Editing Led Zeppelin II

{{Good article}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Led Zeppelin II
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Led Zeppelin]]
| cover      = Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II.jpg
| alt        = A composite sepia photograph of the band, with members of the Jasta 11 Division of the Luftstreitkräfte, in front of a hydrogen cloud expanding from an outline of the ''Hindenburg'' exploding.
| released   = {{Start date|1969|10|22|df=y}}
| recorded   = April–August 1969
| studio     =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Hard rock]]|[[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]{{sfn|Rosen|1996|p=1967}}|{{nowrap|[[blues rock]]}}}}
| length     = 40:44{{efn|name="Timing"}}
| label      = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| producer   = {{hlist|[[Jimmy Page]]|[[Eddie Kramer]]}}
| prev_title = [[Led Zeppelin (album)|Led Zeppelin]]
| prev_year  = 1969
| next_title = [[Led Zeppelin III]]
| next_year  = 1970
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Led Zeppelin II
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Whole Lotta Love]]" / "[[Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)]]
 | single1date = 7 November 1969 (US)
}}
}}

'''''Led Zeppelin II''''' is the second studio album by the English [[rock music|rock]] band [[Led Zeppelin]], released on 22 October 1969 in the United States and on 31 October 1969 in the United Kingdom by [[Atlantic Records]]. Recording sessions for the album took place at several locations in both the United Kingdom and North America from January to August 1969. The album's production was credited to the band's lead guitarist and songwriter [[Jimmy Page]], and it was also Led Zeppelin's first album on which [[Eddie Kramer]] served as engineer.

The album exhibited the band's evolving musical style of blues-derived material and their guitar [[riff]]-based sound. It has been described as the band's heaviest album.{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=502}}  Six of the nine songs were written by the band, while the other three were reinterpretations of [[Chicago blues]] songs by [[Willie Dixon]] and [[Howlin' Wolf]]. One single, "[[Whole Lotta Love]]", was released outside of the UK (the band would release no UK singles during their career),<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schinder|first=Scott|title=Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of the Legends Who Changed Music Forever|publisher=Greenwood|year=2007|isbn=978-0313338472|pages=380}}</ref> and peaked as a top-ten single in over a dozen markets around the world.

''Led Zeppelin II'' was a commercial success, and was the band's first album to reach number one on charts in the UK and the US. The album's cover designer David Juniper was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package]] in 1970. On 15 November 1999, the album was certified [[RIAA certification|12× Platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for sales reaching 12 million copies in the US. Since its release, various writers and music critics have cited ''Led Zeppelin II'' as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time.

==Background==
''Led Zeppelin II'' was conceived during a busy period of Led Zeppelin's career from January through August 1969, when they completed four European and three American [[Led Zeppelin concert tour chronology|concert tours]].{{sfn|Rosen|1996|p=118}} Each song was separately recorded, mixed and produced at various studios in the UK and North America. The album was written on tour, during periods of a couple of hours in between concerts, a studio was booked and the recording process begun, necessarily resulting in spontaneity and urgency, which is reflected in the sound.{{sfn|Rosen|1996|p=118}} Several songs resulted from improvisation while touring and were recorded mostly live in the studio.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|pp=15,46–47}}

Recording sessions for the album took place at a wide variety of studios in the UK and US, including [[Olympic Studios|Olympic]] and [[Morgan Studios]] in London, England; [[A&M Studios|A&M]], Quantum, [[Sunset Sound Recorders|Sunset]], Mirror Sound and Mystic Studios in Los Angeles; [[Ardent Studios]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; [[A & R Recording|A&R]], Juggy Sound, Groove and Mayfair Studios in New York City; and R&D Studios.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ledzeppelin.com/event/may-10-1969|title=R&D Studios (Vancouver), May 10, 1969 &#124; [title]|website=Led Zeppelin &#124; Official Website – Official Website|date=10 May 1969 |access-date=22 October 2019|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022183554/https://www.ledzeppelin.com/event/may-10-1969|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of these were ill-equipped, leading to one Vancouver studio, which had an 8-track set-up without even proper headphone facilities,{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=15}} being credited as "a hut".<ref name="mixing">{{cite magazine |author=Cleveland, Barry |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/mixing-led-zeppelin/May-08/36033|title=Guitar Player: Mixing Led Zeppelin II |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915051359/http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/mixing-led-zeppelin/may-08/36033 |archive-date=15 September 2008 |date=May 2008 |magazine=Guitar Player |access-date=11 February 2009}}</ref><ref name=lz2>{{cite AV media notes |title=Led Zeppelin II (Super Deluxe Edition Box) |publisher=Atlantic Records |id=R2-536181 |year=2014 |p=3}}</ref> A more favourable set-up was Mystic Studios in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[Los Angeles]] with Chris Huston engineering.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=15}} 

