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Ep. 261 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This show is all kinds of magickal, to me. First, I was there. Second, Jimmy Page was on fire this whole tour. Third, Robert Plant was in attendance so the band knocked it up a notch. This is October 29, 1988 and Jimmy Page is at the Worcester Centrum supporting his Outrider album.

I play a stellar Midnight Moonlight w/Black Mountainside, an even more amazing solo section of The Chase w/ bow solo, noise solo (short), and Dazed & Confused w/ some Walter’s Walk. It’s awesome. We finish up with a perfect, I mean perfect, instrumental performance of Stairway to Heaven that may make you weep. For real.

You can download this entire concert right here: https://mega.nz/folder/Ch0jAahB#Smh9nKjyRdmvBqxFnmE0Vg

Ep. 260 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This a brand new transfer from Mike Millard’s master cassettes themselves (not the DAT tansfer) by the laudable JEMS tape group, remastered tastefully by DADGAD. June 27, 1977. Led Zeppelin’s final night of a five night run at the LA Forum.

I play Sick Again (which rocks), Since I’ve Been https://soundcloud.com/mark-donahue-590813338/ep-260-led-zeppelin-last-night-in-la-1977-millard-master?si=8c3c2e36052d47a4a89a7bd39f3c5800&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharingLoving You, which shines in its more mature 1977 arrangement, and an adventurous Ten Years Gone in which not every landing is stuck, but the attempts are noteworthy.

This is a stellar recording of really good show. Lots of magic here. Zeppelin at the Forum is not to be missed.

You can download this recording right here: https://mega.nz/folder/PlNWTBJA#nePlH1FRV-mAupB8hzk72g

Ep. 259 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This is an absolute joy of a gig from John Paul Jones, who appeared at the Big Ears Music Festival in Knoxville, TN on March 22, 2024. He played all three days of the event. One night with Sons of Chipotle, one night solo (which is what I’m playing), and one night with Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth. Our boy gets around.

I play a few tracks from his solo set, an isolated bass rendition of Ramble On (just a couple of minutes long), Since I’ve Been Loving You on the grand piano, an already legendary performance of Your Time is Gonna Come on a 1928 Wurlitzer organ, and a haunting, elegiac Down to the River to Pray, off of his solos album Zooma.

This is a master class in virtuosity and humility. He’s a genius and a very lovely man, who completely holds the torch for Led Zeppelin magick in this moment. Enjoy.

You can download this complete set right here: https://mega.nz/folder/yp8lnR4a#kYBClEUCf3OQTr7kwB7bfQ

Ep. 258 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This episode is a request from long time friend and Patron, Other David. Second Knebworth holds a special place in his heart, and he requested I cover this show, which I happily did.

We hear the last performance of No Quarter by the original 4 members, with some smooth and jazzy runs by Jimmy, and some almost chaotic chops by Jonesy. It’s a unique performance, vibe-wise, and I like it.

We also hear a fairly pensive Achilles Last Stand with Jimmy deep in thought during the solo, and it also has a unique vibe, which is helped by the audience recording (Galactic Messiah from EVSD). We finish up with Whole Lotta Love with the new arrangement, as well as a rollicking boogie section. Good stuff. Great Band.

You can download this audience recording right here: https://mega.nz/folder/C4dlUBoA#OccO0vgWhH_3Gj7PtWC_dQ

Ep. 257 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This is an absolutely delightful 1975 Led Zeppelin concert. 2/12/75 in New York City we hear an excellent audience recording from Jerry Moore, who made a great recording. Jimmy is pretty on top of his game, broken finger notwithstanding. Robert is in great spirits, and Jonesy and Bonzo are locked in tighter than a tourniquet.

We hear Sick Again (super tight and Robert has a good time), Over the Hills (super awesome with a unique solo from Jimmy with him stretching out with some great licks). We finish up with a badass performance of Kashmir. Sounds like the Les Paul to me, too, so it’s extra meaty. Jimmy has some really nice riffs and licks in this. The wings are still wet on this song, so it’s nice to hear them groove around a little as they work out the final form.

As always you can download this show for free right here: https://mega.nz/file/6ht1kLDL#XjgtZXcpBwVyBcOQn212vc7SCsmWNlMF1BKKlW5XDDo

Ep. 256 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

I circle back to this amazing show, because in episode 249 I had the raw recording not the DADGAD remaster as I’d thought. This show fixes that and highlights this great show in all its glory.
My absolute favorite performance of In My Time of Dying, along with Nobody’s Fault But Mine, and Over the Hills.
This show is so so so good.

You can grab the proper remaster right here: https://mega.nz/folder/29U1xAZb#ywg4n7HuVyOivoPlVlBQ1w

Ep. 254 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast: First Live Whole Lotta Love

This is one of the all time best concerts ever. Led Zeppelin at the Fillmore April 26, 1969 upgraded from a 1st VHS source. We witness the end of the telecaster era, the penultimate As Long As I Have You, an unreal How Many More Times, and the first extant performance of Whole Lotta Love, ever!
This show is perfect. It goes to eleven.

You can download this amazing recording here: https://mega.nz/folder/W8UimZDR#-5Bx9xWhg9di3KF42uURuA

Ep. 254 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This is a show I’ve covered in the long long ago, but I was listening to it and wanted to share more of the brilliance from hungry young Zeppelin. January 10, 1969 at the Fillmore West. These early shows are wild and feral, from a band that is completely unknown. Zep I hasn’t been released yet. No one knows anything about these guys, until they take the stage. Then it’s kaboom.

I play Train Kept A Rollin’ into I Can’t Quit You, Killing Floor (unreal), and How Many More Times from the Mines of Moriah. We finish with a very cool Yardbird’s track, For Your Love. Doesn’t get much better. They even call out Keith Relf which is pretty cool.

You can download this complete recording right here: https://mega.nz/folder/39sVHY4R#2XNW4aJr9XvOGPBNNqS5Sg

Ep. 253 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This is a joyous scorcher of a show. Led Zeppelin in Hamburg, DE on March 11, 1970 is a rollicking yet chill performance similar to the RAH show two months prior. We hear Heartbreaker, a Since I’ve Been Loving You so new the wings are still wet, and a massive How Many More Time is a vehicle for a billion cool medleys. A great band at a great time in their great career. Enjoy

You can download this complete recording right here: https://mega.nz/folder/usdlCI6K#uYmNkZOPSt_9HvEbUB20vw

Ep. 253 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

We listen to a new compilation of Led Zeppelin’s 1977 US Tour from cmoneysmile via Led Zeppelin Boots’ Channel. This is a very nice mix of the best performances from this iconic tour. I play a few tracks, Nobody’s Fault, Whole Lotta Love, and some acoustic one offs. A very enjoyable listen.

You can download this awesome compilation right here: https://mega.nz/folder/Wo8BDKyZ#pj5ZdRF4qvBOIvf6iT0anA