The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

I recorded this in honor of Jimmy Page's 81st birthday. I chose a selection of performances which I first think of when I think of Zeppelin, or Jimmy. I play tracks from 1969 through 1988 and every track is a banger. I hope you enjoy.

1995 was a great year for Zep fans. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant had finally reunited, and were touring with a huge ensemble including (not one, but) two orchestras, and the guitarist for the Cure.... and a hurdy gurdy. It worked out splendidly. This is October 26, 1995 at Madison Square Garden, where Jimmy and Robert played a smashing gig. I play No Quarter (Unledded version), In the Evening/Carou...

December 20, 1972 at the Brighton Dome in good old Brighton, UK. This is digital transfer of the original master cassette, courtesy of KRW_Co. Being a master recording all the clarity which the recorder could capture is preserved. I play Misty Mountain Hop and a 30 minute, everything but the kitchen sink, rendition of Whole Lotta Love. So many medleys!

The 1998 Walking Into Everywhere Tour is a goldmine for great music. The rhythm section of Michael Lee, and Charlie Jones, had really jelled with Jimmy Page, and were a formidable force live. This show is the penultimate show of the tour, December 1, 1998 in Ghent, Belgium. I play Tangerine, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (great work from everyone on this one), and the final encores of Ramble On and Roc...

This is one of Robert Plant's greatest shows. He's full blast and the rest of the band is right there with him. August 7, 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland right before heading the US for another amazing tour. You can't get better than 1971 Led Zeppelin, and it's so cool to hear them play Zep IV songs to an audience that had never heard them yet. I play what is possibly the first live performance of C...

I've been going through a bit of a Brussels period, with 1980 and now 1972 back to back. Led Zeppelin usually played well in Brussels, and this show is no exception. May 28, 1972 has the band in fine form as I play Immigrant Song/Heartbreaker and the entire acoustic set of Going to California, That's the Way, and Bron-y-Aur Stomp. Acoustic Zeppelin is always a treat and this is no different. This...

I was led to this show by a thread on Royal Orleans (a Zep fan site) in which someone wrote a brilliant essay about 1980 and how it deserves another look, as it's not all dysfunction, addiction, and flat performances. I've gotten to the point where I'd say at least half the 1980 Tour over Europe is pretty damn good, even great. June 20, 1980 the band played Brussels and they completely knocked it...

We listen to a transfer of Joe Maloney's master mono reel of Led Zeppelin at the legendary Boston Garden, on Sept. 9, 1970. No surprise this is an incredible show with Robert in full power, and Jimmy, Bonzo, and Jonesy just perfectly locked in. I play Immigrant Song>Heartbreaker in all one chunk, and the mini acoustic set of That's the Way and a beautiful performance of the instrumental Bron-Y-Aur...

The 1973 UK tour is not to be slept on. Robert's voice is rough as he, as he always has in winter, the flu. So they cancelled and rescheduled to preserve the treasure that is Robert Plant's voice, right? Nope. He pushed himself as always and did his poor larynx no favors. This show is January 14, 1973 at the Empire in Liverpool. The show is a banger as Jimmy is ingenious, Bonzo is frenetic, and Jo...

This week we listen to a compilation put together by Led Zeppelin Boots, of Copenhagen and Odense (May 4 and 5 respectively). These are shows in which Led Zeppelin truly were exception. In addition to being on top of their game, with a ridiculously powerful Robert Plant at the fore, they played Gallows Pole and Four Sticks! These songs have only been played a small handful of times, and you're goi...

This is an incredible tape of Led Zeppelin rehearsing at Headley Grange in preparation of their upcoming Physical Graffiti double album. From November 1973 through May 1974 the band convened at Headley Grange, the site of many a legendary recording session (Zep IV, Houses, etc) to work on their new album. The sessions were fruitful and the band was totally dialed in and focused. I play two incredi...

I couldn't keep this one just to myself. It's too good. Sept. 21 1998 at the Cox Arena is San Diego is a truly magical night. Everyone is playing at 11 and they achieve that elusive synergy wherein the total equals more than the sum of their parts. In How Many More Times, I've never heard the rhythm section sound better or more locked in. Jimmy is 10/10 judged on a Zeppelin scale. He's precise, in...

I find this to be my favorite of the 5 nights at Earls Court. Jimmy is playing with passion and dexterity. One of his best 1975 shows, imo. I'm playing source mix making an excellent, complete recording. These excellent audience tapes allow us to hear Tangerine with the four part harmony, unlike on the videos which only had Robert's voice. That alone makes this show pretty dang okey dokey, but I'v...

