Dates for the 1971 summer European Tour are sketchy and fragmented. Years ago a long list of dates were believed to have taken place, but for the last fifteen or more the general consensus is that there were only 6 possibly 7 gigs in the 3 and a half months between the BBC In Concert show on April 1st and the start of the 7th North American Tour in Vancouver on August 19th.
And whilst the others were short 2 date bursts (plus the rescheduled Liverpool show on May 19th), these two Montreux gigs were definite warm-ups for their return to the US. Sadly missing the raft of experimental tracks from the still to be released 4th elpee previewed in Copenhagen (and probably Odensen and Liverpool too), the set was still mighty fine.
Immigrant Song/Heartbreaker
Since I've Been Loving You
Black Dog
Dazed And Confused
Stairway To Heaven
Going To California
That's The Way
Celebration Day
What Is And What Should Never Be
Whole Lotta Love + Medley -
Boogie Chillun'/That's Alright Mama/Ramble On/Gambler's Blues/I'm A Man/I Ain't Got No Love/Honey Bee/I Want Your Sugar Mama/Gee Baby, Ain't I Good For You/Kind Hearted Woman Blues/Goin' Down Slow-The Shape I'm In
Weekend
Add Bonzo's showcase and some additional original encores and we have the backbone for the forthcoming tour. From the off the band are on top form, although the sound has Robert very high and overloaded in the mix leaving little dynamics in the sound of the rhythm section in particular. Nonetheless a really enjoyable listen all the same.
This is the show where so many people were milling about on the grass banks outside the Casino that Gee had some extended PA speakers set up outside so they could enjoy the show even if they couldn't see Led Zeppelin.
This is the show where so many people were milling about on the grass banks outside the Casino that Gee had some extended PA speakers set up outside so they could enjoy the show even if they couldn't see Led Zeppelin.
The opening brace is fiery and incendiary, Robert singing at the top of his range as he led the viking hordes on the rampage. Jimmy too is on top form with a measured and stylish Heartbreaker solo.
Once again, Dazed And Confused is the centre piece of the show, snaking and dovetailing through time and key changes as Jimmy once more leads the way. The link from the opening verses to the bow sketch is still very short here, most of the daring improvisation of this 18 plus minute version comes after Jimmy's very daring, arresting showcase.
Once again, Dazed And Confused is the centre piece of the show, snaking and dovetailing through time and key changes as Jimmy once more leads the way. The link from the opening verses to the bow sketch is still very short here, most of the daring improvisation of this 18 plus minute version comes after Jimmy's very daring, arresting showcase.
Stairway To Heaven is developing into a show stealing masterpiece too, still unknown to the vast majority of the audience, and for that maintaining an aura of wonder. The acoustic section, in place for the upcoming dates, is a wonderfully relaxed affair, showing off Led Zeppelin's fast growing stage craft and confidence. And the other highlight tonight is the (fast becoming legendary) medley.
With a mad frenzied Theremin maelstrom, Robert once again leads them through a chunk of assorted boogie's, plus the unexpected bonus of a verse or two of Ramble On, squeezed in between his Elvis workout That's Alright Mama and a muddled approximation of a snatch of BB King's Gamblers Blues. The slower blues that folllows, where Robert throws in random verses and even just individual lines of all manner of obscure references, has Jimmy bringing the crowd to their feet with some wonderful figures and cascades.
As usual hysteria follows, and Led Zeppelin reward the crowd with a joyous encore of Eddie Cochran's Weekend.
At just over 100 minutes, this is a compact (for them) but great show. Wish we had a recording of the next night too. The upcoming North American dates would include several shows that would pass into legend, and the two date warm-up in Montreux showed their intent and confidence was higher than ever.
At just over 100 minutes, this is a compact (for them) but great show. Wish we had a recording of the next night too. The upcoming North American dates would include several shows that would pass into legend, and the two date warm-up in Montreux showed their intent and confidence was higher than ever.
Several CD sets have emerged, all from the same source tape even if the first one or two had slightly more edits and uncorrected speed faults in places. Some include the Milan excerpt as a 'bonus' too.
On film, about 7 minutes of 8mm colour footage has emerged, of the crowd swarming outside the doors of the Casino, sitting on the grass (presumably) listening to Led Zeppelin plus some brief offstage and backstage clips of the band talking and then striding towards the stage.
We also have a fantastic book The Montreux Concerts by Giles Chateau and Sam Rapallo, sadly long out of print.
We also have a fantastic book The Montreux Concerts by Giles Chateau and Sam Rapallo, sadly long out of print.
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