Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same (Soundtrack)

Year of Release: 2007 (reissue) / 1976

Label: Atlantic

Genre: Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Metal

Music: 4

Sound: 4
Format Reviewed:CD (Reissue)



It is 1973.  The Beatles are no more, Jimi, Jim and Janis are dead and the times are not only a-changin' but HAVE irrevocably changed.  Meanwhile in New York, crowds gather to witness the conclusion of Led Zeppelin's hugely successful American Tour, at 3 sold out nights at Madison Square Garden.


"The Song Remains The Same" is a film and album of the same name, that captures this performance.  Largely regarded as one of the greatest rock bands ever - a status that was only further reaffirmed with their live performances - this should have been a very special moment, comprehensively immortalizing their greatness but unfortunately is not.

"The Biggest Band In the World"

When I listen to the first of the two CDs I still feel a sense of disjointedness in the performance.  For the 2007 re-release, Plant and Page reconstructed the original set list across the 3 nights, rectifying a major criticism of the original 1976 release.  However, something is still not right.  Is it the fact that it's not a single concert and that the energy of the concerts is different and disrupted?

I don't know but even the band wasn't happy with the result, delaying the original release due to dissatisfaction with the end result.  Decades later, Page expressed this feelings towards the recording:

"Obviously we were committed to putting this album out, although it wasn't necessarily the best live stuff we have. I don't look upon it as a live album...it's essentially a soundtrack".

So what IS wrong with this album?  Certainly not the material, which is primarily drawn from their first 4 classic albums.  The rhythm section of Bonham and Jones are faultless; both explosive and fluid.  Plant is in fine voice and Page is Godly, as always.  The remastered sound is cracking and the album should be labeled similarly to David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust LP, "TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME".  Page and Plant have even gone to the great effort of trying to match the exact sound of those 3 nights at Madison Square Garden.

Many years later, Jimmy Page express what I could not pinpoint:

"As far as Led Zeppelin's studio recordings went, every single one of them has a certain ambiance, certain atmospherics that made them special. When it came to the live shows, we were always trying to move things forward and we certainly weren't happy leaving them as they were. The songs were always in a state of change. On [The] Song Remains the Same you can hear the urgency and not much else. The live shows were an extension of the albums."

This album, or soundtrack I should say, reveals all that is lacking from the studio albums and Page hits the nail on the head for me when he says there is urgency and not much else;  the performance is fast, loud and filled with energy but lacks feeling.

So why the 4 star rating I hear you ask?  Several reasons.  Firstly, it's Led Zep and I firmly believe they can do no wrong.  But on a more objective note, disc 2 of the CD is AMAZING.  After listening to the underwhelming first disc, the 2nd disc opens with Dazed and Confused.  

This album is worth buying on the merits of this one track alone.  It successfully captures all that is lacking on the first disc.  Jimmy Page undoubtedly steals the show; he starts to shred 4 minutes in, only to move into a balladesque solo, with Robert Plant and in particular John Bonham and John Paul Jones flawlessly ebbing and flowing with him.  9 minutes later it's just Page's guitar and the awed hush of the crowd.  Page bows his guitar, projecting haunting sounds across Madison Square (SEE IT HERE) before the band erupts in unison at 16 minutes and rocks it out to the conclusion of what is a breathtaking 29 minutes.  

CHECK OUT THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DAZED AND CONFUSED HERE 

LISTEN AND SEE THE GUITAR SOLO HERE

EPIC

This is followed by Stairway to Heaven, before it had been played to death by generations radio DJs.  Next up is Moby Dick, which is a testament to the ability and stamina of John Bonham, basically being an 10 minute drum solo.


The album closes with Whole Lotta Love but my mind is elsewhere - still trapped in the majesty of their performance of Dazed and Confused.  Essential listening.