How the West Was Won’s title alludes to Led Zeppelin’s overall triumph, but also to the two Southern California dates from which these blindingly grand performances are taken. This music, made in June 1972 between the releases of Zeppelin’s fourth album and Houses of the Holy, captures much good humor and thunderousness, not to mention a fair-sized slice of its folk music-bred introspection. Listeners unfamiliar with bootlegs of the band’s live shows will also get a kick out of the nods to Elvis, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Ricky Nelson in the extended medley that grows out of “Whole Lotta Love.” The polish given these Eddie Kramer-recorded tapes by Jimmy Page and engineer Kevin Shirley helps righteously preserve the hard-rock kings’ strut at a high point of their career.
Disc 1
Disc 2
Disc 3
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