Customer Reviews
Whole Lotta Led! - By: Richard Chestney, 06 Sep 2010 
If there was ever any doubt that Led Zeppelin was on the verge of becoming a major rock 'n' roll force following the release of their heavy blues-based debut LP, I, the group returnedin October of 1969 with "II", which immediately confirmed superstar status.
Recorded at various locations, with the production reigns once again handled by Jimmy Page, Zeppelin laid down a dynamic set of nine songs for their second album. While Page remained the creative mastermind within Led Zep, Robert Plant emerged with an increased role, as the front man contributed lyrics for several songs on "II".
From the off, "II" rages with confidence & authority. "Whole Lotta Love", a five & one-half minute orgasmic rocker, bangs out of the box strongly, as Zep launched into heavy metal before the genre was defined. Plant coped the lyrics from Willie Dixon's "You Need Love", which years later resultedin an out-of-court settlement. The song originated from a killer Page riff & echo effects. The chaotic mid-section includes a frenzy of sounds, that chase from speaker-to-speaker, before Zep bring the roundhouse rocker back into full flight. "Whole Lotta Love" is a cornerstone trackin the history of hard rock... & it is an essential head-phone cut.
In stark contrast to "Whole Lotta Love", Zep pulled back with the meandering "What Is & What Should Never Be", before cruisng into "The Lemon Song". "The Lemon Song" draws from Chester Brunett's "Killing Floor", as well as Albert King's "Cross-Cut Saw", while lifting "squeeze my lemon" from Robert Johnson.
Robert Plant's emotional ballad, "Thank You", penned for his wife, is augmented by John Paul Jones on the Hammond Organ. Once the love song fades, Zep kick back into high gear with the ripping tag-team of the inseparable "Heartbreaker" & "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)". "Heartbreaker" features a blinding guitar workout from Page, while "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)", the follow-up single to "Whole Lotta Love", was written about one of Zep's wild west coast groupies.
Plant illustrated the inspiration of Tolkien, when he penned the lyrics for "Ramble On", a track which once more proves Page's six string prowess. Burly John Bonham powers "Moby Dick", before the LP closes with the appropriately titled eight-minute blues-based blitz of "Bring It on Home".
Good, but not their best work. - By: MR K J DOWNING, 16 Aug 2010 
`Whole Lotta Love' is the only one of Led Zeppelin's very top tracks to appear on this album. Don't get me wrong, the rest is very good, but this album is the poor relation to their debut album, 'Four Symbols' or 'Physical Graffiti'. Go there first.
Not their best, but still good - By: maz, 12 Apr 2010 Led Zeppelin 2 was the first Zep album I bought (on cassette!). In hindsight it is not their best album, but it will always hold a special placein my heart, because the was the album that introduced me to them.
I'd heard Whole Lotta Love before I bought this, because it was the introduction to The BBC Top Of The Pops. I didn't even know who'd done it, so imagine my surprise when I put the tapein & out came the TOTP intro!
Zep 2 was thrown togetherin dribs & drabs when the band was on the road &in parts it is very apparent. There are some great songs on it. Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker & Ramble On. The Lemon Song & What Is And What Should Never Be are also strong songs.
There are a few fillers though. Thank You (which Robert Plant loathed) is a sickly song which would be better for a candidate on Britain's Got No Talent or some other similar dross. Living, Loving Maid is one of Zep's worst & it is understandable why they never foisted it on their fansin concert. Moby Dick is boring & you have to pity the fans who had to endure a 45 minute version of it live.
However, even Zep's rubbish is better than many other bands best songs.
Blast from my past! - By: L. Pettener, 21 Feb 2010 For some reason or other, I ignored remasters of all Zepp recordings when they came out years ago. If I'd focused on a reason, I would have said something cynical, like "They're just trying to get their money off fans twice", that sort of thing.
How wrong I was! The sound quality's a lot better, I think; the songs are really vivid & sonorous. Like everyone else says, if this outfit were doing this stuff now, it would be no less striking, almost, than the revolution they caused then. I don't know what triggered the shift, but between them, this band (along with The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, Small Faces & a handful of others)switched the gears up that notchin the heaviness stakes to make 'pop' music crunchy, deep, heavy & vital. This album, along with their first, mark that shift, though there are softer-edged songs & sections here (notably Thank You & parts of Ramble On & What Is & What Should Never Be) too.
Trust Pagey! If you loved his judgment first time round, then go for it now; & if you don't own a copy of this amazing sound-architecture, you're definitely missing out.
A Masterpiece - By: Tommo 18/7, 29 Oct 2009 Led Zeppelin II...Ok, this doesn't quite give me the same hit as the debut album, but don't let that put you off buying this, for it is a masterpiece by anyone's standards.
" Whole Lotta Love" crunches alongin style, it is one of the most recognisable hard rock anthems EVER written. The thundering " Moby Dick" cements John Bonham's place as one of the greatest drummers that ever lived. " What Is And What Should Never Be" is blues/rock personified, with Jimmy Page's trademark guitar riffs & fills, offsetting perfectly against Robert Plant's incredible blues/rock vocals.
" Thank You" is powerful yet emotional, highlighting the bands diversity & John Paul Jones musical genius as he switches to the keyboards. " Heartbreaker" is hard rock at it's best, " Ramble On" shows why Jimmy Page is heldin such high regard, " Bring It On Home" is a work of timeless, hard rock/ blue genius that shows the bandin full flow & knocks you into next month & this isn't all of it. " The Lemon Song" is a masterpiece as is " Livin', Lovin' Maid". It's all killer & zero of the filler on this baby.
Incredible: AAAAAA++++++
