Bootlegs with a perfect balance of sound quality AND performance quality?

[ForceofNature]

I was listening to the Earl's Court May 24th 1975 show and even though the quality is fantastic Robert's voice is pretty shot and is a rough listen. Comparing that to the Listen to this Eddie show where the quality is not super great as it is an audience recording but the performance is amazing.

So I do realize that there are a whole lot of bootleg request threads out there and I was hesitant to create this one, but I am curious as to what the shows are that have Robert's vocals at its best, the band playing tight, AND a great quality soundboard (or REALLY good AUD) recording.

So far I have 5/24/75, the Supreme Destroyers 1977 show, and the LIsten to this Eddie recordings

Edited September 24, 2012 by ForceofNature

[Strider]

This has been discussed many times before...a simple search should have sufficed. Try these threads:

[tmtomh]

Welcome!

As I'm sure you will soon discover, this is really subjective.

Also, you're setting the bar pretty high here. Most Zep bootleg collectors consider 6-21-77 (the "Listen to This Eddie" show) one of the best 2 or 3 AUD recordings, even better than some SBDs. So if that show doesn't sound good enough to you, there are very few AUD recordings you'll want to hear.

Conversely, a lot of Zep collectors consider 5-24-75 to be the best of the five Earls Court shows, and perhaps the best 1975 show period - and Plant's voice is in the best shape of 1975 on that show.

That said, here are a few shows where the performance is very good or better, the sound quality is very good SBD or truly excellent AUD, and Plant's voice is in very good or excellent shape:

1969

1-11-69 San Fran (SBD)

3-16-69 Copenhagen (SBD)

3-17-69 Danish TV (SBD)

4-27-69 San Fran (SBD with AUD fillers) - Given your sound-quality requirements, this is probably the best show of all of 1969

10-10-69 Paris (pre-FM)

1970

9-04-70 The Forum (excellent AUD)

1971

8-31-71 Orlando (SBD with AUD fillers)

9-04-71 Toronto (SBD)

9-09-71 Virginia (SBD)

9-14-71 Berkeley (excellent AUD) - One of the best-ever AUD tapes of Zeppelin; maybe the best show of 1971

1972

10-02-72 Tokyo (excellent AUD) - not as good as their '71 Japan shows, but the AUD source(s) is excellent, and the show is very good

1973

3-16, 19, 21, 22, & 24-73 Germany and Austria (SBD fragments and very good AUDs) - this is Plant's "new" voice, like it or not. But arguably Zeppelin's technical peak as a musical unit. Offenburg 3-24 is often considered the best performance but is AUD-only. 3-16 Vienna is my personal favorite and has killer versions of the final few songs available in SBD quality.

5-13-73 Mobile, AL (SBD) - one of the best-sounding SBDs from 1973 (many '73 soundboards sound pretty dull and likely will not meet your quality standards)

6-02-73 San Francisco (SBD portion)

1975

3-19 & 20-75 Vancouver (SBD) - this is as good as Plant's voice gets in '75, and the performances are great and in very good SBD quality.

1977

6-7-77 NYC (SBD)

6-11-77 NYC (SBD fragment)

6-23-77 LA (excellent AUD) - perhaps the only '77 AUD tape that tops "Listen to This Eddie" - and a classic performance

In addition to the above, there are of course the 1-09-70, 7-27/27/29-73, 5-24/25-75, and 8-4-79 performances available in excellent quality on the Led Zeppelin DVD. And the 6-25/27-72 performances on How the West Was Won.

[Geezer]

1972

10-02-72 Tokyo (excellent AUD) - not as good as their '71 Japan shows, but the AUD source(s) is excellent, and the show is very good

Which one do you recommend?

[tmtomh]

"Led Zeppelin Is My Brother" - Empress Valley Supreme Disc (EVSD). Most complete, and uses the best-sounding source IMHO.

[Strider]

An excellent list tmtomh...to which I would only add:

1969

1-5-69 Whisky a Go Go, LA...for historical purposes, the earliest show available in good sound quality.

8-31-69 Texas Pop International Festival. Soundboard.

1970

3-7-70 Montreux Casino...soundboard/audience mix. Killer show and the audience tape is stunning; better than the soundboard.

3-21-70 Vancouver, BC...soundboard.

9-2-70 Oakland, CA...in some ways, en even better performance than the more famous 9-4-70 LA Forum a couple days later.

1971

9-29-71 Osaka, Japan...IMO, any list of essential Led Zeppelin boots MUST include a 1971 Japanese show...and 9-29 is IT! Case closed.

