Day 266: 1/12/1995 New York, NY

1/12/1995 New York, NY  (dadgad dvd)

Train Kept a Rollin'/For Your Love, Bring it on Home, Long Distance Call, Baby Please Don't Go, When the Levee Breaks

Nearly seven years after their well-received set at the Atlantic Records fortieth anniversary concert, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin have come together on the occasion of the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Following the awards presentation, the band, joined once again by Jason Bonham on drums, along with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, takes the stage for a loosely structured jam session. The set begins with Page tearing into the familiar opening chords of Train Kept a Rollin'. Plant and Tyler share vocal duties as the band haphazardly chugs along through the old favorite. Page and Perry trade licks during the guitar solo near the end of the song, which is followed by an abbreviated rendition of the Yardbirds classic For Your Love. 

As the song ends, Page launches directly into the rock section of Bring it on Home. He then gets the band into a laid-back blues improvisation featuring references to Muddy Waters favorite Long Distance Call, among others. Following an excellent guitar solo from Page, Plant leads the band into an impromptu rendition of Baby Please Don't Go, which includes hints of Boogie Chillen' before a blistering guitar solo from Perry. After an intermission, the band, now joined by Michael Lee on drums and Neil Young on second guitar, returns to the stage to end the night with an extended heavy jam based on When the Levee Breaks. Following the initial verses, Plant picks up Page's spare Les Paul as Young tears through an erratic guitar solo. Plant sings a verse of For What it's Worth toward the end of the song. The crowd full of music industry heavyweights erupts as the set comes to a close.

The tape is an excellent television broadcast with the exception of Train Kept a Rollin'/For You Love, which was recorded but not included in the final MTV presentation.

Day 112: 6/25/1972 Los Angeles, CA (part two)

Since Blogger has seen fit to impose a limit of twenty labels per post and Led Zeppelin saw fit to occasionally perform more than twenty songs in one evening, I've been forced to carry those extra couple songs over to this supplemental post. For the full review of this outstanding performance, please see 6/25/1972 Los Angeles, CA (part one).

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 68: 3/5/1971 Belfast, Ireland

3/5/1971 Belfast, Ireland (master>dat>cdr)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Since I've Been Loving You, Black Dog, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown, Rock and Roll, Bring it on Home

The first performance of 1971 after a six month break and the band has a lot of new material to try out. The tape begins with the taper testing his equipment before the show then cuts to Immigrant Song already in progress. Plant's voice cuts through the thunderous wall of sound like a knife. There is a slight dropout at the beginning of Heartbreaker. Bonzo sounds like an army marching to battle. Page's playing is very bluesy during the a cappella solo.

Plant mentions that the band is feeling a bit rusty before introducing Since I've Been Loving You, which receives a loud cheer from the crowd. No one shows any sign of fatigue during the extremely powerful performance. The first appearance of Black Dog is preceded by a few bars of Out on the Tiles. Plant's voice is pure raw power. The heaviest Led Zeppelin song thus far, the effect is devastating. The guitar solo section in Dazed and Confused is a wild cacophony. Plant's shouts of "sweat!" echo out over the crowd. The finale is an explosion of cannon fire and echoed wails.

The first performance of Stairway to Heaven begins quietly, almost hesitant. There are some tape disturbances and dropouts in the middle of the song. The sound quality deteriorates after the guitar solo. What will become the most popular song in rock history is met with polite applause from the crowd. The first appearance of Going to California starts with more tape issues and a brief dropout. Chatter around the taper interrupts the quiet performance. The intro to Moby Dick is missing from the tape, picking up during the blitzkrieg of the drum solo. Bonzo's pounding is a relentless sonic assault. The crowd loves it.

Page makes the theramin wail and squeal wildly during the freakout in Whole Lotta Love. The medley includes John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go, Muddy Waters's Honey Bee, and Walter Davis's I Think You Need a Shot. Plant challenges Page to a duel before the "woman!..." section. He apologizes for taking so long to come to Ireland (where they would one perform one more time, the following night) before Communication Breakdown. The first riotous appearance of Rock and Roll is played lightning-fast. After a long absence, the band returns to the stage after overwhelming demand from the crowd to close the show with Bring it on Home, which features a heavy jam near the end. Welcome to 1971.

