right-there Posted May 27, 2023 Share Posted May 27, 2023 Are these the shows you'd choose to represent the touring years of Led Zeppelin? 1 San Francisco April 26 1969 2 Montreux Mar 7 1970 3 Leicester Nov 25 1971 4 LA Forum June 25/27 1972 5 Vienna March 16 1973 6 Madison Square Garden July 28 1973 7 New York Feb 12 1975 8 LA Forum March 27 1975 9 Seattle July 17 1977 10 Copenhagen July 24 1979 11 Zurich June 29 1980 April 26 1969 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California Communication Breakdown I Can't Quit You Baby Dazed And Confused You Shook Me How Many More Times (medley) White Summer Black Mountain Side Killing Floor (medley) Babe I'm Gonna Leave You Pat's Delight As Long As I Have You (medley) Whole Lotta Love March 7 1970 Grand Casino, Montreux We're Gonna Groove/I Can't Quit You Dazed & Confused Heartbreaker White Summer/Black Mountain Side Since I've Been Loving You organ solo/Thank You What Is and What Should Never Be Moby Dick How Many More Times November 25 1971 Leicester University Immigrant Song Heartbreaker Black Dog Since I've Been Loving You Celebration Day Going To California That's The Way Tangerine (stop), Tangerine Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp Dazed And Confused (incl. Theme From Shaft) Stairway To Heaven What Is And What Should Never Be Whole Lotta Love (include. Just A Little Bit, I'm Going Down, Boogie Woogie, Mary Lou, Rave On, Mess O' The Blues, Squeeze My Lemon) Rock And Roll Communication Breakdown 25/27 June 1972 LA Forum Immigrant Song Heartbreaker Over The Hills And Far Away Black Dog Since I've Been Loving You Stairway To heaven Going To California That's The Way Tangerine Bron-yr-Aur Stomp Dazed And Confused What Is And What Should Never Be Dancing Days Moby Dick Whole Lotta Love Rock And Roll The Ocean Louie Louie Thank You Communication Breakdown Bring It On Home March 16 1973 Vienna Rock And Roll Over The Hills And Far Away Black Dog Misty Mountain Hop Since I've Been Loving You Dancing Days Bron-Yr-Aur-Stomp The Song Remains The Same The Rain Song Dazed And Confused Stairway To Heaven Whole Lotta Love Heartbreaker July 28 1973 Madison Square Garden, New York City Rock And Roll Celebration Day Black Dog Over The Hills And Far Away Misty Mountain Hop Since I've Been Loving You No Quarter The Song Remains The Same The Rain Song Dazed And Confused Stairway To Heaven Moby Dick Heartbreaker Whole Lotta Love The Ocean February 12 1975 Madison Square Garden, New York City Rock And Roll Sick Again Over The Hills And Far Away In My Time Of Dying The Song Remains The Same The Rain Song Kashmir No Quarter Trampled Underfoot Moby Dick Dazed And Confused Stairway To Heaven Whole Lotta Love Black Dog Heartbreaker March 27 1975 The Forum, Inglewood CA Rock And Roll Sick Again Over The Hills And Far Away In My Time Of Dying The Song Remains The Same The Rain Song Kashmir No Quarter Trampled Underfoot Moby Dick Dazed And Confused Stairway To Heaven Whole Lotta Love Black Dog July 17 1977 Seattle Kingdome The Song Remains the Same Sick Again Nobody's Fault But Mine Over The Hills and Far Away No Quarter Ten Years Gone The Battle of Evermore Going to California Black Country Woman Bron-Y-Aur Stomp White Summer/Black Mountain Side Kashmir Moby Dick Guitar Solo Achilles Last Stand Stairway To Heaven Whole Lotta Love Rock and Roll July 24 1979 Copenhagen The Song Remains the Same Celebration Day Black Dog Nobody's Fault But Mine Over The Hills and Far Away Misty Mountain Hop Since I've Been Loving You No Quarter Ten Years Gone Hot Dog The Rain Song White Summer/Black Mountain Side Kashmir Trampled Underfoot Sick Again Achilles Last Stand Guitar Solo/Drum Solo In The Evening Stairway To Heaven Whole Lotta Love June 29 1980 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland Train Kept A' Rollin' Nobody's Fault But Mine Black Dog In The Evening The Rain Song Hot Dog All My Love Trampled Underfoot Since I've Been Loving You Achilles Last Stand White Summer/Black Mountain Side Kashmir Stairway To Heaven Rock And Roll Heartbreaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 Why two shows from 1975? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right-there Posted May 28, 2023 Author Share Posted May 28, 2023 Hi Steve. The February 12 show is reckoned to be one of the best sounding Zep boots from the tour, perhaps even the best ever with all the rumours about official involvement in its sound, but also includes a not fully on top of things vocal performance from Plant. Remarkably clean and balanced sound, a not top-rank performance. The March 27 show is characterised in one review as "Led Zeppelin’s final show of their 1975 tour at the LA Forum is one of the longest, heaviest and self-indulgent on record." With extra-long versions of showpieces 'Dazed and Confused', 'No Quarter', a performance of 'Trampled Underfoot' that Page has reckoned the best ever (including a sidetrip into 'Gallows Pole'), it also allows for including a Mike Millard recording amongst the shows featured in this list. Two shows, same year, completely different sound, performance levels, and with the March 27 show an opportunity to feature the work of a taper who contributed, I would argue, so much to fans' appreciation of live Led Zeppelin that without his tapes many would find collecting audience-taped Zep boots an endlessly frustrating exercise in aural disappointment. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Moon Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 You have listed just the songs of the audience source of the GREAT Montreux 1970 concert. They played two more songs after HMMT, WLL and CB - from the SB source. A perfect example for a superb audience tape beating a dull sounding soundboard tape by a country mile, at least to my ears. Nevertheless, great versions of both WLL & CB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 (edited) On 5/27/2023 at 3:53 PM, right-there said: Are these the shows you'd choose to represent the touring years of Led Zeppelin? 2 Montreux Mar 7 1970 3 Leicester Nov 25 1971 7 New York Feb 12 1975 8 LA Forum March 27 1975 9 Seattle July 17 1977 Hell to the NO! The evening show from September 19, 1970 Madison Square Garden trumps Montreux 1970. Orlando 1971 or any of the 1971 Japanese shows trump Leicester 1971. Nassau Coliseum 1975, Baton Rouge 1975, March 12, 1975 Long Beach, Vancouver/Seattle 1975, and Earls Court 1975 trump the 2/12/75 and 3/27/75 dates. All of the 1977 LA Forum and Madison Square Garden dates, along with 4/28 Cleveland, 4/30 Pontiac and a few others trump 1977 Seattle. Edited May 30, 2023 by Strider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Only Way To Fly Posted May 30, 2023 Share Posted May 30, 2023 There are so many great shows from 1970 it's hard to pick "The one". For me, if I have one pick from 1970 it's gotta be Blueberry Hill. The medleys, Out On The Tiles, Blueberry Hill, and Plant holding court with 18,000 during the acoustic set is just beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right-there Posted May 30, 2023 Author Share Posted May 30, 2023 It's great there are so many great shows. And even better that so many sets of ears here make enough distinction between 'this show and that' that the conversation might never end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted June 1, 2023 Share Posted June 1, 2023 On 5/28/2023 at 12:38 PM, right-there said: Hi Steve. The February 12 show is reckoned to be one of the best sounding Zep boots from the tour, perhaps even the best ever with all the rumours about official involvement in its sound, but also includes a not fully on top of things vocal performance from Plant. Remarkably clean and balanced sound, a not top-rank performance. The March 27 show is characterised in one review as "Led Zeppelin’s final show of their 1975 tour at the LA Forum is one of the longest, heaviest and self-indulgent on record." With extra-long versions of showpieces 'Dazed and Confused', 'No Quarter', a performance of 'Trampled Underfoot' that Page has reckoned the best ever (including a sidetrip into 'Gallows Pole'), it also allows for including a Mike Millard recording amongst the shows featured in this list. Two shows, same year, completely different sound, performance levels, and with the March 27 show an opportunity to feature the work of a taper who contributed, I would argue, so much to fans' appreciation of live Led Zeppelin that without his tapes many would find collecting audience-taped Zep boots an endlessly frustrating exercise in aural disappointment. Michael The New York & LA '75 shows are indeed a cornucopia of sounds, scenes and