Lead singer [[Robert Plant]] later complained that the writing, recording, and mixing sessions were done in many different locations, and criticised the writing and recording process.{{sfn|Lewis|Pallett|1997|p=32}} "[[Thank You (Led Zeppelin song)|Thank You]]", "[[The Lemon Song]]" and "[[Moby Dick (instrumental)|Moby Dick]]" were overdubbed during the tour, while the [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] of "[[Whole Lotta Love]]" and "[[Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin song)|Heartbreaker]]" was also done on tour. Page later stated, "In other words, some of the material came out of rehearsing for the next tour and getting new material together."<ref name=Schulps>{{cite journal |last=Schulps |first=Dave |url=http://www.iem.ac.ru/zeppelin/docs/interviews/page_77.trp |title=Interview with Jimmy Page |journal=[[Trouser Press]] |date=October 1977 |access-date=9 September 2008 |archive-date=20 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820054853/http://www.iem.ac.ru/zeppelin/docs/interviews/page_77.trp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Page and Kramer spent two days mixing the album at A&R Studios,<ref name =theirtime /> and the album's production was entirely credited to Jimmy Page, with [[Eddie Kramer]] engineering.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=15}} Kramer was quoted as saying, "The famous ''Whole Lotta Love'' mix, where everything is going bananas, is a combination of Jimmy and myself just flying around on a small console twiddling every knob known to man."{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=15}} Kramer later gave great credit to Page for the sound that was achieved, despite the inconsistent conditions in which it was recorded: "We cut some of the tracks in some of the most bizarre studios you can imagine ... but in the end it sounded bloody marvellous ... there was one guy in charge and that was Mr. Page."<ref name=theirtime>{{cite journal |journal=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] |title=Classic Rock Presents Led Zeppelin: Their Time is Gonna Come |year=2008 |page=21}}</ref>

==Music and lyrics==
The finished tracks reflect the evolving sound of the band and their live performances.<ref name="allmusicguide">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r11460|pure_url=yes}} |title=Led Zeppelin II |website=AllMusic |access-date=11 February 2009}}</ref><ref name=RS2006>{{cite magazine |last=Gilmore |first=Mikal |title=The Long Shadow of Led Zeppelin |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=1006 |date=10 August 2006 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11027261/the_long_shadow_of_led_zeppelin/print |access-date=9 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205000838/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11027261/the_long_shadow_of_led_zeppelin/print |archive-date=5 December 2007}}</ref> Plant had his first songwriting credits on ''Led Zeppelin II''; he had been unable to have his contributions to the writing process credited for the first album because of a prior contract with [[CBS Records International|CBS Records]].{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=47}}

===Side one===
"[[Whole Lotta Love]]" was built around a five-note Page riff. Parts of the lyrics were taken directly from [[Willie Dixon]]'s "[[You Need Love (Muddy Waters song)|You Need Love]]", which led to the group being sued for plagiarism, eventually settling out of court. The arrangement also resembles the [[Small Faces]] track "[[You Need Loving]]".{{sfn|Lewis|1990|pp=47, 57}} With basic tracks recorded on Page's houseboat, the middle section of the song contained a variety of overdubbed instruments and vocals which were mixed live by Page and Kramer, making full use of stereo panning and other controls available on the desk. The song was edited down to a single in the US, where it became a top 5 hit. In the UK, a single release was cancelled; the group never issued any singles there during their active career together.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|pp=47–48}} It was finally issued as a single in 1997.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=59}} A mainly instrumental version of the song was recorded by [[CCS (band)|CCS]] and was used as the theme tune to the BBC TV show ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', ensuring it was well known by virtually everyone in Britain.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}

Led Zeppelin performed "Whole Lotta Love" at every gig from June 1969 onwards. It was the closing number of their live shows between 1970 and 1973, often extended to incorporate a rock'n'roll medley towards the end of the set. A different arrangement of the song was played for the Knebworth Fayre concerts in 1979. It was the last song the group ever performed live with drummer [[John Bonham]], on 7 July 1980. "Whole Lotta Love" has since been critically praised as one of the definitive heavy metal tracks, though the group have never considered themselves to fit that specific style.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}

"[[What Is and What Should Never Be]]" was primarily written by Plant. It features a variety of dynamics during the track, along with flanged vocals and wide-panned stereo guitars.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}

"[[The Lemon Song]]" was a re-arrangement of [[Howlin' Wolf]]'s "[[Killing Floor (Howlin' Wolf song)|Killing Floor]]", which had become a regular part of the group's live show during 1969. It was mostly recorded live and expanded to include new lyrics, including the sexually-charged phrase "squeeze my lemon" which was borrowed from [[Robert Johnson]]'s "[[Travelling Riverside Blues]]", which the band had played for the BBC radio show ''[[Top Gear (radio show)|Top Gear]]'' broadcast on 29 June 1969.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_dmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA46 |pages=46–47 |title=Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs |author=Martin Popoff |publisher=Voyageur Press |date=21 August 2018|isbn=9780760363775 }}</ref>{{sfn|Lewis|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=AQLtgOAQcqQC&pg=PT102 102]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jimmy-page-on-led-zeppelins-totally-fearless-bbc-sessions-110658/ |work=rollingstone.com |title=Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin's 'Totally Fearless' BBC Sessions |author=David Fricke |date=13 September 2016 |access-date=24 September 2018 |archive-date=25 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925025322/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jimmy-page-on-led-zeppelins-totally-fearless-bbc-sessions-110658/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

"[[Thank You (Led Zeppelin song)|Thank You]]" was written by Plant as a love song to his wife, Maureen. Page played [[twelve-string guitar]] and Jones played [[Hammond organ]] on the track.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}

