When a promoter booked half of surf/instrumental group The Ventures (the budget was too small to also send their bass and drum players, which would have to be supplied by local hired guns) in 1962 for an Asian tour supporting pop crooners Bobby Vee and Jo Ann Campbell , it seemed like an insignificant decision. However, for modern pop culture in Japan, it was the first spark leading to a significant bonfire. Japanese youth embraced these new culture gap-free sounds produced by electric guitars and the “group sounds” movement was born.
The following link provides an in depth look at the Ventures’ Japan success story:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/08/07/music/the-ventures-still-rocking-after-50-years/#.VK-d4MnVruc
I believe one music phenomenon we have to thank the Ventures for is the “Live in Japan” album, Their first one was released in 1965:
This was soon followed by similar live albums by artists such as the Spotniks, the Shadows, Miles Davis and a number of MOR artists. I believe it would not be too far fetched to say that the first bootlegs made in Japan were efforts to provide an unofficial ‘Live In Japan’ souvenir album when the record companies had no plans to do so.
Looking at further influences by bands from the UK & USA, the first vocal group to have visited Japan were the Liverpool Five (none of the members were actually from Liverpool, which probably underlines how much of a influencing force the Beatles had become by then), who had won a contest to represent the UK during a series of concerts in Tokyo during the 1964 Olympic Games. None of the Japanese bands who performed as part of this “World Surfing Festival” had a vocalist. “Playing to sell-out crowds of over 8,000 at the Korakuen Ice Palace and other venues, the lead singers’ vocals caused a stir among musicians in the audience and was almost certainly responsible for the decision of several of the new eleki bands that sprung up in the next few months to begin recruiting vocalists and move towards a sound and approach that would increasingly diverge from that of the Ventures.”
The Animals were the next and first internationally well known band to tour Japan, on the strength of their first world wide success “House of the Rising Sun” and coinciding with the release of their second album ANIMAL TRACKS in May of 1965.
Animals 1965 Japan Tour Book
Next up, were of course the Beatles in the summer of 1966, with enough ticket applications received to fill the Budokan 21 times. As far as I can tell, the next group to play at the Budokan were the Monkees in the fall of 1968. Then, it appears we had a bit of a gap until the new breed of UK & US blues rock bands perfected their acts.
***
A Woodstock like large festival to be named “Fuji Odyssey” never got off the ground series of mini-festivals called “Rock Carnival” started in December of 1970, presenting local and Western artists (John Mayall participated in the first one). Part of the tour schedule for Western artists for 1971 follows.
February 1971: Blood, Sweat and Tears
March ’71: B.B. King [Rock Carnival # 3]
April/May ’71: Free [Rock Carnival # 4]
From an eye witness account: “This event started at midnight in the now defunct Sankei Hall, Ohtemachi. It was a festival style, all night event where many Japanese bands were to play. I scarcely remember most of the bands’ names but I remember that the unit of Narumo Shigeru and Tsunoda Hiro was the final act. After many bands had sequentially played, it was about the time when the first train was leaving, Free appeared. That was nothing but the coolest.
Each of their sounds and each of their motions were rock itself. When its thirty-minute show was over (or that might be more than sixty minutes, but it felt like thirty minutes for me), the rotating stage turned (you seldom see this these days but there used to be at that time) and the day’s main act, Narumo Shigeru and Tsunoda Hiro came out. However, enthusiastic applause for Free never stopped. The stage turned again and Free appeared, the whole audience was driven into a state of feverish excitement. Although I had gone to see some concerts before this, let me say, this was my first experience of the real rock concert.”
Nine songs were issued years later on the Japanese ‘fake Idle Mind bootleg’ Reminiscence (ca. 1977), making it the earliest audience tape recorded in Japan and pressed on a Japanese rock bootleg.
June ’71: Chicago’s first Japan Tour
July ’71: Grand Funk Railroad [Rock Carnival # 6]
Composite of two photos taken by Koh Hasebe at the Tokyo concert
The superstars of 1971 – I believe they were the second band to play at Shea Stadium after the Beatles – had already outgrown the Budokan and were the first to play at a baseball stadium in a line up with three other bands in front of a crowd of 35,000. Unfortunately, summer is the rainy season in Japan and it poured on concert night. The same conditions repeated, when Emerson, Lake & Palmer played Korakuen stadium the following year together with Free. An audience recording from the Osaka Stadium performance exists but was not pressed on bootleg.
