A Holy Grail Sees The Light
After 42 Years
If you follow live Led Zeppelin recordings, you know that the last several years have been the Led Zeppelin Soundboard Revolution. The Japanese boot companies have gotten ahold of a hoard of 1975 tour soundboard tapes. These exist because Showco, the sound & light company that Zep used, would tape each show, for review by the soundmen, and the band.
The company that provided the lights and sound reinforcement for Led Zeppelin.
The Japanese bootleg label Empress Valley have been releasing ’75 soundboard tapes for more than 10 years, starting with Flying Circus. I am not the biggest fan of the this tour, as it showcases a band not at their best. Robert Plant started the tour with the flu, and Jimmy Page started with a broken finger. They soldiered on and the very early dates (January) has some songs never again played, like When The Levee Breaks, and The Wanton Song. How Many More Times was revived in place of Dazed and Confused to give Jimmy’s finger a break. He played with three fingers on his left hand. Remarkable for sure, but the pain management needed did his growing use, and dependence, on opiates and alcohol no favors.
Ok. Enough with the downers. This is the tour supporting Physical Graffiti, which is their last undisputed great album. Holy shit, you get Kashmir, Trampled Underfoot, In My Time Of Dying, Ten Years Gone…. those alone are the mountaintop of greatness, plus a host of other songs which are merely awesome like, Custard Pie, Night Flight…well, you know what songs are on this album if you’re reading this post.
Anyhoo… The 1975 was a bit of a drop from the energy of the 1973 tour, which was a bit of a drop from 1972 (the last year when Plant’s voice had that killer high range) but this show could be listed as 1973, and no one would know the difference (aside from the Physical Graffiti tracks). This is a good one. Listen to the podcast, listen to the show.
Download a copy here, in lossless FLAC form.
https://mega.nz/folder/KotymbbI#E1eiiqQgVNcE7LlFaT0fUQ
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Yaaay! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, stranger with whom I did not grow up. 🙂
Growing up is over rated.
Nice review of this great release. If you want to hear an even better version (IMO) seek out the matrix version which mixes in some of the audience tape. It adds some atmosphere and depth to the soundboard.
Thanks! I gave the matrix a listen when it came out but it didn’t do it for me. Some matrices work for me (like Zurich 1980) but not this one. I’m glad you like it though. I appreciate the input very much.
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