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InterMedia Arts Center 2/2/08
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Led Zeppelin
Rock and roll is littered with hundreds of bands that have withstood the test of time, but few have grown in stature as much as Led Zeppelin. In the beginning, they were the band that ‘didn’t get no respect’. Today, they are among the most legendary (and respected) bands of all time. In addition, Led Zeppelin must be the quintessential album act of all time. To listen to the band at all, it was required that you buy their albums – preferably all of them. There were precious few singles, so the only real alternative to discovering the band through their albums would have been to discover them through their concert performances.
Most amazing of all is that Led Zeppelin has issued only one ‘greatest hits’ collection – none when they were together and active, and only one since they disbanded. That’s it. Let’s contrast this with another band. Let’s say, the Beach Boys. I recently was asked to review a Beach Boys collection and was appalled to discover that over one hundred collections have been issued by the California pop stars in the past ten years. Compare that to Led Zeppelin! In a sense, Led Zeppelin is the antithesis of the Beach Boys. Zep has held onto their dignity and protected their legacy by controlling their catalogue, instead of flooding the marketplace with cheap rehashes of recycled recordings. The only other ‘collections’ to speak of, have been two box sets, which literally contain their entire recorded catalog, in remastered form…until now.
Amazingly, “Mothership” is the first official ‘hits’ collection issued by Led Zeppelin that combines selected audio tracks with stunning concert footage, and it is a motherlode. The band has been inactive for thirty years and yet these recordings still sound fresh and stunning. It compiles twenty-four tracks spread out over two disks, and the only complaint is that it could have contained twice that many without extravagance. To complete the package and to enhance the Led Zeppelin experience, a third DVD disk is included which compiles some stunning concert footage culled from the band’s ten years of activity. How extraordinary is it that something like this hasn’t existed before?
Since this is a ‘collection,’ you may take exception to the song selection, or regret that some of your favorites aren’t included, but that would be missing the point. If you don’t already own all of their albums (or both box sets), this is a fabulous way to discover the band. It also makes a fantastic gift for someone who loves rock and roll but hasn’t updated the old albums. You don’t need me to tell you that Led Zeppelin is required listening for anybody interested in music. It has taken thirty years to happen, but there is finally one package that compiles the audio and the visual experience of Led Zeppelin. If you don’t already own everything, then get “Mothership.” Now. A+ Tom Ryan
Grade: 
 
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