“I am talking about the band that was on everyone’s lips in its heyday, the marvelous Grand Funk Railroad (G.F.R.), and their legendary Tokyo concert of 1971. I was excited to hear of G.F.R.’s impending arrival in the summer of 1971 in Tokyo. I was a young man of twenty-two years of age at that time. Back then, there weren’t any large halls expect the Budokan, and I was concerned where and how they would play with their huge amount of equipment, and finally, they chose the sacred home of Japanese baseball, Korakuen stadium. Since even Budokan was very large for us those days, it was even more exciting having the concert in the much larger baseball stadium.
The concert was scheduled to start on Saturday, July 17th, 1971, at 5pm. I turned up around 2 o’clock, and hung around seeing many dirty yet cool young people, and I felt an electrifying atmosphere in the stadium.
When the time came and I entered the stadium, I was amazed to see what looked like every speaker in Japan stacked in large walls around the massive stage, which was set up near second base on the baseball field. And before the stage was a big board plastered with “GRAND FUNK RAILROAD” in huge letters.
The concert began, and after long forgotten Japanese bands warmed the crowd up, the time for G.F.R. to hit the stage finally arrived. All of a sudden the sky became dark and a strong wind blew the G.F.R. board off the stage. However, with the sound of an explosion of a reckless running railroad train on the big screen on the stage, the band appeared to the cheers of their adoring fans. And they played up a storm, like the hard rain and strong winds that accompanied them.”
August ’71: Hakone Aphrodite Festival (Pink Floyd’s first visit to Japan on a bill with Buffy St, Marie the 1910 Fruit Gum Co. and Strawberry Path, The Mops, Happenings Four, Yosuke Yamashita and the Masahiko Sato Trio. They also made time for a performance at Osaka’s Festival Hall.
All of these were all taped and an ambitious compilation bootleg was produced in 1972 or later– Pink Floyd (KP339-KP344), also known as Osaka/Tokyo Triple and PINK FLOYD JAPAN 70-71′, ‘LIVE IN TOKYO/OSAKA 1972, one of the most valuable early Japanese bootlegs ever and the first ever Japanese 3 LP bootleg (and pretty much for the rest of the decade as I cannot recall another until the 80’s when they were pretty common). This used to be one of the most valuable Japanese bootlegs with auction prices reaching $2,000 and 2000 Euros.
Two tracks from from the first day at Hakone were presented on this set.
In depth information can be found here: http://www.concerts-db.com/index.php?list=city&choice=Hakone
“Hakone is to the southwest of Tokyo and it takes 2 hours from Tokyo by car. Many people visit there and enjoy playing golf and tennis, and sightseeing . The open-air concert entitled ”71 Hakone Aphrodite’ was held at the open space called ‘Seikei Gakuen Jofudai ‘ by Lake Ashi on Aug.6 & 7, 1971. It is said that 30,000 people gathered there. Pink Floyd appeared in the evening (6:00 pm) on Aug.6, 1971 and played ‘Atom Heart Mother’, ‘Green is the colour’, ‘Careful With That Axe, Eugene’, ‘Echoes’, ‘Cymbaline’ and ‘A saucerful Of Secrets’.”
“There were two stages, the main and the sub, and the audience was moving between the two for their favorite bands. The place was filled with an easy feeling. Of course, our target was Pink Floyd. And we thought Pink Floyd might be last, after sunset. So we hung around and enjoyed nature’s euphoria, drinking beer and looking on while bands played. Finally, 1910 Fruit Gum Company’s show was over, and it got dark enough; the time for Pink Floyd had come. Then, suddenly, dense fog began to form. I’m not sure that it was usual in that area or not. And surprisingly, it became nature’s miraculous stage effects. In that psychedelic atmosphere (you may say it was too good to be true. But it was true), their first, and maybe their best performance in Japan had started. Listening to their song “Echoes” in the fog was the coolest of the cool!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rRHZS-MLn4
Ticket for the concert at Osaka Festival Hall. A further two songs from this performance were selected for the OSAKA TRIPLE package.
