As a long time Led Zeppelin fan and collector, one of the major things that keeps the band popular is the bootleg recordings. In their heyday, it would be the bootleg albums that would drive fans to more shows and look for rare recordings. After they broke up, people continued to seek out these live recordings, primarily for historical purposes as well as musicianship.
There were three different categories of Led Zeppelin collectors in the early 80's for some odd reason. The first category consisted of those who collected just the officially released albums, singles, and posters from around the world. Along with promotional items, this in itself was a major task, particularly because the band would release different picture sleeves for their singles around the world.
Next was the bootleg album collector. Again, this was a major task as a collector due to the fact that many Zeppelin shows were recorded and released on vinyl. Some were released multiple times from different sources, limited editions, color vinyl, etc. - hundreds of vinyl bootlegs to start with, not knowing much about the sound or the performance, except from word of mouth...sometimes.
Until, finally, collectors made books that listed details about these recordings and added more vinyl releases periodically. Soon after, the CD market happened, opening a new door for collectors because complete shows could now be released. Many of the vinyl releases never included the entire show because of time; Zeppelin shows would run about 1 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours per show, depending on the year, and making CDs of these lengthy shows was more economical than pressing these on vinyl.
Which leads to the third kind of collector: the tape collectors and tape hoarders. You could always find someone who was not a Zeppelin collector and buy a copy of the show on cassette, but what generally happened was you ended up with a 4th or 5th generation copy... which kinda sucked. So only they had the better quality tapes and extensive catalog; you did not. They really let me know the situation with who got access and, by the way, I did not.
Even just listening to an unreleased show with them on a stereo was something you had to be in the club to do. Because of that, still to this day, new shows are being released and updated.
I ended up collecting everything except the cassettes of full shows.So when things started being released on CDs, it was funny to me to give the cassette hoarder club the big middle finger. Sometime in 1989, after dealing with many annoying Zeppelin collectors for years, it was time to move on and I sold everything. Maybe some day I'll find the list of all the bootleg albums I had at one time. It was impressive!
There is still an overwhelming amount of live items as of 2022. At this point, it's also great to see/hear Zepheads continue to make improvements with audio/video on shows to offer fans the best possible version. Sometimes multiple sources go into one great mix and I thank them for keeping the Hammer of The Gods alive and strong.
Here are some of my favorite live releases from over the years. Included are a few Led Zeppelin bootleg classics, that are classic for a reason.
If you are are interested in starting a collection, here's a link for some CD releases.
Gladsaxe, Denmark - March 17, 1969
San Francisco, CA - April 27 1969
Train Kept a Rollin'
I Can't Quit You Baby
As Long As I Have You
You Shook Me
How Many More Times
Communication Breakdown
Killing Floor
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Sitting and Thinking
Pat's Delight
Dazed and Confused
We're Gonna Groove
I Can't Quit You Baby
Dazed And Confused
Heartbreaker
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Since I've Been Loving You
Organ Solo/Thank You
What Is Is What Should Never Be
Moby Dick
How Many More Times
Whole Lotta Love
Communaction Breakdown
C'mon Everybody
Something Else
Bring It On Home
Long Tall Sally (medly)
Montreux, Switzerland - March 7 1970
We're Gonna Groove
I Can't Quit You Baby
Dazed and Confused
Heartbreaker
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Since I've Been Loving You
Organ Solo
Thank You
What Is and What Should Never Be
Moby Dick
How Many More Times
Whole Lotta Love
Communication Breakdown
Vancouver, Canada - March 21 1970
Heartbreaker
Thank You
What Is and What Should Never Be
Communication Breakdown *
We're Gonna Groove *
Since I've Been Loving You
Whole Lotta Love
* Montreux, Switzerland - March 7 1970
Immigrant Song
Heartbreaker
