Day 194: 2/28/1975 Baton Rouge, LA

2/28/1975 Baton Rouge, LA  The Battle of Baton Rouge

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog

A loud pea whistle signals the beginning of Rock and Roll. Bonzo's thunderous pounding echoes off the walls of the arena as Page blazes through the guitar solos during Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "hang onto your heads." In My Time of Dying is incredibly heavy. Bonzo hammers at his drums with unbelievable intensity during The Rain Song. No Quarter features Jones's first use of a grand piano. The instrumental section is absolutely fantastic. Page delivers an amazing guitar solo which ends in a series of violent outbursts with Bonzo. An outstanding performance, one of the best thus far.

Page shreds through an erratic guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. Plant introduces Moby Dick as "one of the most exciting events that you're likely to see in the next ten minutes." The arena quakes under the power of Bonzo's thunderous assault. An utterly devastating performance, one of the best thus far. Dazed and Confused features a brutally heavy San Francisco interlude, now transformed into a haunting rendition of Woodstock. Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the frantic guitar solo/workout section. The return to the main riff is a chaotic explosion of energy. As the song ends, Plant announces "Mr. Jimmy Page, guitar... Baton Rouge, a really good audience... and Led Zeppelin, just a fun-lovin' bunch of boys." Stairway to Heaven features an excellent, dynamic guitar solo from Page. Plant unleashes some spine-chilling squeals during the theramin freakout in Whole Lotta Love. Page's fingers become hopelessly entangled in the strings during Black Dog.

The tape is very clear and well-balanced, if a bit boomy.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 193: 2/16/1975 St. Louis, MO

2/16/1975 St. Louis, MO  Bertha Blues

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

The show gets off to a somewhat shaky start. Page seems a bit lost at times during Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant apologizes for having to postpone the earlier date, saying "I'm sorry about the last time, but I was on me back in Chicago." In My Time of Dying is excellent. Plant exclaims "happy sunday!" while calling to Jesus. As the song ends, he tells the crowd "it's no good shoutin' for a drumstick, we got hours to do yet." Page's fingers race across the fretboard during a frantic The Song Remains the Same. Kashmir is incredibly powerful.

No Quarter is strong, despite Page's uneven guitar solo. Bonzo is in good form during the instrumental section. As the song ends, Plant announces "it's startin' to cook now!" Page shreds erratically through the guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. Dazed and Confused is introduced as "a track that came together in the first ten minutes of our rather immaculate conception." Page hints at Train Ket a Rollin' during the lead-in to the bow solo. His fingers get a bit sticky during the guitar solo/workout section, regaining fluency following the call and response with Plant. The song reaches its apex during the hypnotic outro jam.

Before Stairway to Heaven, Plant tells the crowd that the song was conceived "in a moment of true clear light." Page blazes through a fantastic guitar solo. Plant exclaims "Joe Crowley needs love!" during the second verse of Whole Lotta Love. Page's fingers get stuck in the strings during the guitar solo in Black Dog. As the band returns to the stage, Plant announces "John Bonham, the heavy metal kid, takes to the drums." Heartbreaker includes an impromptu rendition of Jimmy Reed's Shame, Shame, Shame following the a cappella solo. As the band leaves the stage, Plant announces "thank you very much indeed, we've had a wonderful night."

The tape is a superb soundboard recording.

Day 192: 2/14/1975 Uniondale, NY

2/14/1975 Uniondale, NY (1st gen>cdr)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

The band's final night in New York begins with a brief soundcheck before Rock and Roll explodes out of the gate. Plant sings about "the New York queens" during Sick Again. The thunderous rhythm section pummels the crowd as Page blazes through the guitar solos. The combined onslaught threatens to destroy the taper's equipment. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "today is one of the last of the pagan traditions that is carried on into the twentieth century, it's the day for... sewing wild seeds" before dedicating the show to Saint Valentine himself.

Prior to Over the Hills and Far Away, Plant announces "we intend to take a knife and cut right through the glorious ice cream of Led Zeppelin and give you a little bit of vanilla, a little bit of chocolate, a little bit of color, a little bit of everything." He mentions Swan Song for the first time before In My Time of Dying, which includes some great slide work from Page. Plant tells the crowd "there's a lot of numbers that we haven't done for such a long time that we've nearly forgot them, but there's a few people that we see here night after night... and so, for those people, we're gonna play you somethin' and who knows what it's gonna sound like!" before the first appearance of Since I've Been Loving You since 7/29/1973. The band seems a bit hesitant at first, warming up as the song progresses. Page is especially subdued, unsure if his injured finger can take the strain. As the song ends, Plant announces "despite our depleted physical forms, we intend to shake this building," adding "and as you're fully aware, we can't shake this building by ourselves."

The Song Remains the Same is somewhat disjointed with both Page and Plant getting a bit lost early in the song. Kashmir is introduced as "one that the regulars who come here every night know quite well." Plant delivers a strong performance, having regained control of his voice. As the song ends, Page makes a brief reference to Train Kept a Rollin'. No Quarter is fantastically epic. The climax of the instrumental section is explosively chaotic. An excellent performance. Page is on fire during Trampled Underfoot, soloing wildly at every opportunity with Bonzo close behind. A blistering performance, the best thus far. A large portion of Moby Dick is missing from the tape.

