Are you referring to the 09 14 1971 Berkeley show? If so, it is indeed one of the best.

Great news - I've already pre-ordered the CD version at Amazon. Some things to be aware of, however: New material all is grouped on CD 3 (and I guess LP 4) - that likely means the previously released tracks will not have their edits restored, for example probably still will be several minutes cut out of the 1971 Whole Lotta Love, and probably still will have that 10 seconds of "It's Your Thing" cut out of one of the 1969 versions of Communication Breakdown One web site says the three "lost songs," from '69, including Sunshine Woman, have been restored from the AM radio recording that circulates among collectors. In other words, these three tracks will be in mono, and the sound quality will be noticeably inferior to the other tracks (which is likely why they not only are on CD 3, but at the end of it). I am a little concerned that, so far, there's been no specific info about the remastering process. Are these new digital transfers from the original BBC tapes? Or are these new masterings from the raw 1997 digital files? Or are these merely tweaked/EQ'd versions of the previously mastered 1997 version?

They jury found that Zep "had access" to Taurus. The elements of the case did not require the plaintiff to prove that Page or Plant definitely heard Taurus; nor was the jury required to say if they actually think P&P heard Taurus, and if so, how or where they heard it. So the jury's ruling simply says that Page and/or Plant reasonably could have heard Taurus. I believe the reason for this is that cases like this do not focus on whether the defendants actually heard the song, because that's nearly impossible to prove or disprove in most cases. So all that matters is if they did or did not "have access" to it. If they didn't have access, then even if the songs sounded the same, the defendants would win because the similarity would be purely accidental. If on the other hand they did have access, then the question becomes whether or not the songs sound the same. If the songs sound the same, and the defendant had access to the song, then the defendant loses, regardless of any evidence or lack of evidence about exactly where or when the defendant heard the song. I believe that's why George Harrison lost the My Sweet Lord case - the song was found to be substantially similar, and even though he maintained he didn't consciously rip it off, he was found to have "unconsciously" copied it because it was determined that he had access to it - that he reasonably could have heard it.

Lots of great suggestions in this thread, especially 6-11-77 which is (mostly) available in nice soundboard quality. But for me it's TSRTS original version, hands-down. I also think that soundtrack has the best live versions of The Song Remains the Same and The Rain Song, and one of the best live Stairways too. For such a maligned performance, it certainly has it's fair share of excellent versions!

The Detroit/Auburn Hills one from April '95 is great - and it sounds among the best because it's a multitrack mixdown that was originally considered for a CD-single/EP release - there are 4 or 5 tracks from that show available in great sound quality (slightly light on the bass, but that's easily fixed with a little EQ). What I love about the original studio version, though, is that it's not a simple "blast off" like these live versions (which also are great). Page is sort of hit-hit-hitting the whammy bar in the studio version, so there's the sound of multiple impacts, like the whole thing is about to fall apart, but doesn't. It's inspired.

I'm much better versed on the audio than the video. Some recommendations for audio: 1995 04 01 Auburn Hills (Detroit) - great-sounding multitrack mixdown exists of about five of the songs from this show1995 05 19/20 Oakland/San Jose - very nice 1995 performances. 5 19 is thought to be a slightly better performance and exists in a fantastic sounding audience recording. 5 20 exists in a similarly good-sounding AUD, as well as a mono soundboard - but by far the best is a Westwood One source for an FM broadcast. Only covers 11 of the songs, but by far the best-sounding, fantastic1995 06 25 Glastonbury - a shorter, festival set, but sounds great, and kicks ass. Either a professional mix or a soundboard, I forget which. The best-sounding version I've heard is from a DVD that includes video.1995 09 29 Albuquerque/10 03 Irvine Meadows - Two great shows in the Western US. I think many fans prefer 9 29, but I favor 10 03, partially because of the sound.1996 02 13, 15 and 17 Japan - Fantastic Japan run, these are the three shows that exist in SBD quality. These shows include the aforementioned Tea for One performance, as well as a stupendous version of The Rain Song. My favorite is the final show on the 17th, but all three are great. They are available in excellent, though very slightly dry, soundboard quality - but my favorites are fan-made soundboard-audience matrix versions. You can't go wrong with these three dates in virtually any format.1998 03 25 Shepherd's Bush Empire (London) - opening show of the 1998 tour. Most folks feel the later shows on this tour are better, and it's true that Page was in his best form since 1973 during the later '98 shows. But this one is still great IMHO, and available in very good sound quality. In fact, three tracks are available in full official-release quality on the Japanese CD max-single of "Shining in the Light." The sound quality is phenemonal.1998 03 30 Paris - an FM radio source of a very energetic show. Source is a bit compressed (because it's an off the air recording and FM stations always use compressors), but IMHO well worth it.1998 08 23 Cologne - a festival performance but pretty much a full-length set. Also available in video. Great sounding soundboard - not official release quality but close. Fantastic performance - this is the show most folks point to when they argue that late 1998 saw Page playing his best guitar in 25 years.1998 09 23 Las Vegas - I would rank this just below Cologne in performance and sound quality, but still excellent.1998 10 01 New Orleans - I can't remember if this is an FM broadcast recording or a pre-FM soundboard. But it's a great, and somewhat overlooked, show. There are a couple of versions of this (based on different FM recordings I guess), and some are much duller sounding than others. The best-sounding one is very good indeed.1998 12 10 Paris - a very brief set as part of an Amnesty International benefit show, and P & P's last show. There's an official DVD, and the soundtrack is excellent sonically. I think their mini-set from this show is great. If I had to pick the top one from each year, I guess I'd choose 1995 10 03 Irvine Meadows; 1996 02 17 Japan; and 1998 8 23 Cologne. Hope this helps!

