#04 - The Nobs - 01-12-75 - When The Damn Falls Apart

[mjp96]

incredible.

thanks.



[sonoranguitarlois]

which guitar does jimmy use on this number??

[zed0469]

This and Chicago are the only known times this song was played live by Led Zeppelin, a shame since this kicks complete and total ass.

[LedHeadTillDeath]

Oh my God. I love you PepperC.

[ChocolateThunderRick]

Hahaha When the Damn Falls Apart, awesome I love it hahaha

[gabigabrielah]

sorry it is not Chicago but the warm up for the 75 tour

[gabigabrielah]

i have this boot allso in a two cd set i bought it the erly 90s for like 60 bucks but the sound is lame they play how many more times instead of dazed and confused

[garbeaj]

He is playing the Danelectro...I wonder why he didn't play his electric 12-string Fender XII or at least retuning the 12 string on the EDS-1275...

[blackdog2403]

the truth

[abrahamlincoln0900]

Makes me want to burn one.

[tomitstube]

it's always best to hear new material right after the band recorded it.

[enlightening]

Fucking shit, I didn't know they played this live! Thanks!!!

[CallMeTheHunter]

No freakin' way! I always thought this song was never played live by Led Zeppelin. I can't believe this!!!! This is beast

[custardpie40]

i never ever...heard this live..

[PogoRecordsInc]

@CallMeTheHunter Led Zeppelin only played this song twice.

[PogoRecordsInc]

This is the first.

[Cliner97]

Tough song to pull off live because of the dynamics specific to where and how this song was recorded. Even tougher to pull off circa 1975 with then current technology.

[sharrer2]

Thanks god for the nobs.

I love Jimmy Book and Robert Tree ;) ;)

[Lukestar1991]

this is like Acapulco Gold! you have to say how you can get this.

[jimmypage4life75]

this is amazing

[ttoale]

Thanks so much

[lucaskarq]

please tell me where did you get this songs?

[alexledzepguy]

Page thought this would have the same impact as stairway to heaven when IV was released, just for the awsome sound. Shame it didn't, it could have developed into an epic.

[Lukestar1991]

yehh its a real shame, you can see why they scrapped it, they had too.

[vonludwig84]

WTLB is the only track from "Untitled" that survived from the original recording sessions. There was an accident while travelling with the master tapes and all but WTLB were lost, having to be re-recorded. That's the reason why Levee has "that" sound compared to the rest of the album. Imagine, had the whole original masters went into mix and print..

[Bootleder]

Where is your source for that info?, the story WAS that levee had such a complex recording that the masters were left untouched for posterior remastering/mixing, there were no reels re-recorded, everything you hear is just like it was recorded.

May I ask you the source of your info though?

[vonludwig84]

James Patrick Page.

[timoany]

No. What happened was they went to a studio in los angeles that the producer at the time, glyns maybe? and page had both worked in before. When tehy got there they found the studio was completely redone. They mastered it and took it back to abbey road and thought it was horrendous. But ya WTLB is the only one that survived.

[vonludwig84]

The master tapes were damaged during their flight across America. Page has gone on record stating this. The tapes he had in LA were not the same he had by the time he was in NYC. They had been damaged during the flight.

[garbeaj]

He just said the monitors at Island Studios were "lying" and they didn't realize that the recordings sounded bad until they listened on different monitors. It is true that the only track whose mastering was useable "When The Levee Breaks".

[QuadroWho]

so was page strung out on H by this time?

[alexledzepguy]

Not at this point... Heroin came in on the prescence session which were in 1976.

[vonludwig84]

Actually, sessions for Presence began while Page/Plant were on tax exile in Malibu in October 1975.

[alexledzepguy]

But Jimmy didn't officiallt touch heroin until early 76. Maybe even late 75.

[vonludwig84]

It's silly to argue when he exactly first touched it. According to some reports, the boys encountered it for the first time in Japan in 1971 and became violently ill after snorting it. What is clear, the sessions for Presence began in Malibu in October 1975 and Page began using with Bonham and Richard Cole during these sessions. An exact date can't be clarified because I doubt either Page or Cole can remember.

[Cliner97]

Yes, I've heard that about them using heroin by accident in '70 thinking it was cocaine. That story comes from Cole in his book though so hard to fully know if it's true or not. Doesn't matter much in the end anyway.

[FlavorRed]

I love watching all of these Nobs videos. They fucking rule!

[zaxjackson636]

One question... If Von Zeppelin only threatened legal action in '70 and this is '75 why the hell is this bootleg titled under the nobs? It's taken me forever to find a live version of when the levee breaks because of this.

[pepperc2900]

its so that youtube doesn't find out about these bootlegs or my account would get shut down...that's another reason why i switch the titles.

[zaxjackson636]

sorry dude, didn't realise, delete my comment or me from ever posting on this vid again if u need

[pepperc2900]

no worry's bro...

[wayoff79]

The bass line does it.

[HumptyKing]

Overwhelmed...JHB I Love You

Thank you pepper for posting and m4150 for telling me :)

[ttoale]

I was always under the impression they never performed this live once... can't blame them for that decision... if I made a studio track sound that good I wouldn't want to tarnish it in the least bit by playing it without all the proper parts.

[ZeppidyDooDah]

This is the first time I have heard this song played live. This is great!

[DeadmanC]

THIS is Strong!

[midamericanwhiteguy]

stomp groove from the lower depths

[audiomusic4]

thanks for the post and share

[attanasio90]

wonderful finally i found it live...

[thebandeq]

its too bad the sound is poor quality because it sounds like such a good version. i agree that zep sounds good live, normally sounds more full of energy and enthusiasm

[FlavorRed]

I don't believe I've heard a live version of this song before. Fucking awesome! The sound quality isn't the best but I understand it's a bootleg.

[LouddrummerO]

Wow Where did you find this one, never heard this. I loved it, even with the sound quality lacking.

[Cliner97]

Would have been pretty difficult to completely duplicate the studio version but I still like it. THX for posting.

[12stringsforme]

Didn't know these ever was done live.

But why the different title?

[alexledzepguy]

To hide it from the administrators who will soon be doing another sweep of youtube for any copyright infringment.

[allrequiredfields]

Fucking clever.

And when will these old-ass corporate farts who don't understand 'that internets thing' croak? They just can't understand that this shit creates revenue, by maintaining and reviving interest in their artists.

[thewhitewizard3]

People, the reason why they didn't play this song was because it was heavily modified in the studio.

It was played at a faster tempo, then slowed down. They used a phaser on the voice and the guitar. They recorded John Bonham's drums in a stairway.

[FlavorRed]

Indeed. They made full use out of the studio. The studio was an art form in itself. Which is why they couldn't always duplicate some of their songs live. However, just because they can't duplicate it exactly like the studio version doesn't mean it's not as good. Sometimes I think it's better. I dig this live version of W.T.L.B.

[thewhitewizard3]

I usually like Led Zeppelin live versions better than the studio versions simply because of their vitality and interesting improvisations.

The only reason why this one isn't as great as the others is poor sound quality (though most bootlegs are like that, but hey).

This one is great though, and I would like it a lot better if I could hear it better.

Though said the reason they didn't play this song is because it was too studio heavy, not because they didn't like it. It was a rebuttal.

[FlavorRed]

Yeah. I know it was a rebuttal. "I usually like Led Zeppelin live versions better than the studio versions simply because of their vitality and interesting improvisations." Exactly! Same here. Their live music is beyond exciting! Yeah, I wish the sound quality was better too. I understand it's a bootleg though and I still appreciate it. Rock on!

[mystro810]

There are about 5 guitar parts in the studio version of this song. They only have 1 guitar player, so its hard to make it work, though they do here. Same with Over The Hills and Far Away and Ramble On, there are multiple guitar parts so they didnt play them as much as the other songs. Zeppelin had more amazing songs than other bands dream of, so its ok. Of course Stairway has alot of guitar parts as well but they would have had riots to contend with had they not played that at live shows

[pepperc2900]

also they recorded Bonhams drums in a stairwell to get that amazing sound. also they had so many effects on all the tracks.

[mystro810]

Yeah, it was a cement stairwell, nothing to absorb the sound except the mic. I remember the first time I heard When The Levee Breaks, I listened to it about 8 times in a row. I just couldnt believe has awesome everything sounded. The Drums, the guitars, the harmonica, everything. Its an epic song. I think hearing that song is what convinced me that Zep was the greatest band of all. Not many songs leave people thunderstruck when they hear it for the first time, but Zeppelin did it time and again

[yakywilly]

wow i fucking love the harmonica! robert sure knows how to play it :D and btw.. he also plays the electric guitar o_o watch "robert plant plays my son's guitar"...

[InsaneKramex]

yup... in bands before Zeppelin he played guitar... not sure if it was lead or rhythm.. but yea hes no stranger to guitars

[U2Madrid]

WHAT THE FUCK! LIVE!!! Youre the man. Thanks for posting this. I dont mind the sound. This is ROCK!!!!! WOW

[idkirock]

holy shit!!!!

i thought this song was never played live

[michwolver2020]

rarely

[antwashere2293]

thats what i thought too!!

[1948Bonzo]

i love the drums in this song what a Kick Ass sound!!

[Cliner97]

Wow, first time I've ever heard Zep ding this live. Had always wonderred if they ever performed it live. THX alot for posting this!

[vlady8me]

Maybe you should rename this "katrina?"

[pepperc2900]

not really cuz When The Levee Breaks has nothing to do with a hurricane

[michwolver2020]

yeah, but the levees broke

[goosu94]

this sing is a #1 hit in new orleans!

[senator9870]

Pagey on the steel guitar? It almost had the kalidescopic wail of the bow he used on the Star Spangled Banner in 77 before Achilles. This is one of those numbers that I'll bet Page didn't like or accept in its live form, and chose to abandon as a live piece. Either it took off, at least in his mind, or it didn't. Yet certain other numbers were staples of the live set, like Sick Again.

[redsoxledzep]

they never played this live i love it!

[rc37]

MY LORD THANK YOU !!!!

[liquidnine9]

One of the rare live versions of The Wanton Song as well. At least until the Page Plant tours.

