Led Zeppelin - How the West Was Won
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Music Reviews of How the West Was Won
Music Review: Silently Ravaging America
Rating: 5 Stars
"Silently Ravaging America" was one of the alternate titles that Jimmy Page could have chosen for this 3 CD Live Set. This was one of the bootleg titles of the show from the LA Forum that appears co-mingled with the Long Beach concert two days later in this release. For all fans of Led Zeppelin this CD set fills a "Live" void that other classic rockers were able to placate during their tenure. I listened to all three CD's through head phones blaring. The quality of the recording is first rate but more importantly the live improvisations and variations of Zep classics make this CD set worth the investment. One of the criticisms that has carried through with Led Zeppelin is that they could not replicate in concert what they released in the studio. Jimmy Page was well known as a fanatic studio mixologist that would create multiple complex guitar tracks over one another. It is said that in concert John Paul Jones helped play some of the guitar parts to compensate. On this CD, in songs such as "Heartbreaker" and 23 minutes of "Whole Lotta Love" Jimmy proves his real world worth and lays to rest any doubt about his raw talent. Robert Plant also shows his voice was loud and strong in 1972. However, true strength is displayed in John Bonham's drumming. There is a story that when Led Zeppelin recorded studio albums at Headley Grange they would put John Bonham in another room away from the microphones because he hit the drums so loud and hard. One listen to this live version of "Moby Dick" and you will understand what they meant. This is definitely Led Zep at it's best. This snap shot in Zeppelin history will dispell the old so called faults. If you enjoy live music from classic rock bands this 3 CD set is a must have. It's posthumous release will help spawn new fans and help the mighty Zep ravage again.Music Review: It IS that good!
Rating: 5 Stars
I never understood why Led Zeppelin was called a heavy metal band, and "How The West Was Won" doesn't do anything to enlighten me.
I put this CD (well, any one of the three CDs) in the CD player, and I'm hearing rock n' roll. Blues. Folk. And more rock n' roll, but not heavy metal.
Eh, never mind. Just thought I'd muse about that a little bit.
See, I'm not much of a heavy-fan, but I do own a few Zeppelin albums, and fortunately I also picked up this one when it came out earlier this year. And I was pleasantly surprised.
The sound is nothing short of amazing. I have heard worse sounding live recordings from the 90s, and the music is superb. A bit more rough and straight-forward than the original studio recordings, and that actually suits the songs very well - "Black Dog" may be a blues, but it rocks like you won't belive.
The folkish, acoustic "Going To California" is beautiful, showing the breadth and depth of Zeppelin's musical abilities. "Bron-Yr-Aur-Stomp" is pure fun (it's pronounced something like "bron-aire", if I remember correctly. Isn't it?).
"Whole Lotta Love" and "Rock And Roll" are pure hard rock heaven. And even the 25-minute medley of "Dazed And Confused", "Walter's Walk" and "The Crunch" somehow manages to stave off boredom.
I would have liked to hear the epic "When The Levee Breaks", too, and Plant can no longer hit the highest notes (a fact which marrs "Stairway To Heaven" in particular), but those are minor complaints - almost all of what is here is top-notch.
"How The West Was Won" includes most of Zeppelin's best and best-known songs, and they shine in this live setting. This is 70s blues-rock at its very finest, and anyone with even a slight interest in Led Zeppelin should own this album. They will not be disappointed.
Music Review: Epic concerts, fantastic recording
Rating: 5 Stars
Start of a 70s concert recording revival ?
It's always been something of a puzzle that only The Who (Live at Leeds) from among British rock bands of the late 60s/early 70s produced a contemporary live recording which really did justice to their stellar on-stage reputation. Until now.
Salute Zeppelin's manager, the late Peter Grant, for having the wherewithall to setup venue recording on this 1972 USA concert tour, and Jimmy Page for taking the time to remaster and organise this audio material as a tangential project to the Led Zeppelin DVD (also released in 2003).
No need to repeat what many other comments have already stated. It's a great sounding package. Indeed my only quibble is the near-CD worth of unrecorded space (approx 75mins) spread across the 3 audio CDs. Due to the long length of some individual tracks, the LA Forum/Long Beach concert montage would not quite squeeze on a double CD, without substantial editorial and track listing alteration.
