Led Zeppelin-'The Song Remains The Same'(Atlantic)Movie Sdtk

This must of been the first Zeppelin album I ever bought.I remember since they were rarely if EVER on American TV,at least when they were still together,if you wanted to see their performance,you either had to attend their concert or go see the movie.Which,of course this is the soundtrack to.Very well done.May be one of THE better 'live' albums of the '70's.Best tracks here to have kept many parties going back in the day(I'm sure)are "Celebration Day",the 27-minute "Daze And Confused","No Quarter","Stairway To Heaven" and "Moby Dick".Great to kill a Saturday with.Recommended.

Prepare to be BLOWN AWAY!!!

This was the first vinyl LP that I've got back in my high school days and it left treadmarks in my mind and heart ever since. Led Zeppelin paved the way for me towards rock music and I can't imagine how my life would have been or how my musical orientation would have been if I did not played this album on our old stylus player. I remember very well up to this day the first song that I listened to in this album; it was "No Quarter." Why, you may ask? "Stairway to Heaven" was next to it and "Stairway..." was on the mainstream radio back then. It took a couple of days of listening to the entire album before everything sunk through to me. I realized then that this album and this music suited me well. Who wouldn't? almost every 14-yr. old kid back in my high school then loved rock music. But for me, I took it more personally. I'd say, this album launched my utter appreciation for music, and not only for rock music, but for all types of music. Rock music was just the key.

As for the album itself, personally, i believe all cuts are a winner. Take note, I first listened to this album in vinyl format, complete with all the cracklings and the hisses and the occasional skips and jumps. And I still liked it then. I still have a copy of the album but this time it is in cassette format. A friend borrowed my LP then and it was never returned to me, so I bought a cassette tape copy. I've yet to acquire a CD copy but I definitely will.

So, why do I like the album so much? Almost everything about it: the LP cover, the band (specially), the music, the ambience in Madison Square Garden, Plant's searing high screetches, Page's lightning-fast riffs, Jones subterranean tone and keyboard playing, and most of all, Bonham's EARTHSHAKING drumming! The band's chemistry in this live album is simply amazing and superb. Jones and Bonham provide a truly solid foundation and platform for the music and for Page and Plant to take off. And take off they did! Take note, the band flew into the US from the UK aboard their own private 747 jet(see the movie); not too many bands during that time, I believe, have their own private touring jet! Which goes to show the magnitude of Led Zep's success then. Well, come to think of it, they still are a success!

To cut a long story short, BUY THIS ALBUM!!! Listen to it, sit back, relax and let your mind be BLOWN AWAY!!!

Hard rockin Live Zeppelin Tunes

I give this CD five stars for the excellent selection of songs and the pure rockin energy of the live versions which give good contrast to the well worn studio versions. I will mention a few songs that I especially enjoy:



Dazed and Confused - The familiar ominous opening bass riff by John Paul leads into a 25 minute long marathon with cool medlies mixed in. I liked the "going to Sanfrancisco/flowers in your hair" segment which soon morphed into the haunting bowed screeches.



Stairway to Heaven - Superb guitar solo by Jimmy Page on the double-neck Gibson. The CD is worth the money just to listen to that a few times. Of course Robert Plant was not able to hit the high notes at the end, and didn't even try, but I like this version much better than the original anyway.



No Quarter - Again, better than the studio version, and a bit longer, with the eerie, dark keyboard work by JPJ nailed perfectly.



Whole Lotta Love - This song was the finale for most of Led Zeppelin's concerts, as it was here. I found this version fun to listen to, and rocks hard with a bit of rockabilly and boogie mixed in. The coolest part of the song to me was right when Jimmy Page is done playing with the Theramin (black antenna box) just before the 5:00 minute point (best heard on thru a set of big woofers)- somehow the band generates a collective sound like some huge menacing machine has just been slowly kick-started to life and the gates of hell have been thrown open. Then Page launches into a trademark raunchy guitar riff and the thunderstorm starts again.



I think watching the movie version is worthwhile as well, if for no other reason than to watch the wizard Jimmy play, and to see Peter Grant cuss out the dorks backstage for selling un-licensed posters. But that's another review.