How the West Was Won (Led Zeppelin album)

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How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won cover
Live album by Led Zeppelin
Released 27 May 2003
Recorded 25 June 1972, L.A. Forum, Inglewood, California, United States and 27 June 1972, Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California, United States
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal, blues-rock
Length 150:27
Language English
Label Atlantic
Producer Jimmy Page
Compiler Jimmy Page
Professional reviews
Led Zeppelin live album chronology
BBC Sessions
(1997)		 How the West Was Won
(2007)

How the West Was Won is a triple live album by English rock group Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records on Compact Disc on 27 May 2003, and DVD-Audio on 7 October 2003. These original performances are from the band's 1972 concert tour of the United States, recorded at the L.A. Forum on 25 June 1972 and Long Beach Arena on 27 June 1972. Guitarist Jimmy Page considers Led Zeppelin at this point to have been at their artistic peak, as is mentioned in the album's liner notes.

For many years, live recordings of these two shows only circulated in the form of bootlegs, and even then only certain audience recordings were available to fans and collectors (for example, Burn Like a Candle). Though several soundboard recordings of Led Zeppelin concerts were circulated amongst fans after having been stolen from Page's personal archive some time in the 1980s, no soundboards of the 1972 Long Beach or LA Forum shows were taken, meaning the release of How the West Was Won was the first chance fans had of hearing the soundboard versions of these concerts.[1]

The songs from the two shows underwent some extensive editing and audio engineering by Page at Sarm West Studios in London before being released on the album. A comprehensive analysis of live tracks edits for the album can be found at The Garden Tapes. Some songs which were played at the concerts, such as "Communication Breakdown", "Thank You" and a rare version of "Louie Louie" from the 25 June show, were left off How the West Was Won.

Contents

[edit] Reception

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending 14 June 2003 at number 1, with sales of 154,000 copies. It remained on the chart for 16 weeks.[2] It was certified gold and platinum (1,000,000 units) record awards by the RIAA on 30 June 2003.[3] The album became the first Led Zeppelin album since 1979's In Through the Out Door to reach the #1 position.[4][5] How the West Was Won is tied with SMiLE by Brian Wilson and Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn as the best reviewed album of all time by Metacritic, with an average score of 97%.[6]

[edit] Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Classic Rock United Kingdom "The 50 Greatest Live Albums Ever"[7] 2003 4
Les Inrockuptibles France "2003 Best Reissues"[8] 2003 4
Record Collector United Kingdom "New Albums: Readers Top 10" (2003)[9] 2004 4
The Village Voice United States "Albums of the Year"[10] 2004 37
Q United Kingdom "10 Live Albums You Must Own"[11] 2005 *
Q United Kingdom "The 20 Greatest Live Albums"[12] 2006 11

(*) designates unordered lists.

[edit] Track listing

Disc one
  1. "LA Drone" (Page/Jones) – 0:14*
  2. "Immigrant Song" (Page/Plant) – 3:42*
  3. "Heartbreaker" (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham) – 7:25*
  4. "Black Dog" (Page/Plant/Jones) – 5:41**
  5. "Over the Hills and Far Away" (Page/Plant) – 5:08**
  6. "Since I've Been Loving You" (Page/Plant/Jones) – 8:02*
  7. "Stairway to Heaven" (Page/Plant) – 9:38*
  8. "Going to California" (Page/Plant) – 5:37*
  9. "That's the Way" (Page/Plant) – 5:54**
  10. "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" (Page/Jones/Plant) – 4:55*
Disc two
  1. "Dazed and Confused" (Page) – 25:25**
  2. "What Is and What Should Never Be" (Page/Plant) – 4:41*
  3. "Dancing Days" (Page/Plant) – 3:42*
  4. "Moby Dick" (Bonham/Jones/Page) – 19:20**
Disc three
  1. "Whole Lotta Love" (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham and Dixon) – 23:08**
  2. "Rock and Roll" (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham) – 3:56*
  3. "The Ocean" (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham) – 4:21**
  4. "Bring It On Home" (Dixon) – 9:30**
    • "Bring It On Back" (Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham)

*From the Long Beach Arena. **From the LA Forum.

