My Review of Led Zeppelin’s In Through the Out Door!

[@tektoniks_architects]

Hi Michael! Long response today! Apologies in advance.... This album suffers from Jimmy and Bonzo being semi- uninvolved due to dependencies. But I want to comment about one track in particular. Some of my comments are taken from earlier comments I made on SoulTrainBros channel. Carouselambra is actually one of the most important songs in the Zeppelin catalog, because it describes the conflict and the fractures within the band towards the latter days. Plant has said in interviews that the song is critical towards someone who may not be aware that the song is about him. That person is guitarist Jimmy Page. The lyrics discuss the success and prosperity of the band, but make reference to the "rotting within" that was taking place inside the band. "In times of brightness no intruder dared come on To jeopardize the course, upset the run, And all was joy and hands were raised toward the Sun And 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" (this segment talks about the prosperity and fame of the band, and how protective they were of their fame and success) The real conflict occurred when Robert Plant's son Karac died of a viral infection. The band was in the US at the time, and Robert had to return home to the UK to be with his family. Drummer John Bonham, his childhood friend, went back to the UK with Robert to support him. John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Peter Grant (manager) stayed in the US to tend to band business, and give Plant time alone with his family. Plant took exception to his bandmates not being at his side to lend support, and the lyrics of this song call out and criticize Jimmy Page in particular. "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'" (this talks about Robert's resentment of Jimmy Page - "too smug to lift a hand". "Who dares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand" refers to Jimmy not consoling Plant when Plant needed him; "and fall to fate and make the status plan" refers to Jimmy, JPJ, and Peter Grant trying to make sure the band stayed together and weathered Plant's personal storm.....overlooking Plant's emotional loss in the process. Plant felt his bandmates cared more about the future of the band than the family affected by this loss - Plant may only be partially correct on this; Page has said that Robert needed personal space at this time, but Robert is an emotional person, and likely didn't see it this way). "Where was your word, where did you go? Where was your helping, where was your bow? Bow. " (this is in direct reference to Jimmy Page bowing the guitar, which he did in several songs). "Held now within the knowing, Rest now within the peace. Take of the fruit, but guard the seed." (meaning: now Plant knows that no matter how successful and close the members of Led Zeppelin were during their success, this was still a business....."take of the fruit but guard the seed" means: enjoy the business success ("fruits" of your labor), but always keep it in perspective - family (the "seed") means more than success). "They had to stay!" Plant screams this at the end, almost calling out Page and Jones by name - as if to say: "My family is dying, and you stayed behind to work on business." Long after the band split up, Plant expressed remorse at this song, because he laid his feelings bare during an emotional time, and dissed his bandmates. Fortunately, the vocals are buried deep in the mix on this track, and most people don't take the time to explore them in detail. I think Jimmy buried the vocals on purpose to hide the message Robert was sending. Zeppelin never fully reunited after Plant's dear friend Bonham died, because losing Bonham was another "family" loss for Plant, and his loyalty was to his family, and not the band. He had had enough. It's important for fans of the band to understand that the wheels were coming off the band before Bonham died. They may have found a way to get themselves healthy eventually, but there were many obvious signs that their time was passing. Thank you for another brilliant review.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Never apologize, E! What a wonderful response! And as I said in the video, almost everyone I’ve ever met agrees with you! My main concerns was the mix, but I agree that the song’s lyrics are truly great! I almost wonder if it’s so down in the mix to disguise the meaning of the song! Hmmm!!!! You’re so well thought out response has got me re-thinking the song! Now ya did it! You’ve given me homework!

[@tektoniks_architects]

In the remastered version of ITTOD, Jimmy altered the mix so the vocals were prominent....when that happens, the hidden of the song leaps out at you. I believe you are correct about the mix being used to bury it's meaning. Cheers, my friend.

[@helenespaulding7562]

tektoniks,. (Wish I knew your name so I could thank you by name) outstanding work on this. I agree with you about Plants vocals being way back in the mix. Probably not only Pages wishes but Plant’s also by the time of the remastering. I agree about the wheels coming off. Plant had had it with the sordid life-style and the drugs and booze. And Bonzo was in such self-destructive mode by 1979 and 80 that I don’t know as they would have made it another year even if Bonham had lived. Plant was so disappointed in Jimmy…in what he was doing to himself and the band. It was hurtful to him personally because Jimmy was freezing him out….had pulled away both as a collaborator and as a friend, due to his huge drug problems. It’s just sad to read about it and you think what a loss…what a waste. That’s what Robert always says when asked about his best mates death……..what a waste.

[@tektoniks_architects]

Hi Helene...my name is Ernie. Thank you for the kind sentiments. I've seen and admired your YT comments for a long time. If anyone in the band was going off the rails, it was Jimmy. Has we not lost Bonzo, how long would Jimmy have lasted? We'll never know. Without Jimmy getting healthy, the band would not have lasted much longer. Cheers.

[@helenespaulding7562]

@@tektoniks_architects thanks for your kind remark. I agree with you completely. With Jimmy being the way he was there was no way Zeppelin could have lasted. The other guys would have bailed. I do think it’s wonderful that Jimmy was able to finally get healthy again and once again play with such majesty and power. Have you ever seen the MTV interview of Plant where he speaks of having seen Jimmy play in The Firm and having wept because he was so proud of him? If you are on STB channel you would have seen it as it was one of my offerings.

[@anachronistofer]

I'm Gonna Crawl is one of the most overlooked/underrated Led Zep songs. Maybe the most underrated overall. Bonham said it was the best he'd ever heard Plant sing. I also think Page's solo is incredibly soulful and emotional, every note and bend perfection.

[@mreppen1]

I agree, Gonna Crawl is the final great cut.

[@ryananthony4840]

I always liked that one too.... the whole album is a great one to pop on and chill to

[@JeffJefferyUK]

How do you measure "underrated"?

[@mreppen1]

@@jayclarke6671 JP was fucked up on H. But he still was hitting it. He showed his stuff on “I’m gonna Crawl”. Thankfully he is still with us doing well.

[@ignatiusjackson235]

@@jayclarke6671 Session player? Go buy a noose.

[@SoulTrainBro]

Great review Michael. This album give hints of how their sound would've evolved, and carry them into the 80s.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

I so agree! When I hear where Robert went, and what Page and Coverdale did, I can’t help but think what such a blend would have produced! Thanx, Wayne!

[@helenespaulding7562]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine true but keep in mind that that Page was able to go there in large part because of the collaborative inspiration from Coverdale. Robert, at that same time was no longer interested in hard rock, and so they would not have been able to work together. And when they finally did collaborate again, Plant was the more influential. Or am I taking your musing too literally, Michael? 😁. Don’t mean to harsh your daydream!

[@tektoniks_architects]

Page wrote "Wearing and Tearing" as Zep's response to the emerging punk sound ("think we're too old? try a little of this!"). Page was disappointed with ITTOD, obviously - it lacked his leadership and harder-edge guitar sound (his own fault, IMO). Page and Bonzo wanted that heavy Physical Graffiti-sound back, and as you mentioned in your video, I think Jimmy (if he was healthy enough) would have tried to re-focus the band toward the harder electric sound they were known for. Obviously, Jones had advanced their sound with his synthesizer work on ITTOD....its quite possible Jimmy and JPJ might have fused the guitar and synthesizer into almost a new hybrid sound for the "next" album, if they had the chance....contemporary synth and electric. The real question would have been: would Jimmy have been able to get himself clean to be able to do that? We'll never know. One thing is certain: If you are familiar with some of Jimmy's work with Coverdale, and you know what Jimmy was able to do with Plant from 1994-1998, you can see Jimmy still had the tools to deliver guitar greatness. Thanks for pinning my comment, Michael! Flattered!

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

@@tektoniks_architects that’s a good point about JPJ synth and Jimmy’s guitar. I wonder if they would have gone more punk? I doubt it. I think they would have morphed into the 80’s more synth heavy sound…but with the addition of Jimmy’s heavy guitar. and it would have been great….IMO but I think it’s all moot because it was only only be being forced to stop that saved Jimmy. Bonzo worked so hard to bring Robert back into the band after Karacs death…….,As Robert has commented…….He worked so hard to save me, and in the process lost himself. What a poignant remark that is….

[@tektoniks_architects]

@@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 I agree with you. Unfortunately, I think it took Bonzo's death to save Jimmy's life. Bonzo always had a way to rebuff Plant, and tell him to just "zip it" and sing. I think if Jimmy were healthy, Zep would have continued, even if Robert were initially reluctant, because Bonzo would have made it so. But Jimmy was so far down....can you imagine the CONSUMATE PRO that Jimmy was (session man, leader of Zep.....always 10 steps ahead of everyone else, passionate keeper of the Zep legacy) being so out of it he stopped showing up at the studio to record for the most important achievement in his professional life (Zep)? He was certainly teetering on the knife edge when Bonzo died. Its kind of a miracle we didn't lose Jimmy after Bonzo passed.

[@TacomaPaul]

"Carouselambra" is my fave track.

[@youtoo2233]

From what I've heard is Page and Bonzo at that time were struggling with their drug and alcohol problems so Plant and Jones took over nearly everything on this album. You're definitely right on your assessment of Page on this album. IMO Bonzo also sounds like he's kind of taking it easy, but he still has his moments like on Fool in the Rain. Page does have some nice solos though, especially the bluesy solo on I'm Gonna Crawl. Ive always got goosebumps on Carouselambra when it's slowing down and entering that slower middle section. What the song and album could've used was an all out guitar solo jam on the last third of the song to really lift it up to an awesome Led album status. Maybe even put the more rocking Wearing and Tearing on this album, which you probably know was recorded during these sessions. This album has a chilled out monotone vibe to it IMO, even though it does have some upbeat moments. I give this album a solid 7.5/10

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Nice assessment, YT! 👌 With all going on within the band it’s wonder that ITTOD got recorded at all!

[@youtoo2233]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine so true, especially the way Plant's son had died just a year earlier in '77, I'm sure that year off helped him a lot

[@laurabusse1832]

From what I read They were all unhappy Bonzo wanted to be on his farm with his wife and kids Jones thought of quitting to be a church organist and choirmaster He had a wife and 2 daughters and usually stayed at a different hotel from the band Robert wanted to quit and be a teacher Robert never liked all the brouhaha I'm sure that's why he didn't want to reunite It was Jimmy's band basically And sadly he became addicted to heroin As bonzo sank deeper into alcohol Fantastic band They got caught up in the machine

[@jennybaji421]

💥ALL the troubles & this album STILL OVERCAME and ROCKED in such future ways !ZEP on top of what was to come‼️

[@leokimvideo]

JPJ is the quiet genius player who always had 3 others in the band who had a lot of focus on them. This band had 4 incredibly gifted players who have never been matched to date.

[@aldito7586]

Right Mike. It's JPJ's album. Jimmy and John Bonham all strung out and Robert Plant reeling (Can't blame him). JPJ was always the anchor of this band. In 2007 when they did the concert for Amet Ertgen JPJ said to Page and Plant "Either we're going to do this right - or i'm not doing it !" - "All of my love". Best song on the album !

[@danreed5171]

Dude your kool. Just keep it up. You have a voice Howard Stern tries to emulate. Clear deep comforting, and knowledgable

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx so much Dan! Watch out Howard!😉❤️😵‍💫

[@jennybaji421]

💥This IS one of their BEST ‼️ Up there like -Physical & -Houses It’s different but ZEP is ALWAYS gonna bring new ideas!!! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 In the EVENING is up there with Zeps best untouchables like: -Kashmir -Immigrant song -Achilles -STHeaven -In the Light & so on & on!!!

[@davidlaw689]

ITTOD got a bad rap when it came out in 1979. It's one of my favourites and is criminally underrated

[@YouseeatortoiseLeon]

For the song in the evening at about the 4:20 mark the magic really begins and I would say for the 30 to 40 seconds that JP lounges out the hypnotic layered riffing is absolute gold. I love this album and i don’t know why. Maybe the emptiness or wanting for greater that Achilles Last Stand left with me was in some small measure addressed in this album.

[@itsmedrooms6071]

This album shows how diverse and expansive their range was, both tonally and stylistically with a confluence of genres sometimes within a single song. They all had such incredible ears which made them one of the most influential bands in history with each song having its own individual color and JPJ was a huge part of that.

[@mykelc205]

And it flopped.

[@itsmedrooms6071]

The album went 6 times platinum.

[@vegasmobydick]

Great review Mr. Noland. Thank you! And very enjoyable reading the comments of fellow Zep fans telling their stories about how this album affected their lives. Here's mine, with a bit of background for context: I was only 16 when ITTOD was released. But I was already a long-time fan of this band thanks to having a cool Mom who had a passion for Rock and Roll, and an AM radio station based in Anaheim, CA whose format was more like the emerging FM music stations. KEZY1190AM had Led Zep in their rotation ever since Whole Lotta Love came out as a single; and even though I was only 6 at the time, that catchy, heavy sounding guitar riff caught my ears. Then as time went on, it was Immigrant Song, Black Dog, and of course Stairway that I was exposed to, which was also the music that all the cool teenagers in the neighborhood were listening to. But I really became a die-hard fan once I was old enough to afford to buy LP records with allowance money and later from part-time/summer jobs, and I was exposed to the incredible diversity of this band, but at the same time, for me the best part of Led Zep was still the heavy, catchy guitar riffs...Heartbreaker, Out On The Tiles, Custard Pie, and my all-time fav, Nobody's Fault But Mine...for how diverse their music was, every album to that point featured a good selection of heavy hitters built around by the Jimmy riff. So when it was announced that Led Zeppelin was releasing a new album in the summer of 1979, I looked forward to that with high expectations...KMET 94.7FM had replaced KEZY, and set a date to premiere ITTOD in it's entirety at 10am one morning in August. Being that this was an historical event, and I had a newly acquired freedom that a driver's license provides, a buddy and I made plans to be at the beach that morning with my portable FM radio that could get quite loud. After all, we were now the cool teenage kids in the neighborhood listening to the coolest music, and we were going to make sure everyone near the Newport Beach pier knew it that morning and naturally they'd be grateful. So In The Evening starts it off, and okay, that was alright, but what's next? Okay, some boogie-woogie piano number, pretty cool, but I'm sure the next track is going to sizzle! But what's this? More piano and a pop song? This isn't feeling like Led Zeppelin. Where is Jimmy? Surely the final track on side one will change this pace and feel. Um. okay, another boogie-woogie tune, that almost sounds like a country music parody. I'm confused. Maybe they saved the heavy riff stuff for side 2. After a commercial break, side 2 hits the airwaves and what's this? Synthesizer sounds like those that dominated the songwriting of the 80's, and provided inspiration for the 80's bands sound...but this was only 1979! (See what I did there?). Okay that was cool, but there's only 2 more tracks left...come on Jimmy, let's hear that riff! What? Orchestra string section? That's fine....any second now Jimmy will show up and save the day....but he never does. Okay, one more track to go, surely they're going to end this album with an up-tempo bang; they saved the best for last, right? Oh....more strings...and a slow, droning on number...hmm. That was my initial reaction to ITTOD....utter disappointment. It was only when I got my own copy, and could play it in the house loudly (which Mom didn't mind), or had no choice but to listen using headphones in my room at night (to avoid a lecture from Dad about how I don't care that he has to go to work in the morning) that I began to truly appreciate this album for what and how good it is - and I love it today!!! FTR - I didn't intend this to be so long; my apologies. But your warm welcome to new subscribers made me feel like this is a great channel to share the Led Zeppelin experience with fellow fans. Thanks again man! LED ZEPPELIN.....forever!!!!

[@poitor5915]

love listening to your perspective💪🏼i always thought with a proper promotion video ,better packaging and constant radio airplay ‘all of my love’ could of been a world wide chart topper☝🏻

[@riccardotalassi1625]

WHAT A REVIEW! Can't wait for Black Sabbath stuff by you!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Black Sabbath is coming!

[@christopheralton-moonn2097]

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath please

[@blainecartwright574]

Hell yeah! Thanks for the shout out. Currently in Paris starting a long European tour with both my bands, Nashville Pussy and Nine Pound Hammer. I have no access to tv, so your videos have been my prime source of entertainment. I listened to In Though The Out Door today. I like it better than I remembered. Your assessment is pretty dead on, as usual. Keep it up!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx, Blaine! dropped by your channel, and liked your videos, dude!

[@royceinthehouse842]

Speechless Michael, another perfect example of why you are my favorite Podcaster.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx, Royce! Ditto brother!

[@jeffreydaigle5917]

I was entranced with this album in the late 80's to early 90's. The synthesizers JPJ lent to this album absolutely foretold the sounds that the 80's would embellish like you so aptly suggest Michael. Absolutely stunning, especially the song "In the Evening". I couldn't get over the enveloping sound scape of a song that is. Compelling to say the least and made you listen to the album as a whole and ending with "I'm Gonna Crawl". An absolute masterpiece! I'll agree it's totally different than any other Led Zep record. Drug addiction by Page and Bonzo directly contributed to this.

[@laurabusse1832]

Yes exactly

[@kellieelliott5198]

Hi, new viewer. Great, very fair and balanced review of In Through the Out Door. Love the background music too. I am appreciating Jazz more as I get younger. Look forward to more LZ album reviews.

[@gray6071]

Great album, great review. Thanks a lot. It was plant's and jone's album, paige and bonzo were far down as they apparently admitted they werent really into it, in fact they planned the next album would be back to their heavy music.

[@christopherritter4149]

A lot of people incorrectly state that Jimmy Page was somehow absent from the recording session. The fact is Page brought an entire albums worth of content to these session that didn't make it to the album. Some of which Robert plant never got around to providing lyrics for. There is also a lot going on behind the scenes that that Jimmy did that doesn't get notice and in a lot of way this album features some of his most creative output. For one Jimmy was responsible for bringing the band to Polar Studios as it was the studio he chose that had the sound he was looking for. Jimmy also brought a lot of creativity to the album in his guitar playing. First he mainly switched to Stratocasters and Telecasters for the album, and making good use of the parson white B string bender. Also not all the synths on the album are JPJ some of them are Jimmy Page. Mentioning the solo to Fool In The Rain. It features Jimmy's use of the MXR blue box pedal, thus putting that pedal on the map. In the Evening also features his use of the Gizzmotron at the beginning and his solo effect involving modification to the tremolos springs. This album is also a good example of Jimmy Pages on going layering of instrument tracks especially guitar. and while All of My love has no guitar solo it has a fine example of his guitar orchestration going on during the Trumpet(GX-1) solos and makes good use of the B String Bender.

[@johnperiard9594]

Awesome video review. My ranking of the songs are as follows (#1 most liked) 1. In the Evening 2. All My Love 3. Hot Dog 4. Im Gonna Crawl 5. South Bound Saurez 6. Fool in the Rain 7. Caroselambra

[@edwardc.hernandez8039]

You must know Jimmy’s addiction had him a mess since the 1977 telling tour. Both Bonzo and Page are not physically well and the band was split. The dug addeled Bonzo and Page against Jones and Plant. The whole reason Jones and Plant make this album happen I am no hater in any way…I’ve been since 10 years of age circa 1973!! Zero ‘woke’ me to music and musicianship.

[@bcpme8637]

Great review. From what I understand Jimmy's addition was at his peak in 78/79. (And I think it carried over into the early post Zeppelin 80's). Jonesy took the bull by the horns with this album.

[@laurabusse1832]

Yes and rightfully so

[@llewellynGS1]

Hi Michael. I have followed with interest your recent reviews of the last 3 LZ albums. I bought this album when it first came out in 1979 and it was a #1 upon release in my native NZ. It was a revelation to me (I had heard "hot dog" and "all my love" on the radio) because at 14, I wasn't aware of any Zepp material after Zepp 3. For me they were an old band I used to love. But, I loved this album with its updated sound - it sounded very fresh. For this reason, its my #1 album of theirs today. I believe its underrated, and actually as a musician now, I don't agree that Jimmy was pushed down too much. He is front and centre on "In the evening", and very present on most of the tracks if you do a re-listen. He does two of my favourite solos on "Im gonna Crawl" and "fool in the rain". I appreciated their diversification on this, even if apparently Jimmy didn't. Now, "Presence" is my #2, also heavily underrated. I agree with all your assessment, except I have never heard a keyboard on "Candy store rock". There is a faint acoustic guitar on it. You might want to check that. But like you, I also love "Royal Orleans" and "Hots on for nowhere". I remember this album being uncool in the late 70s. 3rd for me is "Physical Graffitti", and 4th "Led Zeppelin 3". The rest are great also, but I am not a huge fan of "Houses of the Holy", its my least favourite one. "The rain song" is way too long, and its almost too diverse. But I like "the crunge" and "The ocean".

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

You’re absolutely right on Candy Store Rock! My bad, My mouth took over when my brain wasn’t thinking, Glen! Thanx for keeping me honest! I’ll fess up in a future video!😉👌 And I know people who count this as their favorite album as well! It’s received a fresh audience with 80s music on so many soundtracks these days, that it’s possibly a more accessible album to a younger audience! Or… I’m full of it again!😎

[@koolkitties8552]

Dyer Maker and Over the Hills and Far Away are good too

[@olaf1191]

I saw Plant perform in Stockholm in 2016 (ish). In between songs he told anecdotes about the recording of this album, which took place in Stockholm. He doesn't outright say it, but apparently it was just him and Jonesey in the studio much of the time. What surprised me during the concert was that most of the material, say 75%, was from the Zeppelin catalogue. He doesn't mind playing Zeppelin material (tweaked in his own way) but doesn't want to tour as front man of Led Zeppelin... comes with too much pressure perhaps?

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Yeah Robert’s never really settled on any one album or project overly define him as he did with Led Zeppelin!

[@laurabusse1832]

From what I read Plant and Jones worked during the day Page and Bonzo were kinda strung out and made their contributions at night

[@rattlehead4536]

I understand him and Page didn’t ever really get along well.

[@michaelworse6034]

I love this album and it’s one of my favourite albums from the Zep . Saw Page&Plant at their fantastic Munich concert, in 1999 . I get thrilled every time, I think of it !

[@tedwojtasik8781]

HTF do you call Jimmy's playing in I'm Gonna Grawl just studio work? He lays down one of the best blues solos anyone has ever committed to record, just blows it out of the park. This song is pure emotion and the reason I picked up guitar. Other than that though, spot on mate 🙂

[@juliemanarin4127]

Not less...FANTASTIC album!! Even with all their upsets...still unbelievable!

[@malcshone4409]

“ I’m looking for a woman, but the girrrrrl don’t come……”!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Agreed, Julie! No such thing as a bad Led Zeppelin album! They were incapable of such fallacy!👌

[@VIDSTORAGE]

Awesome summary of this album ..All Zep albums are different but this is another style break away as like Houses of Holy was a different style than the 1 to 4 series had ..The large synth sound that was used in some of the tracks took it into a high tech vibe that was very prevalent by 1979 .. The inner sleeve photo is great also that was made to look like Old Absinthe House in New Orleans... Not many give a huge like for Hot Dog but I always liked it a lot ..In The Evening is a great opener ...

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Nice assessment here, Phil! And I love how each version is taken from the angle of the very people in that room! Great!👌

[@kurtb8474]

I was a big Zep fan in the 1970s. I remember waiting patiently for something new from them after seeing The Song Remains The Same movie. When I heard 'Hey, Hey, What Can I Do' I got excited. But then, In Through The Out Door came out, and I remember getting sad. It sounded like a last gasp, a dying cough to me. It seemed like the beginning of the end.