1975

2-12 New York, 2-14 Nassau, 2-28 Baton Rouge, 3-4 Dallas, 3-11 Long Beach, 3-17 Seattle...all of these are available in great sounding soundboards. Plant's voice is rough in the beginning of the shows but by March he gets better. The Long Beach and LA Forum(3-11, 24,25 & 27) shows are also available in great Mike Millard audience tapes.

1979

7-24-79 Copenhagen...always overlooked, but a great audience tape and a better performance; I listen to this more than the Knebworth shows a week later.

1980

6-29-80 Zurich

6-30-80 Frankfurt...the Zeppelin story isn't complete without the 1980 tour, as it hints at the possible direction the band would have taken in the 80s, warts and all. These are the two best performances in soundboard quality.

[ForceofNature]

Thank you guys for the in depth responses! These will keep me busy for a while haha

Oh and to the poster a couple of replies ago, I actually quite like the Listen to this Eddie boot, but I just didn't know if there were any AUD sources that were as good or even bettter, not that it isn't good. I acutally love it, it really captures the band at a energetic and creative peek live

[MarshKing]

_{I'm surprised noone has mentioned 1-22-73 yet. Personally I think this is the best sounding Zep Boot out of all of them. Just an incredible multi-track soundboard. I would go with the EVSD version that was remastered by CMI Music in 2008.}

Edited September 24, 2012 by MarshKing

[Sue Dounim]

Generally, most releases of 6/25/77 sound a little foggy, but if you can bother to track down the Winston Remaster of this show, it sounds just as good as Eddie and Badge Holders.

Edited September 24, 2012 by Sue Dounim

[Strider]

_{I'm surprised noone has mentioned 1-22-73 yet. Personally I think this is the best sounding Zep Boot out of all of them. Just an incredible multi-track soundboard. I would go with the EVSD version that was remastered by CMI Music in 2008.}

The reason I, and probably tmtomh, didn't mention the 1-22-73 Southampton show is that while the sound quality is good, the performance isn't up to snuff. Remember the OP is looking for the best in regards to PERFORMANCE as well as sound quality.

The Southampton just suffers in comparison to both the 1972 Japan shows before it and the 1973 Euro shows after.

Same reason for 6-21-77 and 6-23-77 getting the nod, Sue, over 6-25-77. Although to be fair, I think tmtomh tips the 6-25 and 6-27 shows in his list. If only it was in better quality, I would also put 6-22 on the list, as some of that concert is better performed than 6-21 or 6-23.

[Sue Dounim]

The reason I, and probably tmtomh, didn't mention the 1-22-73 Southampton show is that while the sound quality is good, the performance isn't up to snuff. Remember the OP is looking for the best in regards to PERFORMANCE as well as sound quality.

The Southampton just suffers in comparison to both the 1972 Japan shows before it and the 1973 Euro shows after.

Same reason for 6-21-77 and 6-23-77 getting the nod, Sue, over 6-25-77. Although to be fair, I think tmtomh tips the 6-25 and 6-27 shows in his list. If only it was in better quality, I would also put 6-22 on the list, as some of that concert is better performed than 6-21 or 6-23.

I thought the performance from 1/22/73 was really good, I just don't like how Robert is nearly lost in every version of the mix there is.

And 6/25/77 is great though. TSRTS is really, really loose, but it still sounds good. I like it somewhat more than 6/23/77. Though I do agree, 6/22 is kinda better than the dates that surround it.

[tmtomh]

I agree with Strider and all the others who have added to the list of great shows.

My original list was meant to try to satisfy Forceofnature's original post guidelines, where he wanted shows where Plant's voice was in good shape, and where the sound quality was at least as good as "Listen to This Eddie" 6-21-77.

By that standard, 3-7-70 was an accidental (and embarrassing) omission on my part - thanks Strider! That Montreux show is an absolute killer.

For 1971, I debated putting the essential - and it is essential - 9-29-71 Osaka show on the list. Then I remembered how, despite the excellent "SBD" (mics on the stage) source, what a nightmare this show is to collect, with 20 or 30+ bootlegs out there, numerous source mixes, cuts, EQ disasters and such.

Actually, it's less well-known, but the 9-23-71 Tokyo show is nearly as good and exists in a wonderful AUD tape. It's blissful simplicity for collectors, compared to Osaka 9-29. Just look for "Flying Rock Carnival Complete" and you're done.

While I love all the other shows folks have mentioned, I would suggest that the 1975 shows before mid-March, while very good and definitely in my collection, don't show Plant in very good voice. Ditto for Southampton 1-22-73 - very cool show, great sound quality, but Plant's voice is a bit of a mess.

