Day 212: 5/25/1975 London, England

5/25/1975 London, England  When We Were Kings

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Tangerine, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog, Heartbreaker, Communication Breakdown

The band's fifth and final night at Earls Court begins with Alan 'Fluff' Freeman announcing "we are here tonight because you and I have great taste" before Rock and Roll crashes into motion. Page blazes through the second guitar solo in Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant announces "good evening and welcome to the last concert in England for a considerable time." Page shreds frantically through an excellent guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. In My Time of Dying is introduced as "an old work chant." Page solos wildly as Bonzo and Jones pummel the crowd. An incredibly powerful performance, one of the best thus far. 

Bonzo is on fire during The Song Remains the Same, thrashing at his drums with wild abandon as Page's fingers race across the fretboard. The Rain Song is absolutely fantastic, one of the best in recent memory. Jones's somber piano solo during No Quarter features hints of Concierto de Aranjuez. The instrumental section is an epic journey. The band receives a thunderous ovation as the piece comes to a close. The climax is reached during the blistering outro. An outstanding performance. Page plays a bit of Tea For One as Plant introduces Tangerine. Going to California is delicately beautiful. Jones's mandolin work is fantastic. Plant makes a few references to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, asking the crowd "what is a shrubbery amongst friends?" before an excellent That's the Way. 

The band gets into a bit of Robert Johnson's If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. Plant gives the crowd a brief history of Johnson's life before introducing Trampled Underfoot. Page shreds erratically through an aggressive guitar solo. Bonzo is introduced as "our blood brother" before a particularly thunderous Moby Dick. Plant says a few kind words about Peter Grant before introducing Dazed and Confused as "the essence of the early Zeppelin." The San Francisco interlude is hauntingly mournful. Plant's ghostly howls echo through the arena. Page's fingers are like razor blades as he slashes and shreds through the frantic guitar solo/workout section. Plant can be heard exclaiming "amen!" off-mic during the call and response section. Page solos wildly during the outro jam. A somewhat uneven final performance of the band's signature song.

Plant dedicates Stairway to Heaven to his daughter Carmen, saying "this is a song to a little girl who sits there, probably wondering what it's all about." Page delivers an excellent guitar solo despite breaking a string near the end. Plant sings the final line in complete silence. As the band returns to the stage, Plant says "is this our swan song, I wonder?" Page hints at Ozone Baby following an excellent funky jam during Whole Lotta Love. Plant unleashes a series of blood-curdling screeches during the violent theramin freakout. Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the extended guitar solo in Black Dog. As the song ends, Plant announces "good citizens of Great Britain, it's been five glorious days... thank you very much for bein' a great audience, and if you see Denis Healey, tell him we've gone." 

Plant exclaims "this is somethin' we never do!" as the band returns to the stage once again, joking "any requests?" Page blazes through the fast guitar solo during Heartbreaker. Plant pushes his voice to the limit during the final verse. The band closes the show with an explosive Communication Breakdown. Plant does his best Jamaican accent during a fantastic funky breakdown. As the band leaves the stage for the final time, he announces "thank you very much for showin' us that England is still alive and well." A fantastic finale to 1975. Must hear.

The tape is an excellent soundboard recording, augmented by a fairly clear audience source.

Day 211: 5/24/1975 London, England

5/24/1975 London, England  To Be a Rock and Not to Roll

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Tangerine, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog

The tape begins with Nicky Horne announcing "for the next three hours, your mother wouldn't like it" as the band takes the stage. Things get off to a somewhat sluggish start, Bonzo sounds tired as he fumbles through the drum outburst at the end of Rock and Roll. Page's fingers get caught in the strings during the second guitar solo in Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant jokingly hints at Living Loving Maid during his usual "six and a half years" spiel. Page's fingers are like razor blades as he slashes and shreds through an erratic guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. 

In My Time of Dying is introduced as "a song that came from the deep south of America." The PA problems persist, causing Page's guitar to cut out briefly during the initial verses. Plant references Hey Joe, exclaiming "so I gave her the gun, and I shot her!" as Page launches into the first guitar solo. The band's timing gets a bit sloppy as the song progresses. Plant tells the crowd "it really is a treat to be playing in England again" before dedicating No Quarter to "anybody who's got any hope that everything can be okay in our wonderful country again." The instrumental section is transformed into a somewhat disjointed free-form improvisation featuring an excellent laid-back guitar solo from Page. Tangerine is introduced as "a song of love in its most innocent stages." That's the Way is beautiful. Page shreds wildly as Bonzo pummels the crowd during an erratic Trampled Underfoot. 