***
September ’71: Led Zeppelin’s first triumphant Japan tour inspired a number of Japanese vinyl bootlegs and possibly may be credited with kickstarting the local bootleg industry:
The rare SUPER-STARS! double, a copy of which recently sold for $1,500, as reported on this blog. Released between the very end of 1971 and very early 1973, if I had to make a guess and a candidate for one of the earliest Japanese rock bootlegs [I would love for someone with greater knowledge on the topic to correct me or contribute].
SUPER STARS (LED ZEPPELIN IN TOKYO)
No label
Side 1: Immigrant Song/Heartbreaker medley incl. Bouree, Feelin’ Groovy/Since I’ve Been Loving You/Out On The Tiles Intro-Black Dog/What Is And What Should Never Be
Side 2: Dazed And Confused medley incl. I Got A Feeling
Side 3: Celebration Day/That’s The Way/Going To California/Tangerine
Side 4: Whole Lotta Love medley incl. Boogie Chillun, Cocaine, Rave On, Your Time Is Gonna Come, I’m A Man, The Hunter, Hello Mary Lou, Pretty Woman, How Many More Times
Recording: Good mono audience. Runs a bit fast. Source: Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Sept. 24 ’71.
SEPTEMBER 24 – NIPPON BUDOKAN, TOKYO, JAPAN (FRIDAY, 2pm)
Recording Includes: [ supposed to be not recorded: Band Announcements ] Immigrant Song [ 1:57 – cut ] >> Heartbreaker (<< Bouree, Feelin’ Groovy..) [ 6:53 – cut ], Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:27 ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:12 ] >> Black Dog [ 5:27 ], [ cut ], Dazed And Confused (<< I Got A Feeling..) [ 24:03 ], [ cut ], Celebration Day [ 4:56 ], That’s The Way [ 6:30 ], Going To California [ 7:08 ], Tangerine [ 3:45 ], [ cut ], What Is And What Should Never Be [ 4:29 ], [ cut ], Instrumental Intro [ 0:59 ] >> Whole Lotta Love (<< Boogie Chillun, Cocaine, Rave On, Your Time Is Gonna Come, I’m A Man, The Hunter, Hello Mary Lou, [ cut ], Pretty Woman [ cut ], How Many More Times..) [ 25:43 ].
Source: Incomplete good 2nd audience recording. Nearly 107 minutes.
Details: Again, the sound is muffled, somewhat mushy in places and distant. This one seems to be also bit boomy here and there. However, this source is much more bright. The real problem here is lots of crackle from vinyl and original tape – it overloads the intimate atmosphere of recording. Furthermore, on the original LP What Is And What Should Never Be is placed right after Black Dog. Bootleg LP Reference source: Super Stars (Led Zeppelin In Tokyo) (no label)
***
The similarly extremely rare IN CONCERT on the OG label, which I would place with a 1973 production date. A copy recently failed to attract a single bid (starting bid had been GBP 500).
IN CONCERT
OG-660
Side 1: Since I’ve Been Loving You*/Out On The Tiles Intro-Black Dog*/Stairway To Heaven*
Side 2: Going To California*/Whole Lotta Love (*)/(an excerpt from Whole Lotta Love medley) The Hunter, Hello Mary Lou, Pretty Woman, How Many More Times**/Communication Breakdown medley incl. Hey Hey What Can I Do?**
Recording: Fair-Good mono audience. Runs fast. Source: (*)Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Sept. 23 ’71 except (**)Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Sept. 24 ’71. Comments: Japanese bootleg. Very rare.
SEPTEMBER 23 – NIPPON BUDOKAN, TOKYO, JAPAN (THURSDAY, 6:30pm)
Recording Includes: Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:05 ], [ cut ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:12 ] >> Black Dog [ 5:21 ], [ cut ], Stairway To Heaven [ 8:55 ], [ cut ], Going To California [ 6:05 ], [ cut ], Whole Lotta Love [ 1:08 – cut ].