The tape is a bit overloaded and noisy, but still highly enjoyable. The raw power and energy of the performance remains intact.

Day 67: 9/19/1970 (evening) New York, NY

9/19/1970 (evening) New York, NY (cassette>reel>cdr)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Out on the Tiles, Communication Breakdown, The Girl Can't Help It, I'm Talking About You, Twenty Flight Rock, How Many More Times

The final show of the tour, lost in storage for thirty-three years before being accidentally unearthed by the taper in 2003, who thought he was offering an upgrade to the afternoon set. After a brief introduction by Scott Muni, Immigrant Song comes thundering out of the gate. The band is on fire with a "take no prisoners" attitude. The taper added a false stereo panning effect to Page's a cappella solo in Heartbreaker when transferring his cassette master to reel. Page's soloing is inspired, showcasing dynamic feats of finger acrobatics.

Plant improvises a new second verse during Dazed and Confused to address those in the crowd who are blocking everyone's view by standing on their chairs. The false stereo panning effect returns during the bow solo. Plant interrupts Page to again try to get the crowd to sit down before the police get involved. The end of the guitar solo is a cacophonous explosion. Plant again pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix, who had died the day prior, before That's the Way. Since I've Been Loving You is a dramatic wall of sound. Page's soloing is drunkenly inspired. Plant is living every word he sings, full of raw emotion. A breathtaking performance.

Jones really vamps it up during the organ solo, one of the longest and most dynamic of the tour. Thank You is utterly devastating. One of the best and heaviest thus far. The false stereo panning effect makes its return during What is and What Should Never Be. Bonzo is introduced as "the man who made Milwaukee famous" before Moby Dick, which is cut in the middle. Whole Lotta Love is preceded by an excellent jam on the riff from Jeff Beck's Rice Pudding. The Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section at the end of the theramin freakout is a chaotic explosion of energy. The riotous marathon medley includes I Believe I'll Dust My Broom, John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go, another excellent Lawdy Miss Clawdy at Plant's urging, Cinnamon Girl over the For What it's Worth theme, Some Other Guy, Train Kept a Rollin' with Stroll On lyrics, I'm a King Bee, Tommy McClennan's Baby Don't You Want to Go?, Freddie King's See See Baby, Jimmy Reed's You Got Me Runnin', and Muddy Waters's Honey Bee. One of the best and most elaborate thus far.

The second and final appearance of Out on the Tiles is introduced as "written by John Bonham" by Plant. It's a shame this wasn't played more often. The coda leads directly into Communication Breakdown after a flawless transition. There are some tape distortions during Page's frenzied solo. The breakdown features an extended bass solo and the first rare appearance of Gallow's Pole. After the band leaves the stage, someone near the taper declares "I'm gonna rip Madison Square Garden apart! Everybody is!" When the band returns, they launch into a frantic medley of old rock classics including The Girl Can't Help It, I'm Talking About You, and Twenty Flight Rock.

The biggest surprise of the night is How Many More Times as the final encore. The song's first appearance since the Bath Festival. The band is absolutely on fire. Every moment is a constant explosion of power and energy. The medley includes Boogie Chillen', Chuck Berry's No Money Down, and another excellent Blueberry Hill. The crowd is driven mad by the explosive finale.

The best performance thus far. Period.

The tape is excellent. Clear, well-balanced, and atmospheric. Must hear.

Day 66: 9/19/1970 (afternoon) New York, NY

9/19/1970 (afternoon) New York, NY
Have You Ever Experienced?

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

Led Zeppelin's first appearance at Madison Square Garden begins with a simple "good afternoon" from Plant. The tape shifts between sources a bit during Heartbreaker, finally settling in and clearing up for Page's excellent a cappella solo. Page plays a variety of bluesy licks during the initial verses in Dazed and Confused. A vendor selling binoculars passes near the taper during the bow solo, which Page ends with an explosion of wah-wah.

The taper fiddles with the microphone a bit during another beautiful That's the Way. Plant asks the crowd if they remember the band's shows at Central Park and Carnegie Hall before Bron-Yr-Aur. Page takes a laid-back approach during another great Since I've Been Loving You. The tape gets a bit warbly at the end of Thank You. Plant expresses the band's sorrow over Jimi Hendrix's death the day prior before What is and What Should Never Be.

