Customer Reviews: Read 41 more reviews...
 This is better music than anything Zeppelin has released November 14, 2007
Craig (Mountain View, CA USA)
33 out of 34 found this review helpful
Do not base your decision on whether to buy this album on whether you have the songs on some other album. The sound quality of the songs on Mothership is so much better than any other album of Zeppelin you may own that you should add this album to your collection. I don't know if it is the new technology available or if the band members spent more time on the remasters, but each song on Mothership sounds much better than what I have on their studio album versions or on their previous remastered collections. I feel bad for the reviewers who are not getting the CD because they have the songs in other forms. Those poor guys are thinking that the same old songs are just being burned to on a new CD. Their loss. I also feel bad for the people who just get the MP3 version of this album. You lose out on the improvement in sound quality if you don't get the actual CD of Mothership. You only buy Led Zeppelin because they sound great, so you should get the album that makes them sound the greatest.
 Almost a replica of "Early Days and Latter Days" November 13, 2007
Paul Allaer (Cincinnati)
30 out of 37 found this review helpful
Music: 5 Stars; Economic Value: 4.5 Stars; New Relevance: 1 Star
Almost 5 years ago to the day, the compilation "Early Days and Latter Days" was released, hence apparently bringing the 'ultimate' 2 CD "best of" Led Zeppelin on the market. Fast forward to Fall 2007: Led Zeppelin has finally released its music digitally, plus "The Song Remains The Same" album and movie gets new life on upgraded releases, and oh yea, there is a one-off reunion concert coming up in early December in London. So how to 'celebrate' the occasion? Well, how about another "best of" release!
"Mothership" (2 CDs, 24 tracks, 140 min.) is a virtual copy of "Earlier Days and Latter Days": 20 of the 23 tracks from that appear on "Mothership", including all the staples, from "Whole Lotta Love" to "Black Dog" to "Kashmir", and on and on. To mix is up just a little bit, "What Is and What Should Never Be", "The Battle of Evermore" and "Ten Years Gone" were dropped from "Early Days and Latter Days", and these 4 songs were added instead: "Ramble On", Heartbreaker", "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "D'Yer Mak'er". Too me those are minor changes on the fringes. It all sounds terrific, of course, due to yet more remastering from Jimmy Page.
The bottom line is this: if you are new to Led Zeppelin, or if you are one of the remaining 13 people on this planet who after all this time do not have either the Led Zeppelin albums proper or the 2002 "Early Days and Later Days" compilation, by all means drop everything, and order this terrific and value-priced set immediately. For the rest of us, I fail to see the new relevance of this compilation, as there is not as much as a sniff of new music on this collection. If you are inclined to buy this set, better shell out the couple of extra dollars for the bonus DVD, which is a sampling/reduced version of the 2003 "Led Zeppelin" DVD. In order, there are 9 songs from the 1970 Royal Albert Hall show, 4 songs from the 1973 Madison Square Garden show that produced "The Song Remains the Same" movie, 3 songs from the 1975 Earl's Court show, and 4 songs from the 1979 Knebworth show.
 pointless... November 13, 2007
Erick Bertin (Santo Domingo, Heredia Costa Rica)
11 out of 18 found this review helpful
All right then: I know many of you are already sharpening your knives to go for my jugular after seeing my rating, demanding blood for the act of heresy of "trashing" the greatest band in the history of the universe. So once again, I'm compelled to post a disclaimer about my rating and my review, just so I can be at peace with MYSELF and to be PERFECTLY clear about things (and yet, I KNOW there are STILL gonna be people who will send me the usual death threats...oh well). I'll try to do this as short, quick and painless as I can (I'm sure you all have better things to do than to read a lot of pseudo-intellectual babble...)...Like removing a band aid!
So here goes the disclaimer: I'm NOT a Zeppelin hater! I am NOT trashing the band! I am NOT trashing their music! Zeppelin rules! The band is awesome! The music is awesome! THIS compilation, however, is not. Yeah, I know all about their upcoming December one-off reunion gig, but even THAT fact does NOT justify this release.
As other reviewers have accurately pointed out (and I'm sure many others will continue to do so...), "Mothership" has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING more and/or new to offer for Zep fans. Actually, it offers less: less songs than "Remasters" and/or "Earlier Days/Latter Days". So what is the point of this, really? The DVD? Sorry, not worth the price of admission, especially if I CAN get it elsewhere separately. The remastering? Most people can't even tell the difference...die hards sure can, but the average listener can't...
