Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love
About The Song
Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ is a track that would ultimately play a pivotal role in shaping the career of one of the most vital band’s of all time, allowing Zeppelin to become a stadium-filling group who would soundtrack rock music for years to come.
The legendary track took over a year to perfect with Jimmy Page initially coming up with the intuitive riff during the summer of 1968, a period of time when he was residing in his houseboat on the River Thames. Unfortunately, the riff didn’t find a home on their self-titled debut which was released the following January but, showing longevity, the glorious composition was eventually put to good use.
Following the astronomical success of their debut record, Led Zep wouldn’t waste any time before they would re-assemble and get back into the studio at London’s Olympic Studios just five months later. Page would take up the reigns as a producer on ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and used his genius experimental ideas with pioneering recording techniques that would elevate the track.
John Bonham’s monstrous drum sound acted as the foundation for this song and, in order to really get the best sound possible out of the drumming maestro, Jimmy Page expertly decided to record his part in the big room at Olympic Studios in London, a location which boasted 28-foot ceilings.
‘Whole Lotta Love’ would also be the first track the band allowed to be released as a single in the United States with it charting at number four and, not long after, Led Zeppelin became a household name on both sides of the Atlantic. They were still wary of releasing singles and didn’t give the track it’s own release in the UK at the time.
