Led Zeppelin II - The Greatest Rock Album of All Time Released 40 Years Ago Today

Coudn't let this day go by without acknowledging the 40th anniversary of what I believe to be the greatest rock album of all time.

It gets better with age.

 

My favorite album by Zep.

 

One of my desert island discs for sure, and no doubt my fav Zep. The 1st time I heard Whole Lotta Love, it was a revelation.

Now lets stand back for the usual thread craps about how Zep ripped everyone off, blah, blah, blah.

Brian

 

No no no ........... everyone be nice. It's a birthday for goodness sake.....

 

At the risk of sacrilege, I find Zep II to be one of the most overrated rock records in history.

I'll take just about any Zeppelin album over II other than possibly Presence.

 

Who else (besides yourself) has said it was overrated?...

 

Didn't you read what I said about birthdays ......

 

Now see, I think Presence is one of the most underrated Zeppelin albums. I don't know why it gets such a bad rap.

 

Zeppelin ripped off the New Yardbirds.

 

I've told this story before. I bought this album in September 1983. I loved "Whole Lotta Love but the rest didn't connect with me so I put the tape aside for a few months. I played it again the following January and it finally clicked.

 

My favorite of em all.
I find it a bit more psychadelic than the others. Certain songs have been abused for 40 years but that doesn't take the magic out of it for me.

C

II
I III IV and Houses
Physical
Presence
Coda
Out Door

 

I like the second album,but i prefer their third one, or Physical Graffiti.

 

It's an amazing album.

 

I remember the very day I bought it back in the fall of '69! There was a "head shop" right next to where I picked up the newspapers for my paper route. We'd wander in there to see what new albums were out, and sure enough there was Led Zeppelin II waiting to be taken home by yours truly. Definitely one of the greatest rock albums IMO.

Think I'll crank up my RL pressing tonight to celebrate its anniversary...

 

Ditto that. My first Zep album way back on a winter's night in 1980, at Phoenix Records (now sadly long gone) in the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. The two guys who ran it were the epitome of cool to me back then and I was gutted when it went.

Terrific album though, not a bad track on it.

 

Agreed. Whole Lotta Love is a great Willie Dixon song.

 

But its OK to rip off statements / allegations made by others. OK.......

 

No, I don't even rank this as the best Zep album. Maybe their 3rd best.

However, if I had an RL pressing I'd definitely be cranking it up tonight to commemorate the occasion.

 

Sadly, I too lack an RL pressing, but can choose from a BD CD mastering, or a 200g Classic Vinyl version.....

Oh the humanity!

Brian

 

I'm totally OK with Led Zep II being named "The Greatest Rock Album of All Time".


Years ago a friend (who had an amazing collection of American Roots music) made me a cassette of Led Zeppelin II--except all the recordings were not of Led Zeppelin, but earlier artists, who at that time were not credited. My friend even dug out some tracks I'd never heard before and claimed some striking similarities between them and the Zep recordings. Wish I still had that compilation...

Any fans of this album who have not heard the tracks that inspired Led Zeppelin might want to seek out those relatively obscure recordings--it's very enlightening.

 

Zeppelin ripped off the New Yardbirds.

Say what?

 

The album title lacks imagination, but it's a good album; even though I was never into "Lemon Song" or the "Moby Dick" drum solo.
Also, the middle section of "Whole Lotta Love" sounds so dated.

 

Got the Brown Bomber LP for Christmas in 1979 along with Yes' Fragile.
They are still in my collection and still two of my faves. I never tire of Zep II.

Thanks for the reminder, just threw on my scratchy RL pressing.

 

Well, they got sued (as I recall), which is why the credits are there today.

My take - a classic rock album, but not the "greatest album ever made".