sentiments. Feb 12th is a personal favorite. The picture disc bootlegs of it I'll probably keep the remainder of my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1975NQ Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 (edited) On 5/29/2023 at 8:35 PM, right-there said: It's great there are so many great shows. And even better that so many sets of ears here make enough distinction between 'this show and that' that the conversation might never end. Since the crux of your post seems to be an invitation for discussion, I'll bite. You really can't go wrong with most shows from 69-71. They were that good. Regarding a "best" representation for a touring year, I think for the early years it will come down to personal preference. For instance, Leicester 71 is my favorite Zep show but I'm not sure I would say it's the "best", as it's not representative in some ways to what a lot of bootleg fans love about that year. When I think of 71, I break it down to: Spring and Summer: Plant in God-mode, band firing on all cylinders, Page progressing as a guitarist by the month US Tour - extremely high energy for the most part. Band playing a bit more loose, favoring rock and roll raunch over precision Japan Tour - band is tighter in early shows (to their benefit) and extremely loose in final shows. Pros and cons for the looseness of the later shows - a lot of fun to be found here. Vocally, the early shows have a strong Plant and later shows are a nadir for Plant (for 71). UK Fall Tour - band is relaxed but also much tighter and supremely confident as a musical unit. Stronger overall musically, with Plant sounding fantastic most nights. Taking this back to Leicester, this boot showcases a relaxed and confident Zep and builds as it goes on. Musically, it's phenomenal. However, the opening numbers don't have the frenetic energy that is typical for the era (listen to Ipswich 71 for a good comparison). The crowd is fantastic, and the band very much realizes they're having an "on" night with a killer crowd by the time they get to SIBLY. From there, it's a magic show with many highlights. Plant sounds great, much better than the US or Japan tours. Jimmy is playing as well as I've heard from him in 71, which is saying something. It's an atypical show that I personally have a strong connection with (and I think many other fans do as well). For a good representation of Zep in 71, I'd point someone to Copenhagen, Orlando, or Ipswich (also Belfast if they have bootleg ears) for that in-your-face energy that was their trademark. But if someone told me Leicester was their favorite show, I'd immediately get it and say "mine too". Edited June 6, 2023 by 1975NQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right-there Posted June 6, 2023 Author Share Posted June 6, 2023 1975NQ (which hints at a mighty discourse in itself!), thanks for your take on Zep in '71. I wonder if other bands have quite so much deep-diving into their performance levels and shifting degrees of individual contributions across times and places as Led Zeppelin? Of course, Zep was a constant line-up where Black Sabbath or Deep Purple or a myriad of other bands with determined fans have much more disparate pedigrees to contend over. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walesdad Posted June 9, 2023 Share Posted June 9, 2023 Good idea for a thread. It is all about opinions, and not being a musician in any way, shape or form myself, I could not point anyone in the direction of the "best" performance from a given year. I can choose my favourites to listen to from that year though ( this does change on a semi regular basis, probably like everyone else ). 1 Fillmore West, San Francisco, 4/27/69 ( Terrific sound, terrific setlist, from box set ' Led Zeppelin 1969 - A Collection Of The Best Concert Recordings ' ). 2 The Forum, Inglewood, 9/4/70 ( The amazing ' Live On Blueberry Hill ' performance ). 3 Festival Hall, Osaka, 9/29/71 ( From John Bonham's exhortation of, " Zeppelin, Zeppelin, louder, louder " right at the beginning of the show to the last notes of the final song, this is a must have. There are so many recordings available of this gig but the true soundboard, ' How The East Was Won ', is just incredible to listen to ). 