Dazed and Confused
Bring It on Home
That's the Way
Bron-Yr-Aur
Since I've Been Loving You
Organ Solo
Thank You
What Is and What Should Never Be
Moby Dick
Whole Lotta Love
Communication Breakdown
Out On the Tiles
Blueberry Hill
Berkeley, CA - September 14 1971
Immigrant Song
Heartbreaker
Since I've Been Loving You
Black Dog
Dazed and Confused
Stairway to Heaven
That's the Way
Going to California
Whole Lotta Love
Osaka, Japan - Sept. 28 1971
Immigrant Song
Heartbreaker
Since I've Been Loving You
Black Dog
Dazed and Confused
Stairway to Heaven
Please Please Me
From Me to You
Celebration Day
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
That's The Way
Going to California
We Shall Overcome
Tangerine
Down By The Riverside
What Is and What Should Never Be
Moby Dick
Whole Lotta Love
C'mon Everybody
High Heeled Sneakers
Communication Breakdown
Osaka, Japan - Sept. 29 1971
Offenburg, Germany - March 24 1973
Los Angeles, CA - May 31 1973
Rock and Roll
Celebration Day
Black Dog
Over the Hills and Far Away
Misty Mountain Hop
Since I've Been Loving You
No Quarter
The Song Remains the Same
The Rain Song
Dazed and Confused
Stairway to Heaven
Moby Dick
Heartbreaker
Whole Lotta Love
The Ocean
Communication Breakdown
Dallas, TX - March 5 1975
Earls Court, U.K. - May 24 1975
Rock and Roll
Sick Again
Over the Hills and Far Away
In My Time of Dying
The Song Remains the Same
The Rain Song
Kashmir
No Quarter
Tangerine
Going to California
That's the Way
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Trampled Under Foot
Moby Dick
Dazed and Confused
Stairway to Heaven
Whole Lotta Love
Black Dog
Cleveland, OH - April 28 1977
The Song Remains the Same
The Rover/Sick Again
Nobody's Fault But Mine
In My Time of Dying
Since I've Been Loving You
No Quarter
Ten Years Gone
The Battle of Evermore
Going to California
Black Country Woman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Kashmir
Over the Top
Guitar Solo
Achilles Last Stand
Stairway to Heaven (partial)
Rock and Roll
Trampled Underfoot
The Song Remains the Same
The Rover/Sick Again
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Over the Hills and Far Away
Since I've Been Loving You
No Quarter
Ten Years Gone
The Battle of Evermore
Going to California
Black Country Woman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Kashmir
Over the Top
Heartbreaker
Guitar Solo (cut)
Achilles Last Stand
Stairway to Heaven
Whole Lotta Love
Rock and Roll
Los Angeles, CA - June 23 1977
The Song Remains the Same
The Rover/Sick Again
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Over the Hills and Far Away
Since I've Been Loving You
No Quarter
Ten Years Gone
The Battle of Evermore
Going to California
Black Country Woman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Kashmir
Trampled Underfoot
Over the Top (with Keith Moon)
Guitar Solo
Achilles Last Stand
Stairway to Heaven
Whole Lotta Love (with Keith Moon)
Rock and Roll (with Keith Moon)
Copenhagen, Denmark - July 24 1979
The Song Remains the Same
Celebration Day
Black Dog
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Over the Hills and Far Away
Misty Mountain Hop
Since I've Been Loving You
No Quarter
Ten Years Gone
Hot Dog
The Rain Song
White Summer/Black Mountain Side
Kashmir
Trampled Underfoot
Sick Again
Achilles Last Stand
Guitar Solo
In The Evening
Stairway to Heaven
Whole Lotta Love
Tour Over Europe - 1980 Compilation
Train Kept a Rollin' - Zurich
Nobody's Fault But Mine - Frankfurt
Black Dog - Zurich
In the Evening - Mannheim July 3rd
The Rain Song - Mannheim July 3rd
Hot Dog - Frankfurt
All My Love - Frankfurt
Trampled Underfoot - Frankfurt
Since I've Been Loving You - Frankfurt
Achilles Last Stand - Zurich
White Summer/Black Mountain Side - Zurich
Kashmir - Frankfurt
Stairway to Heaven - Munich
Rock and Roll - Mannheim July 2nd
Heartbreaker - Rotterdam
Communication Breakdown - Mannheim July 3rd
Money (That's What I Want) - Frankfurt
Whole Lotta Love - Berlin
Live Compilations
Disc 1 - 1967 - 1969
1.Gotta Find My Baby - Robert Plant and Band of Joy with John Bonham on Drums
2.You Shook Me - Olympic Studios Sept 27, 1968
3.munication Breakdown - BBC Top Gear Radio Show March 3, 1969
4.Dazed and Confused - Staines, England Merch 25, 1969
5.Train Kept a Rollin - Fillmore West San Francisco April 27, 1969
6.I Can't Quit You Baby - Fillmore West San Francisco April 27, 1969
7.How Many More Times - Fillmore West San Francisco April 27, 1969
8.Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Fillmore West San Francisco April 27, 1969
