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Audience 8.0 - In this particular case, the rating doesn’t say anything about how amazing this tape is. Sure, it’s not glorious hi-fi with ultra-wide dynamic range, but it is actually much more than that. It’s just, pure magic. Short, yes, it’s not complete by a long shot and I am a little sad we don’t have the rest, but what we do have is proof of why Zeppelin took off after touring the States in ’69. I can’t imagine what people were thinking at this show. They could not have ever gotten anything as monumental as this from any local artist or 2nd tier touring act. This is indescribable; I can’t even find the right words. Page and Plant are killing it, in perfect unison, playing the best live versions of these tunes I think I have ever heard, approaching the majesty of the Fillmore West 4-27-69 but not as clear (obviously). The guitar tone is similar, with that funky echoplex delay sound especially on You Shook Me which launches into another dimension. The sound, at first, you might be dismayed, but stick with it. By the time you get a couple minutes in, you will be mesmerized. It’s an 8.0 that you’ll listen to a few more times for the lesson Page and Plant give in how to hypnotize an audience. The Kinetic Circus, Chicago, IL. 2-07-1969
- Train Kept A Rollin'
- You Shook Me
- Communication Breakdown
- As Long As I Have You
- Fresh Garbage
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Soundboard 9.3 - Good separation of instruments, bass is accurate and detailed, guitar crisp and biting, vocals strong and clean. Artist: Led Zeppelin Date: 1973.07.15 Venue: Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Location: Buffalo, New York USA Disc 1 01. Rock And Roll 02. Celebration Day 03. Black Dog 04. Over The Hills And Far Away 05. Misty Mountain Hop 06. Since I've Been Loving You 07. No Quarter 08. The Song Remains The Same 09. The Rain Song Disc 2 01. Dazed And Confused (incl. San Francisco) 02. Stairway To Heaven Disc 3 (Original Soundboard Recording) 01. Rock And Roll 02. Celebration Day 03. Black Dog 04. Over The Hills And Far Away 05. Misty Mountain Hop 06. Since I've Been Loving You 07. No Quarter 08. The Song Remains The Same 09. The Rain Song
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Audience 7.5 - Kind of middle of the road as far as dynamics in the recording, but the big plus is that every instrument is heard, with nothing rising above or falling underneath the mid-range ceiling. Pushing volume up really high will bring some of the inherent sonic limitation into the picture, which is lurking about but not intruding until you push it. What you can really get into here is the absolutely packed set list, and a more extended Good Times Bad Times than was typical at the time. Really, this is something even the average Zep fan might find interesting.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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Audience 8.7 - This is the one that every self respecting Zep head HAS to have, and probably already does. That being said, if you don’t have it, and maybe you are not a huge Zep person or maybe you are new to the live Led Zep world, do yourself a favor and get this now. It’s only one of the most legendary gigs ever captured on tape.
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Audience 8.5 - We all are aware that this tape is not spectacular quality, it does what it needs to do and that is present a document of a great evening for Led Zeppelin. It’s quite magical in many respects, and really I think the quality is not disappointing considering some re-mastering of the tape has been done and it helps. Still this is worth having for history and for how good the band is playing. Led Zeppelin Bonzo's Birthday Party The Forum Inglewood, California 1973-05-31 Disc 1 01.Introduction 02.Rock And Roll 03.Celebration Day 04.Black Dog 05.Over The Hills And Far Away 06.Misty Mountain Hop 07.Since I've Been Loving You 08.No Quarter 09.The Song Remains The Same 10.The Rain Song Disc 2 01.Dazed And Confused 02.Stairway To Heaven Disc 3 01.MC 02.Moby Dick 03.Hapy Birthday To You 04.Heartbreaker 05.Whole Lotta Love Medley 06.The Ocean 07.Communication Breakdown
