Just 6 months after recording
their fantastic debut album Led Zeppelin
went back into the studio to record their
second album (unoriginally called Led
Zeppelin II but then it’s the only thing
that is remotely boring about this fine
collection), which is incredible if you
consider it’s quite normal for major bands
to take up to 5 years between albums nowadays.
But such was the creative spirit within
the band that they actually surpassed
the standards of their debut album.
Already international superstars “Led
Zeppelin II” roared to number one all
over the world. Most of the tracks still
being staples of most album orientated
radio stations and that’s 30 years after
its release.
This is an album of Jimmy Page’s rock
riffs so huge, John Paul Jones / John
Bonham rhythms so heavy and deep, and
vocal styling from Robert (Percy) Plant
that the heavy metal genre this classic
record helped to create has tried for
decades to catch up, mostly never ever
coming close to matching the majesty of
the monster that was Led Zeppelin in full
flow.
And is it any wonder as this period found
the band at the peak of their hard rock
creativity before they branched out into
more experimental music on later albums.
Never ones to let the grass grow under
their feet this lot.
The album starts off with the trail blazing
“Whole Lotta Love” (used as the theme
tune for the English Pop singles show
“Top Of The Pops” for years, which was
pretty ironic as Led Zeppelin never released
any singles, a firm policy set by man
mountain manager Peter Grant), a woozy
Rock ‘n’ Roll epic that was based on one
simple sledge hammer riff, but giving
plenty of scope for Robert Plant to show
off his incredible vocal range in its
trippy mid section. After “What Is And
What Should Never Be”, which on any other
album would be the stand out track, you
get the musically brilliant but also hysterically
funny “Lemon Song”. “Thank You” is a love
song, which usually brings out plenty
of derision but certainly not in this
case. Then a trio of rockers in “Heartbreaker”,
“Livin Lovin Maid” and “Ramble On”. The
guitar solo in “Heartbreaker” literally
tears the paint off walls. In “Moby Dick”
John Bonham is allowed to show us why
he was considered to be the best rock
drummer ever, and one listen to this leaves
you in no doubt that he was and is still
sadly missed. The album finishes in fine
style with “Bring It On Home” where Robert
Plant adds another dimension with his
harmonica playing. A fine way to close
the album.
There must of been a wonderful moment
at the conclusion of this recording session
when the four members of the band, and
probably the manager, sat down for the
first time to listen to the playbacks
and realized they had just laid down on
tape music that would change the face
of Rock ‘n’ Roll forever.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
