Led Zeppelin “How The West Was Won”
How The West Was Won continues the trend set with the 2015 remasters and 2016’s Complete BBC Sessions, providing this release with a much needed overhaul from the brick walling mix on the original. Track wise, the album jumps into high gear from the get go, as LA Drone instantly morphs into a ripping rendition of Immigrant Song. Heartbreaker and Black Dog continue the highlights, both providing some cool extended solos from Page, while the latter’s heavy laden grooves remind the listener just what made this band so amazing.
The bluesy Since I’ve Been Loving You lets the band shine in a really mellow light, while the seminal Stairway To Heaven is just brilliant. Other highlights include the Whole Lotta Love medley, Rock And Roll, Bron-Yr-Aur-Stomp and What Is And What Should Never Be, all of which continue the testament to the powerhouse band these guys were in their prime.
There are a handful of tracks played at the live shows this album was compiled from which are still sadly absent from this release, along with Hello Marylou which appears to have been edited out of the original Whole Lotta Love medley. It might have been nice to see these included as a bonus disc if their insertion would have put the sound quality or the flow of the sets at risk.
Still, while the lack of extras is a little disappointing, they are more than made up for by the sound on this latest remastering which is just exceptional, providing a worthy addition to Zeppelin collections, whether it be the deluxe 3CD set, 4LP remaster or super deluxe box set.
Album Review By Peter Lanyon
