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Rare Led Zeppelin Recording Found at Car Boot Sale

Never let it be said that there aren't bargains to be found at your local car boot sale. Or, for that matter, valuable recordings of historical significance as one Vic Kemp came to discover when shopping at Ipswich's Portman Road car boot sale. To his utter delight, Mr Kemp stumbled upon a copy of a bootleg of Led Zeppelin's 1971 gig at Ipswich's St. Matthew's Baths Hall.

Speaking of his find to the Evening Star, Mr Kemp said: "I was going through a stand of CDs at the car boot at Portman Road and the guy who was selling them said 'you might be interested in this.'

"It must have been recorded by someone standing at the front with a microphone. You can hear [singer] Robert Plant talking to the audience quite clearly."

The bootleg captures the whole of the concert which was performed in the wake of their most famous album, 'IV' (aka 'Zoso' and "The Four Symbols"). The set includes versions of 'Immigrant Song,' 'Rock And Roll,' 'Black Dog,' 'Whole Lotta Love' and what was to become their anthem, 'Stairway To Heaven.'

"It only cost me two or three pounds," he continued. "I've no idea how many other copies there are or if it's worth anything. It's just incredible that they played such a small venue - and it sounds an amazing gig."

Tickets for the concert cost just £1.

Led Zeppelin's demise came in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham though the surviving members reformed for an appearance at Live Aid in 1985 and a full concert in December 2007 at London's O2 Arena where they were joined on drums by Bonham's son Jason.

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Victor A. Lenar

I have 2 poor quality bootleg albums that I picked up in Germany when I was stationed there from 77 to 80. One is called Led Zeppelin 4 1/2, which I believe is the topic of conversation. The other is called Bonzo's Birthday Party, I don't know there value to anyone else but to me they are ALMOST priceless.

March 25 2010 at 3:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Will

Dude, click on the "Evening Star" hyperlink and it will take you to the original story with a pic of the guy holding a "digitally encoded recording on an optical disk that is smaller than a phonograph record; played back by a laser"

March 18 2010 at 12:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pamela Roberts Jimison

@ Al Tiedman. Thanks for the info, I do have an original pressing. The number on the album cover/jacket is SD8236. Now, I guess I can check and see if it's worth anything by putting it on ebay.

March 17 2010 at 11:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Booth

Its a well known Led Zeppelin bootleg that i have and probably every other Zep head worldwide has it is hardly a rare find cant understand why this has hit the headlines he has bought a bootleg from a stall that has been available for years????

March 17 2010 at 5:14 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Dan

The record I had was used as a frisbe for the dog to chase , hell he wouldn't even bring it back

March 17 2010 at 4:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zep Head

Hey ead17

Look at the law - its not against the law to own a bootleg - but it is against the law to sell one.

Thus there is a huge trade market

March 17 2010 at 4:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zep Head

Hey all - this is not rare - bootlegs of this show have been out there for years - recorded on 16 November 1971 - the set list was:
Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, Rock And Roll, Stairway To Heaven, Going To California, That's The Way, Tangerine, Dazed And Confused, What Is And What Should Never Be, Celebration Day, Whole Lotta Love (inc. medley).

I got all excited when I saw taht some new Zep stuff had emerged
Ho Hum - perhaps James Patrick will release something new from his archive at some point

March 17 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Zep Head's comment
Al

I apologize Zep Head....you have the correct show, the one I listed was from March of that year....

March 18 2010 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John.

It must be a vinyl record,bet it sounds awasome.
I've got some bootleg records,one called The Destroyer
in a box set 4lps.
Jimmy Page plays his version of Star Spangled Banner,it gives Jimmi Hendrix's version a run for it's money

March 17 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to John.'s comment
joseph

that great one

June 11 2011 at 6:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ead17

A bootleg, eh? Right! You are under arrest. Constable, take this man to headquarters immediately, and spare him no indignity: full body-cavity search, enhanced interrogation techniques, the lot. The Crown will not tolerate copyright infringement.

March 17 2010 at 3:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MIKE

I HAVE A COPY OF THE BEETLES WHITE ALBUM STILL WRAPED IS IT WORTH ANYTHING

March 17 2010 at 3:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply