I was led to this show by a thread on Royal Orleans (a Zep fan site) in which someone wrote a brilliant essay about 1980 and how it deserves another look, as it's not all dysfunction, addiction, and flat performances. I've gotten to the point where I'd say at least half the 1980 Tour over Europe is pretty damn good, even great. June 20, 1980 the ba…

We listen to a transfer of Joe Maloney's master mono reel of Led Zeppelin at the legendary Boston Garden, on Sept. 9, 1970. No surprise this is an incredible show with Robert in full power, and Jimmy, Bonzo, and Jonesy just perfectly locked in. I play Immigrant Song>Heartbreaker in all one chunk, and the mini acoustic set of That's the Way and a be…

The 1973 UK tour is not to be slept on. Robert's voice is rough as he, as he always has in winter, the flu. So they cancelled and rescheduled to preserve the treasure that is Robert Plant's voice, right? Nope. He pushed himself as always and did his poor larynx no favors. This show is January 14, 1973 at the Empire in Liverpool. The show is a bange…

This week we listen to a compilation put together by Led Zeppelin Boots, of Copenhagen and Odense (May 4 and 5 respectively). These are shows in which Led Zeppelin truly were exception. In addition to being on top of their game, with a ridiculously powerful Robert Plant at the fore, they played Gallows Pole and Four Sticks! These songs have only be…

This is an incredible tape of Led Zeppelin rehearsing at Headley Grange in preparation of their upcoming Physical Graffiti double album. From November 1973 through May 1974 the band convened at Headley Grange, the site of many a legendary recording session (Zep IV, Houses, etc) to work on their new album. The sessions were fruitful and the band was…

I couldn't keep this one just to myself. It's too good. Sept. 21 1998 at the Cox Arena is San Diego is a truly magical night. Everyone is playing at 11 and they achieve that elusive synergy wherein the total equals more than the sum of their parts.In How Many More Times, I've never heard the rhythm section sound better or more locked in. Jimmy is 1…

I find this to be my favorite of the 5 nights at Earls Court. Jimmy is playing with passion and dexterity. One of his best 1975 shows, imo. I'm playing source mix making an excellent, complete recording. These excellent audience tapes allow us to hear Tangerine with the four part harmony, unlike on the videos which only had Robert's voice. That alo…

On November 28, 1983 Jimmy Page walked onstage in Dallas, Texas for his first American appearance in more than 7 years. He was newly free of the chains that heroin addiction had weighing him down, and he was working on getting back to fighting fettle. Paul Rodgers is joining him for this tour, as Steve Winwood was in the studio and couldn't reprise…

This is one of the canonical 'best of' shows for Led Zeppelin. April 26, 1969 at the Winterland in San Francisco is a high water mark for a band with very... high water. Robert Plant is beyond belief and the rest of the band meets that level, just run with it. I have covered this show in the long long ago, but I have not repeated any songs, so we h…

This is a fun one! April 2, 1980 at My Father's Place in Roslyn, NY from an FM broadcast on WLIR. The sound and the performances are stellar. Nice, short, story songs sung impeccably... kinda in a Kinks vein. If you're like me you'll be reminded of a whole bunch of great songs that had slid over the horizon over the years, overshadowed by the fame …

Bonzo is the star of this show. Led Zeppelin in St. Paul, Minnesota July, 9, 1973 is a top tier NA 1973 show. Jimmy and Jonesy are on fire, but John Bonham is head and shoulders above them this night. He plays stuff I've not heard before, adding complexity to Heartbreaker and ingenuity to No Quarter and, and bombastic fire to Whole Lotta Love. The …

This is a good one. Robert Plant is in amazing voice with lots of oomph. Richie Hayward (from Little Feat) is killing it on drums, Robbie Blunt is a bloody virtuoso with his emotive playing. This is December 13, 1983 at the Hammersmith Odeon, on his Principle of Moments tour. Jimmy Page had four days prior finished up with the ARMS Tour, and was af…