Plant once again attempts to prevent a confrontation between the crowd and the authorities before Whole Lotta Love. Page lets the theramin go wild during the Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section. The medley includes John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go, For What it's Worth, and Muddy Waters's Honey Bee after a funky interlude. The show end with Communication Breakdown, which features a brief reference to American Woman during the breakdown. As the rest of the band finishes the song, Page keeps playing and brings them back around for another funky breakdown before letting the song end. A taste of things to come later that evening.

The tape is a combination of at least two sources. The primary source is very clear with Page front and center. The filler and end of the show source is a bit hissy and distant, but still highly enjoyable.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 65: 9/9/1970 Boston, MA

9/9/1970 Boston, MA (2nd gen>cdr)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins with a long-winded, rambling stage announcement about Paul McCartney and festival licenses at Boston College before J.J. Jackson introduces the band. After a long pause while Page changes guitars, they launch into Immigrant Song. Plant gets the verses mixed up during Heartbreaker, getting a bit lost in the process. Page's a cappella solo is a bit disjointed at the beginning. There seems to be some sort of illicit transaction taking place near the taper during the bow solo in Dazed and Confused. There is a brief drop-out at the beginning of the fiery guitar solo. Page's fingers fly across the fretboard with wild precision.

Page makes his guitar squeal with delight at the end of the rock section in Bring it on Home. Plant gets lost in the lyrics during That's the Way. The harmony near the end of the song is especially mournful. The final chord of Bron-Yr-Aur coincides with a speed fluctuation in the tape. Page has a bit of trouble finding the right notes during the first verse of Since I've Been Loving You. Tape disturbances mar the dramatic latter half of the song. Plant encourages the crowd to get loose "despite the herdsmen" before Jones's organ solo, which is also marred with constant tape disturbances and cut near the end.

Page's excellent solo during Thank You is interrupted by a volume shift and the erratic arrhythmic clapping of the crowd near the taper. Plant asks the crowd to be cool so as to avoid any trouble with the authorities before Whole Lotta Love. The medley includes Stop Messin' Round, Ramble On, For What it's Worth, Some Other Guy after a cut in the tape, and Muddy Waters's Honey Bee, during which Plant has the crowd making buzzing sounds. The erratic clapping returns during the explosive finale. The show ends with a quick and dirty Communication Breakdown.

The tape is fairly clear and well-balanced, if a bit distant. The tape disturbances and arrhythmic clapping can be a bit distracting.

Day 63: 9/4/1970 Los Angeles, CA

9/4/1970 Los Angeles, CA
Live on Blueberry Hill: The Complete LA Forum Tapes
(TMOQ alt. source)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown, Out on the Tiles, Blueberry Hill

This is the big one, the tape that started it all. The lives of Led Zeppelin fans would never be the same after this recording made its way into their collective hands. The tape begins with a brief band introduction and Plant telling the crowd "it's been a long time... but tonight we're gonna make up for it." Immigrant Song is devastating, an attack on all fronts from the first note to the last. Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the guitar solo in Heartbreaker, but it doesn't detract from the high energy performance. The crowd goes wild during the bow solo in Dazed and Confused. The band are locked into each other, the relentless attack is mesmerizing.

Plant opines that "18,000 pairs of hands should sound pretty good" before Bring it on Home. That's the Way is flawless, truly beautiful. Plant mentions the less than favorable reception the acoustic numbers have received in the midwest before introducing Bron-Yr-Aur. His voice is raw and powerful during Since I've Been Loving You, heightening the dramatic effect. Plant jokes that the bearded Led Zeppelin are "adverts for Gillette" before introducing Jones's organ solo. Thank You is excellent, Page's soloing soars above Bonzo's thunderous pounding. An epic drama. Bonzo displays great power and finesse during an extended Moby Dick.

As usual, Whole Lotta Love is an explosion of atomic energy. The raucous medley includes Jimmy Rogers's That's Alright, I'm Movin' On, Elmore James's Shake Your Money Maker, a frenzied Some Other Guy, and an excellent rendition of Buddy Holly's Think it Over. It ends with the best slow blues rendition of Honey Bee/The Lemon Song thus far, which includes the great Plant adlib "I don't care how hard you squeeze it mama, just take your teeth out before you get into bed." A firecracker blast punctuates the finale. As the band leaves the stage, the announcer enthusiastically asks the crowd "did you dig it?!"