===Side two===
"[[Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin song)|Heartbreaker]]" was mostly written by Page as a showcase for his guitar skills, including an unaccompanied solo in the middle of the song. It quickly became a live favourite, being performed regularly from October 1969 onwards, and throughout the group's career.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}

"[[Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)]]" was purported to be written about a [[groupie]] the band encountered while touring the US. The group disliked the track, considering it to be little more than filler, and consequently it was never played live by the group. Plant performed the track live on his 1990 solo tour.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=48}}

"[[Ramble On]]" was written by Plant. The lyrics were inspired by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], and similar themes appeared on subsequent Led Zeppelin albums. The track made good use of dynamics, moving from a quiet acoustic guitar in the opening, to a variety of overdubbed electric guitars towards the end.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=49}} It was never performed live by Led Zeppelin during their main career, but Plant has performed the song regularly on solo tours, and it was part of Page and Plant's live set in the mid-1990s. It was finally performed live for the first time by Led Zeppelin at the [[Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert]] in 2007.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=67}}

"[[Moby Dick (instrumental)|Moby Dick]]" was designed as a showcase for Bonham's drum solo. A previous drum showpiece featured a different arrangement called "Pat's Delight" (after his wife). Moby Dick is in [[drop D tuning]] and features a variety of drums and percussive instruments played with bare hands as well as drumsticks. It was a regular part of Led Zeppelin's live show, developing to include additional percussion and electronic drums.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=49}}

"[[Bring It On Home (Sonny Boy Williamson II song)#Led Zeppelin version|Bring It On Home]]" was a cover of a Willie Dixon song originally performed by [[Sonny Boy Williamson II]]. Led Zeppelin's arrangement includes a faster middle section in addition to the straightforward blues structure of the original. It was played live regularly throughout late 1969 and 1970.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=49}}

==Artwork==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2004-0430-501, Jagdstaffel 11, Manfred v. Richthofen.jpg|thumb|The World War I photograph on which the album sleeve was based]]
The [[Record sleeve|album sleeve]] design was from a poster by David Juniper, who was simply told by the band to come up with an interesting idea. Juniper was a fellow student of Page's at Sutton Art College in Surrey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/biographies/64-reference/biographies/associates-bio/1437-david-juniper |title=David Juniper |date=25 September 2010 |publisher=led-zeppelin.org |access-date=6 October 2015 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016081258/http://www.led-zeppelin.org/biographies/64-reference/biographies/associates-bio/1437-david-juniper |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Juniper's design was based on a photograph of the [[Jagdstaffel 11]] Division of the [[Luftstreitkräfte|German Air Force]] during World War I, the [[Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War I)|Flying Circus]] led by the [[Manfred von Richthofen|Red Baron]]. Juniper replaced four of the flyers' heads with photos of the band members, added facial hair and sunglasses to some of the flyers' faces or replaced some with the faces of other people. The blonde-haired woman is French actress [[Delphine Seyrig]] in her role as Marie-Madeleine in the film ''[[Mr. Freedom]]'', a leftist anti-war satire by [[William Klein (photographer)|William Klein]]. The cover also pictured the outline of a Zeppelin on a brown background (similar to the cover of the band's [[Led Zeppelin (album)|first album]]), which gave the album its nickname "Brown Bomber".{{sfn|Lewis|2012|pp=55–56}}

==Release and reception==
The album was released on 22 October 1969 on [[Atlantic Records]], with advance orders of 400,000 copies.<ref name="Welch">Welch, Chris (1994) ''Led Zeppelin'', London: Orion Books. {{ISBN|1-85797-930-3}}, p. 40.</ref> The advertising campaign was built around the slogans 'Led Zeppelin – The Only Way to Fly' and 'Led Zeppelin II Now Flying'.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=47}} In the United States, some commercially duplicated [[reel-to-reel]] copies of ''Led Zeppelin II'' made by [[Ampex]] bore the title ''Led Zeppelin II – The Only Way to Fly'' on their spine. Commercially, ''Led Zeppelin II'' was the band's first album to hit No. 1 in the US, knocking [[The Beatles]]' ''[[Abbey Road]]'' (1969) twice from the top spot, where it remained for seven weeks.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=47}} By April 1970 it had registered three million American sales, whilst in Britain it enjoyed a 138-week residence on the LP chart, climbing to the top spot in February 1970.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|p=47}} Meanwhile, the album reached the top spot in 5 other national albums charts (including the Canadian, Australian and Spanish albums charts). In November [[Ritchie Yorke]] reported in ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' that while the album had achieved "staggering" sales, as a [[hard rock]] record it was considered unsuitable for North American [[Top 40]] radio stations, who were "dreary and detached from the mainstream of contemporary rock music".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Ritchie |last=Yorke |title=Maple Leaf Rock |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=14 November 1970 |volume=82 |issue=46 |page=R-16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sSkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Led+Zeppelin+II%22&pg=PP18 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>

The album also yielded Led Zeppelin's biggest hit, "[[Whole Lotta Love]]". This song reached No. 4 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in January 1970, after Atlantic went against the group's wishes by releasing a shorter version on 45. The single's [[A-side and B-side|B-side]], "[[Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)]]", also hit the ''Billboard'' chart, peaking at No. 65 in April 1970. The album helped establish Led Zeppelin as an international concert attraction, and for the next year, the group continued to tour relentlessly, initially performing in clubs and ballrooms, then in larger auditoriums and eventually stadiums as their popularity grew.<ref>{{Cite web 
|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/led-zeppelin-mn0000139026/biography |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Led Zeppelin: Biography|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref>

