This post-Zeppelin album was released in ’82, and features pure outakes from the Zeppelin era, especially from ’’In Through The Out Door’’.
It’s pretty amazing if you think about it, ALL of these songs were not good enough to be released in any of their previous albums, yet they are better than most music from any other band! I’d like to hear of another band, that could release a good album featuring nothing but outakes from previous albums. Only Zeppelin had the power & talent to do so!. This album doesn’t really contain a bad song (have yet to hear a bad zep tune). But doesn’t contain any masterpieces er Zep classics. But then what the hell!!! After I grew tired of Stairway and Whole Lotta Love, I moved on to the more ’’obscure’’ Zep tracks. This album epitomizes Led Zep’s penchant for change and willingness to go in a new direction on each album.
I remember 2 years back I was surfing for some dope on led zep albums & read loadsa people saying this is the least likable(i just cannot use the word worst for them ’coz they never done anything bad) album & after that I didnt buy this album for more than a year. Now I have realised never to go by others opinions. Just ’coz these songs r outakes doesnt mean they r bad...infact this album has got killer tracks.
WE’RE GONNA GROOVE is a neat one to start the album. It has some nice effects by Page.
DARLENE - this ones a very groovy song , i love the way Plant says darlene followed by a neat Page lead.The Piano work(by Paul Jones it seems) complimenting it all the way.
I CANT QUIT YOU BABY - I somehow prefer the original(!!!) version in their first album. There r some neat guitar work by Page though.
OZONE BABY is the standout here. JONE’s bass anchors this song. Plant’s vocals are a thing of beauty here, and page’s guitar rocks.
POOR TOM - this ones comparatively lighter than the rest .Cool song though.
BONZO´s MONTREAUX is the epic track of this album. Its pure vintage JOHN BONHAM here. This song alongwith ’Moby Dick’ proves why he was considered the best drummer from that era.
WEARING & TEARING is one of the top best LZ songs of all time to my ears. Its got a punk feel to it. Robert Plant & Bonham just go crazy in this with Jones riding along with his bass riffs. AMAZING!!!!!
Highly Reccomended Album. Infact if u havnt been into Led ZEP buy this album...listen to it keeping in mind these songs were not considered good enuff to be included in their albums .... I can bet the next thing u r gonna do is buy all the Led Zep stuff.