[Todd Stout]

I picked up the Led Zeppelin "The Complete Studio Recordings" box set a few weeks ago and just noticed a problem with Houses of the Holy. About 45-50 seconds or so into The Ocean there is some very distinct crackling that lasts for several seconds. The rest of the CD sounds fine and so do the other two CDs that I have listened to so far.

Is this a problem with all copies of Houses of the Holy in this box set or is it just mine?

[Greg_S_H]

I think it's just a problem with the Ocean. It happens on every version I've ever heard. I have the original CD release and the first boxed set, and the problem is there in both versions. I also have the LP, and I'll listen to it later and see what I hear.

Don't miss the telephone ringing later in the song.

[Todd Stout]

Oh wow... I guess I just never noticed that before. I have the original pressing of the Houses of the Holy CD but I don't recall hearing this sound before. Of course I first noticed the crackling on my new Sennheiser headphones and I have been noticing things that I had never heard before in a lot of my music.

[Greg_S_H]

Try the old disc and see. I don't have the studio box, but I think you'll find the problem has just been carried over. It was one of the first things I checked when I got the original box, and I was disappointed that it hadn't been fixed.

Edit: I just listened to the LP, and I hear the crackling in the same spots. It seems to be most pronounced on "got" a date and "can't" be late.