Source: Incomplete fair to good 1st audience recording. Near 31 minutes.
Details: A significantly distant and somewhat flat sounding source, with some hiss throughout. Bootleg LP Reference source: IN CONCERT
SEPTEMBER 24 – NIPPON BUDOKAN, TOKYO, JAPAN (FRIDAY, 2pm)
Recording Includes: (an excerpt from Whole Lotta Love medley): The Hunter [ cut ] >> Hello Mary Lou >> Pretty Woman >> How Many More Times >> Whole Lotta Love [ 11:50 – cut ], [ cut ], Communication Breakdown (<< Hey Hey What Can I Do?..) [ 5:33 – cut ].
Source: Incomplete fair to good 1st audience recording. 17 minutes.
Details: Muffled and distant, not clear at all. Bootleg LP Reference source: IN CONCERT
***
In 1974, the OG label debuted the “on stage mic’d” source, with emphasis on John Bonham, often mistaken for a soundboard.
LIVE IN JAPAN 1971
OG-798/799
Side 1: Immigrant Song/Heartbreaker medley incl. Feelin’ Groovy, Bouree/Since I’ve Been Loving You
Side 2: Tangerine/Moby Dick
Side 3: Stairway To Heaven/Celebration Day
Side 4: You Shook Me/Whole Lotta Love/Communication Breakdown medley incl. Just A Little Bit/Organ Solo/Thank You
Comments: There were at least four different pressings/versions of this double album (original red labels, as shown here. Orange labels with a different design and lettering. Black labels and the UFO version).
This source is discussed here: http://forums.ledzeppelin.com/index.php?/topic/14227-osaka-71-aud-vs-sbd/
***
October ’71: Elton John
A soundboard from his October 1st show later surfaced.
****
1972
February 1972: CCR
March 1972: Pink Floyd return for their first proper tour and play 6 concerts. The following descriptions are taken from collectorsmusicreviews.com:
Taiikukan, Tokyo, Japan, March 6 “Two recordings exist, a partial FM source featuring a large portion of the Dark Side suite and a complete audience recording…”
Taiikukan, Tokyo, Japan, March 7 “There are three sources for this concert in varying degrees of sound quality…”
Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan, March 8 “The first gig in Osaka has been widely bootlegged, and at least four sources exits for this concert.” The bulk of the OSAKA TRIPLE vinyl set was taken from one of these sources.
Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan, March 9 “There is one main source for the second night in Osaka…”
Side 1: Cymbaline *, A Saucerful Of Secrets ** Side 2: Fat Old Sun *, Atom Heart Mother
Side 3: One Of These Days, Careful With That Axe Eugene Side 4: Echoes
Side 5: Speak To Me, Breathe, On The Run, Time, Breathe (Reprise), The Great Gig In The Sky Side 6: Money, Us And Them, Any Colour You Like, Brain Damage, Eclipse
Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan – March 8th, 1972 plus * Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan – August 9th, 1971, ** Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan – March 9th, 1972
” …the first tape of this show to surface on LP in the early seventies. This is a straight transfer of the classic three LP Japanese set Pink Floyd (KP339-KP344). It was originally released with three individual plain white covers and two posters placed inside a brown paper bag with sticker.
Later variations were released under the name Pink Floyd Japan 70-71, Live In Tokyo / Osaka 1972 and Tokyo Triple. The bulk of the material comes from the March 8th, 1972 Osaka show, but “A Saucerful Of Secrets” is from the Osaka show on March 9th, 1972 and “Cymbaline” and “Fat Old Sun” date from their first tour of Japan on August 9th, 1971, also in Osaka. The sound quality is, compared to the others, very muffled and dull and barely enjoyable.” [review by collectorsmusicreviews.com]
Furitsu Taiikukan Hall, Kyoto, Japan, March 10 “There is one source for the Kyoto show…”
Nakanoshima Sports Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, March 13 “The final gig in Japan for 16 years has four know recordings that circulate in varying degrees of completeness…”
***
June ’72: Chicago return for their second tour of Japan in support of Chicago V. All of their Osaka performances are taped by CBS/Sony for a Japan only live album. Recorded by hooking up two eight track machines, the final result surpasses the official Live At Carnegie Hall
***
July ’72: ELP supported by Free play Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo and at Osaka’s Koshien Stadium
Three songs from Free’s opening set are included on the aforementioned Reminiscences album:
While one track by the headliner’s was issued on the surprisingly easy to find OG release 21st CENTURY SCHIZOID ROCK OG-630
“Total duration: 34:28 A very fragmented album of an average audience recording.
