How The West Was Won
by Led Zeppelin
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: May 27, 2003
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 187 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 168 out of 187
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 187
  3. Negative: 15 out of 187

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  1. Andremax
    Jul 12, 2018
    10
    No words can express how this band and this album is good. Anything said here is mediocre for explain this band importance. All this amazing band energy is contained in this live album. Setlist is simply perfect. One the best live albums of all time
  2. PSmaniak
    Oct 12, 2014
    10
    One of the best concert album in history of rock'n'roll. Every track on it is one of the best versions of Led's songs. Must hear - for 25-minutes version of "Dazed And Confused" and for epic Page's guitar jamming in "Since I've Been Loving You".
  3. mrozman67
    Sep 25, 2012
    10
    As a huge Zeppelin fan I was floored the first time I listened to this album. Knowing all of these songs it was as though these guys were sequestered on leashes for a long time and then someone unleashed them allowing them to shred like four supercharged virtuosos in sync. This is arguably their best work! I listened to this album most every day for over a year after I heard it the first time.
  4. asbeloliver
    Mar 27, 2012
    10
    This album is a perfect piece, has some of the best rock songs of all-time as Starway to Heaven, Black Dog, Immigrant Song and Whole Lotta Love, as well as great moments in Rock & Roll, Heartbreaker or Moby Dick, simply awesome!
  5. MrCinnamon
    Jun 18, 2011
    10
    A hark back to when bands could sing instead of auto-tune. A fabulous collection of great hits and amazing guitar playing, with amazing lyrics and singing to boot. What more do you need?
  6. jjenglishroots
    May 16, 2011
    9
    A near perfect record. Definitely the best live album I have ever heard. As constituted, the three-disc set works pretty well at recreating a Led Zeppelin concert experience. You get their biggest songs of the period, you get some jams, and you get the bombast of the band. Where the album drags for me is in some of the jams, particularly with "Dazed and Confused", and that's just myA near perfect record. Definitely the best live album I have ever heard. As constituted, the three-disc set works pretty well at recreating a Led Zeppelin concert experience. You get their biggest songs of the period, you get some jams, and you get the bombast of the band. Where the album drags for me is in some of the jams, particularly with "Dazed and Confused", and that's just my own thing. I happen to like "Bring It on Home" a lot, but "Dazed and Confused" was just a little too much. All in all, though, this is a great record.… Expand
  7. Tavares
    Jan 7, 2011
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. You have in the front of you the best rock band of all time, the band that decidedly invented the concept of rock: powerful riffs, loudly guitars, violent drums and an extremely energetic music style. This my friends, this is the definition of rock. And only a few bands play this style like it should be played. LedZeppelin was the band that do it better. Led Zeppelin was, is and, who knows, will be unquestionably the best rock band of all time. This album is only one more proof (of the hundreds that exist) that proves it… Expand
  8. EduardoR
    Nov 4, 2008
    10
    It's one of the greatest live albumsin history. Every member of the band is inspired. The long guitar and drum solos are amazing. The only thing I can complain about is Robert Plant. He was great, but not perfect. Listen to BBC Sessions to understand what I'm talking about.
  9. RoyceL.
    Nov 2, 2008
    10
    Great album great band. really captures Led Zeppelin live at their prime.
  10. sami
    May 28, 2008
    10
    Easily the best live album I've ever listened to. Page's emotional guitar mixed with Bonham's idiosyncratic drums make this one of the best Led Zeppelin sets ever. I must admit I enjoyed some of the live versions better than their recorded counterparts; "Since I've Been Loving You" pours emotion from Plant's vocals and blew me away completely. Time and time again Easily the best live album I've ever listened to. Page's emotional guitar mixed with Bonham's idiosyncratic drums make this one of the best Led Zeppelin sets ever. I must admit I enjoyed some of the live versions better than their recorded counterparts; "Since I've Been Loving You" pours emotion from Plant's vocals and blew me away completely. Time and time again Led Zeppelin has proven themselves kings of hard rock; thirty years later, their performance at LA solidifies their music in the annals of eternity. No one has ever come close to this caliber of live performance, and I doubt anyone ever will.… Expand
  11. Cormac
    May 16, 2008
    10
    Superb. Jimmy Page is great, Robert Plant's voice is as charismatic as ever and John Bonham is a monster on the drums. John Paul Jones' bass was a little low, which is a shame. The songs are all great, similar enough that you know them but freshened up nicely. I could have done without the 25 minute version of Dazed and Confused to be honest and Moby Dick drags on a bit, but the Superb. Jimmy Page is great, Robert Plant's voice is as charismatic as ever and John Bonham is a monster on the drums. John Paul Jones' bass was a little low, which is a shame. The songs are all great, similar enough that you know them but freshened up nicely. I could have done without the 25 minute version of Dazed and Confused to be honest and Moby Dick drags on a bit, but the Whole Lotta Love stretchout is great. Highlights of the album are probably Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Going to California, Over the Hills and Far Away, Whole lotta Love and Bring it on Home.… Expand
  12. MikeH.
    Jan 13, 2008
    10
    All four of them have a sensational vibe. They created new sounds in the songs, played other songs in songs, just amazing. They could had 20 more hits if they had still recording. This is the Bonzo of rock. Some of the songs like "Bring it on Home" are better here than in Coda. If you have a good set of speakers you can feel the energy of this collection of songs.
  13. RobertJ.
    Dec 29, 2007
    10
    I have had these two 1972 shows(bootlegs) for years and it is good to hear an official release culled from those concerts. Unbelievable performance and probably the best live rock album of all time.