[@seuthsayer12]

Too right. Their worst album by a long way.

[@richardclark.]

If you would have done any research at all you would have answered a lot of the questions you brought up very easily. I don't even have time to go into everything you mentioned but yes, bonzo and page weren't served on this album. They were both struggling mightily with addiction problems. Page was supplying what JPJ wanted. It was all he could do. Page and Bonham were not even in the studio on the same schedule as Plant and Jones. I'm sorry but I don't have an hour to explain the whole situation. Do some reading and you will understand why this album sounds like it does. It is still in the top Three Zep albums as far as I am concerned. Not a masterpiece? Bah! I can't believe you would discount this album in any regard. This shows how important JPJ really was to the whole picture. Go listen to his solo stuff or the Vultures album and becomes completely apparent.

[@anachronistofer]

Previous album was Presence (1976), not Physical Graffiti (1975).

[@kevinbrady6075]

Mr Noland,such a rabble-rouser! :-) Two things about 'In the evening" Jimbo get out the violin bow for the into,also he stated hwe use two compression pedels on the solo.Cheers!

[@tektoniks_architects]

The intro was not a bow. It was a device called a "Gizmotron." Do a search, and you'll see pics of it, and read about it. Not a bow.

[@kevinbrady6075]

@@tektoniks_architects Not in the live version.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Just asl Rabble! I didn’t rouse her! 😉 Interesting info regarding the use of 2 compressors, Kevin! That would explain why he does rise to the fore as much as I like! Interesting use of compression though!

[@tektoniks_architects]

@@kevinbrady6075 This is the studio version.

[@kevinbrady6075]

@@tektoniks_architects I know!All right I'll buy the beer!Geez! :-)

[@Panicagq2]

Jimmy was the master of playing like he fell down a staircase but landed on his feet grinning...

[@michaelrochester48]

I always lets fascinated by that album because it was recorded in Abbas owns studio. The more synthesizer laden sound of the group was partially because of Jimmy pages inability because of heroin addiction, but do you think that Abba might’ve even been an influence on that album? I heard the groups became good friends during the recording

[@anthonybelyea1964]

Awesome podcast brother you got a new subscriber cheers from Atlantic Canada got to see Robert at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton New Brunswick Canada wow tickets for the show sold out in minutes👍😎🇨🇦

[@toddhamby]

Great channel Michael! Really enjoy your insight and looking forward to new videos.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx, Todd!😉❤️

[@deanfackrell488]

This is another fantastic album. To me it just emphasises the range of genres that Zeppelin were masters of. Like you this isn’t my favourite Zeppelin album, but on listening to it. It’s very very good.

[@aeroglyphe]

Thank you, I think I needed your praise and observations to appreciate that album. I like the ending. One thought: It is a door to the 80's, a decade I don't remember as powerful, raunchy and radiant as the 70's, music and trends. The current traded the wild looks, hair and garbs for the semi-bussinesslike attires crowned with poodle haircuts. That's on one side where finesse was sought, the other side was the rough and primal punkrock scene. Decades after, I much more would listen to 70's LZ than any punk stuff. That ITTBD album is worth listening as part of the opus.

[@ontherhodes8088]

Led Zeppelin and a big 70's keyboard. It's a match made in heaven.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Absolutely, OTR! And JPJ’s chance to show that the others better not fall asleep at the wheel, because he was there to catch any slack to the wheel, and correct their course 😎

[@kennethwallace1494]

My two favorite songs are the last two songs, All of my love, and I'm gonna crawl, a great blues song to end the album

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

2 of the best on the album, Kenneth!👌

[@scottbrown4534]

Michael, I love your reviews of the Zeppelin albums so far, but they are, through the fault of KZbin ands the copyright trolls, flawed. I decided to listen to you and mix the songs on the album at the same time. Once I got the mix right I could jump through the tracks as you described them. Of course I had to stop a few times and just listen to the tracks... Very cool. Thank you, sir.

[@Marky_MarkO]

In The Evening

[@jimmyledhead380]

I enjoyed your analysis! Excellent..

[@luvbasses5487]

Jones, ever the class act said in an interview: “…we paid for the room so we may as well have done SOMETHING.” Of course he was referring to he and Robert’s teaming up and basically write the album together while at ABBA’s studio. Not one mention of the late hours and absence’s of Jimmy or John. Funny how tables turn over time isn’t it?

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Great points, lb! With this band, when you snooze, you loose! Same with the Beatles! Both bands always had someone willing and ABLE to take over!

[@luvbasses5487]

Look up: Brutal Artistry. This was a song possibly destined for a next Zeppelin record had Bonham not have left us.

[@charleswells8453]

Hi Michael, I would disagree with your conclusion that In Through the Out Door is not quite up to the standard of the previous 7 classics. It is arguably their most underrated album, alongside Presence, but both are absolute masterpieces. So it’s 8 in a row for me. Just as George Harrison peaked on the Beatles’ last album, Abbey Road, so too JPJ reaches a peak here in the last Zeppelin studio album. A more commercial sound? Yes. Less rocking? Yes. A new direction? Yes. Some of Zeppelin’s most accessible music. Embracing keyboards again after the guitar dominated Presence. Perhaps only Houses of the Holy is more accessible to the uninitiated. Btw. The Beatles arguably also had 8 masterpieces in a row from Help to Let It Be if we include Magical Mystery Tour as a mini album and exclude Yellow Submarine as a soundtrack album.

[@kwmusic4560]

Out Door is a great album, a big improvement over Presence. Some people bash it because of the lack of Page\Bonham influence, but when the album was recorded both were full blown junkies. Bonham still shines with the Purdie Shuffle on Fool in the Rain though. The landscape of music was changing around this time and this was a glimpse of where Zeppelin was heading if they had continued on.