''Led Zeppelin II'' was not well-received by contemporary music critics. [[John Mendelsohn (musician)|John Mendelsohn]] wrote a negative review of the record for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', in which he mocked the group's heavy sound and white blues, while writing that "until you've listened to the album eight hundred times, as I have, it seems as if it's just one especially heavy song extended over the space of two whole sides".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mendelsohn |first=John |date=13 December 1969 |title=Records |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/led-zeppelin-ii-19691213 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=48 |pages=48 |location=San Francisco |publisher=Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. |access-date=8 November 2016 |archive-date=3 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103011557/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/led-zeppelin-ii-19691213 |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''[[The Village Voice]]'', [[Robert Christgau]] jokingly referred to the band as "the best of the wah-wah [[wikt:mannerism|mannerist]] groups, so dirty they drool on demand", while complaining that "all the songs sound alike", before assigning the album a "B" grade.<ref name="CG">{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=15 January 1970 |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg6.php |title=Consumer Guide (6) |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506230511/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg6.php |url-status=live }}</ref> He nonetheless conceded in 1970 that "Led Zeppelin simply out-heavied everyone" the previous year, "pitting Jimmy Page's repeated low-register fuzz riffs against the untiring freak intensity of Robert Plant's vocal. This trademark has only emerged clearly on the second album, and more and more I am coming to understand it as an artistic triumph."<ref>{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=12 February 1970 |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/delaney-70.php |title=Delaney & Bonnie & Friends Featuring Eric Clapton |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614222133/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/delaney-70.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 November 1969, the album was certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] and in 1990 it was certified 5× platinum reflecting shipping of five million copies. By 14 November 1999, ''Led Zeppelin II'' had shipped twelve million copies and was certified 12× platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="uscert"/> The 2014 reissue of the album helped itself get back into the ''Billboard'' Top 10 when it got to {{Numero|9}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200 |title=''Billboard'' 200 |page=1 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=14 June 2014 |archive-date=31 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231051424/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Legacy and reappraisal==
{{Album reviews
| title = Retrospective professional ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web 
|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-ii-mw0000190649 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=''Led Zeppelin II'': Review|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52612/led-zeppelin-ii.html |title=Review |magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |access-date=3 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819225839/http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52612/led-zeppelin-ii.html |archive-date=19 August 2009}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2006|publisher=MUZE|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|page=141|isbn=0195313739|edition=4th|volume=5|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = A+<ref>{{cite web |author=Tom Sinclair |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2003/06/20/recordsled-zeppelin |title=Entertainment Weekly Review |publisher=Ew.com |date=20 June 2003 |access-date=1 January 2012 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205135710/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,458337,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev5score = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=Durchholz|editor-first2=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/662 662]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/662}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.review.redirect&fixture_review=124582&resource=124582&fixture_artist=144739 |title=Q (magazine)&#124;Q Review |publisher=Q4music.com |access-date=1 January 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223425/http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.review.redirect&fixture_review=124582&resource=124582&fixture_artist=144739 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{sfn|Brackett|Hoard|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA479 479]}}
| rev8 = ''[[Tom Hull – on the Web]]''
| rev8score = B+<ref>{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|date=n.d.|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Led+Zeppelin|title=Grade List: Led Zeppelin|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|access-date=18 July 2020|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718153558/http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Led+Zeppelin|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
''Led Zeppelin II'' has since been regarded as the quintessential hard rock and heavy metal album.{{sfn|Rosen|1996|p=1967}} [[AllMusic]] editor [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] said it "provided the blueprint for all the heavy metal bands that followed it".<ref name="allmusicguide" /> While crediting the band for essentially inventing metal, [[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull]] said that, after the first album had declared their musical ambition, "the second honed it down to a singular entity, a sound", with subsequent albums expanding on it in "sophisticated, subtler, often quite intelligent" ways, but still indebted to "the basic dumbness" of ''II'' – "dumb not in the sense of stupid but of non-speaking. Lyrics are there of course, but as an integral part of the music, a music better appropriated tactilely, through incoherent sensation, than intellectually, literarily."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hull|first=Tom|date=April 1975|url=http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/rekord4.php|title=The Rekord Report: L'Objet Rèpris|magazine=Overdose|access-date=June 26, 2020|via=tomhull.com|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919121206/http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/rekord4.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

