Customer Reviews

Led Zeppelin Box Set, Vol. 2

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This set is commonly referred to as the "leftovers" from the other Led Zeppelin boxed set. I actually like this boxed set as much as the first one for a couple of reasons. 1. Some of these songs rank as my favorites: "That's The Way", a beautifully written social commentary on prejudice, "Down By the Seaside", "How Many More Times", and "Living, Loving Maid" are among the band's best work. As a testimony to how talented the group was musically, these songs which made the "second" boxed set, would be the greatest hits for someone else. There is one song which cannot be found anywhere else: "Baby Come on Home", an excellent blues song which would have been a perfect fit for Zeppelin II. 2. Overall, this set has a bit of everything. It shows the wide range of musical styles, from folk and blues inspired songs, to driving rock and roll, to the more electric sound the band was playing with before John Bonham's death in 1980, this set showcases the wide range of musical styles the group created and performed. Well worth the effort, this package should not be viewed as merely "the rest" of their songs. In addition to the CDs, the packaging is wonderful with an extensive insert and great graphics -- an A+.

(Note: If you don't own the first boxed set this rating doesn't apply, and you should get that first).

First off, let me say that if you don't already own the boxed set listed above, or a considerable amount of Zeppelin's albums don't buy this. Consequently, if you do own either of those, then get this without dealy, especially if you own the other boxed set. This is the perfect way to complete a Zeppelin collection. Since this is the "leftovers" some songs on here are throwaways, but as we all know, Led Zeppelin didn't make many crappy songs, so many of the tracks on here are great. In fact, there are some real gems, The Lemon Song, Living Loving..., Moby Dick, and Good Times Bad Times for example. Also, as on the previous box, the remastering is incredible. This is especially evident on Good Times Bad Times and Black Mountainside. Put simply: it's the perfect way to complete your Zep colllection.

I was quite ticked off when I saw that the original box set did not include the big hits "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)" and "Good Times, Bad Times" and other popular tracks like "Down By The Seaside", "Carouselambra", "Bring It On Home", "The Lemon Song", and "Four Sticks". Every one of these tunes are staples of classic rock radio and deserved inclusion on the original Led Zeppelin Box Set. Once this set came out, however, the story was complete. I do find the group's intentions a little dubious, though - I mean it seems like they purposely left off "Living Loving Maid" and "Good Times" from the first set so they knew they would have a couple sure-fire "hits" to sell this one. Also, the inclusion of the "newly-discovered" song "Baby Come On Home" (a great tune) seems like a pre-meditated marketing ploy, since the band insisted that they had put out all the unreleased stuff they had to offer on the first set. The two box sets look pretty dorky side-by-side on my shelf, with this one looking like a conjoined fetus attached to the original set. No matter, it's Zep, it rocks, it's their complete studio output, period. Get both and you'll be happy.

An excellent follow up that contains the songs NOT included in the original 4 CD Remasters set. The reason this only gets 4 stars is that most of Led Zeppelin's best material was includeed in the first set. There simply was not enough outstanding material left over to fill up both CD's. Not much of a problem really: Unlike a lot of bands, Led Zeppelin seems to have been determined to preserve their status as "rock Royalty" by only putting out material that they considered to be worthy of their reputation. It meant that they only released about 10 LP's worth of material, but in so doing they have ensured that even after 30 years, most of it still sounds as good as any contemporary releases.

SO, should you get this CD set? If you're a hard-core LZ fan, that is probably not a hard decision (the answer is 'of course I will -- some day').

But for most people I expect that the decision is less straightforward. SO maybe this will help:

If you have the first remasters collection, then this is a worthy companion.

If you have several remastered LED ZEP albums, then it might be better to just get the rest of the album CD's that you want.

