Montreal 6/7/72 tape review

[Ed Zeppelin <grab1196@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Note: This is NOT a tree announcement

 I received the Montreal 6/7/72 tapes yesterday, and I've given them a good
listen. Info regarding a possible tree to follow the review.

 Setlist:
Immigrant Song
Heartbreaker
Black Dog
SIBLY
Stairway To Heaven
Going To California
That's the Way
Tangerine
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Dazed and Confused
What Is and What Should Never Be
Moby Dick
Whole Lotta Love

 I have to preface the rest of this by saying that I've never heard Red
Snapper Deluxe, so I'm not able to make any comparsions as to how much of
an upgrade this is. From what I've heard from others though, the
improvement is considerable!
 The sound quality does fluctuate throughout the tape. Most of the time it
is very clear, rivaling some of the best '77 audience tapes. The tapers
near the mic only occassionally talk over the music, and the audience noise
only creates ambience, not interference. The band does not sound overly
distant, a problem with many audience tapes. The mix is very balanced,
although some Jimmy fans may feel that at times the guitar is too
submerged. Once in a while the tape suffers from some nasty drops, most
notably during D&C. Overall, the sound quality is exceptional for the
period.  
 The show starts off with Robert's voice cracking horribly for the opening
scream of Immigrant. Not to fear, he quickly recovers, and sings quite well
(high and clear) for the rest of the show. As previously noted, Immigrant
Song and a few seconds of Heartbreaker are from a different source as the
rest of the tape, slightly degraded. When the source switches during
Heartbreaker, the difference is very obvious...it becomes much clearer and
closer sounding. Black Dog (complete with Jelly Roll lyrics) and SIBLY are
typically powerful, and Stairway is one of the better live versions I've
heard. The solo is phenomenal, and the audience eats it up. 
 The acoustic set may be the highlight of the show. The sound quality is
particularly clear for this section. Tangerine is quietly brilliant, and
Robert steals the show with his mock southern twang on Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.
 Dazed and Confused is just that. The bow section comes in abruptly when
the band seemingly runs out of steam during the solo section. There is an
edit during this song, coming out of the second fast guitar solo. The tape
was apparently a bit degraded during this bit, as the quality suffers at
times.
 What Is and What Should Never Be is fine, nothing special (except that
it's Led Zeppelin!). Moby Dick is frankly quite boring, even as far as Moby
Dick goes. I happen to like drum solos, but this version is monotonous and
redundant. It's also repetitive. ;-)
 The band fires right up again for the finale of WLL. Just as Robert begins
Boogie Chillun', you can hear one of the tapers say "I think it's running
out." Then the tape comes to an end.

 As this a major upgrade of a great, uncommon show, I am sure demand for it
will be quite high. I know several other list members have received this
tape as well. Perhaps if there are enough who are willing, then these
people could serve as branches, and we could run a tree seeded from the
master. If you have this tape, please contact me if you'd be willing to
branch a tree of this show. One way or another, this one will be treed.
Once the detals are worked out, someone will post an annoucement. Please
don't email me with trade requests.

 Many thanks to Brian Chaloux for making this tape available!


 On a good day, we can part the seas,
 Ed Zeppelin