Track 1 – 4 is from an unknown show, most likely between April and June 1971.
One can hear Keith Emerson talking about ‘a new album’ (Tarkus) which will be released – he says – in August; ‘maybe earlier’. The last track – Lucky Man – is from the Korakuen Stadium / Japan – show in July 1972.
Some copies of this album included two bonus tracks with Free, who supported ELP on the 1972 Japan-tour.
Alt. track list: 1.TAKE A PEBBLE (ELP) 2.KNIFE EDGE (ELP) 3.ALL RIGHT NOW (FREE) 4.FIRE AND WATER (FREE) 5.BARBARIAN (ELP) 6.GONG (ELP) Matrix number 707 (print) ”
***
August ’72: Deep Purple play three shows (rescheduled from May). The band reluctantly agrees to have the shows recorded for a ‘live in Japan only’ album. Famous last words…
***
October’72: Led Zeppelin return for their second and last ever Japan tour to play six concerts. None of them reach the critical acclaim of their first visit.
This is also reflected in the Japanese bootlegs that this tour yielded or rather the immediate lack of. The OG label presented this unnumbered but visually appealing one disc release of the Osaka October 9th show around 1975 as one of their last releases:
Recording Includes: [ supposed to be not recorded: Band Announcements ] Rock And Roll [ 3:38 ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:13 ] >> Black Dog [ 5:01 ], Over The Hills And Far Away [ 5:49 ], Misty Mountain Hop [ 4:35 ] >> Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:23 ], Dancing Days [ 3:26 ], The Song Remains The Same [ 5:15 ] >> The Rain Song [ 7:24 ], [ cut ], Dazed And Confused (<< Down By The River, The Crunge..) [ 26:57 ], Stairway To Heaven [ 9:23 ], Moby Dick [ 15:43 ], [ cut ], Whole Lotta Love (<< Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Something’s Got A Hold On Me, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Leave My Woman Alone, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Heartbreak Hotel, Wear My Ring Around Your Neck, Going Down Slow, The Shape I’m In..) [ 28:57 – cut ], [ cut ], Stand By Me [ 6:14 ], Immigrant Song [ 3:36 ].
Source: Incomplete very good 1st audience recording. 143 minutes.
Details: This is clear recording. Page’s guitar is fairly prominent in this source but it doesn’t overwhelm the other instruments. There is some hiss though. [all detailed comments taken from argenteumastrum.com]
“Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” was taken from a different concert recording: OCTOBER 4 – OSAKA FESTIVAL HALL, OSAKA, JAPAN (WEDNESDAY, 6pm), thus the following might apply: “1st source, taped by Yoshiaki Sumitomo (speed issues in few places – he also recorded Osaka October 4th, 1972 1st source)”
This release was copied by Vicky Vinyl ca. ’76/’77 and is much better known as:
***
Ca. 1979 a further tape was acquired in Japan, this time from the start of the tour at the Budokan. The following are vinyl releases containing the first source:
Red labels – first or second issue? Apologies for the bad quality, this is the only one I have found.
OCTOBER 2 – NIPPON BUDOKAN, TOKYO, JAPAN (MONDAY, 6:30pm)
“Recording Includes: Band Announcements, Rock And Roll [ 3:37 ], Over The Hills And Far Away [ 5:22 ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:12 ] >> Black Dog [ 4:41 ], [ cut ], Misty Mountain Hop [ 4:32 ] >> Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:07 ], Dancing Days [ 3:20 ], Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp [ 4:23 ], The Song Remains The Same [ 5:14 ] >> The Rain Song [ 7:11 ], [ cut ], Dazed And Confused (<< The Crunge..) [ 20:55 ], [ cut ], Stairway To Heaven [ 8:59 ], [ cut ], Whole Lotta Love (<< Just A Little Bit, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, My Baby Left Me, Killing Floor, I Can’t Quit You Baby..) [ 21:17 ], [ cut ], Heartbreaker (<< Bouree..) [ 6:00 ], [ cut ], Immigrant Song [ 3:46 ] >> Communication Breakdown [ 4:17 ], [ cut ], Band Announcements [ cut ].