Insult me and threaten me all you want, but ask yourselves this one, simple question: which true Zep fan DOESN'T already have all these songs?
I rest my case.
Peace to you all...
A Great Collection, But You Gotta Get the Original CDS! November 14, 2007
Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This is a generous sampling of the most famous and thunderous songs in the Zeppelin catalog. You've got Communication Breakdown, Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, Immigrant Song, Black Dog, Rock and Roll, Achilles' Last Stand, and of course, Stairway to Heaven.
Another great thing about this double cd set is the outstanding remastered sound. The collection is a must buy for Zeppelin fans for no other reason than this.
The two comments that I have by way of criticism are that a. Led Zeppelin was more of an album band than a singles band. The songs on the original albums had a sequencing and a flow that was intoxicating and purposeful. Also, this collection doesn't give enough space to the folkier side of Led Zeppelin - no Tangerine or Gallows Pole or Bron Y Aur Stomp or Black Mountain Side or Going to California or Battle of Evermore.
I also wish that Dancing Days and Fool in the Rain would have been included.
But still, this is the best sounding Led Zeppelin collection money can buy. Hopefully, after listening to these songs, you'll want to download their studio albums.
ONLY The 'Mothership' Set Has The 2007 Remasters And Great Sound - The Rest Of The Catalogue Does NOT!!! November 16, 2007
Mark Barry at Revival Records, Berwick Street (London, UK)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
There seems to be some confusion over "Mothership" especially with regard to the 'sound'. While it's not exactly the 'Motherlode' in terms of track content - SOUNDWISE - it is streets ahead of what's been offered before and at times just BREATHTAKING in its clarity. (For the rest - see the end of this review).
Here's the lay of the land first:
The albums "Led Zeppelin" though to "Houses Of The Holy" ('69 to '73) were originally released in the UK on Atlantic Records and from "Physical Graffiti" onwards on their own imprint label "Swan Song" ('75 to '79, distributed by Atlantic). The awful live double that is "The Song Remains The Same" from 1976 is wisely not featured at all on "Mothership". The 8-track odds and sods album "Coda" from 1982, which features studio out-takes and live tracks recorded between 1969 and 1978, isn't featured either. As you'll see from the list below - all the other official studio albums are:
Disc 1 (66:18 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 4 are from their debut "Led Zeppelin" (January 1969)
Tracks 5 to 7 are from "Led Zeppelin II" (October 1969)
Tracks 8 and 9 are from "Led Zeppelin III" (October 1970)
Tracks 10 to 13 are from "Led Zeppelin IV" (November 1971)
(Officially their 4th album is untitled, but of course it's often referred to as "Led Zeppelin IV" or "Four Symbols" or "Runes" or "ZoSo" after the four symbols that appear on the original LP at the top of the Atlantic Records label - Zodiac letters for each member of the band).
Disc 2 (69:21 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 4 are from "Houses Of The Holy" (April 1973)
Tracks 5 to 7 are from "Physical Graffiti" (February 1975, a 2LP set)
Tracks 8 and 9 are from "Presence" (March 1976)
Tracks 10 and 11 are from "In Through The Out Door" (August 1979)
As you can see on Disc 1, "Zeppelin II" sees only 3 tracks while the debut gets 4 - missing out gems from "II" like "Moby Dick", "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just A Woman)" and "What Is And What Should Never Be" - odd omissions for an album that is constantly cited in magazine polls by the 'public' as their "favorite rock album ever". Worse however is "III", often referred to by fans as their 'acoustic" album. By only representing it with "Immigrant Song" and "Since I've Been Loving You", you get the 'feeling' that the album is like its two predecessors - `hard rock' - when it actually contains some of their most beautiful and underrated softer tracks, especially the gorgeous "That's The Way". Four songs from the iconic and brilliant "IV" are only right and proper - and some would argue the entire album should be on here!
Downside: as you can see from the playing time, a full 13 minutes on Disc 1 could have been used up - and isn't. Extending the acoustic theme to "IV", the equally wonderful "The Battle Of Evermore" (Sandy Denny on backing vocals) is missing too when there was room. Coupled with "That's The Way", both would have made for huge bonuses and more importantly made the disc more representative of the band. The 'acoustic' element of Zeppelin, which was featured in most of their live sets, is oddly absent here - a mistake I think. Their diversity as a band - away from just hard rock - is one of the reasons for their enduring appeal and why fans love them so. "Hey Hey (What Can I Do Now)" the brilliant non-album B-side to "Immigrant Song" would have been a tasty choice too - but again - no show.
