The classic "The Song Remains the Same" finally made it's way to Blu-ray. I couldn't be happier. The audio portion of this film has been greatly upgraded and sounds amazing. The video portion looks a hell of a lot better than the old VHS copy of this film I was watching it on. It looks great. There is only so much you can do with the old video footage but in no way does it look degraded at all. Maybe a little better than a new VHS copy. Seriously though, it's Zepplin! Need I say more?

Led Zeppelin's first live album which was the soundtrack to their movie The Song Remains the Same was released in October of 1976.
Many people complained about this album but the reasons for this and its off-shoot film was because of lead singer Robert Plant still being out of commission from injuries in a car crash in 1975 and a lack of a tour to support the band's 1976 Presence album (one of their best IMHO).
Guitarist Jimmy Page then flew to New York to mix the live shows, that the band performed in July of 1973 on its Houses Of The Holy Tour at Madison Square Garden, at Electric Lady Studios with engineer Eddie Kramer.
What came out was a killer live album, as I found out when I first got the album on cassette tape on January 25, 1986 (one day after turning 10) and having seen the movie.
We begin side one with a spirited "Rock and Roll" which buries the studio version. Next we segue into "Celebration Day", which was not in the movie but is, a great rocker and even better live. Then we go into a spirited version of "The Song Remains the Same" which buries the studio version by a longshot. Next is "The Rain Song" which is actually longer on the album than in the movie but a powerful version.
Side two (or end of CD one) is a 27 minute version of "Dazed and Confused" which is somewhat different than the film version but just as good. The violin bow section was the best I ever heard. Also, the jam that goes on is amazing and it ends with a killer Page solo and a killer John Bonham drum solo at the end.
Side three (or first two tracks of CD two) begins with a 12 minute plus "No Quarter" which is slightly different than the film version and a bit longer as well but still a killer rendition. We follow with arguably the best version of "Stairway to Heaven" which is 11 minutes of majestic bliss and I can play this repeatingly.
Side four (or last two tracks of CD two) starts off with a killer version of "Moby Dick" which shows the late Bonzo behind his drum kit playing his heart out at the drum kit and tympani be it with drumsticks or barehanded! We end with a powerful "Whole Lotta Love" which is longer than the film edit as the film was missing the jam which had some references to the Houses Of The Holy track The Crunge. The theramin and Plant screaming section was superb with bass player John Paul Jones and Bonzo adding a great riff to it. Then the medley of Boogie Mama was excellent before going back to Whole Lotta Love and ending with Bonzo's literally "flaming gong" bashes.
When released, TSRTS soundtrack went to #2 on The Billboard album charts and went Multi-Platinum off the bat proving Led Zeppelin sold records on MUSIC and not image.
Recommended!

Blue-Ray technology makes it like being there in person. Pure classic in an amazing format.

Finally after many years of disappointment with this concert film, Page has set the record straight...He took over the controls and the result is a brand new Zep concert movie! The Blu Ray sound is great (MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS FILM SINCE IT WAS IN THE THEATERS) 5.1 mixed correctly. (for a change, not all the sound comes from the center channel, its mixed beautifully). There are very cool new stage edits not, for some reason, in the original cut. It was actually shot very well, just edited poorly (the original cut) Now I can safely say it is one of the best concerts film outs there! The 'fantasy' sequences are still dumb, but it was a sign of the times...You see why, if you never saw them, why they are still so popular!

You always have some guys complaining about something. It's the song remains the same for f@#ks sake! Sit back, roll a fat one and enjoy!

I'm disappointed,because there is one wong part of the Dolby TrueHD track.
It's the middle of "Moby Dick" part, the track sound stoppped for few seconds. That happens in only the Dolby TrueHD track and other Dolby Digital sounds have no problem.
I inquired about this defect to Warner'support, but there is no response
for now.

Unfortunately the Blu-ray version of this concert has a 7-second long sound dropout in the TrueHD soundtrack at timecode 1:40:45 - all copies of the Blu-ray currently available are affected. The TrueHD soundtrack of the previously released HD DVD does not suffer from this dropout (nor does the Blu-ray's lower quality DD soundtrack), so it is clear this was an encoding goof-up on Warner's part.