[@kwmusic4560]

Funny, I made this comment before watching the video, and you covered most of what I said, from their addiction issues to this being the direction Zeppelin might have headed.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Great comment KW! The very fact that Bonzo & Jimmy were ‘out of it’ says so much about the mighty LZ! Like in The Beatles, if someone couldn’t quite pull their weight,, the others took the burden on so that the band didn’t suffer! ITTOD Is a perfect example of that! Abbey Road shows McCartney & Harrison taking the burden on for John who’s output was less due to things going on with him! The Result? As in ITTOD, they created one of their most enduring albums! 😉👌

[@kwmusic4560]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine What are your thoughts on the PJ Proby song "Jim's Blues", which is the first song ever recorded to have all 4 members of Zeppelin on it playing at the same time?

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I love the album, it's got a lot of fun stuff on it and loads of B-Bender! Hot Dog is NOT easy to play on guitar.

[@BruceColon-BSides]

I have really been looking forward to this review since your first Zep analysis. As I’ve mentioned before, this is one of my favorites along with Physical Graffiti. It gets a bad rap in many circles due to sounding so different from previous albums and lacking the bluesy grit. This has more of a sonic sheen and symphonic touch, giving JPJ a well-deserved chance to shine. It illustrates yet another side to this magnificent band. I love it. Another winner, Michael. Keep ‘em coming my friend!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx, Bruce! You know this is a great car album! This is the one LZ album that when played, everyone in the car is at the very least very OK with it being the soundtrack for the trip!👌

[@BruceColon-BSides]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine I grew up closer to the release of this one than the others, so I will always be a fan, even though objectively I know the previous studio albums rock harder and are overall more powerful. Same as I will always prefer the Phil-era Genesis than the Peter Gabriel-era (though I am a huge fan of Gabriel’s solo work).

[@zacharymcquaid7696]

Also Carouselambra had some really great drumming. I don’t think Bonham was pushed aside on this album. Jimmy Page more so, but the guitar on In the Evening is so beautiful and melodic.

[@jetcat132]

Lots of debate, but as always, the band surprised. I can honestly say I was never disappointed by a Zep album. I think one thing we can all agree on, is that each was different. Anytime you have the wide spanning influences and talent a band like Zep had, combined with the evolving technology of the day, you’re going to get an album or songs that don’t touch on everyone’s tastes. Again, it speaks to how well versed they were in influence, and to the almost bottomless wealth of talent they possessed. Despite their issues at the end, this album at the time of its release was considered by many in the record industry to be a shot in the arm. I was always along for the ride, and that band never disappointed me. I can’t say that about many others.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Absolutely, Jetcat! When In Through the Out Door came out, it was a good 2 years before I even got critical of it’s approach! But you know, historically speaking, if they hadn’t put this album out, we might have thought that they were a bit antiquated and dated in their approach! This album is THE album that showed us that if Bonzo had lived, that Led Zeppelin might have continued to rule the world of Rock for another 10 years! Thanx!👌😉

[@easygojunkremoval3564]

Enjoyed your take on this album would have love to see what they would have done if ………😢 they were and are a stand alone band.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Absolutely! Thanx, Gary!

[@generaljj577]

Your assesment is perfect I feel. I prefer it to the heavy but plodding Presence. Its judged harshly by its timing.

[@remnantsofasoundblast]

If there was ever a Zep album that took time to grow on you it is this one (and Zep 3). I feel like the older I get the more I love it. The album as a whole is a very different song writing and approach from the guitar driven Zep most of us are used to. But in all honesty, the songs here that are good are really good, and a few are Great! I always loved Carouselambra (it's Epic, besides the vocal mix) and I'm Gonna Crawl. That is an interesting point about Page's approach with serving the songs. I never could pinpoint what it was, but I think you are right. Good review man!

[@olaf1191]

I have actually listened quite a lot to this album recently and I rank it higher than both LZIi & Presence. It is all a bit like hair splitting I guess. My favourites on the album are Carouselambra, Fool in the rain and South bound suarez. Carouselambra is a great song but the mixing isn't perfect.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Hey 2 outta three isn’t bad, Ola!👌

[@TacomaPaul]

Led Zeppelin "In Through The Out Door"... I bought all the albums. 12 albums. Covered with paper... but... heheh. ;-)

[@kjh111059mckooster]

Very good album, agreed. My only complaint is the spotty production. Carouselambra is the biggest culprit. I think your critique would be more generous if the production was better. It's a varied album, stylistically, and never bores. Many a band would kill to make an album this good.

[@christophersanders5007]

I was never a big fan of this album. The chosen single by the music industry for this album was "Hot Dog" when I first heard this song on the radio I thought "This sucks for a Led Zeppelin song". I remember this album had had some kind of sleeve on it when damped with a wet towel would reveal colors on it.

[@RNFORLAW]

Man I remember me and my cousin listening to the live broadcast of the entire album on KLOS in L.A. and we were SO excited to hear it.....then the disappointment set in. slowly 1 song at a time. We heard "Hot Dog" rolled our eyes and almost puked......We were hoping for that hard driving drum and sizzling guitar. Instead we got keyborded fluff. I grew up with this band and this album sounded nothing like them even III had "out on the tiles" and really rockin acoustic tracks. The next 10 years would be a nightmare of keyboards/synth and new wave that was good for dancing and chicks but not much else then "classic rock" came to save the day ~

[@markmiller7103]

Good review it only gets better as I age it used to be my lest favorite but it is slowly moving up my list too number two next to Presence.

[@tylerjsmithers8385]

I love this album! However, the issues with the mix of this album, especially with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page being mixed too far down are very apparent... The rough cuts of In The Evening and Carouselambra really bring out Page and Plant! Also, Jimmy Page is in the throes of heroin addiction, so Jones takes over the album... That's probably why he feels so secondary in this album...