Plant dedicates Dazed and Confused to "all the people who've been good to us in New York." Page solos wildly during the lead-in to the bow solo, getting the band into a frantic jam prior to the hauntingly beautiful San Francisco interlude. Unfortunately, there is a cut in the tape during the heavy section, leaving us near the beginning of the bow solo. Page is absolutely on fire during the guitar solo/workout section. His fingers fly across the fretboard as Bonzo and Jones race along at top speed. As the song ends, Plant hints at Tangerine before admitting he's forgotten the words. Stairway to Heaven is introduced as "a song that supersedes our wildest dreams." There is a cut in the tape just as Page begins an excellent guitar solo. The theramin freakout during Whole Lotta Love is surrounded by a funky jam. As the band returns to the stage, Plant tells the crowd "we'd like to thank you for New York being New York." Heartbreaker is preceded by a heavy jam with references to Ricky Nelson's If You Can't Rock Me. The a cappella solo is followed by an impromptu rendition of Elvis Presley's A Mess of Blues. Page shreds through the fast guitar solo. Bonzo gets lost during the final verse, resulting in a unique stop-start arrangement. An incredibly loose performance.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit noisy and overloaded.

Day 191: 2/13/1975 Uniondale, NY

2/13/1975 Uniondale, NY  Fighting Back at the Coliseum

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins with the usual announcement of "the American return of Led Zeppelin." The crowd erupts as Rock and Roll crashes into motion. Page shreds through the guitar solos during Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "tonight we are feeling good," and it shows. Page solos wildly as Bonzo and Jones hold down a funky groove during Over the Hills and Far Away. In My Time of Dying is outstanding. There is a slight cut near the beginning of The Song Remains the Same. There are some minor speed fluctuations during an otherwise excellent performance of The Rain Song. 

No Quarter is absolutely fantastic. Jones's dramatic piano solo is followed by a flawlessly epic guitar solo from Page. An amazing performance, one of the best thus far. Before Dazed and Confused, Plant tells the crowd "we got together a long time ago in a little tiny room, couldn't afford a big room... and one of the first things that we did made up our mind to stick together... and this was it." The San Francisco interlude is hauntingly beautiful, one of the best iterations of the piece thus far. The band is absolutely on fire during the marathon guitar solo/workout section, led by Page's maniacal, lightning-fast soloing. He once again includes the riff from Walter's Walk briefly before a slight cut in the tape. The Mars, The Bringer of War section is utterly devastating. The forty-one minute epic reaches its climax with the blistering outro jam. A stellar performance, quite possibly the best thus far. Undoubtedly the longest and most complex.

Whole Lotta Love is played nearly complete for the first time this tour. The frenzied theramin freakout is linked nonstop with the Out on the Tiles intro to Black Dog. Page shreds erratically through the guitar solo. As the band returns to the stage, Plant introduces "a good friend of ours, Mr. Ron Wood!" joking "we're going to have a happening." He hints at Roll Over Beethoven before introducing Communication Breakdown as "an old Led Faces number." Page and Wood trade licks during a fantastic funky breakdown leading up to the frenzied finale. A phenomenal performance. Must hear.

The tape is an excellent audience recording, very clear and well-balanced, augmented by an inferior recording, which is a bit muffled and noisy.

Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 190: 2/12/1975 New York, NY

2/12/1975 New York, NY  Four Blocks in the Snow

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

The band's third and final night at Madison Square Garden begins with a brief soundcheck, even Plant attempts to warm up his sore voice. Page blazes through the guitar solo near the end of Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "we came four blocks in the snow to get here," adding "isn't it good though, it snows?... doesn't it change the vibe of the city?... I think it's great." In My Time of Dying is excellent. The band is on fire during The Song Remains the Same. Page shreds wildly through the guitar solos with amazing precision as Bonzo and Jones race along at top speed. The Rain Song is absolutely fantastic, one of the best in recent memory.

Kashmir sounds like an army marching into battle. A mesmerizing performance, the best thus far. No Quarter is introduced as featuring "the impeccably clean fingernails of John Paul Jones... the man who made Monty Python's Flying Circus a flop in New York." Page delivers a dramatically erratic guitar solo. Jones somehow ends up in a different key at the end of the instrumental section. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "I told you we intend to have a good time." Page shreds frantically through the guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. Before Moby Dick, Plant announces "ladies and gentlemen, at this point in the evening we wanna feature one of the finest percussionists that Led Zeppelin's ever had... the bowler-hatted wonder... the man who made constipation passé, John Bonham!"

Dazed and Confused is introduced as "the immaculate conception." Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the lead-in to the bow solo. The San Francisco interlude is brilliant. After blazing through an explosive entrance to the guitar solo/workout section, Page breaks a string, leaving Plant to improvise a brief vocal solo. The instrumental machinery is in full-swing, led by Page's wild soloing. He even gets into the riff from Walter's Walk for the first time since 1/7/1973. The Mars, the Bringer of War section is followed by an amazing stop-start jam. The epic journey reaches its climax with the phenomenal outro jam. A truly mind-blowing performance, one of the best thus far.