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Audience 8.8 - This old tape is fascinating, and frustrating. The “DJ” is a guy who seems to work for a local radio station who somehow got to broadcast this show – but my spidey sense says it’s not actually what went down. This is a ruse to get the tape machine into the venue, I am willing to bet money on it. So, he’s in the venue but to keep up appearances he does station ID’s periodically (almost every song) and because of his cheap recorder, the station id he does just sounds like a loud sonic swoosh (thankfully they are real short). Zep are in good form but fight constantly against poor PA which makes for a very interesting evening and a unique tape. One thing I want to point out is that because of the weird PA problems, it seems Page is getting much more feedback than normal and it causes him to sound much more psychedelic and I actually enjoyed that very much. Led Zeppelin Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto, Ontario September, 4th, 1971 Audience + Soundboard Recordings Disc One 1) Immigrant Song * (Cuts In Slightly) 2) Heartbreaker * (Cuts Out) 3) Since I've Been Loving You * (Cuts In Slightly, Cuts Out) 4) Black Dog * (Cuts In, Cuts Out) 5) Dazed And Confused * (Cuts In, Cuts Out) 6) Stairway To Heaven + (Cuts In Slightly) 7) Celebration Day + 8) That's The Way + 9) Going To California + Disc Two 1) What Is And What Should Never Be + 2) Moby Dick + 3) Whole Lotta Love * (Medley) (Cuts In, Cuts Out) Includes: - Boogie Chillen - My Baby Left Me - Mess O'The Blues - You Shook Me 4) Communication Breakdown * ( Cuts In, Cuts Out) 5) Organ Solo * (Cuts In) 6) Thank You * *: Audience Recording +: Soundboard Recording
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Audience 8.0 - One of those “back to the clubs” gigs where you assume, because Zep were so loud, that any recording of them in a small club would sound like crap. This one is not crap, you can clearly enjoy each member as the separation of instruments is actually very good, in fact the bass notes are distinct here. The mix is good, the sound is decent, the performance is very good. I see no reason why not to have this. -
Audience 8.1 - An old, very fragile tape was found and YEARS of grime and muck were removed to reveal a little bit of music. Still, on the scale of things Zeppelin, this tape is for completists only. Thankfully though it exists and has been wrapped in a very fine looking package. It deserves at least that much. Funny thing though, in listening to this, the bass is clear comparatively speaking and has a brassy, round sound that allows you to hear the notes he is playing. It’s not just a rumbling “low end” mess here, and so I appreciated that. Super excited audience also helps propel the recording a little bit. LED ZEPPELIN Baltimore Civic Center Baltimore, Maryland July 23rd 1973 Disc 1 1 -Tune Up 2 -Rock And Roll 3 -Celebration Day 4 -Bring It On Home Intro - Black Dog 5 -Over The Hills And Far Away 6 -Misty Mountain Hop 7 -Since I've Been Loving You 8 -No Quarter 9 -The Song Remains The Same Disc 2 10 -The Rain Song 11 -Dazed And Confused (inc.San Francisco - Mars The Bringer Of War) 12 -Stairway To Heaven Disc 3 13 -Moby Dick 14 -Heartbreaker (with Bouree) 15 -Whole Lotta Love (inc. Gallows Pole - Boogie Chillun) 16 -The Ocean 17 -After Show
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Audience 8.6 - This is a very good recording where all I can say is I wanted more guitar…but Bonzo is furious and drums sound heavy, bass is POUNDING without booming, and Plant rides it all with a reasonably clear and present vocal that kind of seems like it’s floating like cream above the sound. All in all I have to say this is pretty righteous for a 1972 aud. tape. Recommended! LED ZEPPELIN BALTIMORE CIVIC CENTER BALTIMORE MARYLAND JUNE-11-1972 CD 1 1 -IMMIGRANT SONG 2 -HEARTBREAKER 3 -OUT ON THE TILES INTRO - BLACK DOG 4 -SINCE I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU 5 -STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN 6 -GOING TO CALIFORNIA 7 -THATS THE WAY 8 -TANGERINE 9 -BRON-Y-AUR STOMP CD 2 1 -DAZED AND CONFUSED (THE CRUNGE - WALTERS WALK - MARS THE BRINGER OF WAR, ECT.) 2 -WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE 3 -MOBY DICK CD 3 1 -WHOLE LOTTA LOVE (BOOGIE CHILLEN'- I NEED YOUR LOVE TONIGHT - HELLO MARY LOU - HEARTBREAK HOTEL - GOING DOWN - GOING DOWN SLOW - THE SHAPE I'M IN) 2 -ROCK AND ROLL 3 -COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
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Audience 8.7 - A new tape discovery and it is a good one, although not without some bumps and bruises. The tape is incomplete, missing at least the last 1/3 of the show (if judging by similar set lists from the time). The taper is close, and the sound is raw, powerful, and clear. The first few minutes are bumpy, but the tape smooths out for the majority of the show. The band is firing on all cylinders, much like the following month’s Texas Pop Festival performance. A great find! Led Zeppelin July 5th, 1969 Atlanta International Raceway Hampton, Georgia 01 Train Kept A Rollin' 02 I Can't Quit You Baby 03 Dazed And Confused 04 White Summer 05 You Shook Me Notes: This is from a 1st gen reel, the masters are presumed lost. The rest of the show was taped, but was accidentally erased.