Customer Reviews

Led Zeppelin: DVD [2 Discs]

5 star:		(411)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

this DVD is the most incredible DVD you'll ever slide into your DVD player. I must admit I bought it as a new Zeppelin listener, sure I had heard their hits like stairway to heaven, dazed and confused, etc. and I actually put down the 20-something dollars for the dvds on a complete impulse buy, a whim if you will. I had no IDEA what I was about to experience!!! I have become an avid Zeppelin fan ever since. everyone can enjoy this dvd, heck I've put it into the player at parties I've held and people forget their card games or beer bonging sessions and everyone congregates around the television. If you have ears whether they like classic rock or heavy manson rock, you will love and enjoy this incredible set of dvds. One time I actually misplaced the DVD set and was so adamate about it I almost went out and bought it again!! I would have!! it's that good, but thankfully I found it in my freezer some drunk kid thought it was too hot cuz we played it so long at the party it had to cool off!! haha well I've said my part, this dvd should be owned by everyone on the planet and that's putting it lightly.

i just watched it and i just cant get it out of my head,all of it is just so mind blowing.great job jimmy!!!my only problem is that its not enough.i want more!!!!!i beleive there was some more songs from earls court and from knebwerth.please put more out jimmy!!!please!!!!!!!!

This world has not ever seen, nor probably ever will see, a band more talented than Led Zeppelin. Each individual is probably at least one of the three or four best at what they do of all time, and as a cohesive unit the ESP and chemistry is often unbelievable (e.g. the spontaneous 'funky' middle section of "Whole Lotta Love" from Knebworth).

The package here is unbelievable -- so it seems, and then you listen and watch and you are captivated. First off, disc one presents an entire early show of Zeppelin performing in classic 'tight, but loose' style. These guys knew they were amazing, and you can tell they just want to go nuts on stage, but instead come off as reserved... the band was new and didn't have the 'creative license' that they had once four or five albums had come out and the whole experience was more welcomed. If you want to see a good hard rock concert, then the Royal Albert Hall disc is your best bet.

However, if you want a live experience, just go on to disc two. The Sydney performance of 'Immigrant Song' is much more animated than the surprisingly dated-looking 1970 show. Once Madison Square Garden arrives, the band has full command on stage and really knows how to work the crowd. Just one of the bonuses is getting to hear a new 'Since I've Been Loving You,' with Page's ever-evolving solo work. 'The Ocean' is a tremendous piece of business that goes back to more of a traditional rock show feel and sets the juxtaposed stage of Earl's Court perfectly. The acoustic set shown there might highlight the entire DVD set, as a side of Zeppelin generally ignored by their critics makes itself manifest. Again we learn the prowess of John Paul Jones as he seemingly plays at least 18 instruments at once, and in perfect harmony with the duet of Page's acoustic guitar and Plant's vocals. And, as always, it's always a treat to get to hear yet another rendition of 'Stairway to Heaven' and its earth-shattering solo.

However, as a whole, the Knebworth footage may be the finest show on the set. Finally... authorized live versions of songs past the album Houses of the Holy. In all their glory, 'Achilles' Last Stand,' 'In the Evening,' 'Sick Again' (which is a fine surprise), and mostly, 'Kashmir' truly rock you more than all the rest, especially if you own "The Song Remains the Same" and "How the West Was Won." A completely new and inspired performance of 'Whole Lotta Love' completes the unmatched trek that is Led Zeppelin live.

The extras are great too... but I won't go into depth with them. The only main qualm I have is the lack of a performance of 'Thank You,' as there's an audio "tease" of it on one menu screen but that's it. All in all, this is the finest collection of live material I have ever seen in one package. If you're a Zeppelin fan, then you should own this definitely. If you enjoy rock and roll in general, then maybe you should take this opportunity to witness the pinnacle of your preferred genre at their best -- on stage.

Well, this 2-DVD set is yet to be released but I'm still rating it at five stars. The press release put out by Atlantic Records describes the set and the accompanying 3-CD live set as the "mother lode of Led Zeppelin live recordings"!

Slated for a simultaneous May 27 release, this marks the first-ever official release of rare and legendary performances spanning Led Zeppelin's entire career.

But the DVD and CD sets contain entirely different material so there is no overlap between the two releases.

Clocking in at nearly five-and-a-half hours, The "Led Zeppelin DVD" has been culled from just a handful of performances ever filmed during the band's lifetime.

Guitarist Jimmy Page explained: "We were never really part of the pop scene. It was never what Led Zeppelin was supposed to be about. Our thing was playing live. In that sense, Zeppelin was very much an underground band. The fact that it became as successful as it did was something that was almost out of our control. We actually shunned commercialism, which is why so little official footage of the band has ever been seen before."

Featured on the DVD are performances from London's Royal Albert Hall in January 1970, just a year after the release of their debut album, their five-night run at London's Earl's Court in May 1975 and their record-breaking shows at England's Knebworth Festival in August 1979, just a year before drummer John Bonham's death led to the band's dissolution.

Also included are songs from New York's Madison Square Garden in July 1973 that were not included in "The Song Remains The Same" concert film, the only previously released live Zeppelin footage.

Other highlights on the DVD are extremely rare television appearances, among them a performance for Danish television in March 1969; promotional clips; TV interviews; behind-the scenes material and even a bit of bootleg footage shot by fans.

