I take it you're judging his vocals by his range? Yes, Plant had a completely different range after 72. But in 73 and 75 he struggled not only with range, but with constant throat problems which caused him to sound hoarse for the first three numbers. In 77 he was at least able to gain control back and sing with confidence. As for Page, he never truly hit 73 level, but there are a few moments in 77 where he played very close on a technical level. "Even the best nights had Jimmy in sloppy mode". I gotta strongly disagree with that and I'm super critical of Page. Maybe 75, but he regained some control of his syncopation in 77 and had better phrasing. 75 Page is an articulation disaster.

To enjoy Southampton you have to put the show in perspective and appreciate it for what it is- an average show by the biggest rock group in the world, played in a very small venue. As for atmosphere, I think the solemn audience creates a very intimate, right in front of you vibe. It's like they're playing a private show in your basement for you and your friends . Would it have been awesome to have a spectacular performance for this recording? Absolutely. But then again it's a unique moment in time. There is no masking, no excessive production, no splicing, no multitracking. It's 100% raw. And it's still better than most other live albums.

It sounds awesome on soundboard, especially the lirio remaster. A truly underrated version with Page almost flawless.

I completely agree on an "experience" standpoint, but when dissecting someone's technical ability it's better to have a dry, unmasked source. Page really was sloppy on Ft. Worth even compared to other dry soundboards.

Don't get me wrong, he knocks down some impressive runs, but waay too much repetition. The first eight measures are repeated phrases. Whereas in 77 he'd at least improvise some good noodling throughout. 8:36 and on he gets a little sticky. Those staccato chords are played poorly. Also take into account that mix sounds much better. Although the technical ability between 75 and 77 is close, I think in 77 he did get his phrasing ability out of the ditch.

Both sound equally dreadful to me. But here's what's funny; I checked my nitpick of ft worth and gave it rave reviews. But..I used the liriodendron remaster which sounds so phenomenal that it masks a lot of the bad articulation. Even the dry EV version I have sounds better than the link you shared. Kinda makes you wonder if those audience sources like 4/28 or 6/21 are really that good. Also makes me wanna redo the nitpick with a more realistic source as I was obviously deceived.

That stretch of shows (Detroit, Providence, and Baltimore) are some of the best ever. Page was untouchable here.

Any other photos of this session? Is this the only cliche "running through a field" shot there is of the group?

Which one?

A thread for all the spare bedrooms dedicated to Zep. Mine is coming along nicely, still a few things I need to even the walls out.

The NY shows are some of the best of 77, they just get skipped because of the sound quality. The 8th requires serious bootleg ears. Robert's voice sounds very strong on most nights and there's good energy, but Page is hit and miss (as usual). I'd personally rate the shows from best to worst as; 1. 6/10 2. 6/13 3. 6/14 4. 6/8 (I've only skimmed through this one, but it doesn't sound too bad) 5. 6/11 (Jimmy is struggling, but the others are good) 6. 6/7 (Robert sounds amazing, but there's some nerves showing on the first half)

Yeah, I'm gonna have to have this. How much does it go for?

They found ice on Mars. If they find even a microbe within the ice, it would technically be life beyond our planet. That's gonna send a lot of religious folks into a fit trying to explain how Noah's ark got there. It's only logical to assume there is life in another solar system somewhere. But the lack of communication is intriguing. Either the other life forms haven't advanced enough to reach us, or they don't bother.

No, I understand what you're saying. Achilles from the 24th certainly thunders along like a freight train and has excellent energy. My rating was strictly influenced by Page's solos, where I've heard better from him on this track. Such a shame he didn't nail this to complete the ultimate performance.

Nitpicking Page 7/24/1977 Copenhagen (The Complete Warmups- EVSD) A decent audience source that requires some mild bootleg ears, but sounds great on some tracks. This is widely regarded as one of the best post-73 Jimmy Page performances, so let's have a nitpick. TSRTS- Good energy on the kickoff. Plant still sounding just slightly hoarse. First solo- A soundboard just might expose some inarticulate picking, but this audience source sounds simply astounding. Outro solo- sounding good. No reason not to give this an "A+". Celebration Day- Furious pace. First solo- solid. Outro solo- Everything about this screams "1973". Very good. "A+". Black Dog- 1:36, Plant goes for the stratosphere, obviously aided by vocal effects, but good either way. Solo- Pretty good routine. I didn't care for Page's thinner guitar tone tonight, but it's a high end performance. "A". NFBM- Not even stopping to chat or catch their breath. Page obviously has a bone to pick with tonight's audience. Good, driving tempo. 1:13, slight off note. Harmonica- Better than the previous night. Solo- One of the best I've heard. Unreal. "A+". OTHAFA- Again, no chit chat and straight to the next one. Speedy intro, played perfectly. Solid verses. Solo- I'm having a hard time telling myself this isn't 1973. The articulation, and above all, the phrasing, is better than anything I've heard from 75 or 77. Somehow after 6 years he's tapped back into the coherency he had at the tail end of the 73 tour. Just complete control over the fretboard and unbound confidence. The solo is a perfect combo of 73 ability and the 77 flight through the galaxy phrasing. Solid ending. "A++". MMH- Good verses and a frantic tempo. Solo- Definitely makes up for the previous night. 3:24-3:27, a little hard to hear, but listen to these arpeggiated trills Page throws in like it's nothing. "A+". SIBLY- Plant finally gets a chance to introduce a song. Like the previous night, the song comes in and flows in a very different, strange manner. Plant sounds alright, but his lyrics are rushed and emotionless just like in 77. Solo- A steady stream of boisterous blues runs, very heavy on accented bends. 6:53, weird sounding note. 7:29, slight flub. I know the band is constantly evolving their songs and sound, but after 75 they turned this one from a gloomy tale of heartbreak into a screaming, angry guitar blazer. This is different, but it's fairly solid with a couple mistakes. "B+". No Quarter- Decent start and excellent audio quality now. Nitpicking Jones- 3:03, is that "Right Here, Right Now"? The piano routine is a little lackluster and the crowd shouting doesn't help. A very short jam before the solo. Solo- 5:17-5:30, no turkey gobbling here as Page rips some blazingly fast and articulate runs. I still can't wrap my head around how this version of Page came back from the dead. 5:53-5:58, mimicking his own improvised runs on different octaves. This entire solo is phrasing heaven, and executed flawlessly. The fast runs, the monstrous bends, all done to perfection. Don't miss that drum fill at 6:29. The return is good and Page gets in the usual wah licks at the end, phrased nicely. Plant acknowledges Jones at the end lol. Did he not just hear Page lay down the law? A little torn on this version- it's quite possibly the best solo I've ever heard from Jimmy..ever. Like, at any time ever. Easily beats the soundtrack version in my opinion, and I worship that version. But, Jones was extremely lackluster and Plant's voice still isn't on a 77 level. I'll still go "A". Ten Years Gone- Good intro, audio gets a little more distant. First solo (2:30)- Excellent phrasing. 3:05, awesome pedal steel bends. 3:08, slight flub. Second solo (3:30)- Flawless. Third solo (5:40)- Awesome. Outro- Again, perfection. 6:53, the bass finally kicks in. Bonham could've been more lively, but still an "A+". Hot Dog- Good intro, solid verses. Solo- Well then, listen to those bends. Jesus. 