Plant sings a few lines of Rip it Up before announcing "tonight, there's a lad watching his dad who is a remarkable drummer... he's a better drummer than eighty percent of rock group drummers today and he's eight years old, so... Jason Bonham, this is your dad!" prior to Moby Dick. The penultimate performance of Dazed and Confused is introduced as "a song that came at the very beginning of our time." Page solos wildly through the lead-in to the bow solo. The mournful Woodstock interlude is fantastic. Page erupts in a furious cascade of notes during the guitar solo/workout section, his fingers tear across the fretboard at lightning speed. The outro jam is extended beyond all limits. Stairway to Heaven is introduced as "a song which typifies the mood of hope, which in our brighter moments surrounds us." Page delivers a truly amazing guitar solo, building tension with each note as the epic drama unfolds. An unbelievable performance, one of the best thus far.

As the band returns to the stage, Bonzo announces "I'd like to say at this point that I think football is a load of bollocks!" to which Plant responds "I'd like to say that soccer is a wonderful sport, the best sport," adding "and that's got nothin' to do with Bonzo's sentiments." Whole Lotta Love features an excellent theramin freakout, which includes bits of Sex Machine and Turn on Your Love Light. A strong finish to a rather uneven performance.

The tape is a fantastic soundboard recording, augmented by a very good audience recording.

Day 210: 5/23/1975 London, England

5/23/1975 London, England

Demand Unprecedented in the History of Rock Music

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Tangerine, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog

The band's third night at Earls Court begins with an enthusiastic introduction by David 'Kid' Jensen before Rock and Roll explodes out of the gate. Bonzo is like a thunderous stampede, hammering at his drums with incredible intensity. Page tears through the guitar solos during an aggressive Sick Again. In My Time of Dying is a wild cacophony. The band gets a bit lost in the melee at times. Plant hints at You Shook Me near the end of the song. Page's fingers are a bit sticky during The Song Remains the Same. Plant tells the crowd "my left arm is swollen beyond all proportion because I just had it chipped for cholera and smallpox and everything else that we might catch while we go hunting in the jungle for new words and new songs for a new album" following The Rain Song.

Jones is introduced as "Jonesy the maestro" before No Quarter. The electric piano intro is nearly inaudible due to PA problems, recovering before the first verse. Jones's ominous piano solo is followed by a long, wandering guitar solo from Page. Plant hints as When the Levee Breaks while introducing Tangerine as "a song of simple love, first love." That's the Way is beautiful. As the song ends, Bonzo announces "Robert Plant on vocals!" Plant tells the crowd "I think this evening is beginning to feel... silly!" before an explosive Trampled Underfoot. Bonzo is introduced as "a friend, a truly great percussionist, a man with a big heart" before Moby Dick.

Plant unleashes a spine-chilling scream at the beginning of the third verse of Dazed and Confused. The bow solo is preceded by a hauntingly heavy San Francisco interlude. Page shreds erratically through the guitar solo/workout section. The band nearly falls apart during the return to the main riff. The thunderous finale is punctuated by another blood-curdling scream from Plant. Stairway to Heaven is dedicated to journalist Chris Schaar Murray, who had recently described the band as "like a vibrator, it can get you off something ridiculous, but it can't kiss you goodnight." Page delivers an excellent guitar solo. The band closes the show with a devastatingly heavy Black Dog.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and noisy.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 209: 5/18/1975 London, England

5/18/1975 London, England

Demand Unprecedented in the History of Rock Music

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Tangerine, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog

As the show begins, it's obvious that the band has loosened up. tearing ferociously through the opening numbers. Over the Hills and Far Away is introduced as "the ultimate dream." Page blazes through an excellent guitar solo as Bonzo and Jones hammer out a funky groove. In My Time of Dying is incredibly powerful. Bonzo is on fire during The Song Remains the Same. Page's guitar cuts out briefly during the second guitar solo. The Rain Song is absolutely beautiful. As the song ends, Plant introduces Jones as "the only man who wears onions on his shoulders that I've ever met in my life."

Kashmir features an incredible performance from Plant. No Quarter is outstanding. Jones's dramatic piano solo gives way to an epic instrumental section featuring a fantastic guitar solo from Page. The band receives a long ovation as the piece comes to a close. A truly amazing performance, one of the best thus far. Going to California is introduced as "a song about the permanent constant search for any man with a vivid imagination for a Guinnevere." Before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Plant tells the crowd "I'm gonna sack whichever road manager has burnt the lyrics to the next song." As the song ends, he exclaims "we are The Knights Who Say Ni!" Peter Grant is introduced as "the man who made it all possible" before Trampled Underfoot. Page delivers an aggressive guitar solo.