For this episode we hear the thunderous John Paul Jones on tour for his Zooma album, at The Fubar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March, 10, 2000. This is a very well recorded show for around 200 people. The sound and vibe are incredible. Jonesy is very chatty and interactive with the audience. I play Grind (from Zooma), Crackback (from the Scream f…

Today we hear some music from Led Zeppelin playing San Diego, 5/28/73, on a soundboard recording remastered by DADGAD. This show has some towering highs and tumbling low points. I play two of the highlights. First is a smokin' Since I've Been Loving You with gorgeous, smooth cooooool jazz piano from Mr. Jones, and Jimmy delivers in spades. Then I p…

This is a good one! For this episode I have chosen Jimmy Page & Robert Plant on the last night of their huge Unledded US tour. May 27, 1995 at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. This is a great venue known for it's beauty, not unlike Red Rocks in Colorado. Page/Plant end their tour on a high note with tight performances in a 3rd Eye reco…

Jan. 18, 1973 - Led Zeppelin play Bradford UK on their tour of smaller UK venues, before launching on their epic European tour, which gave us all those great shows. This show is on par with those high water marks like Vienna or Essen. I play a raucous and frenetic Whole Lotta Love with joyous medleys aplenty. The rhythm machine is in high gear here…

In this episode we hear a recording of the opening date of Led Zeppelin's 1971 UK Tour, in Newcastle on November 11, 1971. This is a distant but clear and good recording, and to no one's surprise the band is in great form. I play Heartbreaker, What Is And What Should Never Be, and a frenetic Communication Breakdown. This is a great show from a grea…

This is a fantastic recording of The Rolling Stones at the LA Forum, July 9, 1975. St. Michael Millard is the taper so the sound is out of this world. The Stones are also pretty darn great. This is Ronnie Wood's first tour with the Stones and he brings energy, fun, and a good bit of skill to the band. They sound revitalized. Billy Preston is with t…

This is a delightful recording of a confident young Zep playing The Schaefer Music Festival, Central Park, NYC, on July 21, 1969. It's from a 1st gen reel and it sounds very good to these ears. The performance is, of course, glorious. I play a frenetic proto-funky Communication Breakdown, You Shook Me which is as much Robert's as it is Jimmy's with…

This is as legendary as legendary gets. Led Zeppelin at the LA Forum, June 23, 1977 is one of the most popular, and famous, bootleg recordings out there. The quality of Mike Millard's master recording is matched by the quality of the bands' performance. The first four songs are from the Barry Goldstein master tape, which is almost as good as Millar…

This is a great show! The penultimate Page/Plant gig, December 2, 1998 Oberhausen, Westphalia. Unbelievable chemistry between all band members. Jimmy Page is absolutely on fire, and super precise in his tone, and delivery. The band has never sounded better and they are ending their Walking Into Everywhere Tour with a hell of a bang. I play Heartbre…

This is a firecracker of a show recorded the month following the Royal Albert Hall gig, which is featured on the Led Zeppelin DVD. February, 28, 1970 in Copenhagen, Denmark. We have The Nobs performing, to placate the wrath of the elders of the Von Zeppelin family. Zeppelin delivers in Copenhagen, historically, and this show is now different. So, i…

I play a nice show from July 7, 1973 of Led Zeppelin lighting up Chicago. Robert's voice is in rough shape, but not as bad as the night before. Jimmy and Bonzo ably pick up any slack left by Mr. Plant. I play Over the Hills and a raucous Dazed. Good stuff. Performed 51 years ago, today.Af Mark Donahue

This is a wonderful, clear, stereo recording of the legendary, and officially released (with a bunch of cuts and edits) April 1, 1971 performance at the Paris Theater, in London. Jonesy's fat bass sounds so good in the left channel. I play a nice punching Communication Breakdown with a very well represented hi-hat in the mix, and finally an epic Wh…

1996 was a great year for the Jimmy Page/Robert Plant partnership. After their tremendously successful 1995 Unledded tour, they both loosened and tightened up, and headed South (of the Equator) with a smaller coterie of musicians. They played Central and South America, Japan, and finally, Australia. This recording is from their February 24, 1996 in…