We listen to some tracks from Santana playing Honolulu on May 22, 1970, in an excellent soundboard recording. This is Abraxas era Santana from just before Neil Schon joined the band. Good stuff.
If you would like to download this complete soundboard concert you may do so here: https://mega.nz/folder/vpU0yJjQ#P9Snbe2eVEHKpnBAlryMZg
This is an incredible sounding recording, another Mike Millard master recording, from August 14, 1975 at the LA Forum. Eric is joined by Keith Moon, Carlos Santana, and Joe Cocker.
Per usual for Eric in the post Layla era, the performance is laid back but very well performed. If you would like the entire show, you can download it here: https://mega.nz/folder/KotX1BiL#FWwX3s4Lt-Cqne6X32tHHw
Courtesy of the almighty Steve A Jones, the Venerable Bede of Zep Lore.
This is a smoking hot jam from July 1, 1980, in which Jimmy Page jams with Santana in Frankfurt. Led Zeppelin had just played one of their best shows of their 1980 Tour Over Europe, the night before. Santana (the band) breaks out the old chestnut Shake Your Moneymaker, and Jimmy Page joins in. It’s pretty great.
You don’t get much jamming from Jimmy during the last years of Zep. He had his demons but not this night. The soundboard recording is very hot (oooh hot mic), and a bit shrill to these old ears, but it’s still awesome. Jimmy is at home sparring with the amazing Carlos Santana. It’s got the bounce and enthusiasm of the version, 20 years later done by Jimmy and the Black Crowes.
I’ve been revisiting the 1980 tour and I believe I’m changing my mind about it. For the last 30 years (Jesus, that’s sobering) I’ve thought of the ’80 tour as essential a shell of Zeppelin. This is based on the dry soulless soundboard recordings which abound.
The soundboard boots were everywhere when I was a youth, and even not there are only a relative handful of good audience recordings from this tour. Munich is an exception. It’s audience tape is excellent and it makes the show SO MUCH BETTER. You get the sound with reverb and space, as opposed to the flat line input sound. The soundboards highlight Jimmy’s shaky playing and is the aural equivalent to the fluorescent lighting in a gas station bathroom. It does the subject no favors.
Anyhoo give this a listen and you’ll hear Jimmy giving it his all and playing the fuck out of his Les Paul. Enjoy.
I think the 1980 tour will be the topic of my next podcast. #foreshadowing