Plant introduces Bonzo as "a man with no taste, no manners, no friends... my very best friend, the man who always kicks me when I'm down, ladies and gentlemen, John Bonham!" before Moby Dick. The Woodstock interlude during Dazed and Confused is hauntingly beautiful. Plant's ethereal howls echo through the arena as the bow solo begins. Page's fingers get a bit sticky as he shreds through the frantic guitar solo/workout section. The return to the main riff is devastatingly heavy with Bonzo thrashing wildly at anything within reach. The hypnotic outro jam is a cacophonous explosion of energy. As the song ends, someone near the taper can be heard saying "is that the end?"

Stairway to Heaven is introduced as "a song that came to us in a moment of great peace and tranquility." Page blazes through an excellent guitar solo. Plant delivers the final line in absolute silence. The band plods their way through the show-closing Black Dog. As they leave the stage, Plant announces "we'd like to that the road crew, Showco... and Denis Healey for being such a perv, goodnight."

The tape is a combination of three sources, all clear and enjoyable.

Day 208: 5/17/1975 London, England

5/17/1975 London, England

Demand Unprecedented in the History of Rock Music

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying. The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Tangerine, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog

The first show of the band's legendary five-night stand at Earls Court begins with a brief introduction by DJ Bob Harris welcoming them back to Britain before Rock and Roll crashes into motion. The equipment issues are evident from the start with Page's guitar cutting in and out during the initial verses. He blazes through the second guitar solo in Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant comments "you wouldn't believe that after all the trouble and messin' about to try and get this unearthly monster with us, the first thing that gets blown, right?" He introduces In My Time of Dying as "an old chain gang thing" before dedicating the song to Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey. An incredibly powerful performance, Page solos wildly as Bonzo's thunderous pounding echoes throughout the cavernous arena.

The Song Remains the Same is a riotous explosion of energy. As Kashmir comes to a close, someone near the taper can be heard saying "that's what I've been waiting for." Jones is introduced as "master of keyboards" before No Quarter. The instrumental section has returned to its original heavy rhythm, abandoning the free-form jazz workouts of the west coast shows two months prior. The coda features some excellent soloing from Page. Tangerine is introduced as "a song of first love." Its first appearance since 6/27/1972, the song is performed in a new electric arrangement. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "that's the first time that there's ever been such a thing as four-part harmony on stage with Led Zeppelin." 

The first appearance of the acoustic set since the end of the 1972 North American tour begins with Going to California. That's the Way is delicately beautiful. Plant explains to the crowd that he's forgotten the words to some of the older songs, so he's brought along lyric sheets to help him remember before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. Page shreds through the guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. Bonzo is introduced as "a man of character, of good karma... Mr. Vibes extraordinaire" before Moby Dick. Plant introduces Dazed and Confused as "the first thing that we ever played together," adding "and at the end of the first attempt at playing it, we realized that despite efforts by the Melody Maker to break us up, we should carry on forever." While not as ambitious and over the top as the west coast marathons, the band delivers a high-energy performance during the guitar solo/workout section. The frenzied outro jam is punctuated by a thunderous finale. Stairway to Heaven features an epic guitar solo. The band closes the show with a devastatingly heavy Black Dog.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and cacophonous due to the acoustics of the arena.

Day 113: 6/27/1972 Long Beach, CA

6/27/1972 Long Beach, CA (see below)

Immigrant Song^, Heartbreaker^, Black Dog+, Over the Hills and Far Away+, Since I've Been Loving You^, Stairway to Heaven^, Going to California^, That's the Way+, Tangerine+, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp^, Dazed and Confused+, What is and What Should Never Be*, Dancing Days*, Moby Dick*, Whole Lotta Love+, Rock and Roll#

^- source 1: (unknown gen)

#- source 2: (reel master>vhs>dat>cdr)

+- source 3: How the West Was, Too!

*- soundboard: (master quads>dat)

The second of two shows used to create 2003's How the West Was Won, the tape begins with Immigrant Song already in progress. Black Dog is introduced as "a story about a dog who liked to boogie." Plant comments on the show at The Forum two nights earlier, telling the crowd "that was too much, it was really great" before Over the Hills and Far Away, which is dedicated to "the freak" throwing firecrackers. Page's frantic soloing lends a sense of urgency to the mournful tone of Since I've Been Loving You. A highly dramatic rendition.

