Description
Condition: New
With the JEMS-released Millard masters—which had recently focused on more recent live recordings—now reaching their 199th entry, this release marks a return to a classic show by a classic artist: Led Zeppelin. It has often felt like the release of Millard’s Zeppelin recordings was being deliberately held back (haha); even regarding the 1975 LA Forum run, aside from the *LA Forum 1975 2nd Night: Mike Millard Master Tape* released a year ago, other dates were slow to surface. That makes this release of the first Forum night a truly long-awaited event for enthusiasts worldwide. Admittedly, a PA soundboard recording for the first Forum night has since been unearthed on EV’s *The Awesome Foursome Live at the Forum*, yet Millard’s recording has lost none of its luster. This mirrors the situation with the first night of the Long Beach shows on the same 1975 tour. PA soundboard recordings often suffer from a lack of immersive atmosphere, whereas Millard’s audience recordings capture a superb balance—rich and vivid, yet never harsh or unpleasant. For Millard, who began recording concerts in the autumn of 1973, the shows from March and April of 1975 represented the first peak of his recording career, and the sound quality across the board is exceptional. While April gave us the masterpiece Pink Floyd recording *Los Angeles 1975 4th Night: Mike Millard Original Master Tapes*, March was defined by Zeppelin’s three-night stand at the LA Forum. This was the period when he famously went to such lengths as using his father’s wheelchair to secure the perfect recording spot. That effort paid off, resulting in recordings with incredibly powerful, "in-your-face" sound pressure for all three nights of the '75 LA Forum run. In the early days of CD releases, these recordings were sometimes brazenly marketed as "soundboards"—a claim that is entirely understandable given their overwhelming sonic impact. Regarding the first day of the Forum shows, the sonic proximity—particularly of Robert’s vocals and Jimmy’s guitar—is truly astounding. It is a pity that the JEMS team could not locate the cassette master for the encore, "Heartbreaker" (as the unused portion of the tape had been repurposed for another artist's recording), meaning that track alone was sourced from a first-generation copy; however, even that is a high-quality, low-generation source that causes absolutely no listening fatigue. In fact, the tape was so well-preserved that almost no processing was required for this release. Consequently, one is simply amazed by the otherworldly sense of closeness in the soundstage. Because it is such a superb audience recording, one can savor the relaxed atmosphere of the venue—something a PA soundboard mix often fails to convey. Take "Stairway to Heaven," for instance; the ecstatic reaction of the Forum audience is captured with exquisite balance—a true testament to Millard’s mastery. The performance itself is also fascinating. The explosive energy that characterized the '75 tour—which kicked into high gear on the second night in Long Beach—had settled down by the second Seattle show; here, one senses a "happy party vibe" typical of Los Angeles. While there are moments where things almost go off the rails (mostly involving Jimmy), the band’s momentum and upbeat mood allow them to recover without the performance collapsing. Amidst this, "Trampled Underfoot" showcases the kind of explosive intensity typical of the latter half of the '75 US tour; Jimmy plays with the freedom of a fish in water. Meanwhile, the piano-driven passages in "No Quarter"—which offer a brilliant contrast to that high-octane energy—show evolution beyond the Seattle shows, foreshadowing the greatness to come at Earls Court. Perhaps the most interesting performance of the day is "Dazed and Confused." Although Jimmy had to tune his instrument right after the song began, the nature of the track meant that this mishap didn't feel like a mistake at all. They manage to make it through that section and reach the bowing part, though there is an odd pause right after the bowing ends—just before Bonzo is supposed to come in. However, the way they bounce back from that moment is tremendous. The performance clocks in at just over 30 minutes, but even those who usually shy away from the "extended *Dazed*" versions typical of the late 1975 US tour will likely enjoy this one, thanks to its accessible progression. In that sense, it is arguably the most listenable of the three-night run at the LA Forum in 1975. On top of that, the sound is incredibly immediate and close. This is one of the masterpiece audience recordings of Led Zeppelin captured by Millard—long acclaimed by connoisseurs—and the long-awaited original master has finally arrived! The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA – March 24, 1975 – TRULY PERFECT SOUND (UPGRADE) Disc 1 (52:17) 1. Rock And Roll 2. Sick Again 3. Over The Hills And Far Away 4. In My Time Of Dying 5. The Song Remains The Same 6. The Rain Song 7. Kashmir Disc 2 (57:57) 1. MC 2. No Quarter 3. Trampled Underfoot 4. Moby Dick Disc 3 (73:51) 1. MC 2. Dazed And Confused 3. Stairway To Heaven 4. Whole Lotta Love 5. Black Dog 6. Heartbreaker
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|---|---|
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| C | Items those are much worn and visible stains or dameges. |
| D | Items with noticeable stains or damages. |
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