LED ZEPPELIN II

Oh . what an album!

Life was so peaceful in the past. People did not talk about music categorization very much. They did not even think that a particular song was a pop song and the other song was a rock, jazz, or blues song. They just enjoyed the music "as is" delivered by the musicians. It was the case for me. By the time I heard "Whole Lotta Love" during my childhood (thanks God for giving me such a wonderful childhood surrounded by wonderful music), I was also listening to "pop" songs like "Jesamine", "Story Book Children", "Rain and Tears". All were enjoyed in the same level of emotional attachments to the songs. So, never mind, why bother about cataloging of music genres? Music is emotion, anyway!

Led Zeppelin II was a logical follow-up after the ground-breaking debut "Led Zeppelin" released at the beginning of1969. This second album was released in the same year in October 22, 1969. In America, it had advanced orders for half a million copies. It entered the Billboard chart at 15, and by the end of the year it had dislodged the Beatles' "Abbey Road" to take the top spot, where it remained for seven (7) weeks. By April 1970 it had registered three million American sales.* [1].

The opening track "Whole Lotta Love" (5:34) represents great production result as collaboration between two gentlemen: Page and Kramer. Page is a masterful producer where he, in early days, experimented what later so called "soundscape" by adjusting microphone devices with various distances to produce different sounds. You would hear it in the interlude part of this track. "What Is And What Should Never Be" demonstrates Plant capability as songwriter and great singer with his flanging vocal throughout this track.

"The Lemon Song" (6:18) is my all-time Zepp favorite track. I don't know why in many best of compilations this wonderful track was never included. Finally I knew the answer as this was originally credited to Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham until they received claims from publishers Jewel Music that the song was heavily based on Chester Burnett's "Killing Floor". This song has great combination of Jones tight basslines and Page's dynamic riffing and soloing throughout the song coupled with great vocal by Plant. "Thank You" (4:47) is a nice ballad. With "Heartbreaker" (4:14) the band proves that they have unique and peculiar sounds of their own especially through the guitar riffing at opening part which repeat at many segments of the song. It continues seamlessly with energetic "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)" (2:38). These two songs must be enjoyed altogether as one stream of music.

"Ramble On" (4:24) and "Moby Dick" (4:21) can be considered as the band's exploration into acoustic world. To me "Moby Dick" is the band's brave decision as by the time there was so minimum instrumental track that was available in the market. With jaw dropping drum work by John Henry Bonham - using his fingers and hands instead of drum sticks during drum solo. Can I say that Led Zeppelin was the pioneer in creating rock instrumental? It might be. Only later that the band who took great influence from Led Zeppelin, Rush, made excellent instrumental track "La Villa Strangato" and "Yyz".

Whether you are only into prog music, it's worth owning this legendary album that set rock music apart in the glory days of seventies. This is a great heavy metal music, my friends ... Keep on rockin' ..!

"Your attitude determines your altitude."

*) Notes : It is recommended that you equip yourself with books abouth the history of the band that you can find many of them from your local bookstore. Some of them I use it as reference for this review:

[1]. "Led Zeppelin - the Complete Guide to their Music" by Dave Lewis, Omnibus Press, 2004.

[2]. "BANG YOUR HEAD - The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal" by David Konow, Three Rivers Press, 2002.

[3]. "Led Zeppelin" by Chris Welch, Carlton Books Ltd., 1994.

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