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Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same [VHS] [1976] starring: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Peter Grant

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Rating: - VHS picture and mp3 sound quality

Led Zeppelin is my all time favourite Rock band and this is not even close to being (a registration of) their best concert. However, this disk deserves it's 1 star or lower rating because the transfer is appalling. The picture competes with 'good VHS' standards and the audio does not come close to CD, let alone improve on it. What a sad way to make money.

Rating: - A Reissue Done Right

Opening my copy of Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same" collector's edition took me back to the halcyon days of LP packaging. Reproductions of lobby cards, premier invites, news clippings, a TSRTS t-shirt, and a mail-in poster offer had me feeling like the long-haired teenager I was so many years ago.
The film itself has been masterfully upgraded. The new digital transfer is noticeably sharper and clearer than previous versions, and the sound quality is remarkable, finally doing justice to the virtuousity of the band. While some issue can be raised regarding continuity and the intrusion of the fantasy sequences, one must understand that this was the norm during the excessive '70s. This was a film about a band at a certain place in time, not a faithful presentation of a particular show.
The second DVD offers more footage from the MSG shows, interspersed with news footage, interviews, and an audio-only segment from a radio show. Although most of the additional live footage was previously released on the 2003 DVD set, I believe "Celebration Day" is new.
A lot of thought and effort obviously went into this re-issue, and full credit is due. Some other performers could take a lesson from this release. All in all, a bang-up job. Thanks lads!

Rating: - An endearing portrait of the decade that irony forgot.

For years the only official live footage available of Led Zeppelin in action, "The Song Remains The Same" is an ambitious, deeply flawed but ultimately worthwhile portrait of the blues-rock giants at the height of their powers.

Filmed over the course of three gigs at Madison Square Garden in New York, 1973, the movie attempts to weave live footage with "fantasy" sequences depicting the thoughts and ideas that inspired the music, thus fulfilling the tagline's promise of Zeppelin "in concert and beyond."

Whilst some might see this as a daring pre-MTV crack at the music video, the big problem is that what we actually see is the band "stoned out of their brains". When I'm watching a concert DVD, the last thing I want to see is the lead singer on horseback rescuing a damsel in jerky over-cranked slow motion, or their guitarist crawling up a mountainside whilst a 'hermit' in cheap make-up conjures up low-budget special effects. It's toe-curlingly embarrassing, all the more so for being executed without the merest hint of irony. As trite a statement as it may be, it's true - Spinal Tap could not have happened without this movie.

Fortunately, these sequences do not comprise the majority of the film, and the movie is further redeemed by some excellent music. The band have since expressed their dissatisfaction with their performance on many an occasion, and it's true that better live cuts exist (see the excellent live album "How The West Was Won") but nonetheless this features some gems. Jimmy Page's guitar playing in the film switches effortlessly between the heavy blues-rock noodling of "Black Dog" and the more emotional, melodic material on such standout tracks as "No Quarter", "Stairway To Heaven" and a jaw-dropping "Since I've Been Loving You". Robert Plant's vocals are consistently powerful throughout, backed up by the talented rhythm section of John Bonham and John Paul Jones.

Of course, the performances aren't perfect - there's rarely a valid excuse for a ten minute drum solo ("Moby Dick") or the overwrought fret-widdling of "Dazed and Confused", the latter of which outstays its welcome by at least five minutes. The sound quality on the DVD isn't the best either - not being an audiophile I can't comment on the technical specifics, but I know I've heard better live films from the same era ("Last Waltz", anyone?). It's not awful by any stretch of the imagination, but could definitely do with clearing up.

Despite all the drawbacks I've raised, for such a low price it's worth snapping up this unusual little nugget of rock and roll history.

** N.B. It's recently been announced that both this movie and the accompanying live album will be re-released with cleaned-up audio and bonus tracks. Buyers may wish to consider holding fire and being prepared to spend a little more on an improved version at a later date. **

Rating: - AN INTERESTING INSIGHT

Yes, it is and a lot more besides.

Apart from the music there is the myth surrounding the band - the references, the interests, the hype, the juggernaut.
Of course if one is a fan ( I am ) then one will have already seen or owned this film.

It is an interesting mixture of concert footage ( hugely enjoyable ) with self-generated mythology and theatrical fantasy which together ( I feel ) actually give more than concert footage ever could - an insight into the other side of LED ZEPPELIN which we all ( let's face it ) bought in to when they were with us ( and still do today ).

I enjoy this film hugely - I recommend it to anyone.

Rating: - Easily worth the £4 asking price.

I love led zeppelin so my view is obviously biased but if you're considering this DVD I'm guessing you love them too. If you're a fan its worth the £4 just for the great performance of stairway to heaven, it's beautifully played.

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