« Back to Top Level | Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin - The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters) (1969)

Track listing:
  1. The Train Kept A Rollin' 3:15
  2. I Can't Quit You Baby 8:05
  3. As Long As I Have You Medley 18:21
  4. You Shook Me 10:05
  5. How Many More Times Medley 22:20
  6. Communication Breakdown 6:09
  7. Killing Floor 8:58
  8. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You 7:03
  9. White Summer / Black Mountain Side 10:40
  10. Sitting And Thinking 7:47
  11. Pat's Delight 14:46
  12. Dazed And Confused 12:51

Notes


Fillmore West

Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10
Audio extracted from DVD


tracks 01-06: First Set
tracks 07-12: Second Set


Reviews from UU :

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, 27 April 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

Many many labels have released this historic and classic last night in San Francisco in April 1969, most recently (and excellently) by Empress Valley. But we now have a combination of the stunning but not quite complete stereo soundboard recording, very cleverly blended with the very good audience recording in simply superb sound. Listening to the soundboard recording it is hard not to think that this is an official release. And the performance is as blistering as the sound. A young and raw Led Zeppelin playing in superb form, wowing the lucky audience gathered in the Fillmore West on the 27th April 1969. The photos presented are all of excellent quality and there are some that I have not seen before, and snippets of the Tous en Scene TV show are also used. The DVD cover artwork is also very clever, showing the Devil "doing a deal" with Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix is also shown on the bottom right corner. The DVD is a colour printed direct onto the disc surface. The opening menu gives easy access to the songs on both sets. All in all a really splendid production, and this release must now be regarded as the definitive one for both sets of this concert. (Jules McTrainspotter Dec 04)

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, April 27, 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

Once again GM uses the best possible source combined with the best possible mastering technique, producing the most enjoyable release ever of the classic 4/27/69 Fillmore show ! it is a DVDR in PCM audio of the soundboard with the gaps filled seamlessly by the audience source. All instuments are perfectly balanced, you have to hear for yourself. Secondary but also good are the visuals. It is the audio that sets this apart from other versions of this show. With the improved clarity you can really get a sense of the chemistry this band had to improvise in a live setting . Highly recommended (Randy Johnson Dec 04 )

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, April 27, 1969
First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown
Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

I don't do reviews very often, but this one just might compete for the release of 2004 despite the new shows and stiff competition we've enjoyed. Kudos to the Digital Dog for making this available in best ever quality with '69 era photo/video to accompany the audio trip as a bonus. The sound on this is absolutely stunning. I had 6 versions of this baby starting with the Jester vinyl up to and including the new EV version and this turns 'em all to dust collectors. The level problems that plagued parts of this tape have all been corrected making for a very consistent sound (especially during the first part of this show). The clarity and separation is top notch, near zero background hiss, and the between song banter between Plant and the audience is about as clear as you've ever heard it. Most of you will have at least one version of this show, but trust me, you need to get this one. Once again, the Dog working hard in his laboratory Down Under, has moved another old fave into the 21st century digital realm. P.S. Double kudos for using the opening "Smokestack Lightening" riff of Killing Floor as the menu music...without a doubt the most savage and evil sounding Page has ever been. When I listen to this show, I always hit the repeat on that opening bit and it never fails to get the air guitar workin! (Chris Serratella Dec 04)

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, 27 April 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

Another well thought out project from Genuine Masters. The audio is superb, the best sounding version of these wonderful sets I've heard. GM has taken a pristine soundboard and filled in the few gaps with the excellent audience source that has circulated. Like other collector's, I've obtained several versions of these Fillmore West shows and you will not find a better version than what is provided on this DVD Picture Disc. The pictures and video that accompany the first set is taken from the Staines Supershow 1969 footage and it's cleverly mixed up between still shots and the video. Nicely done. The same approach is implemented for the second set only GM utilizes the Paris Tous En Scene TV show footage here, and it really works great! I think this is a title that captures everything to be liked about this format. I cannot rave enough about the stellar sound quality that is brought out of this recording. Another highly recommended release from Genuine Masters. Love the front artwork too! GM also offers the show on 2 CDRs as well but the audio on the DVD is far better. (SVENGI Webmaster HotWacks On-Line Dec 04)
NB: Thanks to HotWacks for permission to reproduce their review here.

