In Through the Out Door [Remaster] by Led Zeppelin (CD, Aug-1994, Atlantic)

In Through the Out Door is the eighth studio album by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded over a three week period in November and December 1978 at ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and released by Swan Song Records on 15 August 1979. In Through the Out Door was the band's sixth and final release to reach the top of the charts in America, and was the last recorded by the band before the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980. It was also the last of three Led Zeppelin albums (the others being Houses of the Holy and Presence) to be composed of completely original material.The album was named by the group to describe its recent struggles amidst the death of Robert Plant's son Karac in 1977, and the taxation exile the band took from the UK as a result of the Harold Wilson and James Callaghan administrations, which also adversely affected other major British bands of the time, such as The Rolling Stones. The exile resulted in the band being unable to tour on British soil for over two years, and trying to get back into the public mind was therefore like "trying to get in through the 'out' door."

In contrast to previous Led Zeppelin albums, In Through the Out Door features much greater influence on the part of bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones and vocalist Robert Plant, and relatively less from drummer John Bonham and guitarist Jimmy Page. Two songs from the album—"South Bound Saurez" and "All My Love"—were the only two original Led Zeppelin songs which Jimmy Page had no part in writing. With the exception of "Darlene," a Boogie-Woogie based song credited to all band members (which was eventually released on the 1982 album, Coda), Bonham did not receive writing credits for any of the songs recorded at Polar Studios. This diminished input by Page and Bonham is attributed to the two band members often not showing up on time at the recording studio, with Bonham struggling with alcoholism and Page battling heroin addiction. As Jones said:

There were two distinct camps by then, and we [myself and Plant] were in the relatively clean one.

Many of the songs were consequently put together by Plant and Jones during the day, with Page and Bonham adding their parts late at night. According to Jones, this was

mainly because I had a new toy. I had this big new keyboard. And Robert and I just got to rehearsals early, basically... So Robert and I, by the time everybody turned up for rehearsals, we’d written three or four songs. So we started rehearsing those immediately, because they were something to be getting on with.

Both Page and Bonham later expressed reservations about the album. In an interview he gave to Guitar World magazine in 1998, Page stated that he and Bonham:

... both felt that In Through the Out Door was a little soft. I wasn't really keen on "All My Love". I was a little worried about the chorus. I could just imagine people doing the wave and all of that. And I thought, that's not us. That's not us. In its place it was fine, but I wouldn't have wanted to pursue that direction in the future.

Years later, Page elaborated that "we wanted, after In Through the Out Door, to make something hard-hitting and riff-based again. Of course, we never got to make that album." He is also quoted as saying "It wasn't the most comfortable album. I think it was very transitional... a springboard for what could have been.

This album was their last one. Released on August 15, 1979. I feel that it should be ranked right up there with their best. My favorite songs are "South Bound Saurez", and "I'm Gonna Crawl". The zany "Hot Dog" always brings a smile to my face. I think this album has a great samba beat in "Fool in the Rain". Just a good feeling album that is well worth a listen to. Plants vocals are just as strong as ever. The only thing I didn't care for about this album was Page's crazy guitar solo in "In the Evening". It just sounded like it was taking off in a different direction, but finally comes back around. This album is fun to listen to and is well worth any price! This is not the rock'n'roll of early Zep, but of a group that was reaching new levels. Had it not been for the drugs and booze that ended the life of their drummer, they would have put out a lot more different phases of Led Zeppelin.

