Led Zeppelin: Ranking Their Studio Albums From Worst To Best

3. Led Zeppelin III

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv2E8-Irn6c Led Zeppelin III is the transitional album that saw the band take its first big steps from being known as a hard blues rock band who were brilliant musicians, to a versatile group of songwriters who were prepared to delve into a number of different genres of music. This wouldn't become immediately apparent, with the first track 'Immigrant Song' showing the raw power that the band could still bring to the table. However, the next track; 'Friends' shows a new turn of Arabic inspired music with string arrangements and Bonham on other percussive instruments besides his drum kit.

Later on the band covers the classic folk standard 'Gallows Pole', with Jimmy Page bringing his banjo skills to the fore and 'Tangerine' and 'That's the Way' show how much impact the band could make with acoustic instruments rather than electric ones. Robert Plant has called it their most important album and it is hard to argue with him. An underrated gem.