Day 65: 9/9/1970 Boston, MA

9/9/1970 Boston, MA (2nd gen>cdr)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring it on Home, That's the Way, Bron-Yr-Aur, Since I've Been Loving You, Thank You, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins with a long-winded, rambling stage announcement about Paul McCartney and festival licenses at Boston College before J.J. Jackson introduces the band. After a long pause while Page changes guitars, they launch into Immigrant Song. Plant gets the verses mixed up during Heartbreaker, getting a bit lost in the process. Page's a cappella solo is a bit disjointed at the beginning. There seems to be some sort of illicit transaction taking place near the taper during the bow solo in Dazed and Confused. There is a brief drop-out at the beginning of the fiery guitar solo. Page's fingers fly across the fretboard with wild precision.

Page makes his guitar squeal with delight at the end of the rock section in Bring it on Home. Plant gets lost in the lyrics during That's the Way. The harmony near the end of the song is especially mournful. The final chord of Bron-Yr-Aur coincides with a speed fluctuation in the tape. Page has a bit of trouble finding the right notes during the first verse of Since I've Been Loving You. Tape disturbances mar the dramatic latter half of the song. Plant encourages the crowd to get loose "despite the herdsmen" before Jones's organ solo, which is also marred with constant tape disturbances and cut near the end.

Page's excellent solo during Thank You is interrupted by a volume shift and the erratic arrhythmic clapping of the crowd near the taper. Plant asks the crowd to be cool so as to avoid any trouble with the authorities before Whole Lotta Love. The medley includes Stop Messin' Round, Ramble On, For What it's Worth, Some Other Guy after a cut in the tape, and Muddy Waters's Honey Bee, during which Plant has the crowd making buzzing sounds. The erratic clapping returns during the explosive finale. The show ends with a quick and dirty Communication Breakdown.

The tape is fairly clear and well-balanced, if a bit distant. The tape disturbances and arrhythmic clapping can be a bit distracting.