| Product: |
Led Zeppelin (DVD) |
| Date: |
01/07/03 (164 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: sound quality, picture quality, NOT 70's "improved"
Disadvantages: none that I can think of
Before I start, I must make one thing clear. I love Led Zeppelin - but I’m not
convinced that everything they did was pure gold. Some moments are genius, but
just as many moments bore me.
Now read on.
Buy this. It’s that simple. If you ever want to know what the buzz about Led Zeppelin
was, this DVD will answer all your questions.
But why this DVD and none of the other product?
It’s simple really - Led Zeppelin were a band that came out of the 60’s, and each
individual in the band gained their reputation whilst working hard on stage. It’s true
that Jimmy Page was one of the 60’s great record producers and session guitarists,
and John Paul Jones one of the best arrangers in the biz, but before that, they were
stage musicians. John Bonham was a man that Birmingham’s other drummers
dreaded - so powerful he could destroy a drum kit in 3 minutes..................while
playing softly. Robert Plant was Robert Plant. Idiosyncratic, and possessor of an
instrument like none others, a voice that has often been imitated, but never been
beaten.
Don’t think, however, that this DVD is about musical genius or virtuosity. This is all
about music. Led Zeppelin were one of the world’s biggest selling acts (Led Zeppelin
IV is 4th on the list of US best sellers with 22 million sales), but oddly enough, the
studio never captured the essence of the band, especially in the early years. I never
saw them live, but the common wisdom is that it was on stage that Led Zeppelin
shone, and for years we have been sadly under supplied with live stuff. The BBC
Sessions was a great taster, but all we had as visual evidence was a fairly ordinary
feature film (The Song Remains the Same).
Now all that has changed
The DVD kicks off (and by kick off, I dont mean a tap back to the goalie, I mean a
goal in 3 s
econds) with footage from a 1970 show at the Albert Hall. Filmed by the
BBC, this concert was presumably during the tour to promote II (so no Stairway to
Heaven, then). It contains all the best moment from the first two albums, and then
some (a Page guitar solo, and Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody). The sound is
glorious 5:1 and crystal clear. Jimmy Page hasn’t lost the knack of getting a mix just
right - you can hear everything. Maybe even more revelatory are the visuals. Shot in
16mm colour, it glows. An added bonus is that because it was the beloved Beeb, and
the producers managed to get hold of the original footage, it is free from the nausea
inducing camera tricks that plagues most late 60’s concert footage. Most of the
filiming is fairly close up, and shows the band working with and listening to each
other. A sublime 102 minutes worth.
The bonus’ are the First Led Zep promotion video (Communication Breakdown) and
some TV footage. Why stuff was filmed for Danmarks Radio I’m not sure - but I AM
glad!. What a bonus. Filmed in a TV studio, stripped of a big PA and huge audience,
the band tear through 4 tracks in fairly brutal fashion, showing how much power 4
guys can generate. The other bonus is from a French TV show ( with Gloria
Henniford’s audience in, maybe), and been included to demonstrate why the band
gave up TV performance. Check it out, you’ll soon see what I mean.
If things were to end there, the world would be a fine place.
Now insert the second disc
At first this will look oddly familiar to anyone who has seen The Song Remains the
Same. But wait. Where is the crappy sound, the wobbly zoom all over the place
camera? Gone - thats where. This sections contains songs left off the original film,
so is un-tampered with by any drug crazed 1970’s producer. Add the sparklin
g
pr
oduction values introduced on disc one and the world takes on a real glow.
The second section on this disc is in it’s own way the most revelatory. Too little is
made of the acoustic Led Zeppelin, but here they are on stage at Earls Court in 1975
playing 3 songs in a very unplugged way. No bombast here, just charm.
Awwwwwwwwwww cute........... Then you get the loud Zeppelin again, ending with
Stairway to Heaven.
The last concert footage is filmed at the last concert (I think) the band did in the UK.
Pomp and majesty at it’s best, maybe, but the joy of working together shows through
everything.
The bonus’ are more media savvy than on the first disc, with the exception of the
Germaine Greer interview. And check those clothes!!!!
Overall?? I’m worn out.......over five hours of good stuff, not a disappointment to be
seen. Sell the kids if you have to, but buy this.
Disc One
Royal Albert Hall - January 1970 (102:00)
We're Gonna Groove
I Can't Quit You Baby
Dazed and Confused
White Summer
What Is and What Should Never Be
How Many More Times
Moby Dick
Whole Lotta Love
Communication Breakdown
C'mon Everybody
Something Else
Bring It on Home
Communication Breakdown Promo - 1969 (2:24)
Danmarks Radio - 1969 (31:24)
Communication Breakdown
Dazed and Confused
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
How Many More Times
Supershow - 1969 (7:31)
Dazed and Confused
Tour En Scene - 1969 (9:01)
Communication Breakdown
Dazed and Confused
Disc Two
Madison Square Garden - July 1973 (23:34)
Black Dog
Misty Mountain Hop
Since I've Been Loving You
The Ocean
Earl's Court - May 1975 (49:00)
Going to California
That's the Way
Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp
In My Time of Dying
Trampled Underfoot
Stai
r>rway to He
aven
Knebworth Festival - August 1979 (50:11)
Rock and Roll
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Sick Again
Achilles Last Stand
In the Evening
Kashmir
Whole Lotta Love
NYC Press Conference - 1970 (3:27)
Down Under - 1972 (5:27)
Rock and Roll
Interviews
The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1975 (3:47)
Robert Plant interview
Promo 1 1990 (4:49)
Over the Hills and Far Away
Promo 2 1990 (4:12)
Traveling Riverside Blues
Summary:
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