The DVD has been painstakingly restored, remixed and remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS, and PCM two-channel stereo under the personal supervision of Jimmy Page and director Dick Carruthers.

Carruthers recently told reporters that the DVD set is intended as a definitive statement of all that is fit for release, though that quality threshold was set very high by surviving Led Zeppelin members.

While Carruthers collected film and video material, Jimmy Page and Kevin Shirley assembled surround mixes from Page's huge archive of live recordings.

The DVDs present the material in chronological order and the supplementary material consists of early European TV appearances on the first disc, and interviews and 1990-vintage promos on the second, including the only decent interview footage of the late John Bonham.

The Albert Hall footage is from a two camera 16mm shoot and the second disc reportedly has a stunning version of "The Immigrant Song" for which footage could not be found. So some Super 8 footage from Australia has been edited promo-style to accompany it.

Track listing:

Disc 1

Live at the Royal Albert Hall (1970) 1hr 42 mins
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

Disc 2

The immigrant song
Madison Square Garden (1973) 23:24 mins
Black dog
Misty mountain hop
Since I've been loving you
The ocean

Earls Court (1975) 49 mins
Going to California
That's the way
Bron Y Aur stomp
In my time of dying
Trampled underfoot
Stairway to heaven

Live at Knebworth (1979) 51:41 mins
Rock'n'roll
Nobody's fault but mine
Sick again
Achilles last stand
In the evening
Kashmir
Whole lotta love

It's amazing how time and expanding your musical horizons can change your perspective on a band. When I was a kid I was very much into Led Zeppelin, which in the 80's was not the coolest thing to be into. I worshipped them, but after seeing The Song Remains the Same I was a little less impressed. Later as I became a musician myself I came to the conclusion that those performances were just plain *bad*, sloppy and lazy playing throughout. Having heard rumours that this new Led Zeppelin DVD redeemed them as a live band I had to check it out. Yet I am still left with the conclusion that they were not that great, especially in comparison to some of the red hot bands around today. Page was a wizard in the studio, but his live playing is just way too sloppy to the point of being embarassing at times, but seeing as it was his band, nobody was going to tell him that. The rest of the band does pretty well, John Paul Jones being probably the most skilled musician. Plant in his day could sing like nobody's business and it's worth getting the DVD for that alone (namely the 1970 Albert Hall performance) and John Bonham could certainly wack those drums when he wasn't totally inebriated. I just wish Page would play less and more accurately.

Perhaps the most important release in music video history will happen May 27th 2003. By far the most important event for 2003 musically speaking.
This is an Official Led Zeppelin Video release of Live Material. Do you know how RARE that is? Led Zeppelin has only had a scarce few releases in the past 23 years. Jimmy Page is delivering on his promise. Lets deliver on ours. Buy both the CD & DVD, take off the day, or week as some have said, and watch history.

In fact, there is not much to say. If you are torn in half thinking "Should I, shouldn't I...", take these to note...

1) You like/love Led Zeppelin?

2) You enjoy a good energy-filled concert? Or better yet, several of them?

3) You appreciate a good sound?

4) You love little surprises (= menus are actually song performances or rare material of the group)?

5) Interview-bits are interesting to you?

6) You want to watch and learn great musicanship and/or how a suberb music-DVD is made?

7) You are a music-lover and a collector of high-quality material?

8) You just LOVE to rock?

OK, if you ticked "yes" to any of these...and I suspect that you fall into several categories, this is a very good purcahse for you: GO FOR IT!

If money spend makes you wonder, let me tell you. I bet you'll fall in love with this DVD and watch it many many times. This little baby pays itself back to you within weeks, if not in days, if not in the first 15 minutes...That's how it happened with me. :o)

I know for a fact that this dvd will top the charts over all of Zeps records and live material. I own all of their records and their unreleased songs. It kills me to wait for this movie because i am a diehard Led Zep fan and i play drums to all of their songs (exept Moby Dick, and Bonzos Montreaux). Led Zeppelin can top any band in any era and i know they will top themselves! I have faith and Jimmy you rock when it comes to developing new stuff. Thank you especially for letting my generation enjoy the Zeppelin fever (this is gregs son caleb). Peace out and God bless!!

The most amazing collection of live performances I've ever seen. I was hooked by the beginning of "I Can't Quit You Babe" (the second song on the first disc). Amazing representation of Zeppelin in their prime. The first disc features their 1970 performance at the Royal Albert Hall, which by itself is quite possibly the best live performance in the history of rock music. Some of the highlights include unbelievable solos by both Page ("Dazed and Confused"/"White Summer") and Bonham ("Moby Dick"). It's a shame that both the talent and showmanship of this great band will likely never be duplicated again, but at least we have releases like this one that we can go back to. I've only had this for just over a couple weeks and I've already watched it three times.

Do yourself a favor and buy this masterpiece of a collection. You will not regret it. The first disc alone makes it more than worth it!

Excellent never before seen footage with amazingly good sound quality. A must for any complete Zeppelin fan! I would also recommend the How The West Was Won CD set that came out simultaneously chronicling the summer of '72 West Coast concerts. They really give you insight as to the evolution of some of their classic live standards throughout the course of their career.How The West Was Won: Live (3CD)