Review of Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same (1976) by Justin H — 21 Jun 2007

[b][font=System]A 2-hour plus excursion into rock and roll lore, [i]The Song Remains The Same [/i]was primarily created via a three-day period of the band's stay at Madison Square Garden in 1973. While it wasn't released until 1975 due to a mountain of legal, artistic and egotistical issues (let's not forget we're dealing with a juggernaut rock and roll band here), audiences around the world seemed to lap it up, even if it wasn't the best Zeppelin had to offer on stage (band members themselves admit this was definietly not the best Zep had to offer). [i]The Song Remains The Same [/i]is a fantastic ride that only true die-hard Zep heads will say is fantastic. With a very "bootleggy" look about it, this may not be the best visual proof of Zeppelin's reign of dominance, but it is clearly legendary.[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]THE GOOD:[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]~ The version of [i]Stairway to Heaven [/i]we are treated to is absolutely knee buckling- complete with an awesome 'scoop down' shot of Robert Plant as he coos the first line of the epic ballad, an orgasmic guitar solo by Jimmy Page (the look on his face while he's ripping through arguably the greatest guitar solo of all time sends goosebumps down your spine) and phenomenal work by the rhythm section of John Henry Bonham (RIP) and John Paul Jones (as always). [/font][/b].

[b][font=System]Just as mesmerizing was [i]No Quarter, [/i]bassist John Paul Jones' masterpiece that puts the veteran musician at the stool of an enormous church organ and keyboards. Page's guitar riffs twist and weave magnificently in between Jones' key work and Bonham's chilling drumming. Perhaps the greatest version of Zeppelin's best live tune, [i]No Quarter [/i]really steals the show here.[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]Page's 'fantasy' scene during a drawn out [i]Dazed and Confused[/i] is also solid and is pretty advanced special effects-wise for it's time. Page transforms from child to senior and back again before our eyes and the pyschodelic 'light show' the Hermit does definietly adds a splash of electricity to the film. [/font][/b].

[b][font=System][i]Whole Lotta Love[/i], the band's encore coup de jour, is supreme here- Page shows off his theramin expertise during a head bobbing rock out and Bonham tears through the drum skins like he most likely did shots of vodka shortly after the show. [/font][/b].

[b][font=System]THE BAD:[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]~ As mentioned earlier, this film's version of [i]Dazed and Confused [/i]is a bit drawn out, although Plant's ability to squeeze in [i]San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers in Your Hair) [/i]adds a very nice sequence to the film. There is no such thing as "too much" of Zeppelin, but if there were, this is as close as it has ever gotten. [/font][/b].

[b][font=System]Why the band decided to leave out phenomenal versions of [i]Misty Mountain Hop [/i]and [i]The Ocean [/i]leaves me scratching my head, but these two tunes saw the light of day nearly 30 years later in [i]Led Zeppelin DVD. ***[/i][/font][/b].

[b][/b].

[b][font=System][i]*** Led Zeppelin DVD , [/i]which was released in 2004, is EXCEPTIONALLY better and much more adverse musically than [i]TSRTS[/i] and is DEFINIETLY a must own. ***[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]Robert's vocals hopped around at times, especially in the beginning (the band's first song of the film, [i]Rock and Roll[/i], was extremely scratchy on Robert's part) but Mr. Plant really amended himself during [i]Stairway [/i]and [i]No Quarter[/i]. [/font][/b].

[b][font=System]Speaking of which, there is no reason the soundtrack has a DIFFERENT version of [i]No Quarter[/i] on it when the one we saw on the film was clearly better and perhaps one of the greatest live demonstrations in rock and roll history.[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]OVERALL:[/font][/b].

[b][font=System]Being the die hard Zep expert I am (no bragging here), I thoroughly enjoyed [i]TSRTS [/i]and definietly reccommend it to all who are looking for a music film to watch. While there are some flaws, one cannot overlook the brilliance that laced this film and the sheer magnitude of what Zeppelin meant to the music world. All seven of this world's wonders have cracks, missing pieces and blemishes, and while this film is no different, it will still go down as one of the best there's ever been. [/font][/b].