Dazed and Confused, There's So Many It's Not True....

Alright, live versions time...not quite sure to handle this as I've never done this for live versions, but it seems apropriate due to the large amounts of versions of Dazed and Confused.

I did a search through my albums, and found a total of five versions, plus an extra from the 1970 performance at Royal Albert Hall.

A lot to cover...

It doesn't really help that each song is on average 20 minutes long, so I'll just try to cover some major changes and similarities between the songs.

First and foremost, the version from the album The Song Remains The Same is probably the most recognized; this version is also the longest, at 29 minutes and 18 seconds longs...and you thought 6 minutes was a long song... the beginning starts the same way as the studio, the only notable change being an added high-hat part from Bonham, but nothing really major; after the first few minutes, however, it breaks away into a faster-paced midsection, with new lyrics.

The song evolved gradually as time moved on; new parts were added in, mostly improvised sections. Only the beginning, viola bow secion, and ending have remained the same (insert TSRTS ref here) There, apparently, is a basic outline of the playing:

Stage 1: Bass intro and wah-wah interludes

Stage 2: Main vocal theme

Stage 3: Fast instrumental and 'oriental' riffs

Stage 4: "San Francisco" or "Woodstock"

Stage 5: Violin bow episode including echo-slapping from the guitar; interlude with Plant's 'instrumental voice'; Gustav Holst's Mars, the Bringer of War and return of the rhythm section

Stage 6: Fast guitar solo and battle with Plant

Stage 7: Slower tempo solo and 'funky' moods

Stage 8: Violent breaks and call and response interlude

Stage 9: Faster solo in crescendos and occasional break-up tempo

Stage 10: New arrangement of Mars, the Bringer of War (slow and fast versions) and final frenzy

Stage 11: Return to main theme

Stage 12: Coda. Final instrumental and vocal battle inside syncopated rhythms, drum-solo and final explosion.

I took this off of Wikipedia, but this is publicated from Luis Rey, who published this in an analysis of Zeppelin. At times in the song, other parts of Zeppelin's songs are added in; for example, in the version of Dazed and Confused, parts from "Walter's Walk" and "The Crunge" are added in.

During the live performances of Dazed and Confused, Page generally has a larger section played solo with his bowed-guitar playing, adding a sort of "creeping" feeling when it's done. Delay is added in, as Page slaps the guitar, and in the recording, the sounds flows easily from both ears.

I don't really know what else to really say here, besides that Dazed and Confused is a LONG song to listen to, so if you find yourself with a spare half-hour block in your day, go ahead and listen.