A completely unheard Led Zeppelin concert from 1971 is set to be released as a bootleg in the coming months.
Japanese bootleg label Tarantura announced on May 16 that it will release a bootleg recording of Led Zeppelin’s May 4, 1971 performance in Odense, Denmark.
“Tarantura label is very proud to announce that the complete Led Zeppelin concert, which has never been in circulation before, will be released shortly,” according to a Facebook page run by a collector with links to the Japanese bootleg scene.
“It is a real Holy Grail, as it is May 4, 1971 Odense show that has been hoarded for over 51 years! The biggest surprise, apart from very good sound quality, is that the tape features live versions of Four Sticks and Gallows Pole, performed just a day prior on the famous Copenhagen show on May 3, 1971,” the post continued. “More info soon! Stay tuned.”
If the label does indeed release a completely unheard audience recording of a Led Zeppelin show from 1971, that is likely to be a landmark bootleg release, especially following a year of minimal Led Zeppelin bootleg activity.
“This looks like being some find,” Tight But Loose editor Dave Lewis wrote on Facebook following Tarantura’s announcement.
The claimed May 4, 1971 audience recording’s inclusion of Led Zeppelin performing “Four Sticks” live would be the tape’s most notable feature. Currently, the only known recorded live performance of the song is from the audience tape of the previous night: May 3, 1971 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Photos were previously posted online of non-circulating two-disc CDR copies of a claimed recording of the May 4, 1971 show taped by someone known as “The Kif Man” released privately through “Cannabis Records” along with a cassette tape of the same show that was marked “Kifcord Tapes”.
The Facebook page did not dispute that the recording is from the same source as the CDR copies, writing “cannot confirm but I think these CDRs might be sourced from a master that is now in the hands of our Japanese friends.”
See the tracklist for those claimed CDR copies of the recording below:
- Immigrant Song (04:27)
- Heartbreaker (07:17)
- Since I’ve Been Loving You (08:00)
- Dazed And Confused (19:38)
- Black Dog (06:28)
- Stairway To Heaven (09:00)
- Tangerine (06:00)
- That’s The Way (07:13)
- What Is And What Should Never Be (05:01)
- Four Sticks (06:05)
- Gallows Pole (06:44)
- Whole Lotta Love (19:51)
- Communication Breakdown (05:37)
The official Led Zeppelin website page for the May 4, 1971 performance features a single photograph and a list of songs recorded during the tour but no confirmed setlist.
Here’s Led Zeppelin’s list of songs performed during the tour, which is likely to give an indication of the possible tracklist of the bootleg release:
- Immigrant Song
- Heartbreaker
- Since I’ve Been Loving You
- Dazed and Confused
- Black Dog
- Celebration Day
- Stairway to Heaven
- Tangerine
- That’s the Way
- What Is and What Should Never Be
- Four Sticks
- Gallows Pole
- Whole Lotta Love
- Communication Breakdown
Why is it such a surprise that those two songs were played on 2 consecutive nights? It would have been more of a surprise if it had been a different setlist.
Kant stop lovin the Big Dick Moby …Great Cardiowhip
Tangerine is one song I’ve never heard live. This should be good.
Great Job Led Zeppelin
Tangerine – find via youtube following: led zeppelin osaka 28 sep 1971, choose led zeppelin rarities channel – and you will find great live version
Led zeppelin has been my favorite band since i was a teenager. I love Jimmy page. Love how he plays with emotions. Inspiration to any guitarist
Sorry but sure “Tangerine” was performed ? During this period “Gong To California” was in the set list. “Tangerine” was played for the first time 24 September 1971 in Tokyo.
Is the concert out on vinyl ???
I’d love to add a copy on vinyl
I used to have a japanese bootleg – it was recorded or cut slightly slow!! But the interesting bit was that Bonzo doesn’t appear with the rest of the band so they do a medley of acoustic songs- tangerine, that’s the way etc. Plant tells the audience he is having tea with a geisha..
then a very loud Bonzo turns up and beats all hell out of his kit.. (too much tea?!)