LED ZEPPELIN – FOR BADGE HOLDERS ONLY / 18CD + DVD !

Description

June 21, 1977
The Forum
Inglewood
California

Listen To This, Eddie!!!
3cd (EVSD 465/466/467)

101.The Song Remains The Same
102.The Rover – Sick Again
103.Nobody’s Fault But Mine
104.Over The Hills And Far Away
105.Since I’ve Been Loving You
106.No Quarter

201.Ten Years Gone
202.The Battle Of Evermore
203.Going To California
204.Black Country Woman
205.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
206.White Summer
207.Black Mountain Side
208.Kashmir

301.Out On The Tiles – Moby Dick
302.Heartbreaker
303.Guitar Solo
304.Achilles Last Stand
305.Stairway To Heaven
306.Whole Lotta Love
307.Rock And Roll

First of six sold out nights at the Forum, and a great show. The Song Remains The Same, Sick Again, Kashmir and Achilles Last Stand are devastating and No Quarter is just the greatest version ever heard! John Bonham was introduced by Plant as “…the man who fought food poisoning and drunk Heineken…”. A great show and not merely an opening night, but a great show in its own right. It also comes from the best audience recording ever!

News report: LED ZEPPELIN OPEN RECORD RUN AT THE FORUM

Led Zeppelin painted a mural of musical abstractions for 18,000 screaming fans, who buried the first five minutes of the show in continuous applause.

Zeppelin, acknowledged as the world’s hottest rock group, finally made it to the Inglewood Forum Tuesday night in the most touted Southland concert since the Rolling Stones. They opened a six-concert stand and will play to 108,000 people – a Forum record.

The British quartet liberally dipped an artistic paint brush into a tasty serving of music which spanned the group’s 10-year history. The sight of lead singer Robert Plant, his body absorbing the driving tempo of John Bonham’s drum rhythms, brought the crowd to its feet. Plant clearly has made it back after a near-fatal automobile accident which almost ended his career and forced the group into a two-year layoff. He strutted around the stage, blond mane shaking; in crazy tempos, hand on hip and bristling with energy.

They opened with “The Song Remains the Same”, the title cut from their latest album for Swan Song. At one point, Plant threw back his head, thrust the microphone against his mouth and yelled. “We finally made it. Last time we were here (the Forum) we played with Bad Company. Tonight — no beating around the bush, we’re gonna play ’cause that’s what we’re here for”. And that’s exactly what they did for a marathon three-hour set.

Lead guitarist Jimmy Page sizzled. He moved as if he were a puppet on a string, egging the audience on as he wound around the stage like a rubber snake held up by strings. The versatile Page was bathed in laser lights during a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”, a la Jimi Hendrix, but with the staccato phrasing that typifies the Zeppelin style.

Earlier, Page displayed his musical flexibility by playing mandolin in an acoustic portion of the show which saw John Paul Jones etch out some interesting work on a three-neck guitar. Jones, opening on bass, was cool and unassuming, but got down to fast action for a portion of his keyboard solo.

It took a mere 40 minutes to sell out the tickets for five nights at the Forum. Another night was added later. It too sold out within minutes.

June 22, 1977
The Forum
Inglewood
California

Thirty Years Gone,
3cd (EVSD 468/469/470B*)

*EVSD 470B: replacement disc.
The first press (EVSD 470) has digital errors. A new corrected disc was consequently released.

101.The Song Remains The Same
102.The Rover / Sick Again
103.Nobody’s Fault But Mine
104.In My Time Of Dying
105.Since I’ve Been Loving You
106.No Quarter

201.Ten Years Gone
202.The Battle Of Evermore
203.Going To California
204.Black Country Woman
205.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
206.White Summer
207.Black Mountain Side
208.Kashmir

301.Out On The Tiles / Moby Dick
302.Over The Hills And Far Away
303.Guitar Solo
304.Achilles Last Stand
305.Stairway To Heaven
306.Whole Lotta Love
307.Rock And Roll

A really erratic night, especially from Jimmy. He totally botches The Song Remains The Same, and then delivers some excellent playing on Sick Again, Since I’ve Been Loving You and No Quarter. Achilles Last Stand is rushed and Jimmy almost forgets the solo, throwing everyone’s timing off. How they recover is quite exciting though! The Stairway To Heaven solo from him is exquisite. All in all, the most erratic LA show, probably the worst one out of the six nights but still a very good show. The rest of the band seems fine.

June 23, 1977
The Forum
Inglewood
California

For Badge Holders Only
3cd (EVSD 471/472/473)

101.The Song Remains The Same
102.The Rover / Sick Again
103.Nobody’s Fault But Mine
104.Over The Hills And Far Away
105.Since I’ve Been Loving You
106.No Quarter

201.Ten Years Gone
202.The Battle Of Evermore
203.Going To California
204.Black Country Woman
205.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
206.White Summer
207.Black Mountain Side
208.Kashmir
209.Trampled Underfoot

301.Out On The Tiles / Moby Dick
302.Guitar Solo
303.Achilles Last Stand
304.Stairway To Heaven
305.Whole Lotta Love
306.Rock And Roll

