6/14/1977 New York, NY (unknown gen)The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Over the Hills and Far Away, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top
The sixth night at The Garden and the band's final New York performance in its original form begins with a fiercely energetic The Song Remains the Same. Plant's aggressive snarl dominates a ferocious Sick Again. As the song ends, he apologizes for the delay, saying "there was a real reason for it, I'd got no clothes to wear," which is met with shouts of "bullshit!" from the crowd. Page's fingers are like razor blades as he slashes and shreds through an erratic guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. Plant again tries to sing the chorus of Over the Hills and Far Away in its original melody, but falls short. Page is all over the place during the guitar solo. Plant introduces Since I've Been Loving You as "a song about the doubts of love," adding "and if there's anybody wandering around this auditorium tonight who's in doubt... don't be." Page has reverted to the sharp, angular soloing style characteristic of the 1975 North American tour.
Jones is introduced as "one of the greatest yachtsmen on Central Park" before No Quarter. Page and Jones get into a spirited interplay prior to an epic guitar solo section. There is a cut in the tape during the final verse. Page nearly destroys the guitar solos during Ten Years Gone. Plant hints at Gallows Pole before The Battle of Evermore. Going to California is introduced as "a song about the desire to find what you want and sometimes almost giving up." Page hints at Pinball Wizard at the beginning of Black Country Woman, which is dedicated to Ral Donner. Plant delivers a powerful performance during Kashmir. Unfortunately, the recording ends just over three minutes into Over the Top.
The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and noisy. Unfortunately, it runs slightly fast.
It's a great concert. I really liked when Jonesy played a little bit of Sakura Sakura(Japanese folk song) in his piano solo.
ReplyDeleteThis is the gig where some idiot almost blew off Page's hand off with an M80 right before the encores.Plant was beyond pissed.I haven't been able to find this show in its complete form.
ReplyDeleteJonesy played Boogie-woogie in the boogie jam section as the piano plays as it dances away.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great concert ... Plant's voice was amazing and so was Page's playing. In 1975, I saw an amazing show, musically, with messed up vocals and frozen bodies on stage ... very little movement! 2/14/75 vs. 6/14/77 ... what still bothers me to this day, was the encore portion of the 1977 show. Robert comes onstage for encores and responds to firecrackers going off while they were off stage... he claims that these firecrackers hit Jimmy's hand and that Jimmy was somehow injured. At the time the firecrackers went off they weren't onstage. I remember thinking how could the firecrackers hit Jimmy and be so precise as hitting his fingers when they weren't on stage, when the fire crackers exploded! I was there ... approx. 30th row center floor. In any case... great performance ... too bad it was their last at MSG.
ReplyDeleteThese MSG shows are bloody good! I think the unfortunate thing is that they we're poorly taped (for the most part). Luckily the more recent remasters/mixes rectify this and what was once rather hard work at times has become a highly enjoyable listening experience : )
ReplyDelete