9.Sittin and Thinkin'- Fillmore West San Francisco April 27, 1969
10.The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Hair - Aeolian Hall Studio 2 June 16, 1969
11.Something Else - Aeolian Hall Studio 2 June 16, 1969
12.What is and What Should Never Be - Maida Vale Studio June 4, 1969
Disc 2 - 1970 - 1972
1.White Summer/Black Mountain Side - Julie Felix TV Show April 28, 1970
2.John Paul Jone Organ Improvisations - The Forum, Ingelwood, California Sept 4, 1970
3.Out On The Tiles - The Forum, Ingelwood, California Sept 4, 1970
4.Blueberry Hill - The Forum, Ingelwood, California Sept 4, 1970
5.Bring It On Home - The Forum, Ingelwood, California Sept 4, 1970
6.Whole Lotta Love - The Forum, Ingelwood, California Sept 4, 1970
7.Moby Dick - Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronta, Canada Sept 4, 1971
8.Friends - Koseinenkin, Kaikan, Osaka, Japan Sept 29, 1971
9.The Rover (Acoustic Demo) - Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, Stargroves, U.K. May 1972
10.No Quarter (Instrumental Rehearsal) - Electric Ladyland Studios, New York June 1972
Disc 3 - 1973
1.Schooldays - (Pregig Warmup) Chicago Auditorium, Chicago July 6, 1973
2.Nadine - (Pregig Warmup) Chicago Auditorium, Chicago July 6, 1973
3.Round And Round - (Pregig Warmup) Chicago Auditorium, Chicago July 6, 1973
4.Move On Down The Line - (Pregig Warmup) Chicago Auditorium, Chicago July 6, 1973
5.Shakin' All Over - (Pregig Warmup) Chicago Auditorium, Chicago July 6, 1973
6.Rock And Roll - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
7.Celebration Day - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
8.Black Dog - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
9.Over The Hills And Far Away - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
10.Misty Mountain Hop - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
11.Since I've Been Loving You - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
12.No Quarter - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
13.The Song Remains The Same - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
14.The Rain Song - Madison Square Garden July 29, 1973
Disc 4 - 1975 - 1977
1.Sick Again - Memorial Auditorium, Dallas March 4, 1975
2.Kashmir - Memorial Auditorium, Dallas March 4, 1975
3.Trampled Underfoot - Memorial Auditorium, Dallas March 4, 1975
4.Tangarine - Earls Court, London May 24, 1975
5.That's the Way - Earls Court, London May 24, 1975
6.Ten Years Gone - Earls Court, London May 24, 1975
7.Battle Of Evermore - U.S.A. 1977
8.Black Country Woman - Cleveland, April 27, 1977
9.Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - Cleveland, April 27, 1977
10.Jimmy Page Guitar Experimentation - Cleveland, April 27, 1977
11.Achilles Last Stand - Cleveland, April 27, 1977
Disc 5 - 1979 - 1980
1.Hot Dog - Knebworth Festival, Hertfordshire, England August 1979
2.All Of My Love - Rotterdam June 21, 1980
3.Nobody's Fault But Mine - Messhalle, Nuremburg, Germany June 27, 1980
4. Black Dog - Messhalle, Nuremburg, Germany June 27, 1980
5. In The Evening - Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland June 29, 1980
6.Heartbreaker - Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland June 29, 1980
7. Money - Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany June 30, 1980
8.Whole Lotta Love - Eissporthalle, Berlin, Germany July 7, 1980
| 1-1 | Whole Lotta Love (24th June 1969, BBC Studios 4, John Peel – BBC Top Gear, London) | 3:44 | |
| 1-2 | Heartbreaker (21st June 1980, Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands) | 7:02 | |
| 1-3 | Communication Breakdown (1st April 1971, Paris Theatre, London) | 5:05 | |
| 1-4 | Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (10th January 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 6:56 | |
| 1-5 | What Is And What Should Never Be (4th September 1971, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto) | 4:35 | |
| 1-6 | Thank You (21st March 1970, PNE Coliseum, Vancouver) | 8:25 | |
| 1-7 | I Can't Quit You Babe (31st August 1969, International Pop Festival, Motor Speedway, Dallas) | 6:12 | |
| 1-8 | Dazed And Confused (31st August 1969, International Pop Festival, Motor Speedway, Dallas) | 14:33 | |
| 1-9 | You Shook Me (27th June 1969, Playhouse Theatre, London) | 10:10 | |
| 1-10 | Travelling Riverside Blues (24th June 1969, BBC Studios 4, John Peel – BBC Top Gear London) | 5:23 | |
| 2-1 | Jennings Farm Blues (15th November 1969, Olympic Studios, London) | 6:19 | |
| 2-2 | Celebration Day (28th July 1973, Madison Square Gardens, New York) | 3:25 | |