Source: Almost complete very good to excellent 1st audience recording. 126 minutes.
Details: The tape contains rather little hiss and is recorded very close to the stage with all the instruments well balanced and with genuine clarity. The only drawback of this source is the bass line, which sounds a bit mushed.”
LIVE AT THE BUDOKAN
REMEMBER N5518
Side 1: Rock & Roll/Over The Hills & Far Away/Out On The Tiles Intro-Black Dog/Misty Mountain Hop/Since I’ve Been Loving You (26:15)
Side 2: Dancing Days/Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp/The Song Remains The Same/Stairway To Heaven (26:48)
Side 3: Dazed & Confused medley incl. The Crunge (21:18)
Side 4: Whole Lotta Love medley incl. Just A Little Bit, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, My Baby Left Me, Killing Floor, I Can’t Quit You Baby/Heartbreaker medley incl. Bouree (27:11)
Recording: Very good stereo audience. Source: Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Oct. 2 ’72. Comments: Japanese bootleg. Deluxe black & white cover.
Ken’s Toasted Records copied the Remember title in the US, around 1980 – but got the date wrong. It was reissued on white PVC and also included in the massive FINAL OPTION box:
LIVE IN TOKYO 10/2/72
TOASTED RECORDS 1901 A-D
Recording: Very good stereo audience. Comments: US bootleg. A reissue of LIVE AT THE BUDOKAN (Remember N5518). Deluxe color cover. Some copies on colored vinyl. Also available in the mid-1980’s on US label Amazing Stork Records (if you are wondering why this has “The Rain Song”, see below for the material from the 3rd of October also included) with some copies pressed on colored vinyl. Part of THE FINAL OPTION box set.
**
A very rare record, the New OG Label edition, which unlike the Remember version includes “The Rain Song” (the discogs entry, however, omits this song). The cover art quotes LIVE IN JAPAN 1971 OG-798/799, it seems.
LIVE AT BUDOKAN 72
NEW OG 1149-50 A-B
Recording: Very good stereo audience. Comments: Same material as LIVE AT THE BUDOKAN (Remember N5518) but in a different order plus The Rain Song. Comes with an article about the concert from a Japanese magazine.
Matrix / Runout (Side A machine stamped): OG 1149 A 〄 a 19223 (A) 1H
Matrix / Runout (Side B machine stamped): OG 1149 B 〄 a 19224 (B) 1H
Matrix / Runout (Side C machine stamped): OG 1150 A 〄 a 19225 (A) 1H
Matrix / Runout (Side D machine stamped): OG 1150 B 〄 a 19226 (B) 2J
**
Source 2:
“Recording Includes: Stairway To Heaven [ 8:08 – cut ], [ cut ], Whole Lotta Love (<< Just A Little Bit, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, My baby Left Me, Killing Floor, I Can’t Quit You Baby..) [ 21:06 ], [ cut ], Heartbreaker (<< Bouree..) [ 5:57 ], [ cut ], Immigrant Song [ 3:31 ] >> Communication Breakdown [ 4:27 ].
Recording: Incomplete very good 2nd audience recording. Almost 45 minutes.
Details: A good defined and clear tape taped not far away from the stage. No signs of distortion here. However recording suffers a bit from bass frequencies which dominating throughout, [oversaturating] rather significantly whole content.”
A release on the LLX ‘label’ (the same folks who had brought the world SUPER-STARS! ). When was this issued? The discogs entry claims 1973 but I doubt this. It also says there that every known copy has a different cover slick.