  14. NickN
    Dec 17, 2007
    10
    I realize that giving perfect ratings to Led Zeppelin CDs has become an all-too-common cliche, but this really is a definitive live album, something that most LZ fans have been waiting DECADES for. The extended pieces never drag, the classics all sound sharp...there really aren't words to describe how PERFECT this album really is. Essential, must-own listening.
  15. BobP.
    Nov 18, 2007
    7
    A couple of the songs nearly reach 30 minutes. It took me a week to listen to the whole record! Wow - we're they on stimulants? This music invigorates.
  16. ChrisR.
    Oct 6, 2007
    10
    Very awesome stuff. It's nice to hear them play really well live. Jimmy's still a guitar slop but it's all about the emotion anyway isn't it? black a gave it a6: I am a bass guitarist and a huge fan of John Paul Jones. To me ,his bass should have been mixed in a little louder as what I could hear was up to his usual superior playing.All in all,a six for me,I'm Very awesome stuff. It's nice to hear them play really well live. Jimmy's still a guitar slop but it's all about the emotion anyway isn't it? black a gave it a6: I am a bass guitarist and a huge fan of John Paul Jones. To me ,his bass should have been mixed in a little louder as what I could hear was up to his usual superior playing.All in all,a six for me,I'm afraid. Dude, turn up the bass on your EQ! You're an idiot. Your opinions are moot.… Expand
  17. adda
    Sep 29, 2007
    10
    Jimmy Page is the father of all guitar players...
  18. ScottW
    Aug 15, 2007
    10
    The Best Live Album of All Time! Some of the songs are even better then the stoudios versions. A must for a Zeppelin fane. If you like your music load but well done, you will not find anything better then this.
  19. RedK
    Aug 7, 2007
    10
    amazing!!!
  20. BrettB
    Aug 6, 2007
    6
    It's not like any of the songs are new
  21. blacka
    Aug 1, 2007
    6
    Was not all that impressed with some of the work. Some songs were not as smooth as the origionals (I fear I have memorized them) but Robert Plant's voice was great, Jimmy Page was terriffic, although a limit MUST be drawn on solos( Perhaps the United Nations should consider a International Guitar Solo Treaty.The older Eric Clapton should be forced to sign,too.) The late Mr Bonham was Was not all that impressed with some of the work. Some songs were not as smooth as the origionals (I fear I have memorized them) but Robert Plant's voice was great, Jimmy Page was terriffic, although a limit MUST be drawn on solos( Perhaps the United Nations should consider a International Guitar Solo Treaty.The older Eric Clapton should be forced to sign,too.) The late Mr Bonham was collosal,as always. I am a bass guitarist and a huge fan of John Paul Jones. To me ,his bass should have been mixed in a little louder as what I could hear was up to his usual superior playing.All in all,a six for me,I'm afraid.… Expand
  22. JHJhjkjbh
    Jun 29, 2007
    0
    asjdsakdakn
  23. SeanP.
    May 22, 2007
    10
    Among other strengths, this has THE best live versions of Stairway To Heaven and What Is And What Should Never Be, that you'll find anywhere.
  24. austinp
    Apr 15, 2007
    10
    great album by a great band, it is late but it is still great live fewatures with a long dazed and confused and long whole lotta love, we should all own it
  25. HarryS
    Mar 13, 2007
    10
    Rock n Roll at its very best, which is better than just about anything. Despite occasional moments of overindulgence, they can be ignored when the music is this great.
  26. pascald
    Jan 12, 2007
    10
    The best
  27. brianl
    Dec 26, 2006
    10
    no comment...
  28. Daniel
    Aug 31, 2006
    10
    I was always a zeppelin fan, but this album blew me away. they are the greatest hard rock band. ever. you can feel the link between bonham and page as they hammer down unparalelled rock n roll glory. but the sheer diversity of the music is what stuns me. it almost makes me sad... bands these days just dont have the variety that zeppelin offered. whether your looking for powerful electric I was always a zeppelin fan, but this album blew me away. they are the greatest hard rock band. ever. you can feel the link between bonham and page as they hammer down unparalelled rock n roll glory. but the sheer diversity of the music is what stuns me. it almost makes me sad... bands these days just dont have the variety that zeppelin offered. whether your looking for powerful electric blues, thundering hard rock riffs or epic ballads, this is the best album, live or not that i have ever heard.… Expand
  29. paulj
    Aug 24, 2006
    10
    it rocks man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  30. Claygh
    Jun 15, 2006
    7
    Unquestionably some quality riffage--when Page leads 'em on a slamming rhythm riff, few bands can follow. But holy arena rock, as a record this one reeks heavily of the overindulgent and the overblown. How many times does one really wanna hear a 25-minute heavy metal blues number or a endless drum solo? Great historical document and some great head-shaking moments from great Unquestionably some quality riffage--when Page leads 'em on a slamming rhythm riff, few bands can follow. But holy arena rock, as a record this one reeks heavily of the overindulgent and the overblown. How many times does one really wanna hear a 25-minute heavy metal blues number or a endless drum solo? Great historical document and some great head-shaking moments from great musicians, but keep your all-time classics reserved for a band with a little more skill on the self-edit button.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
97

Universal acclaim - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Mojo
    70
    The empathy between the four is palpable. [Jun 2003, p.113]
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    100
    Capture[s] a mighty band at the height of its gargantuan power.
    Read full review
  3. ShakingThrough.net
    90
    A vital document of Led Zeppelin's formidable legacy.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »