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In the course of putting together the live Led Zeppelin DVD for 2003 release, Jimmy Page came across some great concert recordings from the band's 1972 stint in California. HOW THE WEST WAS WON is three discs' worth of vintage Zep, far superior to the band's only other live album THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME. Here is the fearsome foursome in all their glory and fury, coming off like crazed rock & roll Vikings on the opening "Immigrant Song," reinventing the blues form on "Heartbreaker," and just plain rocking the doors off the joint on "Rock and Roll" and "Black Dog."
This being 1972, the band had made its journey into the folk-rock realm as well, and come out with the touching "Going to California" and "That's the Way," the earthy "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp," and the minstrel-in-the-hills fancy of "Over the Hills and Far Away," all of which are given strong voice here. A 25-minute "Dazed and Confused" and epic-length drum solo on the John Bonham feature "Moby Dick" show that Zep was unafraid to venture into anything they damn well pleased, but the bluesy grit and primal hard-rock crunch of their feel throughout this collection reveals the pure visceral magic of which these '70s icons were capable.
Recorded at Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles, California and Long Beach Area, Long Beach, California on June 25 & 27, 1972.
Personnel: Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Page (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Paul Jones (mandolin, keyboards, bass guitar); John Bonham (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley.
Recording information: LA Forum (06/25/1972/06/27/1972); Long Beach Arena (06/25/1972/06/27/1972); Sarm West Studios, London, England (06/25/1972/06/27/1972).
Photographers: Jeffrey Mayer; James Fortune; Michael Putland; Jim Cummins.
Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant (vocals); Jimmy Page (guitar); John Paul Jones (keyboards, bass); John Bonham (drums).
Rolling Stone (12/25/03, p.112) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 10 Reissues of 2003"
Rolling Stone (6/12/03, p.96) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Captures Zep in prime swagger, fresh off their masterpiece, LED ZEPPELIN IV, with HOUSES OF THE HOLY just around the corner..."
Entertainment Weekly (6/20/03, pp.70-1) - "...The band storms out, playing music that is both of its time and timeless, as accessible and unapproachable as when it was made..." - Rating: A+
Q (01/01/04, p.77) - Included in Q's "Best Re-releases of 2003" - "[Y]ou couldn't expect any band to play any more, any better....[A] thrilling document of a continent being sonically trampled underfoot."
How The West Was Won Music
Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won Songs
How The West Was Won Music
How The West Was Won Music Review
Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)    List All 52 Reviews Led Zep at their best
The hype on this release did not do it justice. I own over 3000 CDs and this is in the top five. Any rock, blues or music fan should own this set. Zep fans probably already own it, if you don't its your loss.
Submitted by a reviewer (Adams, Massachusettes) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
LIVE SUCKS!!! What are you talking about!
live performances are what define bands. It is the only way a band can prove their worth, a band that cant play live might as well be dead. Good example - Busted. Live shows are the key to a bands success. Studio albums are fine but if you want to capture the true esscence of a band playing from the heart this Led Zep album is the one to get.
The sheer,raw emotion that is put into this by all members of the band is proof that they dwarf everyone when it comes to excellent live shows. This might not be them at thier peak (I'm thinking of Knebworth 1979) but it is still a truly magnificant tribute to one of the greatest bands ever to grace the planet.
Submitted by Dave (Perth, Scotland)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. Powerful and Terrific
I love this 3cd set. It is splendid and powerful. The music is terrific throughout. There are many wonderful moments. This set proves why they were the greatest rock band ever. It's a must own for any classic rock fan. It will take you back to the glory days of rock.
Submitted by a reviewer (New Jersey)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Only one word.
And that word is WOW. It's great to here Led Zeppelin live and remember just how great they were.
Submitted by a reviewer (Palatine,Ill)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  A disappointment
This is a nice set, but it does not match the advance hype and therefore I felt disappointed. Music is good, palying is good, but there is nothing spectacur about the musis or the sound. I'd suggest that you get only the DVD set. Having the video makes is worthwhile, unlike this CD set.
Please also be aware that although the set does contain 3 discs as advertized, there is only 150 minutes of music. This amount of music could have been put on 2 discs.
Submitted by a reviewer (Washington DC)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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