An excellent show … a famous Badge Holders show due to Plant’s several dedications to the badge holder people … with the whole band firing on all cylinders! It is the only known show from 1977 tour when the band stopped after the first song. The peculiar stop is brief and Robert doesn’t offer any hints. Perhaps a guitar change was neccessary. Jimmy’s soloing during Since I’ve Been Loving You, Achilles Last Stand and Ten Years Gone in particular, is amazing. Keith Moon joins in to make this already classic show legendary in stature. Just listen for a very crazed sounding yelling over the beginning of Bonham’s drum solo: “The best rock and roll drummer in the world … living today! Mr John Bonham! With Buddy Rich’s arms!” He says more after that, but I can never quite make out just what it is because he seems to trail off into a noise of swearing and yelling, which conjures up cartoon images of the Tazmanian Devil or even (perhaps more appropriately) Animal from the Muppets. But that’s Keith Moon for you! He also appeared before the encores. “LA. It’s been very funny. Good night!” and the show was over.

June 25, 1977
The Forum
Inglewood
California

Badge Holders Annual Meeting!
3cd (EVSD 474/475/476)

101.The Song Remains The Same
102.The Rover / Sick Again
103.Nobody’s Fault But Mine
104.In My Time Of Dying
105.Since I’ve Been Loving You
106.No Quarter

201.Ten Years Gone
202.The Battle Of Evermore
203.Going To California
204.Black Country Woman
205.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
206.White Summer
207.Black Mountain Side
208.Kashmir
209.Trampled Underfoot

301.Out On The Tiles / Moby Dick
302.Guitar Solo
303.Achilles Last Stand
304.Stairway To Heaven
305.Whole Lotta Love
306.Communication Breakdown

What an incredible show, and Jimmy in particular is playing some of the best guitar of the tour! The entire band is in a no nonsense mood, playing the best they can. No Quarter and Ten Years Gone are beautiful and Achilles Last Stand and Stairway To Heaven are exquisite. Jimmy’s solo in Trampled Underfoot is one of the best he’s ever done on that song and the funky Communication Breakdown encore caps what is probably one the best of the six LA Forum shows.

June 26, 1977
The Forum
Inglewood
California

That’s All Right Mama
3cd (EVSD 477/478/479)

101.The Song Remains The Same
102.The Rover – Sick Again
103.Nobody’s Fault But Mine
104.Over The Hills And Far Away
105.Since I’ve Been Loving You
106.No Quarter

201.Ten Years Gone
202.The Battle Of Evermore
203.Going To California
204.That’s All Right Mama
205.Black Country Woman
206.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
207.White Summer
208.Black Mountain Side
209.Kashmir

301.Out On The Tiles – Moby Dick
302.Guitar Solo
303.Achilles Last Stand
304.Stairway To Heaven
305.It’ll be Me

Another amazing show from this run! The playing and singing are top notch and everything is concentrated on the music. No Quarter is amazing with great improvisations and the acoustic section is long and spontaneous, with That’s Alright Mama being dropped in complete with a slide guitar solo! Jimmy’s solo is great and long, with several unusual sections that sound exciting and build the tension before Achilles Last Stand blows it all apart. A great solo and jam section in Stairway To Heaven and a rocking and excellent encore of It’ll Be Me close one of the best 1977 shows ever.

June 27, 1977
The Forum
Inglewood
California

Just Can’t Be Satisfied
3cd (EVSD 480/481/482)

101.The Song Remains The Same
102.The Rover / Sick Again
103.Nobody’s Fault But Mine
104.Over The Hills And Far Away
105.Since I’ve Been Loving You
106.No Quarter

201.Ten Years Gone
202.The Battle Of Evermore
203.Going To California
204.Just Can’t Be Satisfied
205.Black Country Woman
206.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
207.Dancing Days
208.White Summer
209.Black Mountain Side
210.Kashmir
211.Trampled Underfoot

301.Out On The Tiles / Moby Dick
302.Guitar Solo
303.Achilles Last Stand
304.Stairway To Heaven
305.Whole Lotta Love
306.Rock And Roll

An endless epic concert closes out the six night stand at the Forum, and Led Zeppelin start off slow but by the middle they reach a great height, although they do seem to be a little tired at the end. The 40 minute No Quarter contains some great improvisation and Ten Years Gone is really epic. A wild and spontaneous acoustic section is the centerpiece of this show and a riotous and funky Trampled Underfoot is a welcome addition to the concert. Jimmy solo is nearly 30 minutes long and is fairly enjoyable, although his tuning in the middle helps give the impression that it is rather wandering, and Achilles Last Stand is sloppier than most versions. A great end to the saga though!

BONUS DVD Disc (EVSDVD 016):

video: 8mm color footage w/ synched audio

June 22, 1977
The Song Remains the Same
Sick Again
Over the Hills and Far Away
Achilles Last Stand

June 23, 1977
Trampled Underfoot
Moby Dick
Guitar Solo
Achilles Last Stand
Stairway To Heaven
Whole Lotta Love / Rock and Roll

June 26, 1977
The Song Remains the Same
Sick Again
Over the Hills And Far Away
No Quarter
Ten Years Gone
Kashmir
Moby Dick
Guitar Solo
Achilles Last Stand
Stairway To Heaven
It’ll Be Me
It’ll Be Me (alternate video)