This type of QC problem is unacceptable for a product that costs $20, yet Warner has not mentioned any intention of fixing the issue. Hopefully they get on the ball and set up a replacement program for those who buy this defective disc.

Note that the recent re-release of this disc still suffers from the dropout problem. Maybe the third time will be the charm... :\

I used to watch this video on VHS as a teen and the BluRay has brought me right back to those days. Such an awesome concert/back stage footage movie.. I LOVE it!!!

I'm not one for live albums, but in this case, I'll make an exception. But then, this is Led Zeppelin, one of the new bands that is better live than in the studio. Even if you're not collecting everything they have to offer, the stuff here can't be found anywhere else, so you have to get it.

I am very surprised to see so many people rate this 4 and less... After having heard this album for the first time in 20 years, I am absolutely amazed at the quality of these performances, from a musical point of view, forgetting for the moment the entertainment value of these concerts (who can deny that seeing Led Zep live in their prime was as close to seeing the face of God as a 15-year old can get to?). These recordings feature some of the finest improvizations, vocal and instrumental, that are available by this great band, and showcase their mastery. While faithful to the studio versions, the live songs bring out a different kind of glow and energy. To top it off, the sound quality is excellent for that period, they must have spent a fortune on recording equipment, and it shows.

Actually 4- 1/2 stars. The first disc is 5 stars, hands down. From the opener "Rock-N Roll," followed by a supercharged version of "Celebration Day," The ultimate "one/ two" punch of "The Song Remains The Same/ The Rain Song," and the sinister, occult feel of "Dazed and Confused," this is simply stellar musicianship and raw, agressive power. The instumental middle section of "The Rain Song," with Page's arpeggiated diminished chords over John Paul Jones' astounding mellotron work is, without a doubt, one of the most stunningly beautiful musical moments I have ever encountered. These guys could rock but also were very gifted musicians, capable of creating dense, complex themes. A very unique outfit, perfectly blending the thunderous with the sublime. And this recording captures this in a very wonderful way. As far as the second disc, every song is played superbly, but the reason for my subtracting 1/2 star is the improvisational sections which are quite long. Combined with the stunning visual aspect of the film of the same name, or even better, being in attendance at the concert, these extended sections can be very exhillarating. But simply listening to them somewhat detracts from the experience (know what I mean?) I would never bash Zeppelin's abilities (I copped several riffs from Page during the 70's.) They are all expert musicians with a very exciting presentation. Unfortunately, I was never able to attend one of their shows, but I am grateful for this powerful collection of some favorite songs.

The sound is not the best I have heard, but great live rock concert from Led Zeppelin, incredible version of "Rock'n'Roll", "The Rain Song", "No Quarter" and of course "Stairway to heaven". This is a classic live album in the Rock'n'Roll history.

I have been playing drums for over 40 years. I love Bonhams style and I love practicing to this album. No Quarter is flawless and a lot different than the movie, as are a lot of the tracks on the soundtrack. Led Zep did not do themselves justice here though and I say this because I have seen them live 5 times. They seem tired and not as together as I remember. Case and point, get the double dvd release and then you will see and hear what I mean. Take into consideration that this show was recorded in NY near the end of their tour and you can see but mostly hear they are tired. This should have been recorded down in Tampa that same year, early show, I was there and they blew this album away. I was surprised really that it was released, okay it's not that bad, worth owning, its just that they are so much better when they are fresh and not worn down after a 40 week tour.

of what is wrong with listeners today: They say: "this is what I want ... exactly the same song played live that was recorded by the musicians on the CD I bought...note for note; lyric for lyric". These people have been brainwashed to accept CD's and concert tours being pre-approved by their corporate sponsorship and the label that says "yes, sir" to a hierarchy who knows nothing about music just the imperitive to make money - which it can't because the music is so "banal" with no redeeming quality. Why? Because of the narrow and unredeeming people who claim that a band who dares to improve upon the original songs with touches of brilliant improv. is "banal" . It is these very people who are now responsible for the music industry losing *billions* of dollars (read the new Rolling Stone article). You did this - you killed the creativity, the sense of fun and pure muscianship. Give the low stars and go back to your bands that all ripped off Pearl Jam, U2, REM, LZ, Floyd, The Stones, and every other band worth anything. It's what *they* would want.

The point is simple: From the beginning, even in 1968, LZ showed up record companies, the media, and sometimes listeners. They are still showing record companies today why they are losing billions of dollars. They always took risks and I love that it doesn't seem to play well to new listeners - because it shows how dull and listless their ears are, by accepting todays crap and not accepting anything "out of bounds". This the reason why there will be no major labels in about 5 years.

I would argue that wrapped up in some of Page's solo's alone on this CD are more moments of unadulterated creativity than bands like Nickelback have ever had (by all of their bandmembers) on all of their CD's combined.

If you are reading this you are deeper into LZ than just what you hear on the radio- Thank God, for you! Have an open mind and listen to what 4 masters of their instruments can do with a basic song structure. It is sheer brilliance from start to end.

They really need to release the entire show now that they have all the additional tracks from the new DVD and songs such as celebration day on the audio soundtrack. Put out a special edition, remastered complete show-please!! This show is incredibly underrated and I don't care how many people used to say that this was sub par performances it is absolutely not true!! This has just been self perpetuating opinions over the years from hot winded nobodies that really don't know what the hell they're talking about yet, back in the day when it was actually released it was one of the most popular live albums on the market and constantly listened to by music heads and fans throughout my Junior high and high school days in southern Cal. I have listened and own all the great bootlegs and proclaimed greatest Zep shows but I have to say that "Dazed and Confused", "No Quarter", "The song remains the same", "The Rain Song", "Celebration Day", "Stairway to Heaven", and the recent release of "The Ocean" are still some of the best, if not The best live versions of these songs ever -period!! I've been a die hard Zep fan for nearly thirty years and have heard all the live stuff and if this entire show was re-released and remastered it would shed new found light on these great performances. Not to mention would be a huge success for Jimmy, Percy and Jonesy. Please do this!!
Think about this NO Brainer- 30th Anniversary complete 73 show edition-complete and remastered!! They do have the added tracks in the new DVD and the audio tracks from the soundtrack of "Celebration day" for example. Why does this not happen??
Pleeeaaase Jimmy!

I've heard many recordings of the 1973 tour and this album is a good representation of how they sounded on stage at the time. How The West Was Won captures a cleaner Zeppelin and a superior performance, but there's a swagger to these NYC shows that is undeniable. The Houses Of The Holy material is more exploratory and satisfying here than the studio versions as well.

Like many other reviewers, I'd like to see an updated version with SIBLY, Misty Mountain Hop and the rest. Three and half stars.

Yes this was remastered but not since 1994, even though this edition (which is made to replicate in minature the original gatefold lp) came out in 2003. While the minature replication is a nice touch it may not warrant the premium price, the 94' release is all you need, sound wise.

Way back in the early 90s I got this on vinyl and loved it, yet my fondness has gone down over the years. Though most of the performances are awesomee, Percy's voice is clearly shot and hoarse in most of the songs, and in those that it's not it must have been over-dubbed in the studio. Not that Led Zeppelin is the only group to have ever done that, of course. Fortunately the rhythm section shines and even Pagey does.

The song listing is good but lacks a few songs, that would have fitted were it not for the overlong Dazed And Confused. Rock and Roll is featured in all its strength, Celebration Day is awesome (too bad it was left off the film) and so are The Song Remains The Same/Rain Dong. As stated above, Dazed And Confused is way too long (nearly 27 minutes) and half of its running time would have been enough. No Quarter is probably my favorite song on the whole cd, slowing the pace some. It features a fine Pagey solo. Then it's off to Stairway To Heaven, impeccably played. After this somewhat calmer part we are treated to a superb drum solo by Bonzo in Moby Dick. Contrary to most people's opinion, I prefer the album version over the one that eventually was included on the film, which is different and has been clearly edited. They close the album with another long version, this time of Whole Lotta Love, featuring the weird middle section and bits of Let That Boy Boogie and some lyrics from The Crunge.