I love the companion material, but I too can see how some folks wouldn't find it very interesting. I would note that Page and Plant actually are in agreement on the factual level: they seem to agree these are bits and pieces of what they were doing at the time. The difference is that Page views this as "a portal" into the process of Led Zeppelin, while Plant views it as "not particularly relevant." That's just a reflection of each man's level of interest in revisiting Zep at this time. The reason I think the companion material is great is this: For $1 to $3 extra per album. you get a companion CD. So at the end of the day, for a grand total of about $20, you get at least 3 full CDs' worth of great stuff - including never before released alt. takes of Since I've Been Loving You, Sick Again, Bring It on Home and The Wanton Song; St. Tristan's Sword; the Bombay tracks; an instrumental The Song Remains the Same with never before heard guitar parts; a completely unexpected additional track from the Zep I sessions and one from the Presence sessions; and a never before released blues track from the Zep III sessions. And you get a 4th CD with a live 1969 show on it. If Zep had released such a set - a 4-CD set with those outtakes, plus the Paris concert - for $20, every Zep fan would be throwing $20 bills at their computer screens to buy it, and would be saying, "This is the most amazing thing ever!"

I listened again today, and I think I finally heard an intonation/word pronunciation I associate with Plant, near the end of the track. So I've moved into the "I think it is indeed Plant" camp.

My final three are the lowest numbers I've gotten yet: Presence: 00598 ITTOD: 03895 Coda: 02555

Thanks for this - I saw mention of this somewhere in the last day or two. It would be cool to hear those tapes in proper sound quality.

I agree Burning Up is a problem track. I also don't like Upon a Golden Horse. But for me, the biggest issue is that the track order just doesn't work. I recently made my own version, removing the above two songs, adding in Whiskey from the Glass (Japan edition bonus track) and The Window (b-side to Most High single), and rearranging everything as follows: Sons of Freedom House of Love When the World Was Young Heart in Your Hand Most High Please Read the Letter Shining in the Light Blue Train Walking into Clarksdale The Window When I Was a Child Whiskey from the Glass It works so much better than the album as released. The first time I tried it this way, I ended up listening to it all the way through, twice. And since then I've listened to it more times than I did from 1998-2014 combined.

Hope this isn't out of order for this thread, but I figure it's close enough: http://www.discogs.com/Jimmy-Page-Robert-Plant-Shining-In-The-Light/release/5792582 Japan-only version of this single from the "Walking into Clarksdale" era, includes three professionally mixed tracks from their excellent March 25, 1998 Shepherd's Bush show - the album title track, plus How Many More Times and No Quarter. The sound is spectacular, and the performance is just as good!

The Song Remains the Same, original 1976 mix/tracks, Classic Records 45rpm version. Sounds fantastic.

LZ I - 24917 LZ II - 08121 LZ III - 22089 LZ IV - 04170 Houses - 07110 PG - 07382

I have a similar view to most here so far - but based on folks' comments, I would say I rank 5/30 a closer 2nd to Fort Worth than some others. At any rate, I guess I'd rank them 5/22, followed closely by 5/30, then 4/27 then 5/25 - and I agree 5/28 would be last. If what we have of 6/11 is a fair representation of the whole show (which of course is NEVER a safe bet when it comes to '77 shows), then it would probably become #2 or #3 in my book. If we throw Seattle in, though, that would probably become last. Yuk. Fort Worth's performance is very good - but it also doesn't hurt that it's the best-sounding '77 soundboard to date as well. Of course, if 4/28 or any of the June NYC or LA-area shows surface as soundboards, almost all of them will vault to the top of the list.

Agreed - it's an honorable profession filled with dedicated people. It has its bad apples just like the rest of humanity - but probably fewer than many other professions.

Disc 2 of the DVD-Audio version of How the West Was Won.

Beck - Morning Phase

I've always loved the Paris Olympia show, so I'm thrilled to have it on the LZ I bonus disc. But that said, I've gotta agree with you - LZ III's bonus disc is basically a really good album in and of itself. Unlike the Zep II bonus disc, very little on the Zep III bonus disc is merely "interesting" - most of these versions are really great and worth repeated listening.

Paris, Olympia, 1969 on the LZ I reissue bonus disc - but of course!

Some of my favorites: Couldn't find a higher-res version of this last one, but it's glorious.

LZ III companion disc is just fantastic, the best of the bunch. That's the Way is gorgeous; Jenning's Farm Blues sounds more improved over the bootlegs than I thought it would; SIBLY of course is amazing; instrumental Friends is wonderful, and it's great to be able to listen to it and Celebration Day without the synthesizer drone between them; Keys to the Highway sounds a LOT better than the version we got to hear on YouTube from Page's press event. This companion disc, IMHO, is a quite good, coherent album on its own.

THIS.

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2014/02/24/xtc-skylarking-corrected-polarity-reissue-cd/

Copenhagen warm-ups, 2nd night, July 24, 1979. Man, what a show. Too bad they didn't multi-track this like they did Knebworth a couple of weeks later. The first Knebworth show is good, but this one kiils it.