Subject: Top 25 Bootleg CDs : a complete breakdown (v2.0) Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 12:37:23 -0500 From: "S. Scott Davis" To: CC: It should be considered important for both the novice and advanced collector to have a clear grasp on what would determine the definitive starting collection of Led Zeppelin bootleg CDs. The following breakdown presents the top 25 shows that are known to be the most important and essential list of performances that any serious Led Zeppelin bootleg CD collector should strive to possess, including the necessary names of bootleg titles that represent that particular event. There shouldn't be any surprises on the list to the seasoned collector. Numerous sources were consulted to finalize this list, primarily information from Luis Rey, Dave Lewis, Simon Pallett, and many, many others who have in-depth knowledge in this area. It should be viewed as a select representation of what these critics already have or would likely agree upon. None of these titles were arbitrarily chosen. Japanese labels such as Tarantura and Antrabata and the more recent labels such as Akashic, Sanctuary, Flagge, and Empress Valley have all created some of the best, most desired, rare, and inherently expensive titles of all, and thus are unfortunately out of reach of most collectors. Although many of these "prestige label" titles are almost impossible to acquire, competent versions exist on other titles (typically on the TDOLZ or Image Quality label) that are readily available to the determined collector. A list such as this should also include specific bootleg CD labels that tend to stand out much more than others, primarily for their excellence in sound and packaging quality yet still remain affordable and obtainable. These would include the outstanding TDOLZ (The Diagrams of Led Zeppelin; one of the largest producers of high-quality bootleg CD titles to date), Last Stand Disk, and Jelly Roll labels. One can usually be assured of quality and consistency when choosing a title created by one of these premiere Japanese companies. Enjoy! [NOTE: About one year ago this list was presented to FBO in the form of the Top 50 bootleg choices (v1.0). This list has since then been updated and condensed to the best 25 bootlegs available (v2.0).] [In chronological order only: Date & Location/Title (Label xxCD) [comment], including multiple titles listed of same show. Titles listed per date are not exhaustive. Multiple dates, where appropriate, have been considered as one event.] 1. April 24, 1969 (Fillmore West, S.F.): FILLMORE WEST '69 (Scorpio 1CD) PSYCHEDELIC RAW BLUES (Immigrant 2CD) WHO'S COUNTRY JOE? (Flying Disk 1CD) CRACKER JACK BLUES (Jelly Roll 1CD) Best Version 2. April 26 (Winterland Ballroom, S.F.) & 27 (Fillmore West, S.F.),1969: LEAD SET - THE PSYCHEDELIC BALLROOM/SITTING & THINKING (Tarantura 4CD) GRAHAM'S SUPERB VOL. 1 & 2 (Image Quality 4CD) PSYCHEDELIC EXPLOSION (TDOLZ 2CD) [26th] WINTERLAND 69 (unknown 2CD) [26th] YOUNG HURRICANE (Ocean Sound Studio 2CD) [26th] SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING (Black Swan 2CD) [26th] SIMPLISTIC ATMOSPHERE (Jelly Roll 2CD) [27th] AMERICAN BEAUTY (Tarantura 2CD) [27th] FILLMORE WEST (Last Stand Disk 2CD) [27th] TWINIGHT (Immigrant 2CD) [27th] KILLING FLOOR (World Productions 2CD) [avoid this one] 3. June 27, 1969 (Playhouse Theatre, London): ROCK HOUR (Antrabata 1CD) WHITE SUMMER (Swinging Pig 1CD) WHITE SUMMER (Cobla 1CD) ANOTHER WHITE SUMMER (Big Music 1CD) CLASSICS OFF THE AIR VOL. 2 (Neutral Zone 1CD) THE COMPLETE '69 BBC CLASSICS (Immigrant 2CD) 4. August 31, 1969 (Texas International Pop Festival, Dallas): PLAYS PURE BLUES (Whoopy Cat) PLAYS PURE BLUES (Postscript 2CD) DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS (Oh Boy) TEXAS INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL (Oh Boy) TEXAS INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL (Last Stand Disk) PLAYS PURE BLUES (TMOQ 1CD) [audience source] PLAYS PURE BOB (Tarantura 1CD) [audience source] 5. January 9, 1970 (Royal Albert Hall, London): ROYAL ALBERT HALL (no label 1CD) ROYAL DRAGON - JIMMY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Tarantura 2CD) Best Version ROYAL ALBERT PRESENTATION (Immigrant) [avoid this one] 6. June 28, 1970 (Shepton Mallet, Bath Festival, England): BATH 1970 (Le-Mon 2CD) 1970 BATH FESTIVAL (Cobla 2CD) BATH STOP (Image Quality 2CD) [..truly the only essential Zeppelin bootleg that comes with very poor audio..] 