One of, if not the best version of Communication Breakdown features an extended medley during the breakdown. Good Times Bad Times is followed by a funky bass solo. Another excellent rendition of For What it's Worth is followed by Plant singing the first verse of I Saw Her Standing There over the For What it's Worth theme before the band joins in for an explosive chorus. The most haunting, melancholic rendition of the early Beatles classic I've ever heard. As the band leaves the stage, the announcer tries to calm the frenzied crowd, telling then the band "can't do it all night." They'll surely try though. The band returns to the stage for the first rare appearance of Out on the Tiles. It's amazing this song never became a regular part of the setlist. The show ends with another excellent rendition of Blueberry Hill, with Plant doing his best Fats Domino impression.

As the band leaves the stage for the last time, Plant bids the crowd "goodnight and thanks for everything!" So ends one of the most important concerts in Led Zeppelin history. Absolutely amazing.

One of Led Zeppelin's most well-documented shows, the tape is an excellent audience recording, fit for official release. It doesn't get much better than this. Must Hear.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 62: 9/3/1970 San Diego, CA

9/3/1970 San Diego, CA  Missing Sailor

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

The size of the venue and distance of the taper from the stage is evident in the amount of echo present on the recording. It gives Plant's voice an almost larger than life quality. After Heartbreaker, Plant asks the crowd to hold the whistling for between the songs. A firecracker blast and shouts from the crowd interrupt the bow solo during Dazed and Confused. 

The unruly crowd continue to be uncooperative following That's the Way, causing Bron-Yr-Aur to be dropped from the set at the last minute. Plant's voice is strong during Since I've Been Loving You. Jones's organ solo is becoming quite avant garde, employing ambient tones and note bending to strange effect. The guitar solo section in Thank You is quite epic. Bonzo's drumming is especially powerful during What is and What Should Never Be. The medley during Whole Lotta Love includes Albert King's Crosscut Saw, B.B. King's Woke Up This Morning, Muddy Waters's Honey Bee, and another excellent Lawdy Miss Clawdy. The recording ends during an extended guitar solo in the breakdown of Communication Breakdown.

The tape is distant and a bit hissy.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 61: 9/2/1970 Oakland, CA

9/2/1970 Oakland, CA  (master cassette>reel>dat)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown, Train Kept a Rollin', Blueberry Hill, Long Tall Sally

Plant's voice is powerful during Immigrant Song. Page displays some virtuoso fingerwork during the solos in Heartbreaker, hitting each note with precision. The bow solo during Dazed and Confused is haunting. Plant tells the crowd the next song "needs you more than it needs us" before Bring it on Home. He manages to get the crowd to quiet down for a beautiful That's the Way. Bron-Yr-Aur is dedicated to the wild ones in the crowd. 

Since I've Been Loving You is a bit more subdued than usual, but Plant still manages a few moments of inspiration. Plant recounts a story about the unruly American woman in the crowd at an Elvis concert before Thank You. Bonzo's thunderous pounding during Moby Dick gets the crowd on their feet, with many shouting their approval toward the end of the song. One particularly enthusiastic fan repeatedly yells "c'mon motherfucker!" quite loudly as Bonzo plays the drums with his hands. 

The band's energy picks up during Whole Lotta Love. The riotous medley includes Carl Perkins's Boppin' the Blues, an excellent Lawdy Miss Clawdy, For What it's Worth (making its first appearance with lyrics), Muddy Waters favorites Honey Bee and Long Distance Call, I'm Movin' On, Fortune Teller, and That's All Right. Communication Breakdown once again features Good Times Bad Times during an especially funky breakdown. After Plant bids the crowd goodnight, the band returns to the stage for the first appearance of Train Kept a Rollin' in over a year, followed by the first appearance of Blueberry Hill (one of my favorite Led Zeppelin covers). The show ends with an incredibly fast, riotous Long Tall Sally, which includes Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey. A taste of things to come.

The tape is clear and well-balanced, if a bit distant. Highly enjoyable.