To sum up, not their best live document - BBC Sessions or even the somewhat flawed How The West Was Won are better, but if you are a fan and not a very demanding one you'll like it. The movie is another story, that will have its own review.

4/5.

Sure, it's them in the raw, it's not edited on Pro-Tools. They're not playing very well, however. Bob Plant's lost his upper register and Jimmy Page is starting his long, slow slide to stale. There are some great moments for sure, it's really not worth picking through all this stuff if you're a new Zeppelin fan.

Get the far more inspired performances on the DVD, if you don't have it already. Then try "How the West Was Won", DVD-Audio version if possible. When you get sick of that, this'll be waiting for you.

To All Led Zeppelin Fans And Future Fans To Come. I Have To State That Led Zeppelin Is The Greatest Rock Band Ever And If You Have Seen The Movie Version Of This Live Album, You Will Agree. Jimmy Page's Explosive Fretwork, Robert Plants Vocals, John Paul Jones's Ability To Keep Up With Jimmy, And John Bonhams Beats Make Them The Leaders Of Rock. If You Are Looking For A Live Album To Buy, I Wouldn't Buy This Album. I Highly Recomend "How The West Was Won". This Album Lacks Their Full List Of Songs That Was Performed At Madison Square Garden In 1973. Songs That Are Missing Are Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Misty Mountain Hop, Heartbreaker, And The Ocean Which Was Their Encore Song. My Opinion Of Their Best Song On The Album Is Dazed And Confused. The 25 Minute Plus Song Which Includes The Violin Bow Has 4 To 5 Lightspeed Solos. Other Than That The Rest Of The Songs Are About The Length Of The Studio Albums Except No Quarter Which Has A Good Solo. But If Your Like Me And Want Everything Thats By Zeppelin Then Go For It. But If You Buy This And Your Disapointed Just Remember I Told You Why. Long Live Led Zeppelin!!!

As the years have gone on, I have started to distance myself from Led Zeppelin. Maybe its the fact that classic rock has overplayed them to death, I don't know, but anything, no matter how much you love it, in excess, can make that something less appealing. Thats why I have distanced myself from albums like "4", "2", and the way overplayed "Houses of the holy" I still think that "Physical Graffetti" is the best Zepplin album, and its one thats not overplayed. When it to the current review of "The Song remains the Same" its not just the concert that I enjoy (its even better seeing the movie, since you get the visuals) but its the way that the songs are performed. There is always a bit of a difference when you see a live concert, since mastering and remixing, or whatever then can do with the magic of the studio, isnt an option live. Some bands sound great live and some dont. Zepplin does a wonderful job with these collection of songs, as its a big more raw, and dare I say "Heavier" Even though I never considered them a Metal band, and always thought they were a blues infused rock band, Zepplin performs these songs with a "Heavy Metal feel" I can see how people might not enjoy this album, as everyone will have thier opinion of how they sound live. I happen to think this is a great effort, but this is from someone who likes the songs with a bit of a different feel to them. Some of you will hate it, espically if you are looking for an carbon copy of the how the songs sounded in the studio. Give this one a whirl if you are looking for something a bit different on Zepplins songs. You might just like it.

Yes, I paid money to see the film back when it was originally released. I went back and saw it the next night because I could not believe how great this performance on film really was. Back then you got your visual rock and roll from live concerts, FM radio or shows like In Concert or Don Kirschner's Rock Concert. This was the first time I saw Led Zeppelin actually perform (albeit on film) and was blown away by the music and visuals. I won't go over this track by track - everyone has their own favorites. I drifted off to sleep listening to No Quarter and Stairway to Heaven many nights after this was released. No Quarter has some of the best guitar fills Jimmy Page has ever played, but the icing on the cake is his performance of Stairway to Heaven. The solo will bring chills to one's soul because of the beauty of the notes, and watching Jimmy practically caress his guitar during the solo makes one wish for the simpler times when we were all young and innocent instead of old and cynical. For me, Moby Dick is too long, but Whole Lotta Love is where Jimmy gives a clinic on how to end a show on a high note. His interplay with Robert Plant's vocals is awesome, and proves that when they were both on, Led Zeppelin truly welded the Hammer of the Gods. A must own CD for all to enjoy over and over.

