I'm convinced that the Cologne soundboard, like Dortmund, played way too fast, and was only pitch corrected instead of speed corrected. Both of these shows just feel way too fast to be natural, and none of the other shows from this tour are ever as fast either so that's the basis of my theory. I look forward to your nitpick of Brussels, I think it and Rotterdam are the best shows after Zurich, Frankfurt, and Munich.

to our knowledge, the soundboards that Jimmy was robbed of were the 1973 and 1980 soundboards, the stuff EVSD has turned out apparently come from a different source

[SUE DOUNIM EXCLUSIVE] Fuck you! EVSD! Please stop getting my hopes up and actually release a new 77 soundboard! Pontiac 77 is one of my favorite Zep shows, give us the soundboard!! Give us the video!!!

You'd think whoever the dirty weasel was who secretly comes from EVSD and nabbed this recording would have at least had the sense to wait until those people who were offering more tapes had made good on their offers. I guess the label is really desperate for cash

I was hoping you'd nitpick this tour. I've been convinced for a long time that the soundboards for 6/17 and 6/18 play way too fast, but whoever shared them corrected the pitch but not the tempo. They just sound impossibly fast to me. That said I still think your assessment of 6/17 was spot on. I'm most looking forward to your assessments of 6/20, 6/21, 7/2, and 7/7.

Listening to Atlanta 1977 for the first time in 6 or 7 years cuz I managed to EQ it in such a way where it's fairly pleasant to listen to. Perhaps the best White Summer of the April 77 shows?

it sounds to me like the whole band forgot where they were right before the machine gun drumming/strained solo about 7 1/2 or 8 minutes in, and they never fully recover. I actually like the 11th up through Kashmir, and then the encores are good. There are about as many wrecks as triumphs at that gig, with a better TSRTS, Celebration Day and Black Dog than the first night, a good NFBM, shite OtHaFA, a shite MMH, then good SIBLY, great No Quarter, Hot Dog is good, The Rain Song is very pretty, a good White Summer, and an awesome Kashmir. From that point Jimmy is a wreck til the encores. What's worse is again the flub near the end of ALS, with a similar flub during In the Evening.

ALS from Tempe 77 always gets mentioned but at least it sounds like there's energy and has a cool opening. ALS from the second Knebworth show will always get my vote for worst version. Jimmy's unbelievably sloppy, and his guitar tone sounds absolutely dead on arrival, utterly weak and pathetic. I hate it with every fiber of my being.

Revisiting the TSRTS soundtrack for the first time in about six years.

honestly, while I don't like thinking about the playing on some of these shows in a negative light, I've gotta say this is a very good topic and thread. Very interesting and all around a good read. As someone who's not even close to being musically inclined enough to pick up on the intricacies of things like phrasing and whatnot, it's easier for me to enjoy the shows for what they are. I do look forward to going back to some of these shows with the positive things you wrote in mind. I know there aren't many shows left worth nitpicking but keep up the good work!

I've gotta say that was the most negative review of 2/12 I've ever read that didnt just cite the condition of Plant's voice. Honestly while he may not be at his most technically proficient at that show I think Jimmy more than makes up for it with passion and energy.

finally listened to 1977/07/23 all the way thru in one sitting. Honestly not as bad a show as people like to make out. The band sounds focused and tight thru most of it, and the vibes of a 77 gig out in the daylight is really interesting in a great way. It's a shame there weren't any outdoor concerts done in the daylight in June 77 (I dont count Tampa because it was when the sun was going down anyway), that would have been something to hear for sure. Ten Years Gone is the only serious blemish on this show, and Jimmy has clearly recovered by the time he plays White Summer/Black Mountain Side. I really dig hearing a live Black Dog with a cold open, which if I remember right is completely unique to this show. All in all I really really hope either an excellent stereo audience tape or the soundboard of this show surfaces one day, or at least some more video footage.

Been listening to 1980 shows lately and man do I still really wish we had the first 24 minutes of Rotterdam, Vienna, and Munich in soundboard form.

38 years gone, watching my DVDs of the second Knebworth concert

watching my DVDs of 1979/08/04 for the 38th anniversary

No its just the soundboard

Pittsburgh more than deserves to be mentioned. It's my personal favorite show of the whole tour.

Dazed from Baltimore 1973

currently listening to Nutrocker's baby, 1977/06/11. On SIBLY now. More people really oughta sing this show's praises outside of No Quarter. The opening songs are some of the heaviest I've ever heard, especially once u speed correct the tape and eliminate that piercingly sharp treble to reveal some very good bass frequencies.