Day 60: 8/31/1970 Milwaukee, WI

8/31/1970 Milwaukee, WI  (master>dat)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You

The band is on fire. Page absolutely shreds through the solos in Heartbreaker. Plant hits an impossibly high note during the final verse at the end of the line "go away heartbreaker!" Page plays a funky stop-start riff during the guitar solo section in Dazed and Confused. Plant improvises new lyrics during the final verse. After Bring it on Home, Plant jokes that the way things are going, the new album could be out within anywhere between three weeks and ten years. The recording ends with another dramatic Since I've Been Loving You in which Page delivers a particularly inspired performance.

The tape is clear and well-balanced, quite enjoyable. If only we had the rest of this energetic, playful performance.

Day 59: 8/21/1970 Tulsa, OK

8/21/1970 Tulsa, OK  Turn the Lights Off!

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

Plant tells the crowd to "be prepared to take off your ties" before Immigrant Song. Page stops playing during the a cappella solo in Heartbreaker and demands that the house lights be turned off. Plant echoes his demand and asks the crowd to cooperate and sit down or the show will not continue. The crowd cheers as the light go down and Page continues with an excellent second half of the solo. Dazed and Confused is amazing. Page adds new sections and riffs throughout the marathon guitar solo section, even including some licks from White Summer during the outro. One of, if not the best performance thus far. A true epic.

Page, Plant, and Bonzo get into an intimate interplay with each other in the middle of Bring it on Home. Plant teases those sitting in the balcony, asking if they've got their popcorn and telling them if they're falling asleep, That's the Way will help them along. The taper fiddles with the microphone during the song, disturbing the delicate atmosphere. Jones plays some beautiful licks on the mandolin. Plant tries to keep the crowd calm as Page plays the intro to another moody, dynamic Since I've Been Loving You. Bonzo's performance is especially powerful. The song seems to get better and better with each performance.

The middle of Thank You is explosive, Page's frenzied soloing soars over Bonzo's thunderous pounding. Plant sounds mournful during the final verse as Page's ethereal licks accent Jones's organ outro. A beautiful performance. Plant once again showcases his encyclopedic knowledge of old rock and blues classics during Whole Lotta Love. The medley includes an excellent rendition of Matchbox, Jimmy Rogers's That's Alright, and a slow blues version of Heartbeat. Plant has the crowd screaming "P.A. is crap!" in response to the feedback on his microphone before the band launches into frenzied renditions of Elvis Presley's My Baby Left Me and That's All Right. He warns the crowd to be cool before Communication Breakdown. Page accents the end of the song with a series of theramin bursts. An absolutely amazing performance from beginning to end. Definitely a must hear.

The tape is a great audience recording, clear and well-balanced. Amazing.

Side note: I designed the artwork for this a decade ago when this version surfaced (as Sharky Goes West) and forgot about it, only to find someone had uploaded it to Zeppelin Art after all this time. Cheers to whoever held onto it for all these years.

Day 58: 8/17/1970 Hampton, VA

8/17/1970 Hampton, VA  Live in Hampton 1970

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins with the taper asking his friends for the time as the band does a brief soundcheck before launching into Immigrant Song, which is almost a carbon copy of the version on Led Zeppelin III. Page's soloing is rather subdued during Dazed and Confused, preferring long sustained notes and simple patterns over the usual acrobatics. There are some tape disturbances that effect the stereo separation during Bring it on Home.

The acoustic set is expanding as the first appearance of Bron-Yr-Aur replaces White Summer/Black Mountain Side as Page's solo showcase. More tape issues all but destroy Page's delicate intro to Since I've Been Loving You. Jones's ever-expanding organ solo is no longer a mere intro to Thank You, but is quickly becoming its own complex entity. The unfortunate tape disturbances continue throughout Thank You, particularly during the guitar solo. The tape is cut during the medley in Whole Lotta Love as the band is playing a slow blues "feel so good" jam. The band is quite subdued, a far cry from the usual boogie explosion. The sound deteriorates considerably as they return for Communication Breakdown, which again features Good Times Bad Times following the bass solo.

The recording is a bit distant and muffled with many tape issues throughout the show.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 57: 8/15/1970 New Haven, CT

8/15/1970 New Haven, CT  (? gen)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, Since I've Been Loving You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins just before the guitar solo in Immigrant Song. Plant's wails echo over the coda. After Heartbreaker, someone near the taper quips "wow, that was good!" Another audience member comments on Bonzo's "fuckin' gong" during the intro to Dazed and Confused. Plant is on the verge of swallowing his harmonica during Bring it on Home. The tape is a bit fragmentary, losing the beginning and end of most songs. 