Here are the performances that were diced and spliced in the movie. The only flaw is the absence of Since I've Been Loving You and Heartbreaker, but the rest makes up for it. This album is worth buying for the extended Dazed and Confused alone. Bands today are lacking creativity. Jimmy Page is the master of rock guitar. His bow performance still gives me chills 30 years later.

THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME soundtrack and movie are particularly special to me personally. I won't go into full detail why, but basically they are what inspired me to become a musician. Since 1976 when the movie and soundtrack were released, I have owned the soundtrack on vinyl, on cassette tape at least twice, and on cd. I also have owned the movie twice. Once on video cassette, and now on dvd. I'm sure that I'm not through though. Eventually I'll probably own it in some other format. THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME captures the greatest rock band ever in their prime. I believe that it is the best representation of LED ZEPPEIN. Live performances is were LED ZEPPELIN thrived. They were alway's ahead of there time, and they recreated the songs on THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME for this live performance, taking things to a whole new level. The stand out for me is DAZED AND CONFUSED. Taking up one whole side of one album, it captures one of the greatest live songs ever recorded. It is LED ZEPPELIN in a nutshell. I could live on this one song alone forever. It has everything that I had ever dreamed of, or never dreamed of. The music on this soundtrack will hold up for endless generations. The music is extremely complex even by today's standards. The performances on this recording are all incredible. I still get chills every time I listen to it. Simply put, LED ZEPPELIN were the truest of rock stars. Four virtuoso musicians creating music that will hold up forever.

I THINK ITS HILARIOUS TO SEE THE REST OF THE WORLD FINALLY CATCHING UP WITH WHAT MANY OF US FROM THE '70S ALREADY KNEW. LED ZEPPELIN IS BY FAR THE GREATEST ROCK BAND THAT EVER WAS. PERIOD. END OF STORY. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, FOR A VERY LONG TIME, IT WAS "UNCOOL" TO ADMIT YOU LIKED ZEPPELIN. PUNK ROCK IDIOTS LIKE JOHNNY ROTTEN(YES. HE IS A MORON!), LABELED THEM HIPPY, STONER, DINOSOURS, AND MILLIONS OF SHEEP FELL RIGHT IN LINE, CASUALLY DISMISSING ZEP AS HAS BEENS THAT PLAY BLUES RIP OFF'S WITH SELF INDULGENT SOLOS. WE REAL ZEP FANS COULD CARE LESS, BUT IT ALWAYS BOTHERED ME THAT MILLIONS OF KIDS GROWING UP ON POP PUNK SKATER MUSIC, WOULD BE MISSING OUT ON ALL THIS GREAT MUSIC. A FUNNY THING HAS HAPPEND NOW. A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF KIDS ARE DISCOVERING THE MIGHTY ZEP. THEY DON'T SEE HIPPIES. THEY DON'T SEE STONERS. THEY DON'T SEE EXCESS. THEY JUST HEAR GREAT MUSIC, AND THATS ALL THAT MATTERS.
WITH THAT SAID, THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME IS, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, AN INCREDIBLE MUSICAL JOURNEY. ITS ALL HERE. HEAVY...SOFT...AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THIS IS NOT AN ALBUM YOU LISTEN TO ON YOUR WAY TO THE GROCERY STORE OR MALL. SET ASIDE A NIGHT WHEN YOU CAN SIT BACK, DIM THE LIGHTS, AND TAKE IT ALL IN. THERE ARE MANY LAYERS TO THESE SONGS, AND WILL REQUIRE SEVERAL LISTENS TO FULLY APPRECIATE THEM. BE PATIENT. WITH MANY SONGS CLOCKING IN WELL OVER 9 MINUTES, BE PREPARED. (TURN OFF THAT CELL PHONE!) THERE IS A REASON ZEPPELIN IS CONSIDERED THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME. BUY THIS ALBUM, AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF.

