Fair enough. It's a shame the recording gets so muffled and noisy after WS/BMS on the 11th.

Lmao! I admit I've never listened to that one. Doesn't it have the longest version of "Kashmir"? Albeit, not one of the better ones.

I had no idea that's what it was in reference to! Definitely makes more sense now.

The Auschwitz one is indeed awful, the other two hilariously bad. I'll add the Landover '75 soundboard to the list: Ultra Violent Killer Droog. Good topic choice btw, OP...should be a fun thread 😂

I always wonder when I'm listening each June if you have regrets about that. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, and you still saw 14 more shows than me!

That's a good way to look at it. Any particular reason why you prefer the 10th to the 13th for the New York shows?

Admittedly I've never listened to Atlanta or Cincinnati, but I've been meaning to. I've also only listened to "Achilles Last Stand" from the second Oakland show. That's interesting -- I've only ever listened to the 30th, but I enjoy it well enough.

A very good point, and probably part of why 6/21 is so highly regarded (not that all four of them aren't playing fantastically), because the recording has an appropriately thunderous and clear bottom end to divert attention from whatever mistakes Page makes. Certainly nobody in the arena was sitting there thinking "Ugh, listen to those five flubs in a 30-minute 'No Quarter'!"

Interesting that you have 6/27 in your Top 5. I agree that it has a very enjoyable and unique vibe and is one of Millard's best, cleanest recordings. It's a good, concise drum solo for sure. It's funny how the noise solo the night before is 22 minutes but really good and doesn't feel that long at all, yet this one is 25 minutes and feels every bit that long, if not longer lol. Houston does have an unusual NQ, true. The 5/26 "Over The Top" is the only part of the Landover run I've listened to other than the 5/30 show, and that was a one-time listen for the historical significance 😂

Lmao! Click on the blue speaker icon for each song and then once it opens, right-click in the grey bar and one of the options should be "Download Video," or at least it is on my Mac. Not sure if it's the same for PC...

I have Second Night At The Forum, which I think is a Scorpio release. I just downloaded it from Black Beauty...all of the tracks are available: http://starship.jpn.ph/zeppelin/beauty/file/index.jsp?R_date=1977/06/22

