The Led Zeppelin album where Robert Plant "finally mastered his singing."

      He remains quite critical of his early work...

      Robert Plant is regarded as one of the quintessential frontmen in rock music, but he possesses a strong sense of self-criticism. Led Zeppelin achieved worldwide success, inspiring countless imitators captivated by their blues rock grandeur. Nevertheless, the singer maintains a remarkable sense of detachment, even referring to one album as the point where he “finally learned how to sing.”

      The new documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin showcases how the band's monumental live sound captivated North America. Robert Plant played a crucial role in this, serving as a golden rock icon whose powerful voice led their musical assault.

      However, it took some time for the singer to truly establish his style. In a conversation with Cameron Crowe, Robert Plant explained why he considered ‘Led Zeppelin III’ a pivotal moment.

      Notably reducing the volume for a series of acoustic-oriented tracks recorded in a Welsh cottage, this release pushed Robert Plant to explore new artistic territories, compelling him to embrace more subtlety and nuance.

      He told the journalist and filmmaker: “I was too loud on the first album. I toned it down a bit by the second album. By the third one, I finally learned how to sing.”

      This isn’t merely a fleeting remark – Robert Plant is often harsh about his early music, even labeling one track “horrific.” Speaking to the Guardian in 2017, he reflected on his approach to the band's rendition of ‘Babe I’m Going To Leave You’. “I realized that the tough, manly style of singing I had adopted… wasn’t really what the music was about at all. Songs like [Led Zeppelin I’s] ‘Babe I’m Going To Leave You’… I now find my vocals on there horrific. I really should have shut the fuck up!”

      The singer has a deep affection for ‘Led Zeppelin III’ and the band's time out of the limelight. In a conversation with the Guardian in 2014, he remembered the recording sessions: “We worked quickly and were dedicated to creating something beautiful as well as powerful. The outro of ‘Gallows Pole’ is fantastic, especially after all the excessive singing I had done before. It started to take on real significance. I was learning how to syncopate. I was thriving.”