Led Zeppelin simulataneously released "The Song Remains the Same", the movie and CD. The DVD contains a few more songs and has the epic "fantasy sequences". It's also a lot cooler to see John Bonham play drums with his hands then it is to just hear it, so I would hardly call this CD essential for one's CD collection. But it's good. It contains the tracks:

Disc 1
1. Rock and Roll
2. Celebration Day
3. The Song Remains the Same
4. Rain Song
5. Dazed & Confused

Disc 2
1. No Quarter
2. Stairway to Heaven
3. Moby Dick
4. Whole Lotta Love

Only 9 songs. All longer than their studio counterparts. "Rock and Roll" isn't quite as good as the studio version, but still rocks. "Celebration Day" rocks.
"The Song Remains the Same" is really good. "Rain Song" is one of the best Zeppelin songs. "Dazed and Confused" is (in my opinion) slightly too long, but it's a fantastic song. "No Quarter" has great music, it's got a really cool mood set to it. "Stairway to Heaven" is a song that everybody knows about, so there's no point in even commenting about it. "Moby Dick" is amazing.
and "Whole Lotta Love" is better and longer than the studio version. One thing this live CD did right was it caught Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham in their prime. They were at the absolute top of their game. This CD is like a historical document of rock, but I'd still get the studio albums first.

GRADE: A-

Great live Zepelin cd, awesome music, awesome band, best ever Live

If you're looking for 21st century soundboard Quality and note for note song tracks, this is not your cd. But Jimmy's jams along with Bonzo's thundering percussion are unreal.Plant's voice sounds better live than in the studio I believe. I've probably made over a 100 mixed mp3 cd's and Song Remains the Same -> Rain Song or No Quarter from this album are probably on over half of them. A must have live cd

The song remains the same is a terrific zep album containing terrific live versions of classics like whole lotta love and dazed and confused.BUY TODAY.

The song remains the same, indeed. Especially if it's as banal as Zeppelin's.

This is Zeppelin in their prime, in one of the greatest arenas in the world (the Garden). 1973, they were in top shape. The band themselves don't like this concert that much, but hey, they were perfectionists, and a bit extreme too.

It starts with Rock and Roll, which really does rock you. Page, as always, excells in his guitar playing, as does Plant in the vocals, and Bonham finishes with his hi-energy drums playing.
After Celebration Day, comes the namesake song of the film, The Song Remains The Same. It is brilliantly done, as is Rain Song.
Now comes the best part of CD 1. The near-half-hour-long version of Dazed and Confused proves their caliber as a band. Those who complain it's too long are just missing its point. The complete freedom they give themselves in improvising is what makes it so good. The extra long intro with John Paul Jones setting the mood. Page pulling off surreal sounds with the violin bow. The interwining of other songs's fragments. This is top-notch improvisation. I remember this being almost a religious experience for me at first. I'd sit down and hear it with solemnity, as if in the presence of a saint.

CD 2 continues with great playing. No Quarter is far better than the studio, with John Paul Jones and Page excelling in their respective solos. Stairway to Heaven, though astoundingly good, is, I must admit, the only song that might sound better in How The West Was Won (along, perhaps, with Moby Dick). It remains, however, amazing. And one thing in which it is much better than in How The West Was Won is its finale. Plant's final scream is simply epic.
Wrapping up the show are Moby Dick, which features an excellent drum playing by Bonham, and Whole Lotta Love, which again features amazing improvisation.

An amanzing CD and film, finally. Wrapping up, NO, the songs are not too long, NO, How The West Was Won is not better (it has good stuff, and might be as good, but The Song Remains The Same beats because of its sentimental value. I mean, it was, for years, the only live Zep material). If you like Zeppelin, music improvisation, or just a plain good rock concert, this CD is for you.

And finally, ZEPPELIN RULES!!!!!

