10 Underrated Albums By Huge Bands
8. Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door
By 1978, the unthinkable had happened: it was no longer fun to be in Led Zeppelin. Personal tragedies and substance issues were catching up with the band, and the high tax rate had seen them flee the UK. In Through The Out Door, their final record, isn’t so much a band ending on a high as an increasingly ragged group trying to keep it together.
It’s a maligned album to this end, but often a fascinating one. With Jimmy Page’s addictions increasingly taking hold, the influence of Robert Plant and, particularly, John Paul Jones was far more prominent.
The latter’s virtuoso musicianship was a tool the band always leaned on, and never more than here. He gives the terrific “Fool In The Rain” a winning swing, coupled with a particularly strong vocal turn. "South Bound Saurez" also has Jones in a more prominent than usual position, exhibiting his jazz chops.
There’s plenty of room for more typical Led Zep fare - the Page drones on “In The Evening”, the epic "Carouselambra". The album was a huge seller but received sniffy reviews from those who felt that the group’s time had passed. Really, it had, but this record shouldn’t be dismissed.