Description

Live at Rheinhalle, Dusseldorf, Germany 12th March 1970 TRULY PERFECT SOUND

★This is rare! High quality sound.

Taken from The Vintage LP “LIFE”(Best Nr. 1017M / M-1013-A/B)

This week, we’re reissuing a truly nostalgic recording of a Zeppelin live performance! The 1970 Düsseldorf concert was fully revealed on the long-sold-out “DUSSELDORF 1970,” but it was also one of the few recordings to capture the 1970 European tour in the LP era. That recording is the ultra-nostalgic “LIFE.” Released in 1975, this LP was a great opportunity to give us our first glimpse of the band’s spring European tour at a time when 1970 live performances were limited to Blueberry Hill, Pb, or the knockoff “Mudslide.”

Not only that, “LIFE” is a mono audience recording with excellent sound quality, very clear and close to the sound image. Even today, the quality is excellent. It’s a shame that no parts other than those heard on this LP have been unearthed, and it’s likely that the person who recorded it released them himself. With so much time having passed, it’s unlikely that any parts other than those on the LP will ever be discovered.

　It’s also a very attractive item, with an unusual jacket that prominently features the Zeppelin airship symbol used in their advertising in the 1970s. They intended to call it “LIVE,” but the initial release was a typo titled “LIFE,” a tragic mistake. As a result, the original but typo titled “LIFE” has become rarer. In fact, it’s become commonplace for “LIFE” to be more expensive than “LIVE” on the second-hand market. That said, it’s rather disappointing that a live album is titled “Life.”

　On the other hand, it was the Japanese-made copy “WHITE SUMMER” that made this audience recording known for its surprisingly excellent sound quality. First of all, “LIFE” and “LIVE” were rare from the start, so copying them was a clever idea. The label that released it, MARC, was also famous for releasing stylishly designed, direct-printed covers, and as a result, “WHITE SUMMER” became a huge hit, and their plan was a complete success.

　In the 1970s, when information was scarce, recording a previously unheard-of Zeppelin live performance was enough to be considered a masterpiece, and even copying from “Life” still provided high enough sound quality. Furthermore, “White Summer” is easy to listen to as a copy thanks to the addition of a slight echo, while “Life” has a more understated selection and ample recording time. To top it off, two tracks from 1969’s Winterland from Wizardo’s “Caution Explosive” are added at the beginning and end, and even Wizard, who are not associated with Zeppelin, even borrowed a playful “ABCD” from the same album. It’s nostalgic that this was also mistaken for a Zeppelin performance.

　Despite being credited to Hamburg, not Düsseldorf, “WHITE SUMMER” became a worldwide classic, and in the 1980s it was even copied by the RSR label, which also released “LISTEN TO THIS EDDIE.” In other words, even copies of copies of “LIFE” were produced. Even during the CD era, there were many items copied from “WHITE SUMMER” rather than the original.

　So, this time, we’ve meticulously reissued the venerable “LIFE” from the original master. Because it’s a vintage LP, the scratch noises that are prone to occur have been thoroughly removed. And yet, there’s absolutely no unsophisticated noise reduction that would alter the sound quality. The outstanding freshness and clarity of the recording, as if capturing the atmosphere of 1970, are breathtaking. Even “WHITE SUMMER” is clearly different from the original.

　Compared to the frenetic Montreux in Europe in the same 1970s, the recording is more subdued and conveys the sense of the band concentrating on their performance. The pre-release “Since I’ve Been Loving You” and the early 1970s-inspired “Dazed and Confused” are also captivating. Not only is the sound quality superb and clear, but the quiet surroundings also contribute to the ease of listening. The sound quality is truly outstanding and overwhelming.

　Now, even copies of Pink Slick are rarely available, much less the original “LIFE” with its misprinted cover. In 2025, this literally mega-rare original from Düsseldorf in 1970 has been meticulously reissued on CD. This is a reissue audience album that lets you easily enjoy the stunning clarity of the vintage LP.

TRANSFERED AND REMASTERED BY GRAF ZEPPELIN

Directly recorded from the super rare vintage LP master!
This is the first time that a title has been recorded directly from this super rare record!
In the past, there have been analog recordings of this day, but most of them were copies of this LP, “White Summer.”

This album is recorded from the original version, and is extremely fresh!
The crackling has been removed, but we have refrained from using forceful removal processing.

(38:26)

Side A
1. MC
2. Since I’ve Been Loving You
3. White Summer

Side B
4. MC
5. Dazed And Confused