LED ZEPPELIN / 1971 GOING TO CALIFORNIA 1971 TWO SHOWS (4CD)

BERKELEY COMMUNITY THEATRE, CA, U.S.A. – September 13, 1971
DISC ONE
01. Introduction
02. Immigrant Song
03. Heartbreaker
04. Since I've Been Loving You
05. Black Dog
06. Dazed And Confused
07. Stairway To Heaven
08. Celebration Day
09. That's The Way

DISC TWO
01. Going To California
02. What Is And What Should Never Be
03. Moby Dick
04. Whole Lotta Love
05. Communication Breakdown

BERKELEY COMMUNITY THEATRE, CA, U.S.A. – September 14, 1971
DISC THREE
01. Immigrant Song
02. Heartbreaker
03. Since I've Been Loving You
04. Black Dog
05. Dazed And Confused

DISC FOUR
01. Stairway To Heaven
02. That's The Way
03. Going To California
04. Whole Lotta Love

For Led Zeppelin fans, 1971 is remembered as a highly significant year. For fans in Japan, in particular, it was the year the band made their first-ever visit to the country. During this period, the band’s stage performances gained greater depth, featuring an opening medley of "Immigrant Song" and "Heartbreaker," alongside the addition of tracks from their fourth album to the setlist. By this time, Led Zeppelin had grown into a massive phenomenon, drawing audiences far too large to be accommodated in the smaller venues they had once played. In light of this, the band undertook the "Back to the Clubs" tour in early 1971—a deliberate return to smaller venues—where they debuted songs from their fourth album. The inclusion of tracks such as "Rock and Roll," "Stairway to Heaven," and "Black Dog"—songs that, from a later perspective, can be considered quintessential Led Zeppelin classics—added a greater sense of drama to the show as a whole. "Stairway to Heaven," in particular, became a highlight of the performances; its concluding guitar solo was consistently extended each night, lasting longer than it did on the studio recording.

[1971 North American Tour]
In 1971, Led Zeppelin toured Europe during May and June, followed by a North American tour in August and September. The North American leg consisted of 26 shows in total, including two warm-up performances in Montreux. This marked the band's longest hiatus from live performance—nearly a year since their previous tour. During this interval, the American rock landscape had shifted, with the rise of other acts like Grand Funk Railroad; consequently, Led Zeppelin needed to re-establish their appeal to the American market and their fan base. Robert Plant shaved off the beard he had worn the previous year, and the band returned to stand once again before their American audience.

The North American tour featured a series of spirited, relaxed performances—evoking a warm, inviting atmosphere—at venues such as the L.A. Forum (a home-turf staple for the band) and in Hawaii, where the show doubled as a vacation. Each performance was truly exceptional, and this tour yielded numerous high-quality recordings, including a soundboard-sourced show in Orlando and a performance in Los Angeles that featured a rendition of "The Chase" (a.k.a. "The Chase Is On"). The Berkeley concerts, captured in this release, certainly rank among these outstanding recordings. While the Honolulu date served as an additional show combined with a vacation, the consecutive performances in Berkeley effectively marked the final full-length concerts of this extensive tour. The relationship between Los Angeles and Led Zeppelin hardly needs further explanation; however, the fact that this tour included two consecutive shows at both the L.A. Forum and Berkeley speaks volumes about how highly the band valued their fans in the Los Angeles area.

[Berkeley, September 13, 1971 – First Night]
Compared to the second night—for which numerous high-quality bootleg titles have long existed—this first night is represented by far fewer releases, with only a single source recording known to exist. While perhaps not quite as pristine as the second night, the audio quality is nonetheless excellent, and, most importantly, it captures the entire concert. The fact that a full 1971 performance is preserved here makes this release inherently valuable. The source used is a "second-generation" tape, provided by a prominent collector. Although there is a slight echo, the sound quality remains consistent throughout the entire recording. Many previously released versions of this show have suffered from excessive audio processing; while the somewhat muffled sound might tempt one to boost the high frequencies, such adjustments—given the nature of this specific source—are ineffective and inevitably result in sonic distortion. This release prioritizes a natural sound, with only minimal processing applied—just enough to slightly reduce tape hiss. A notable highlight is the encore, "Communication Breakdown," which features lyrics from "Gallows Pole" woven into the performance.

[Berkeley, September 14, 1971 – Second Night]
Among Led Zeppelin collectors, William Stout is well-known as the illustrator behind the covers of numerous classic bootleg releases. Beyond his work for Led Zeppelin, Stout also created cover art for many other major acts of the era, including The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton. Among his most iconic works are the covers for Led Zeppelin’s *Bonzo’s Birthday Party* and *Burn Like a Candle*, the Rolling Stones’ *Welcome to New York*, and Eric Clapton’s *Stormy Monday*. One might imagine that Stout approached these cover designs much like an Edo-period *ukiyo-e* artist who took on commissions for *shunga* (erotic prints) simply to make a living. *Going to California*—the release in question—stands out as a classic where Stout’s cover art, the title, and the musical content align perfectly.

The vinyl bootleg *Going to California* captures a performance in Berkeley on September 14, 1971—just before the band’s legendary first tour of Japan. Released by the TMOQ label during the early days of the bootleg era, this recording became highly sought after due to its superior sound quality; in fact, it is fair to say that the vinyl release itself is what made this particular concert famous. Furthermore, it remains notable for the fact that, even now—long after so many other recordings have surfaced—the original master tape has never been found. This means that, even as we move past the era of the CD, the original vinyl pressing remains the best-sounding version available. Like many other existing editions, this release is derived from a transfer of that original vinyl record.

When digitizing audio from vinyl, the sound of the turntable motor and the surface noise from the stylus are, by the very nature of the medium, unavoidable issues. While these can be addressed through digital processing, one must exercise great caution; over-processing can negatively impact the integrity of the original sound. This release is no exception: while steps have been taken to minimize surface noise, it has not been entirely eliminated—a deliberate choice to ensure the original audio remains as faithful as possible. While prominent surface noise (clicks and pops) has been removed, please understand that this restoration was carried out with the utmost respect for the original source material, ensuring that only noise—without affecting the music itself—was addressed.

Furthermore, during "Stairway to Heaven," there is a rare, unique moment where Robert Plant sings a line not typically heard: "You are the children of the sun..." While the meaning is somewhat cryptic, it fits the atmosphere and world of the song quite well.

【GOING TO CALIFORNIA: TWO SHOWS】
This 4-disc set captures the two consecutive performances held in Berkeley, California, on September 13 and 14, 1971. The first night is sourced from what is known as a "2nd generation" tape, while the second night is derived from a digital transfer of an analog source. Rather than using mechanical equalization to artificially highlight specific frequencies, the production prioritizes a natural sound, ensuring an optimal listening experience for both shows. This is arguably the definitive version of these two performances currently available. I invite you to listen to this, capturing Led Zeppelin just before their legendary, awe-inspiring first tour of Japan—a truly moving experience. (Incidentally, the color photo at the top of the *obi* strip is said to be from the September 14, 1971, show.) The release features a glossy, coated outer jacket and permanent picture-disc CD labels—a collector’s edition through and through! Highly, highly, *highly* recommended—it blows all previous releases completely out of the water! Experience the "truly amazing sound"—and play it loud! Includes a Japanese *obi* strip.