Page tears through the guitar solo during Black Dog. Plant hints at You Shook Me before the show-closing Heartbreaker. The walls of the arena quake under the power of Bonzo's thunderous fills during the initial verses. The a cappella solo is followed by an impromptu rendition of That's All Right. Page shreds through the frenzied guitar solo section. As the band leaves the stage, Plant announces "ladies and gentlemen of New York, you're too much... and we ain't so bad ourselves." An unbelievable performance. Must hear.

The tape is an outstanding matrix of audience and soundboard recordings, fit for an official release.

Day 189: 2/10/1975 Landover, MD

2/10/1975 Landover, MD  (master>dat)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

As the tape begins, someone near the taper can be heard saying "they're gonna cut out a lot of the old songs." Plant's voice starts out a bit rough, but it doesn't hurt his enthusiasm. Page shreds through an aggressive guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. Plant asks the crowd if they've heard any of the new songs on the radio before an explosive In My Time of Dying. There are a few brief tape disturbances during The Song Remains the Same. Before Kashmir, Plant tells the crowd "this features the magical mystical fingers of John Paul Jones," joking "it coulda been Liberace." There is a brief cut at the very beginning of the song.

No Quarter features another excellent, dynamic guitar solo from Page. Unfortunately, there are some tape issues near the end of the instrumental section. Trampled Underfoot  is a bit disjointed at times. Before Moby Dick, Plant announces "ladies and gentlemen... direct from Monty Python's Flying Circus... our percussionist... not Karen Carpenter, but John Bonham!" When asked what he thinks of the show so far, one of the taper's friends comments "it's good... it's a little long," to which the taper responds "couldn't be long enough, man."

The crowd erupts as Plant announces the band's intention to "take things right back to the beginning" prior to Dazed and Confused. Plant's ethereal howls echo through the arena during the haunting San Francisco interlude. There is a slight cut during the string-slapping section of the bow solo. Page's fingers race across the fretboard at lightning speed during the frantic guitar solo/workout section. The ever-expanding outro is an epic drama. Black Dog is devastatingly heavy. There is a slight cut during the final verse. The crowd goes wild as the band returns to the stage to close the show with Heartbreaker. The guitar solo section is a frenzied explosion of energy. Unfortunately, the tape speeds up during the final verse.

The tape is a bit noisy and lacking in bottom end.

Two minutes of 8mm color footage from the show is available on Hercules's Film Noir Vol. 1 (although not listed on the menu). The footage, which features several clips of Heartbreaker, is shot from close to the stage, but is a bit blurry and quite fragmentary. The footage ends with the studio version of Trampled Underfoot over a series of handmade credits.

Click here for a video sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 188: 2/8/1975 Philadelphia, PA

2/8/1975 Philadelphia, PA  (1st gen>cdr)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

A cut in the tape during the first verse of Rock and Roll leaves us near the beginning of the guitar solo as the tapers fumbles with his equipment. In My Time of Dying is incredibly powerful. Plant's voice is finally showing signs of improvement. The crowd erupts as Page blazes through The Song Remains the Same, prompting Plant to exclaim "take it easy!" Following The Rain Song, he asks the rowdy crowd "can we advocate that people please stay in the seats?" No Quarter is fantastic. The instrumental section is an epic journey. Page shreds wildly through the guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. 

Before Moby Dick, Plant announces "we come to the point in the show where we bring you sheer musicianship, sheer craftsmanship... from the man with only two cavities... Mr. Ultraviolence... John Bonham!" Someone near the taper can be heard discussing a missing friend during the initial verse of Dazed and Confused. The band is out of control during the guitar solo/workout section. Page's fingers race across the fretboard in a violent cascade of notes. The return of the main riff is utterly devastating. Page solos wildly during the thunderous, pulsating outro. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "we really enjoyed that, we're glad you were here as well." Stairway to Heaven features another outstanding guitar solo from Page. The band closes the show with an explosive Heartbreaker. An excellent performance, the band finally seems to be warming up.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant.

Thirteen minutes of 8mm color footage is available on Hercules's Film Noir Vol. 1. The film, shot from the floor section of the arena, includes the majority of Rock and Roll, Sick Again, and Over the Hills and Far Away, as well as several clips of In My Time of Dying. The picture is a bit blurry and washed-out at times, but is quite enjoyable.

Click here for a video sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 187: 2/7/1975 New York, NY

2/7/1975 New York, NY  (combo source)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

The tape begins with a series of excited cheers from the tapers as someone onstage announces "the American return of Led Zeppelin!" The show gets off to a somewhat sluggish start. Plant sounds tired as he croaks through Sick Again, his voice still has not healed. Over the Hills and Far Away is introduced as "reflections of a dream." As the song ends, Plant complains about a loud hum coming from the PA before introducing In My Time of Dying, saying "strangely enough, due to the state of our health, it's quite an apt title." 

Before The Song Remains the Same, Plant responds to the whistling crowd, saying "that whistle reminds me of a guy who used to manage a band called Ten Years After, and every time it was time for them to go onstage in New York, he used to blow a whistle... poor fuckers." There is a slight cut at the very beginning of Kashmir. One of the tapers comments "they're on tonight, man" before the first verse of No Quarter. The instrumental section features an excellent, laid-back guitar solo from Page. Bonzo hammers at his drums with incredible power and intensity as Page shreds through a wild guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. For  some inexplicable reason, a large portion of Moby Dick is repeated following a cut in the tape during the drum solo.

Page solos wildly during the frantic lead-in to the bow solo, following a source change during Dazed and Confused. The guitar solo/workout section is preceded by a heavy jam. Page shreds erratically as Bonzo and Jones hammer along at high speed. Page's call and response with Plant is repeated after a cut in the tape. The Mars, the Bringer of War section is a thunderous explosion. A devastatingly heavy performance. Page blazes through an outstanding guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven. Heartbreaker features an excellent extended a cappella solo followed by an explosive fast guitar solo.

The tape is a combination of two sources. The first, used through the initial verses of Dazed and Confused and a bit during Stairway to Heaven, is clear and well-balanced, if a bit distant at the beginning. The second, used for the remainder of the show, is muffled, hissy, and sounds as if it's sourced from vinyl.

Seven minutes of excellent 16mm color footage from the show is available on Hercules's Film Noir Vol. 1 and Celebration's Latter Visions. The film, which includes clips of Rock and Roll, Sick Again, and Over the Hills and Far Away, is shot from directly in front of the stage, presumably by a local television crew. It includes many dramatic close-ups of Page, Plant, and Bonzo.

Click here for a video sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 186: 2/6/1975 Montreal, Quebec

2/6/1975 Montreal, Quebec  The 1975 World Tour

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby  Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Heartbreaker

Plant continues to have trouble with his voice, he growls through the opening numbers. Page disappears briefly in the middle of Over the Hills and Far Away, just as the guitar solo is supposed to begin. As the song ends, one of the tapers announces "specially priced two record set on Kornyfone, Led Zeppelin live in Montreal!" Shouted requests for Hey Hey What Can I Do, White Summer, and Travelling Riverside Blues can be heard before In My Time of Dying, which Plant introduces as "something that takes us back to the original influences that started Led Zeppelin in the first place."

Page's fingers race across the fretboard during The Song Remains the Same. Before Kashmir, Plant explains the Mellotron to the crowd, saying "it is a very peculiar instrument because every time we take it somewhere, it goes out of tune." As the song ends, one of the tapers can be heard shouting "holy fuck!" The band is on fire during a fantastic performance of No Quarter. The instrumental section is an epic journey led by Page's excellent guitar solo. While introducing Trampled Underfoot, Plant tells the crowd "lyrics and connotations can be parallel, the motor car can be parallel to the body... this is a song about a motor car, but it's really all about cocks." Page shreds through an erratic guitar solo as Bonzo and Jones hold down a tight groove. Plant introduces Bonzo as "a bucket full of smiles" before Moby Dick, later calling him "Karen Carpenter" following the marathon drum solo.

Plant's howls echo through the arena during the mournful San Francisco interlude in Dazed and Confused. Page is on fire during the guitar solo/workout section. The thunderous Mars, the Bringer of War section is led by Bonzo's intimidating death march. Page solos wildly over the hypnotic, syncopated rhythm during the outro. An outstanding performance, the best of the tour thus far. As the song ends, one of the tapers can be heard exclaiming "I'm so fuckin' stoned!" Page blazes through an amazing guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven. Black Dog is devastatingly heavy. The band's return to the stage is met with a deafening cheer. Page holds back during the a cappella solo in Heartbreaker, but makes up for it during the frenzied fast guitar solo. As the band leaves the stage, Plant announces "Montreal, you are the best!" An excellent performance.

The tape is very clear and well-balanced. However, the frequent false stereo panning effect can be a bit distracting at times.

Day 185: 2/4/1975 Uniondale, NY

2/4/1975 Uniondale, NY  (3rd gen>cdr)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused

Shouts of "rock and roll!" can be heard coming from the crowd as the tape begins. Following Sick Again, Plant announces "our intention on this tour is to not only get laid, but also to try and give you people, who have supported us for seven years, a little bit of everything that we've ever done." In My Time of Dying features some excellent slide work from Page. Unfortunately, after a cut at the end of the song, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, and Kashmir are missing from the tape. We return just as Jones is beginning his piano solo during No Quarter. Page delivers an elaborate, dynamic guitar solo. A truly amazing performance.

Page shreds through a frantic guitar solo during Trampled Underfoot. Before Moby Dick, Plant tells the crowd "at this point every evening... we go to the dressing room to get some head... and feature one of the finest musicians that ever graced the British Isles." A cut in the tape around nineteen minutes into another marathon drum solo leaves us in the middle of the initial verses of Dazed and Confused. Page solos wildly during the lead-in to the bow solo. The San Francisco interlude is a mournful funeral march. Unfortunately, the recording ends five minutes into Page's bow solo.

The tape is distant, muffled, and quite hissy. The sound quality deteriorates further toward the end of the tape.

Day 184: 2/3/1975 New York, NY

2/3/1975 New York, NY  (1st gen>cdr)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins with a lot of whooping and hollering from the tapers before someone onstage announces "the American return of Led Zeppelin." One of the tapers can be heard saying "fuck the sodas man, light up the jay" as Rock and Roll crashes into motion. The first verse is met with shouts of "louder!" and "his voice sounds like shit!" as they struggle to find their matches. Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the guitar solo at the end of Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant asks the crowd "what ever happened to nice warm weather? it's so cold!" adding "nevermind, I think we can overcome that tonight."

Over the Hills and Far Away is devastatingly heavy. Page shreds wildly through an erratic guitar solo. Plant's voice is still rough, but slowly improving. One of the tapers can be heard saying "double neck guitar, man... that's a fine-lookin' piece of machinery" as Plant is introducing The Song Remains the Same. Page blazes through the guitar solos as Bonzo hammers at his drums with incredible intensity. Plant's injured voice lends a beautifully mournful tone to a fantastic performance of The Rain Song.

Following Kashmir, Plant tells the crowd "that was a little piece called Kashmir" joking "it costs about twenty dollars a kilo." No Quarter is introduced as "a nice wintery number." Plant describes Trampled Underfoot as having "vague sexual connotations, in that it's linked with an automobile" adding "it's an old pink truck." Before Moby Dick, Bonzo is introduced as "the man that made Led Zeppelin a myth... or a farce." One of the tapers can be heard saying "Bonham's really freakin' out, man" during the marathon drum solo.

How Many More Times has been dropped from the setlist to make way for the return of Dazed and Confused, which makes its first appearance since 7/29/1973, eighteen months earlier on this very stage. Page isn't quite up to speed yet, his fingers get stuck in the strings during the lead-in to the bow solo. The band seems a bit lost toward the end of the San Francisco interlude. Plant repeatedly moans "her face is cracked from smilin'" as Page begins the bow solo. Things get a bit disjointed during the abbreviated guitar solo/workout section, no one seems to remember the arrangement. The return to the main riff is a disaster. An uneven first attempt. 

Page blazes through the guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven. Black Dog is excellent, Page's fingers race across the fretboard during the guitar solo. The show-closing Communication Breakdown is preceded by an impromptu funky jam, including lyrics from I Wish You Would. As the band leaves the stage, Plant tells the crowd "we'd lke to give you a big round of applause, you've been grand." Overall, a strong performance with a few weak spots.

The tape is clear and well-balanced. However, the tapers' running commentary can be a bit distracting at times.

Day 183: 1/31/1975 Detroit, MI

1/31/1975 Detroit, MI  Detroit Rock City

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Stairway to Heaven, How Many More Times, Black Dog

Plant continues to have trouble with his voice, struggling to retain some sense of melody during the opening numbers. Page begins to warm up during the guitar solo at the end of Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's our great pleasure to be just about back." Page and Jones lose each other for a moment at the end of the guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. In My Time of Dying is introduced as "what you might call... traditional." Page's fingers fly across the fretboard during The Song Remains the Same. No Quarter is absolutely fantastic. The instrumental section is an epic journey.

Bonzo is introduced as "the man who made Led Zeppelin a legend" before Moby Dick. While introducing what will prove to be the final appearance of How Many More Times, Plant tells the crowd "we decided about a week ago that we should start doin' this again, cause we haven't done it for about six years... it's called jerkin' off." The band seems lost in the arrangement, unsure about what comes next. Unfortunately, the song is cut just before the final "gun!" Page's fingers become hopelessly entangled in the strings during the show-closing Black Dog.

The tape is clear and well-balanced, if a bit noisy at times.

Day 182: 1/29/1975 Greensboro, NC

1/29/1975 Greensboro, NC  Footstomping Graffiti

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

Plant is a shadow of his former self, gasping his way through Rock and Roll, choking on every word. Before Over the Hills and Far Away, someone near the taper can be heard exclaiming "look at how low Page has his guitar!" The end of the song is punctuated by a loud firecracker explosion. Plant's injured moans add a mournful tone to The Rain Song. Before Kashmir, someone near the taper can be heard saying "I want a copy of that tape." No Quarter features an excellent, moody piano solo from Jones. Page solos wildly during the coda. Plant again mentions Page's broken finger before introducing Trampled Underfoot. Bonzo is introduced as "Mr. Ultraviolence" before Moby Dick. How Many More Times is sloppy and uninspired. Plant is almost inaudible by the end of Stairway to Heaven. Page's fingers become hopelessly entangled in the strings during the guitar solo at the end of Black Dog. The band closes the show with a quick and dirty Communication Breakdown. Truly a night to forget.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and boomy.

Day 181: 1/25/1975 Indianapolis, IN

1/25/1975 Indianapolis, IN  Condition Breakdown

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, The Wanton Song, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog

Someone near the taper can be heard saying "this is gonna be so good" just before Rock and Roll crashes into motion. Plant has completely lost his voice. Unable to sing a single note, he literally growls his way through the opening numbers. A cut during The Song Remains the Same leaves us at the end of the first verse of The Rain Song. The song is plagued by feedback problems. Following Kashmir, Plant tells the crowd "we're havin' a little bit of trouble here with the monitor system... I think there's some crushed window pane stuck in the speaker." He improvises an entirely new melody during the final performance of The Wanton Song to accommodate his painfully weak voice.

