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The airship had already exploded a year ago, but?
The definition of the genre called Hard-Rock is encapsulated in just 41 minutes engraved in an album that has become a legend, just like the band that performed it.
A year after releasing their first album bearing their name, the group led by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant seeks to establish itself as the leading exponent of the newly born genre with 'Led Zeppelin II', producing an absolute masterpiece. Perfect guitar riffs, a perfect blend of rock and blues, exceptional musicians, and the warm and sensual voice of the evergreen Robert Plant like never before.
Even before you put the CD in your player, you can tell from the cover that this is a work above the average level, where we find a photo of the German Jasta Division from World War I (the same that used the Zeppelin airship), modified to include the four members of the English band.
Nine tracks make up the LP, and the first is one of the most famous songs of all time, 'Whole Lotta Love', thanks to its hard riff that runs through most of the piece, interrupted at the end by the vocal part of the great singer. A classic. This track will become the band’s manifesto, and the sounds displayed at the beginning will reappear in the subsequent 'The Lemon Song', 'Heartbreaker', 'Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)'. Similar structure but of great quality.
What Is And What Should Never Be is delicate and aggressive at the same time, thanks to the aggressive accelerations of guitar and drums in the chorus, which then make way for sonic caresses in the verses. 'Thank You' the group gives us a very romantic acoustic slow song, far from the more exciting atmospheres of the other tracks, yet still enriching an album so full of music. Initially, this piece was supposed to be composed by Plant alone, but Page did not yet believe in the compositional abilities of the group's voice. But just two years later, he had to change his mind because the singer wrote alone a piece considered the most beautiful ever in the history of music (for those who still haven’t figured it out, the piece in question is 'Stairway To Heaven'). 'Ramble On' is perhaps the only track not as worthy as the other eight but remains good nonetheless. Instead, 'Moby Dick' is the famous piece played by the late John 'Bonzo' Bonham on percussion, where he also has the opportunity to take center stage and prove himself an excellent percussionist even in the group's live shows, playing for up to half an hour in a unique and inimitable improvisation.
'Bring It On Home' closes beautifully, mixing typically blues sounds in the first part, then blending them with rock in the second, making it another classic for the group. From here on, music would never be the same again. You have to listen to understand what will happen next.
It will live on forever.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
04 Thank You (04:24)
If the sun refused to shine
I would still be loving you
When mountains crumble to the sea
There will still be you and me
Kind woman, I give you my all
Kind woman, nothing more
Little drops of rain
Whisper of the pain
Tears of loves lost in the days gone by
My love is strong
With you there is no wrong
Together we shall go until we die, oh my my
An inspiration is what you are to me
Inspiration, look, see
And so today, my world it smiles
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles
Thanks to you it will be done
For you to me are the only one
Happiness, no more be sad
Happiness, I'm glad
If the sun refused to shine
I would still be loving you
Mountains crumble to the sea
There will still be you and me
07 Ramble On (04:15)
Leaves are fallin' all around
It's time I was on my way
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged
For such a pleasant stay
But now it's time for me to go
The autumn moon lights my way
For now I smell the rain
And with it pain
And it's headed my way
Ah, sometimes I grow so tired
But I know I've got one thing I got to do
Ramble on
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm goin' 'round the world
I got to find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
Ramble on
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams
Got no time for spreadin' roots
The time has come to be gone
And though our health we drank a thousand times
It's time to ramble on
Ramble on
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm goin' 'round the world
I got to find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
I gotta ramble on
I gotta find the queen of all my dreams
I ain't tellin' no lie
Mine's a tale that can't be told
My freedom I hold dear
How years ago in days of old
When magic filled the air
T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor
I met a girl so fair
But Gollum and the evil one crept up
And slipped away with her, her, her, yeah
Ain't nothing I can do, no
I guess I'll keep on
Ramblin'
I'm gonna... sheyeah (Sing my song)
I gotta find my baby
I'm gonna ramble on, sing my song, gonna work my way, go around the world (Ramble on)
Baby, baby (Yeah)
Do do do (Baby) do do do, my baby (Ramble on, babe)
Do do do do do do do de do de do de do de do de, yeah, yeah (I can't stop that feeling anymore, everytime I think about my babe I think I got someone)
I gotta keep-a-searchin' for my baby
Baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby babe
Ooh, ma ma ma ma ma ma ma babe
Sheyeah, yeyeah, yeyeah, yeyeah, yeyeah, yeyeah, yeyeah, yeyeah
Ma ma ma ma ma ma baby
Ooh, I can't find my bluebird
I listen to my bluebird sing, but I can't find my bluebird
09 Bring It On Home (04:20)
Baby, baby
I'm gonna bring it on home to you
I've got my ticket, I've got that load
Got up, gone higher, all aboard
Take my seat, right way back, ooh yeah
Watch this train roll down the track
I'm gonna bring it on home
Bring it on home to you
Watch out, watch out, make room
Try to tell you baby
What you tryin' to do?
Tryin' to love me baby
Love some other man too
Bring it on home
Bring it on home
Went a little walk downtown
Messed and got back late
Found a note there waitin', it said
"Daddy, I just can't wait"
Bring it on home
Bring it on home
Bring it back home
Bring it back home to me baby
Tell you, pretty baby
You love to mess me 'round
I'm gonna give you lovin', baby
Gonna move you out o' town
Bring it on home
Bring it on home
Sweetest little baby
Daddy ever saw
I'm gonna give you lovin' baby
I'm gonna give you more
Bring it on home
Bring it on home
Bring it on home
Bring it on home
Bring it on home to you
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Other reviews
By Antonino91
This record marks the beginning of hard rock and will surely be the hardest rock record of Led Zeppelin’s career.
"Whole Lotta Love" features one of the best drumming performances ever and a psychedelic shift that mesmerizes the listener.
By Alchimista
The music world stood still: the 'Brown Zeppelin' was about to storm the record market.
'Whole Lotta Love' would drag into an orgasmic vortex, rich in adulterous passions and adolescent disturbances.
By Filippo Guzzardi
"Led Zeppelin II is the unique and true manifesto of hard rock."
"Bonham’s power mixed with creativity would influence the next generation of heavy drummers."
By Dexter
The album opens in a shocking way, with tracks never taken to such a granitic power.
Whole Lotta Love… has entered the list of the most beautiful riffs in rock history.
By paolofreddie
Whole lotta love, famous for its catchy and insistent guitar riff, will mark the history of rock.
Led Zeppelin II is an anthem for those who live for rock.
