Day 96: 2/19/1972 Adelaide, Australia

2/19/1972 Adelaide, Australia (master>dat)

Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, That's the Way, Tangerine, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Dazed and Confused, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love

The first recording from Led Zeppelin's first and only tour of Greater Australia. Someone near the taper comments "shit... too much" as the band does a brief soundcheck before launching the sonic attack of Immigrant Song. Plant melodically inquires "what's that smell?" as Page begins the guitar solo. Someone near the taper exclaims "oh, my ears, man!" during a pause before Heartbreaker. Page plays some Train Kept a Rollin'-esque chords during the lead-in to the a cappella solo. He blazes through the solos. Bonzo attacks his drums with relentless ferocity.

Plant mentions that half of the band has caught "an Australian bug" before Black Dog. Page is in top form during a powerful Since I've Been Loving You. An excellent performance. Plant tells some noisy people in the crowd to "shut up a bit" before Stairway to Heaven. He holds back during the verse following the guitar solo, opting for a lower melody than the usual high-flying vocal dynamics. The tape is cut during the first chorus of Tangerine, following an excellent That's the Way. Bonzo's harmony can be heard clearly during Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.

Plant announces "and with any luck, we might get this clever man in the front with the silver shirt to shut up" prior to Dazed and Confused. Adding "he's the kind of guy who goes home at night and jerks off... and he loves it, he loves it!" Page has some trouble with his equipment during the bow solo, which results in a loud crackling noise at times. He hints at Gallows Pole briefly during the incredible guitar solo/workout section. His soloing is wild and dynamic. An amazing performance. There are several shouts of "sit down!" from the crowd as Plant introduces Moby Dick, which is cut a few minutes in. The theramin freakout during Whole Lotta Love is preceded by an excellent jam on a funky riff. The medley includes a fantastic Boogie Chillen', Hello Mary Lou, Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, That's All Right, and an excellent Goin' Down Slow, which is unfortunately cut off by the end of the recording. A powerful performance. Welcome to 1972.

The tape is an excellent audience recording, perfectly clear and well-balanced.