LED ZEPPELIN - CD
MAXIMUM DESTROYER

LABEL:
Empress Valley EVSDVD -A 007/1 & 2 & EVSD 503/504/505
SOURCE:
Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, Ohio - April 27, 1977
FORMAT:
3CD/2DVD-A
RUNNING TIME:
89:53 / 76:37 / 60:16 / 44:59 / 61:28
SOUND/SOURCE:
1st generation reels (Maxell XlII) of Bill Bratton the Seattle Kingdome Video Director; 2 DVD-A’s are 96khz/24bit DVD-Audio:5.1 Channel Surround Music
PACKAGING:
Deluxe Color Box Set
 

Maximum Destroyer front

Maximum Destroyer back


SOUND 9.5 / PACKAGING 9 / PERFORMANCE 8.5

 
TRACK LIST:

DVD-A  Disc 1: The Song Remains The Same, The Rover Introduction : Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time Of Dying,  Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going To California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Yr-Stomp

DVD-A Disc 2: White Summer,  Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Out On The Tiles : Moby Dick, Guitar Solo (Includes Star Spangled Banner), Achilles Last Stand, Stairway To Heaven, Rock And Roll, Trampled Underfoot

CD  1: The Song Remains The Same, The Rover Introduction : Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time Of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter

CD 2: Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going To California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Yr-Stomp, White Summer, Black Mountain Side, Kashmir

CD 3: Out On The Tiles : Moby Dick, Guitar Solo(Includes Star Spangled Banner), Achilles Last Stand, Stairway To Heaven, Rock And Roll, Trampled Underfoot

 
REVIEW:

Just got my copy of Maximum Destroyer the 2DVD-A/3CD set of the April 27, 1977 gig.  The dealers are also telling me they are almost sold out of all remaining copies.   People are saying how many times can 1 show be released!!!  Too many I must say BUT THIS REALLY IS THE DEFINITIVE VERSION, IT CANT GET BETTER THAN THIS (sound quality wise).  It has been released almost as many times and in as many formats as Live On Blueberry Hill starting with the original DESTROYER (DRGM 505) the European 4 LP set followed by the US edition in a plastic carrying case whcih actually didnt come from the same master plates, SWEET JELLY ROLL (RSR 42777) released in ‘77 a direct US copy of the European version in Deluxe Color Fold Out Cover and Swingin Pigs 3LP set which had the nicest LP packaging released in 1990, but all were incomplete missing the Out On The Tiles: Moby Dick portion of the show and songs were out of order some were even pressed on Psychedelic Colored Vinyl.  Then came the CD versions starting with Archive Production version in 1989 a 2 CD set that again was incomplete, which was then followed by many other versions from a ton of different European and Japaneese Productions such as Swingin Pig, Tarantura and EV just to name a few.  The versions comming out of Japan had the nicest packaging but were extremely expensive and didn have much of a sound quality upgrade.  Well let me just tell you that this is by far the definitave edition as far as completeness & sound quality goes.  This comes directly from Bill Bratton's Master (who was the Video Director @ The Seattle Kingdone back in the day) cassettes which were transferred directly to his Maxell XLII reels.  So the beginning of The Song Remains The Same is lost forever and the cut in No Quarter @ 5:07, as well as the beginning of the encore to Rock 'N Roll will also always be lost.  All the Plantations between songs are there and the sound is so CLEAN & CRISP my jaw dropped especially when listening to the DVD-A's on my Surround Sound Theater.  The DVD-A menus are very basic with Play, Song and Audio Choices.  You have 2 audio choices to work with either the DVD-Audio 5.1 Channel Surround 96khz or the Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel surround and all work well.   You really get to hear the surround sound effects during the Moby Dick drum solo as well as Jimmy Page's Guitar Solo gets your head spinning round, JUST FANTASTIC.  The video for the DVD-A are different full color still pictures of the band with different pictures of the tape sources along with them for each song.  It comes in a very sturdy & nice hinged box with very glossy cover and picture from the 1977 tour.

I have no complaints about this set at all except for the missing parts which will never be found and that maybe the discs could have been pressed on GOLD DISC'S and some nicer packaging instead of the generic sleeves for each individual disc.  Maybe a insert or copy of tickets from the show…..Ok I'm just saying the presentation could have been a bit better, but considering the price which is very affordable for the amount of discs your getting and the quality of sound…..THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL PICK-UP for any LED ZEPPELIN fan.


I've still got the 2CD Swinging Pig release that came out in 1990! I've thought about upgrading and I did think seriously about getting this, but, it has to be said, it's just not that good a performance. Maybe my version of the show doesn't do it justice, but I'd far rather have a SB of the 28th.
Comment by DR wrote on 2008-04-03 14:39:54

I agree with the weak performance. Sound is good but the band is off. And long live the Swingin' Pig!!!
Comment by apetit wrote on 2008-04-03 17:49:44

Underground Uprising's one review of this release isn't very complimentary either.
Comment by DR wrote on 2008-04-03 20:45:25

Yes as I stated in this review that it was the SOUND QUALITY that was awesome. I do agree that it was not one of their most exciting performances by a long shot. Thanks for the feedback
Comment by SPACED1 wrote on 2008-04-04 17:50:27

The sound quality of this release is simply stunning. Sure it may not be the best performance but the thing about Zeppelin is even on their bad days they were still better than everyone else. This show definitely has some gems spread throughout. You just have to be Indiana Jones to find them.
Comment by HarleyDog wrote on 2008-11-04 16:38:25

The best toys are the ones that are both educational and multi-purposeful.
Great Toys For Tots

 

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Apr 2, 2008 - 5:21:39 PM


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