LIVE IN TOKYO OCT. 2-3 1972 BUDOKAN BIG HALL
LLX 1233-4-5-6 Matrix / Runout (all sides machine stamped): LLX 1233/4/5/6 IN
Side 1: Rock & Roll (3:16)*/Out On The Tiles Intro-Black Dog (4:14)*/Over The Hills & Far Away (5:42)*/Misty Mountain Hop (4:48)*/Since I’ve Been Loving You (8:10)*
Side 2: Dancing Days (3:31)*/Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp (4:39)*/The Song Remains The Same (5:42)*/The Rain Song (7:42)*
Side 3: Whole Lotta Love medley incl. Just A Little Bit, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, My Baby Left Me, Killing Floor, I Can’t Quit You Baby (20:28)**
Side 4: Stairway To Heaven (8:22)* & **/The Ocean (4:16)*/Heartbreaker medley incl. Bouree (6:05)**/Immigrant Song (3:56)**/Communication Breakdown (4:12)**
Recording: Very good mono audience. Source: (*)Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Oct. 3 ’72 except (**)Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Oct. 2 ’72. Comments: Rare Japanese bootleg. Stairway To Heaven is spliced with two different sources.
***
Fifth source:
Recording Includes: Band Announcements, Rock And Roll, Over The Hills And Far Away, Out On The Tiles Intro >> Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop >> Since I’ve Been Loving You, Dancing Days, Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp, The Song Remains The Same >> The Rain Song, Dazed And Confused (<< The Crunge..), Stairway To Heaven, Whole Lotta Love (<< Just A Little Bit, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, My Baby Left Me, Killing Floor, I Can’t Quit You Baby..), Heartbreaker (<< Bouree..), Immigrant Song >> Communication Breakdown.
Source: Almost complete very good 5th audience recording. 128 minutes.
Details: This audience source is a bit distant and muddy, with the balance and the sound clearing a bit in time. Plant’s voice sound rough on occasions.
LED ZEPPELIN 71-72
DIGGER 71A-B 72A-B
Side 1: Tangerine (3:43)*/Stairway To Heaven (9:04)*/Celebration Day (4:50)*/What Is And What Should Never Be (4:17)*/Moby Dick (1:30)*
Side 2: That’s The Way (6:29)*/Going To California (7:24)*/Over The Hills And Far Away (6:04)**
Side 3: Rock ‘N’ Roll (3:34)**/Stairway To Heaven (8:50)**/Whole Lotta Love (conclusion 2:20)**
Side 4: Immigrant Song (3:55)***/Communication Breakdown (4:17)***/The Song Remains The Same (5:12)***/The Rain Song (7:15)***
Recording: (*) (**)Good to Very good mono; (***)Very good mono. Audience. Source: (*)Hiroshima-ken Taiikukan, Hiroshima, Japan Sept. 27 ’71; (**)Osaka Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan Oct. 4 ’72; (***)Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Oct. 2 ’72. Comments: Brown record mailer with rubber stamp and obi. Contains a large black & white poster, postcard and a real female rubber stamped panty. Because of this quite often this set is called “Panty” box. What’s very interesting, at least some copies also have bonus tape with another source for Hiroshima date (actually, it is source no. 4). Rare.
Digger seems to have been a label from the 1980’s specializing in Led Zeppelin releases; a forerunner to the CD bootleg labels who carried on this obsession from the 1990’s. See below for the Osaka source from October 4th.
****
OCTOBER 3 – NIPPON BUDOKAN, TOKYO, JAPAN (TUESDAY, 6:30pm)
Recording Includes: [ supposed to be not recorded: Band Announcements ] Rock And Roll [ 3:04 ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:12 ] >> Black Dog [ 4:53 ], Over The Hills And Far Away [ 5:33 ], Misty Mountain Hop [ 4:50 ] >> Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:30 ], [ cut ], Dancing Days [ 3:25 ], Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp [ 4:33 ], [ cut ], The Song Remains The Same [ 5:19 ] >> The Rain Song [ 7:30 ], [ cut ], The Ocean [ 4:04 ].
Source: Incomplete very good 1st audience recording. 57 minutes.
Details: A bit distant and somewhat flat sounding tape, with rather nice atmosphere.
