Jimmy Page revealed that “Since I’ve Been Loving You” — from *Led Zeppelin III* — was the toughest Zeppelin track he ever recorded.
* **Only live‑played prior, but hardest in studio**
Page noted it was “the only song on the third album that we had played live prior to our sessions, yet it was the hardest to record.” He and the band made “several tries” to capture the right feel, tone, and interplay. The goal was more than accurate blues homage — it had to live and breathe emotionally. 
* **Demanding blues structure and authentic emotion**
Rooted in slow, minor‑key blues, it demanded deep expressive nuance. Page: “Playing the blues is actually the most challenging thing you can do. It is very hard to play something original.” The song is a prime example — intentionally unpolished, raw, and deeply emotive.
* **Technical recording challenges**
They recorded “Since I’ve Been Loving You” live in studio with minimal overdubs — pushing the band to synchronize perfectly. Page remembered: “We had maybe two attempts at recording it at two different locations…it was a vehicle to push the envelope.”
* **Studio imperfections and Page’s reflections**
On the remastered box set, Page noted an overlooked issue: John Bonham’s bass drum pedal squeak. He winced at hearing it amplified, yet recognized that retouching it might have killed
* **Why it mattered**
The challenge wasn’t just technical — it was emotional. Page believed Zeppelin wasn’t competing with blues purists but elevating the form. He sought a solo and performance that matched the band’s chemistry and vocal intensity. The final result gives the sensation of “being in the room” with them.
Overall, “Since I’ve Been Loving You” stands apart from Zeppelin’s heavy anthems. It’s a slow‑burn blues track whose dark, somber mood and shocking vulnerability required Page and the band to strip right down to their musical core — making it not only technically difficult but emotionally raw. That struggle is precisely what gives the song its haunting power.”