Stairway to Heaven features another dramatic guitar solo from Page. Plant tells the crowd "all parents can join in the choruses" at the beginning of That's the Way. A mournful Tangerine is introduced as "a nice little song that people usually chatter in." Plant jokes that Bonzo's rendition of It's Only Make Believe was meant to be on the last album, "but he paid us enough money to keep it off" before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. The lead-in to the bow solo during Dazed and Confused features a great driving rhythm before everything slows down to a cool, jazzy tempo to accompany Page's ethereal wanderings. Bonzo is like an out of control locomotive during the guitar solo/workout section, with Page racing to keep up. The Mars, the Bringer of War section is extremely heavy. Page solos wildly as Plant's echoed chants soar over the crowd during the outro, causing someone near the taper to comment "look at Page... incredible!"

Plant comments on Americans' tendency to dismiss new songs that they don't know before Dancing Days, adding "this is one of those." Bonzo is introduced as "percussionist, second vocalist, fighter, drinker, lover of the world... in fact, general odd job man... and king of the coffee shop" before Moby Dick. The Everybody Needs Somebody to Love breakdown during Whole Lotta Love is explosive. The medley includes Boogie Chillen', another great rendition of Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, a raucous Hello Mary Lou, the first appearance of Blueberry Hill since 9/19/1970, and Goin' Down Slow, which includes a dynamic blues improvisation. The show ends with a quick and dirty Rock and Roll, the crowd is left begging for more.

The audience tapes are clear and well-balanced, save for source 2, which is a bit distant and noisy. The soundboard tape is superb.

For a fascinating breakdown and analysis of how How the West Was Won was created, visit Eddie Edwards's The Garden Tapes.

Day 112: 6/25/1972 Los Angeles, CA

6/25/1972 Los Angeles, CA Burn Like a Candle

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Over the Hills and Far Away, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Dancing Days, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, The Ocean, Louie Louie, Thank You, Communication Breakdown, Bring it on Home

The first of two shows used to create 2003's How the West Was Won, the tape begins with the familiar droning intro before Immigrant Song comes crashing through the gate like a thunderous stampede. Page shreds through the frenzied guitar solo during Heartbreaker. Plant tells the crowd "we'd like to try a number out off the new album," but warns "we haven't really decided what we're gonna do at the end of it yet, so you'll have to bear with us" before the first complete recording of Over the Hills and Far Away. The choruses find Plant in all his high-pitched glory.

Before Black Dog, Plant assures the crowd that the song is about "a poor dog" and has "nothing to do with a chick in Detroit." Since I've Been Loving You is a bit subdued despite some inspired soloing from Page. Plant's introduction of Stairway to Heaven draws a loud cheer from the crowd. Page blazes through the guitar solo. Plant's voice gets a bit rough during the final rock section. Before the acoustic set, Plant criticizes the security staff for "cartin' people out with little flash cameras," calling them "the gestapo." Going to California is absolutely beautiful. Following an excellent That's the Way, Plant tells the crowd "we got a long, long time to go... we've been known to play for twelve and a half hours." He calls for a spotlight on Bonzo before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.

Bonzo attacks his drums with incredible ferocity during the initial verses of Dazed and Confused, his snare cracks like gunfire during the frantic lead-in to the bow solo. Page's fingers get a bit sticky as he solos wildly during the guitar solo/workout section. The extended outro is fantastic, Page's soloing is particularly inspired. Plant jokes that the next album will be called "Burn That Candle" before Dancing Days. Bonzo mounts a full-on sonic assault during Moby Dick, his thunderous pounding is like a violent earthquake. Whole Lotta Love is dedicated to LA. The excellent medley includes Boogie Chillen', an excellent rendition of Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, a fantastic Hello Mary Lou, Heartbreak Hotel, a riotous Slow Down with a frenzied guitar solo from Page, and an exceptional Goin' Down Slow.

Page shreds through the guitar solo during Rock and Roll. Someone near the taper can be heard shouting "When the Levee Breaks!" as Plant introduces Jones before another raucous rendition of Louie Louie. Jones plays a bit of Everyday People during the organ solo before Thank You. The show closes with a laid-back Bring it on Home. Another epic marathon at the LA Forum. Must hear.

The tape is excellent, very clear and well-balanced.

For a fascinating breakdown and analysis of how How the West Was Won was created, visit Eddie Edwards's The Garden Tapes.

Day 111: 6/22/1972 San Bernardino, CA

6/22/1972 San Bernardino, CA Excellence in San Bernardino

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll

The tape begins with the familiar deep droning intro as someone near the taper repeatedly shouts "we're ready!" Plant's Valhalla cries are almost nonexistent during the initial verses of Immigrant Song. Page solos wildly during the lead-in to an exceptional a cappella solo in Heartbreaker. Plant sounds tired while introducing Since I've Been Loving You as "a song of distressed love." Page plays in extremes, quiet and restrained one moment, wild and dramatic the next. His epic soloing paints a vast emotional landscape.

