| | Led Zeppelin How The West Was Won CD Led Zeppelin Discography of CDs
 (44 Customer Reviews)
In the course of putting together the live Led Zeppelin DVD for 2003 release, Jimmy Page came across some great concert recordings from the band's 1972 stint in California. HOW THE WEST WAS WON is three discs' worth of vintage Zep, far superior to the band's only other live album THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME. Here is the fearsome foursome in all their glory and fury, coming off like crazed rock & roll Vikings on the opening "Immigrant Song," reinventing the blues form on "Heartbreaker," and just plain rocking the doors off the joint on "Rock and Roll" and "Black Dog."
This being 1972, the band had made its journey into the folk-rock realm as well, and come out with the touching "Going to California" and "That's the Way," the earthy "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp," and the minstrel-in-the-hills fancy of "Over the Hills and Far Away," all of which are given strong voice here. A 25-minute "Dazed and Confused" and epic-length drum solo on the John Bonham feature "Moby Dick" show that Zep was unafraid to venture into anything they damn well pleased, but the bluesy grit and primal hard-rock crunch of their feel throughout this collection reveals the pure visceral magic of which these '70s icons were capable.
Recorded at Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles, California and Long Beach Area, Long Beach, California on June 25 & 27, 1972.
Personnel: Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Page (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Paul Jones (mandolin, keyboards, bass guitar); John Bonham (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley.
Recording information: LA Forum (06/25/1972/06/27/1972); Long Beach Arena (06/25/1972/06/27/1972); Sarm West Studios, London, England (06/25/1972/06/27/1972).
Photographers: Jeffrey Mayer; James Fortune; Michael Putland; Jim Cummins.
Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant (vocals); Jimmy Page (guitar); John Paul Jones (keyboards, bass); John Bonham (drums).
Rolling Stone (12/25/03, p.112) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 10 Reissues of 2003"
Rolling Stone (6/12/03, p.96) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Captures Zep in prime swagger, fresh off their masterpiece, LED ZEPPELIN IV, with HOUSES OF THE HOLY just around the corner..."
Entertainment Weekly (6/20/03, pp.70-1) - "...The band storms out, playing music that is both of its time and timeless, as accessible and unapproachable as when it was made..." - Rating: A+
Q (01/01/04, p.77) - Included in Q's "Best Re-releases of 2003" - "[Y]ou couldn't expect any band to play any more, any better....[A] thrilling document of a continent being sonically trampled underfoot." How The West Was Won Music | List Price | $26.98 (You save $9.39) | | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, Rock CDs, Live Performances, Box Sets, Hard Rock, British Folk Rock | | Label | Atlantic | | Orig Year | 2003 | | All Time Sales Rank |  149   | | CD Universe Part number | 5819340 | | Catalog number | 83587 | | Discs | 3 | | Release Date | May 27, 2003 | | Studio/Live | Live | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Producer | Jimmy Page | | Engineer | Eddie Kramer; Kevin Shirley | | Personnel | Jimmy Page - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Jimmy Page - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Robert Plant - vocals, harmonica
John Paul Jones - mandolin, keyboards, bass guitar
Robert Plant - vocals, harmonica
John Bonham - drums, percussion
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Led Zeppelin How The West Was Won Songs How The West Was Won Music How The West Was Won Music Review Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews LIVE SUCKS!!! What are you talking about!
live performances are what define bands. It is the only way a band can prove their worth, a band that cant play live might as well be dead. Good example - Busted. Live shows are the key to a bands success. Studio albums are fine but if you want to capture the true esscence of a band playing from the heart this Led Zep album is the one to get.
The sheer,raw emotion that is put into this by all members of the band is proof that they dwarf everyone when it comes to excellent live shows. This might not be them at thier peak (I'm thinking of Knebworth 1979) but it is still a truly magnificant tribute to one of the greatest bands ever to grace the planet.
Submitted by Dave (Perth, Scotland)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
 Led Baby!
Nothing I could say about this record would or could make the slightest difference to its' intended audience, nor should it. This record faithfully captures what it was like to see them in their heyday (when Plant could still hit the high notes and fifteen minute drum solos were a standard feature of rock shows) and, when they were hitting the heights (witness monster versions of "Heartbreaker", "Black Dog", and "Since I've Been Loving You"), they were dizzying heights indeed. Kudos for the extended versions of "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotts Love" that display the wide range of influences that helped to create their sound, but a slight quibble --- I remember them sitting down on chairs for over half an hour and playing their versions of folk/blues tunes. On a three disc set, the middle disc should have been entirely devoted to this acoustic portion of the show (the two tunes included, "Going to California" and "That's the Way" are superb). And, I've only heard it once, but the fifteen minute drum solo is KICK-ASS!
Submitted by a reviewer (Detroit MI) 
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Powerful and Terrific
I love this 3cd set. It is splendid and powerful. The music is terrific throughout. There are many wonderful moments. This set proves why they were the greatest rock band ever. It's a must own for any classic rock fan. It will take you back to the glory days of rock.
Submitted by a reviewer (New Jersey)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Only one word.
And that word is WOW. It's great to here Led Zeppelin live and remember just how great they were.
Submitted by a reviewer (Palatine,Ill)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Led Zep at their best
The hype on this release did not do it justice. I own over 3000 CDs and this is in the top five. Any rock, blues or music fan should own this set. Zep fans probably already own it, if you don't its your loss.
Submitted by a reviewer (Adams, Massachusettes)
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