For me, In My Time of Dying is essential listening live, all the way through, from both 1975 and 1977. In 1977 there is a whole different feel with the Alembic bass. It really brings out what Jones is doing. It is so cool the way he slides and bends the strings at the same time. It is also a song that does not suffer much from Robert's 1975 voice. What do I skip? Any White Summer from 1977 or 1980. And the 1977 "guitar solo".

The studio Stairway solo pales in comparison to the Song Remains the Same movie version. Jimmy's studio solos are usually only the beginning of what we would create live. And sometimes live he came up with stuff not even hinted at in the studio - for example, Immigrant Song and Celebration Day. Another amazing live solo is No Quarter from the movie. So much better than the studio version. The studio version is merely the kernal of an idea which would later blossom live. My favorite Page solo (there is not really a way to determine "best") is still Danish TV How Many More Times. I have not found another version I like as much. There is something about the phrasing, the tone, the way he attacks it, the fluency, and the feeling. As far as Comfortably Numb, I much prefer Gilmour's solos on Echoes from Live at Pompeii and Shine On You Crazy Diamond Parts 5 - 9.

Check out the bass on this version of Toronto 1971. And dig the spot around 3:47 when it is just bass and drums for a few seconds. And after the song one of the great Plantations.

I thought it would be interesting to see what other rock albums were released the same time as each LZ album, to get a sense of the music scene and the "competition" at the time. I wanted to go back and see which album had the best company around its release. So let's look I January 1969 Beatles White album (Nov 1968), Goodbye (Cream) Feb 1969 II October 1969 Abbey Road (Sept 1969), In the Court of the Crimson King (Oct 1969), Pink Floyd Umma Gumma (Nov 1969), Rolling Stones Let it Bleed (Dec 1969) III October 1970 Santana Abraxas (Sept 1970), Pink Floyd -Atom Heart Mother (Oct 1970), Layla - Derek and the Dominoes (Nov 1970) IV November 1971 Pink Floyd - Meddle , Yes - Fragile (both Nov 1971) - that is one amazing month in rock history right there! And also Madman Across the Water by Elton Houses March 1973 Dark Side of the Moon (yikes- the same month at Houses - think about that !!), Aerosmith first album (January 1973) Graffiti February 1975 Rush - Fly by Night, Kansas- Song for America (both Feb 1975), Yes -Relayer (Nov 1974), Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith (April 1975) Presence March 1976 Heart- Dreamboat Annie (Feb 1976), Rush 2112 (April 1976), Aerosmith - Rocks , Jeff Beck - Wired, and Agents of Fortune - BOC) - all May 1976 (not a bad month on its own) TSRTS September 1976 Kansas - Leftoverture (Oct 1976) Out Door August 1979 Talking Heads - Fear of Music (Aug 1979), The Eagles - The Long Run (Sept 1979), Pink Floyd - The Wall (Nov 1979) My take is that LZ IV (Fragile, Meddle) and Houses (Dark Side of the Moon) had the strongest company around their release. What do you think? What other major albums by other bands am I missing from these months? LZ I had the White Album and the last Cream album to contend with. and LZ II had Abbey Road among others.

Tea for One. I consider it one of their best ever. An amazing feel to it, so much emotion. It was always overshadowed by SIBLY, which has vintage primal Plant, but I think if Tea For One had been played on the 1977 tour it would have become more of a fan favorite.

After thinking about this a bit more I would say Ramble On. It has quiet/loud, acoustic/electric, wonderful singing and melody and a great vibe, all in one track.

The list is missing THE heaviest Zep song ever: FOR YOUR LIFE

I think it would depend on what kinds of music they like.

Thanks. That is a fantastic opening. What is so cool is that it is related to the Japan opening but different - you can hear the evolution and development over just a few weeks.

Blue-Eyed Merle, Thank you for the suggestions. They are all fabulous. I listened to two Hampton versions, one with the totally overloaded bass which is FANTASTIC. The bass is also very prominent in the 9-23-71 Tokyo. All three are kickass as you said. Eye Thank Yew! It really is a different song in 1971. Very different guitar stylings, pointing toward the song TSRTS. Another great treat is the opening for Osaka and Tokyo 9-24 with the very clean and staccato chords to start.

Listen to this Eddie 6/21/77. Plant in particular is magnificent.

I don't recall the show but in 1975 at one show someone right near the taper said as Sick Again started something about how this must be a new song. He sounded bored or uninterested.

I have two questions. Right before they start that wonderful intro (the one Luis Rey tagged as "spastic" (in a good way)), Plant says "That's not good." I cannot figure out what he is referring to. Anyone know? Second, did they ever play an intro like this at any other show? It is such a cool groove. I think it is better than the old Rice Pudding intro to Heartbreaker, which as amazing itself.

HTTWWW has more energy. Just compare the two versions of Rock and Roll. HTWWW blows away the version from TSRTS. I leave it to Jimmy - he said in the liner notes that HTWWW was Led Zeppelin at its best. Both albums have great songs that the other one does not, so it would be difficult to choose on that basis. It was a revelation to me to hear HTWWW when it was released, since I grew up with the original TSRTS and had the entire set memorized. Of course the remastered and expanded TSRTS is magnificent.

I used to prefer the 73 (New York, Fort Worth) versions but recently went back to 1971 and was reminded of these two incredible versions. They are both amazing. So glad to hear Jones up in the mix. And both have very extended jams at the end. So my two choices at the moment are Osaka 9-29-71 Toronto 9-4-71 What are some other great versions I should check out?