LED ZEPPELIN - Genuine Masters, Rovers Return, The Showgrounds, Sydney

Setlist;
Black Dog,Stairway To Heaven,Going To California,That's The Way,Tangerine,Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp,Dazed & Confused,What Is And What Should Never Be,Moby Dick,Rock And Roll,Whole Lotta Love (includes Boogie Chillun',Hello Mary Lou,The Rover,Let's Have A Party,Lawdy Miss Clawdy,Going Down Slow,The Shape I'm In),Communication Breakdown,Organ Solo/Thank You.

Filmfootage;
Whole Lotta Love,Rock And Roll,Let's Have A Party,Afterparty/Pressconference.


~"rover's return">genuine masters>dvd audio~1dvdr


Comments;
The film footage is my all time favourite in Zeppelin' filmed history.

Robert has instantly the laughs on his hand with lots of 'shit' talk. Very good audience recording, a bit distant and tiny sounding with some mild distortion in louder parts. For most of the time there are little cuts between songs. Voice and guitar upfront, then the drums and sadly the bass even further in the mix.

A famous event that drew 26.000 people. Look at the amazing clip at the start of the second disc of the official DVD and you can almost guess this is an extraordinary show. Plant has cured from his shivers and shakes and the rest of the band is in equally good mood.

The first 2 songs were not recorded by the taper who claims that he got 240 minutes of tape after 'Black Dog'. He should have come a bit earlier...

'Since I've Been Loving You' and 'Celebration Day' were dubbed over during the years as the intro to 'Stairway To Heaven'. The first two songs are a fine start to an amazing show. 'Black Dog' is performed in 'Hammer Of The Gods' style and the solo in 'Stairway To Heaven' has very much grown (in a positive sense) compared to the early 1971 versions.

Then it's time to sit down for the acoustic set. Imagine four man sitting in broad daylight in a stadium with 26.000 man and playing an acoustic set and everybody is quiet and listens (we here no complaints from Robert about noisy people). 'Going To California' starts with strange sounding vocals (i first thought it was the taper singing) but clears up pretty quick. 'That's The Way' follows with beautiful close harmony at the end.

Robert continues his pleasant jokes and utters a very light reprimande to some noisy people. 'Tangerine' is beautiful, i like this version much more than the electric Earl's Court one. 'The Stomp' is getting a few hands together (52.000 ?). The end is cut and changes very quick into 'Dazed & Confused'.

The bass recovers a bit in this part of the tape. Plant' singing is outstanding here. After Robert' 'do what you want' phrases the first fast instrumental starts leading into the bow solo. A woman is the background gets very excited by this. The taper and people around him discuss the spectacle that's unfolding in front of them. Then Jimmy and Robert start their little game together to some amusement from the crowd.

Page really gives everything in the solo ending with the horror of 'Mars, The Bringer of War'. The audience tries to clap along during the first fast part but surrenders quick. When the tempo slows down, Page just riffs away before starting the usual call/response game which is abandoned instantly. Jimmy is really going crazy after this, was Miss Australia waiting in the wings ?
The coda after the return to the main theme is excellent.

The show continues with an excellent version of 'What Is And What Should Never Be'. Bonzo is introduced with a little fanfare and starts his drum solo. He really goes for it and is wildy cheered at during the end part.

'Rock And Roll' is played at light speed, incredible ! Plant hits all the right notes and Bonham destroys his drumkit during the end. Next is 'Whole Lotta Love' and again no complaints here. The sound during these last two numbers is bit muddier than before. Total mayhem during the Theremin part where Bonzo is filling every hole with crazy drumming and Plant screams ahead. This goes on for quite some time with 'Communication Breakdowm' like riffs.

The medley starts with Robert' advice how to boogie. The usual songs for this era are performed with one big surprise, a quite long part from 'The Rover'. The blues part of the medley is the high point. Page really destroys his strings when he solos. Page instructs Plant to hurry up with the 'Woman' part (this is incredible to watch in the clip).

'Communication Breakdown' departs at neckbreak speed. The last song is 'Thank You' with the usual 'Organ Solo' as introduction which ends if there's a plane coming down.

Taper's equipment;
National Panasonic portable stereo tapedeck with built-in microphone.