Jones is introduced as "the man in constant darkness" before No Quarter. A few slight cuts detract from an otherwise fantastic instrumental section. Unfortunately, Page's guitar solo is cut near the end. Little more than the intro and outro of Moby Dick survives. How Many More Times is introduced as "a very, very, very, very old one." Unfortunately, a cut in the tape during the lead-in to the bow solo leaves us at the final "gun!", skipping the majority of the song. Page's intro to Stairway to Heaven is missing from the tape. His fingers get a bit sticky during the guitar solo. As the band returns to the stage, Plant tells the crowd "we're gonna try and go out with a bit of style." Page shreds through an extended guitar solo during the show-closing Black Dog.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and hissy.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 180: 1/24/1975 Cleveland, OH

1/24/1975 Cleveland, OH  Ultraviolence

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, The Wanton Song, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

Plant continues to have trouble with his voice, croaking his way through Rock and Roll. Page blazes through the guitar solos during Sick Again. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's very nice to be back in your part of the woods again." In My Time of Dying features some excellent slide work from Page. The end of the song is punctuated by a loud firecracker blast. The Rain Song is beautiful, despite Plant's injured voice. He refers to Page as "Jimmy 'Jack Daniel's' Page" while introducing a devastatingly heavy The Wanton Song. No Quarter features a long, wandering guitar solo from Page. 

Plant mentions Page's broken finger before introducing Trampled Underfoot. Bonzo is introduced as "Mr. Ultraviolence" before Moby Dick. How Many More Times is excellent. Unfortunately, the finale is missing from the tape. Plant makes a brief reference to Your Time is Gonna Come before introducing Stairway to Heaven as "one of the songs that is encompassed in the spectrum of what we've managed to get together in seven years." Page delivers a fantastic, dynamic guitar solo. Unfortunately, the tape gradually slows down throughout the song. The beginning of Black Dog is met with a deafening roar from the crowd. The band closes the show with a quick and nasty Communication Breakdown, which includes a bit of lemon-squeezing from Plant during the breakdown.

The tape is distant and noisy.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

UPDATE: 1/22/1975 Chicago, IL

1/22/1975 Chicago, IL  (1st gen)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, The Wanton Song, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

The newly-surfaced recording begins with a few seconds of crowd noise before Rock and Roll crashes into motion. Plant's voice has improved greatly since the first night, but is still a bit rough at times. Following Sick Again, he tells the crowd "this is the last night we got in Chicago, I'm gettin' over me flu, Pagey's finger is just about healin', and we're gonna have a good time tonight." Page shreds through the guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. In My Time of Dying is excellent. The beginning of The Song Remains the Same is missing from the tape. 

Plant delivers a strong performance during a powerful rendition of The Wanton Song. As the song ends, a cut in the tape leads directly into Jones's intro to No Quarter. There is a slight cut in the tape during the piano solo. The instrumental section features a dynamic guitar solo from Page. Plant introduces Trampled Underfoot as "another one of those tracks that we hope will soon get to you through the good media of FM radio" before dedicating the song to Chuck Berry. Page blazes through the guitar solo. Bonzo is introduced as "the man with only two cavities" before Moby Dick. The majority of the drum solo is missing from the tape. 

How Many More Times is introduced as "an old one." Page solos wildly during the lead-in to the bow solo as Plant sings about his "little school girl", ending with "she's gone!" The final verse is a riotous explosion of energy. As the song ends, Plant jokes "I think we should rehearse that, maybe put it on an album." There is a slight cut accompanied by a brief volume shift during the initial verses of Stairway to Heaven, just before Bonzo enters. Page breaks a string during the guitar solo, causing him to improvise an alternate arrangement. The pyrotechnics at the beginning of Black Dog are met with a loud cheer from the crowd. The band closes the show with a blistering Communication Breakdown, which includes lyrics from Kisses Sweeter than Wine during the funky breakdown. A surprisingly strong performance for the band's final night in Chicago.

The tape is clear and enjoyable, if a bit distant, hissy, and lacking in bottom end.

Day 179: 1/21/1975 Chicago, IL

1/21/1975 Chicago, IL  Film Noir Vol. 1

No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Black Dog

The footage begins with a close-up of Plant as he introduces No Quarter. The stage is enveloped by a thick cloud of fog as the song begins. A cut during the first verse leads directly into Trampled Underfoot. Plant has regained some of the strength in his voice. Page shreds through an erratic guitar solo. As the song ends, another cut leads us to Plant's introduction of Moby Dick, "featuring the bowler-hatted gentleman behind me." Following short fragments of the drum solo and Page's bow solo, we're left at the beginning of Whole Lotta Love. Page and Plant's rock star posturing is mesmerizing. Large flash pot explosions behind Bonzo's drum riser signal the beginning of Black Dog. Unfortunately, the recording ends during the third verse.

Roughly fifteen minutes in length, the excellent color footage is shot from very close to the stage and is the only document of the second night in Chicago to surface thus far. A highly enjoyable viewing experience, if only there were more.

Click here for a video sample courtesy of Black Beauty.

Day 179: 1/20/1975 Chicago, IL

1/20/1975 Chicago, IL  Sweet Home Chicago

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, When the Levee Breaks, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, The Wanton Song, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

The tape begins as someone onstage announces "ladies and gentlemen, the American return of Led Zeppelin!" Plant has the flu and it shows, his voice is reduced to an injured monotone. Page blazes through the guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. The second and final appearance of When the Levee Breaks shows marked improvement on the performance in Brussels a week earlier. Plant makes mention of Page's broken finger following In My Time of Dying, joking "it must be for our sins."