Upside: having said all of that, Disc 1 has very clever sequencing on it and listening to the song selection straight through is a superb and impressive experience. The space around the opening guitars of "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" is ethereal and beautiful. The fabulous guitar-work in the left speaker on "Ramble On" from "II" catches your ear too - and Plant's double vocals - great. I could hear the band count One Two Three on the fade in to "Immigrant Song"! Genius choice, however, goes to the stunning blues workout of "Since I've Been Loving You" from "III". Sounding just fantastic, the squeaking of Bonham's drum pedals can be heard just a few milliseconds before Page launches into that blistering guitar riff! And finally - at long last - the remastering has brought out the full ferocity of Bonham's drumming and Plant's harmonica playing in the simply awesome "When The Levee Breaks" - cleverly placed before "Stairway" and not after it - rounding off Disc 1 very nicely.
The sound quality on Disc 1 in particular is BREATHTAKING. Page transferred the original master tapes carefully to digital in 1991 for "The Complete Studio Recordings" and John Davis of Alchemy Mastering in London has used these for the 2007 Remasters. THEY ARE BETTER. And in some cases unbelievably so.
But it all goes a bit belly up on Disc 2. It's clear the band feel that "Houses" is a bit under appreciated as an album, so no less than 4 tracks are featured, including the clever placing of the reggae "D'yer Maker" with Bonham and Jones both playing a rhythm section storm. But to leave off the melodic winner that is "The Rain Song" is a huge omission. Three from "Graffiti", but again the wonderful "Ten Years Gone" and the rocking "Custard Pie" are not here. For me "Presence" was a tedious listen in 1976 and still is now, despite people trying to reappraise it. I really don't need to hear the 10 minutes of "Achilles Last Stand" ever again when the blues finisher "Tea For One" would have been a braver choice. And last up is "In Through The Out Door" featured by "In The Evening", the album's great opener. But the truly awful "All My Love" finishes Disc 2 when the funkier "For Your Love" would have been better. Also - as with Disc 1 - with only 69 minutes used, there was enough room for a more varied picture.
And why a DVD of what we already own, when a live disc should have been Disc 3 - representing the band in what 'they' feel is their best arena?
The booklet is disappointing too. No album covers pictured! Where the hell is the artwork that was so integral to their releases? There's no fan pleasing rare 7" picture sleeves from around the world either - no sense of their global affection or effect - not even a UK or US discography! But David Fricke's essay is good - it gives a brief history of the band and its output across 12 pages. And at least the wholesale nicking of blues tunes is finally acknowledged in the writer's credits for "Whole Lotta Love" (a Willie Dixon song made famous by Muddy Waters), Anne Bredon for "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" and Memphis Minnie for "When The Levee Breaks".
Some have said this compilation is `money for old rope' - I don't see it that way. Without doubt, the 1991 Remasters by Jimmy Page were way better than the crappy 80s issues when issued, but these 2007 upgrades have been long overdue and sounding as good as they do, they're to be welcomed. If ever a band deserved lavish attention spent on their catalogue - it's Zeppelin. The set it flawed for sure, but the sound is great! Personally I'm excited about buying better sonic versions of the albums when they eventually do come out.
Hey Hey Mama Indeed!
PS - IMPORTANT ADDITION: I took my own advice with regard to track selection and went to iTunes to download "That's The Way" and "The Rain Song". To my astonishment and disappointment, they're EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 1991 VERSIONS when I A/B them with what's on my hard-drive. As everyone knows the entire catalogue is advertised as REMASTERED and went on sale the day after Mothership was issued, but it craftily doesn't say 'when' they were remastered. What a MASSIVE DISAPPOINTMENT!
In fairness to iTunes, the entire catalogue download does include all the studio albums, the "Mothership'" 2CD set, the redone live double "The Song Remains The Same" with its bonus tracks, the excellent and overlooked 3CD "How The West Was Won" live set, also with remastered Sound and even an extended version of "Coda" to take in the odd box set track like "Hey Hey (What Can I Do Now)".
The important point with regard to the catalogue is this - it's clear that ONLY the "MOTHERSHIP" SET and "THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME" re-issue HAVE THE 2007 REMASTERED SOUND and NOT ANYTHING ELSE.
So I would say that the purchase of the ENTIRE CATALOGUE is good value for money overall for newcomers, but for fans that already have the CD albums, avoid the iTunes downloads on INDIVIDUAL TRACKS outside the 'Mothership/The Song Remains The Same' sets.
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