[edit] Sales chart performance

Chart (2003) Peak position
French Albums Chart[13] 11
Italian Albums Chart[14] 7
Irish Albums Chart[15] 9
Canadian Albums Chart[16] 1
Polish Albums Chart[17] 24
Norwegian Albums Charts[18] 10
Finnish Albums Chart[19] 23
UK Albums Chart[20] 5
Spanish Albums Chart[21] 39
Austrian Albums Chart[22] 17
Japanese Albums Chart[23] 3
Swedish Albums Chart[24] 16
US Billboard The 200 Albums Chart[25] 1
US Billboard Top Internet Albums[26] 1
Belgian Albums Chart (Walloon)[27] 2
Dutch Albums Chart[28] 15
Australian ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart[29] 10
German Albums Chart[30] 15
Swiss Albums Chart[31] 20
Belgian Albums Chart (Flemish)[32] 9
New Zealand RIANZ Top 50 Albums Chart[33] 13
Danish Albums Chart[34] 25

[edit] Sales certifications

Country Sales Certification
Brazil (ABDP) 50,000+ Gold[35]
United Kingdom (BPI) 180,000+ Gold[36]
United States (RIAA) 1,000,000+ Platinum[37]
Canada (CRIA) 1,000,000+ Platinum[38]

[edit] Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog #
United States 27 May 2003 Atlantic Records Compact Disc 83587-2
7 October 2003 DVD-Audio 83587-9
Japan 27 May 2003 WEA Japan Compact Disc 11585-7

[edit] Personnel

Led Zeppelin

[edit] Additional personnel

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lewis, Dave (2003). Led Zeppelin: The 'Tight but Loose' Files: Celebration II (1st ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 156. ISBN 1-84449-056-4. 
  2. ^ "The Billboard 200: How the West was Won". Billobard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3051055&cdi=8051285&cid=09%2F27%2F2003. Retrieved on 2009-01-18. 
  3. ^ "RIAA Certifications for June". Billboard. http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4666312-1.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  4. ^ "Zep Gives Retail Whole Lotta $$". Billboard. http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4636329-1.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  5. ^ "Zeppelin Smashes Records as CD/DVDs Debut at No. 1 - 4 June 2003". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1903223. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  6. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ledzeppelin/howthewestwaswon
  7. ^ "Classic Rock - The 50 Greatest Live Albums Ever (2003)". Classic Rock. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10. 
  8. ^ "2003 Best Reissues". Les Inrockuptibles. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/lesrock.html#2003. Retrieved on 2009-02-10. 
  9. ^ "New Albums: Readers Top 10". Record Collector. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/recordcollector.htm#Best%20of%202003. Retrieved on 2009-02-10. 
  10. ^ "Albums of the Year (2004)". The Village Voice. http://villagevoice.com/specials/pazznjop/04/. Retrieved on 2009-02-10. 
  11. ^ "10 Live Albums You Must Own - April 2005". Q. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qcollection.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10. 
  12. ^ "The 20 Greatest Live Albums - June 2006". Q. http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/3172289350/show/620762. Retrieved on 2009-02-10. 
  13. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 25 May 2003". lescharts.com. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  14. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 29 May 2003". italiancharts.com. http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  15. ^ "Top 75 Albums - 29 May 2003". acharts.us. http://acharts.us/ireland_albums_top_75/2003/22. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  16. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 1 June 2003". CRIA. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/L/Led_Zeppelin/2003/06/04/746876.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  17. ^ "Top 50 Albums - 1 June 2003". OLIS. http://www.olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=147&lang=. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  18. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 5 June 2003". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  19. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 5 June 2003". finnishcharts.com. http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  20. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 7 June 2003". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=1131. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  21. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 7 June 2003". PROMUSICAE. http://www.promusicae.es/english.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  22. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 8 June 2003". austriancharts.at. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  23. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 11 June 2003". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  24. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 12 June 2003". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  25. ^ "Billboard.com How the West Was Won - 14 June 2003". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=others&pid=5047&aid=582147. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  26. ^ "Top Internet Albums - 14 June 2003". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=327&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Internet+Albums&ci=3049806&cdi=8008109&cid=06%2F14%2F2003. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  27. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 14 June 2003". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  28. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 14 June 2003". dutchcharts.nl. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  29. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 15 June 2003". ARIA. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  30. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 15 June 2003". musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/LED+ZEPPELIN/How+The+West+Was+Won/longplay. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  31. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 15 June 2003". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  32. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 21 June 2003". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  33. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 29 June 2003". RIANZ. http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  34. ^ "Top 100 Albums - 8 August 2003". danishcharts.com. http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=How+The+West+Was+Won&cat=a. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  35. ^ "ABDP How the West Was Won - 2003". ABDP. http://www.abpd.org.br/certificados_interna.asp. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  36. ^ "BPI How the West Was Won certification - 13 June 2003". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30960. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  37. ^ "RIAA.org How the West Was Won - 30 June 2003". RIAA. http://www.riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  38. ^ "CRIA How the West Was Won - 2 February 2004". CRIA. http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 

[edit] External links

Preceded by
14 Shades of Grey by Staind		 Billboard 200 number-one album
8–14 June 2003		 Succeeded by
St. Anger by Metallica
v • d • e
Led Zeppelin
John Bonham · John Paul Jones · Jimmy Page · Robert Plant
Studio albums
Live albums
The Song Remains the Same · BBC Sessions · How the West Was Won
Compilations
Singles
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