CODA

The greatest merit of this compilation is to keep some remaining Zeppelin material out of the closet,but to such ends it gained much more praise than it deserves.It's simply not fair to make comparisons between Coda and actuall studio albums,as many people love to.

This is really just a series of weak album throw-outs recorded during the band's entirer career(and considering the way it was and is promoted,a bit of a cheap shot from the record company).To be honest,there's only one track which is really worth paying attention,that is We're Gonne Groove.I'm quite sure this song opened many of their early concerts(the famous 1970 Royal albert Hall gig at least,and what a performance that was).It is the kind of tune one could expect from those first Led Zep moments,with distorted guitars and an almost funky beat.Robert Plant is in a shining vocal performance in this number,which brings me to the thought,why was it kept out from the second/third LP?It's better than some of the stuff present in those records.It stood hidden in the band's repertoire for over 10 years(except,of coure,for those who actually went to see the band live).Here,it takes fair credit for almost by itself save this album from a one-star rating,as the remaining tracks are as far as interesting,no more.

There's a different version of I Can't Quit You Baby that may draw attention.Of coure,it's a great cover,but considering it was present in a previous album(II),it looses a good share of it's appeal if you're familiar to the original.Ozone Baby is a nice rocker,but honestly too easily forgettable and completley lost in a boring album which is very hard to listen to all the way through.More recent compostions which date from the late days(75-79)are much weaker,but at least serve to ilustrate the bad period which the band was passing through.

Those who truly aprecciate Led Zeppelin's studio album might give this a check without expectations.It's the kind of album I never take of the sleeve case for a listen,but contains some interesting stuff that would have otherwise been ommited(even presenting a very rewarding tune).