The Song Remains the Same | | Cast : | John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant | | Director : | Peter Clifton, Joe Massot | | Studio : | Warner Studios | | Format : | Color, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | October 21, 1976 | | DVD Released Date : | December 21, 1999 | | Language : | French (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 25, 2005 | | Summary | "Does anybody remember laughter?" | Content
 | Ah, the wonderful memories of midnight madness movies! ROCKY HORROR, PINK FLOYD THE WALL, and this. A strikingly visual Led-Zeppelin concert experience, filmed like a real motion picture and not a typical concert video. No other band has ever duplicated themselves on film like this, and they probably never will. Just hearing the long, live version of "Stairway To Heaven" is worth it all. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 18, 2005 | | Summary | Nice visual effects, even if it gets boring at times!!! | Content
| To begin with The Song Remains the Same is a must have for any die hard Zeppelin fan as it was their only official live release (well up to 2003) on DVD, and you get to see the band alot & though a bit one sided you do see a side of Zeppelin you probably won't see again & also you see the engulfing figure of Peter Grant which is worth a laugh anyway!!!!
Also the live performances stand up more than they ever did on the album version. For example because of the visuals Dazed & Confused, Moby Dick & Whole Lotta Love are not as tiring as listening on the album. And also there are some added songs Black Dog (though for some reason it's been cut in length) & Heartbreaker, although for some reason Celebration Day (which is on the album) isn't included on the film version!!!
Overall The Song Remains the Same is not an essential Zeppelin DVD now that the 5 1/2 hour DVD is out, but it is worth buying to see what Zeppelin & their management were like back then (the film though released in 1977 is based on the bands Houses of the Holy tour of 1973) & it is also possible to see how the press & public thought of Zeppelin at the height of their popularity!!!! |
| Rating | | | Date | August 16, 2005 | | Summary | take it as it is | Content
| I made the mistake of buying the newest DVD before this one. There is no comparison. I was used to hearing these tracks from the album of the same name, and the movie format it is unedited, usually a good thing. But I found the sound track fading in and out at the most inopportune times. No Quarter from the album has the most riveting organ and guitar solo, but it must have been filmed on a different night for the film, because it is shorter and lacks bravado. Yes, the fantasy sequences are a bit dated and cheesy but that comes with the territory of the film and when it was made. Overall it is still good but nothing compares to the newest DVD for live musical content.
A must for any Zep fan to have.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 15, 2005 | | Summary | The song remains the same | Content
| It is a monumental song which revive my memory over the last 30 years. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 03, 2005 | | Summary | 4.5 Stars - Classic Zeppelin performance with weird movie interludes | Content
| [This review also refers to the CD 'The Song Remains The Same' soundtrack and so this review appears on that product also]
There is little that hasn't already been said about Led Zeppelin. Simply one of the greatest bands of all time, their studio albums are one amazing collection, however, the one thing that lacks with the band's catalogue is recorded live material. Led Zeppelin, for all their popularity and fame, were a pretty camera shy band who avoided giving interviews and releasing live footage of them playing. However, for many years, the one exception to this was 'The Song Remains The Same' movie, released in 1976, which combined the band playing live at Madison Square Garden in 1973 with various other scenes in between.
Since this film's release nearly 30 years ago, there have been recent releases of the band live which supercede this DVD. These include the awesome 'Led Zeppelin' double DVD and the 'How The West Was Won' soundtrack both released in 2003. However, in perspective, 'The Song Remains The Same' still remains an awesome live document and should not be ruled out. Some reviewers seem to have bashed this release with comments such as relating to the fact the concert footage is intermingled with scenes of the band at home and fantasy settings. I take these people's points however at the end of the day this DVD is a MOVIE not solely a LIVE MUSIC DVD. Also, when the scenes do eject away from the concert footage, the live music at the concert continues playing and so you still hear Led Zeppelin live even if the scene is concentrating on something else. Furthermore, the other scenes aren't all that bad. Some of them are just fantasy settings, whilst others are scenes of the band members at home and in other parts we even get interviews (including a 5 minute rant from manager Peter Grant at the concert; filmed backstage where he is rightfully complaining about fake posters being sold of the band).
For the music on 'The Song Remains The Same' release, you really have two options. The first is to get the DVD, which gives you the full film, and therefore the music played, the live footage and the extra scenes. Alternatively, if you just want to hear what features on the film, buy the soundtrack CD which features the 9 live tracks which are played, plus the Bron-Yr-Aur intro and the 'Stairway To Heaven' studio version which plays at the end of the film.
The actual Madison Square Garden concert from 1973 was one of Led Zeppelin's highlights in terms of their live career. All in all, 9 songs which they played there are captured in the film. The highlights have to be firstly, the almost half-hour long version of 'Dazed and Confused', where the band keep the song in suspense in miraculous style. 'No Quarter'. which features some whizz keyboard work from John Paul Jones and some great guitar solos played by Jimmy Page (during ths song, another fantasy scene ensues in the movie). John Bonham's drumming is furious and creative during the performance of 'Moby Dick' and the band's closing showcase of 'Whole Lotta Love' is a memorable finisher. All in all, the music itself is great.
Eventhough I would never say this film DVD holds a candle to the recent Led Zeppelin DVD release and the 'How The West Was Won' live set, it is still an excellent film with some timeless captures of the band performing live at the time when they were at their peak. The concert is brilliant, the few interviews are good and the fantasy styled editions, yes are a little cheesy but aren't too bad non the less! For any Led Zeppelin fan, this DVD is a great extra for your collection. |
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