Elly Roberts reviews
Led Zeppelin: Mothership - The Very Best of Led Zeppelin
Distributed by
Atlantic/Rhino
2*CD plus DVD: 
Vinyl:
- November 2007
- Rating: 10/10++
Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed And Confused, Bring It On Home, Since I’ve Been Loving You, Thank You, That’s The Way, What Is And What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown,
Medley: Long Tall Sally, Say Mama, Johnny B.Goode, That’s Alright Mama....
That’s the lucky 13-song setlist that changed Led Zeppelin’s fortunes forever:
they were paid £20,000 as headliners.
It was played at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music '70, held on
the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet on 27/28 June 1970. Going on
stage at 8.30 as the sun was setting, they played their hearts out. Finally,
the British press was won over. Things would never be the same for Led Zeppelin.
On a personal angle, my first taste came on the cusp of going to art college.
A school friend saw them at King’s Hall Aberystwyth on January 16, 1973, highly
recommending them. It was time to check them out. As a big fan of T.Rex and
other pop acts, I was in for a big, life changing experience. Sounds profound,
but true. I effectively grew up to, and with them.
At college, a fellow student handed loaned me Led Zeppelin 4, aka Four
Symbols. From the opening track, Black Dog and opening blues-holler,
"Hey, hey mama, said the way move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove,"
shivers ran down the spine. That was it - hooked!
On Friday May 23, 1975 I saw them at Earls Court London. Even now, as this
review is being written, listening to the CDs, it still brings a tingle to the
system. Now we can all experience the mind-boggling array of styles they
thrust upon us.
Blues-inflected classics such as Since I’ve Been Loving You, to riff-laden
Whole Lotta Love - theme to Top of The Pops. The folkie-blues-power rocker
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You still sounds as dazzling over 30 years on.
The 6 minutes and 27 seconds of Dazed And Confused, with cello bow-bashing,
and ominous sound, it remains one of the most unique rock explorations ever.
Beginning with Good Times Bad Times from their debut album, released
January 12 1969, it follows a chronoligical order, ending CD 1 with their
signature tune – Stairway To Heaven from 4.
Disc 2 picks up from album Houses Of The Holy with The Song Remains
The Same. This showed a stylistic turning point, which introduced a wider
scope of music, like reggae thumper D’Yer Maker. 1975’s Double album Physical
Grafitti gets three tracks here, all from ‘side two’ – Trampled Underfoot, Kashmir and Houses of The Holy.
Missing are the brilliant Black Country Woman and heavy blues monster
In My Time Of Dying. Last track, All My Love, from last studio
album proper – In Through The Outdoor (August 1979) is a sublime synth-based
beauty, dedicated to Plant’s son Karac who died from a stomach infection.
Downside? None of their folkier gems like Going To California, Battle Of
Evermore and Tangerine.
Not exactly the very best of... but close enough, from the greatest band of
all time. Respect.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
