"We're Gonna Groove" opens the album and is taken from the recording sessions that yielded "Led Zeppelin II". This track was a one time show opener and it's easy to see why. Jimmy Page adds sub-octdivider effects on guitar while a young Robert Anthony Plant screams his head off. "Poor Tom" is an interesting piece left over from the "Led Zeppelin III" era. Bonham supplies a fine rhythm track under Page's stellar 12-string acoustic work and Plant's harp. "I Can't Quit You Baby" is taken from a soundcheck from the Royal Albert Hall in 1970. This take is far more explosive than the version found on "Led Zeppelin" (and better, too). "Walter's Walk" is from the 1972 "Houses Of The Holy" sessions and is easily one of the better songs on the album. Bonham's drum sound is massive, and Page stays in the pocket...until the final refrain when he goes postal. Plant's vocals *must* have been overdubed during the compiling of this collection because the quality of his voice is more consistant with the 1978 "In Through The Out Door" sessions, range-wise, whereas if you listen to a song from "Houses" ("Over The Hills And Far Away"), his voice is more powerful.

"Ozone Baby", "Darlene", and "Wearing and Tearing" are all outtakes from the "Out Door" sessions. "Ozone Baby" is a nice, uptempo rocker which obviously would not have belonged on "Out Door". "Darlene" is another highlight of the album. John Paul Jones' piano work is fantastic, while Jimmy Page slips into his Scotty Moore/Jimmy Burton persona to deliver some inspired lead work. Why this song was left off "In Through The Out Door" in favor of "Hot Dog" or "South Bound Saurez" I'll never understand. "Wearing and Tearing" is a two million mile-an-hour punk/thrash piece with acappella vocals ala "Black Dog". Plant does sound hoarse, though, and while the energy level is remarkable, Plant's Drano-induced yelling/screeching brings this track down a peg or two. That leaves "Bonzo's Montreux", a 1976 John Bonham drum instrumental with electronic effects added by Page. It's a nice tribute, but not something you will listen to over and over.

So, that's "Coda". There is nothing timeless on this album, but there is nothing on here that diminishes the legacy of Led Zeppelin, either. It's an album that you take out every so often to hear some ideas that didn't see the light of day the first time around, and there are some good ideas to be heard. Buy "Coda" with the knowledge that it is a summary of a bygone era, nothing more, nothing less.


Buy this last, but still buy it.   May 17, 1999
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

This album was released after LZ's breakup. It consists of the studio album outtakes that weren't used to fill the gaps on Physical Graffiti. Basically, its the eight worst tracks by the best rock band in the world. However, LZ (apparently) never wasted studio tape: all these tracks are worthwhile. I Can't Quit You is a 1970 rehearsal of a blues cover found on the first album. Ozone Baby, Darlene, and Wearing and Tearing were three punk-influenced tracks recorded with In Through The Out Door. Bonzo's Montreax is a drum solo in the spirit of Moby Dick. The others are tracks from 1970-2. Although the tracks are weaker than other Zep material, these songs are worth a listen from time to time. After the other 9 CD's, buy this.


True Zeppelin fans will want this   July 9, 2002
Sal Nudo (Champaign, Illinois)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

First off, it's interesting to notice the years that each of these eight songs were released -- spanning from 1969 to 1978. Like all past Led Zeppelin albums, "Coda" contains its share of varied styles and highly memorable jam sessions by each talented musician. It opens with the fun and highly energetic "We're Gonna Groove," done originally by Ben E. King and James Bethea. "Coda" boasts plenty of energy, and the songs are nowhere near as lame as many have claimed they are over the years. The Page/Plant team did a wonderful job on "Poor Tom," a folksy, high-energy ditty with great background drumming, some notable harmonica, a cool bass line and a nice bridge where Plant gently sings and the guitars gently chime.

Though Led Zeppelin influenced every hard rock band under the sun, they themselves also blatantly played their own influences on record, and one such song is the popular Willie Dixon blues track, "I Can't Quit You Baby," a song also heard on Zeppelin's debut album, Led Zeppelin 1, where it expertly melds blues and rock together. Though it was written in 1972, "Walter's Walk" sounds vaguely like an 1980s-era Plant song, with its sharp sound and raring-to-go vocals. Likewise, "Ozone Baby" is a fairly rocking, almost danceable track that displays a band still very much in top form when they recorded it in 1978. In fact, it's unfortunate that some of these late 70s "Coda" songs didn't find their way on Zeppelin's last studio album, In Through the Out Door.

Clicking on all cyclinders throughout "Coda" was the legendary drummer John Bonham. His own song, which truly pays homage to his unbelievable talent, "Bonzo's Montreux," in some ways steals the album. Bonham is a one-man orchestra on the all-drum song, and you simply have to hear it to believe it. "Darlene" feautures great instrumentation by John Paul Jones, who plays a rollicking piano. Finally, the closing song, "Wearing and Tearing," is appropriately titled. The rocking song shows a great band on its way out with a fast riff to speed the song along and wild-fire vocals. Interestingly, it's the sort of style Zeppelin didn't always attempt during their massive heyday, preferring instead a slower pace and long solos by Page.

In my opinion, every song in the Zeppelin catalog is to be treasured, and the songs on "Coda" are no exception. Those that say this record is nearly a complete throwaway are mistaken. Zep were cool because they never over-produced themselves, and they played like a bar band and stadium rockers all at once. Zeppelin always sounded natural together, and that's one of the reasons I like "Coda" so much.


the led zeppelin clearance sale...everything must go.   March 1, 2001
tommy v. (jonesboro, arkansas)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

and indeed everything did go...sort of. though later it would be realized that at least one more track hadn't been used ("baby come on home", included on the second zep box set in 93), this album does an admirable job of sating fans thirst for zeppelin one last time. i personally think they could have made the album better by including "hey hey what can i do" and "travelling riverside blues" on it, but that's not for me to decide. at least those tracks were made available later. anyway, on to the matter at hand. this album lacks the cohesiveness of a zep album proper, but given that the songs were collected from a 12 year span, this is to be expected. "ozone baby" is the standout here, to me anyway. jonesy's bass really anchors this song. plant's vocals are a thing of beauty here, and page's guitar rocks out fifties style only better. "wearing and tearing" must've been their attempt to sound punk. it doesn't sound punk, but that's okay with me. "we're gonna groove" cooks, "poor tom" would've been better on "III" than "hats off to (roy) harper", and "walter's walk" is pretty decent. i never cared for "darlene" too much, or for "i can't quit you baby." and the drum solo "bonzo's montreux" is good for at least a couple of listens, but the lack of accompaniment makes it get old after that. a good lp to round out the collection but you don't want to start here.


Zeppelin- unbelivable musicians   December 23, 2004
Mitchell Ouverson (Bethlehem, PA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I have heard many people put down this album like its just second rate junk. Not true. But it is true that the album is composed of outtakes and unused material from previous releases. But the interesting fact is the when you take a "supergroup" like zeppelin, and put out their second rate material, you are still going to find that it's better than almost anything else you find out there today. I'm not going to sit and lie to you that this is the best album out there. It's not the first zeppelin cd you should own. But it is an excellent variety and snapshot of what zeppelin was really all about... Doing what they feel, and experimenting and not caring what anyone else thinks! Turns out, they became legends in the process! Buy this album if you have other zeppelin cds, and you'll be pleasantly surprised I assure you!