What is Led Zeppelin's best acoustic song?

In 1969, after Led Zeppelin had released two albums heavy on the blues rock, it would have been impossible to imagine they would later be known and revered also for their folky acoustic tunes. 

Then came Led Zeppelin III.

In December '69, Jimmy Page caused concern amongst the group's fans by suggesting in an interview (click on the photo to read it) that the band would be expanding their musical horizons on future albums. Page assured Melody Maker's Chris Welch that although Zeppelin were exploring more acoustic songs, "we're still a heavy group" saying it would be wrong for them to change their sound completely.

Click on the image to enlarge it

The resulting album of acoustic and more reflective material on Led Zeppelin III has stood the test of time very well. Tracks like Friends and Gallows Pole even formed the core of the Page and Plant Unplugged shows in the 1990s. 

Those same tracks are still featured, along with That's The Way and Babe I'm Gonna Leave You in Robert Plant’s recent solo concerts.

Led Zeppelin III was the jumping off point for the various musical explorations that peaked with Physical Graffiti in 1975. The third album is now seen as a natural part of the band's acoustic/electric evolution that culminated in the fourth album's standout track, Stairway To Heaven.

But at the time it was a disappointment to some fans, who wanted another Led Zeppelin II. 

By 1971 and the imminent release of Led Zeppelin IV, it was clear that the new folky direction had really not gone down well with some fans.

The new material to be released on Led Zeppelin IV, and being aired on BBC sessions in April 1971, suggested there would definitely be no return to the lemon-squeezing days of yore. A letter to the Melody Maker in May 1971, under the headline ‘Don’t go soft Zeppelin!’ sums up the mood:

“Zep sound great on Whole Lotta Love and their many earlier songs, but please leave the gentle songs to people like the Strawbs, who have grown up with their music and can do it justice.

"It’s obvious from Zeppelin’s performance on the radio last week, that they just don’t make it without the volume.”

The BBC session to which J. Miller from Chester was referring contains a lovely coupling of Going To California and That's The Way, among other mellow gems.

50 years later, the criticism all seems rather narrow-minded and foolish. While the early rock stuff was tremendous and still sounds great, clearly there was more to Led Zeppelin than that. In his latter day solo work, Robert Plant in particular, has shown his appreciation of folk and country music, in addition to his love of blues and rock.

So here are my Top 10 Led Zeppelin acoustic songs.

1. The Battle of Evermore
Robert Plant's vocal duet with Sandy Denny raises this song to the level of a modern folk classic, adding drama to the Tolkien-esque lyrics. The use of mandolin also adds depth to the arrangement and the whole song carries a magical atmosphere that builds to a wonderful crescendo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88b0OYxdtyM

2. That's The Way
Jimmy Page's use of alternate tunings on acoustic guitar, in this case a drop D (DGDGBD) tuning, give the songs on Led Zeppelin III a distinctive folky feel, influenced heavily by the acoustic guitar giants of the era such as Davey Graham, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. Page makes full use of the jaunty nature of the tune in the coda section.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kif1gDxG3o

3. Bron-Yr-Aur
Another one from the LZ III sessions, this one was reworked in 1975 for Physical Graffiti. It's fun to play, once you have tuned your guitar down to CACGCE and is also good for anyone learning to finger pick as it requires a constant tempo on the right hand to drive the tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIAnR8nAMbc

4. Friends
An early pointer on LZ III to the exotic - faintly middle eastern - rhythms and melodies that Page and Plant embraced on Physical Grafitti. The two of them revisited this to great effect on their Unplugged album in the 1990s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ChYF35HqQw

5. Going To California
Apparently written by Plant in flight as they were approaching Los Angeles, this tune shows how he had matured as a songwriter by 1971 and the recording of Led Zeppelin IV. Again, the use of mandolin adds to the folky and hippyish atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IZ-jATBq9A

6. Tangerine
In their live shows in 1975, all four members of the band sang on this. Robert Plant said it was the first time they had tried four part harmony. It's in standard tuning. The album version also contains a lovely lilting electric guitar solo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Auvlsv860

7. Black Mountain Side
Jimmy Page adapted Bert Jansch's version of this Irish folk tune for his showcase acoustic number of the first Led Zeppelin album in 1969. It's the earliest example of Page exploring exotic sounds, complete with tabla accompaniment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUFCkM-tNUQ

8. Gallows Pole
Side two, the acoustic side of Led Zeppelin III, which shocked and disappointed some fans back in the day, begins with this traditional folk tune about a man calling his friends and family to save him from the gallows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSZca1Q9IWA

9. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Probably the result of a jam during the LZ III sessions, the addition of John Bonham's bass drum gives the song its bouncy feel and shows how the band had quite naturally moved in a folky direction, having immersed themselves in the scene during the 60s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv-kBsah7u8

10. Babe I'm Gonna leave You
Robert Plant had been inspired by the Joan Baez live version of this song recorded in the early 1960s. Page built the electric section of the tune by adapting the riff from Chicago's 25 Or 6 To 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JitlOtoAfw

OK, so Stairway To Heaven is at least partly acoustic, but you all know about that.

Also on this blog:

A review of the 'Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day' movie

December 1969 - Led Zeppelin promise not to go soft