Recorded live at the Anderson Theater in New York March -68 and scheduled for immediate release it was stopped by the band. They weren't pleased with the sound quality of the recording and didn't like the crowd overdubs made by the record company. Against the groups wishes it was issued by Epic 1971 to capitalize on the Led Zeppelin success, but legal threats forced them to withdraw it after a short while. The few copies released in US sold out at once and others were exported to Europe and sold in cheap-record shops as cut-outs.( I remember plowing through those shops in Sweden early seventies. Most of their stock was US cut-outs, you bought them for under a dollar a piece, or if sold by weight you could get 4 for $1,50.) For many years now the market have been flooded with re-issues, bootlegs and counterfeits of this LP. I've seen bootlegs sold dearly as originals and white label counterfeits as promo versions. It is easy to recognize a first press - yellow label as seen here, coloured front cover and PAL 30615 1A/PBL 30615 1A matrix numbers, either stamped or neatly etched. Listening to it today I'm thinking maybe the group was right trying to stop it - the sound quality isn't very good and the crowd overdubs are annoying...but still below all that it is a good show and an important part of rock history. (YÄB*)(LYBÖ*) (YZÄ*)
This is an interesting LP. The linernotes of the 2000 Mooreland CD (long deleted) give some interesting insight on how the recording of this came together. It was basically recorded on outdated equipment (2-track only) by an engineer who didn't quite 'get' the band and their sound. The audience noise was dubbed in later for good measure.
SvaraRaderaThere was a reissue of this in 1976 on the Columbia Special Products label, pressed from the same metal parts as the original. So, probably cheaper than a yellow Epic but same soundquality.
Musically, it's a good album, especially side 2 where the band seems to come together a bit more. It's a shame that this is so hard to come by these days.
It is a shame, but maybe Page and the others will let it go eventually. Biggest shame is dealers selling fakes as originals. I've had a copy of the Columbia issue - it's good and legitime, but was stopped too as I remember.
SvaraRaderaDamn, I still can't get over the fact that you could once buy four sealed copies of this for $1,50. I was born too late :(
SvaraRaderaBTW, here are the linernotes of the Mooreland CD:
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=182934&stc=1&d=1304453392
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=182936&stc=1&d=1304453476
Yes good, but there was a problem. US companies dumped so much here they couldn't sell at home for different reasons, American copies lost all magic. They were throw-aways and no one cared about them. I mean - if a record is 50 cents, why bother? I still have a few, bot lost most for idiotic reasons, like throwing frisbee...
RaderaI see what you mean. Demand vs. supply and all that. A box of those could have earned you a nice buffer...
SvaraRaderaYup it could if I had known...I wonder wich ones of todays cheapies can make you rich thirty years from now...
SvaraRadera