1969 was a busy ass year for Led Zeppelin. They were proving out their status as rock’s rising titans with a world tour and the release of Led Zeppelin II, which came a mere ten months after their self-titled debut album. This sophomore effort, forged in a patchwork of studios across North America and the UK, captured the raw energy of a band constantly on the road. But despite the fragmented recording process, Led Zeppelin II is probably their masterpiece and helped to cement the blueprint for heavy rock with its thunderous sound and bluesy swagger.
From the bone-rattling riff of “Whole Lotta Love” to the pulverizing grooves of “Heartbreaker” and “Moby Dick,” the album showcased Jimmy Page’s masterful guitar work, John Bonham’s ferocious drumming, and John Paul Jones’ intricate bass lines. Robert Plant’s wailing vocals added the perfect touch of mysticism and primal energy. As we mentioned in our write-up of their debut album, the term “most influential band” gets thrown around a lot, no band in history changed the trajectory of pure rock and roll more than Led Zeppelin. And this record pushed their blues rock roots into a heavier and even more bombastic territory.
Standout Songs: “Whole Lotta Love”, “What Is and What Never Should Be”, “The Lemon Song”, “Moby Dick”, “Ramble On”