Bonzo and Jones deliver a solid performance of The Wanton Song, despite their bandmates' hindrances. Trampled Underfoot is introduced as "a song for a guy who works at a gas station." Page shreds through an erratic guitar solo. Moby Dick is followed by the first appearance of How Many More Times since 1/22/1973, which includes the Dazed and Confused bow solo dropped in the middle. As the song ends, Plant announces "that was for the old folks!" The Out on the Tiles intro to Black Dog is devastatingly heavy. The band closes the show with a high-energy Communication Breakdown. Bonzo and Jones stop playing for a moment during the guitar solo, leaving Page to shred furiously a cappella. 

The tape is distant and noisy.

Day 178: 1/12/1975 Brussels, Belgium

1/12/1975 Brussels, Belgium  (2nd gen>dat>cdr)

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, When the Levee Breaks, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, The Wanton Song, No Quarter, Trampled Underfoot, In My Time of Dying, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Communication Breakdown

The first recording from 1975 and the band's second show in nearly eighteen months. The crowd erupts as Rock and Roll crashes into motion. The finale is immediately followed by the explosive opening chords of the first appearance of Sick Again. Following Over the Hills and Far Away, Plant tells the crowd "among the new numbers are some old numbers we never really attempted before... this is one we really always enjoyed and finally got 'round to playing" before the first rare appearance of When the Levee Breaks. Bonzo's thunderous intro echoes through the arena. Plant's initial harmonica outburst threatens to destroy the taper's equipment. Page's slide work seems slightly out of tune throughout, a somewhat shaky first attempt.

Page has recently broken one of the fingers on his left hand, forcing him to adopt a three-fingered playing style with varying results, as heard during a lackluster The Song Remains the Same. The Rain Song is followed by the first appearance of Kashmir. After a cut in the tape, Plant introduces the first rare appearance of The Wanton Song as "another song of lust." Page butchers the guitar solo. The crowd begins to clap rhythmically during the final verse of an uneven No Quarter. The band hammers through the first appearance of Trampled Underfoot.

The new songs are met with approval from the excited crowd. Despite a few missteps, the band tears through the first appearance of In My Time of Dying. Stairway to Heaven is introduced as "a permanent favorite." Plant shreds his voice during the final verse. Whole Lotta Love has been reduced to a minute-long intro to Black Dog. Plant forgets the lyrics to the latter. Page's fingers become entangled in the strings during the guitar solo. The band closes the show with a terribly sloppy Communication Breakdown. A lackluster welcome to 1975.

The tape is distant and quite noisy.

Day 177: 7/29/1973 New York, NY

7/29/1973 New York, NY  The Garden Tapes Vol. 3

Rock and Roll, Celebration Day, Black Dog, Over the Hills and Far Away, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love, The Ocean, Thank You

The third and final night at Madison Square Garden used to create the 1976 concert film The Song Remains the Same and the live album of the same name. The tape begins with a brief soundcheck before Rock and Roll explodes out of the gate. Plant's voice starts off a bit rough, taking a few songs to warm up. Following Black Dog, he tells the crowd "this year in America, we decided to work extra hard, so we did two tours... and this is the last night of the last tour" adding "tonight we're gonna do our very best." 

Page shreds through an excellent guitar solo as Jones explores a funky groove during Over the Hills and Far Away. As the song ends, Plant jokes "really, you could call this gig a fitness test... just to see if we can really still do it." Bonzo hammers at his drums with incredible intensity during Misty Mountain Hop. Since I've Been Loving You is dramatic and powerful. Page blazes through the guitar solos during The Song Remains the Same. Plant introduces Dazed and Confused as "one of the songs from Zeppelin's embryo." The San Francisco interlude is fantastic. The guitar solo/workout section is somewhat erratic. Page solos wildly during the outro. 

Stairway to Heaven features an excellent guitar solo from Page. The end of the song is met with a tidal wave of deafening cheers from the crowd. Page's fingers fly across the fretboard during the a cappella solo in Heartbreaker. Bonzo and Jones lock into a high-speed funky rhythm as Page works his theramin wizardry during Whole Lotta Love. The Boogie Chillen' section features a fantastic guitar solo from Page. Bonzo plays a thunderous four-minute mini drum solo during the finale. Before The Ocean, Plant tells the crowd "tomorrow night I'll be lyin' on the grass in the middle of nowhere." Following an upbeat organ solo from Jones, the band closes the show with an outstanding performance of Thank You. A fitting finale to the 1973 North American tour.

The tape is a combination of two sources. The soundboard tape is excellent. The audience tape is distant and cacophonous.

For a fascinating breakdown and analysis of how The Song Remains the Same was created, visit Eddie Edwards's The Garden Tapes.

