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We are in 1979 and the Led Zeppelin are emerging from a very tumultuous period in their career: Jimmy Page is now completely addicted to heroin, John Bonham has serious alcohol problems, and Robert Plant recently lost his son Karac due to a gastric infection. It is thus up to John Paul Jones to take on the role of helmsman of the Dirigible.
The album clearly shows a remarkable evolution in the group’s sound, which includes progressive and pop influences in their repertoire, along with the massive introduction of synthesizers and keyboards.
However, the album opens with In The Evening, a track in their classic style and probably one of the album's highlights. Here, Jimmy Page, contrary to what his physical condition might suggest, delivers one of his most incisive riffs and an excellent solo; also noteworthy is Robert Plant's outstanding vocal performance, which imparts an almost epic tone to the song.
The first stone of controversy is definitely South Bound Saurez, a piece that mixes rock n’ roll with choruses reminiscent of the musicals of those years, providing a pop backdrop to it all. In this piece, Page plays a marginal role, although he manages for a while to stand out with a raw and driving solo. John Paul Jones frantically plays notes on the keyboard, Plant sings with passion, and Bonzo hits hard, nice track.
We proceed with what, in my opinion, is the lowest point of the album, Fool In The Rain, the track is definitely too contrived to be pleasant. Here, whistles appear (as this song was inspired by the soccer World Cup), along with Caribbean sounds and more; truly awful.
The following track, Hot Dog, is a carefree ditty in a country and western style that further undermines the group's credibility, filler.
The style changes dramatically with Carouselambra, a ten-minute track in which Jones takes the lead and creates a sonic wall of keyboards, bass, and synthesizer. Page watches on, though occasionally emerging with his guitar and undertaking a decent guitar performance; beautiful but can be boring.
We have arrived at All My Love, probably the emotional peak of In Through The Out Door. Plant writes a poignant lyric dedicated to his late son, and John Paul Jones takes care of the music; the result is a decidedly successful and impactful (pop) track.
The album concludes with I’m Gonna Crawl, a track with two sides: On one hand, the typically blues tones of the early Led Zeppelin emerge; on the other, the new sound of the group, notably due to the synthesized strings played by John Paul Jones that give the track softer nuances, but overall, the result is enjoyable.
The album as a whole turns out to be good, although it drastically differs from what the Zeppelin have delivered in their previous works; whether this is a bad or a good thing will be decided by the listener...
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 In the Evening (06:50)
In the evening, When the day is done
I'm looking for a woman, but the girl don't come
So don't let her, Play you for a fool
She don't show no pity baby, she don't make no rules
*Chorus: Oh, oh, I need your love, I need your love
Oh, I need your love, I just got to have
So don't you let her, Oh, get under your skin
It's only bad luck and trouble, From the day that you begin
I hear you crying in the darkness, Don't ask nobody's help
Ain't no pockets full of mercy baby, Cause you can only blame yourself
Chorus
Oh it's simple, All the pain that you go through
You can turn away from fortune, fortune, Cause that's all that's left to you
It's lonely at the bottom, Man, it's dizzy at the top
But if you're standing in the middle, Ain't no way you're gonna stop
Chorus
Oh whatever that your days may bring
No use hiding in a corner, Cause that won't change a thing
If you're dancing in the doldrums, One day soon, it's got to stop, it's got to stop
When you're the master of the off-chance, When you don't expect a lot
Chorus
02 South Bound Saurez (04:14)
Baby, when you walk that sweet walk
Oh, you walk it good, yes you walk it good
Baby, when you talk that sweet talk
Oh, it sounds so good, oh so good
With a little bit of concentration
And a little bit of helpin' hands, yeah
And a little bit of raving madness
You know it makes me feel, baby
Both my feet are back on the ground
And when the rhythm takes me
It feels so good, oh so good
Baby if it keeps a-shaking
It will do you good, oh so much good
With a little bit of stop-a-shakin' shakin'
And a little bit of ?fly right down?
And a little bit of sweet con-carne
It makes me feel, makes me feel
I got my feet on the ground
Ooh now baby, when you move it makes me
Really feel so good, oh so good
And I'm so glad, so glad, so glad, so glad
And I'm good, oh, so good
With a little bit of concentration
And a little bit of helping hand
And a little bit of ?saving madness?
You know it makes me feel, baby
I'm back on the ground oh yes, sure does
It makes me feel back on the ground.
I'm feelin' good child!
Down on the ground.
Sha la la la...
05 Carouselambra (10:34)
Sisters of the way-side bide their time in quiet peace,
Await their place within the ring of calm;
Still stand to turn in seconds of release,
Await the call they know may never come.
In times of lightness, no intruder dared upon
To jeopardize the course, upset the run;
And all was joy and hands were raised toward the sun
As love in the halls of plenty overrun.
Still in their bliss unchallenged mighty feast,
Unending dances shadowed on the day.
Within their walls, their daunting formless keep,
Preserved their joy and kept their doubts at bay.
Faceless legions stood in readiness to weep,
Just turn a coin, bring order to the fray;
And everything is soon no sooner thought than deed,
But no one seemed to question in anyway.
How keen the storied hunter's eye prevails upon the land
To seek the unsuspecting and the weak;
And powerless the fabled sat, too smug to lift a hand
Toward the foe that threatened from the deep.
Who cares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand
Adrift upon a sea of futile speech?
And to fall to fate and make the 'status plan'
Where was your word, where did you go?
Where was your helping, where was your bow? Bow.
Dull is the armour, cold is the day.
Hard was the journey, dark was the way. Way.
I heard the word; I couldn't stay. Oh.
I couldn't stand it another day, another day,
Another day, another day.
Touched by the timely coming,
Roused from the keeper's sleep,
Release the grip, throw down the key.
Held now within the knowing,
Rest now within the peace.
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed.
They had to stay!
Held now within the knowing,
Rest now within the beat.
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed...
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Other reviews
By Antonino91
If someone knows Led Zeppelin meaning "Stairway To Heaven", surely when they listen to this mess, they won’t say it sounds like Led Zeppelin.
"I'm Gonna Crawl" represents one of the very few interesting episodes, a heartfelt blues for guitar and strings, sung by Plant with grit and participation.
By Miki Page
It’s regrettable that the Zep left us with such an awful album (definitely the worst in their discography), at times even embarrassing.
When I listen to ‘All My Love’ I think: it’s not us, it’s not us.
By abe90
To truly appreciate 'In Through The Out Door', one must forget or at least avoid comparisons with previous albums.
'In Through The Out Door' is the last stage of the journey; an experimental work that leaves us a bit puzzled but certainly signals an artistic and concert rebirth of Led Zeppelin.
By claudio carpentieri
The smoky introductory keyboards and Plant’s warm vocal lament are enough to launch 'In The Evening', a solid blend of sounds that makes everything majestic and imposing.
A record, therefore, that certainly does not disgrace itself if placed alongside the numerous masterpieces that preceded it.
