Black Dog - Led Zeppelin (live Belfast 1971-03-05)

Ulster Hall, Belfast, Ireland. 5th March 1971.
Black Dog.
first ever performance of this song

[@addy3164]

Hearing a performance of Black Dog where Robert’s voice goes higher during the verses is satisfying

[@coldacre]

they were untouchable in 1971

[@saleconomos473]

+Coldacre Could not agree more. Perhaps beyond "untouchable"....if there is such a thing?

[@RobbyMinx]

Holy shit.... that voice.

[@astraltraveller892]

1971 was the best year for music. Stairway and Echoes solidify it alone

[@FAfan06]

The way he compressed his voice my kidneys hurt, Jesus Christ.

[@4Z4KUR4]

FAfan06 can u explain that? :)

[@FAfan06]

+João Serralha Well he's compressing his vocals a lot, if you listen at a loud volume it's really quite startling. Can't imagine what it was like to be there.

[@kkilhhh]

This is why Robert Plant's voice went downhill so quickly.

[@4Z4KUR4]

Can u explain why you are saying that? =)

[@D_2387]

Weston Awtry It's because he had to have vocal surgery in 72

[@4Z4KUR4]

***** That "famous" secret surgery? But why he had it? Extensive touring?

[@D_2387]

João Serralha Who knows. I heard it was because he got some illness or something from being stranded out in some cold storm. And he needed surgery.

[@Paolo8772]

Weston Awtry Your absolutely right. In fact, this day, March 5th 1971 was the last day his voice was at its very best; after this day it started going downhill

[@neonapathy2225]

Weird to think I’ve played on that very stage

[@gibsonfan159]

I think the fast tempo sounds much better.

[@digiorno1142]

Yeah this is one of those songs that sound awkward when played slow

[@ian1457]

0:55 Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove. Oh, oh, child, way you shake that thing, gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting. Hey, hey, baby, when you walk that way, watch your honey drip, can't keep away. *Ah yeah, ah yeah, ah, ah, ah. Ah yeah, ah yeah, ah, ah, ah. I gotta roll, can't stand still, got a flame in my heart, can't get my fill. Eyes that shine burning red, dreams of you all through my head. Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah. Hey, baby, oh, baby, pretty baby, Tell me won't you you do me now. Didn't take too long 'fore I found out, what people mean my down and out. Spent my money, took my car, started telling her friends she wants to be a star. I don't know but I been told, a big-legged woman ain't got no soul. * Chorus All I ask for when I pray, steady rollin' woman gonna come my way. Need a woman gonna hold my hand, won't tell me no lies, make me a happy man

[@jimh4072]

I started to listen to them a few years later when I was 14, my uncle had their albums and only lived a short walk from the Ulster Hall. Now they are the only band I have listened to continuously since my teenage years. Absolutely love this band.

[@Minceontoast2]

Led zeppelin Filmed concerts Fails -Earls court performances (Plant vocally Fatigued) -Seattle 77 (Plant vocally Fatigued) -Royal Albert hall (Couldn’t Use half of the film because The film was Rubbish and they forgot to add the bass and Keyboards for SIBLY) -Bath festival 1970 (Camera Crew brought Wrong type of film To film at Night And Jimmy wasn’t happy with the result So scrapped it) -Knebworth 79 (Mediocre still doesn’t capture plant at his prime) They never Captured Plant In his prime, On film every chance they got they failed, this is why Freddie Mercury Is always Talked about more because There is Alot of film of him, If People are Amazed By A4 or C5s from Mercury, they would have enjoyed E5 , F5 , G5s from plant.

[@dijamaira1981]

Hope there's a clearer version of this one, bet it would've been awesome...the '73 in MSG is my ringtone!

[@marriusmal]

Imagine MSG quality with this performance.

[@jakeldk6811]

i want to believe

[@TheShachattack13]

Is far as I know, this is the only live black dog recording where plant hits the high e notes

[@Paolo8772]

It's the result of him having the best voice for a Led Zeppelin performance but also the reason his voice wane after this performed. March 5th 1971 was the day Plan't voice went from getting better to getting worse.Uncomfortably sad but true.

[@CliffinAZ]

@@Paolo8772 I disagree. IMO he was still at his absolute peak in Copenhagen (another amazing concert that unfortunately doesn’t seem to have a version with good sound quality). Just listen to the version of Four Sticks from that concert-the only time they played it live and, in my opinion a far better vocal performance than the album version, with Plant hitting every one of those high notes but in a way fuller and smoother tone than on the album. Given how high the high notes are in that song, that in itself is full evidence that he was still able to hit the high notes at will. The thing is: any singer has to pick and choose which high notes to hit on any song. If Plant went for every high note in every song in every show, his voice would have been shot and needing to recover after one or two performances. He chose to hit every high note here in Black Dog (a song full of them) as it was the first live performance of the song. The same was true of Four Sticks a little later in Copenhagen. What I’ve heard is that the real drop-off point was later that year at LA Forum, where he really over did it and strained his voice. After that show the wobbles in his voice, somewhat thinner tone, etc. started to appear-the real cracks were forming. What’s definitely true is that he didn’t sound as good during the last half of ‘71.

[@Paolo8772]

@@CliffinAZ That seems reasonable. I'll check out the Copenhagen Four sticks in 1971. What other songs do you think he sing best in that concert?

[@digiorno1142]

Listen to Black Dog live in Milan 1971 arguably just as good or better than this one. Same with live in Montreux 1971.

[@locutus1126]

Wow....what a set list.

[@jimgavin3923]

That is an excellent performance of that song! It's a shame the sound quality is rough.

[@andrewroach91]

was this half a year before the 4th album was released? what a treat for the audience!

[@saleconomos473]

How big was this venue? How many seats?

[@slaughtermusic7187]

best vocals ever

[@belladonichaze3213]

This is their height