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Led Zeppelin's best live performance


Armani

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12 minutes ago, AchillesLastBand said:

CliffIO,

Yes- 5/3/71 in Copenhagen.

I'm new to the forum but fairly well-versed in live Zep, official and bootleg. I just discovered this show today, and I've never heard Plant sing this well!! Not only does he tear up the "IV" material (and all the older material), hitting all the album high notes, he actually sings HIGHER vocal lines in parts of some songs (e.g., "Rock And Roll" ). 

Are there any other recordings of shows including "IV" material where he sings so well?

ALB

 

Welcome to the forum ALB! I like your username! :) 

In addition to 5/3/71 Copenhagen, shows where Plant sings the IV material very well include 3/5/71 Belfast (Best. Black. Dog. Ever), 8/7/71 Montreux, and 8/21/71 Los Angeles. Sadly, the latter show is often considered to be the point where Plant's vocal decline began. You can hear him tearing his vocal cords up and pushing his voice to the limit on nearly every song. Nonetheless, he kicks ass on Rock and Roll in particular.

None of the shows mentioned above have great recordings, but if you can stomach them, they're great shows overall.

Cheers!

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Listening to 3/5/71 Belfast. Great so far- actually I can hear all the instruments better than Copenhagen.

I haven't checked out Montreux yet, but as you said, at the Forum you can hear Plant straining and it just doesn't sound as good to me. Copenhagen and Belfast (so far) have been a revelation :-) .

ALB

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  • 3 years later...

IN HOW THE WEST WAS WON - JIMMY PAGE STATES THAT 1972 U.S. TOUR WAS WHEN LED ZEPPELIN PEAKED* THE (STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN TOUR)  ROBERT PLANT STILL HAD HIS SCREAMER VOCALS - I SAW THE BALTIMORE JUNE 11, 1972 SHOW AND HAD IT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST CONCERTS (IF YOU WERE THERE).  I ALSO SAW ZEP IN BALTIMORE APRIL 70, & JULY 73. BALTIMORE - BUT THE JUNE 11, 1972 WAS SPECIAL AND A MOMENT IN ROCK HISTORY (YOU SHOOK ME) & BALTIMORE*

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  • 2 weeks later...

In my opinion, the entire Earl's Court stand in May, 1975 has to stand as the best of their career, as well as being their best structured shows set-wise with the addition of the acoustic set.  There was a combination of confidence in the band's performance, warmth from the audience and variety in the setlist that really makes those shows stand out.

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1969: Fillmore West, Texas International Pop Festival, Olympia

1970: Royal Albert Hall, Montreux Casino, Bath Festival, Blueberry Hill, MSG Evening show.

1971: Japanese gig

1972: Australia/NZ gig, L.A Forum/Inglewood shows (HTWWW)

1973: German and MSG shows

1975: Inglewood shows, Earls Court gig

1977: Inglewood shows

1979: Knebworth

This is trying to bring a balance between quality recordings and performance. Its a rough spot to decide sometimes, but I think early zeppelin (68-71/mid 72) has greats amounts of good shows we still don’t know.

 

Edited by zeppelin_starship
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21 minutes ago, zeppelin_starship said:

1969: Fillmore West, Texas International Pop Festival, Olympia

1970: Royal Albert Hall, Montreux Casino, Bath Festival, Blueberry Hill, MSG Evening show.

1971: Japanese gig

1972: Australia/NZ gig, L.A Forum/Inglewood shows (HTWWW)

1973: German and MSG shows

1975: Inglewood shows, Earls Court gig

1977: Inglewood shows

1979: Knebworth

This is trying to bring a balance between quality recordings and performance. Its a rough spot to decide sometimes, but I think early zeppelin (68-71/mid 72) has greats amounts of good shows we still don’t know.

 

I would also say 1975: 3/21 Seattle, best show of the year imho

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21 minutes ago, goodstudent said:

I would also say 1975: 3/21 Seattle, best show of the year imho

Oh yeah, Seattle date was just before Inglewood. I agree, generally speaking, last part of NA 1975 tour (Seattle, Vancouver and Inglewood) has good shows with greats moments and performances. Its a bit difficult to choose only 1, so I would say any of them that has a good recording quality its my recommendation.

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7 hours ago, BobDobbs said:

Seattle is IMO overrated, its good but I would take both Vancouver dates over Seattle any day.

I wouldn't say overrated, but Vancouver certainly is on the same level, just different highlights. It was such a strong performing run around that time - going back to NY (Four Blocks in the Snow) even with Plants voice affected by illness. They were KILLING it live.

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7 hours ago, rm2551 said:

I wouldn't say overrated, but Vancouver certainly is on the same level, just different highlights. It was such a strong performing run around that time - going back to NY (Four Blocks in the Snow) even with Plants voice affected by illness. They were KILLING it live.

Oh yeah, lots of really good shows in 75'. The new Bloomington release is a revelation, a very good show with a good sounding Plant. That Maryland show from 2-10 is also crazy-good.

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16 minutes ago, BobDobbs said:

Oh yeah, lots of really good shows in 75'. The new Bloomington release is a revelation, a very good show with a good sounding Plant. That Maryland show from 2-10 is also crazy-good.

Ohh, I so wish Bloomington release to pop up online asap)))

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That May 3rd 1971 Copenhagen show has got to be in the top 3, everything works, every member bringing 200%, and the energy! The one-two of Four Sticks / Gallows Pole alone is worth a release. I just cannot recall a better live performance by any other band and I have seen and heard my share (disclaimer: not Strider level number of shows but a lot).

Its hard to choose a #1 because they had so many good shows, but this one is a serious contender. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hard to find good sound especially early gigs. Knebworth is pretty good really kinda been digging the 80’s shows (Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt and probably a lot more there last show in berlin July 7th 🥲 must’ve been a European tour I think they even played Knebworth.) 

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  • 1 year later...

My Two Cents Worth is this: I saw Zep 3 Times in Baltimore April 1970, June 1972, July 1973.  My Take was June 1972 they were at Their Peak* That's what Jimmy Page also believed and chose June 1972 Shows for HTWWW.  After the Beatles My # 2 was always LZ until up to and after July 1973 Houses of the Holy Tour. After that My Music Interests Shifted to The Eagles as My # 2 Band after the Beatles.  As Far as Musicianship No One But CREAM came close to Led Zeppelin.  I believe Jimmy Page coming from the Yardbirds was able to take influence from Jeff Beck's Technic along Eric Clapton's Long Riffs and Runs and synthesize them into something of His Own. When I Listen to Jimmy Page, I here a lot of Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.  The Lemon Song (Killing Floor) you really Hear the Beck Clapton Riffs melded together in the two parts and thread of that Piece.  However, Jimmy Page's Acoustic Talents has His Own Innovations and Developments. When you listen to Page laying the Blues Down 1969-71, it's the Real Deal & Hard to Beat. Since I've Been Loving You is the Ultimate Heavy Blues.

 

 

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Edited by reesergreaser
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