I know this has been discussed every which way, so I apologize for the potentially duplicitous nature of this post, but for uniformity's sake I figured I'd share my '77 rankings the same way I did my '75 and '72 rankings -- North America '73 is coming next week! As I mentioned in the '72 rankings thread, I started a podcast recently entitled Rock Talk with Dr. Cropper. I've done three Zeppelin-themed episodes so far (and two Dead-themed ones). My episode about the '77 tour, where I go into greater detail about the rationale behind my rankings, just went live this morning: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rock-talk-with-dr-cropper/id1518703647#episodeGuid=Buzzsprout-4725263 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74LrPcZS8V6A3yO300Is3e?si=JUiZvIz8SVmeMXTDOUBY1w Buzzsprout for those who can't access either of the above: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1119254/4725263 I decided to limit this one to a Top 20 due to sound and/or performance quality issues with the others. 1. June 22 - Los Angeles -- One of my all-time favourites. It's starting to get the praise it's due, so I won't wax poetic for too long. I think someone else said this on here a few weeks ago, but it strikes the perfect balance between the energy of the 21st and the relaxed confidence of the 23rd. Extremely tight, incredibly powerful, and a unique setlist to boot (which I think is something all of the "best of their year, in the best ever conversation" shows have -- 9/19/70 Evening, 9/29/71, 6/19/72, 3/21/75, and this one -- 7/21/73 is the strange exception to my rule...best of its year with a completely standard setlist). Not only is this the only '77 show to feature both "In My Time Of Dying" AND "Over The Hills And Far Away," it's also the only time OTHAFA appeared anywhere but the 3, 4 or 5 slot in the setlist after its debut on 6/19/72 in Seattle (right?). In addition to a very strong opening 1-2-3, standout versions (at least for '77) of the following: "Since I've Been Loving You," "Going To California" (and the acoustic set as a whole), "White Summer/Black Mountain Side," "Over The Top" and "Rock And Roll." The following songs from this show are in the best-ever conversation IMO: - "In My Time Of Dying" -- thunderous, strong performance from Plant, and unique for the "The Lemon Song" tease - "No Quarter" -- longest ever at 34 minutes, and it has a really great and unique piano solo from Jones which stays appropriately dark, a great boogie section and an awesome jam that keeps a bit more of a flow than the equally awesome 21st and 23rd versions do - "Kashmir" - "Over The Hills And Far Away" -- one of Page's best solos on it at the very least - "Noise Solo" - "Achilles Last Stand" -- I'm adamant about this one being THE best. Super tight with amazing solos from Page in spite of the ridiculous tempo. They recover from his broken string with him switching to the deluxe Les Paul quickly enough for it to not detract from the performance and I love the unique intro - "Stairway To Heaven" -- great version by all of the usual measures, but also because Plant echoes the word "laughter" instead of singing some variation of "Does anybody remember laughter?" AND Page skips the extra bar on the 12-string, jumping straight into the solo after the fanfare 2. June 21 - Los Angeles -- Legendary for a reason -- one of Bonham's best shows of their career and the others aren't far behind him. Palpable excitement on their part and the crowd's at their being back in LA bubbles over with the explosive opening of a potential best ever "The Song Remains The Same" and it spills over into the rest of the show. One of the most powerful versions of "No Quarter" with Bonham taking the reins in the mid-section, a crushing climax to the jam and a violent outro with one of Bonham's most impressive fills towards the end -- the one where he strings three fast ones together. He does it again on the 22nd and a few other times, but you can obviously hear it most clearly with the sound quality of the 21st. 3. June 13 - New York -- This one has always been a personal favourite. I recall a few years back someone on here posted about five '77 shows that each symbolized a different aspect of Zepp's greatness, and they chose this one as being emblematic of their bravado, which I think is quite accurate. Very confident, energetic and powerful from start to finish. The opening 1-2-3 are tight and explosive. "Over The Hills And Far Away" sees Plant almost reaching the original melody in the choruses and Page playing an awesome and very spacey solo. "Since I've Been Loving You" is one of the best of '77 at the very least. "No Quarter" is a bit shorter than some of the other epics from June at 27 minutes and change, but is fantastic nonetheless. Energetic mid-section with great chemistry and I love Jones' hinting at "Chim Chim Cher-ee" as he's winding down the jam. One of the best and perhaps my personal favourite "Ten Years Gone." Very strong acoustic set. Nice "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" with some "Midnight Moonlight" thrown in once Page's guitar is re-tuned after the drop. Epic "Kashmir" with Plant especially singing extremely powerfully -- reaches 10 minutes, but isn't plodding at all...just