2:25, it's hard to make out, but he's doing some very nifty hybrid picking, which sounds like two guitars at once. He completely fudged this part the previous night. This performance has the mood and atmosphere that the studio version is lacking. As a matter of fact, this should've been the studio version. Raucous, energetic, and fun- you can almost hear a barstool breaking over someone's head and beer glasses clacking. "A+". (3:33, Page throws in a couple more country licks) Rain Song- 1:33, I think Page is rushing it a little. The rock section sounds fantastic, good emotion. A little sticky at 7:30. Played flawlessly, but it's lacking that relaxed feeling it usually invokes. "B+". White Summer/Black Mountainside- 0:42, literally looked out the window to see who was banging on the door. Phrased a little spastically on the first part, but once he gets going he really goes. Bonham accenting everything perfectly. BMS is a little sticky fingered. "B". Kashmir- Plant's voice just lacks power here, but its a solid performance albeit a keyboard heavy one. 6:33-6:38, Jones starts playing with his face (too much wine behind the amps). Maybe it's just this version, but this song doesn't have the same majestic impact it did in 75 and 77. "B". Trampled Underfoot- Good energy out of the gate. Jones lays down some funky riffs for his solo, though the last few phrases sound off. Guitar solo- Page enters like a thunderstorm rolling in, skies turning black. Listen to that tone. Excellently phrased, full of moody atmosphere. Page sounds like the wise adult in a room full of high schoolers trying to act cool, creating a brooding soundscape that seems to tease the bouncy, joyful song with a threat of doom. "A". Sick Again- Page misses the opening chord by just a hair. Devastatingly heavy verses. 0:41, some nice improv riffing. First solo- Very good runs with solid articulation. Outro solo- Erratic as usual, but fairly good. Just to re-calibrate my mindset, I went back and listened to the versions from 3/12/75, 5/18/75, 5/25/75, and LA 77. Though he played fluently on those, I still don't think he had the control he has tonight. He's at least on par with all those performances. "A". Achilles Last Stand- Good energetic start. First solo (3:33)- Good off the bat, but some of the bends sound strained. 4:17, one of the fastest runs I've heard by Page. 4:24-4:34 sounds quite dreadful. Second solo (5:11)- Solid. Third solo (6:25)- Some looseness, but ok. Fourth solo (7:39)- Not great. Ending is a little awkward. Well, apart from WS/BMS this is the only subpar performance by Page so far tonight. Hope this show doesn't go downhill from here, that would be a travesty. "B". Guitar solo- The crowd interacts enthusiastically to the bow section. Bonham gets a good intro going for the next track. In The Evening- Good balance between synths and guitar. Bonham is really shining on this. Guitar solo- very nice. The breakdown sounds less awkward tonight as Page matches the melancholy mood. Outro solo has some vicious bends and whammy dives. Kick ass version. "A". Stairway To Heaven- Basically an encore tonight. 0:25, mellotron troubles (or whatever he's using now). The song moves with much more confidence on the uptempo part. Solo- 5:50, Page wastes no time changing the phrasing up. The staccato chording sounds good. Final bars are played fairly well. I just can't get used to this shortened solo as I keep waiting for the slower part where Page does his best work. And it's a shame they played a shortened version tonight, of all. "B+", held back by the mellotwonk. WLL- Good swagger on the intro. Page knocks down an excellent solo and goes into the Willie Dixon version of the song. Some of the chording is loose, but it's full of attitude. Plant hits the high note out of the park for a nice return. "A". Final Assessment- I'm at a loss for words, confused, bewildered, and humbled all at once. To say this is the best Jimmy Page since 1973 would be a lie- it's honestly the best Jimmy Page I've ever heard, any year. The level he's playing on tonight is unfathomable considering how he's been struggling for the previous six years. Even on his best nights in 75 and 77 he still didn't have his previous mastery over the fretboard. This night he hit the next level, like he had been improving since 73. This truly is a landmark performance by Page and those who were in the audience witnessed lightning in a bottle. One has to ask, is this simply just a sober Page? It's illogical to give credit to drugs considering he'd been on that road for years at this point. So, is it a complete lack of chemical influence that allowed his brain to function at 100% this night? It's bittersweet in a way, because it makes you wonder what kind of ground they could've laid if Page had been like this since 73. A soundboard of this could really reveal a lot.

Well, Walmart is pushing those 1977 tour tees like it's nobody's business. I used to like them until everyone was wearing them.

That's the legendary reverse Strat with a diamond headstock. Very rare.

It's in the top five for Jimmy Page performances for 77. He was doing some impressive stuff that night.

On the subject of marketing, Zep's team are one of the worst I've seen, and I'm not just playing Negative Nancy here. When it comes to merchandise (shirts, posters, etc) Led Zeppelin has some of the most limited and least appealing ever. And this is an extremely marketable group who still has high demand from fans. Why is no one going after this money? I've been browsing posters for weeks to go in my Zep cave and can't find anything beyond the same 7 or 8 posters that pop up everywhere. Believe it or not, the best designed posters I've seen are from the 70s and early 80s. Most of the interesting merchandise today is made by third parties. What's wrong with this picture? Is there licensing issues? Is Percy refusing to cooperate on posters as well?

Just a suggestion, but they did change the name from Killing Floor for some strange reason. Not too crazy to think they changed the tempo to make it sound at least more original. The live versions did go a tad faster for whatever reason.

1969- 4/26 San Fran. A matching soundboard for the following night would be an excellent package for 1969. 1970- 9/19 NY. Legendary show. 1971- 5/3 Copenhagen. Four Sticks and Gallows Pole. Plant's voice is lethal here. 1972- 6/19 Seattle. A sister version of HTWWW, with Louie Louie. 1973- 7/21 Providence, RI. Page on another level. Plant doesn't sound half bad for 73. 1975- 5/18 Earls Court. The best Page out of the set. 1977- 4/28 Cleveland. A top 3 1977 show, with a very coherent Page.

We'll, I did say it had "tremendous energy" lol. I think this show is comparable to a lot of 1975 performances, where it takes Robert a few songs to get warmed up, and Page a few songs to start making mistakes. Not a bad show by any means, but doesn't it feel like something is missing on the last half? I suppose a two year break will do that. Also new technology on stage giving everything a different sound.

