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In 1977, Led Zeppelin resumed live activities after more than a year off due to Plant's accident, with their eleventh US tour. The concerts were enormously successful everywhere (in Michigan, there were even 76,000 spectators, the record for highest attendance at a concert by a single group), but things started to go wrong. Page, high on heroin, collapsed on stage; Grant and Bonham were arrested for assaulting a security guard, and on July 26, Plant's young son Karac died from a severe gastric infection. The tour was immediately interrupted, and in such a dark period, the Zep tried to shake themselves up by doing the only thing that could help them: a new album.
In 1978, they began recording Led Zeppelin's ninth album, "In Through The Out Door." The result, however, is truly disappointing and in some respects disheartening: it's regrettable that the Zep left us with such an awful album (definitely the worst in their discography), at times even embarrassing. The work highlights Jones, who, in addition to composing most of the songs and being the author of the arrangements, here assumes the role of 'leader' of the group. It's unfortunate, though, that he exploits this opportunity poorly, in fact, very poorly. And yet, from the opening track of the LP, "In The Evening," it doesn't seem like such a bad album, on the contrary, the start is promising. The track is sumptuous, epic, characterized by Page's obsessive and majestic riff, who then places one of his best solos. Jones's synthesizers give the piece mystery, tension, and drama, increasing its allure. Plant's performance is pure grit, as is that of the other three. After such an energetic track in pure Zeppelin style, the first surprise arrives: "South Bound Saurez" is a rock'n'roll track with a playful atmosphere but very banal, in which Jones's cheerful piano and Plant's passionate singing are not enough to redeem a proposal as bland as this.
After this track, which already begins to leave one puzzled, everything collapses first with "Fool In The Rain," a track with reggae influences where suddenly a samba section appears (though it's not as unpleasant a track as it might seem), and then with "Hot Dog," a truly irritating rockabilly-country piece, where Page delivers a solo that is laughable. Then comes the worst song in Led Zeppelin’s discography: "Carouselambra" is a 10-minute ordeal of synthesizers. The song is extremely confused, boring, and also embarrassing because it aims to be something epic like Zeppelin’s great marathons ("Kashmir," "Stairway," "In My Time Of Dying," "Achilles Last Stand," "No Quarter," "Dazed & Confused") but completely misses the target. In such a mess, even "All My Love," a melancholic pop track, appears as a masterpiece. Plant's vocal interpretation is excellent, and Jones's keyboard solo is very nice. However, it's just a good song and nothing more.
To conclude, it returns to the beloved blues in "I'm Gonna Crawl," a very relaxed piece. Here Page finds inspiration again, and Plant (definitely the best of the four throughout the album) sings at very good levels. Although it's not fantastic, the track appears at least decent and enjoyable. When the album was released on August 15, 1979, it literally took off: in less than a week, it was already at the top of the charts in various countries and sold 2 million copies in 10 days. It was said that the album even saved the American record industry, which was in a phase of stagnation at the time. Unfortunately, the sales do not reflect the real value of the album. With "In Through The Out Door," the Zep show themselves open to change and the trends of the period; however, to "be trendy," they lose a lot in terms of the quality of the tracks, characterized by the heavy presence of synthesizers. The Led realized this, and Page said:
"When I listen to 'All My Love' I think: it’s not us, it’s not us. Bonzo and I have already started discussing the new album, which will have a more definite rock direction. It will definitely be more interesting."But at that time, no one knew there wouldn't be time to realize it.
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 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.
By Randall
Jimmy Page delivers one of his most incisive riffs and an excellent solo; Robert Plant’s outstanding vocal performance imparts an almost epic tone.
'All My Love' is probably the emotional peak of the album, a poignant tribute to Plant’s late son, with impactful music by John Paul Jones.