an awesome, extended outro. Really good "Over The Top," too bad it's cut. I think my favourite "Noise Solo" -- amazing theremin section. Brutally heavy "Achilles Last Stand." The biggest screw-up of the night, which you have to deduct points for, is Bonham entering a verse early during an otherwise great "Stairway To Heaven." Unique for the "Whole Lotta Love" > "Black Dog" encore, and I think they play "Black Dog" pretty well. 4. June 26 - Los Angeles -- Quite possibly the absolute tightest, most technically proficient of the year -- if I'm not mistaken, it's the only show from any year that has received straight-A's under @gibsonfan159's microscope, which I realize is focused primarily on Page, but still. Love the way Jones wraps up the boogie section in "No Quarter" with a nice, hymnal vibe. Long mid-section with a very nice, thoughtful build to a great climax. Third-longest at 32:30ish. Strong acoustic set. One of the best "Noise Solo"'s, even at 22 minutes -- very smooth and focused. Third-longest "Stairway To Heaven," and a great one at that. I much prefer "It'll Be Me" to the bastardized "Whole Lotta Love" into "Rock And Roll" for the encore. 5. June 23 - Los Angeles -- Some will say I'm being blasphemous, but hear me out. I think you could most certainly argue that it has the highest peaks of any '77 show -- potential best-ever versions of "No Quarter" and "Ten Years Gone," a fantastic "Stairway To Heaven" with Plant in very strong voice leading into the pre-solo fanfare and Page playing a very emotional solo with brilliant phrasing, very strong versions of "Sick Again," "Since I've Been Loving You" and several others as well. I also think it has lower valleys than the four above it (and potentially a few below it, but the peaks outweigh that) -- most notably the screw-up in "Kashmir," but it also has a so-so acoustic set IMO (I don't think the party vibe was as well suited to that part of the show) and the equipment issues in "The Song Remains The Same" and "Trampled Under Foot," while not their fault, detract from the listening experience a bit nonetheless. Additionally, I think this show's "Achilles Last Stand" is a tad sloppy compared to some others that are equally energetic and powerful, and Keith Moon's presence, while historically significant and no doubt very cool person, doesn't really add anything musically. I suspect they hardly ever had guests for the same reason that the best chefs use surprisingly few ingredients -- all you need are really high quality ingredients with plenty of space in the palette (or soundscape) to shine. 6. April 30 - Pontiac -- The tempos sound a bit more deliberate this show, which I've always considered to be the most compelling "evidence" for it having been filmed/recorded -- knowing that they only had one show at the venue to get it right, they figured they'd take it just a hair slower to be sure everything was nice and clean. Wishful thinking at least. Anyway, combined with the echo of the venue which shines through on the recording, it sounds absolutely massive, like Page's riffs are being carved out of granite. One of his best shows of the year. I've always really liked this version of "Achilles Last Stand" -- it's the live version that sounds most like the studio version to me, in a good way. 7. May 22 - Fort Worth -- I expect I'll take some heat for having this above the three below it, but that's ok. Similar to the '75 Fort Worth show, what it might lack a bit in tightness/Page being at his most fluid, it more than makes up for with energy and Bonham playing like a mad man as he always seemed to in Fort Worth and Texas in general -- having cattle of his own back home in England, I'm sure he loved the Stockyards and the daily cattle drive. This one is just fresh and fun to listen to. Yes, you have to detract points for how long it takes Page to get back on track after Bonham throws in a bit of "The Crunge" during an otherwise excellent "In My Time Of Dying," but I always find it more funny than anything. Probably the best "Over The Top" of the tour -- 28 glorious minutes. Thunderous "Achilles Last Stand," one of the best on Bonham's part at least. Bonham's stuttering intro to "Rock And Roll" is unique, and this show gets a big boost for "It'll Be Me" with Mick Ralphs -- a guest appearance that does add a little something musically, like Ronnie Wood in Nassau in 1975. 8. June 25 - Los Angeles -- Strong showing from Page with fantastic versions of "Since I've Been Loving You" and "Stairway To Heaven," a potential best-ever "Kashmir," a really good "Trampled Under Foot" and the only "Communication Breakdown" of '77 -- a good one at that -- BUT it's a bit of an off night for Bonham apart from "Kashmir" and the longest "Over The Top" of the LA shows, though not the best. I admit this could be my bias as a drummer using his play as a tie-breaker more than Page's. This show also has the weakest "No Quarter" of the LA shows IMO. It's not bad by any stretch, it's just that the other five are ridiculously good. 9. June 10 - New York -- I could be underrating this one. I'll admit, there's just something about the recording that I find a bit distracting, which is weird because I'm sure there are "technically worse" ones that I find less so. Performance-wise it's no doubt a very strong night, with '77 debuts of "Over The Hills And Far Away" and "Heartbreaker," both of which are played quite well. "No Quarter" is interesting with Jones switching back to the electric piano partway through the jam as he does on 3/25/75, but there are several better versions from June '77 -- NQ in June '77 is one of the best months of their career for any song IMO. Good "Noise Solo" with an explosive entrance to "Achilles Last Stand." 