."'
Ami: 'By "roots," do you mean that each member was just putting what they were influenced by directly into the songs?'
Kazuhiko: 'Yes. For example, Jimmy Page was influenced by British folk guitarists like Bert Jansch. That influence is clearly visible in his acoustic guitar phrases.'
Yukihiro: 'And with "III" as the turning point, Zeppelin's "musical repertoire" expanded. This album is the starting point for the breadth they would show in later works like "IV" and "Physical Graffiti."'
Ami: 'That's surprising. It's not just intense songs... I had an image of them as, you know... heavy, hard-hitting rock.'
Kazuhiko: 'That gap is what makes it good. Ami, Zeppelin wasn't just a hard rock band; they were explorers of music.'
The Beauty of Acoustic and the Depth of Folk Rock
Yukihiro "What's impressive about 'III' is the B-side, the latter half where the acoustic tracks are lined up. It includes solid folk-rock tracks like 'Gallows Pole' and 'Tangerine'."
Kazuhiko "'Tangerine' is a tear-jerker, isn't it? Page's delicate songwriting really shines through. There's a kind of nostalgic sadness in the gentle guitar sound."
Ami "The title itself gives me an orange-colored image. Like a sunset, or something..."
Yukihiro "That image might be correct. The lyrics also have an atmosphere of looking back on a 'past love.' It feels less like singing about romance directly and more like painting a mental landscape."
Kazuhiko "Also, Jimmy Page's 12-string guitar really opens up the air. Ami-chan, a 12-string guitar doesn't actually have 12 individual strings, but rather 6 pairs of strings. That's why the sound sparkles and expands."
Ami "Oh, I see. That's why it feels like it's sparkling."
Yukihiro "And then there's 'Gallows Pole.' This is based on an old folk song. Zeppelin arranged this heavy subject matter—a prisoner heading to the gallows—in a rock style. It starts acoustically, but the momentum gradually builds until the whole band takes off."
Kazuhiko "That build-up, right? The way rock merges into folk. I don't think anyone but Zeppelin could pull that off."
Ami "Turning a folk song into rock is amazing... It feels like I can see a story just by listening to it."
Yukihiro "That feeling is important. 'III' is a 'story to be heard.' From rock to folk, and then folk swallowing rock to become a single work. The composition is also very well done."
Kazuhiko "An explosion on the A-side, a quiet deep breath on the B-side. I think that's the charm of 'III.' It's packed with both the momentum of a rock band and the depth of musicians."
Ami "It's kind of like a movie. Like the first half is an action film and the second half is a human drama."
Yukihiro "Yeah, that's a good analogy. Zeppelin's albums often have a structure that is a story in itself. 'III' is the first successful example of that."
Kazuhiko "The reason 'IV' and 'Physical Graffiti' are called masterpieces is because the experience gained from this 'III' was put to use."
Ami "So, does that mean that by the time of 'III,' they were no longer just a rock band?"
Yukihiro "Exactly. They became a band capable of creating 'masterpieces' rather than just 'calling cards.' Their musicality and range of expression expanded all at once here."
Kazuhiko "Ami-chan, if you only know 'Immigrant Song,' you should definitely listen to the B-side tracks. You'll see the true depth of Zeppelin."
Ami "Wow... I suddenly want to listen to it. Master, please let me listen to this whole album sometime!"
Kazuhiko "Of course. Next time, I'd like to talk about 'IV' too. That's a whole other world."
Yukihiro "Zeppelin's journey only gets deeper from here."
Next time...
George Harrison 'All Things Must Pass' (1970)
■ Characters
Kazuhiko: 52 years old. Master of the coffee shop 'Foxtrot.' Knowledgeable about UK rock and a record collector.
Ami: 26 years old. A waitress and budding copperplate printmaker. A fine arts graduate who dreams of holding a solo exhibition. She started taking an interest in music because of the master's influence.
Yukihiro: 52 years old. A music magazine writer and Kazuhiko's best friend since junior high school. He drops by the shop occasionally to drink black coffee.
*The name of the coffee shop 'Foxtrot' is derived from the Genesis album of the same name.