Plant introduces Going to California as "a song about experiences." Page is barely audible over the chattering crowd during Tangerine. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp is introduced as "something for everybody with a loud mouth in the audience." There is a tape speedup/cut two minutes into the song. Page's fingers fly across the fretboard as Bonzo and Jones hold down a funky rhythm until everything slows down for an ethereal intro to the bow solo during Dazed and Confused. The guitar solo/workout section is an explosion of energy with Page's high-flying acrobatics leading the way. Plant encourages the crowd to "do The Crunge!", adding seductively "c'mon you white folk sisters..."

A firecracker explosion just before What is and What Should Never Be is dismissed as "greasy kid's stuff" by Plant. Bonzo is introduced as "the gentleman... you've all been waiting for, ever since this rodeo started... our percussionist... one hundred and sixty-eight pounds... John Henry Bonham" as Page quietly jams on a bluesy riff before Moby Dick. The medley during Whole Lotta Love includes Boogie Chillen', Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, Hello Mary Lou, and Goin' Down Slow, with Page unleashing a flurry of wild licks during the extended blues improvisation. As the band returns to the stage to close the show with Rock and Roll, Plant announces "it's very nice to be back again." A fairly standard performance with Page providing most of the excitement.

The tape is very clear with Page and Plant in front.

About three minutes of excellent color footage featuring fragments of Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Stairway to Heaven, Dazed and Confused, and Whole Lotta Love is available on Hercules's Film Noir Vol. 1. The film, which focuses primarily on Page, is shot from close to the stage and is very clear and enjoyable. The footage is also available on Celebration's Early Visions, but is not properly synched on that release.

Click here for a video sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 110: 6/19/1972 Seattle, WA

6/19/1972 Seattle, WA Dancing Again

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, The Ocean, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, Black Country Woman, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Dancing Days, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, Louie Louie, Let's Dance, Thank You, Money, Over the Hills and Far Away, Dancing Days

The tape begins during the final verse of Immigrant Song. A thunderous Black Dog is followed by the first appearance of The Ocean. Bonzo pummels his drums during an urgent Since I've Been Loving You. Someone near the taper exclaims "oh wow, oh wow!" as the song ends. Page blazes through the guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven, repeating licks to mesmerizing effect. The very beginning of Going to California is cut. There is quite a bit of chatter going on around the taper, destroying the delicate atmosphere.

Following a cue from Plant, the rest of the band joins in for the first complete performance of Black Country Woman. Someone near the taper inquires about his tape recorder after That's the Way, taking time to say "hi" into the microphone. There is a cut near the beginning of Tangerine due to a tape flip. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp transforms the crowd into a foot-stomping hoedown. Plant comments on the previous night's show and the trouble in Vancouver before Dazed and Confused, the opening notes of which cause someone near the taper to yelp and howl with excitement. The lead-in to the bow solo features some excellent interplay between Page, Jones, and Bonzo. Page solos wildly during the outro, which Bonzo and Jones turn into a menacing imperial march. Unfortunately, the tape is cut during the frenzied race to the finish.

What is and What Should Never Be is followed by the first appearance of Dancing Days. Still unsure of the changes, the band gets a bit mixed up a few times. Plant mentions Bonzo's efforts to lose weight this tour, introducing him as "John Bonham, at the beginning of this tour, two hundred and ten pounds... right now he's at a hundred and seventy-five pounds!" before Moby Dick. During the drum solo, the taper says "I hate drum solos, I hate them... hate 'em a lot" directly into his microphone. There is a cut about fourteen minutes in. The theramin freakout during Whole Lotta Love is a cacophonous explosion. The medley begins with a new slow arrangement of Boogie Chillen' before the familiar fast riff kicks off a marathon of classics including Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, Hello Mary Lou, an out of tune rendition of Only the Lonely, Heartbreak Hotel, and Goin' Down Slow, which is cut during the "please write mama..." verse, leaving us at the end of the finale.

Plant introduces Rock and Roll as "an old one." Jones's organ solo includes hints of Everyday People before the rest of the band joins in for an excellent rendition of Louie Louie followed by Let's Dance. Page tears through a great guitar solo during Thank You. The crowd goes absolutely wild as the band returns to the stage for a riotous rendition of Money, which is unfortunately cut after two and a half minutes. After the cut, we're left in the middle of the first appearance of Over the Hills and Far Away. If all of this wasn't enough to push the crowd over the edge, the recording ends with the second performance of Dancing Days of the night, with Plant joking "this is one that you might have heard about two hours ago." A marathon performance of epic proportions. Must hear.

