This is a real gem that has been delivered to collectors and fans of Led Zeppelin. This new tape that rekindles the 'soundboard revolution' that Empress Valley gets to exclaim is the kind of diamond in the rough that we always dream of and the premium label wraps it up very nicely in two versions for collectors - and some will gripe about the pricing and general snobbiness of the delivery...but, it needs to be sourced from somewhere and now all collectors are in the know about labels like Eelgrass that will just turn around and release a budget version anyway. Empress Valley utilizes nice, stock 1975 tour stage shots for the deluxe digipack with a sequence of black and white photos of Jimmy Page with his Les Paul on the three inside panels. For the Deluxe Version slipcover the theme of course centers around the infamous Chicago mob slayings (by Al Capone's gang on rival Bugs Moran on Valentine's Day 1929)...thus, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre motif. Now to the show!
Perhaps partying with Ronnie Wood the night before was just what the doctor ordered as the band are all ready to go - even Jimmy, as Robert explains he only went to sleep at 4:30 that afternoon, and now here they are! As we get into Disc one, it's clear this is a great recording from the board and it doesn't take very long for our sound engineers to dial it all in to near perfection tweaking incrementally through the first 2 numbers and landing comfortably for all ears upon the starting notes of "Over The Hills And Far Away". What immediately smacks you is how enthusiastic the playing - and Robert's singing is coming across. We are all used to Robert sounding really rough in most of these '75 shows out of the chute and there's no exception here aside from the fact that he is a little quicker to recover tonight. Good for us! He is also in one of the best moods displayed on this tour and we can only credit his personal affection for what the occaision stands for. To underscore, this is a Valentine's Day performance and as Robert points out after "Sick Again" is that this is the band's 6th show in the New York area in 10 days and this is the finale - thus dedicating the efforts tonight to the 'last pagan ritual alive in the 20th century..and St. Valentine....wherever you are..." . It doesn't take long to feel the mood, as I've indicated...and after a rippin' good version of "In My Time Of Dying" the band pulls out a surprise for the lucky attendees tonight by reviving "Since I've Been Loving You" just for Valentine's Day sake. After a tentative start to the once staple tune, they slide into a wonderful bluesy groove and nail it. The only problem with that emotional high is the affect it has on the next assault on the senses. "The Song Remains The Same" is one song I look forward to hearing every time with these new tapes and more often than not it's the low point of the recording or performance and, that's what it ends up being here too. They just can't seem to all be in sync on this one so we move on to the inspiring "Rain Song" and this version fortunately is the catalyst to swing the momentum back in the right direction the rest of the way.
Disc Two kicks off with the next new tune of the evening, "Kashmir" and it is played powerfully and skillfully, focused if you will and is received well. A couple of things that I need to mention about the recording is that you really do feel everything that is going on onstage with the band - AND with the crowd reaction along the way. A very nice tape dynamic with this one. The other noticeable aspect of this particular soundboard tape is how 'present' John Bonham is in the background between numbers! You clearly hear him shouting to everyone much more audible than on the other tapes. I have absolutely no idea what he is shouting about, ever...but it's fun and when the other members of the band quip back you feel like you are truly in the middle of something personal and fun. Also, you hear his squeaking bass drum foot pedal VERY prominent right up to an awesome performance of "No Quarter". "Trampled Underfoot" also gets a nice reception and is played with vigor. "Moby Dick" gets off to a bit of a rocky intro and Bonzo's solo is really just a meandering of skills that not many could appreciate at the time and in an arena setting gets a bit tedious - but there were nights it was more inspired and entertaining perhaps. This just doesn't come across as one of them.
The payoff comes with Disc Three and is nearly 73 minutes of shear Zeppelin delight. Through the prompting of someone in the front rows, Robert and Jimmy reference and toy with the intro to "Train Kept A Rollin'" momentarily but dive into that other early tune. "Dazed And Confused" could almost be described as routine in terms of structure with the band keeping it reigned in a bit - but it is VERY powerful and wonderful. The tape here is abbreviated as the tune builds to cresciendos towards the end as we expect but ends abruptly and without a breath Robert is dedicating "Stairway To Heaven" to the people of the New York area and St. Valentine. We obviously are missing the indulgance of a passage of "Tangerine" at the end of "Dazed"on this soundboard so it seems a good chunk of that number is cut unfortunately. Great version of "Stairway" and very inspired (just like the rest of the show, really). You really notice how Robert's voice sounds much stronger heading into this last hour or so and he comes out extremely powerful for a great rendition of "Whole Lotta Love" to kick off the encore trilogy. "Whole Lotta Love" gets a nice dose of call and response along with extended Theremin effects, indicating Jimmy is feeling it all the way here! Great stuff. Even "Black Dog" sounds inspired and not obligatory as it has pretty much up to this point on the '75 tour.
For the final encore the band truck back out and dive into a rather uptempo 50's rockabilly ditty that I don't recognize honestly and wish they would have kept that going a little longer! But they eventually slow it down to delve into a rather sloppy start to "Heartbreaker" which by now is nothing but icing on the cake for everyone this Valentine's Day in Uniondale but the finale does get the extended treatment with the band including "Minnesota Blues" into the equation! What a fantastic bit of luck that Jimmy had this one in the vaults to share! One of the best shows of 1975 and a recording that for at least two thirds of the way is nearly perfect. It's too bad that "Dazed" is cut but what we have on the 3 discs that make up "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" is going to be good enough to be vying for the top spots in many 'Best of 2008' bootleg lists! Well done Empress Valley, once again.