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, April 27, 1969
First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown
Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

Another example of outstanding alchemy on the part of Genuine Masters techno-wizard Black Dog. As with previous GM releases, the visuals are a treat (anyone who ever shopped at Chess King should check out Plant's flowered shirt), but the heart of "Devil's Blues" is its awesome sound quality. "Clear," "crisp" and "dynamic" are the adjectives that leap to mind. The set itself is extremely interesting, given the then-young band's ambitions and the setting itself. At the premier venue in the world capital of hippiedom, Zeppelin unleash an aural attack that's just about the polar opposite of the reigning "San Francisco sound" of local outfits like Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service, then at the height of their popularity. In fact, on this recording, Zeppelin is already setting the template for rock and roll for the next decade, with a far heavier approach that would soon eclipse those bands. Given Plant's fascination with the hippie ethos and his obvious affinity with the crowd, it's ironic that even as he praises flower power, his band has actually come to hammer it into oblivion, at least as a musical force. Between Plant's harmonica outings and Page's furious guitar work, the band is both bluesier and more psychedelic than at any other point in their career. A fabulous addition to any Zeppelin fan's collection, and a must-have for those partial toward the band's early years. (Killtone Dec 04)

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, April 27, 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

"Oft-booted" and Led Zeppelin are practically synonymous, but for every ten pointless reissues there's one reboot where better sources, better technology and remastering TLC yield something truly worthwhile. Genuine Masters' The Devil's Blues, an audio DVD reissue of the Fillmore West, San Francisco 4/27/04, joins the incomplete stereo board tape and the complete audience recording into a single sonic marvel. Previous issues of these tapes were decent, but here missing balance and separation is achieved, along with a complete absence of any tape noise. "I can't help but reach for the old bootleg cliché," says one longtime collector, "it sounds like Led Zeppelin is playing in your living room." Further, the edits, inserts and transitions between sources are strikingly transparent. The Devil's Blues captures the band, still in its first year of existence, in a representative set that features such early staples as "Train Kept A-Rollin'," "As Long as I Have You," "Sitting and Thinking" and "Pat's Delight." There's punch and there's crunch, but nary a strident moment to be found in this masterful restoration. Appropriate period photos and video snips comprise the visual accompaniment to the stunning high-resolution audio, while the cover art and picture discs offer a cheeky tableau of the band's heads atop gothic figures, with Jimmy Page cutting a deal with the devil while Jimi Hendrix sits by. (Butterking Dec 04, taken from an expanded Review from Going Underground, ICE Magazine, Jan 05)

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, 27 April 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

It is certainly an interesting time for collectors of Zeppelin material: fans releasing tapes on to the Internet, soundboards surfacing and lastly, but not least, the emergence of Genuine Masters. A lot has been written about the DVD process pioneered by Genuine Masters. I do not for a second pretend to understand the technical aspects of what is going on, but I am more than able to appreciate the results of Black Dog's efforts. In my opinion, with regard to Black Dog's releases to date, all being titles previously booted, is akin to hearing the concert for the first time. Such is the improvement. When I heard that Black Dog was releasing The Devil's Blues I immediately placed my order. Once again Black Dog was releasing a previously booted concert, would his release improve, in terms of sound quality, on what had gone before. The disc is housed in a clear plastic clamshell. The artwork, as usual, is terrific. What I particularly enjoyed about the artwork is the definition and the colours. Black Dog does not skimp on the artwork. The picture on the front depicts the devil kneeling before JP. Jimmy's head being superimposed upon a naked voluptuous body. The other band members' heads are superimposed on other creatures' bodies. There is also a graphic of Jimi Hendrix. On the rear there are pictures of the band. The track listing is clear and legible. Visually I think this is Black Dog's best effort to date. I really enjoyed the video sections in slow motion. I think that the stills merging into the video works well. The visuals mesh with the sound.
The sound quality is stunning. The first music you hear is a riff on Jimmy's guitar. It is a glorious sound. As soon as you hear it you just want to get straight into the concert. Momentarily I was troubled with the thought of whether the sound quality of the rest of the disc would reach the heights of the opening riff. I need not have concerned myself. The sound quality in my opinion is stunning. Once again Black Dog has taken the sound sources previously available and transformed them into something wonderful. The music is crystal-clear. Every instrument, including Plant's vocals, are balanced. The music has a feel to it. It has an edge, a vitality. What happened to the background noise? The genius of Black Dog's title is that he provides a quality clear sound with none of the usual downsides. There are no flocks of birds, metallic noises or the like. It is just pure unadulterated natural sounding music. For those of us not lucky enough to be present at the concert, this is, without doubt, the next best thing.
Black Dog has set the standard for other producers to achieve. Give that Dog a bone. (John Morrison Dec 04)

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, 27 April 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused

AWESOME! Actually the 'F' word should have preceeded awsome. Easily the best title to have come out in recent memory. Easily! I don't care that its a show thats been around for years. As his lordship Mr. Page once said "Same frame, new picture". The BlackDog has given us a new picture alright as well as F'ing new audio! I've had this GM title now for around 3 weeks and in that time its been getting air-play at least once every other day. My walls at my condo haven't stopped shakin'. If you think you have heard this show or sets then believe me you haven't. The BlackDog has made a mind boggling, head shakin' full dimensional new stereo sound that should get the award for title of the year. It already has my vote on that! Over several days I sat down and compared it to the 'Collage' title on the TDOLZ label and the BlackDog's work is so vastly superior that its hard to think just a month back that 'Collage' could be relegated to the list of titles I must sell one day. Devils is what we want in a bootleg. At least I do. Clearly the Dog spent more time on this than other of his titles as we get to see a synced connection of the images and video to the music we hear. The sequence and timing of visuals to music is well thought out and makes the Devils experience so much more riveting to watch. With the Genuine Masters titles I also like to turn off the viewing experience and just listen to the DVD-A audio and that's when you can get a sense of how good the Dogs work is on these DVD-A's. There isn't anything one could say to hear this improvement in the sound. Its as good as it gets. Having played this title to a few friends they also were drawn into the power of the raw psychedelic music and the amazing visuals. You couldn't help but be drawn into the devils blues! One thing they all said was how lucky it is we have a Zepp-head doing these dvd-a's. Right on! Going to be damn hard for the Dog to top this title but I hope he can prove me wrong. Back to shakin' my walls for the 18th time!! Bring on 2005 Mr. Dog!! (Gary Zinno Jan 05)

The Devil's Blues (Genuine Masters GM-LZ-27.04.1969-DVD-A-10) 1 DVD-Audio
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, 27 April 1969

First Set: The Train Kept A Rollin'/I Can't Quit You Baby/As Long As I Have You Medley/You Shook Me/How Many More Times Medley/Communication Breakdown

Second Set: Killing Floor/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Sitting And Thinking/Pat's Delight/Dazed And Confused
fantastic sound from GM. This is an improvement over all of the bootleg releases from japan (tdolz, toasted, immigrant ), including the Jimi Page Experience cdr tree that was done a few years ago. One way to test this pristine sound quality is to crank the volume up very high and listen for background noises/distortion on the other releases vs. Genuine Masters...GM just beats the others hands-down. I really can't come up with better adjectives than previous reviewers. I did want to thank Black Dog for the great visuals on the DVD-A from Staines Supershow and Paris Tous En Scene. While not matching the audio, these high quality videos really complement the audio. The sound on the DVD-A's and the CDs are so clear and strong that you'll give away your other titles. genuine masters is putting alot of bootleg titles out of circulation, why settle for an "8" when you can have a "10"? (David Smith Feb 05)