Led Zeppelin III/Zenyatta Mendatta
This weekend, On The Turntalbe will feature two lps celebrating monumental anniversaries … its been 50 years since the release of Led Zeppelin III and 40 years since The Police released Zenyatta Mondatta – We will feature celebratory spins for each lp in their entirety – each side uninterrupted.
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin III is the eponymous third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released this very month in 1970. It showed a progression from straightforward rock towards folk and acoustic music. Though hard rock influences were present – the acoustic based songs showed the band was capable of playing different styles successfully…. and well …”That’s The Way” and “Gallows Pole” set the stage for songs from forth coming albums like “Going To California” from number four. The album was one of the most anticipated of 1970 and was a commercial success on both sides of the pond …
The original release date was somewhat delayed due to the unique gateway cover with an inner sleeve design based around a volvelle, with numerous images visible through holes cut in the outer cover. This weekend we will be listening to the 180 gram reissue that was released in 2014. Best Ever Albums Dot Com considers Led Zeppelin III as the 15th best lp of 1970 and the 42nd best of the decade … Digital Dream Door Dot Com ranked the album #7 on their top 100 for the year. The album also appears in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
Zenyatta Mondatta
Zenyatta Mondatta is the third studio album by The Police, released this very weekend in 1980 by A&M Records. It features the two hit singles: “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” and “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da”. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and #5 on the Billboard 200, finishing #9 on the Billboard year end charts. The album was written during the band’s second tour and recorded in four weeks, which eventually had band member claiming that the lp was not what it could be, even though it still remains one of their most successful releases.
The album won the band two Grammy Awards including Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” … Despite excellent sales performance and top five rankings in the UK, Australia and the US, it is the only Police album not to obtain a spot on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Best Ever Albums Dot Com considers Zenyatta Mondatta the 22nd best lp of 1980 and the 171st best of the decade … Digital Dream Door Dot Com ranks the lp #13 on its top 100 for the year.
Tune in this Saturday at 6pm, or catch the replay Sunday at 7am. Listen on line at www.kvol1330.com or on The Rewind App.