Led Zeppelin: Copenhagen warm ups, 2nd night Zoso. Korean import 3 x Disc vinyl

	£		59
	$		78

Led Zeppelin: Copenhagen warm ups, the second night.

 Released on Genko Sukui on a 3 x disc heavyweight vinyl and a very rare Korean import. Considered by some, the holy grail of Zeppelin vinyl....

When Led Zeppelin scheduled their comeback from the events of 1977 they planned it in three stages. The first was the recording of a new album, which they did in November 1978 in Stockholm. The second was a return to the stage in Europe, and the third and final was a US tour which, as events would dictate, would never occur.

Although they planned their first concert in two years with the huge Knebworth festival, they decided to play two warm up gigs in Copenhagen, Denmark a week before. These were the first shows in Denmark since they played the KB Hallen in 1973. These were poorly advertised and planned. The first show was delayed several hours because Zeppelin couldn’t fit their lighting rig in the venue. While trying to regain their live prowess and breaking in their new set list, these are essentially public rehearsals before an uncritical audience.

The setlist itself reveals Zeppelin trying to “cut the waffle” (as Plant said in an interview after Knebworth) by cutting out the long solos and playing more songs while maintaining a two and a half hour marathon set.  It is one of their most complete in terms of comprehensiveness with songs from every one of their albums including the not yet released In Through The Outdoor.   

Getting their first live performance in two years out of the way, they deliver a much tighter and more confident show than the first which some collectors say is the best of the four 1979 appearances. “The Song Remains The Same” has much more energy as it burst on the stage with a dramatic segue into the fanfare that is “Celebration Day.” ”Well good evening to you. It’s very nice to be back in Copenhagen after many years, in fact, since last night. It’s very nice to have the lights back with us tonight and it’s very nice to have Susan Watson Taylor’s young nephews here too” are Plant’s opening words before “Black Dog.”

“Misty Mountain Hop” with Page hitting the solo correctly. Plant sings through a harmonizer which is probably meant to duplicate the doubled vocals of the studio recording but oftentimes sounds quite silly. “Since I’ve Been Loving You” is introduced as a “blues…and that’s been virtually the background of ninety percent of the stuff we’ve ever put on record.”

Page plays some pretty sounding trills in “No Quarter” in the verses. There is almost no keyboard solo from Jones since Page comes in very early. He plays a fluent solo but seems to steal the spotlight. Afterwards they get ready to play “Ten Years Gone” for the first time in two years. “This next one’s really a bit of a departure from set formula” Plant says since they didn’t play it on the 23rd. There is a delay with Jones’ guitar and Plant quips, ”very shortly we shall be doing eleven years gone.” When the audience begins to chant and stomp in rhythm Plant jokes, “you should have been here last night.” The complicated Physical Graffiti track is played without a hitch retaining its pristine beauty.

• Setlist / Tracklist

“Sick Again,” which was not played on the 23rd, is added to the set list after “Trampled Underfoot.” The violin bow solo leading into “In The Evening” provides the greatest excitement of the evening, being an effective piece of theatrics with the audience clapping along. “Whole Lotta Love” is dedicated to Beowulf as they introduce a new seven minute arrangement of the song. In tracing the evolution of the piece over ten years, from its single form to medley to the vehicle for theremin battles, this is one of the greatest versions. The middle section contains a tight and hard riff pummeled over the head of the audience which caps a great evening by the band. Copenhagen Warm-Ups on Zoso was issued in the mid nineties in a basic, no-frills packaging and remains one of the best versions available for these interesting concerts.

 I am not a collector of vinyl and do not know how to grade them. I do not even own a record player. I can say that the cover is pretty good, but has signs of wear even though it has been in a plastic sleeve. The discs visually look like they are well looked after and have not played often.