The tape is fairly clear, if somewhat noisy and overloaded.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 109: 6/17/1972 Portland, OR

6/17/1972 Portland, OR  (cassette3>dat>cdr)

Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll

The tape begins during the guitar solo in Stairway to Heaven. The final verse is cut after Plant sings the first line. He comments on a regulation that's keeping the house lights on before attempting to calm the crowd for the acoustic set. Plant is in good form, hitting some great high notes while chanting "it ain't right!" near the end of That's the Way. He introduces Bron-Y-Aur Stomp as "a song about a blue-eyed dog... the best friend I ever had." Unfortunately, the middle of the song is missing.

Dazed and Confused is introduced as "one from a long, long time ago." The lead-in to the bow solo includes a slow, haunting jam. There is a cut near the beginning of the bow solo, as well as a few during the guitar solo/workout section. Plant introduces Bonzo as "our one hundred and eighty pound wonder" before Moby Dick. The medley during Whole Lotta Love includes Boogie Chillen', Carl Perkins's Boppin' the Blues, Hello Mary Lou, and an extended Goin' Down Slow. The recording ends with a thunderous Rock and Roll.

The tape is quite muffled, distorted, and hissy.

Day 108: 6/15/1972 Uniondale, NY

6/15/1972 Uniondale, NY  Whole Lotta Led

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love

The tape begins with the first appearance of the droning intro before the sonic attack of Immigrant Song crashes into motion. Someone near the taper sings along with Plant during the first verse. Page tears through the guitar solo as Bonzo causes a stampede of drums during Heartbreaker. Plant asks the crowd "was anybody here last night?" before introducing Black Dog as a song "about a dog who used to boogie too much." There is quite a bit of talking/shouting coming from near the taper between and during songs, including someone who sings along with Plant's "sweet jelly roll" line. Since I've Been Loving You is dramatic and powerful. Bonzo is like a tidal wave, repeatedly crashing against the shore. 

There is an argument about tickets and seat locations near the taper during the initial verses of Stairway to Heaven. The guitar solo and final rock section are absolutely explosive. Prior to a beautiful Going to California, Plant announces "well, twenty-three is old now, so I gotta sit down" before complaining about the PA. The delicate instrumental section before the final verse is interrupted by someone shouting "everybody smokin' that dope?" very close to the taper's microphone. That's the Way is ruined by the talking and random yelping of the tapers. Plant dedicates Tangerine to "the good times." Unfortunately, the tape is cut after just over a minute. There is a cut during the instrumental breakdown in Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, which includes the first appearance of Plant's "Stryder!" call at the end of the song.

The lead-in to the bow solo during Dazed and Confused features an excellent driving improvisation followed by a great jazzy interlude, courtesy of Bonzo. Page is on fire during the frenzied guitar solo/workout section. Another excellent rendition of The Crunge is followed by even more high-flying guitar heroics, even managing to shut the tapers up for a few minutes. The Mars, the Bringer of War section is devastatingly heavy. Page solos wildly as Plant's chants echo over the crowd during the outro. A true epic, one of the best thus far. 

Plant announces "somebody's thrown me a capsule... I'm gonna have to hand this in I'm afraid" before What is and What Should Never Be. He introduces Bonzo as "our number two vocalist" before Moby Dick. Unfortunately, only the intro and outro survive. The Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section during Whole Lotta Love is a frenzied cacophony. The medley includes Boogie Chillen', which Plant introduces by saying "I think this is the national anthem," Johnny Otis's Willie and the Hand Jive, Hello Mary Lou, Money Honey, Heartbreak Hotel, during which Plant defiantly insists that the houselights go down, and John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go. Unfortunately, the tape is cut during Goin' Down Slow, ending the recording. A truly inspired performance. Must hear.

The tape is clear, but the tapers' running commentary can be a bit distracting at times.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 107: 6/14/1972 Uniondale, NY

6/14/1972 Uniondale, NY  (2nd gen>dat>cdr)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, Communication Breakdown, Weekend, Bring it on Home

The tape begins with Plant telling the crowd "it's nice to be back again." Immigrant Song is a sonic assault. Page blazes through the inspired solos during Heartbreaker. During a long pause after Black Dog, Plant explains that Jones's keyboard is the cause of the delay, adding "it's a nightly problem, it's cool." Plant is in good form during Since I've Been Loving You, his interplay with Page building tension until the climactic release of the guitar solo. High drama at its finest. 

