How The West Was Won: Led Zeppelin Live

In another instance of Studio vs. Live, let me recommend How The West Was Won, a three-CD set of two Led Zeppelin shows from 1972 merged into one long concert.

I wouldn't dream of taking anything away from the Led Zeppelin studio material, which is about as solid and meaty as rock has ever been.

But being pummeled by the Led Zeppelin live show, I kept saying to myself, "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

There's a continuum of great guitar music, between the delicate, beautiful folk of, say, James Taylor and then the insanely awesome power playing. This incarnation of Led Zeppelin is way over on the other end. That's a recommendation and a warning in one.

Here's the first track, Immigrant Song: