Day 76: 8/31/1971 Orlando, FL

8/31/1971 Orlando, FL Florida Sunshine

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Since I've Been Loving You, Dazed and Confused, Black Dog, Stairway to Heaven, Celebration Day, That's the Way, Going to California, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, Thank You

The tape begins with the announcer telling the crowd to be calm and their patience will be duly rewarded. Page plays a Train Kept a Rollin'-esque riff during a brief soundcheck. Page is in top form, tearing through a flawless solo during Immigrant Song. He raises the bar with another excellent set of solos during Heartbreaker. Bonzo plays with incredible finesse during Since I've Been Loving You. Plant's voice cracks a few times, but it doesn't stop him from unleashing some blood-curdling screams. Page is in a fun mood, occupying himself with playful licks and riffs between songs.

Dazed and Confused is outstanding. Page further develops his bow solo routine and the excellent guitar solo/workout section continues to expand. Page plays some licks from White Summer during the outro, as he did in Tulsa a year earlier. A truly amazing performance. After Plant introduces Black Dog, Bonzo can be heard shouting "are ya alright Jimmy?!" to which Page responds in a voice mimicking Bonzo, "ye, I'm alright!" The song is incredibly heavy, Bonzo sounds as if he's pounding directly on your brain. Plant freely improvises new lyrics throughout. The band does a little stutter-step hesitation before the second verse, unsure of when to stop.

Plant announces "this is one for New York" as Page plays a funky new intro to Celebration Day. The tape shifts to the audience source early in the song. Plant asks the crowd to "shut up a bit more" before That's the Way. There is a dropout in the tape near the end of the song. There is a slight cut during What is and What Should Never Be before the soundboard source returns during the guitar solo. The coda is a brutal sonic attack. Plant screams "good evening!" at the crowd before introducing Moby Dick.

Whole Lotta Love is preceded by an excellent heavy jam. The medley includes an extended Boogie Chillen jam, Elvis Presley's My Baby Left Me, and an excellent A Mess of Blues. Unfortunately, the tape is cut during a great funky jam leaving us at Jones's organ solo, already in progress. Thank You is absolutely amazing, it seems to get better every night. After the band leaves the stage, there is an amusing stage announcement informing "William Combus, your wallet's up here..."

The tape is an excellent soundboard recording with a fairly clear audience recording filling the gaps. The sound is full and clear, an excellent recording of an amazing performance. Must hear.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.