Even though the sound is slightly inferior to the official relase, it is nevertheless the best sounding bootleg I've ever heard. It is extremely clear and crisp. Only the very occasional static pop and slight whine reminds you this is from an FM broadcast. It sounds amazing!

I should also note that there is a slight tracking problem. On the liner, track 1 is listed as the intro. However, the intro is really on track 2. Track 1 is about 10 seconds of chatter with a burp in the sound at the end that sounds a bit like a microphone being turned off. Thus, all the songs on disc 1 are moved up one track.

The intro by John Peel has a few minor snips in the applause. Most of the chatter on this release is here, with perhaps a few minor edits. Nothing big, mind you. Plant addresses the audience, explaining the week delay due to his voice giving out on the "Back to the Clubs" tour. (The show was originally sceduled for the 25th of March, but was performed on April 1st. Note that the date on the discs are wrong.) The set starts out with "Immigrant Song." A nice version, and everything sounds wonderfully bombastic. I've noticed that the vocals on this disc seem to be mixed a little more up front than the official release. Why? I don't know. I suspect the Antrabata release to be.from the Japanese broadcast in 1995, but I have little info on it...if anyone can shed some light on.this, it would help immensely. It sounds like the official release may be.from the same.source tape, aside from the obvious EQ'ing. Back to the set. "Heartbreaker".follows,.with a great interlude by Page. Going back to quality again, it's so clear.that during the.solo you can hear the snares on Bonzo's snare drum vibrating from the guitar.amps! The song continues and the rhythm section really sounds great. Next the band follows with a powerful "Since I've Been Loving You". The vocals on this track sound a bit thin, due to an equipment problem, perhaps. They have been thickened up a little on the official release. It's a minor glitch though, and does not detract from the song. There's some nice improv by Plant, and the guitar is quite good, but Bonzo and Jonesey really make this track shine, with their great fills and organ playing, respectively. While Plant is introducing "Black Dog", his mike glitches and the volume goes up for a few seconds. The "Out on the Tiles" intro follows, then the song begins. Plant is quite off-key in some parts, detracting from an otherwise tight and crisp performance. After some more chatter, a surreal "Dazed" with a classic bow solo follows. Humorous improv by Plant after he screws up the second verse, and a lot of quick, clear playing by Page. Jonesey rumbles heavily through the song with some great basslines. Bonzo is wonderful as ever, and the section after the bow solo even sounds somewhat reminicient of "The Crunge". After a powerful ending, Plant introduces "Stairway", drinks tea, and chats with John Peel and the audience about "Bridget the Midget" while John Paul tunes up his bass pedals. The performance of "Stairway" is, as with all the material from the as-yet- released fourth album, being broadcast for the first time. "Stairway" is similar to the album performance, with a relatively short solo (though its structure is a little different) but a good performance nonetheless. Onto the second disc....

After "Stairway", the band sits down for a short acoustic set. This is the part of the concert where the great sound quality is best appreciated. Put on headphones, close your eyes, and envision Pagey playing his acoustic, Jonsey strumming his mandolin, Bonzo banging his tambourine, and Plant softly singing, all in your living room! It really does sound that good! What's more, the performances of "Going to California" and "That's the Way" are perhaps the best I've ever heard. Simply beautiful. After more talk, "What isand What Should Never Be" begins, but Plant starts waaay off key and the song grinds to a quick halt. Plant quips, "We were in the wrong key...I thought I had to do like, four minutes like that...the mailbag on the Melody Maker would've had a treat!" The performance that follows is great, though. Tight, loose, with a great effort put in by all members of the band. The complete "Whole Lotta Love" medley follows. At least, I think so. Some say there is an edit right before "Honey Bee," but it sounds to me like the audience was just edited in badly, but there is no way to be sure, as I have nothing to compare it to....some feedback on this would also be appreciated. Anyhow, this recording is the most complete I know of, and is much longer than the officially released version, clocking in at over 20 minutes. After a menacing Theramin solo, the medley begins. It includes bits of the following tunes (not sure of all the titles) : Boogie Chillun, Bottle Up and Go, Truckin' Little Mama, Fixin' to Die, That's Alright Mamma, I Need Your Love?, For What It's Worth, Mess O' The Blues, Honey Bee, The Lemon Song. Quite a performance, I prefer it to the edited official release. The encore of "Thank You" is my absolute favorite, again with more great organ work by Jonesey. "Communication Breakdown" is last, and includes "Feel So Bad". It isn't too shabby, but lacks some of the "oomph" of earlier versions. Nevertheless a good endig to the show.

Quality: 10. It doesn't get any better than this for bootlegs.

Will Palmer (11/27/97)

The review for "BBC Zep" is ©1998 Will Palmer, and may not be reproduced in any media, electronic or otherwise, without the express permission of the author.