Item : LED ZEPPELIN - WELCOME TO HOME: EARLS COURT 1975 1ST NIGHT (6CD)
Condition : NEW
Numbered stickers may not be included.
Live at Earls Court Arena, London, UK, May 17, 1975
★The first of the five-day 1975 Earls Court concerts, the May 17th performance, is now available as a 6-disc pressing!
★Two complete versions featuring two audio tracks, each featuring a different audio track! A first-of-its-kind coupling title!
★Source 1, originally released on vintage vinyl, is now available on CD for the first time from tape (with bonus tracks)!
★Limited edition!
Source 1: Kashmir from the Custard Pie LP. *This bonus release features only a few tracks, never before released on tape.
Source 2: Mono Audio, familiar from the old Tara and Antlers. *This release features discs 1-3 (not online).
Source 3: Mono Audio, familiar from Devils Banquet and the EV2002 box.
*This release features discs 4-6 (not online; it's not even available online).
A long-awaited 6-CD set featuring the legendary May 17, 1975, opening night at Earl's Court Arena is finally here!
While there are currently three audio recordings of this opening night, this release focuses on the two with the best sound quality, featuring the first complete recording, including the gaps between tracks. This set includes two 3CD x 2 versions, for a total of 6CDs! Furthermore, this is the ultimate title for the first day of the Earl's Court Arena performance, where the sound source known as "Kashmir" from the LP "Custard Pie" (RSR), which has been released since the analog era (for convenience, Source 1), has been converted from tape to CD for the first time (with several bonus tracks included).
This is the first title compiled specifically for the first day. The Source 1 sound source is also used in several places between songs, achieving the first pseudo-complete recording with no gaps between songs!
To briefly review the flow of the items included in this performance, first, in the mid-'80s (probably) during the analog era, the LP "Custard Pie" (RSR), which recorded the 1973 Offenbach performance, contained only the single song "Kashmir," and this performance sound source first appeared. This is Source 1 for convenience. Fans will know that the '90s Cobra CD "Custard Pie" was also recorded from this analog LP. Additionally, although the context is unclear, there appears to be an acetate record called "WELCOME TO HOME" consisting of four separate discs, which contains the tracks that were first released on CD under the nostalgic Antrabata and old Tara titles released around 1995, and this will be classified as Source 2. Although acetate records were released, it's safe to say that the Antrabata and old Tara titles essentially marked the first complete collection. Then, in the early 2000s, a title titled "Devils Banquet" featuring the third source appeared on the TDOLZ-derived label Power Chord. Around 2002, EVSD released a title featuring the same third source, and even in recent years, EVSD has released titles based mainly on Source 2, so this has been the main trend for previously released releases. Compared to the 24th and 25th performances, which became popular in the 2000s with high-quality soundboard sound sources and pro-shot footage, or the 18th performance with multiple high-quality sound sources, the amount of releases is not as large (*of course, more is not necessarily better), and the 17th may be the first day that is not in the spotlight. Therefore, this board may be said to be the first item to feature the 17th performance in a major way, although it is modest.
This time, the best sound sources from Source 2 and Source 3 are mainly used, and the first appearance of Source 1's tape sound source is also added, realizing the first complete non-stop recording of both versions, including the gaps between songs (all previously released titles had some gaps between songs).
CDs 1-3 are composed of versions edited mainly from Source 2, while CDs 4-6 are composed of versions edited mainly from Source 3. Each version complements the missing parts of the main source, and Source 1 fills in the missing parts, realizing the first complete recording of both versions, including the gaps between songs. Thanks to the thorough editing and mastering typical of this label, missing gaps in previous releases are fully addressed. This is perhaps the first time we've seen such a clear and carefully edited title.
All recordings of the masters are from natural masters, not online.
Source 1 has never been recorded from tape on CD before; it was almost forgotten, having only been recorded on the aforementioned Cobra disc as an analog transcription. This time, it's making its auspicious debut (it's not even online). While the sound quality is similar, it has a slightly gritty texture and a unique sound that's neither stereo nor mono, so it honestly doesn't quite live up to Sources 2 and 3. While this is a third-place substitute, it's also included as a bonus track at the end of CD 6. "Kashmir," also included on the Cobra disc, is included in its entirety. While this is the third-place source, it's still significantly higher quality than the Cobra disc (there are long recordings before and after the performance). The additional bonus tracks "Tangerine" and "Going To California" are, of course, the first-ever featured versions of Source 1, making them a must-have.
Source 2, the main focus of CDs 1-3, is also recorded from the Natural Master rather than the internet. While the sound is a little far from the stage and compact, the overall sound quality is minimal, the sound is calm throughout, there are few gaps, and the performance is originally uncut, so the sound is quite fresh. The "Croco" version, which has recently become popular online, is the only sound source from this day. However, the cheering section before the live performance is significantly shorter than the previous version (the host's MC suddenly begins about two seconds into playback; the main disc has about 10 seconds of cheering), and there's a fatal gap at the end of "Rain Song." This Croco version is not as good as his usual one, but this one has no such issues. Furthermore, when the representative previously released anthology and old Tara discs first appeared, Source 3 hadn't even been released yet, and supplementary editing with other sound sources wasn't commonplace. Therefore, even now, there are very few titles that use Source 2 as the main source to fill in the missing sections (this is only the second title!). While previously released tracks had gaps between them, this disc achieves the first complete recording by using Source 1 between tracks after "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp." This disc, which makes full use of the three existing sound sources, is undoubtedly the definitive edition.
