Monday, May 12, 2008

Day 129: 12/23/1972 London, England

12/23/1972 London, England (master>dat>cdr)
Rock and Roll, Over the Hills and Far Away, Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I've Been Loving You, Dancing Days, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker

Plant's voice starts out a bit rough, causing him to alter the melody during the choruses of Over the Hills and Far Away. Bonzo is introduced as "Tin Pan Alley's answer to Father Christmas" before Black Dog. Plant tells the crowd that the band hopes to achieve the same vibes they used to get in the small local clubs before Misty Mountain Hop. Jones jumps from electric piano to organ and back during a somewhat low-key Since I've Been Loving You. After expressing hopes that the show will be even better than the previous night's, Plant introduces Dancing Days as "a song about summertime and good things... and christmas cheer."

Before Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Plant comments that he's "never seen so many drunk people in one town." Bonzo thrashes wildly at his drums during The Song Remains the Same, pounding out the urgent rhythm with great intensity. The beginning of The Rain Song is beautiful, but the tempo becomes a bit rushed during the heavy section. The San Francisco interlude during Dazed and Confused continues to develop prior to the bow solo. A somewhat lackluster Stairway to Heaven is introduced as "a song that came in a bright moment... I hope we have a few more bright moments like this." Plant stops Page during the intro to ask the rowdy crowd to settle down.

Before Whole Lotta Love, Plant explains that Bonzo "doesn't do Moby Dick anymore... he's writin' a new one, it's called Titanic." Page , Jones, and Bonzo get into a bit of The Crunge prior to the theramin freakout. The transition to the Everybody Needs Somebody to Love section is a cacophonous explosion. The medley includes Boogie Chillen', Elvis Presley's Let's Have a Party, Heartbreak Hotel, a disjointedly frantic I Can't Quit You Baby, and Goin' Down Slow, with Bonzo pounding out a thunderous rhythm. The band returns to the stage to close the show with Heartbreaker, which is dedicated to Roy Harper. Bonzo lays down a martial rhythm under Page's a cappella solo. The guitar solo section is a wild race to the finish, culminating in the earth-shaking finale. Plant wishes the crowd a merry christmas as the band makes their final exit of 1972.

The tape is fairly clear with a decent amount of hiss.

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