On this day in 2003, Led Zeppelin released How The West Was Won, a thunderous, sprawling live album that instantly became one of the most celebrated concert recordings in rock history. Pieced together from two performances in….
On this day in 2003, Led Zeppelin released How The West Was Won, a thunderous, sprawling live album that instantly became one of the most celebrated concert recordings in rock history. Pieced together from two performances in Southern California during the summer of 1972, the triple-disc set captured the band at a critical creative and musical peak — raw, improvisational, and utterly electric.
Spanning over three hours, How The West Was Won is more than just a live album. It’s a time capsule of Zeppelin’s onstage power during their most explosive period. The source recordings came from their June 25 show at the Los Angeles Forum and the June 27 show at Long Beach Arena. Though these concerts had been widely bootlegged by fans over the years, they’d never been officially released — and certainly not in this polished, bombastic form.
Constructed from Chaos: Page’s Sonic Alchemy
The album owes much of its clarity and intensity to Jimmy Page’s painstaking post-production work. Utilizing multi-track soundboard recordings that had never leaked into fan circles, Page blended performances from both nights to create what he considered definitive versions of the setlist. In some cases, he seamlessly stitched together different takes of the same song from each venue to highlight the most transcendent moments.
Critics and purists debated the approach. Was it truly a live album if it was so carefully edited and constructed in the studio? But for most listeners — especially those who had followed the band’s notoriously inconsistent bootlegs — How The West Was Won represented something far more valuable: a rare chance to hear Zeppelin in their element, not just loud and loose, but with the sonic depth and fidelity they deserved.
“Zeppelin in their element, captured live at the peak of their pomp,” wrote Classic Rock magazine at the time. “Well, almost. Though both performances were extensively bootlegged, they’d never been heard quite like this.”
A Setlist That Redefined “Epic”
How The West Was Won showcased the band’s ferocious energy and musical versatility. Opening with a blistering “Immigrant Song” that segues into the thunderous groove of “Heartbreaker,” the album wastes no time in flexing its power. Other highlights include a 25-minute version of “Dazed and Confused” complete with bow-scraping theatrics from Page, a sprawling “Whole Lotta Love” medley that spans everything from blues standards to Elvis covers, and a transcendental 19-minute rendition of “Moby Dick” that becomes a showcase for John Bonham’s drum pyrotechnics.
But the real revelation is “Stairway to Heaven.” Performed less than a year after the release of Led Zeppelin IV, this version of the band’s most iconic track radiates freshness and urgency, far from the bloated arena-rock anthem it would later become in some circles.
The album closes with a triumphant “Bring It On Home,” a fitting bookend to a journey through what may be the most potent live incarnation of Led Zeppelin ever committed to tape.
Reception and Legacy
Upon release, How The West Was Won debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, proving that even decades after their 1980 disbandment, Led Zeppelin could still dominate the charts. Critics praised it as the most authentic representation of the band’s legendary live presence. Rolling Stone called it “a feral, incendiary glimpse at Zeppelin’s raw power,” while Q magazine hailed it as “the most essential Zeppelin release since Physical Graffiti.”
The album also helped reignite interest in the band among younger generations, many of whom had never seen Zeppelin live or were too young to appreciate their legacy in the ’70s. It stood in stark contrast to the more polished or overproduced live releases of other classic rock acts, offering something that felt dangerous, urgent, and real.
In 2018, How The West Was Won was remastered and reissued with updated mixes by Page, ensuring the album’s longevity and reaffirming its status as not just a highlight of Zeppelin’s catalog, but a milestone in live rock recording.
A Lasting Testament
Today, over 20 years since its release and more than 50 years since the original performances, How The West Was Won remains a defining document of Led Zeppelin’s might. It’s a reminder of what made the band so singular — not just the heaviness or the virtuosity, but the wild, unpredictable magic that occurred when four musicians truly listened to one another on stage.
As fans continue to revisit this live masterpiece, one thing remains clear: the West wasn’t just won — it was conquered by Zeppelin’s sound.