Source 3, the main source of CDs 4-6, is not available online (I know I'm being persistent, but it wasn't originally available online), but rather recorded from the Natural Master. As a source that is difficult to obtain, there are very few related previously released discs. As mentioned above, the only related discs are the Power Chord disc and the 2002 EVSD box set (note that there are also apparently inferior copies of Power Chord, but that's not included).
This Source 3, with its Aud noise audible in Source 2, suggests it was captured at a fairly close position. Compared to Source 2, the sound image is slightly larger (closer to the stage), with a more pronounced bass and a more punchy, gritty sound. The clarity is comparable to or even more vivid than Source 2, making it overall better than Source 2. However, it originally had a slightly distorted texture, with some distortion in places. It also features more cuts than Source 2 (Bron-Y-Aur Stomp has yet to receive Src 3 in its entirety). The distortion was similar in previous releases, and while some titles had distortion removed, the removal seemed to slightly reduce the vividness. This edition only achieves a moderate pinpoint removal, preserving the original clarity, vividness, and freshness. While previously released tracks, such as the latter half of "Kashmir," had an unnatural, pseudo-stereo-like sound (some tracks had cuts during the song due to transitions), this edition is a consistently stable master without any of that happening. The fill-in was carefully done using Source 2, and by using Source 1, as with Disc 2, for the intersong after "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp," which Source 2 still lacks, this too is fully recorded.
As mentioned above, several bonus tracks are included at the end of the sixth disc.
Excerpts from Source 1 include "Kashmir," "Tangerine," and "Going To California." This is an excerpt due to the quirky bathroom echo-like texture, but these are undoubtedly valuable recordings, and the performances are very close, making them comparable to Source 3 in terms of sound closeness.
Includes limited edition numbering and a sticker.
The CD label is a permanent collector's edition with a picture disc label!
[Source 2 Main Version]
Disc 1 (79:34)
01. Introduction
02. Rock and Roll
03. Sick Again
04. Over the Hills and Far Away
05. In My Time of Dying
★No inter-song cuts (all previously released versions cut)
06. The Song Remains the Same
07. The Rain Song
08. Kashmir
(Inter-song cuts) ★Src 3 supplement
09. No Quarter
Disc 2 (58:42)
01. MC
02. Tangerine
03. Going to California
04. That's the Way
05. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
(Inter-song cuts) ★Src 3 + Src 1 ★The first complete recording of this section!
06. Trampled Underfoot
07. Moby Dick
Disc 3 (59:43)
01. MC
02. Dazed and Confused
(Cut between tracks) ★Source 3 supplemented
03. Stairway to Heaven
★No cut between tracks (*Previously released anthems have cut between tracks)
04. Whole Lotta Love
05. Black Dog
[Source 3 Main Version]
Disc 4 (79:44)
01. Introduction
02. Rock and Roll
03. Sick Again
04. Over the Hills and Far Away
05. In My Time of Dying
(Cut between tracks) ★Refilled with Source 2
06. The Song Remains the Same
07. The Rain Song
(Cut between tracks) ★Refilled with Source 2
08. Kashmir ★The previously released disc has an unnatural, pseudo-stage-like sound from around 6:30. This issue is not present on this disc.
09. No Quarter
(Song Cut) ★Refilled with Source 2
Disc 5 (58:44)
01. MC ★Refilled with Source 2
(Song Cut)
02. Tangerine ★Start 0:00-0:04 Refilled with Source 2
(Song Cut) ★Refilled with Source 2
03. Going To California ★Start 0:00-0:05 Refilled with Source 2
(Song Cut) ★Refilled with Source 2
04. That's The Way ★Start 0:00-0:08 Filled in with Source 2
(Cut between songs) ★ Filled in with Source 2
05. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp ★ No Source 3 originally - Source 2 entirely
(Cut between songs) ★ Source 3, Source 1, and Source 3 connected after the performance. First uncut recording! 06. Trampled Underfoot
(Inter-song cut) ★Refilled with Source 2
07. Moby Dick ★5:20-8:02, 15:50-16:17, and inter-song cuts filled with Source 2
Disc 6 (79:21)
01. MC ★Refilled with Source 2
02. Dazed And Confused ★20:44-21:05 Filled with Source 2
(Inter-song cut) ★Refilled with Source 2
03. Stairway To Heaven
(Inter-song cut) ★Refilled with Source 2
04. Whole Lotta Love
05. Black Dog
Bonus Track: "Custard Pie" LP Source
First Time on CD from Tape Source*Recorded from Tape Source for the First Time
06. MC
07. Kashmir ★Longer in length than the Cobra version
08. Tangerine ★First time Source 1 is included
09. Going To California ★First time ever to include Src1