After the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, the biggest rock group of the seventies Led Zeppelin came to an end. Two years later, the three remaining members reunited and it was decided to compile a final album from leftover material from previous albums. The result Coda, produced by guitarist Jimmy Page, is perhaps a more satisfying swan song for the British group than the last studio album In
… Through The Out Door (1979) and was also more successful. Besides bluesy hard rock from their early days (We're Gonna Groove, I Can't Quit You Baby) Poor Tom is a strong outtake of III. Bonzo's Montreux is an almost melodic drum solo by Bonham on which his mighty and unparalleled playing is reflected and that any sample artist or techno producer can take advantage of. Of the three outtakes of In Though The Out Door, Wearing And Tearing stands out with an almost punky chorus. It makes Coda a worthy plaster on the wound, of this supergroup that would repeatedly get together for reunion gigs, but never again when Led Zeppelin made a new album. (MR)more