On November 28, 1983 Jimmy Page walked onstage in Dallas, Texas for his first American appearance in more than 7 years. He was newly free of the chains that heroin addiction had weighing him down, and he was working on getting back to fighting fettle. Paul Rodgers is joining him for this tour, as Steve Winwood was in the studio and couldn't reprise his Royal Albert Hall performances. We have the g...

This is one of the canonical 'best of' shows for Led Zeppelin. April 26, 1969 at the Winterland in San Francisco is a high water mark for a band with very... high water. Robert Plant is beyond belief and the rest of the band meets that level, just run with it. I have covered this show in the long long ago, but I have not repeated any songs, so we have fresh tunes to enjoy. I play Communication Bre...

This is a fun one! April 2, 1980 at My Father's Place in Roslyn, NY from an FM broadcast on WLIR. The sound and the performances are stellar. Nice, short, story songs sung impeccably... kinda in a Kinks vein. If you're like me you'll be reminded of a whole bunch of great songs that had slid over the horizon over the years, overshadowed by the fame of "Tempted". You'll enjoy this one.

Bonzo is the star of this show. Led Zeppelin in St. Paul, Minnesota July, 9, 1973 is a top tier NA 1973 show. Jimmy and Jonesy are on fire, but John Bonham is head and shoulders above them this night. He plays stuff I've not heard before, adding complexity to Heartbreaker and ingenuity to No Quarter and, and bombastic fire to Whole Lotta Love. The band playing at full tilt reminds one of a cheetah...

This is a good one. Robert Plant is in amazing voice with lots of oomph. Richie Hayward (from Little Feat) is killing it on drums, Robbie Blunt is a bloody virtuoso with his emotive playing. This is December 13, 1983 at the Hammersmith Odeon, on his Principle of Moments tour. Jimmy Page had four days prior finished up with the ARMS Tour, and was aflame with renewed enthusiasm for his musical futur...

For this episode we hear the thunderous John Paul Jones on tour for his Zooma album, at The Fubar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March, 10, 2000. This is a very well recorded show for around 200 people. The sound and vibe are incredible. Jonesy is very chatty and interactive with the audience. I play Grind (from Zooma), Crackback (from the Scream for Help soundtrack), and B. Fingers (again from Zo...

Today we hear some music from Led Zeppelin playing San Diego, 5/28/73, on a soundboard recording remastered by DADGAD. This show has some towering highs and tumbling low points. I play two of the highlights. First is a smokin' Since I've Been Loving You with gorgeous, smooth cooooool jazz piano from Mr. Jones, and Jimmy delivers in spades. Then I play glorious Whole Lotta Love with a trillion medl...

This is a good one! For this episode I have chosen Jimmy Page & Robert Plant on the last night of their huge Unledded US tour. May 27, 1995 at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. This is a great venue known for it's beauty, not unlike Red Rocks in Colorado. Page/Plant end their tour on a high note with tight performances in a 3rd Eye recording of insanely great quality (Millard level). I...

Jan. 18, 1973 - Led Zeppelin play Bradford UK on their tour of smaller UK venues, before launching on their epic European tour, which gave us all those great shows. This show is on par with those high water marks like Vienna or Essen. I play a raucous and frenetic Whole Lotta Love with joyous medleys aplenty. The rhythm machine is in high gear here. I also play an unorthodox encore performance of...

In this episode we hear a recording of the opening date of Led Zeppelin's 1971 UK Tour, in Newcastle on November 11, 1971. This is a distant but clear and good recording, and to no one's surprise the band is in great form. I play Heartbreaker, What Is And What Should Never Be, and a frenetic Communication Breakdown. This is a great show from a great tour. Don't sleep on UK 71, there's great stuff...

This is a fantastic recording of The Rolling Stones at the LA Forum, July 9, 1975. St. Michael Millard is the taper so the sound is out of this world. The Stones are also pretty darn great. This is Ronnie Wood's first tour with the Stones and he brings energy, fun, and a good bit of skill to the band. They sound revitalized. Billy Preston is with them as well, bringing a funkiness to the proceedin...

This is a delightful recording of a confident young Zep playing The Schaefer Music Festival, Central Park, NYC, on July 21, 1969. It's from a 1st gen reel and it sounds very good to these ears. The performance is, of course, glorious. I play a frenetic proto-funky Communication Breakdown, You Shook Me which is as much Robert's as it is Jimmy's with that awesome harp playing. This song shines brigh...