[@DavidMorley]

I think this album benefits from Page taking a back seat. John Paul Jones is a true genius and his bass playing on this album is a highlight. Their best album to me but I have odd taste 🤣

[@philweeks8459]

There are moments I've truly enjoyed listening to "In Through The Out Door," but my least favorite. When track one, side one, started my friends and I were so excited to finally hear new material. I recall the intro to "In The Evening" and thinking, put on the crash helmets, boys, we're in for a ride! Although a good tune, we felt a little disappointed. Just fell short of our expectations. (On the flip side of that criticism, when played live on the "No Quarter Tour," I thoroughly loved it.) "Fool in the Rain" grabbed me and opened my eyes/ears to Bonham. Normally we'd listen to the entire album before replaying another song, but I demanded (without much resistance) that we replay it again. To this day I still refer to this track when defending Bonzo as the mislabeled "heavy-handed" player. Being fans we were familiar with the loss of Plant's son, Karac, in 1977. "All of My Love" paints the day when Robert was told the sad news, which I found heart-touching. All in all, I agree with Mr. Noland's assessment. Where are the Page/Bonham collaboration tunes? "In Through the Out Door" was just a little too thin for us. Maybe as fans, we were being selfish with our expectations. For nearly a decade we had been on a cross country Corvette ride, driven by your favorite crazy uncle. Always slowly riding through a stop sign, beating the red lights, and rarely obeying the speed limit signs. Stopping for gas was a drag, but as long as we're here, we need another six-pack! Then one day, as we continued our journey, the crazy uncle wasn't up for driving and turned the keys over to his really hot girlfriend. Although we were still in the Vette, it wasn't the same. Always coming to a complete stop. Looking both ways at the intersections. Only passing slower cars...carefully, by exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph. Sure, we got there, but our beer was warm. "In Through the Outdoor" took time for me to respect. It's a fine album. Just my least favorite is all.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Never could abide a warm beer, Phil! 😉👌👍❤️

[@malcshone4409]

We all remember how superb the “ Celebration Day” concert was in 2007. The band chose not to include any songs from ITTOD in the set list, the only Lz album unrepresentative that night. We have to ask ourselves why???

[@koolkitties8552]

what about Coda

[@malcshone4409]

@@koolkitties8552 It doesn’t count as it was a compilation of left over pieces from previous albums so they were hardly going to include anything from it in the “ Celebration Day” set list. Especially since they didn’t even play “ Achilles Last Stand” !!

[@philweeks8459]

@@malcshone4409 I was hoping for "Achilles" as well, but they chose "For Your Life" (first time live!) and "Nobody's Fault" as the two to represent Presence.

[@damonmichael6500]

You always should "serve" the song that is why this is by far my favorite L.Z. album and the mix is perfect too gone is the self indulgence of the past and I wish Plant and Jones "produced" more of their albums.. this is a mature album looking back and forward at the same time.

[@philrich6327]

Jimmy was so far into the songs because he was so strung out at the time. They were lucky to get anything out of him for this album. This wa JPJ’s and Robert’s project.

[@laurabusse1832]

Yes

[@escommentss]

I think most of Zep's studio albums with few exceptions were examples of production perfection. Jimmy never made a mistake on his studio recordings, well at least on the takes that he kept but I'm sure he did multiple takes that were full of mistakes. All you have to do is listen to his live performances where he makes tons of mistakes. Don't get me wrong, I love Jimmy's live performances, mistakes and all! The only mistake on their studio albums that I ever heard was made by John Paul Jones playing "Good Times, Bad Times" where coming out of the guitar solo into the chorus he continued playing the guitar solo bass riff. He obviously didn't mean to do that but it does sound kind of cool. I'll bet the band thought that too so they left it in there. Zep has always been known for their pristine production so I'm not sure I get what you're referencing critiquing "In The Evening" Cheers!

[@laurabusse1832]

In the studio they keep doing takes until one is perfect or almost perfect Mistakes in live performances are to be expected

[@disneyfamily5158]

Mr. Page's solo on "I'm Gonna Crawl" is about the best he's done on record. Majestic and moody.

[@TheSledge77]

Good review, however, I felt as though it was focused a lot on Page and Bonham rather than Jones and Plant who in my opinion should have been the main focus of your review since they were the more involved in the making if the album. Although this is not their best, it is great. Jones and Plant kicked any drugs or alcohol problems they had by then and that is why they are so in the forefront of the album. It was mainly produced and arranged by Jones because of Jimmy's heroin addiction which kept him from being in the studio, playing and producing like he had before. Bonzo was heavily drinking even more by then , so like Jimmy, he wouldn't show up as often or play as well.

[@sunilramsingh67]

Fool in the rain is my favorite Led Zep song.

[@aldito7586]

The critics panned it - but it's a great album !

[@ursafan40]

I remember a moment in a PX record section when a couple next to me was looking at "In Through The Out Door". It had just come out. They hadn't heard anything about it yet. I told them "It's odd. Very odd for a Zeppelin album, but it's worth it"

[@georgewilliams4258]

The only Zepplin I had back in the day.

[@victorgonzalezdomeisen4775]

Carruselambra, im gonna crowl, in the evening and south bound saurez are great. Jimmy and bonzo were not doing well in their personal life due to drugs and alcohol abuse, but they manage to get an album that is fantastic. I think darlene and wearing and tearing must have been in the lp.

[@Cashwisdom94]

We like best the same two songs on this album. It was also a great album ❤ it was really married well with how music started changing, those late 70s/early 80s tunes that are classics. Kind of like Jay Ferguson’s Thunder Island and Rupert Holmes “escape”. It is in that kind of vein, and ai actually LOVE it. I think people get uncomfortable when artists expand and have such a wide range because “they don’t know what to make of them where to place them and categorize them”, or even more stupid they get angry because they dared to step out of what they want to the band to stick to 24/7. I love that them because I LOVE that they were so eclectic. I love that whatever they did was a surprise, and the surprises were of great quality and expanse… they were MUSCIANS, ARTISTS above all. They didn’t have to stick to hard rock, they were a terrific mixture of many things. Each album was unique, and each album showed their different sides, yet we can still recognize them, and that’s only something great artists can pull off.

[@johnnyd63]

Jones took the lead on this album, but JPJ was always at his best in a support role. Strung out Page let us down on this one.

