1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die #157. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (1969)

157. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (1969)

Label – Atlantic
Producer – Jimmy Page
Art Direction – David Juniper
Nationality – UK
Running Time – 41:21

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Whole Lotta Love
2. What Is And What Should Never Be
3. Lemon Song
4. Thank You
5. Heartbreaker
6. Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)
7. Ramble On
8. Moby Dick
9. Bring It On Home

This was Led Zeppelin’s second album unleashed onto the world in October of 1969. Proof positive that the debut record was no fluke, they upped the anti with this effort big time. Chock full of blues and folk music, it also highlights the band's changing musical style of blues-derived material mixed in with guitar power riffage based songs. It is commonly know as the heaviest of all of Led Zeppelin’s records. The overall sound of the album IS heavy and hard, brutal, direct and to the point.
It was quickly recorded in between bouts of touring in the US and UK. Most of the tracks are re-worked blues and rock tracks that were being featured in the bands live set lists.
The songs "Whole Lotta Love," "The Lemon Song," and "Bring It on Home" are all rooted in classic blues songs.
Upon release, the album was a HUGE seller and reached number one in both the United Kingdom and United States. On 15 November 1999, it was certified 12x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 12 million copies. "Whole Lotta Love" was released as a single and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970.
Since it was released, “Led Zeppelin II” has been acknowledged as one of the most influential albums in all of rock music. .In 1989, Spin magazine ranked the album number 5 on its list of The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2000, Q magazine placed Led Zeppelin II at number 37 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It is of course HIGHLY recommended.


You can purchase the CD here or vinyl here