Nitpicking Page 7/23/1979 Copenhagen (EVSD- Complete Warm ups) This is a very good sounding audience source with the guitar just a little low in the mix. Plant's voice is pretty dreadful here, so my ratings are taking that into account. TSRTS- Tremendous energy. 1:01, minor chord flub. First solo- Articulation is a little hard to make out, but his fingers are definitely moving fast. Second solo is impossible to make out, but sounds about average. Plant sounds like he's in need of medical attention near the end. "B+" if disregarding the vocals. Celebration Day- Good start. First solo- solid as a rock. Outro solo- Flying fingers put down an awesome series of runs. Very good despite Plant's struggles. "A". Black Dog- Plant smoothing out a little. Solid first half with good energy. 3:37, Plant let's the crowd attempt the high note. Solo- Erratic in all the right ways. Page unleashes every phrase and bend in the book with fairly good articulation and energy. I'd rate this solo over the soundtrack version. "A+", despite the rough vocals. NFBM- Plant sounds a little tone deaf on the intro. Massive guitar tone. Harmonica- Starts nice but runs out of steam quickly. Guitar solo- Good start. 4:59, some awkward phrasing. Not bad at all. 6:08, a little out of sync on the ending. "B". OTHAFA- Good tempo on a flawless intro. First verses hit hard and sound good. Guitar solo- Low octave noodling is phrased well, articulation is fair. 4:05, Page isn't hesitating to shred tonight. 4:17, some unique riffs. Not a bad solo, just more surreal than usual. The return is solid and the song winds down nicely. "B+", considering some looseness. MMH- Moving right along with a frantic tempo. Makes me wonder if this boot is running the correct speed. Decent verses. 2:27, Page is off the track. Solo- Barely hanging on. 4:14, yikes. This song should have been played at half speed instead of faster. "C". SIBLY- A lethargic intro with Page not really letting loose, which is surprising considering how he's played so far. 3:24, some atonal notes. Solo- Different, but not bad. Very laid back and flowing smoothly. 4:35, ouch. 5:45-6:00, a strong finish. The most unique version I've heard. Poor Plant was trying but he was basically irrelevant. Some flubs keep this at a "B". No Quarter- Good start. Nitpicking Jones- A different approach as there is no segue from organ to piano. A decent routine, but it's one of those that sounds like he's just running through whatever he knows. Nevertheless, it flows quite well. Bonzo comes in for a very nice pre-solo jam (ala 1973 versions). Solo- 7:23, some very impressive fluid runs. Page is really feeling it here, keeping a fluid stream of notes flowing. 8:52, these nice little bends with heavy vibrato are a nice touch. 9:11, some unique phrasing, very cool. 10:44, "slooow". 12:18, Page's wah section on the outro is phrased nicely, starting slow and building into a climax for the dogs of doom. Good ending. First of all, thank goodness they dropped the boogie jam and nutrocker. This is a very solid version with a coherent Page, Plant doesn't sound as bad, and Jones and Bonham simply do their job. "B+", considering Jones could've been better. Hot Dog- Just a little sticky on the intro. Verses sound good. Solo (2:02)- Ok, Jimmy is no James Burton. You gotta commend the guy for trying, but he falls on his face here. These licks are similar to the ones he played on the 71/72 WLL medleys, but he just can't get it together tonight. Overall, not too bad excluding the solo. "B" for a first time rating. The Rain Song- Very strange place to stick this song. 1:30, slight hangup. Everything flows smoothly and they nail the rock section, with Plant's raspy vocals emphasizing the emotion. Another slight hangup at 7:50. "B+". White Summer/Black Mountainside- A slow, unsure start. Once he gets going it smooths out some. 4:33, struggling a little. "B". Kashmir- Plant sounds much better here. This is a nice version with the keyboards sitting perfectly in the mix. "A". Trampled Underfoot- A pounding tempo and good energy. Jones' solo is short and sweet. Guitar solo- Starts off great with nice phrasing, but gets a little forced sounding toward the end. Not a bad performance. "B+". Achilles Last Stand- Page plays the intro lacking confidence, almost like he's tuning up. Once Bonzo gets going it's the familiar thunder. 2:44, I think there was some confusion here. First solo- Page nails down some excellent phrases and bends. Very good. Bonzo's intricate drumwork isn't coming through on the mix very well. Second solo- Not bad, but lacking. 7:28, badass drum fill. Third solo- A little sticky but fairly good. This one honestly sounded like a warm-up routine, oh wait, this is a warm-up show. "B". Guitar solo- They've consolidated the bow section and drum solo, which works as the intro for In The Evening. I find it funny that Page thinks people still wanna see him play guitar with a violin bow in 1979, especially without the mood setting of Dazed And Confused. Then again, this whole setlist seems confused. In The Evening- The song kicks off nicely with blaring synths and whammy bars. Guitar solo- 3:25-3:34, nice stretch. 3:45, this synth motif by Jones feels awkward. 5:45, Page getting in some more impressive runs with the Strat. "B+". Stairway To Heaven- Speedy tempo. There's some enthusiasm missing, but the darker mood gives a new appeal to it. Solo- Some stickiness off the bat. 6:41, nice run. 7:08, Page going nuts with the staccato chording. The final runs are a tad sticky but the climax sounds good. The song winds down to one person clapping lol. Definitely a different feel on this one. "B". Rock And Roll- Jones was still getting plugged in when they kicked off. Solo- Quite messy, but he plays with passion. A very thin sounding version. "B". Final Assessment- It was called a warm-up performance, and that's exactly what it sounds like. Definitely looser than tight, with a lack of enthusiasm for the last two thirds. Celebration Day and Black Dog are the highlights, both of which have ample energy and nimble fingers from Pagey. They haven't gotten the new material down pact just yet and sound offbeat in this strange setlist.

I honestly always thought the issue was just between two egomaniacs having a slap-fight until I saw the pictures of the inside of the house. I think Page's reluctance to allow people inside the house worked against him, as the outside just looks like a dull pile of bricks. It truly is a work of art on the inside. If it's illegal to vandalize a painting in a museum then it should be illegal to potentially damage such an incredible home.

I think that's the shape of a 7 with an underline. Mistaken for a "Z".