#44 Led Zeppelin II

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

44

2011 Album Rank

52

Total Points

1185

Year Released

1969

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

1

Weeks at #1

7

RIAA Sales Certification

12,000,000 (Multi Platinum)

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Led Zeppelin II Album Details

Released in October 1969, Led Zeppelin II was a seismic follow-up to the band's self-titled debut, amplifying their signature fusion of blues, hard rock, and psychedelia. Recorded in short bursts during the band's relentless touring schedule, the album captures an urgent, visceral sound that would help define heavy metal and hard rock for decades. With producer Jimmy Page at the helm and engineer Eddie Kramer helping shape its raw power, the album became an instant classic.

Opening with the thunderous Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin II dives into swaggering riffs, thunderous drums, and blues-drenched vocals. Tracks like Heartbreaker and Ramble On showcase the band's evolving dynamics and studio experimentation, while Thank You and What Is and What Should Never Be reveal a growing interest in acoustic textures and melodic exploration. It was Zeppelin's first album to reach number one in both the US and UK, solidifying their place in rock history.

Other Led Zeppelin albums on the chart: Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV and Physical Graffiti

Interesting Facts about Led Zeppelin II

• Led Zeppelin II was recorded in fragments at studios across the US and UK, often between shows on their 1969 tour. Tracks were later pieced together by Jimmy Page, giving the album its gritty, live-in-the-moment feel.
• The riff for Whole Lotta Love is one of the most iconic in rock history and was developed by Page during soundchecks. The song's psychedelic midsection was constructed through tape effects and reverse echo techniques.
• The unaccompanied guitar solo in Heartbreaker was groundbreaking for its time and inspired generations of rock and metal guitarists, Eddie Van Halen cited it as a major influence on his tapping technique.
• The Lemon Song borrows heavily from Howlin' Wolf's Killing Floor and other blues lyrics, which led to a lawsuit and an out-of-court settlement, resulting in updated songwriting credits.
• Engineer Eddie Kramer played a crucial role in shaping the sound of the album, pushing the limits of studio technology to emphasize heaviness and spatial depth.
• John Bonham's drumming on Moby Dick includes a legendary extended drum solo, often performed live for 15+ minutes, and showcases his fusion of power, precision, and groove.
• Ramble On features J.R.R. Tolkien references, with lyrics inspired by The Lord of the Rings, foreshadowing Zeppelin's future embrace of mythic and fantasy themes.
• Thank You was one of the first Zeppelin songs to feature John Paul Jones on organ, and it marked a shift toward more romantic and introspective songwriting from Robert Plant.
• The album knocked the Beatles' Abbey Road off the number one spot in the U.S. and has since been certified 12x Platinum by the RIAA.
• The band never released singles in the UK during their early years, believing albums should be heard as complete works, but Whole Lotta Love became a U.S. hit single nonetheless, peaking at number 4.

Led Zeppelin II Track List

1. Whole Lotta Love - Reached #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
2. What is and What Should Never Be
3. The Lemon Song
4. Thank You
5. Heartbreaker
6. Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)
7. Ramble On
8. Moby Dick
9. Bring it On Home

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