The Song Remains The Same: Soundtrack From The Led Zeppelin Film

 (131 customer reviews)

I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many Zep-heads (and Page and Plant too) dismiss this 1973 concert album as sub-standard. Granted, it is heavily edited, with the best moments of three consecutive nights spliced together for the final mix. But then, in reality aren't all official live recordings put together this way? And there is no doubt that what we are left with is definitive concert versions of these nine songs. Page delivers two of his finest ever solos in 'No Quarter' and 'Stairway to Heaven,' while his chord/lead work on the title track is simply astounding. Similarly, the violin bow solo in 'Dazed and Confused' and the rockabilly solos in 'Whole Lotta Love' are masterful. Also, Plant is in fine voice throughout, and the rhythm section of Jones and Bonham is frighteningly intense. In my view, 1973 was Zep's greatest year as a live band - it marked the peak of their early instrumental development (check out bootlegs of the Mobile and Seattle shows from this same US...Read more

This film/album had actually been shelved in 1973, never intended to be released because of what was perceived by the band to be a mediocre performance. It only saw the light of day because of a decision that the band needed to fill a void of 18 months due to Robert Plant's personal problems (he suffered a badly fractured leg in an auto accident and it was feared that he would never walk again without a cane). First of all, The Song Remains the Same was out of date - the film was shot well before the release of the band's monumental Physical Graffiti album and, obviously, contained none of that album's material. Secondly, the band members themselves lament to this very day that this was their only live performance officially captured for posterity. They were at the end of an extensive American tour at the time and were understandably exhausted. Circumstances prevented Zeppelin from ever producing the definitive live recording that they so desperately desired...Read more

First of all the 5 stars is for Zep
& the great music but collectors of
mini lp replicas take note:All the Zep albums(Bar BBC) have been
released on mini lp paper sleeve versions
BOTH from Japan AND Europe.The europe & Jap versions are sonically identical,
all are taken from the Jimmy Page George Marino
remasters,a fact also printed on the stickers(Europe
releases)& insert sheet (Japan releases).The packaging is also identical,the europe releases
actually use the Jap outer cardboard sleeves(the catalog
numbers on the europe spines are identical to their
Japanese counterparts but the numbers are different
on the actual discs (europe) themselves.The Japan versions DO have an extra foldout lyric
insert in Japanese,the discs are housed in see through thin plastic sleeves
(the europe versions are enclosed in glossy
card inner sleeves,much nicer).Most importantly the EAU versions are MUCH cheaper,
if...Read more