4 Budokan Hall, Tokyo, 10/2/72 ( First show of the second Japanese tour, not everyone's favourite set of gigs, but I've always liked this one. Available on ' Budokan 1972 First Show ' ). 5 Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, 7/17/73 ( The audience recording ' V1/2 Live In Seattle ' is another classic with terrific sound ). 6 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2/28/75 ( Another excellent audience recording that has a great atmosphere and even a sports whistle. Available on the title ' Led Astray ' ). 7 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, 6/19/77 ( Ignoring the obvious, the Forum shows that follow this one, this is another excellent audience recording that captures parts of the mania that a Led Zeppelin concert had become. This whole tour, which had a set list that truly spanned the bands whole career up to that time, really did show the complete breadth of what the group could play. This show is also notable for featuring the true rarities rarity, John Bonham having, in places, a slightly off night. The version on disc I enjoy is simply called ' San Diego 1977 '. Thank you Mike Millard ). 8 Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, 7/23/79 ( The other Copenhagen warm up show, not their best and not as good as the next night at the same venue, but nevertheless worth a listen. Available as ' Copenhagen Warm Up's ' in all its various guises ). 9 Eissporthalle, Berlin, 7/7/80 ( The last concert by the group and the end of an incredible career for Led Zeppelin following the tragic event that unfolded not long after this tour. Like everything else listed, available under many cd and vinyl titles but probably best known as ' Bonzo's Last Stand ' ). The above list will undoubtably change and I could easily have added another completely different list or two to compliment these recordings. Anyone who's not heard all these should just dive right in and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reqx Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 Great idea for discussion - I won't delve too much, but.here is my list of what i would say is 'definitive' by definition, but in parentheses are my favorites based on atmosphere and band performance. 12/30/68 (12/30/68) - did we all forget 68? haha 4/27/69 (5/30/69) - i love the change of lyrics in ICQYB due to the incident...the mood of the concert became very muscular. 9/4/70 (3/7/70) - personal tendancy to the Montreaux show due with the intense start and crowd reactions 9/29/71 (9/28/71) - Orlando is really hot, but i'm sticking with the Japan atmosphere as a slight edge 6/18/72 (6/18/72) - seattle...done 7/28/73 (5/31/73)...i'll take liberty and say the euro tour sounds like a totally different era, so I'm throwing in 3/24/73 as a bonus pick. Hell, the return to clubs tour could be defined the same so i'll add 1/22/73! 3/21/75 (2/28/75) - seattle really is my favorite since it was the first bootleg LP i ever bought (207.19/214), but baton rouge just seems to be 'fun' for the group. NQ could be the best version 6/21/77 (6/23/77) - LA...done 8/4/79 (7/28/79) - well, out of 4 shows i don't really put much stock into my picks 6/29/80 (6/29/80) - zurich....done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right-there Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 "Anyone who's not heard all these should just dive right in and enjoy." Sage advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1975NQ Posted June 13, 2023 Share Posted June 13, 2023 On 6/6/2023 at 3:24 PM, right-there said: 1975NQ (which hints at a mighty discourse in itself!), thanks for your take on Zep in '71. I wonder if other bands have quite so much deep-diving into their performance levels and shifting degrees of individual contributions across times and places as Led Zeppelin? Of course, Zep was a constant line-up where Black Sabbath or Deep Purple or a myriad of other bands with determined fans have much more disparate pedigrees to contend over. Michael That's a great question. I'm sure some do for sure. I used to have friends who were hardcore Deadheads (going back a few years), and they absolutely were deep into every show. At the time, I found their obsessiveness fascinating, bewildering and amusing. Of course, now I get it completely. 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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