Found on: Live In Tokyo Oct. 2-3 1972 Budokan Big Hall (LLX 1233-4-5-6) & Tokyo 10/2/72 (Amazing Stork Records):
**
Source 2:
Recording Includes: Band Announcements, Rock And Roll [ 3:07 ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:12 ] >> Black Dog [ 4:56 ], Over The Hills And Far Away [ 5:37 ], Misty Mountain Hop [ 4:58 ] >> Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:36 ], Dancing Days [ 3:30 ], Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp [ 4:27 – cut ], The Song Remains The Same [ 5:25 ] >> The Rain Song [ 7:41 ], Dazed And Confused (<< The Crunge..) [ 27:17 – cut ].
Source: Incomplete good to very good 2nd audience recording. 83 minutes.
Details: A bit distant and tiny but still decent quality. The real problem with this source is that it was surfaced only on vinyl, which is very scratchy, with a lot of noise throughout and even after some declicking job the sound isn’t too clear. What worse, near the end of Dazed another song can be heard playing from underneath, and from that point sound deteriorates significantly into mush.
Privately Cut Japanese Acetate (no title, no label) [no image available]
****
OCTOBER 4 – OSAKA FESTIVAL HALL, OSAKA, JAPAN (WEDNESDAY, 6pm)
Recording Includes: [ supposed to be not recorded: Band Announcements ] Rock And Roll [ 3:30 – cut ], Out On The Tiles Intro [ 0:12 ] >> Black Dog [ 4:52 ], Over The Hills And Far Away [ 5:23 ], Misty Mountain Hop [ 4:35 ] >> Since I’ve Been Loving You [ 7:11 ], Dancing Days [ 3:22 ], Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp [ 4:31 ], The Song Remains The Same [ 5:16 ] >> The Rain Song [ 7:11 ], Dazed And Confused (<< San Francisco instrumental, The Crunge..) [ 23:10 – cut ], Stairway To Heaven [ 9:18 ], Whole Lotta Love (<< Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, Got A Lot O’Livin To Do, Let’s Have A Party, You Shook Me, The Lemon Song..) [ 22:21 ].
Source: Incomplete very good 1st audience recording. 108 minutes.
Details: Taped from 5th row and a really good sounding audience recording. All the instruments are up front and well balanced with the audience in the background. There is some distortion on bass line.
LED ZEPPELIN 71-72
DIGGER 71A-B 72A-B
Side 2: That’s The Way (6:29)*/Going To California (7:24)*/Over The Hills And Far Away (6:04)**
Side 3: Rock ‘N’ Roll (3:34)**/Stairway To Heaven (8:50)**/Whole Lotta Love (conclusion 2:20)**
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OCTOBER 5 – NAGOYA-SHI KOKAIDO, NAGOYA, JAPAN (THURSDAY, 6:30pm)
Recording Includes: [ supposed to be not recorded: Band Announcements ] Rock And Roll, Out On The Tiles Intro >> Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop >> Since I’ve Been Loving You, Dancing Days, Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp, The Song Remains The Same >> The Rain Song, Dazed And Confused [ cut ], Stairway To Heaven, Whole Lotta Love (<< Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Boogie Chillun, I Feel So Good, Let’s Have A Party, You Shook Me..), Mellotron Solo (<< Sakura Sakura..) >> Thank You.
Source: Incomplete fair to good 1st audience source.
Details: A distant, muddy and somewhat hissy tape that sounds like it was recorded under the towel but almost no serious distortion here. It still holds the dynamics and some fragments are brighter a little bit.
SQUEEZE ME
ASS RECORDS
Side 1: Out On The Tiles Intro-Black Dog (5:09)/Misty Mountain Hop (4:16)/Since I’ve Been Loving You (7:11)
Side 2: Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp (4:35)/The Song Remains The Same (5:05)/The Rain Song (7:20)
Recording: Fair-Good mono audience. Source: Nagoya-shi Kokaido, Nagoya, Japan Oct. 5 ’72. Comments: Rare Japanese acetate.
In the 1980’s there was this incredibly rare Japan acetate as the final vinyl offering from the tour before the era of CD bootlegs took over. This copy was offered on eBay in August of 2014 and sold for over $900.