The album was described as a "brilliant if heavy-handed blues-rock offensive", by popular music scholar Ronald Zalkind.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zalkind|first=Ronald|year=1980|title=Contemporary Music Almanac|url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarymusi00zalk|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/contemporarymusi00zalk/page/255 255]}}</ref> According to Robert Santelli's ''The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia'' (2001), Led Zeppelin "had already begun to move beyond its blues-rock influences, venturing into previously unexplored hard-rock territories".<ref>{{cite book|last=Santelli|first=Robert|year=2001|title=The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/bigbookofbluesbi00sant/page/290 290]|isbn=0141001453|url=https://archive.org/details/bigbookofbluesbi00sant/page/290}}</ref> Blues-derived songs like "Whole Lotta Love", "Heartbreaker", "The Lemon Song", "Moby Dick", and "Bring It On Home" have been seen as representing standards of the metal genre, where the guitar-based riff (rather than vocal [[Refrain|chorus]] or [[Verse-chorus form|verses]]) defines the song and provides the key hook.{{sfn|Lewis|1990|pp=47–48}} Such arrangements and emphasis were at the time atypical in popular music.<ref name="allmusicguide" /> Page's guitar solo in "Heartbreaker" was an influence on later renowned guitarists [[Eddie Van Halen]], as inspiration for his [[tapping|two-handed tapping]] technique, and [[Steve Vai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://societyofrock.com/led-zeppelin-1979-heartbreaker-performance-is-giving-us-a-dose-of-70s-nostalgia/|title = Led Zeppelin 1979 'Heartbreaker' Performance is Giving Us a Dose of 70s Nostalgia| date=25 March 2021 }}</ref>

Since its initial critical reception, ''Led Zeppelin II'' has earned several accolades from music publications, being ranked on critics' "best album" lists. In 1989, ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' magazine ranked the album No. 5 on its list of ''The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time''.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line --> |title=The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h-bxxO5B-xsC&pg=PA46|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|location=New York|page=46|date=April 1989|volume=5|number=1|access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref> In 1990, ''[[CD Review]]'' ranked it sixth on their list of top 50 CDs for starting a "pop/rock" library; an accompanying blurb described the album as "white boy blues with a hard rock edge".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[CD Review]]|page=42|title=Pop/Rock Library|year=1990|volume=6|issue=7–12}}</ref> In 2000, ''[[Q magazine|Q]]'' magazine placed ''Led Zeppelin II'' at number 37 in its list of the ''100 Greatest British Albums Ever''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080927033247/http://www.tower.com/led-zeppelin-ii-cd/wapi/106059568 Tower: Led Zeppelin II]. Tower.com. Retrieved 11 February 2009.</ref> In 2003, the album was ranked number 75 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|the 500 greatest albums of all time]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-19691231|title=75) Led Zeppelin II|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218173858/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-19691231|archive-date=18 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> 79 in a 2012 revised list,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-159313/| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]| access-date=September 23, 2019| archive-date=23 September 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923101237/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-159313/| url-status=live}}</ref> and 123 in a 2020 revised list.<ref name="auto">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-2-1063110/ |title=Led Zeppelin II ranked 123rd greatest album by Rolling Stone magazine|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref> The album was also included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=7 February 2006|publisher=Universe|isbn=0-7893-1371-5}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Accolades for ''Led Zeppelin II''
! Publication
! Country
! Accolade
! Year
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
| [[Grammy Award]]
| United States
| "[[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package]]"<ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/659946842.html?dids=659946842:659946842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+09%2C+1970&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Blood%2C+Sweat+and+Tears+Tops+Grammy+Nominations&pqatl=google | title=Grammy Award for Best Recording Package (David Juniper)&nbsp;– 11 March 1970 | access-date=10 February 2009 | publisher=Grammy | date=9 February 1970 | archive-date=19 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019131527/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/659946842.html?dids=659946842:659946842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+09,+1970&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Blood,+Sweat+and+Tears+Tops+Grammy+Nominations&pqatl=google | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 1970
| Nominee
|-
| ''[[Guitarist (magazine)|Guitarist]]''
| United Kingdom
| "Top 50 Most Influential Guitar Albums of All Time Ever"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/50.html#guitaral | title=Top 50 Most Influential Guitar Albums of All Time Ever&nbsp;– December 1994 | access-date=10 February 2009 | work=Guitarist | archive-date=18 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718181914/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/50.html#guitaral | url-status=usurped }}</ref>
| 1994
| 3
|-
|''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| United Kingdom
| "The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made"<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p3.htm#albums| title=The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made&nbsp;– January 1996| access-date=10 February 2009| work=Mojo| archive-date=16 May 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516020830/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p3.htm#albums| url-status=usurped}}</ref>
| 1996
| 41
|-
| Platendraaier
| The Netherlands – Dutch
| "Top 30 Albums of the 60s"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.platendraaier.nl/toplijsten/top-30-albums-van-de-jaren-60/|title=Top 30 albums van de jaren 60&nbsp;– October 2015|access-date=3 October 2015|work=Platendraaier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911072905/https://www.platendraaier.nl/toplijsten/top-30-albums-van-de-jaren-60/|archive-date=11 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 2015
| 11
|-
| The Guitar
| United States
| "Album of the Millennium"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/50.html#guitaralbum|title=Album of the Millennium&nbsp;– December 1999|access-date=10 February 2009|work=The Guitar|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718181914/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/50.html#guitaralbum|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
| 1999
| 6
|-
|''[[Rolling Stone]]''
|United States
|"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"<ref name="auto"/>
|2020
|123
|-
|''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| United Kingdom
| "100 Greatest Albums Ever"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html#Jan%202003|title=100 Greatest Albums Ever&nbsp;– January 2003|access-date=10 February 2009|work=Q|archive-date=19 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019101341/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html#Jan%202003|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
| 2003
| 37
|-
|''Rock Hard''
|[[Germany]]
|"The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time"<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Rensen|editor-first= Michael|title=Best of Rock & Metal – Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten|language=de|year=2005|publisher=[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]|isbn=3-89880-517-4|page=83}}</ref>
|2005
|318
|-
| Robert Dimery
| United States
| "[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]"<ref name="1001albums">{{cite news|first=Robert |last=Dimery |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die|publisher=Universe |location= [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|NY]] |isbn=0-7893-1371-5 |page=156 |date=7 February 2006}}</ref>
| 2006
| *
|-
| ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]''
| United Kingdom
| "100 Greatest British Rock Album Ever"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock2.htm | title=Classic Rock&nbsp;– 100 Greatest British Rock Album Ever&nbsp;– April 2006 | access-date=10 February 2009 | work=Classic Rock | archive-date=15 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515072650/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock2.htm | url-status=usurped }}</ref>
| 2006
| 8
|-
| [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]
| United States
| "The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200|title= The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227224922/http://rockhall.com/pressroom/definitive-200 |archive-date=27 February 2009|access-date=10 February 2009|work=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (United States)}}</ref>
| 2007
| 47
|-
| ''Q''
| United Kingdom
| "50 Years of Great British Music (1960s)"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#50%20Years%20of%20Great%20British%20Music|title=50 Years of Great British Music&nbsp;– March 2008|access-date=10 February 2009|work=Q|archive-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605073408/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#50%20Years%20of%20Great%20British%20Music|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
| 2008
| *
|}

