Comments on: Led Zeppelin – The Valkyrie’s Vigil (Tarantura TCD-94, 95, 96, 97)

By: bostonbro

bostonbro — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:38:36 +0000

After listening to this set from start to finish; (9 minutes shy of 6 hours) thoughts started to race through my mind on what I just experienced. I just witnessed Tarantura setting the benchmark of what “definitive” means. The blueprint Tarantura used to master this set should be under lock & key. The quality of this set is so personal and real, I felt like I was sitting in the corner of the room with my “Edirol” hoping nobody sees me taping this historic event. This has to be “the boot of all boots” My cheeks hurt from grinning for 6 hours ! …..when do I have time to do this again ?!

This glorious set will stand the test of time!

By: gobucks

gobucks — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:26:47 +0000

Highly recommended. In terms of sound quality and packaging this may be the top Zep release of the year. Sure the shows are not new or necessary rare (to the avid collector), but that misses the point. Are new or rare sources always the most desirable qualities or only qualities I look for in a release as a collector? Sometimes. Wasn’t the EV soundboard of the Long Beach show from 3/11/75 a new and rare soundboard source? Sure, but it was hardly a must have or great release. So, collecting for me is not always just about new or rare sources, since they seem to be few and far between. Sometimes new releases are about packaging and even more so about the sound quality. In these two areas, The Valkyrie’s Vigil receives high marks. In my opinion, the sound quality of all 4 of these shows is definitive, making it unnecessary for me to keep the old version of these shows that I own.

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:37:23 +0000

Do you have the Empress Valley BBC set? Did you listen to the 1971 show? There are pops and clicks that are not on any other release, and that defect ruined the entire boxset for me. I couldn’t unload it fast enough.

By: walterfive

walterfive — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:56:42 +0000

This release brings us four shows we already have. In fact, it brings us two that have recently surfaced and that the collector most likely has already purchased, perhaps twice, in the case of the L’Olympia, Paris gig. The BBC gig is probably the most bootlegged show around– I first bought cuts of it on a CD in 1989 where they were called “The Legendary Pageboys”, and it seems like it’s been re-released every year since. I thought the BBC Definitive release was EVSD’s “The Complete British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Sessions.”
What, pray tell, was an “unmitigated disaster” about it? It was better than the commercial release…

Nice package, pretty pictures, but nothing here to justify this set. It’s just more repackaging. Not to slag the effort, Tarantura always puts out nice product, but nothing new or rare to hear here.

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:29:56 +0000

It’s very hard to believe it would be intentional for the very fact that they never advertised it as such.

By: sfibus

sfibus — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:58:48 +0000

Congrats Vigotone! The Valkyries must be watching out for you. :-) In any event I agree with the review…sonically near perfection coupled with the usual stunning packaging make this a winner and a must have release in my opinion.

By: Argenteum Astrum

Argenteum Astrum — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:28:32 +0000

I agree too except for the fact that the label (accidentaly or not) stated that the famous FM show from Stockholm that took place on March 14th, 1969 was taken from Uppsala University, which is clearily a mistake. Either the label just did a mistake or – what is more possibly at least for me – did it especially to milk once again another hundred of bucks from collector’s pocket. If so, this is very unfair move from this so called prolific label and so sad there’s no new stuff icluded here. The BBC 1971 tape needs adefinitive release as is wrote above. Overall, a bit of mess and dissapointment.

By: vigotone

vigotone — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:57:56 +0000

Agreed! It is a stunning set, and if I may add, I’m happy to be the proud owner of edition #1/150! I have no idea how that happened, but I’m thrilled.