It Was 40 Years Ago Today: ‘Led Zeppelin III’ Released

After touring North America in the spring of 1970, guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant spent some time at an 18th-century cottage in Wales called Bron-Yr-Aur, and they began composing and practicing material for a new record. While it is not one of the better-selling albums in the band’s history, Led Zeppelin III marked a turn-of-the-decade transition from hard rock to more acoustic-inspired music for the group.

The leadoff track, “Immigrant Song,” became a trademark of Led Zeppelin’s live performances in the years to come, as did the classic blues number “Since I’ve Been Loving You.” The album, which was released on Monday, Oct. 5, 1970, also contained rock-heavy songs like “Celebration Day” and “Out on the Tiles,” as well as the folk-influenced “Gallows Pole.”

Within a few weeks of its release, Led Zeppelin III had reached No. 1 in the charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

Ringo Celebrates 70 with Birthday Bash in NYC

Ringo Starr celebrated his 70th birthday in style with a star-studded concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City Wednesday night.

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr celebrated his 70th birthday Wednesday with a star-studded concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The guest of honor, along with his All-Starr Band, treated the audience to everything from early Beatles hits (“What Goes On,” “Boys” and “Act Naturally”) to Ringo’s solo releases (“It Don’t Come Easy” and “Photograph”) to other rock classics (“Hang On Sloopy” and “What I Like About You”). Later, guests such as Yoko Ono, Steven Van Zandt and Joe Walsh joined the group to sing “With A Little Help From My Friends,” Ringo’s memorable vocal contribution on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The evening was capped off by a special appearance from Paul McCartney, whose bass playing paired with Ringo’s drumming to form the rhythm section of The Beatles. McCartney led the musicians onstage (including Ringo on drums) in a spirited rendition of “Birthday,” taken from the band’s 1968 self-titled release more commonly known as the White Album.

Keith Richards to Release Autobiography this Fall

Stones guitarist Keith Richards said he plans to release his autobiography this October.

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, with the help of journalist Nick Kent, has been working on his autobiography since 2007, and NME.com reports that the book is due for release sometime in October.

“I’m waiting for some proofs to come back,” the 67-year-old Richards said. “It’s kind of weird writing about your own life. Who’d be interested in that?

“But then I realize there is a lot of interest, so . . . Talking to some of the people that were there and their version of events to try and correlate it all was very interesting, a kind of kaleidoscopic bunch of experiences.”

It Was 40 Years Ago Today: ‘Live At Leeds’ Released

The Who’s groundbreaking live album from their performance at Leeds University three months prior, Live At Leeds was released in the United States on Saturday, May 16, 1970. Side one of the original album contained four hard-hitting classics (“Young Man Blues,” “Substitute,” “Summertime Blues” and “Shakin’ All Over”) while side two featured extended versions of “My Generation” and “Magic Bus.”

Though the tracks were not released until 1995, The Who also ran through the entirety of Pete Townshend’s rock opera, Tommy, and additional songs like “I Can’t Explain,” “Fortune Teller” and John Entwistle’s “Heaven and Hell” for the crowd of about 2,000 students.

The original Live At Leeds album also contained within a flap numerous facsimiles of memorabilia such as a publicity photo of The Who, their contract for performing at Woodstock, a full-size ‘Maximum R&B’ poster, a receipt for smoke bombs and a list of gigs with financial figures included.

It Was 40 Years Ago Today: ‘Let It Be’ Released

The final studio album by The Beatles (though it was recorded prior to Abbey Road), Let It Be represents a band on the verge of breaking up, but one that is nonetheless committed to laying down one more solid record before parting ways. It was not always pretty — George Harrison walked out and briefly quit the group at one point during the sessions — but the band members pulled it together enough to create one of their most lasting albums.

Aside from the title track, Let It Be features classics such as “Get Back,” “Across The Universe” and “The Long And Winding Road.” Although the band’s four personalities were at odds with each other, John Lennon and Paul McCartney lead off the album with an up-tempo duet (“Two Of Us”) and later share back-and-forth vocals on the rocker “I’ve Got A Feeling.”

Let It Be was released Friday, May 8, 1970, and is No. 86 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.