Led Zeppelin – Soul Brothers (Tarantura TCD-37-1,2)

Soul Brothers (Tarantura TCD-37-1,2)

Trentham Gardens, Stoke-On-Trent, England – January 15th, 1973

Disc 1:  Rock And Roll, Over The Hills And Far Away, 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

Disc 2:  Dazed & Confused, Stairway To Heaven, Whole Lotta Love 

Led Zeppelin’s show in Stoke on January 15th, 1973 hasn’t been released in a while.  Several years ago there were two consecutive releases and it seemed this would be a perennial.  It didn’t become that but there have been many different versions of this soundboard.  Stoker (Stoke-1, 2) on Tarantura was one of the first, if not the first release.  Broken Fingers on the underrated Image Quality label (IQ-001/2) came out soon after followed by Dedicated To Rizzlers (Equinox EX-00-008/009) in the summer of 2001 and the no label Stroke In Stoke.  Soul Brothers was released almost simultaneously with Empress Valley’s Live At Trentham Gardens.  All of these releases were excellent with the exception of the last title where the set list was altered.  

Back in October 2001 I wrote on the Underground Uprising website:  “This is a very popular soundboard show, and deserves its reputation as one of the greatest recordings. What separates this board tape from others is the depth it brings without overwhelming Page. It is still cut at the end of ‘The Song Remains The Same’ and the beginning of ‘The Rain Song’. I would say that the entire show is a real highlight! With the exception of Glasgow (12/4/72), their playing was quite restrained on the 72/73 UK Winter tour.  This show starts the ball rolling, as it were, which culminates in Germany in March. This is a show that everyone should own and should be listening to!”

Soul Brotherssounds much better than the other releases with much more life to the tape.  Tarantura made an excellent sounding tape even better sounding and a great concert even better.  The show still isn’t complete since the encores are still not present.  Eyewitnesses to the event said they played “Four Sticks” as an encore.  And although it seems highly unlikely it is possible and would be great to hear.  But until that day comes this will stand as the definitive version of this essential show.  It comes in an attractive gatefold sleeve and is another title worth seeking out.