[@adamfindlay7091]

Some gems on here. And some interesting feel . Wish I could make out the lyrics on Carousel...good song to travel to. This albums always been some kind of mystery. Page is a ghostly figure on here throughout.

[@johned2769]

The only thing that put me off this album, was the fact that i couldn't hear Robert properly on In the Evening or make out what he was saying. Not the best produced album.

[@zacharymcquaid7696]

I think they would have gone in the direction of Walters Walk and Wearing and tearing on CODA. At least on a follow up album. Also the song Darlene.

[@AlexAlexon3897]

A very enjoyable review, partly because I agree with parts and disagree with others. 🙂 The only prior hint of In Through the Out Door was Houses of the Holy. It's not that the albums sound alike, but hearing Houses... first would leave you better-prepared for In Through... Being 18 at the time of ITTOD, I was hoping for a return to the Led Zeppelin 2 sound. Buying this album on the day of release taught me an important lesson: Don't expect artists to repeat themselves. (In fact, and this could be the subject for a video in its own right, Deep Purple had already slightly prepared some of us for this, with Stormbringer's being such an apparent departure. And it's interesting that Purple and Zeppelin both got funkier on Stormbringer and Physical Graffiti.) Geoff Barton from Sounds, a writer who was pretty influential and VERY forthright, gave the album a 2/5 review.That review missed a few important points. He said In the Evening was excellent, but by far the standout track - "After that," he wrote, "there's not much left. Not much at all." That didn't make sense, but he explained: "In the Evening is slow and tame (not verbatim) compared with today's young Metal bands". Ah. Problem solved. He was comparing Zeppelin to the NWOBHM, a movement Zep had inspired but by which they were probably not inspired. To keep this short(ish), I won't quote GB's review again, except for his view of the last track and his closing comments. He called I'm Gonna Crawl "heavy-going" (again not verbatim - it was something similar), and concluded: "Believe it or not (and you probably won't), Zeppelin used to be my favourite band. After hearing ITTOD, I feel sad, let down and empty". How those words echoed through the mind as I'm Gonna Crawl's last chord faded! Surely Zeppelin were not in any sense in competition with Iron Maiden and other young heavy bands. Rainbow was possibly the closest act to LZ in '79, a heavy band maturing into something increasingly sophisticated. To this day LZ2 and ITTOD are my fave Zeppelin studio albums. They could not be more different - and that's the point! 💙 (PS Sorry for long post.)

[@kimberlywalker3970]

Why fans crap on this album I don't know? I happen to like it a lot. If fact, it's my favorite behind Led Zeppelin IV and Physical Graffiti. In the Evening is one of their better songs. Same goes for Fool in The Rain. All of My Love is good, but it makes me sad when I hear it. Carouselambra is ten minutes of musical craziness, but it works. Southbound Saurez and I'm Going to Crawl are good but not my favorites. Hot Dog, in my opinion, is the only song that sucks. I would've preferred Wearing and Tearing and it would've had the same effect. I agree w/what you said about Fool in The Rain being on Houses of the Holy. It's very similar to D'yer Maker but 10xs better. Overall, I think this album sounds very "age appropriate." for 1979. I also think, if they make this album sound like any of their previous albums, it would've sounded dated. It's a good and bad thing that 40 years later, people are starting to appreciate this album for what it is instead of what it is compared to their other albums.

[@archangeljophiel2019]

Every time I see this cover, I think of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal music video.

[@davidreilly8888]

I believe Jimmy turned down roberts vice intentionally on carouselambra. The lyrics are fascinating. The song is about roberts inner turmoil with jimmy at that time. Jimmy wasnt having that shit.

[@Mr_Rob_otto]

It looks like he’s doing a Jedi mind trick with his right hand.

[@LoyalOpposition]

I always had fear that Led Zeppelin would adopt the 80s (awful) engineering/production, but if there was one hypothetical band who could do it, they could have.

[@musky666]

Thanks for your review, but one thing that irritates me is trying to listen to you and hearing the background piano. 😫 It's not needed , because what you talk about is interesting enough and doesn't need background piano. Keep up the great work 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanks Monty! Still working on the channel’s approach!

[@misty671]

Great review.

[@gilbertramos6039]

I think it's a great album. I like that JPJ and Plant have more input than usual. Most know that Page and Bonham were struggling with their substance choices at the time.

[@josemenendez4454]

Do you know that Hot Dog was written about Robert's road wife Audrey Hamilton?

[@Baz63]

J.P. was in a heavy drug phase hence why J.P.P becomes more prominent on the album. When i saw them at Knebworth in August 1979 J.P. played well but looked unwell. For me Carouselambra was a stone cold classic in, for me, a confused album...almost directionless. Shame the band effectively ended their recording career at this point. I gather Page and Bonham were intent on moving into a more aggressive sound but we all know what happened.

[@stevengroom8590]

Are You reviewing the Original Zeppelin albums of Pages remastered albums ?

[@jerbear1601]

All of my Love was Plant's song about his son Karac. Page didn't want to go in that direction though.

[@awoken1445]

And now to listen to some LZ, after that excellent review!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx, JT!👍

[@dukeallen432]

Doesn’t much matter what others think of music.

[@PhreakPhantom]

What u said about this being a John Paul Jones feel album is my major problem with it. John can't help but being a perfectionist. To me, it kinda kills the "realness" that this album should have. Thanks for the video man!

[@laurabusse1832]

Basically there were 3 musicians and a singer This album as I understand it was mainly the effort of one of the musicians Jones And the singer lyricist plant Page and Bonham were drug and alcohol addled and contributed as they could Page let Jones have free reign Page gets defensive about this but apparently it's the truth

[@incognito793]

Please do Robert's solo material sometime .

[@Wizardboots]

Unpopular opinion, but definitely my favorite Zeppelin record....especially if you add the three outtakes that ended up on Coda.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

Another LZ masterpiece

[@josephrohland5604]

ITTOD is my favorite LZ album.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

She didn't start in Fleetwood Mac. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie did.

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Steely Dan . 7 classic albums in a row