10/9/1972 Osaka, Japan (1st gen cassette>video hifi)
Rock and Roll, Black Dog, Over the Hills and Far Away, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I've Been Loving You, Dancing Days, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Stand By Me, Immigrant Song
In the four days since the show in Nagoya, Plant has had time to rest his injured voice, and it shows. He's not quite back to his former glory, but there has definitely been an improvement. Page blazes through the guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. Before Misty Mountain Hop, Plant tells the crowd "this is a track... all about getting busted... but we wouldn't say that if we were in England or America, would we?" Since I've Been Loving You is drunk and bluesy. The Song Remains the Same is introduced as "The Campaign" tonight. Plant's voice finally allows him to do the song some justice. The lead-in to the bow solo during Dazed and Confused features a hauntingly heavy rendition of Down By the River. Page is on fire during the guitar solo/workout section. He solos wildly during the outro.
Plant is in a good mood, joking with the crowd before Stairway to Heaven, which includes a great guitar solo from Page. Before the only appearance of Moby Dick this tour, Plant announces "ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have an added pleasure... John 'Samurai' Bonham!" The drum solo features extensive use of Bonzo's recently acquired tympani. Page plays a great new riff during the Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section in Whole Lotta Love. Plant skips the usual boogie tonight and dives straight into a riotous medley of classics including Something's Got a Hold On Me, Milk Cow Blues, Ray Charles's Leave My Woman Alone, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Heartbreak Hotel, a fantastic Wear My Ring Around Your Neck, and an excellent Goin' Down Slow. The tape is cut right at the end of the finale. After asking the crowd "you want John Bonham to sing, yes?," Plant leads the band in an amazing rendition of Stand By Me, with Bonzo providing sporadic backing vocals. The show ends with a powerful Immigrant Song. By far the biggest triumph of the band's final visit to Japan. Must Hear.
The tape is fairly clear, if a bit hissy, with Bonzo slightly buried under the rest of the band.