[buttfukka]

there isnt ANY good version of this song live, thats why they only played it in the beginning of 75'. and the HOF induction version BLOWS. i like the alternate studio version is better than the final cut on led zeppelin 4. plant flows through the chorus better, a few different lyrics too.

[alanr5682]

the who were like that with songs too. theyd drop a gem of a song after a few attempts if it wasnt to their liking, instead of allowing it to develop. a shame. a couple of weeks more maybe and they could of alternated this with in my time of dying throughout the tour perhaps. a bit like what they did with "over the hills" and "in my time of dying" on the 1977 tour.

[zoso7889]

...HOLY FUCK, THANK YOU!!!

[christian112499]

actually do you have some other songs from this bootleg?

[pepperc2900]

yea i have the whole concert

[christian112499]

can you upload some of it please?

[christian112499]

Do you have the Rain Song bootleg for this concert?

[myse1f]

Shit finally I found it! When The Levee Breaks live. I wonder is it the best bootleg of this song? To bad they didn't play it in Vancouver 1975, that recording has a great sound.

[pepperc2900]

not really...the Slinky stuff isnt that great, compared to the southampton stuff i uploaded...

[ZeppNick03]

They also played the song in 1995 for the HOF induction with Neil Young.

[zosozeppman77]

this fuckin is the shit i love it jimmy is so kick ass on guitar and robert rockin. How do you guys get this stuff? im a big zeppelin fan i want this stuff to so if you can let me know

[boski05]

ohhh shit!!! i alway searching this master pice, at live version!!! THANKS man!!!!!!!

[DeNnaceTheMeNaCE]

Does anyone know if Zep did this song live another time???? The alternate take is very kewl ....Its very rare to hear this live Plant sounds fukkin badass .....

Tempo is a bit rough but its still awesome

[pepperc2900]

yea they played it on:

1975.01.12

1975.01.18

1975.01.20

1975.01.21

[DeNnaceTheMeNaCE]

So only in '75 huh!!! no 71 72 73 74 thats weird they had to have done it soon as they released the 4 album....

Since you have so much rare Zep stuff Have you ever heard Plant material before he joined with the crew "operator" "steal away" "Our Song" "Adriatic seaview" etc ..Younger Robert is just priceless

[pepperc2900]

i have: Our Song, Long Time Coming And I've Got A Secret

[DeNnaceTheMeNaCE]

What do think of his Elvis style ...I was bugging out (I was like thats Robert Plant??? "The u need cooling Robert Plant" ) Quick musical Evolution!!!

[pepperc2900]

Well...elvis was Roberts main Backbone for how he sang the blue, ofcours elvis can't wail "LOVING GUN", Plant loved Elvis, he still has a Get Well teligram from Elvis from 1976...but he also loved Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Skip James, Jerry Miller and Sleepy John Estes.

[DeNnaceTheMeNaCE]

By the way do you know if theres a Alternate outtake of "whole lotta love"(studio) I knwo that they had 3 different attempts at that making that song(3 times in the studio trying to pull it off perfectly)..Im trying to look for it but I dont know if it exists or not ???

[pepperc2900]

well i don't have that many bootlegs from Zeppelin II...only a few

[bush555]

Thanks for all this dude, it's really cool.

[JusCuz410]

Is there any possibility of "How Many More Times" during the early '75 recordings worth sharing?

[pepperc2900]

yes but it is very bad quilty, its hard to listen to, but if you really want me to upload it i will.

[gnrledzep4eva]

Page's finger was broken during this concert.

[pepperc2900]

and Plant had a Head Cold

[acidtones1]

Wow! A lot of Zeppelin songs I've never heard performed live. Until now that is!It's too bad that the remaining band doesn't release live material that often.But I know Jimmy is a perfectionist when it comes to this stuff.He'd want to remaster it.And he'd probably work on remastering it for a few years before he's satisfied.And if a performance of a song isn't up to his standards he'll leave it off the album.Even if us Zeppelin fans think it's a great performance!They'll release more eventually.

[MrDohko]

Thx a lot, pepperc2900 ...

I like this version. I hope you can upload the 20-Jan-1975 version of this song ...

And glad you've given us some rare performances of Led Zep's songs (Gallows Pole, Four Sticks, Out On The Tiles) ...

I hope you (have the record) and will upload "Black Country Woman" (1972) ...

Thx

[elmojoethedrummer1]

wuts the nobs?

[pepperc2900]

the nobs is the old name for Led Zeppelin, back in 1969 zeppelin had to go and change their name because of a women named "Eva Von Zeppelin" and when she saw the cover of her great great great grandfothers zeppelin in flames she almost sued them.

[zeppelin5678]

lol like the title

[pepperc2900]

thanks...nothing like shadowman but i tryed my best :P

[zeppelin5678]

yeh shadowman is amazing

[tt122793]

o my god.ive been dying to to find a live version of when the levee breaks.its one of my fave zep songs ever.thank you so much for posting this video.

[Rocky54167]

it used 2 be up untill Pantac screwed it up

[stereoevil]

I have another version of the Levee live. I actually sped it up a little while recording it to match the studio version.