The latest in a string of exceptional quality Zeppelin soundboards was unleashed upon the world by Empress Valley this week to help usher in the New Year. St. Louis Blues is a virtually complete board with only minor cuts. "John Bonham the heavy metal kid" is the star of the mix here; followed by Jones. The recording is a very well balanced professional mix. Plant's vocal performance is very strong. The audience is present and you can also hear other band members (from Bonham's drum mics?) and even stage crew chatter between songs and even during some. Overall it is a clear, bright, crisp, full sounding recording. It has an atmosphere to it that may be enhanced in the recording by the openess and sensitivity of Bonhams drum mics that pick up both stage and audience noice.(I don't want to say Matrix but that's kinda the feel it has.) Some mic buzzing throughout the recording. Worst in STH. R&R - Vocals rough. Overall rough.; SA - Still a little rough. Jonesie's a little off.; OTHAFA - Awesome! A notch below Dallas. Some clumsy fingerwork by Page being the major blemish.; IMTOD - Strong. The band is heating up!; TSRTS - Excellent. One of the best from '75; RS - Excellent as well and also w/TSRTS one of the best of '75.; Kashmir - Oh, Bonham!! " . . . 2!, 3!, 4! . . ." Plantation is cut before NQ NQ - Bonham - "It's a f*cking horrible song!" Enjoyable NQ. Great keyboard sound. Jimmy improvises a bit but, I like this NQ alot.; TU - Bonham's power rolling full tilt. Did I mention he was the star of the mix?; MD - Yeah, Moby Dick. Did I mention the mix? D&C - Good power. Driving rhythm. Train teaser. The monster is starting to grow.; STH - Excellent. Not as good as 5/25 but close. Buzzing mic stains it. WLL - Great "Joe Crowley needs love!" Fun WLL. Great bass playing, funky. Nice theramin duel. BD - Nice. "The flu's nearly gone." Heartbreaker - "Shame, Shame, Shame" is cool but playing is very sloppy. Performance wise this is one of the better early '75 shows and the best sounding. Taken with 2/12 and 2/14 this is 2nd best with the Nassau show taking the prize. Stands up nicely against Dalls, Seattle and EC. |