7. September 4, 1970 (L.A. Forum): LIVE ON BLUEBERRY HILL (Cobla 2CD) LIVE ON BLUEBERRY HILL (Tarantura T2CD-4 2CD) LIVE ON BLUEBERRY HILL (Last Stand Disk 4CD) LIVE ON BLUEBERRY HILL PART 1 & 2 (Neutral Zone 2CD) THE FINAL STATEMENTS (Antrabata 8CD) [2 of the 8 CDs] RETURN TO BLUEBERRY HILL (Immigrant 2CD) RETURN TO BLUEBERRY HILL (Scorpio 2CD) [The Cobla, Antrabata, and LSD versions are considered standouts, although the others are also excellent] 8. April 1, 1971 (BBC Paris Studios, London): BBC ZEP (Antrabata 2CD) BBC ZEP ORIGINAL MASTER (Tarantura 2CD) CLASSICS OFF THE AIR VOL. 1 & 2 (Neutral Zone 2CD) BBC SESSIONS (Last Stand Disk 5CD) BBC (Last Stand Disk 4CD) 9. August 21, 1971 (L.A. Forum): DOUBLE CLUTCH - WILD WEEKEND (TDOLZ 2CD) THE 7TH US TOUR (Whole Lotta Live 2CD) WALK DON'T RUN (Tarantura 4CD) 10. September 23, 1971 (Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan): REFLECTION FROM A DREAM (TDOLZ 2CD) Best Version FRONT ROW (Tarantura 2CD) FRONT ROW (Memphis 2CD) STORM OF FANATICS (Mud Dogs 2CD) TALES OF STORMS (Aphrodite 2CD) 11. September 24, 1971 [Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan]: LIGHT & SHADE (TDOLZ 3CD) Best Version PRETTY WOMAN (Tarantura 3CD) 12. September 29, 1971 (Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan): THE COMPLETE GEISHA TAPE (Tarantura 3CD) THE COMPLETE GEISHA TAPE (Memphis 3CD) SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES (Mud Dogs 3CD) 929 (H-Bomb 3CD) LIVE IN JAPAN (Rock Solid 3CD) 13. June 25, 1972 (L.A. Forum): ROUTE 66 (Tarantura 4CD) SILENTLY RAVAGING AMERICA (Whole Lotta Live 2CD) BURN LIKE A CANDLE (Smoking Pig 3CD) A NIGHT AT THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL (Missing Link 3CD) 14. March 16, 1973 (Vienna, Austria): VIENNA 1973 (TDOLZ 2CD) LED POISONING (Cobla 2CD) LED POISONING (Flying Disk 1CD) [last 60 minutes of soundboard] ZIG ZAG ZEP (Tarantura 2CD) 15. March 24, 1973 (Offenburg, Germany): CUSTARD PIE (Cobla 2CD) Best Version SWEET AT NIGHT (TDOLZ 2CD) 16. May 31, 1973 (L.A. Forum): BONZO'S 25th BIRTHDAY (ARMS 3CD) BONZO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Tarantura 3CD) BONZO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Cobla 3CD) BONZO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Flying Disk 2CD) BONZO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Sanctuary 3CD) Great Version BONZO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (Empress Valley 6CD?) Great Version 17. June 3, 1973 (L.A. Forum): THREE DAYS AFTER (Cobra 3CD) Best Version THREE DAYS AFTER (Silver Rarities 2CD) THREE DAYS AFTER (Flying Disk 1CD) 18. July 17, 1973 (Seattle, WA): V 1/2 (Cobla 3CD) V 1/2 (Dynamite Studios 2CD) [soundboard source] SEATTLE DAZE (Image Quality 3CD) MONSTERS OF ROCK (Tarantura 3CD) 19. February 12, 1975 (Madison Square Garden, New York): THE JUMPLEG (Tarantura 3CD) THE 10TH U.S. TOUR (Whole Lotta Live 3CD) MSG 1975 (Last Stand Disk 3CD) Better Version CAN'T TAKE YOUR EVIL WAYS (TDOLZ 3CD) Better Version 20. February 14, 1975 (Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY): ST. TANGERINE'S DAY (IQ 3CD) NASSAU 1975 (TDOLZ 3CD) Best Version ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE (Off Beat 1CD) Poor Version 21. March 12, 1975 (Civic Arena, Long Beach, California): LONG BEACH ARENA FRAGMENT (Holy 1CD) STANDING IN THE SHADOW (TDOLZ 3CD) Best Version TRAMPLED UNDER JIMMY'S FOOT (Silver Rarities 3CD) 22. March 21, 1975 (Seattle, WA): 207.19 & 214 (Cobla 4CD) NO QUARTER (H-Bomb 4CD) SEATTLE SUPERSONIC (207.19/214 Scorpio 2CD) 23. June 21, 1977 (L.A. Forum): LISTEN TO THIS EDDIE (Silver Rarities 3CD) LISTEN TO THIS EDDIE (REMASTERED) (Silver Rarities 3CD) LISTEN TO THIS EDDIE (TDOLZ 3CD) OUT ON THE TILES (Tarantura 3CD) LISTEN TO THIS EDDIE - DEFINITIVE VERSION (Jelly Roll 3CD) [..included with Tarantura's A WEEK FOR BADGE HOLDERS/(YUZUKI/YUTUKI/YAKUZI) 19CD sets and TDOLZ's POWER AND GLORY 20CD set] 24. June 23, 1977 (L.A. Forum): FOR BADGE HOLDERS ONLY (ARMS 3CD) FOR BADGE HOLDERS ONLY (Balboa 3CD) FOR BADGEHOLDERS ONLY (TDOLZ 3CD) [..also included as GOODNIGHT MOONLIGHT, the 3CD set from Tarantura's A WEEK FOR BADGE HOLDERS 19CD edition) 25. June 30, 1980 (Frankfurt, Germany): BLITZKRIEG OVER EUROPE (Tarantura 3CD) THE FRANKFURT SPECIAL (TDOLZ 2CD) MOONLIGHT (Toasted Condor 1CD) DINOSAUR (Toasted Condor 1CD) HOTTER THAN THE HINDENBURG (Cobla 1CD) SUDDEN ATTACK (Tarantura/Unk. 2CD) TOUR OVER EUROPE 1980 (Last Stand Disk 2CD) *************************************************** v2.0 17JUNE99