Description
This 1971 Berkeley recording captures ZEP over two days, two weeks before their first performance in Japan. While each source is different, currently, two-day coupling packages are the norm. This release will naturally be a two-day coupling, but each will be released with thorough attention to detail. First, the first day in Berkeley is a nostalgic recording that became known to enthusiasts through items like Mad Dogs and old Tara. However, these ’90s items each had pitch and gene issues, and it was undeniable that they did not quite make it into the enthusiast market. Over a decade later, the low-gen version remastered by dadgad has become widespread. At first glance, it’s far easier to listen to than the ’90s items mentioned above, and it’s nostalgic to think that it even produced the best-selling album “BERKLEY FIRST NIGHT.” That said, 2010 was the period when dadgad was at their most dazzling, creating a sound that was far from natural, even adding echo to the mix. It’s ironic that the dadgad version, which seemed cool in 2010—and even then was tainted with excessive equalization—has become the mainstream release in recent years. This time, however, not only has the recording been made from the master, but a CD based on a version not available online has also been released. The naturalness is on a whole different level from the dadgad version, and listening to “BERKLEY FIRST NIGHT” once again reminds us of the incredibly dazzling finish. The fact that the recording was reviewed 15 years later makes the listening experience even more enjoyable. Of course, the pitch is accurate. While the sound image on this day was a bit lumpy, it was still a pleasant enough mono audience recording, even if it wasn’t as good as the stereo recording the day after. This recording captures the entire concert, even Bill Graham’s opening band introduction, making it a rare find. The second day, meanwhile, is a long-loved recording from TMOQ’s LP “GOING TO CALIFORNIA,” but the original recording has never been unearthed. This is because the original LP was not released by the TMOQ label but by another company (possibly from the UK). The original cover, rather than the TMOQ stamped cover, featured a colorful gatefold jacket. The company that produced this cover discontinued further releases and instead transferred the stamper, allowing the TMOQ release. In fact, the TMOQ book “A PIG’S TALE” clearly states that this was “not a TMOQ production.” While the original recordings of TMOQ’s Blueberry Hill and Bontan have been distributed, this recording’s original remains undiscovered. With so much time having passed, it’s unlikely the original master will ever be unearthed. While CD releases based on TMOQ LPs continue to be released to this day, it’s nostalgic to recall that the first CD releases were not TMOQ copies but contraband LPs downgraded to mono. This time, we’ve achieved a thoroughly clean transfer from the original TMOQ press. TMOQ LPs at the time were subject to inconsistent pressings, making noiseless playback a challenge. As a result, many CDs were released in a somewhat unsatisfactory state, with noise present or silences cut out. However, this release literally features a mint-condition LP, resulting in a thoroughly clean recording without any tinkering. This recording is also stereo, but a faulty microphone connection caused the audio to go mono from the beginning of “Immigrant Song” to just after the start of “Heartbreaker.” The recording then quickly switched to crystal-clear stereo, a quirk that was hastily fixed and preserved on the record. There’s a gap, as if the microphone was reconnected, during the transition from mono to stereo, but this was recorded without cutting it out, allowing for a smoother listening experience. The recording trouble continued on “Black Dog” and “Whole Lotta Love,” briefly cutting off the left channel, but this time, converting to mono makes it much easier to listen to. Previous releases have often ignored these brief cuts. Yet, the audio dropout on “Dazed and Confused” was thoroughly addressed with waveform adjustments rather than mono conversions. The result is a crystal-clear stereo sound that’s easy to enjoy with minimal stress. Another major attraction is the way Zep consistently captures their focus on their performance during the two days in Berkeley. While the ’71 tour had begun at the LA Forum, with shows like MSG and Boston looming over the frenzy of the US, it feels like they’re finally performing in front of the well-mannered Berkeley crowd. While Plant’s voice shows signs of fatigue early in the second day, it quickly recovers. Thanks in part to the crystal-clear stereo quality, the acoustic sections are mesmerizing to listen to. This is why faithfully recreating the TMOQ masters on CD is so necessary. Enjoy the best of both of these fascinating days at Berkeley! Live at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, California, USA, September 13th & 14th, 1971. PERFECT/TRULY PERFECT SOUND. Discs 3-4: Taken from the vintage LP “GOING TO CALIFORNIA” (TMQ-72004 / LZ 1-4). Discs 3 and 4 feature the iconic “GOING TO CALIFORNIA” (September 14th, 1971) performance, recorded from the actual vintage LP (not available online). Discs 1 and 2 feature the opening night of the Berkeley performance on the 13th, the day before the classic title track, making the 1971 Berkeley performance a 4-CD affair. UPGRADE!!! Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, California, USA 13th September 1971 Disc 1 (65:37) 1. Introduction ★ Intentionally no fade at the beginning 2. Immigrant Song ★ The online dadgad version has a tape splice cut just before the performance. 3. Heartbreaker 4. Since I’ve Been Loving You 5. Black Dog 6. Dazed And Confused ★ There are cuts between songs. The recording before and after the cuts are slightly longer than the online version. 7. Stairway To Heaven 8. Celebration Day ★ The disc change section is intentionally overlapped for a longer period with Disc 2. (Because there are no cuts between songs on the original recording) If you want to hurry, please switch to Disc 2 immediately after the Celeb performance ends. Disc 2 (71:35) 1. MC 2. That’s The Way 3. Going To California 4. What Is And What Should Never Be 5. Moby Dick ★ There are cuts between songs. There is no fading before and after the cut section, and the recording is slightly longer than the online version. (Note: The 2nd Gen version of the online recording is significantly missing this section.) 6. Whole Lotta Love★There is a cut between songs. There is no fading before and after the cut section, and the recording is slightly longer than the online version. 7. Communication Breakdown★There is no fading at the end. The recording is slightly longer than the online version. Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, California, USA 14th September 1971 Disc 3 (48:25) 1. Immigrant Song★Includes the entire tracing section (from this song to the beginning of Heart was originally mono) Unlike the single disc and the online version, there is a calm sound with almost no crunchy distortion on the left and right channels. 2. Heartbreaker★There is a cut at the tape change point from mono to stereo around 0:24. 3. Since I’ve Been Loving You 4. Black Dog★0:04-5 The left channel sound is off, so this section has been converted to mono so that it doesn’t sound out of place. 5. Dazed And Confused★The end of the record has also been recorded in its entirety (about 2 seconds longer than the online audio source). Disc 4 (48:08) 1. Stairway To Heaven★The tracing section has been recorded in its entirety (about 0.7 seconds longer than the online audio source). 2. That’s The Way 3. Going To California★The cheers after the performance have also been recorded in their entirety (about 0.9 seconds longer than the online audio source). 4. Whole Lotta Love★Around 19:03-05 The left channel sound is off, so this section has been converted to mono so that it doesn’t sound out of place. The end of the record has also been recorded in its entirety.
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