Led Zeppelin released “Immigrant Song” in 1970. The song was issued as a single on November 5, 1970, and also appeared on the band’s third studio album, Led Zeppelin III.
The song was inspired by Led Zeppelin’s 1970 visit to Iceland. Robert Plant drew on the landscape and Norse imagery for lyrics about Viking conquest, while Jimmy Page created the instantly recognizable guitar riff. Plant’s repeated wordless cry at the opening became one of the band’s most distinctive vocal moments.
“Immigrant Song” was recorded in 1970 and released shortly after Led Zeppelin III, which came out on October 5. In the United States, the single’s B-side was “Hey, Hey, What Can I Do,” a track that was not included on the original album.
Another common mix-up is treating the song as a later Led Zeppelin release because of its enduring popularity in films, television, and video games. It is firmly a 1970 track, and the band used it frequently as a concert opener from 1970 through 1972.