DU Album of the Day: Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door"

[LynneSin]

The last album released by Led Zeppelin with all 4 members still alive, this was definately a far cry different from the early years of Led Zeppelin. One listens to it and always wonders 'What would Led Zeppelin music be like today if band was still releasing album after album long past their glory years like Aerosmith or The Rolling Stones?'. Sure the tours would be big but only because people felt they had to see Led Zeppelin in concert and not really appreciate the music they have created.

Probably one of my all time favorite LZ songs is "Fool in the Rain". I think it could have been a huge hit if there was a backing tour (which btw I was going to see them in concert if they did tour).

[dawg]

1. I'm in the distinct minority, but I love this album.

But then again, I love fiddly, keyboardy music. I like this one better than III.

[LynneSin]

2. You're in the minority with me. I love this album

First, it's the first Led Zeppelin album I remember anticipating. I mean I've been alive when all of the LZ albums were released but I was too young to understand things like 'release dates'. Before ITTOD I was excited about things like Shaun Cassidy so clearly my tastes changed dramatically.

And correct me if I'm wrong, the reason for ore fiddly keyboardy music was that everyone on the band except John Paul Jones were so fucked up on drinking and heroin that Page wrote most of the music on the album. Sine he was the Bass/Keyboard you see alot of his influence in the music.

[GoCubsGo]

4. That minority keeps getting bigger...

I love that album, too.

[blue neen]

3. One of my all-time favorite Led Zeppelin tracks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36btrVZe0A0

"In the Evening"

I used to listen to this album on an 8 track in my '79 gold Camaro...Ah, it was a great time in life. :)

[we can do it]

5. I like it too and was also going to see them on the tour that never happened

have seen Robert Plant a couple times, the Firm and Page and Plant together(it was pretty awesome)

[LynneSin]

7. Plant was my first LZ related concert - he opened with "In the Evening"

I fell in :loveya:

[gratuitous]

6. Didn't much care for it when released

There was a minor push at my teeny-tiny college radio station to play tracks from it, and as I recall, it seemed thin. The major release from the album "All Of My Love" struck me as pedestrian in the extreme. Maybe I should listen to it again, but unimpressive was my judgment then and I haven't gone back to modify it.

[LynneSin]

9. When you listen to it again consider these factors..

First, it was not a Page/Plant influenced album but a John Paul Jones one. Page was beyond wasted and Plant had lost his kid to a virus (and probably was worn out from years of heavy drug abuse). So for those who expected the hard in-your-face music of the early years usually are a bit surprised by what they get with this last release.

I think there is alot of brilliance in the album but not a brilliant album as a whole. But what I do see is what was the beginning of the end for Led Zeppelin. At some point every great band 'Jumps the Shark' and goes from what made them amazing to what helped them sell records. LIZ was on the bike and revving up the gears ready to jump that shark and then midway in the air John Bonham dies. From that point forward the remaining band members felt it was better to end the band now then to possibly keep continuing on but producing a lesser sound then what fans had expected from Led Zeppelin albums.

One thing Page did was have very diligent control over the Led Zeppelin library. What he has done with the music post Zeppelin probably ensured that LZ would be one of the greatest bands ever. It's also why mid-90s when Page and Plant did tour they made it a point to not call themselves "Led Zeppelin" or included John Paul Jones. The reason - if the tour failed then it would sully the Led Zeppelin name. The two tours were a hit but the album Page & Plant did ("Walking to Clarksdale") was pretty much a failure other than providing a huge hit for Plant when he did the album with Allison Krauss.

It's a shame though that Plant refused to do the tour after that one-off concert that Page,Plant,Jones and John Bonham's son did back a few years ago. I think Plant always wanted to reform LZ but Page was such a control freak. Now that Page is ready to tour Plant is finally saying 'Fuck You' Hell Plant finally won a Grammy and proved he doesn't need Led Zeppelin to be recognized as a Talent. In fact Plant and Jones are now both Grammy winners (Jones won with Them Crooked Vultures, a supergroup he did with David Grohl and very good album). I think Page has not won one.

[hifiguy]

8. It's a great record, and reflects John Paul Jones' influence

much more than most Zep LPs. Jimmy was pretty badly strung out at the time and JPJ stepped into the partial void caused by Jimmy's problems, writing a lot more music than he usually did. That's why it's the most keyboard oriented (and rather proggy feeling) of LZ's catalogue.

And JPJ's still kicking ass today with Them Crooked Vultures.

[Taverner]

10. I hate to rain on your parade but...

That album has that monstrosity known as "South Bound Suarez"

I hate that song almost as much as I hate "Dyer Maker"

But this album has no Song Remains the Same -> Rain Song

[Ishoutandscream2]

11. Wonderful, wonderful album

Probably my favorite LZ as well, and I don't know too many folks who think the same.

[flying rabbit]

12. Not their best

but still a very strong album.

[Gabi Hayes]

13. page at the height of his powers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfZ1AEdfd1o&feature=fvst

skip to 2:28

"research into germs"