Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2
Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 is a compilation album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on September 21, 1993, by Atlantic Records as a double CD set.[1] It features 32 tracks spanning the band's nine studio albums from 1969 to 1979, including 31 songs omitted from their 1990 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set and one previously unreleased recording, "Baby Come On Home."[2] The collection was digitally remastered at Sterling Sound in New York and sequenced by guitarist Jimmy Page to provide a chronological overview of the band's lesser-highlighted material.[2] The set arrived in a sturdy box containing two jewel cases, a 54-page booklet with photographs, full credits, and new liner notes by rock journalist David Fricke, emphasizing Led Zeppelin's evolution and the tracks' contextual importance.[2] Together with the original boxed set, it encompasses every song from the band's studio discography plus two BBC live recordings and their sole non-album single, offering fans a comprehensive remastered archive of their core output.[3] Upon release, Boxed Set 2 peaked at number 87 on the US Billboard 200 chart, reflecting sustained interest in the band's catalog amid the growing popularity of CD compilations in the 1990s.Background and Development
Origins
The Led Zeppelin Boxed Set, the band's first comprehensive anthology, was released by Atlantic Records on October 29, 1990, spanning four compact discs with 54 tracks carefully selected by guitarist Jimmy Page from the group's nine studio albums spanning 1969 to 1979. This collection highlighted key moments in the band's evolution but intentionally excluded many album cuts, rarities, and live performances to maintain a focused narrative, leaving fans eager for deeper explorations of their catalog.[4] Building on the success of the original set, Jimmy Page decided to produce a sequel to address these omissions, compiling Boxed Set 2 as a double-disc release featuring the remaining studio tracks not included in the 1990 edition, and the previously unreleased "Baby Come On Home," an outtake from the band's 1968 debut sessions that Page had shelved due to incomplete production at the time.[5] Page's curation aimed to provide a more exhaustive retrospective, emphasizing the band's breadth and hidden gems while preserving the artistic integrity of their output.[6] The timing of Boxed Set 2's release on September 21, 1993, aligned with sustained public fascination with Led Zeppelin, reignited by their partial reunion performance at Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in 1988—where Page, vocalist Robert Plant, and bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones joined drummer Jason Bonham for a medley of hits—and the duo's parallel solo careers, including Plant's 1993 album Fate of Nations and Page's collaboration with David Coverdale on the same year's Coverdale/Page.[7] As the band's longstanding label, Atlantic Records backed the project to capitalize on this enduring demand for authoritative, fan-oriented compilations of their legacy.[6]Track Selection
The curation of tracks for Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 focused on completing the band's studio discography by incorporating the 31 remaining songs from their nine studio albums that were absent from the 1990 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set.[8] This approach ensured comprehensive coverage of the group's recorded output without repeating selections from the earlier compilation, emphasizing album deep cuts over previously highlighted singles.[9] Jimmy Page personally oversaw the selection and sequencing to create a cohesive archival experience, prioritizing stylistic diversity across blues, hard rock, and acoustic elements while maintaining a logical flow through the material.[10] In addition to studio album tracks, the set incorporated the previously unreleased "Baby Come On Home," originally recorded in 1968 during sessions linked to Page's Yardbirds-era projects but featuring the full Led Zeppelin lineup.[1] This addition highlighted overlooked aspects of the band's early development and non-album output, such as the blues-inflected "Baby Come On Home." The chronological scope ranges from the 1968 origins of "Baby Come On Home" to selections from the 1979 album In Through the Out Door, balancing fan favorites like "Good Times Bad Times" with lesser-known gems such as "Night Flight" from In Through the Out Door (1979) and "The Rover" from Physical Graffiti (1975).[11] The exclusion criteria maintained a strict focus on the classic Led Zeppelin era, omitting any post-1979 recordings or material from members' solo projects to preserve the integrity of the group's collective legacy.[9] This deliberate scope, guided by Page's vision, avoided overlap with prior releases and underscored the set's role in providing a "complete" yet varied portrait of the band's evolution.[10]Production
Remastering Process
Jimmy Page, serving as producer and compiler for Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2, oversaw the remastering process to compile and enhance the selected tracks from the band's studio albums spanning their career from 1969 to 1979. Collaborating closely with mastering engineer George Marino, Page focused on transferring the original analog master tapes to digital format, a key step in updating the sound for the 1993 CD release. This collaboration ensured the remasters captured the essence of the band's recordings while adapting them to contemporary digital standards.[12][5] The digital remastering took place at Sterling Sound in New York, where Marino handled the technical execution under Page's supervision. The process involved careful application of modern equalization to introduce greater sparkle and maintain a cohesive aesthetic and technical flow across the tracks. Original engineers such as Glyn Johns, who handled sessions for tracks like "Good Times Bad Times" and the BBC version of "Travelling Riverside Blues," and Eddie Kramer, credited for mixes on selections like "You Shook Me," contributed to the foundational recordings that formed the basis of these remasters, preserving the fidelity to Led Zeppelin's live energy.[12][5][12] These enhancements resulted in noticeable improvements over the original vinyl pressings and early CD versions, including greater clarity, expanded dynamics, and improved bass response. For instance, the remastering better highlighted instrument separation, such as the punch of John Bonham's drums, while reducing noise inherent in the analog source tapes and achieving a louder overall mastering level optimized for CD playback. This approach not only revitalized the audio but also emphasized the band's raw power and studio craftsmanship.[5][13]Artwork and Packaging
The Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 features a physical format consisting of two individual jewel cases, each housing one CD with a 4-page inlay, all contained within a sturdy cardboard slipcase. This design echoes the archival presentation of the original Led Zeppelin Boxed Set but on a more compact scale, emphasizing the collection's focus on the band's lesser-highlighted tracks.[8] The slipcase prominently displays a black-and-white photograph of the band performing on stage, captured by photographer Neal Preston, which contributes to the set's evocative, performance-oriented visual theme. Numerous photographers, including Neal Preston, Barry Plummer, and Michael Putland, provided images for the package, underscoring its reliance on authentic, era-specific documentation.[9] A key component is the accompanying 54-page booklet, which includes rare photographs, comprehensive credits for the remastered tracks, and liner notes by David Fricke that contextualize the compilation's selections. These elements collectively highlight the set's archival intent.[8] The overall aesthetic adopts a minimalist approach, utilizing monochromatic tones and clean layouts to differentiate it from the vibrant, multicolored box of the first set. This packaging, produced under Jimmy Page's supervisory role in the compilation process, prioritizes elegance and accessibility for fans exploring the band's deeper catalog.[14]Contents
Track Listing
The Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 compiles 32 tracks from the band's nine studio albums that were omitted from the 1990 Boxed Set, along with one previously unreleased recording, all digitally remastered for this 1993 release.[9] The set spans approximately 174 minutes in total runtime and draws exclusively from studio sessions, with no live or BBC recordings included.[9]Disc 1
| No. | Track | Duration | Original Album (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Good Times Bad Times | 2:47 | Led Zeppelin (1969) |
| 2 | We're Gonna Groove | 2:38 | Led Zeppelin II (1969)[15] |
| 3 | Night Flight | 3:36 | Led Zeppelin III (1970) |
| 4 | That's the Way | 5:38 | Led Zeppelin III (1970) |
| 5 | Baby Come On Home | 4:30 | Previously unreleased (recorded 1968)[9] |
| 6 | The Lemon Song | 6:20 | Led Zeppelin II (1969)[15] |
| 7 | You Shook Me | 6:27 | Led Zeppelin (1969) |
| 8 | Boogie with Stu | 3:51 | Physical Graffiti (1975)[16] |
| 9 | Bron-Yr-Aur | 2:06 | Physical Graffiti (1975)[16] |
| 10 | Down by the Seaside | 5:14 | Physical Graffiti (1975)[16] |
| 11 | Out on the Tiles | 4:05 | Led Zeppelin III (1970) |
| 12 | Black Mountain Side | 2:05 | Led Zeppelin (1969) |
| 13 | Moby Dick | 4:20 | Led Zeppelin II (1969)[15] |
| 14 | Sick Again | 4:43 | Houses of the Holy (1973)[17] |
| 15 | Hot Dog | 3:17 | In Through the Out Door (1979)[18] |
| 16 | Carouselambra | 10:32 | In Through the Out Door (1979)[18] |
Disc 2
| No. | Track | Duration | Original Album (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Bound Saurez | 4:13 | In Through the Out Door (1979)[18] |
| 2 | Walter's Walk | 4:31 | Coda (1982) |
| 3 | Darlene | 5:07 | Coda (1982) |
| 4 | Black Country Woman | 4:24 | Physical Graffiti (1975)[16] |
| 5 | How Many More Times | 8:27 | Led Zeppelin (1969) |
| 6 | The Rover | 5:37 | Physical Graffiti (1975)[16] |
| 7 | Four Sticks | 4:44 | Led Zeppelin IV (1971) |
| 8 | Hats Off to (Roy) Harper | 3:43 | Led Zeppelin III (1970) |
| 9 | I Can't Quit You Baby | 4:42 | Led Zeppelin (1969) |
| 10 | Hots on for Nowhere | 4:43 | Presence (1976)[19] |
| 11 | Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) | 2:39 | Led Zeppelin II (1969)[15] |
| 12 | Royal Orleans | 2:58 | Presence (1976)[19] |
| 13 | Bonzo's Montreux | 4:18 | Coda (1982) |
| 14 | The Crunge | 3:15 | Houses of the Holy (1973)[17] |
| 15 | Bring It On Home | 4:20 | Led Zeppelin II (1969)[15] |
| 16 | Tea for One | 9:27 | Presence (1976)[19] |