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For Led Zeppelin fanatics, this 1976 feature The Song Remains theSame is a treasure of searing live performances, particularly welcome inlight of the sad scarcity of such visual material from the band's great decade.Despite the group's road weariness after a long tour, their final, three-nightstand at Madison Square Garden in 1973 was full of the old power. Performancesof "No Quarter," "Whole Lotta Love," "Black Dog," "Dazed and Confused," and"Stairway to Heaven" underscore Zep's charisma. Trouble is, you don't get anunbroken performance here. Viewers have to wade through a mishmash ofdocumentary insight into the lives of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, andJohn Paul Jones, as well as fantasy sequences supposedly inspired by thethoughts and fantasies of the band's individual members. It's mostly garish andsilly, but there are some nice elements, especially insights into the lateBonham's life. The DVD doesn't offer much in the way of add-ons (a theatricaltrailer is about it), but there is also enhanced viewing for 16 x 9 televisions.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (141)

Definitely Of Its Time
I have to give this film four stars, despite its many flaws. I've loved Led Zeppelin for about 22 years now, and parts of this still give me chills: when they kick off with "The Song Remains The Same", I wonder how great it must have been to witness them live, which I never got to experience. And though I haven't seen this in years, I can still remember the fantastic, 15-minute version of "Whole Lotta Love" with Robert singing back at Jimmy's theremin squeals. I don't know if it sounds cheesy, but to a fifteen year old who saw this for the first time in 1981 at the midnight show, it was pure greatness. I still wonder now if there's ever been a better band. People talk endlessly in the music papers about the greatness of the Beatles, and that's fair enough. But Led Zeppelin were, for me, the greatest band rock has ever produced.

That said, parts of this movie don't stand up well, and others are downright embarrassing: the dream sequences may have played well on the film's release, but you might catch yourself giggling watching it now. The performance footage, all shot at Madison Square Garden in 1973, is about as good as you could expect. And there probably are days when you could do with a much SHORTER version of "Dazed and Confused", but there's no denying the power of the violin bow sequence - it's downright chilling near its conclusion.

So, if you love the band and aren't too fussy about film quality and transfer, you'll probably be happy for the most part. Even with the new 2-disc Led Zep DVD on release, there's still a shocklingly small amount of film devoted to this great band.

"Does Anybody Remember Laughter?"
If not for the silly fantasy sequences interspersed throughout the concert footage, I'd give this a "5" rating. A must-have for any Led Zeppelin fan, especially because the movie contains two live songs ((1) an edited version of "Heartbreaker" with most of the Page solo intact and (2) a raw, blistering version of "Black Dog" with the "Out on the Tiles" riff lead-in) that never made it onto the double-album vinyl (and for that matter, CD) motion picture soundtrack version, probably because there wasn't enough space. Too bad Jimmy Page didn't take the time to put a real "bonus features" section into the DVD which he could have used to include unused, left-over footage from these MSG '73 shows (which he presumably has possession or control of) or some later concerts from the '75 and '77 tours of which bootleg video tape versions exist. Regardless, a keeper DVD through and through.

Good for Zep fanatics. Loses its charm for others.
You know already whether you'll like this DVD -- if you're listening to Led Zeppelin right now, then by all means buy this DVD.

Those less enamored with the band may find that there's a lot of self-indulgent crap here, and the band seems to be mailing it in on many of the songs. Of course it is the drugs, and fatigue of being on the road, but the listless performances suggest they didn't really care all that much.

zeppelin freak
This movie was so awsome I LOVE zeppelin

Led Zeppelin film/fans deserve better...* **
I would like to elaborate on two quotes by another reviewer.*, **

1)
"..The sound is excellent on this DVD, but as another reviewer noted: the 'fake' widescreen matte leaves much to be desired. How about a *remastered*, Special Edition DVD version in *anamorphic widescreen* with *all* of the outtake live performance footage (e.g. 'Celebration Day') as extras?"

* I agree: This description is exactly the kind of DVD I would buy and give 5 stars for. In view of film preservation, this version is inaccurate and imcomplete. I too would prefer the very best special edition possible. As much as I want to watch and relive this film experience again, I can't under the present circumstances-paying money now for the current version would mean I am in agreement with the cheapened mindset of the agency responsible.
Fans should unite and press the issue upon Led Zep management to get to work on releasing the film as described above. Maybe Jimmy Page is the one who would be able to get the ball rolling...

2)
"n.b.--Jimmy Page never played a Les Paul Custom [DVD front cover illustration] onstage with Zeppelin."

**...Absolutely. Futhermore, this cover has nothing to do with the movie-where's the MOVIE POSTER??? The proposed Special Edition DVD should include the ORIGINAL MOVIE POSTER artwork. I cannot believe someone would make such an oversight. - what is up with that guitar on the cover of the current DVD??? - Its a gross display of inaccuracy and negligence that should be corrected at once. ... Read more

Description

Historians may never agree about where and when rock 'n' roll was born, but they do agree that an entrepreneur in the world of music named Sam Phillips began a revolution and spawned a legacy when he created Sun Records. This Memphis-based success story defined some of the most appealing roots of American popular culture with such seminal artists as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and so many others, all reprised in this two-hour American Masters film with such performers as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Live, many accompanied by Elvis' original sidemen, Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana. Highlights include a moving rendition of "Lonely Weekends" with Jerry Lee Lewis and Matchbox Twenty, and an emotional reunion of old Mississippi Delta musicians. Songs: That's All Right (Paul McCartney), Honey Don't (Ben Folds Five), Rock n' Roll Ruby (Mark Knopfler), I Walk the Line (Live), My Bucket's Got a Hole in It (Robert Plant & Jimmy Page), Blue Suede Shoes (Johnny Hallyday), Who Will the Next Fool Be (Zucchero), Cry, Cry, Cry (Third Eye Blind), Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (Malcolm Yelvington and Kid Rock), Lonely Weekend (Matchbox Twenty). ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent item with a few flaws.
THIS IS A GREAT DVD OVERALL. THE INTERVIEWS AND
CONVERSATIONS OF PAST "SUN RECORDS" STARS AND SAM PHILLIPS ARE VERY INTERESTING BUT WHERE WAS JERRY LEE LEWIS FOR THESE
SESSIONS? I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH "REVIEWER" BILL TAYLOR THAT "MATCHBOX TWENTY'S" TREATMENT OF CHARLIE RICH'S "LONELY WEEKENDS" WAS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST - SHOULD HAVE JUST
LET JERRY LEE LEWIS DO IT! HOWEVER, ZUCCHERO DID DO A PRETTY
GOOD VERSION OF RICH'S "WHO WILL THE NEXT FOOL BE?" AND THEN THEY LEFT IT OFF THE "CD" EDITION OF THE MUSIC AND USED ANOTHER
SINGER! I WOULD RECOMMEND THE "A & E" BIOGRAPHY OF SAM PHILLIPS FOR THOSE WHO LIKED THIS - AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION WRITTEN BY
PREMIER ROCK CRITIC "PETER GURALNICK."

Riveting! Great show!
For a documentary this one's pretty long. But I never looked at my watch. I'd lean forward to hear better. I loved 'Good Rockin' Tonight'! In addition to the priceless conversations between Rufus Thomas, Sam Phillips, Scotty Moore, Sonny Burgess, Billy Lee Riley, etc., the old songs covered by current artists is great. Among others, Paul McCartney sings 'That's All Right, Mama" with Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana playing behind him, for cryin' out loud!

Kudos.

Good Rockin' Forever
Good Rockin'Tonight is a moving experience! I couldn't sit still. The film is a musical trip through time,a fascinating story, performed by a tapestry of players. Good Rockin', rock on!

it rocks!
I saw this last year on American Masters and I loved it. I just ordered it. Just to see Billy Lee Riley and Sonny Burgess perform was enough to add this to my collection. Paul McCartney playing with Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana was as close as we will ever get to the Beatles jamming with Elvis. This was fun and informative.... kudos to the filmakers.

Good Rockin,but not GREAT rockin!!!
I found this documentary to be interesting in that all the regional artists who ,for the most part didn't make it to national stardom,or did and didn't maintain that place on the ladder for long all seem to blame Sam Phillips for their plight!Billy Lee Riley couldn't say enough about how ol'Sam shot his career down the tubes,of course,in other forums I've heard Roy Orbison,Johnny Cash,Carl Perkins,and Jerry Lee Lewis claim the same.Obviously there must be something there,however,some of those went on to stardom and have maintained it.The musical performances taped here are decent,just not very exciting,the reviewer for this DVD says that there is a touching version of Charlie Rich's tune "Lonely Weekends" done by Matchbox 20 and some geezer called "the Killer"...well there was nothing "touching" about it,insulting was more the word if you ask me!Charlie Rich wrote that tune,had a hit with it in the late 50's and Jerry Lee Lewis revived it in the 70's and had a hit with it,Charlie is dead,and after the treatment that the Sun Wildman ,Jerry Lee gets in this re working of Sun history,he may as well be,as he gets about 10 seconds of screen time in this "history of..whatever! To get to where the producers of this piece take us,one would think that Carl Perkins,Johnny Cash, and Elvis were the only noteworhty happenings in this studio(,at one time Jerry Lee was given some acknowledgemnt of his contributions too,)sure is great how fickle we can be! Aside from this ranting of mine,I enjoyed the exposure that Charlie Rich gets here,as well as Rufus Thomas,and the Burnett trio.Rocky Burnett comes across as a real gentleman.This is really fascinating stuff,however,if this is all you know about the happenings at Sun studio,do some reading ,listen to some music from that studio,track its talent pool, and then come back to this presentation as it isn't all it appears to be,Sun was known for its raw,reckless way of producing music,most of the music made here is polite stuff,recorded mostly somewhere else,maybe a statement as to the international impact of this music? Maybe,maybe not.Do I recommend this work,sure do! Why? Its a great place to start learning about music,the South,social mores,shifting paradiams,(maybe I'm reaching here,cause I really want to be positive) and more,but remember,its a starting place,not the end all...and maybe one day the makers of this documentary will let us in on what they were trying to accomplish with this mostly mish mash of bitter recollections,snubs,and tepid music,some celebration,some legacy. ... Read more

Description

This Canadian DVD, playable on USA systems features the grandaddy of Brit rock; Yardbirds and includes interviewswith bank members, live footage and behind-the-scenesfootage. ... Read more