I don't think I could pick just one. To start I would have to choose one from each year 73, 75, and 77. Even then I do not think I could choose just one. So many amazing versions.

I certainly hope that the full Osaka 71 show is released, the one for which Black Dog was posted on YouTube last year as a teaser. Having a great 71 soundboard would be excellent.

On the back cover of the Fairport Live album from that show it says that Led Zeppelin stopped by to "destroy" a few numbers. HA ! That Fairport album is amazing, except it was from after Sandy Denny left the band, so it is missing her amazing vocals, which were always my favorite thing about Fairport. Still that Fairport live album "House Full" is excellent.

So far my favorite thing is the bass sound, especially in the Crunge and the theramin jam section.

The whole show was posted on YouTube today. My favorite part so far is the fantastic bass sound. So great especially in the Crunge through the thermain section. Just amazing.

I always loved this track. It is the kind of track that makes Zeppelin, well, Zeppelin.

Someone posted an upgrade of this great 1975 video from Don Kirshner's Rock Concert on TV. Bands played live on the show. Two great songs here - great performances. Dig the twin lead guitars in the first song "Down the Road"

Great article and a fantastic description of what make's Page's playing and vision so unique. Any one who wants to argue that Page is not a "great" guitar player should read these few lines and really listen. I have never come across anyone else who has the breadth and vision of Page. He incorporates so many kinds of riffs, rhythms, and fills in his solos. He works with the rest of the band in the solos. His is truly a unique style. I could also substitute the names of many other guitarists in the sentences above for Beck and Clapton and make the same point.

Well it was 44 years ago this week that they finished up a fantastic tour.

Thanks for the reminder about Vancouver 1975. I went back and listened to both shows. Incredible !!

The music starts at about 1:42 into this clip. Takes me back to when I saw Stevie all those times in the 80s, one time when he opened for Robert Plant May 15, 1988 at the Hartford Civic Center.

Inspired by your post I am listening to it now. Another thing that stands out is the excellent sound of the piano in No Quarter. Crystal clear and so strong. Fantastic ! The piano/drums jam is special. Then when Jimmy enters it goes to a whole different level.

Yes indeed, that 3/17/75 show is great. The drum and bass sounds are fantastic, and the No Quarter jam is sublime.

Given how bad and historically inaccurate that stupid show is I would say odds are it is made up for the show. Besides, just look at it.

Strider - thanks for recommending this show. I had never listened to it much. Maybe the association was just too sad - last show ever in the US. I found this version on YouTube. I had not been aware how No Quarter was more of a 1975 type version. Very interesting. This version is much better than some tapes I sampled many years ago.

Yes such a great recording. Don't know what happened in the second half of the show but it is not nearly as good a recording as the first half. I was at the show and I am so glad I found this version. For years all I had was the soundboard snippet (great but did not really capture the atmosphere the way this version does) and some very poor audience tapes. You are so right about the opening - the first four songs are so intense.

The brief guitar string bending intro to Heartbreaker in 1970, as at Royal Albert Hall January 9.

One of my favorite Steppenwolf tracks. Never got the airplay it deserved.

As with every Zeppelin album, Presence has a mix perfectly suited to the material. Every Zep album is very different in music and sound. They are all superb. Presence blew me away when it was released (I was 16 going on 17) and it still does. So intense in every way. I can still recall the first time I dropped the needle on Achilles and thinking "how are they going to play this live? Will they ever play it live?" The mix and sound of Achilles are very different from Hots On, Nobody's Fault, and For Your Life. All absolute monsters. And as noted above, Tea for One has a wonderful hazy sound. It always reminds me of a hot, humid summer.

superb! Thanks for sharing.

What confuses me is that on Jimmy's website he lists the last Yardbirds US date as Nov 1967 and the last ever date as in March 1968.

You have seen this footage?