10. April 28 - Cleveland -- I could also be underrating this one. It's a shame there's such a sizeable cut in what is otherwise a fantastic and very interesting "No Quarter." Really great "Since I've Been Loving You," love the "Surrender" tease between songs, and an awesome, dark "Achilles Last Stand." This is another one where something about the recording, plus the frequent cuts between songs, makes for a slightly distracting listening experience. What a joy it would be to have soundboards of every show someday to make a true "apples to apples" comparison. 11. June 27 - Los Angeles -- Definitely has that "last night" vibe where Page is stretching every single song every which way, albeit less successfully than this show's most similar counterpart, 3/27/75. I really like the little prologue he adds to the intro in "Over The Hills And Far Away." "No Quarter" is fantastic and the second-longest ever at 33:30ish. Best acoustic set of the year and one of the best of their career. Pretty cool "Trampled Under Foot" for '77. Bonham's erratic playing is very distracting on "Achilles Last Stand," bordering on derailing the song IMO, which Plant alludes to after: "Was that Keith Bonham on the drums there?" 12. June 11 - New York -- The muffled recording that takes over from "Kashmir" to the end makes it hard to judge the latter third of the show, but I quite enjoy the part before that. Great "In My Time Of Dying," cool to have "Heartbreaker" as the encore, but the highlight for me has always been "No Quarter." Fourth-longest ever at 31:45ish and one of my favourites. Jones plays one of his best and most elaborate piano solos and the interplay between the three of them in the jam is intricate and complex. 13. May 30 - Landover -- I'll be honest, we had to put my dog down unexpectedly on May 30 this year, so I was pretty distracted listening to this one and my memory of it is fuzzy right now, but IIRC it's an overall tight and good show with a good "No Quarter," especially from Jones, and a very good "Achilles Last Stand." 14. June 14 - New York -- Would no doubt be a bit higher if the recording didn't end two thirds of the way through. What we do have is quite good, but clearly a notch below the previous night IMO. Cool "No Quarter" and a nice acoustic set. 15. June 8 - New York -- The rough recording makes it tough to judge, but I suspect a better recording would reveal that I have it a bit too low. Sounds like Bonham was feeling it. 16. June 7 - New York -- @SteveZ98's North Bridge Remaster I heard recently really shone this show in a new light. I've had Magical Sound Boogie for several years and it had be thinking this was a very mediocre show. The remaster now has me thinking it's a good, not great show. Bonham is very lively in the jam section of "No Quarter" and the acoustic set is nice, plus the humorous "Rawhide" tease. 17. May 18 - Birmingham -- This would have been ahead of June 7 before I heard the remaster, and it's possible it still should be. This is no doubt a good show, but I'm not so sure it's a great show. I think the recording might actually do this one some favours. It does have a really good "Since I've Been Loving You" and a very powerful "The Rover" intro. Definitely a good choice for someone with decent bootleg ears who wants a more concise '77 show. 18. July 17 - Seattle -- It's certainly a shame that this is the '77 show most uninitiated YouTube browsers stumble upon, but it also doesn't deserve all of the hate it gets IMO. @Strider wrote a great, detailed reappraisal of it a few years ago based off of Godfather's Conquering Kingdome, which is the title I have. It makes the video soundtrack sound about as good as it can, as does @SteveZ98's North Bridge Remaster of the video. I find Plant's especially hoarse voice more distracting than Page's issues. I always liked this version of "No Quarter" -- Jones does some cool stuff. The "Stairway To Heaven" solo is deservedly praised, and the "Noise Solo" doesn't suffer at all from the axing of the "cat screeching" section! Bonham is definitely the star of the show though and plays a great, retrospective "Over The Top" for what turned out to be his final solo -- even throws in some of "Bonzo's Montreux"! 19. May 21 - Houston -- Another where Bonham is the star of the show. Somewhat forgettable other than him though, other than a really good "Since I've Been Loving You." I love how he yells "Pick it up!" after "The Song Remains The Same." Too bad they didn't oblige his repeated requests for "Over The Hills And Far Away"... 20. April 10 - Chicago -- Extremely rough recording obscures what sounds like a strong performance. I really want it to be as good as we think it is, but I think the recording is too rough to assume and put it too high until the soundboard surfaces someday.

I think so too. It's to 1977 what 3/4 is to 1975.

I think it's better than the much ballyhooed first night in Cleveland. Bonham is on fire at the very least. The following night in Ft. Worth is much better though IMO.

^Precedes one of my favourite Plantations/introductions of "Moby Dick": "Well, that was a thing called 'Trampled Under Foot'...and now we'd like to feature a man with athlete's foot" 🤣

Thanks Sam! The part we're looking for starts at 2:01:15 in the interview, but then she plays "Start Me Up" in its entirety, so really 2:04:20.

July 21, 1973 - Providence -- My favourite show of '73. Plant sounds great and the others are on fire all the way through. Best of the short NQ's, fantastic versions of SIBLY, Dazed, Stairway, Heartbreaker, perhaps the best version of The Ocean. Very high on my soundboard wish list, not only for the sound quality, but to fill in the cuts as well.

Without a doubt. June 22 is my favourite '77 show. It's a real shame that the source for NQ is so distant and hissy.

I listened to 7/19/70 Berlin for the first time yesterday since it was the 50th anniversary...great show, but what a cool, unique version of "Moby Dick"! I've never heard Bonham approach it the way he does for the first minute or two of the solo on this version. Much jazzier than usual, with the cymbals much more involved...I'd like to hear Ginger Baker make his snide remarks about Bonzo's lack of swing after listening to this one.

It would be nice to have a soundboard of one of the better January shows to help us judge better, but I agree. That Minneapolis soundboard tease in February was very tantalizing. I wish they had done that with the setlist as well, and I've always wished they would've played "Custard Pie" in '75. It would have made for a much better opener than poor Robert croaking his way through "Rock And Roll" most nights, especially for the second leg once Physical Graffiti was in the shops...

July 20, 1973 - Boston -- One of my favourites of 1973. It's a shame that the uncooperative crowd forced them to cut the setlist back, because they're playing with the intensity of the German shows in March. Although it's possible that their frustrations with the crowd contributed to the performance -- it does sound like angry good playing in a lot of spots. "No Quarter" is extremely powerful -- it really takes a step forward on the second leg IMO, not that I dislike the May-June versions at all. Amazing versions of Dazed and Stairway as well.

Correct, it just so happened that the 1975 setlist synced up well with the length of the tapes. The first flip is between "Kashmir" and "No Quarter," which worked out to be just under an hour into the show most nights -- check the second night in Vancouver and you'll clearly hear a truncated Plantation introducing NQ. The second flip would then occur between "Moby Dick" and "Dazed And Confused." The numbers get a bit trickier for that third side especially later in March when Dazed was consistently over 35 minutes and the encores were getting longer. I'm pretty sure on the second night in Seattle there is a flip between Dazed and Stairway, which makes sense with the addition of SIBLY on top of the longer NQ's by this point in the tour -- plus a 26-minute "Moby Dick" and a 40-minute Dazed. In fact, I seem to remember there being a flip during MD, so "side 3" is just 2/3 of MD and Dazed. It would be interesting to hear where the flips are on the March 27 board when it finally surfaces. SIBLY, NQ & TUF are over 50 min together, so they presumably flipped before MD, but that wouldn't last through Dazed.

Sounds great! Can't wait to hear the rest! I love that version of "Communication Breakdown" too...

Isn't "Black Dog" rumoured for Greensboro as well?

Hi there, I just saw your original question...I most definitely would not start with Destroyer. The sound quality is great, but the performance is average. Here are four much better choices, one each from 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1977. 1972 only has the very partial soundboard from Long Beach.