Plant delivers a powerful, dynamic performance during Since I've Been Loving You. Whole Lotta Love begins during the medley with Plant running through a number of obscure blues references, including John Lee Hooker's Bottle Up and Go, Roy Orbison's Move on Down the Line, and Muddy Waters's Honey Bee among others. The recording ends with a raucous Communication Breakdown, which features a nearly complete version of Good Times Bad Times (with lyrics!) during the breakdown.

The tape is noisy and overloaded. There is also a very disruptive group of people near the taper who talk, scream, and sing along throughout the show.

Day 56: 7/19/1970 Berlin, Germany

7/19/1970 Berlin, Germany  (?)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, That's the Way, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins during the guitar solo in Immigrant Song. Plant improvises some amusing lyrics during the bow solo in Dazed and Confused to discourage those in the crowd who want to cause trouble. Page plays a Machine Gun-esque interlude during the guitar solo section. The tape is cut between songs. Bring it on Home features a cool descending riff from Page during Plant's harmonica solo.

Since I've Been Loving You is very similar to the version on Led Zeppelin III. Jones's organ solo and the first few bars of Thank You are missing from the tape. That's the Way now has its proper title, but the end of the song is missing. How Many More Times has been dropped from the set with Whole Lotta Love replacing it as the venue for the medley. Plant leads the band through another marathon of classics including Elmore James's Shake Your Moneymaker, Jimmy Reed's Down in Virginia, as well as the Muddy Waters favorites Hoochie Coochie Man, Honey Bee, and Long Distance Call. His knowledge of old blues songs is absolutely encyclopedic. The tape ends with a brief fragment of Communication Breakdown.

The tape is a bit noisy and distorted with the bass frequencies causing it to sound muffled at times.

Roughly a minute and a half of 8mm color footage filmed by journalist Chris Welch is available on Hercules's Film Noir Vol. 1. It's extremely fragmentary, but fun to watch nonetheless. Page is wearing what appears to be a full length red wizard's cape.

Click here for a video sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 55: 6/28/1970 Shepton Mallet, England

6/28/1970 Shepton Mallet, England (? gen)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, That's the Way, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown, Long Tall Sally

The band's legendary performance at the Bath Festival begins with a brief soundcheck before launching into the first appearance of Immigrant Song. Still in its early stages (Plant sings different lyrics with a slightly different melody and structure), the overall pounding intensity remains intact. Page shreds through the solos in Heartbreaker, Plant's voice echoing over the thunderous attack. Dazed and Confused is an epic workout. Bring it on Home features some excellent harmonica work from Plant. Since I've Been Loving You is epic, Page's playing is soulful and Plant's wails are spine-chilling.

After a source change, singing birds can be heard as Page tunes his guitar. The original source returns for an excellent dynamic performance of Thank You. Page's frenzied soloing soars above Bonzo's thunderous pounding. The definition of light and shade. Our first glimpse of the acoustic side of Led Zeppelin comes in the form of an early version of That's the Way, introduced here as "Boy Next Door". Page's tone is dirty and raw during a ferocious What is and What Should Never Be. Bonzo's drums sound like relentless machine gun fire during a frenzied Moby Dick.

Plant tells everyone in the crowd to smile before the band launches into an explosive How Many More Times. Plant sings a few lines of Down By the River during the Bolero section. His voice echoes out over the crowd as he starts his boogie intro. The band joins in for slow and heavy renditions of Muddy Waters's Honey Bee and Long Distance Call. The pace picks up for Boogie Chillen' and Sweet Home Chicago. After Plant's lemon squeezing, he gets the band into excellent renditions of Elvis Presley's I Need Your Love Tonight and That's All Right. Page is in top form, playing anything Plant can throw at him. The return to the main riff is crushing, the finale a devastating explosion of energy. It's amazing the crowd survived.

After the one-two punch of Whole Lotta Love and Communication Breakdown, the band returns to the stage one last time to satisfy the crowd's demands for more. Long Tall Sally frames a raucous medley including Johnny B. Goode, That's All Right, and other classics from the annals of rock history. A riotous end to one of the most legendary Led Zeppelin concerts ever recorded. Definitely a must hear.