Hi,
What can you say about this music? .OMG maybe....yeh there is no such thing as a Zepp album that dous'nt deserve ....um lets just say excellent is an understatement I will say this album represented a time of new direction.I wish to heck I could have seen where it would have gone from there hehe If You are younger and hearing this stuff for the first time dont just listen to it once talking to your Buds...get all the studio zeppelin absorb it like the Rock and roll Bible..and when your ready.Buy the DvD's and be prepared cause it's a mind bender watching jimmy....check out achilles last stand at knebworth 1979....AMAZING to the point of tears for me...then the ocean at madison square gardenOMG.....so much more. I saw jimmy and Zepp every time they came to cali since 72 or 73 and jimmy no matter who the heck he showed up with later....sorry this is so long I will sum it the first time I saw Zepp I think 73 LOng beach sports arena walk in and smashed to barricade in front of the stage when zepp exploded onto the stage and jimmy in that white suit and a ciggy hanging out of his mouth playing ..alll can say is ..like 3 guys at least...what im trying to say is I stared up at Jimmy and jaw dropped thinking "Oh MY GOD THAT IS THE COOLEST GUITAR I HAVE EVER SEEN OR WILL SEE AGAIN I WAS SURE OF IT" Jimmy plays from the heart with SPIRIT that can only come from someplace very special from somewhere beautifull..when you finally understand Jimmys live playing...good for now your spoiled for life......if not.im soo sorry for you keep trying oh by the way Jimmys my mentor idle whatever this.
was a once in a 100 year band..LOVE TO ALL....And for all who knew what it was about lets just say a prayer in all religions...beat drums... blast your les paul thru some killer tube amp for BONZO....And Jimmy if you could read this I know that wont happen But I know that losing Bonzo took a large piece of you as well... 30 years later ..Im so sorry...do some more work with jason...John would have loved that im sure........Most of all Pagey...THANK YOU THANK YOU>>INFINITY>>>​;IF your back still hurts get a lighter guitar and come back to the states we miss you terribly..yer probly mad about the stoopid war...Join the club...G BitcH will be remembered for war crimes....hey its not my fault...
I had third row tickets to the black crows and you when you hurt your back and cancelled it twice THIRD ROW....PLease come back so I can see you play again from ...I can afford the tickets better nowPS I have 96 JPP les paul and this weak Im buying a custom shop JPP...How the hell do you do that crazy strings bending in around and thru each other its the most beautifull form of lead/chording whateva that I have ever heard example..GREEK theater the middle of your time is gonna come you moved to front poised for what I knew was gonna be that style....oh I can do a lot of your wonderfull bends at least one in 10 has the feel oh well..and thats the same bend lmao... but...but.... oh forget it...um my kids have heard me talk about you since they were little...they laugh and call you uncle Jimmy..MUCH HAPPINESS>>LOVE YA before i ever heard your voice...dont take this wrong but you spoke you said that what I knew you would..well hmm... YOU MADE ME A LOT BETTER GUITAR PLAYER AND PERSON BE HAPPY JIMMY...I wish I could really write you..gotta few Questions....about that lead method....you tought it to ron wood huh....yeh it's like muzak vs majik...ROK ON RON

I was first attracted to Led Zeppelin's music because of their treatment of the blues. I was never quite sure if their efforts were a reverent homage to an art form they admired of if they were just plain being silly -probably a bit of both. Whatever it was, I enjoyed it, and appreciated the fact that it exposed a valuable part of American culture obscure to most Americans.
But even in the beginning, it was obvious that the heavy balloon wasn't just a blues cover band. Their first three albums, though heavy laden with blues, showcased a group of accomplished and talented musicians creatively synthesizing all of their influences into ear candy. Though increasingly less blues influenced, each progressive album earmarked a continuation and maturation of that process.
"In Through the Out Door" is a lyrical culmination of what became of the monster uleashed on an unsuspecting world so many years earlier. It is also the only Zep studio album that I never got around to buying (I still have all of the albums from the beginning up to "Presence" on vinyl). So, getting this album is not only the completion of a casual project, it means I can listen to 'All My Love' or 'Fool in the Rain' whenever I want to instead of waiting for the local classic rock station or XM radio to play it.

If you are a Zeppelin fan you'll enjoy this CD. Fool in the Rain is probably one of my favorite Zep songs. All of My Love is another good track and knowing the history behind the song makes it even more emotional. My own belief is that you cannot have enough Led Zeppelin. The Greatest...Ever.