Day 176: 7/28/1973 New York, NY

7/28/1973 New York, NY The Garden Tapes Vol. 2

Rock and Roll, Celebration Day, Black Dog, Over the Hills and Far Away, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love, The Ocean

The second of three nights at Madison Square Garden used to create the 1976 concert film The Song Remains the Same and the live album of the same name. The show gets off to a somewhat sluggish start. Plant's voice is tired and weak, cracking and breaking frequently. Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the guitar solo in Black Dog. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "we had a really good one last night... what we intend to do is try and get it better every night." The instrumental section during No Quarter is a haunting death march, featuring an excellent guitar solo from Page. The Rain Song is beautiful.

Before Dazed and Confused, Plant tells the crowd "amongst the mêlée in 1968, we managed to meet in a tiny room, not half the size of this stage, and we all looked each other in the face and we all reckoned we'd got something to do that we hadn't quite done properly before." Page's fingers get stuck in the strings constantly as he solos wildly through the erratic guitar solo/workout section. The theramin freakout during Whole Lotta Love is preceded by a fantastic funky jam. Page blazes through the guitar solo during the Boogie Chillen' section. Before the band closes the show with The Ocean, Bonzo counts in "hoochie coo, one, two, three, four, hoochie coo!"

The tape is an excellent soundboard recording augmented by a distant, noisy audience recording.

For a fascinating breakdown and analysis of how The Song Remains the Same was created, visit Eddie Edwards's The Garden Tapes.

Day 175: 7/27/1973 New York, NY

7/27/1973 New York, NY The Garden Tapes Vol. 1

The Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love, The Ocean

The first of three nights at Madison Square Garden used to create the 1976 concert film The Song Remains the Same and the live album of the same name. The tape begins just after the first verse of an excellent The Rain Song. The heavy section is incredibly powerful. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "that was a sort of a love song" before introducing Dazed and Confused as "a very old one." Several shouts of "sit down!" can be heard coming from the crowd during the intro. Page's fingers fly across the fretboard during the frantic lead-in to the bow solo. The San Francisco interlude is both hauntingly beautiful and devastatingly heavy. The band is absolutely on fire during the outstanding guitar solo/workout section. Page shreds wildly during the outro. An incredibly powerful performance.

Before Stairway to Heaven, Plant tells the rowdy crowd "I think this is a song of hope... and it is a very quiet song, so shut up." Page's fingers get a bit sticky during an otherwise fantastic guitar solo, one of the best thus far. Someone in the crowd can be heard repeatedly shouting "The Ocean!" prior to Moby Dick, which Plant introduces by saying "ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Elvis Presley has now left the building." Page's fingers get stuck in the strings during the guitar solo in Heartbreaker. He blazes through the Boogie Chillen' section during Whole Lotta Love. As the song ends, Plant calls out "New York, goodnight." Strings of firecrackers crackle in the distance as the band returns to the stage to close the show with The Ocean.

The tape is a combination of two sources. The audience tape is fairly clear, if a bit overloaded and noisy. The soundboard tape is excellent.

Click here for audio samples courtesy of Black Beauty.

For a fascinating breakdown and analysis of how The Song Remains the Same was created, visit Eddie Edwards's The Garden Tapes.

Day 174: 7/24/1973 Pittsburgh, PA

7/24/1973 Pittsburgh, PA  (3rd gen)

Rock and Roll, Celebration Day, Black Dog, Over the Hills and Far Away, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Moby Dick*, Heartbreaker*, Whole Lotta Love*, The Ocean*

*- Pittsburgh Steelers

The tape begins with a series of stage announcements asking the crowd to be cool and sit down. Plant's voice starts off a bit rough, taking a few songs to warm up. Page's fingers get a bit sticky during the guitar solo in Black Dog. As the song ends, Plant asks the crowd "do you remember the last time we came here?... it was obviously in the days when women wore brassieres, because we scored a few." Page hints as the opening of Midnight Rambler before Misty Mountain Hop. Plant moans "don't send me to Heartbreak Hotel" near the end of Since I've Been Loving You.

There is a brief cut in the tape at the beginning of Jones's piano solo during No Quarter. A series of firecracker blasts interrupt the beginning of The Rain Song. As the song ends, Plant announces "John Paul Jones was responsible for the orchestra... and Mellotron was responsible for the fact that it didn't sound so good." Before Dazed and Confused, he tells the crowd "last time we did this next song in Pittsburgh, I remember I scored about five pairs of ladies underwear... fortunately now they've worn out, so I gotta get some new ones." Following an excellent San Francisco interlude, there is a brief cut at the beginning of the bow solo. Before Stairway to Heaven, Plant tells the crowd "sometimes this next piece invokes a sort of a mass feeling that is really, it's better than the best woman in the world... and sometimes there's too many firecrackers." Page blazes through an excellent guitar solo.

Before introducing Moby Dick, Plant makes an announcement asking an audience member named Tammy Davis to meet her boyfriend at the side of the stage. There is a significant decline in sound quality before the tape cuts off about ten minutes into the drum solo. Plant tells the crowd "once again I must apologize for the fact that there's no video screens, but somebody's head will roll... I promise" before introducing Heartbreaker as "the final blast-off." The band is absolutely on fire during the fast guitar solo section. The raucous Boogie Chillen' section during Whole Lotta Love features an excellent guitar solo from Page. Plant trades lyrics with the crowd during the "way down inside..." section. The band closes the show with an explosive The Ocean. Plant sings "Carmen's only four years old" during the first verse.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and hissy.