Maybe one of the best box sets I've ever seen.First,let's talk about the super-thick fifty(50)page full color booklet with a countless amount of that good 'ol priceless Zeppelin artwork.Old 45 single covers,live concert photos,old magazine covers,flyers,etc.Two discs,with a total of 32 songs.A couple of better known cuts,like "Good Times Bad Times","The Lemon Song","You Shook Me" and "Living Loving Maid(She's Just A Woman)".Plus plenty of somewhat obscure tunes that I haven't heard in awhile,like "Sick Again","Black Country Woman",the kick-ass "Boogie With Stu",""Bron-Yr-Aur","The Crunge" among others.A must-have for any true Zep fan.

All the reviews written already pretty much express what consumers should know about getting this mini box set. Bottom Line: anyone serious about Zep should get this, but with some caveats -

1) If you didn't get Coda - arguably the least important Zep lp ever released - then songs like "We're Gonna Groove" and an additional "Baby Come on Home" are worth the listen.

2) The real gems are from Led Zep 1 - potent rock blues stuff -"I Can't Quit You Baby" and "How Many More Times". Every zep fan will have their favourites here..

3) The songs from "Presence" sound mix-wise, better than ever.

4) The range of contrasts in this collection gives the listener a chance to re-evaluate Zeppelin's tracks in a different light.
It's a different experience from listening to Vol. 1 and in a way - there's even more variety here.

These are the main reasons for getting this collection- supposedly the "less" popular stuff from Zep's dynamic repertoire - but listening to "The Rover" and "Boogie with Stu" -it makes one realise how difficult it was to NOT put stuff on Vol. 1.

5) However, this collection also contains some leftovers that I feel shouldn't have made it into any compilation.

Notably - a couple tracks off CODA (out-takes from In Through the Out Door) are sub-par Zeppelin, and really for completists only. "Darlene" and "Walter's Walk" shows Plant's voice hitting flats and struggling to keep up with the band. The boys sound like they're trying to get back to their rock n roll roots...they try to get into a loose Rolling Stones mode but don't quite hack it. The standards that Zep set were high and it's tough when tracks don't make the grade, but here you go, warts n all. But such minor aberrations don't mean much when there's a skip button in the CD!

6) Also - there's a nice little booklet with pictures! A must for those interested in liner notes...

This box set is small and compacked with great Zeppelin songs not heard on the four disc box set.If you're looking to by a CD that you can listen to and like every song on it this is the one you have to put into your collection!!!!

I will admit that I was somewhat depressed when tracks like "The Lemon Song", "That's the Way," and "Bring it on Home" didn't make the cut for Box Set I, but here they are. This box set completes the first box set, filling in all the gaps and giving a few extras that nobody's heard before (although I lament that some of the outtakes from the CODA album are a bit weak). This set will be incomplete to you if you haven't purchased the first Box Set. As a stand alone, it will probably bore most people that aren't "Led Heads" or LZ completists. I like the two box sets together more than the 10 studio released albums because altogether you have 6 CDs and not 10, and you have a few extras here and there which make your LZ experience so much fun. I recommend this box set to those that enjoyed the first one and want to complete their LZ library and to those that are hard-core Led Heads and want all the extras. I do not recommend it to those looking to expose themselves to LZ for the first time, or who heard a few songs on the radio and want to find a pipeline to fanhood--these listeners should try Led Zeppelin II or III or buy the first box set before moving on to this one.

I saw Led Zeppelin in concert on their 1977 tour of North America. I bought both box sets when released and still want more Zeppelin. It is hard to imagine that Led Zeppelin recorded so many classic songs during their 11 year career. Both box sets are equally great and all Zeppelin fans need both sets for their collections.

Box Set 2 contains the rest of the studio recordings that didn't make its way on to the 1st box set.

Buy Box Set 1 and 2 together to get the complete studio recordings of the Led Zeppelin catalog.

Fans who want the chronological timeline preserved are better off with the Complete Studio Recordings box set. It takes up a hefty amount of shelf space on your library!

But for fellas like me who just want to compress the Led Zeppelin studio recordings into a nifty 6 CD set, get Box Set 1 and 2 together today!