RAMBLE ON

Led Zeppelin

with its' Lord of The Rings' references (the first time I was reading it was around the time of Led Zep 1) so why not . . .and of course as I have mentored 1 and 2 were bought when the came out and still have them . . . . . .

And yes I think I have mentioned before that we bought the first two Led Zeppelin albums when they came out and I considered them almost superhuman in writing and playing; the riffs the bass and the drumming and above all the extraordinary singing. The soaring dipping whispering screaming vocals. You have never heard their like before . . . . or since
These two first albums I considered, and still do consider, almost note perfect . . . . . . vocally they were the music of strange gods of some far off Nordic or Viking land . . . . . . . they were strange erotic and mystical . . . . . . . I was 16
Check out the riff on Heartbreaker here, you have heard it before, in your dreams, somewhere elemental, it is a universal, a truth we have merely all connected with, it stands the test of time. It is without equal anywhere in music. Turn it up! Window shaking volume and tell me I am wrong

On this day in music history: December 27, 1969 - “Led Zeppelin II” by Led Zeppelin hits #1 on the Billboard Top 200 for 7 weeks (non-consecutive). Produced by Jimmy Page, it is recorded at Olympic Studios, Morgan Studios in London, A&R Studios, Juggy Sound, Groove Studios, Mayfair Studios in New York City, Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN, The Hut in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Sunset Sound, A&M Studios, Quantum Studios, Mirror Sound and Mystic Studios in Hollywood, CA from January - August 1969. Following the success of their self-titled debut, Atlantic request that Led Zeppelin quickly record a follow up for release by the end of the year. With their schedule fully booked during this period, the album is largely written and recorded while the band are on the road on their first and second tours of the US and UK. Final recording and mixing takes place at Olympic Studios in London. No singles are issued in the UK, though “Whole Lotta Love” is released in the US (and several other countries) and becomes their highest charting single (#4 Pop). Atlantic Records runs into a problem with the original US pressing of the LP, when many fans return the album to stores complaining that their copies skip when played. The original mastering of the album cut by engineer Bob Ludwig at Sterling Sound in New York captures the albums’ wide sonic dynamics, which unfortunately prove to be too much for many cheaper turntables of the time. The label quickly remasters the LP, this time using engineer George Marino. The newer copies have a significant amount of high end and bass rolled off which caused tracking problems on the first issue copies. The original “loud cut” by Ludwig becomes a heavily sought after collector’s item by fans in later years. “Led Zeppelin II” goes on to be one of the most influential rock albums of all time, and is certified 12x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, earning a Diamond Certification.

thanks to Jeff Harris' blog Behind the Grooves

LED ZEPPELIN II

Again an album bought when it came out . . . . my friend and neighbour Johnny bought the first album and we couldn't stop playing it. We kept gathering at his parent's house and ended up playing it over and over it seems like. It blew us away as it must have done to so many others. There had simply been nothing that sounded like this before (or since!)
I went out and bought it myself and played it constantly on my Dad's radiogramme (ask your grandparents) which packed a punch but drove my folks mad. 'What is this NOISE?" 
I don't know if anyone will get this but II is where I stopped and though it impressed us quite as much as the first album and contains some groundbreaking pieces of music this is where I left them. Something happened between two and III and I know loads of people stuck with them all the way and I know some folk who left around the time of the fourth album too but nothing has EVER matched the first two albums for me . . . . . . . and curiously I am quite happy with that. What with the bass and drums driving the extraordinary beat and the guitar soaring overhead what always struck me was Robert's extraordinary voice and in combination they always sounded superhuman and totally beyond belief

On this day in music history: October 22, 1969 - “Led Zeppelin II”, the second album by Led Zeppelin is released. Produced by Jimmy Page, it is recorded at Olympic Studios, Morgan Studios in London, A&M Studios, Quantum Studios, Sunset Sound, Mirror Sound, Mystic Studios in Los Angeles, CA, A&R Studios, Juggy Sound, Groove Studios, Mayfair Studios in New York City, “The Hut” in Vancouver, BC, Canada and Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN from January - August 1969. Quickly following the success of their self-titled debut, Led Zeppelin’s sophomore release is written on the road, and recorded in numerous studios in the US and UK on days off between tour dates. “Led Zeppelin II” quickly surpasses their debut in sales, cementing the bands’ musical reputation as well as establishing a template in which countless hard rock and heavy metal bands will adapt and follow. It spins off several classics that become rock radio staples including “Heartbreaker”, Ramble On", and “Whole Lotta Love” (#4 Pop), the latter of which is issued as a single. The initial US pressing of the LP, mastered by Bob Ludwig turns out to be problematic for some, as loud and dynamic passages on the record cause it to skip on cheaper turntables of the day, initiating sizable returns. Atlantic is forced to remaster the album (this time by George Marino), with the bass and high end significantly rolled off. These original “loud cut” pressings of “II” becomes sought after by collectors over the years. The now iconic cover artwork for “Led Zeppelin II” designed by David Juniper, features the faces of the four band members superimposed on to an airbrushed vintage photograph of German World War I Air Force pilots. Also added to the photo is actress Glynis Johns, as an in joke directed at recording engineer Glyn Johns, whom John Lennon had sardonically referred to as “Glynis” while working with The Beatles on “Let It Be”. Juniper’s cover art receives a Grammy nomination for Best Album Cover in 1970. The album is remastered and reissued in June of 2014 on CD and vinyl, with a boxed “Super Deluxe” box set featuring the both the CD and vinyl versions, along with alternate mixes and outtakes, a lithograph of the cover artwork and a hardbound book with rare and previously unpublished photos. “Led Zeppelin II” spends seven weeks at number one (non-consecutive) on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 12x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, earning a Diamond Certification.