{{small|(*) designates unordered lists.}}

==2014 reissue==
{{Album ratings
| title= 2014 reissue ratings
| MC = 95/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/led-zeppelin-ii-remastered/led-zeppelin|title=Reviews for Led Zeppelin II [Remastered] by Led Zeppelin|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-date=1 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901015818/http://www.metacritic.com/music/led-zeppelin-ii-remastered/led-zeppelin|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="TAC">{{cite news|last=Hernandez|first=Raoul|date=18 July 2014|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2014-07-18/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-i-led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-iii/|title=Review: Led Zeppelin|newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|access-date=6 September 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906195434/https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2014-07-18/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-i-led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-iii/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''
| rev2score = A−<ref name="COS"/>
| rev3 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev3score = 10/10<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19418-led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-iii/ |title=Pitchfork Review |publisher=Pitchfork.com |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906195737/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19418-led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-iii/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|title=Review|page=120|date=July 2014}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="RS2014"/>
}}

Along with the group's [[Led Zeppelin (album)#2014 reissue|self-titled debut album]] and their third album, ''[[Led Zeppelin III#2014 reissue|Led Zeppelin III]]'', the album was remastered and reissued on 2 June 2014. The reissue comes in six formats: a standard CD edition, a deluxe two-CD edition, a standard LP version, a deluxe two-LP version, a super deluxe two-CD plus two-LP version with a hardback book, and as high-resolution, 24-bit/96k digital downloads. The deluxe and super deluxe editions feature bonus material containing alternative takes, backing tracks and the previously unreleased instrumental, "La La".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/led-zeppelin-return-with-new-unheard-song-after-scouring-vaults-for-unreleased-recordings-9189925.html|title=Led Zeppelin return with new unheard song|work=The Independent|access-date=13 March 2014|archive-date=13 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313145903/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/led-zeppelin-return-with-new-unheard-song-after-scouring-vaults-for-unreleased-recordings-9189925.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The reissue was released with an altered colour version of the original album's artwork as its bonus disc's cover.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 March 2014|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/12781/led-zeppelin-remasters-arrive-last/|title=Led Zeppelin Remasters Arrive At Last|work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-date=9 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809220559/http://www.mojo4music.com/12781/led-zeppelin-remasters-arrive-last/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The reissue was met with widespread critical acclaim. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[standard score|normalised]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an [[weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 95, based on 10 reviews.<ref name="MC"/> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' journalist Mark Richardson said, "the reissue sounds as thrilling as ever",<ref name="pitchfork"/> while Julian Marszalek of ''[[The Quietus]]'' noted the bonus disc's "intriguing insight" into the original record's creation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marszalek|first=Julian|date=2 June 2014|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/15412-led-zeppelin-reissue-reviews|title=Led Zeppelin|website=[[The Quietus]]|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> In ''Rolling Stone'', [[David Fricke]] wrote, "the alternate takes highlight Robert Plant's ripening vocal poise and, in a rough mix of 'Ramble On', the decisive, melodic force of John Paul Jones' bass and John Bonham's drumming."<ref name="RS2014">{{cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|author-link=David Fricke|date=3 June 2014|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/led-zeppelin-ii-reissue-88031/|title=Led Zeppelin II (Reissue)|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=6 September 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906195614/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/led-zeppelin-ii-reissue-88031/|url-status=live}}</ref> "As a two-disc set", ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''{{'}}s Michael Madden wrote, "this reissue is both a reminder of the original album's wallop and a closer look at the alchemy of a band increasingly attuned to ideas of progression."<ref name="COS">{{cite magazine|last=Madden|first=Michael|date=4 June 2014|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/06/album-review-led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-reissue/|title=Led Zeppelin II Reissue|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=6 September 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906233713/https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/06/album-review-led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-ii-reissue/|url-status=live}}</ref> Raoul Hernandez from ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' was more critical of the bonus disc, finding it to be "the thinnest of extras" offered by the reissue program.<ref name="TAC"/>
{{clear}}

