There are few musical legacies as towering as the one created by Led Zeppelin. From their impactful debut, they charted a course through the 1970s as one of rock’s foremost acts, setting a standard that countless others aimed to match. While their discography remains impeccable, a particular classic might not have become so iconic with different circumstances.
In the sequence of their self-titled albums, Led Zeppelin III stands out as an anomaly. Showcasing a preponderance of acoustic instrumentation, Jimmy Page traversed both the ethereal and intense realms of his artistry throughout the album, from the soulful depths of ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ to the primal energy of ‘Immigrant Song’.
Continuing their tradition of switching things up, the band altered the tempo with the second track of III. Following the explosive opener, listeners were treated to studio banter before Page launched into the opening riff of ‘Friends’. This track adopts an ominous tone from the beginning, as Page’s harmonies and John Paul Jones’ string arrangement cast a darker mood. As the song concludes, a Moog synthesiser persists even after the other instruments fade.
This droning sound seamlessly transitions into ‘Celebration Day’, the album’s third track. Despite its intriguing effect, this wasn’t something Page and the band initially intended for the album. According to Page, the moment’s necessity led to the unique setup of the song. “I was listening through the headphones and nothing was coming through,” he told Guitar World. “I started yelling, ‘What the hell is going on!’”
The answer he received only served to irk him more: “I noticed that the red recording light was on what used to be the drums,” he added. “The engineer had accidentally recorded over [John Bonham]!”
As a result, Page was forced to think of a solution. “That is why you have that synthesizer drone from the end of ‘Friends’ going into ‘Celebration Day’ until the rhythm track catches up,” he explained. “We put that on to compensate for the missing drum track. That’s called ‘salvaging.’”
Despite its troubling creation, ‘Celebration Day’ went on to become a staple of the band’s live shows. However, even as the band experimented with their sound, Page swiftly moved on to greater endeavours a few months after completing the record. With the release of Led Zeppelin IV, the band sought to silence the unnecessary hype surrounding their work, delivering a monumental album that included iconic tracks like ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and ‘Black Dog’.
While the echoes of ‘Celebration Day’ linger throughout Led Zeppelin III, the song’s raw energy adds depth and character. Despite any sonic imperfections, the genuine soul embedded within the vinyl grooves made it too irresistible to overlook.
