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Audience 8.6 - This is what I would consider a must have. The recording progressively gets better, the show does too. The show! Man oh man! This is what collecting Zep is all about. Get this! -
Both shows are really good, around 8.5 with the second version coming in a touch higher to me. Some annoying clapping along at times but that is the Japanese audience for ya. Most of the time they are VERY well behaved. -
Audience 7.0-8.0 - Muffled sounding, but this tape has been cleaned up a lot since I heard it oh about 30 years ago! Once your ears adjust it sounds a heck of a lot better than the first minute, the tape does improve some, in fact by the second song it’s a whole point better! -
Audience 7.4 - This is a pretty loud tape, not the clearest or the most dynamic either, but if you are looking for a powerful wall of sound Zep show this is it! Incredibly brutal, the force of the bands’ sound is stunning. -
Soundboard 9.3 -
Audience 8.8 - Good solid tape, very nice atmosphere and kind of cool to hear the audience’s pleasant cheering when a song begins. A wonderful tape. -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Pro Studio 9.2-9.8 -
Audience 8.3 - Just a hint of distortion in the tape but that is a minor quibble because this is a fantastic document. A very powerful sound, an earthshaking depth due to a rich and full bottom end and a crisp attack on the guitars. Plant sounds great, his voice rising above all others, wow what a tape! -
Audience 7.5 - Not bad just a tad loud, and a bit crowded in the middle of the spectrum. (first night 9-13-71) -
Audience 8.5 - Much brighter and open than the previous night. Also loud but well balanced. (second night 9-14-71) -
Audience 7.3 - A little on the crispy side, with a lot of cymbal and high hat in the mix, but overall I think you can just equalize to taste and it is just fine. -
Audience 7.1 - Not a super clear tape, a little noise, a little distant, but all that said the guitar and Plant are front of the house to your ears. This is not that bad, but it is a concert hall reverb type experience to some degree. -
Audience 7.1–7.5 - A tape that changes slightly in certain spots getting a little better than before. Plant sounds great, Jimmy is taking the solos to new improvised territory during this time. Listen to the bit before the solo break in Heartbreaker. Short, but very different than the familiar little runs he usually did. -
Audience 6.9 - Not the best in dynamics and collectors regret that because it’s such a good show. But that being said, it is also not the absolute worst tape either. (8-21-71) -
Audience 7.1 - A tad clearer than the night before, a great show here too. Worth listening to! -
Audience 7.9 - A very bright, brassy tape. Kind of really captures the “realness” of the live PA sound at the gig. Very much one of those recordings that puts you at the show. -
Audience 8.8 - A great tape! Very clear and well balanced sound. Very enjoyable! -
Audience 7.5 - A SUPREMELY upgraded source from the one we have had to suffer through for years. This being one of Zep’s most historic concerts too! A MUST HAVE! -
Audience 7.3 -
Audience 6.9 - This tape is not a lost cause, although it is subdued and a touch muddy, you get enough in this to still appreciate the bands fury at this time in their career. -
Audience 8.1 -
Soundboard 9.3 -
Audience 7.3 - A newer tape source here, still average but features much better definition so there’s much to be gained by upgrading. Page seems to tune up frequently so I wonder if there were temperature problems or other? Interesting beginning to Heartbreaker here, never heard that intro before. -
Soundboard 9.2 -
Audience 7.4 - Partial show -
Soundboard 8.9 -
Soundboard 9.8 (2-12-75) -
Audience 7.6 - Listenable, and a pretty good jamming show! -
Soundboard 9.5 - Magnifique! Love the cool panning during Dazed. -
Both Nights Vastly improved because you now get as complete a show as possible with the two source merge using the audience and the soundboard sources. The second show is pretty decent audience, around 7.8 really but it’s very interesting to get the back to back performances to hear the differences. -
Audience 8.8 - Outstanding in most of the ways you need it to be. Captures incredible manic energy in a very respectable way, so is it perfect? Nope. Does it matter? Not for this gig it doesn’t. This is a must have! -
Audience 7.6 - I am glad I familiarized myself with this tape again. Robert is the star of this tape, so you do not get a super clear audio although it is still worthwhile in many regards. Robert is riding these guys to fame and fortune. One thing you will notice is that the band seems to be comfortable and perfectly tight but loose! -
Both Shows: Early Show - Audience 7.2 - The lesser of the two shows, but the performance is strong, you’ll know they mean business after the first 30 seconds of Immigrant Song! Late Show - Audience 7.7 - Several notches cleaner and stronger than the early show, but both are worth your time. -
Audience 7.4 - A little cluttered in the middle, volume pushed to max – but not that bad and quite historical given the fact it’s the first show in Osaka which was a legendary stand of concerts back in ’71. (first night 9-28-71) -
Audience 7.7 - This show does not overwhelm the listener in any dynamic range but what it does is capture in relatively good quality all the way through with no surprises. It’s very good, but does not call to your attention that much. Still if you are collecting them all, this one will be a great addition! -
Audience 8.6 - With the exception of a little bit of mid range distortion (probably due to taper being right in front of the PA on Jimmy’s side of the stage), this recording can best be summed up as “explosive” - this is an over the top electric and completely wild unhinged show by a lean and hungry band. Essential! -
Audience 8.6 - A fantastic early recording of the band during their summer rock festival circuit tour. These are some of their most fiery performances, playing in front of huge festival crowds where there is palpable kinetic energy, and this show really delivers! At times, taper seems to move to different spots and so the sound occasionally fades but then comes back strong again. -
Audience 9.2 - This one deserves a high rating for not only having great sound quality (with some minor taper adjustment in the beginning) but also because, quite simply, this gig is off the charts cool. Plant makes reference to "the vibes" during the show and it's just obvious that the crowd knows they are witnessing something magic, and the best part is - so does the band. When they realize they are all four "in the zone", the show takes off to levels unprecedented heretofore. A stellar No Quarter and perhaps the best Dazed and Confused of the whole tour...you get that and more. One tiny blemish, during the end of The Rain Song, an equipment malfunction destroys what would have been the penultimate version, and Plant himself recognized the disaster. To me, it's not a deal breaker at all, it lasts a couple seconds, but I understand Plant's frustration completely. Get this now! -
Audience 7.3 - Starting off rough, this EXPLOSIVE concert gets clearer until it is mildly satisfactory but that isn’t the real story here – the band is only on their 2nd show of the new year and they are roaring like hungry lions. Earthshaking intensity, which the poor taper struggles to capture properly. Should be in your collection for posterity. Remastered and upgraded! -
Soundboard 9.0 - Crunchy and clear, with super duper guitar tone right up in your face. Spectacular but sometimes so much power all occupying the middle frequency makes you want more low end, so add it with Equalizer and you are good to go mate. -
Audience 7.0–7.4 - Muddled, distant and lacking in separation of instruments, this is for completists only. To be fair, the mud does clear somewhat and some remastering has allowed us to hear reasonably clear lead guitar and higher frequencies that are not residing down where the tape distortion is, so for instance songs like Stairway To Heaven are like sun rays peaking through, so I gave this a spread rating which is more realistic. -
Audience 8.7 - Pretty crisp and clear especially Page, who shines in this performance.