pinky Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Title says it all. I go for 1972. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docron Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 1969. Love the raw, un-kempt style and experimentation. So fresh. All of them are working their asses off, still not sure if they're going to make it yet. I love that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy's A Legend Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 (edited) tough one, for me it's a tie between 72&73, both from what i have seen are their strongest performances. But i voted for 73 Edited July 16, 2008 by Jimmy's A Legend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine68 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I say 1970 all the way. with LZ, LZII, and LZIII out and also the awesome performances, it easily wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYC6880 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Tough to choose between 70 and 71 but I went with 71 because of the better setlists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aen27 Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 (edited) I voted 1975. They were at the top then, from what I have seen from mainly SRTS and the last two Earl's Court shows. Though in '73 they were getting close. I would say a tie between both of those. It very hard to pick. Edited December 25, 2008 by aen27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I voted 71. Everything was working as it should and the band had a funky edge about them that seemed to slowly disappear as time went on. As I said on a previous thread, I wouldn't argue with 72 either. I also preferred the set lists from those two tours as opposed to 73 and beyond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lady Who's Sure Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 I voted 71. Everything was working as it should and the band had a funky edge about them that seemed to slowly disappear as time went on. As I said on a previous thread, I wouldn't argue with 72 either. I also preferred the set lists from those two tours as opposed to 73 and beyond. '71 had the best set lists, the only thing that made we want to vote '73 was the versions of houses of the holy songs in '73, all were really great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophat Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) 70, 71, 72, 73, 07 Edited December 27, 2008 by tophat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 I went with 1970 simply because they still were young, fresh and looking like they enjoyed what they were doing. Oh, and I happen to see them in concert that year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZFord Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 73' Madison Square Garden was one of the greatest events ever to have happened. The Ocean live was one of the best, I love how Page slides the whole neck for the dramatic tension. HTWWW's 1972 version had Bonham doing different drumming, but both were great performances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Giggles Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 I would have voted all of the above if there was an option, I chose 1973. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harris Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 voted for 73 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theycallmethehunter Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 It has to be 1970 at Royal Albert Hall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mos6507 Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 (edited) I'm surprised so many people chose 1973. I know it's an iconic period and all, but they were totally needing a vacation by 1973. The setlist had become too stale by then, and no acoustic midsection. They needed an infusion of more material, which they got in 1975. Really the Earl's Court shows are the best balance of best setlist and performance. Edited January 17, 2009 by mos6507 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachman Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 77 is awfully underrated .. the dvd i own and other performances have blown me away in a good way of course they outdo the grateful dead with the jamming sessions its phenomenal.. btw them and the dead were always the best bands to just good ole jam together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tophat Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 70, 71, 72 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Masson Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 77 is awfully underrated .. the dvd i own and other performances have blown me away in a good way of course they outdo the grateful dead with the jamming sessions its phenomenal.. btw them and the dead were always the best bands to just good ole jam together Awfully underrated? What does that mean - that it's a better year playing-wise than the others?! Even if you like the new songs that were included on the setlist then, the performances are just abysmal by comparison with the early years. That's easy enough to hear. As for the jamming, some of the songs would get longer and longer as the years passed - but better? Did the songs retain a sense of purpose and unity, as real statements? Surely, after all, and however much you evaluate improvisation, in the end it's about songs? For example, and speaking for myself here, I think the shorter, early versions of Dazed were a lot better than the 1973-1975 versions; played slightly faster, they have an eerie, psychedelic atmosphere that I feel is just important to the song. And for pretty similar reasons, I think No Quarter was generally better in 1973 than in 1975. But 1977! The playing simply isn't good when you consider the real calibre of the band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timothy5151 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Tough one. I'd have to go with 1970. I love 1969 as they were raw and powerful and so fresh, but by 1970 they were more experienced and established and still managed to maintain that sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrophile Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Hard to choose between 1972 and 1973, but I with '73 in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vebjorn Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Their performance and repertoire was pretty outstanding in the year of 1973, but I still think they played better together as a live band in 1969. I went for '69 simply 'cause I consider it the year of the most impressingly performed Zep-gigs. It is indeed attractive with an expanded repertoire, but still, they rocked the friggin show during '69. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docron Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I think it's funny people reference only the official stuff... For example, 80% of the posts are as follows: '70 because of RAH '71 because of BBC Sessions '72 because of HTWWW '73 because of TSRTS '75 because of Earl's Court '79 because of Knebworth It's as if people rate Zeppelin's best year based on the sound quality/specifics of their favorite official recording rather than more important aspects like the performance as a whole on the year. IMO, people need to experience the group through multiple bootlegs if they haven't done so already. You get a much more real picture of the group on the whole. And don't forget, they also made studio albums that no one seems to be taking into account... I still stick w/ 1969. 2 studio albums, absolutely groundbreaking performances in Boston, San Francisco, BBC, etc. The group was still raw and unkempt, somewhat unsure yet working hard and pushing the envelope on all fronts, and no prior success to fall back on... you could tell they really loved every minute of it and never once sounded tired. I would venture to say this was their most ambitious year, and great in terms of the quality/quantity of material produced. Might not have been as substantial as some of their later works, but you can't deny the classics, and to produce so much in so little time just boggles my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rover Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 From my personal concert experience.... Nothing was ever more pure-er than the August 22, 1970 Zep that I heard. Not that '75 or '77 weren't incredibly good.... they were... the shows I saw were! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliaFinch Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 I voted for 1970, but I think that I actually prefer the period between the second half of 1969 and the rest of 1970, when the essence you could smell in the beginning was becoming strong, incredible and powerful; when there was a great push towards the unknown, and when the freedom of musical expression and improvisation were actually taking off. Using a familiar expression, when magic filled the air... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stryder1978 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Jimmy says they were at their peak in '72...who am I to argue with the man himself? I vote '72! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.