==Track listing==
All tracks written by [[Jimmy Page]] and [[Robert Plant]], except where noted.
===Original release===
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one<ref name="LP">{{cite AV media notes|year=1969|title=Led Zeppelin II|type=Album notes|author=[[Led Zeppelin]]|location=New York City|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]|id = SD 8236|at=Inside cover}}</ref>
| title1 = [[Whole Lotta Love]]
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Jimmy Page]]|[[Robert Plant]]|[[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]|[[John Bonham]]|[[Willie Dixon]]}}
| length1 = 5:33
| title2 = [[What Is and What Should Never Be]]
| length2 = 4:47
| title3 = [[The Lemon Song]]
| writer3 = {{hlist|Page|Plant|Jones|Bonham|[[Howlin' Wolf|Chester Burnett]]}}
| length3 = 6:20
| title4 = [[Thank You (Led Zeppelin song)|Thank You]]
| length4 = 3:50{{efn|name="Timing"|Original LP pressings of the album lists the running time of "Thank You" at 3:50, since the song's coda has a false fade at that point. The 2014 deluxe reissue lists it as 4:49.<ref name=lz2/>}}
| total_length = 20:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two<ref name="LP"/>
| title1 = [[Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin song)|Heartbreaker]]
| writer1 = {{hlist|Page|Plant|Jones|Bonham}}
| length1 = 4:15
| title2 = [[Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)]]
| length2 = 2:40
| title3 = [[Ramble On]]
| length3 = 4:35
| title4 = [[Moby Dick (instrumental)|Moby Dick]]
| writer4 = {{hlist|Page|Jones|Bonham}}
| length4 = 4:25
| title5 = [[Bring It On Home (Sonny Boy Williamson II song)#Led Zeppelin version|Bring It On Home]]
| writer5 = {{hlist|Page|Plant|Jones|Bonham|Dixon}}
| length5 = 4:19
| total_length = 20:14
40:44
}}

===Deluxe Edition (2014)===
{{Track listing
| headline = 2014 deluxe edition bonus disc<ref name=lz2/>
| extra_column = Recording Date
| title1 = Whole Lotta Love
| note1 = Rough [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mix]] with [[Singing|vocal]]
| length1 = 5:38
| writer1 = {{hlist|Page|Plant|Jones|Bonham|Dixon}}
| extra1 = 16 April 1969
| title2 = What Is and What Should Never Be
| note2 = Rough mix with vocal
| length2 = 4:33
| writer2 = 
| extra2 = 19 April 1969
| title3 = Thank You
| note3 = Backing track
| length3 = 4:21
| writer3 = 
| extra3 = 25 June 1969
| title4 = Heartbreaker
| note4 = Rough mix with vocal
| length4 = 4:24
| writer4 = {{hlist|Page|Plant|Jones|Bonham}}
| extra4 = 21 May 1969
| title5 = Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)
| note5 = Backing track
| length5 = 3:08
| writer5 = 
| extra5 = 25 June 1969
| title6 = Ramble On
| note6 = Rough mix with vocal
| length6 = 4:43
| writer6 = 
| extra6 = 1 June 1969
| title7 = Moby Dick
| note7 = Backing track
| length7 = 1:37
| writer7 = {{hlist|Page|Jones|Bonham}}
| extra7 = 6 May 1969
| title8 = La La
| note8 = Intro/Outro Rough mix
| length8 = 4:07
| writer8 = 
| extra8 = 14 April 1969
| total_length = 32:39
}}

==Personnel==
'''Led Zeppelin'''{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=108-142}}

* [[Robert Plant]]{{snd}}vocals, harmonica
* [[Jimmy Page]]{{snd}}guitars, [[theremin]], backing vocals
* [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]{{snd}}bass guitar, organ, backing vocals
* [[John Bonham]]{{snd}}drums, percussion

'''Production'''

* Producer{{snd}}Jimmy Page
* Recording engineers
: [[George Chkiantz]] at [[Olympic Studios]], London: "Whole Lotta Love", "What Is and What Should Never Be"
: [[Chris Huston]] at Mystic Studios, Los Angeles: "The Lemon Song", "Moby Dick"
: [[Andy Johns]] at [[Morgan Studios]], London: "Thank You", "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)"
: [[Eddie Kramer]] at [[A & R Studios]], Juggy Sound Studio, and [[Atlantic Studios]] (resp.), New York: "Heartbreaker", "Ramble On", "Bring It On Home"
* Director of engineering and [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] at A & R Studios{{snd}}Eddie Kramer
* LP mastering{{snd}}[[Robert Ludwig]]
* [[Executive producer]]{{snd}}[[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]]
* Artwork{{snd}}David Juniper

'''Digitally remastered editions'''
* First 1987 CD mastering [19127-2]{{snd}} Barry Diament at Atlantic Studios
* 1994 digital remastering (from the original master tapes){{snd}} Jimmy Page and [[George Marino]] at [[Sterling Sound]]
* 2014 24 bit/192&nbsp;kHz digital transfers of the original analogue tapes{{snd}} Jimmy Page at Metropolis Mastering, London
: Additional engineering for prev. unreleased studio outtakes{{snd}} Drew Griffiths at Metropolis Mastering, London
: Mastering of prev. unreleased tracks{{snd}} John Davis at Metropolis Mastering, London
* All reissues produced by Jimmy Page