Stairway to Heaven includes the first appearance of Plant's famous "do you remember laughter?" ad lib. That's the Way is beautiful. Plant speaks to the crowd about King Arthur and chivalry before Tangerine. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp is dedicated to Dion and the Belmonts after Plant sings a couple lines from Runaround Sue. Page is absolutely on fire during the guitar solo/workout section in Dazed and Confused. He plays Walter's Walk at lightning speed, causing the rest of the band to race just to keep up. A frantic rendition of The Crunge is followed by another blistering guitar solo. The band is in an intense race to the finish, creating a vast sonic wall until everything peaks at the explosive return to the main riff. A truly amazing performance.

Moby Dick is cut after seventeen minutes. The medley during Whole Lotta Love features Boogie Chillen', John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go, Hello Mary Lou, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, and Goin' Down Slow. The long string of encores begins with the riotous one-two punch of Rock and Roll and Communication Breakdown. The band returns to the stage for another great rendition of Eddie Cochran's Weekend followed by Bring it on Home, which is cut just before the instrumental battle section, ending the recording. An epic performance.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and hissy.

Day 106: 6/13/1972 Philadelphia, PA

6/13/1972 Philadelphia, PA  Philadelphia 1972

Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Bring it on Home, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick

The tape begins with Heartbreaker already in progress. Plant's introduction of Black Dog receives a big cheer from the crowd. Page tears through the guitar solo. There is a long pause before the first appearance of Bring it on Home since 3/5/1971. Plant chants "squeeze my lemon" through his harmonica before a short, frantic guitar solo from Page. That's the Way is cut before the final verse. Dazed and Confused features the first appearance of a fully-formed The Crunge, sans vocals, during the guitar solo/workout section. The crowd gets quite loud and rowdy during What is and What Should Never Be. Plant introduces Bonzo as "a wonderful musician, a great friend" to which Bonzo enthusiastically responds "bullshit!" before Moby Dick, which is cut after only twenty seconds, ending the recording.

The tape is muffled, muddy, distant, hissy, and at times overloaded, improving slightly as the show progresses. There is a great performance buried somewhere in the mud, but this is a rather rough listen, even for a pair of seasoned "bootleg ears".

Day 105: 6/11/1972 Baltimore, MD

6/11/1972 Baltimore, MD  Baltimore Jack

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, Communication Breakdown

Bonzo is out of control during Heartbreaker, thrashing away at anything within reach as Page blazes through his high-flying finger acrobatics. Plant mentions that Page's guitar is falling apart before introducing Black Dog. Since I've Been Loving You is an epic drama. Plant calls for a spotlight on Bonzo as he does his best Johnny Cash impression before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. 

Dazed and Confused is dedicated to "the man with the loud voice" by Plant. Bonzo turns the lead-in to the bow solo into a battleground with his explosive pounding. Page is on fire during the guitar solo/workout section. Moby Dick is a mind-blowing twenty-seven and a half minute epic, even with a cut two-thirds of the way through. The riotous medley during Whole Lotta Love includes Boogie Chillen', Elvis Presley's I Need Your Love Tonight, Hello Mary Lou, a slow, mournful Heartbreak Hotel, a blistering rendition of Don Nix's Going Down, and another excellent extended Goin' Down Slow. Bonzo thrashes away like a madman during Rock and Roll. The crowd goes wild as the band returns to the stage to close the show with a frantic Communication Breakdown.

The tape is fairly clear, but distant.

Day 104: 6/9/1972 Charlotte, NC

6/9/1972 Charlotte, NC  Charlotte 1972

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Celebration Day, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, Communication Breakdown

Page has the crowd clapping along with his country-flavored licks during the a cappella solo in Heartbreaker. Plant sounds a bit under the weather, his voice breaking a few times during the final verse. Celebration Day seems a bit sluggish. Black Dog is introduced as "a song dedicated to an old hunting dog in England... he used to go out to see his lady friend and he used to get so wasted that he couldn't get back!" Page blazes through the guitar solo. The tape is cut between songs. Since I've Been Loving You is slow and mournful. Page, Plant, and Bonzo play a bit of Knees Up Mother Brown before Stairway to Heaven. One of the tapers comments "I'm hopin' they'll get better... they look like they're kinda drunk or somethin'... they are much better than this" after Tangerine. 

The initial verses of Dazed and Confused are slow and loose. Plant improvises lyrics to calm the rowdy crowd during the heavy lead-in to the bow solo, which is cut slightly at the beginning. The ever-expanding guitar solo/workout section features an excellent Walter's Walk jam. Plant warns the crowd to stay off the stage before What is and What Should Never Be. He introduces Bonzo as "weighing in at two hundred and ten pounds... two hundred and six pounds, John Henry Bonham, Moby Dick!" Jones pounds on his organ during the theramin freakout in Whole Lotta Love, which is played without a medley for the first time since the Bath Festival. A shout of "fuck your latest album!" can be heard coming from the crowd as Plant introduces Rock and Roll. The show ends with a somewhat sluggish Communication Breakdown. A rather lazy performance overall with a few moments of inspiration.