As for Copenhagen 7-24-79, I agree a great show - best show of '79, and probably among the handful of best Zep shows anytime between 1977 and 1980. But while it's a very good AUD tape, it's nowhere near as good as the Millard Tapes, and so I figured it wouldn't be on Forceofnature's must-hear list.

And finally, 1980 - I really like the 1980 tour. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a truly consistent, excellent performance. That said, Strider's right - Zurich 6-29-80 and Frankfurt 6-30 are the two best performances hands-down, and also the two best-sounding, with Zurich having a very slight edge in that department.

Edited September 24, 2012 by tmtomh

[jb126]

Thanks to the constant contributors. I am sure it gets tiring answering the same/similar questions often. I wanted to say it is appreciated and makes for interesting listening and collection ideas.

[Strider]

Thanks to the constant contributors. I am sure it gets tiring answering the same/similar questions often. I wanted to say it is appreciated and makes for interesting listening and collection ideas.

I can only speak for myself, jb126, but I could talk about Led Zeppelin concerts until the cows come home. It never gets tired for me...I would much rather discuss or answer questions about Led Zeppelin in concert than rehash the same hogwash about devil worship/backwards masking/groupies that comes up. That's one reason why I rarely visit the Newbies section.

[jb126]

^^Are you sure you're not spending your spare time in the "Jimmy's Pants" thread? ;-)

As someone new to bootlegs, I'm still in asking questions mode. I have a Zeppelin loving colleague who I think I'm making crazy with my vastly increased desire to chat about Zeppelin with him.

[Cecil.]

"Led Zeppelin Is My Brother" - Empress Valley Supreme Disc (EVSD). Most complete, and uses the best-sounding source IMHO.

I'll look that up, thanks.

[One Symbol]

So far I have 5/24/75, the Supreme Destroyers 1977 show, and the LIsten to this Eddie recordings

Slightly off-topic perhaps, but I would strongly advise you to seek out the title called 'The Maximum Destroyer' (EVSD)for the Cleveland soundboard. 'The Supreme Destroyer' is just nowhere near as good, in terms of the sound quality. In fact, it's night & day.

[Dallas Knebs]

Thank you guys for the in depth responses!

they can go much, much deeper visa vis The Maximum Destroyer. Osaka is probably the most played boot in my man cave.

[jfp]

Hi everyone

Currently listening to Washington march 17,75. Amazing sound. No quarter lasts 27'20" minutes in a total jazzy style and improvisation.

I just discovered that show remastered recently.

jeff

[Dallas Knebs]

just listened to Tokyo and it does indeed give a great listen, thanks for the heads up

[MightyLedZeppelin]

I'm new as a member but been soaking up the "Live" threads for a couple months now. In Oct I had 5 shows (9/4/70, 3/4/75, 4/27/77, 6/29/80 & 7/7/80) in my collection dating back to the early 90's. Now thanks to Tmtomh, Strider and Sue and your amazing wealth of knowledge I have over 40 and counting. You guys have been spot on in your re-caps/analysis and helped me re-discover the greatest band in the world. Thanks again Sue, Strider, Tmtomh and everyone else who contributes to these threads.

[ledzepfilm]

Pretty obvious one, but Albert Hall is a great show with great sound quality.

[Sue Dounim]

I'm new as a member but been soaking up the "Live" threads for a couple months now. In Oct I had 5 shows (9/4/70, 3/4/75, 4/27/77, 6/29/80 & 7/7/80) in my collection dating back to the early 90's. Now thanks to Tmtomh, Strider and Sue and your amazing wealth of knowledge I have over 40 and counting. You guys have been spot on in your re-caps/analysis and helped me re-discover the greatest band in the world. Thanks again Sue, Strider, Tmtomh and everyone else who contributes to these threads.

Thank you and you're welcome!

[Strider]

I'm new as a member but been soaking up the "Live" threads for a couple months now. In Oct I had 5 shows (9/4/70, 3/4/75, 4/27/77, 6/29/80 & 7/7/80) in my collection dating back to the early 90's. Now thanks to Tmtomh, Strider and Sue and your amazing wealth of knowledge I have over 40 and counting. You guys have been spot on in your re-caps/analysis and helped me re-discover the greatest band in the world. Thanks again Sue, Strider, Tmtomh and everyone else who contributes to these threads.

Thank you. Glad to be of help, MightyLedZeppelin. Love how your family is flying the flag of Zeppelin in your avatar photo.

[MightyLedZeppelin]

Thank you. Glad to be of help, MightyLedZeppelin. Love how your family is flying the flag of Zeppelin in your avatar photo.

Thanks re: my pic Strider. My soon to be 5year old son actually has asked me on more than one occasion.."hey dad, you want to watch Led Zeppelin?" How cool is that?!