| 2-3 | White Summer / Black Mountain Side (10th January 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 9:29 | |
| 2-4 | Black Dog (4th August 1979, Knebworth Festival, Stevenage, UK) | 5:22 | |
| 2-5 | Over The Hills And Far Away (28th July 1973, Madison Square Gardens, New York) | 6:53 | |
| 2-6 | Immigrant Song (4th September 1970, Los Angeles Forum) | 3:27 | |
| 2-7 | The Battle Of Evermore (11th June 1977, Madison Square Garden, New York) | 6:07 | |
| 2-8 | Black Country Woman / Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (27th April 1977, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, Ohio) | 7:39 | |
| 2-9 | Tangerine (24th May 1975, Earls Court, London) | 3:42 | |
| 2-10 | Going To California (4th September 1971, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto) | 4:17 | |
| 2-11 | Since I've Been Loving You (31st May 1970, Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire) | 7:30 | |
| 2-12 | Misty Mountain Hop (28th July 1973, Madison Square Gardens, New York) | 5:22 | |
| 3-1 | Rock And Roll (28th July 1973, Madison Square Gardens, New York) | 3:59 | |
| 3-2 | The Rain Song (13th May 1973, Mobile, Alabama) | 7:40 | |
| 3-3 | Stairway To Heaven (4th September 1971, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto) | 9:03 | |
| 3-4 | We're Gonna Groove (21st March 1970, PNE Coliseum, Vancouver) | 3:56 | |
| 3-5 | Trampled Underfoot (24th May 1975, Earls Court, London) | 9:00 | |
| 3-6 | No Quarter (January 1971, Headley Grange, Hampshire) | 7:16 | |
| 3-7 | Dancing Days (13th July 1973, Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan) | 3:28 | |
| 3-8 | That's The Way (31st May 1970 Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire) | 5:32 | |
| 3-9 | The Song Remains The Same (25th March 1975, The Forum, Inglewood, California) | 5:05 | |
| 3-10 | Ten Years Gone (27th April 1977, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, Ohio) | 8:33 | |
| 3-11 | In My Time Of Dying (27th April 1977, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, Ohio) | 10:36 | |
| 3-12 | Sick Again (4th August 1979, Knebworth Festival, Stevenage, UK) | 4:53 | |
| 4-1 | How Many More Times (31st August 1969, International Pop Festival, Motor Speedway, Dallas) | 10:50 | |
| 4-2 | Pat's Delight (10th January 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 13:02 | |
| 4-3 | Blueberry Hill (4th September 1970, Los Angeles Forum) | 3:46 | |
| 4-4 | Boogie Mama (1st April 1971, Paris Theatre, London) | 3:43 | |
| 4-5 | Bring It On Home (4th September 1970, Los Angeles Forum) | 9:15 | |
| 4-6 | Oh, Rosie! (31st August 1969, International Pop Festival, Motor Speedway, Dallas) | 10:36 | |
| 4-7 | Hot Dog (4th August 1979, Knebworth Festival, Stevenage, UK) | 3:09 | |
| 4-8 | As Long As I Have You / Fresh Garbage / The Lemon Song / Cat’s Squirrel / I’m A Man / Cadillac, No Money Down / You Shook Me (27th April 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 17:42 | |
| 5-1 | Around & Round (6th July 1973, “Soundcheck” Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois) | 2:39 | |
| 5-2 | Feel So Bad / That's Alright Mama (31st May 1970, Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire) | 6:32 | |
| 5-3 | For Your Love (10th January 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 5:31 | |
| 5-4 | School Days (6th July 1973, “Soundcheck” Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois) | 2:38 | |
| 5-5 | I Gotta Move (14th March 1969, Koncerthaus, Stockholm, Sweden) | 3:11 | |
| 5-6 | Killing Floor / Sweet Jelly Roll (27th April 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 7:21 | |
| 5-7 | Money (30th June 1980, Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany) | 4:20 | |
| 5-8 | Mess O' Blues (1st April 1971, Paris Theatre, London) | 2:06 | |
| 5-9 | Nadine (6th July 1973, “Soundcheck” Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois) | 1:03 | |
| 5-10 | Shakin' All Over (6th July 1973, “Soundcheck” Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois) | 4:08 | |
| 5-11 | Sixes & Sevens (Plant Studio Outtake) | 5:58 | |
| 5-12 | Sex Machine (25th March 1975, The Forum, Inglewood, California) | 6:23 | |
| 5-13 | Something Else (16th June 1969, Aolian Hall Studio 2, London) | 2:06 | |
| 5-14 | Sitting And Thinking (27th April 1969, Fillmore West, San Francisco) | 7:00 | |
| 5-15 | Stand By Me (9th October 1972, Festival Hall, Osaka) | 6:20 | |
| 5-16 | The Girl I Love (16th June 1969, Aolian Hall Studio 2, London) | 3:02 |
Video Compilations
Click on title for link
