Out Of The Bristol Tale Revisited (No Label)
Colston Hall, Bristol, UK – January 8, 1970
Disc 1 (53:32) We’re Gonna Groove, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Dazed And Confused, Heartbreaker, White Summer incl. Black Mountain Side, Since I’ve Been Loving You
Disc 2 (39:51) MC, Organ Solo, Thank You, Moby Dick, How Many More Times, Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown
Earlier this year the folks at No Label released two Led Zeppelin titles from 1970 back to back, both concerts were not well covered in the bootleg world and both featured mastering by Graf Zeppelin, a selling point among many current reissues. The first of these titles was Toccata And Fugue Helsinki 1970 which featured the Helsinki, Finland concert from February 23, 1970, the second is the first known recording of 1970 from Bristol on January 8, 1970.
The Bristol recording has circulated in collecting circles since 2001 when Bristol Stomp (No Label) was issued, then the tape went cold so to speak before the excellent Chronicles of Led Zeppelin label released Out Of The Bristol Tale (The Chronicles of Led Zeppelin TCOLZ 047/048) which would be my first and only version of this concert. Tarantura and Wendy would also throw their hats into the ring with A Day Before The Hootchie Coochie Man’s B’Day (Tarantura TCD-98-1,2) and Shin Bristol 1970 (Wendy WECD-438/439) respectively, however it was the TCOLZ title that would be considered the best of this small lot.
The much missed gsparaco reviewed the Out Of The Bristol Tale (The Chronicles of Led Zeppelin TCOLZ 047/048) title back when it was released, this review is still on this site, his detailed account should be considered definitive, so my review will be to simply evaluate the sound quality of this new release versus the TCOLZ title as well as packaging. The volume of both is very close, TCOLZ sounds very slightly louder than this new No Label. The TCOLZ sounds thin in comparison to this new No Label, it is also not as clear and sounds a bit shrill. The No Label is much warmer, clearer and much easier on the ears with much improved middle and low frequencies, an all around much more enjoyable listening experience. It actually sounds like it was sourced from a better version or transfer of the recording, the gentle mastering from Graf Zeppelin really brings out the best of the source tape.
There are no known photos from this show so the No Label folks used live shots from the following evenings famous Royal Albert Hall gig. They did add the actual event poster advertisement and the ticket stub as well, very nice small details and much appreciated. Not a massive but certainly very nice upgrade to this incredible concert.