Most people whom don't get this recording, they are missing the fine art of improvization.
While some songs are considered too long by some, they are a true representation of these musicians speaking from their heart and soul capturing those snapshots of time. If you love jazz & blues improvs, this is a rock version of that type of interplay.

"The Rain Song" & "Song Remains the Same" are excellent live, "no Quarter" remains to be one of my favorite.I prefer this version over the studio version.

I have heard numerous bootlegs of Zeppelin and own every LZ recording commercially available, this movie soundtrack contains some of my favorite Zeppelin moments.

Like all live album...there's edits to make this performance sonically more appealing. not that big of deal.
If you love Led Zeppelin...you must have this.

This is a record that I've gone back and forth with for a long number of years. I rarely play it and have never loved it. However for the longest time it was the only (legal) live document of arguably the greatest live band to walk the face of the earth. Led Zeppelin's live legacy has only recently been given justice with the release of both the BBC Sessions in 1997 and 'How the West Was Won' in 2003. Both of these collections blow 'SRTS' out of the water. Why are they better? It's kind of hard to explain but maybe because 'Song' was never supposed to be a live release but was put out because of the release of the film in 1976. The performances documented on vinyl and on celluoid don't seem to capture the magic that 'West' does. In many cases, the tracks are the same but as any Zep head knows, two live versions of the same songs could almost be completely different. "Whole Lotta Love" is a perfect example, it is so much better on 'West' than the tired,"let's just get this show over with" vibe from 'Song'. Maybe my review is not going to help the speculative buyer so here goes my word of caution. Only and I mean ONLY, if you have all studio records and have bought both the BBC and 'West' collections, should you buy the 'Song Remains the Same'. Then you'll know what the fuss was all about!

Unfortenatly, the song does remain the same, for almost half an hour on Dazed and Confused and Whole Lotta Love. It's shocking that a band as good as Led Zeppelin would release such as disapointing product for their first live album. The Song Remains the Same is a double album only containing nine tracks. The album starts off great with the shorter songs like Rock and Roll, then after about 4 or 5 songs it breaks into the more long winded tracks like Dazed and Confused and Whole Lotta Love. Zeppelin is one of the greatest rock bands ever, but that can't save the Song Remains the Same from being a total bore. I love roughly half the hate, but I despise the other half, hence the two star rating. For die hards only, I'd advise you to purchase all of Zeppelin's studio albums, but avoid this like the plague.

Alot of people put this album down. I've heard people say that Zeppelin sound tired and lazy on this performance. While I'll admit its not their greatest live show(s) on this album, its far from their worst. Also that this album is too short and sounds horrible. Put these things into consideration...First of all this was released in the days of vinyl and to release a double album was costly and risky in some cases. If Jimmy Page put all 15 songs they performed into this album, it would've been a 6-8 album set. Secondly, this is a soundtrack. The songs featured on this album are from the movie, mainly focusing on the fantasy sequences. TSRTS/Rain Song (Robert Plant), Dazed & Confused (Jimmy Page), No Quarter (JPJ's), Moby Dick (John Bonham). Alothough this is a live album, its strictly a soundtrack and wasn't meant to be a full live album. But hey, look at it this way too...we get a really awesome performance of TSRTS & Rain Song, the best live versions Zepp ever did of those 2 songs. Dazed & Confused kicks ass period! They sound tired here? I think not, and if their tired, their playing pretty damn good. No Quarter here is, imho better than the studio version. WE get Celebration Day on here which wasn't in the movie, and great addition to the album. Zeppelin toured heavily, playing 3 hours non stop almost every night and that ain't easy to do. Considering that, their playing on this album is pretty tight. Zepp at there worst here is still great live Zeppelin. I give this 4 out of 5 stars, losing one star because the only gripe I have with this album is that some songs were mixed rather poorly, mainly Rock & Roll, but it doesn't effect the enjoyment of the record. So, remember, this is a live soundtrack that was released during the vinyl era, hence it being only 9 songs long. If it were released in the age of CDs I'm sure Pagey would've added a few more songs. Give this album alittle more credit and give it another listen & look at it in a different light. This is a classic live album.