[Heeplist] Initial Led Zep remaster thoughts

[Dave]

I tried listening to them, but only found the first album worth getting 
because of the live disc, the rest had nothing that I felt added anything 
new worth having, I do think the track you mentioned from 3 is worth getting 
if your into that style which I am not. I look forward to 4 hoping for more 
interesting takes, and hopeful of more live shows. Sadly the live disc is 
not near as good as the 70 show on the DVD a few years back which is way 
better still than any other bootleg or official release ive heard. DS

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jay Pearson
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 11:20 AM
To: Heeplist
Subject: [Heeplist] Initial Led Zep remaster thoughts

Hey y'all!

One of the guys at work got all three remasters yesterday morning and has 
let me listen to the bonus discs.

I have not been able to compare the quality of the remasters to previously 
released versions, so no comment yet.

Led Zep I - Bonus disc is live show from 1969. Excellent performance, mostly 
good sound quality, but guitar sometimes sounds muffled. Well worth having!
Led Zep II - Bonus disc is mostly Robert Corich-quality alternate versions 
(that is, very little difference from the original!) Most "alternate" 
versions simply sound like a few guitar fills are missing, if any difference 
at all. Backing tracks are simply that, and quite boring, and Moby Dick is 
pretty much the original without the drum solo! The only thing of note is 
the last track "La La" that sounds like an R&B jam with lots of funky organ 
from JP Jones. I will simply rip this track and skip buying the album.
Led Zep III - This bonus disc is the exact opposite of II! This is like the 
Beatles Anthology takes, very different for the most part, and the backing 
tracks sound more like true instrumentals. Immigrant Song is a true 
alternate mix (unlike the vast majority of "alternate mix"es on deluxe 
editions). "Bathroom Sound" is simply Out On The Tiles instrumental. 
"Jennings Farm Blues" is an electric jam based on Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, but 
lasts way too long. Finally, it ends with the gem of all three bonus discs, 
the new song, Key To The Highway/Trouble In Mind, an incredible acoustic 
blues performance in the same vein as Hats Off to Roy Harper, and sounding 
very much like a Robert Johnson recording from 1935. I've listened 3x so 
far, this is possibly the best Zeppelin outtake (including the Coda album) 
of all.

Booklets are pretty good, reminiscent of the last round of Heep remasters. 
And I do like these alternate covers!

Overall judgment: I & III are very worth buying, but I'd skip II.


Jay
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