But - unless I've missed some diabolically embedded "bonus" material - given this is not a single "in concert" recording, but a digital meshing of separate concerts (the presence of bass AND mandolin, plus guitar and drums on tracks like That's The Way suggest some additional mixing handiwork), is it being greedy (given the very reasonable pricing) to expect live recordings of Physical Grafitti material featured on the DVD from 1975 Earls Court performances ? (yes, probably)
That said, with the critical and commercial success of this release, no doubt the executives at EMI and Virgin have been sending their archivists and lawyers away to trawl the masters vaults for Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones 70s live recordings. Could be the start of something of a trend. Garage sale Bootleggers beware.
Music Review: Acapulco gold...going down slow...
Rating: 5 Stars
'How the West Was Won' is nothing short of a godsend. The greatest hard rock band ever, recorded at the very apex of their incredible but short career, what more do you want? 'BBC Sessions' whetted the appetite for vintage Zep but 'West' delivered the goods for sure. So it's been about 31 years, better late than never! If you are a true Led Zeppelin fanatic and are not blown away by the live versions of the admittingly tired classics then what the hell is wrong with you! I couldn't believe how powerful this performance was and now it is mine to play over and over again. "Immigrant Song", "Heartbreaker" and "Black Dog" immediately deliver aural destruction and sensation in their majesty and power. "Stairway" and "Since I've Been Lovin' You" are in peak form! "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" combined clock in close to an hour and leave their respective originals in the dust with their innovative, loose jam structure and musical dexterity. The covers medley in the latter is a blast with standbys John Lee Hooker, Ricky Nelson and Elvis making an appearance. If you think because you have 'Song Remains the Same' and you don't need this masterpiece, you are screwing yourself! 'West' blows the former any in so many different ways. "Rock n'Roll" and the three previews from 'Houses of the Holy" add some extra spice along with Bonzo's calling card, "Moby Dick" (outrageously 19 minutes long!) Set closer "Bring it On Home" is a nice treat and an extended goodbye from a "I wish I owned a time machine" type show. Zeppelin's reputation as a top live act was always secure even when regarding the soundtrack album, but 'West' leaves absolutely no doubt. Could be my favorite live album of all time, or at least top five. Greatest Zep album! Just might be! This the real deal!Music Review: 2.5 HOURS OF LED ZEPPELIN (18 SONGS)
Rating: 5 Stars
This is worth the money. You're getting 18 Led Zeppelin songs on 3 discs all recorded live at California in '72. Some of them are over 20 minutes long and are overtaken by solos by Jimmy Page. Especially on Whole Lotta Love which is a 23-minute song. He also plays very well in the 25 minute Dazed and Confused song. You get to hear an extended version of Moby Dick, one of the best drum solos from John Bonham with no stops for 19 minutes (way better then the 4 minute album version). You hear Robert Plant at some of his best moments in almost every song except solo parts.
If your unsure about buying this because you never bought any Led Zeppelin albums before you will not be disappointed at all. I do recommend buying the Complete Studio Recordings before this if you're new to them like I am but I bought this and the Complete Studio Recordings in a week's time. If you like rock/blues/acoustic/metal music with guitar/drum solos played throughout almost every song then I recommend this.
CD-1
1. LA Drone- (: 14)-N/A
2. Immigrant Song- (3:42)-10/10
3. Heartbreaker- (7:25)-10/10
4. Black Dog- (5:41)-10/10
5. Over the Hills and Far Away- (5:08)-9/10
6. Since I've been Loving You- (8:02)-9/10
7. Stairway to Heaven- (9:38)-10/10
8. Going to California- (5:37)-9/10
9. That's the Way- (5:54)-10/10
10. Bron-Yr-Aur-Stomp- (4:55)-10/10
CD-2
1. Dazed and Confused- (25:25)-10/10
2. What is and What Should Never Be- (4:41)-10/10
3. Dancing Days- (3:42)-10/10
4. Moby Dick (drum solo)- (19:20)-10/10
CD-3
1. Whole Lotta Love- (23:08)-10/10
2. Rock and Roll- (3:56)-10/10
3. The Ocean- (4:21)-9/10
4. Bring it on Home- (9:30)-9/10