The tape is fairly clear with Plant front and center.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 103: 6/7/1972 Montreal, Quebec

6/7/1972 Montreal, Quebec  (master>cassette>cdr)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, Thank You

There is a slight dropout during the first verse of Immigrant Song. Page shreds through the excellent solos during Heartbreaker. After Black Dog, there is an argument between the taper and his friends over who gets to hold the binoculars with one friend saying "when Whole Lotta Love plays, I wanna see 'em, because I wanna see how he makes that sound!" Page is on fire during an incredibly dramatic and powerful Since I've Been Loving You. Plant's introduction of Stairway to Heaven receives a loud cheer from the crowd. Page plays a bit of Black Country Woman before a beautiful That's the Way, to which Plant responds by joking "that's the next album." The acoustic set closes with a great high-energy Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. 

Plant announces "we're nearly four years old now... this was in the first fifteen minutes" before Dazed and Confused. Page solos wildly during the constantly developing lead-in to the bow solo. The guitar solo/workout section is an epic journey. Page is on fire, improvising freely with Bonzo and Jones locked in close behind, even including early hints of Walter's Walk. There is a slight dropout during the final verse. The Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section during Whole Lotta Love features some great soloing from Page. The riotous medley includes Boogie Chillen' and Hello Mary Lou before a source change. The remainder includes Running Bear, Money Honey, Elvis Presley's A Mess of Blues, and another excellent extended Goin' Down Slow, including an amazing slow blues When the Levee Breaks finale. 

Rock and Roll is a high-speed explosion of energy. The recording ends during the final verse of an epic Thank You, which includes a fantastic high-flying guitar solo from Page. A truly amazing performance from beginning to end. The 1972 North American Tour has begun.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and bass-heavy. Highly enjoyable. Unfortunately, the remainder of the show after the source change during the Whole Lotta Love medley is plagued by constant volume fluctuations.

Day 102: 5/28/1972 Brussels, Belgium

5/28/1972 Brussels, Belgium  (?)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Whole Lotta Love

The tape begins with a brief soundcheck before Immigrant Song. Black Dog is introduced as "le chien noir." Page and Bonzo play a Knees Up Mother Brown interlude that Plant jokes is "one off the sixth album" before Since I've Been Loving You. A very mellow rendition, the band plays with great restraint. Page is all over the place during the guitar solo in Stairway to Heaven. Plant once again opts for the lower melody during the final section, careful not to push his voice too hard. He struggles to make the crowd calm down and cooperate before Going to California, even halting the song a few bars in to make one final attempt. There are some tape garble issues in the middle of the song. Before a beautiful That's the Way, Plant slowly tells the crowd "you really are an uncontrollable bunch," being sure to annunciate every syllable. 

Dazed and Confused is introduced as "one of the things that came out in the fourth night of studies" during a story about the making of the first album. The intro is extended by a few bars before Plant enters. The initial verses are slow and loose. There are some brief tape garble issues during the bow solo, which Page aborts early. Plant lets loose a few ear-splitting squeals at the beginning of the guitar solo/workout section. The theramin freakout during Whole Lotta Love includes a bit of Rosco Gordon's Just a Little Bit from Plant. The Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section is an explosion of raw power. The medley includes a riotous Boogie Chillen' with some excellent soloing from Page, Hello Mary Lou, Running Bear, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Heartbreak Hotel, Don't Be Cruel featuring a raucous guitar solo, and a fantastic Goin' Down Slow. The recording ends during the final drum roll.

The tape is distant, but clear with a fair amount of hiss.

Day 100: 2/29/1972 Brisbane, Australia

2/29/1972 Brisbane, Australia Brisbane Boogie

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Celebration Day, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love

The tape begins with an announcement from Plant warning the crowd to stay off the stage. Page plays some nice licks during the lead-in to the a cappella solo in Heartbreaker. Before Black Dog, Plant explains to the crowd that the song is about a black labrador, not "the kind of chick that we dig." Plant mixes up the lyrics again during Going to California. That's the Way is halted by Plant as he attempts to calm the rowdy crowd. He gives up completely before Dazed and Confused, telling the crowd "I don't care whether you sit down or stand up, we're just gonna play." Page is in his own world during another epic performance. The medley during Whole Lotta Love includes John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go, The Wanderer, Hello Mary Lou, Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, and another excellent Goin' Down Slow, which includes an amazing extended blues improvisation from Page.

The tape is quite muffled throughout.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.