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=== Weekly charts ===
'''Original release'''
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+1969–1970 weekly chart performance for ''Led Zeppelin II''
! scope="col"| Chart (1969–1970)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"|Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| align="center"| 1
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|1|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|chartid=6117|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
!scope="row"| Danish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=6317|title=danskehitlister.dk|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410004013/http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=6317|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"| 10
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name=FINI>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | language= fi}}</ref>
| align="center"| 1
|-
{{Album chart|Germany4|1|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin|id=6635|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]|language=it|access-date=July 8, 2023}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Led Zeppelin".</ref>
| align="center"| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
| align="center"| 8
|-
{{Album chart|Norway|2|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[Productores de Música de España|Spanish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|1|date=19700201|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023|refname=UKALBUMS}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Led Zeppelin|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|}

'''2014 reissue'''
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+2014 weekly chart performance for ''Led Zeppelin II''
! scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|24|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|25|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Flanders|19|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Wallonia|13|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Denmark|10|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Finland|6|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|France|15|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Hungary|4|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|year=2014|week=32|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Italy|15|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|6|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Poland|9|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|id=868|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Portugal|15|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Spain|24|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|13|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|15|artist=Led Zeppelin|album=Led Zeppelin II|rowheader=true|accessdate=July, 8 2023}}
|}

{{col-2}}
=== Year-end charts ===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Year-end chart performance for ''Led Zeppelin II''
!Chart (2002)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812035533/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_metal.html|archivedate=August 12, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_metal.html|title=Top 100 Metal Albums of 2002|website=[[Jam!]]|accessdate=March 23, 2022}}</ref>
|align=center|96
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Led Zeppelin II''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|title=Led Zeppelin II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1970|certyear=1993|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=Led+Zeppelin&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531193333/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=Led+Zeppelin&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP|archive-date=31 May 2011 |title=Led Zeppelin Discos de oro y platino |language=es |access-date=23 February 2023 |publisher=[[Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Led Zeppelin II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2007}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|title=Led Zeppelin II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1969}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Led Zeppelin II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Platinum|number=9|relyear=1969|certyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Volume 2|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Gold|number=2|certyear=2001|relyear=1969}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1969}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|title=II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1969|note=sales since 2009}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Led Zeppelin II|relyear=1969|certyear=2000|award=Gold|certref=<ref name="Spanish certifications 1979-1990">{{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/x263f6daopkswo8|title=Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990|year=2005|publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales|language=es|isbn=8480486392}}</ref>|access-date=12 September 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Sweden|award=Gold|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24241/lot/73/?category=list&length=10&page=8|access-date=20 December 2020|title=LED ZEPPELIN: A 'GOLD' SALES AWARD FOR THE ALBUM LED ZEPPELIN II, 1970}}</ref>|salesamount=25,000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24241/lot/73/?category=list&length=10&page=8|title = LED ZEPPELIN: A 'GOLD' SALES AWARD FOR THE ALBUM LED ZEPPELIN II, 1970}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Led Zeppelin II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2008|id=3777-2162-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Led Zeppelin II|artist=Led Zeppelin|type=album|award=Platinum|number=12|refname=uscert}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==See also==
{{Portal|1960s}}
*[[List of best-selling albums in the United States]]
*[[List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1970|List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 1970]]
*[[Train Does Led Zeppelin II|''Train Does'' Led Zeppelin II]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{reflist}}

'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last1=Brackett|first1=Nathan|last2=Hoard|first2=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2004|location=New York|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|edition=4th|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac}}
*{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Peter|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|publisher=Rough Guides|year=2003|location=London|isbn=1-85828-201-2|url=https://archive.org/details/rockroughguide00buck}}
*{{cite book|first1=Jean-Michel|last1=Guesdon|first2=Philippe|last2=Margotin|year=2018|title=Led Zeppelin All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track|publisher=[[Running Press]]|isbn=978-0-316-448-67-3}}
*{{cite book | title = Australian Chart Book 1970 - 1992 | last = Kent |first = David | isbn = 0-646-11917-6 | year = 1993 | publisher = Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. | author-link = David Kent (historian)}}
*{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=1990|title=Led Zeppelin: A Celebration|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-711-92416-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/ledzeppelinceleb0000lewi}}
*{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2010|title=Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide To Their Music|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857121356}}
*{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=From A Whisper to A Scream: The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-857-12788-4}}
*{{cite book|last1=Lewis|first1=Dave|last2=Pallett|first2=Simon|year=1997|title=Led Zeppelin: The Concert File|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=0-7119-5307-4}}
*{{cite book|last=Rosen|first=Craig|year=1996|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Albums: The Inside Story Behind Pop Music's Blockbuster Records|edition=1st|location=New York|publisher=Billboard Books|page=118|isbn=0-8230-7586-9}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|4170|name=Led Zeppelin II}}

{{Led Zeppelin songs}}
{{Led Zeppelin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Led Zeppelin 2}}
[[Category:1969 albums]]
[[Category:Albums involved in plagiarism controversies]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jimmy Page]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Morgan Sound Studios]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Olympic Sound Studios]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
[[Category:Led Zeppelin albums]]