The tape is a mix of at least two sources, both similar in quality. Noisy and distorted, but fairly clear. The sound deteriorates considerably during the encores.

Day 54: 4/18/1970 Phoenix, AZ

4/18/1970 Phoenix, AZ  Desert Storm

We're Gonna Groove, Dazed and Confused, Heartbreaker, Bring it on Home, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Thank You, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love

Bonzo is out of control during We're Gonna Groove, thrashing and pounding everything within reach. The band are locked into each other during Dazed and Confused. The fast guitar solo section is especially riotous. Page shreds through the solos in Heartbreaker. Bonzo's pounding is relentless, he attacks the drums with incredible force.

Plant seems to be holding back during Bring it on Home, avoiding the strain of the higher notes. He sounds mournful during Thank You, which features an excellent solo from Page. A couple loud firecracker blasts interrupt the quieter moments. A thunderous Moby Dick is immediately followed by Whole Lotta Love, skipping How Many More Times. Plant talks his way through the lyrics, it's obvious he's in bad shape. He attempts a signature wail during the theramin freakout, but gives up singing/saying "I can't take it." During the "way down inside..." section, he quips "sometimes I don't feel so good" before pushing himself to belt out the final "love!" After the band leaves the stage, Page returns with an announcement that due to Plant's illness, the show will not continue.

The tape is clear with occasional brief disturbances throughout.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 53: 4/17/1970 Memphis, TN

4/17/1970 Memphis, TN  (2nd gen>cdr)

We're Gonna Groove, Dazed and Confused, Heartbreaker, Bring it on Home, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Whole Lotta Love

The tape begins with a brief introduction by the taper stating the date and location of the show to follow. There is a stage announcement about an autographed Led Zeppelin album being given away by a local radio personality before the band is introduced. They do a brief soundcheck, after which Plant quips "thank you, goodnight" before properly greeting the crowd. We're Gonna Groove includes the same funky jam during the guitar solo as heard nine days earlier in Raleigh. The tape is cut between songs.

The atmosphere is very subdued during Dazed and Confused. Since I've Been Loving You is moody and dynamic, especially Plant's performance. An excellent rendition. The sound quality deteriorates a bit at the beginning of Thank You. Plant changes a line to "I think you better shut your mouth" during the final verse. The first few moments of What is and What Should Never Be are missing from the tape.

How Many More Times begins with a funky jam. Plant's introduction of Page is punctuated by a theramin burst. The apparently tense atmosphere in the crowd causes Plant to attempt to diffuse the situation by telling the police to put their hands together. Page improvises angrily as Plant tries in vain to get the house light turned off. The marathon medley features an excellent rendition of Memphis, Tennessee. Plant recites the first verse of Ramble On over the For What it's Worth theme before the band joins in for the chorus. A short version of Tobacco Road is cut in the middle. The tempo slows down for the Muddy Waters favorites Honey Bee and Long Distance Call. 

Plant pauses during the "got you in the sights..." section to address the crowd in regards to the police presence. Unfortunately, his comments are cut slightly before he makes mention of saving Peter Grant and asks that the crowd not stand on the chairs. After mentioning a hockey player he had seen on television, the band jumps into a raucous rendition of That's All Right. Plant stops the show again to beg the crowd to get off of the chairs and rails before the police arrest Grant. He is obviously feeling helpless as the police continue to hassle the band over the unruly crowd. The song ends in an explosion of echo-heavy wails. One of the best performances thus far, despite the trouble with the authorities.

As the band returns to the stage for Whole Lotta Love, Plant attempts to get the crowd under control, saying "when everything happens, don't stand up for god's sake." The recording ends with the taper describing the show as "the greatest concert I've ever heard."

The tape is a bit muffled and hissy with Bonzo buried in the mix, but the performance more than makes up for the less than perfect sound quality. A must hear for How Many More Times alone.

Day 52: 4/12/1970 Bloomington, MN

4/12/1970 Bloomington, MN  (3rd gen cassette>dat>cdr)

Bring it on Home

Only a small fragment of this show survives. The tape begins during the slow blues intro to Bring it on Home. The sound is very noisy and distorted. Plant's harmonica playing is particularly inspired. The recording ends before the return of the slow blues outro. Definitely only for completists.