Led Zeppelin II Sessions
April - August 1969

APRIL 1969 - A&M STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES (CA), UNITED STATES
APRIL 10, 1969 - OLYMPIC SOUND STUDIOS, BARNES, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
The band worked on initial versions of But What Is And What Should Never Be (later known as What Is And What Should Never Be) and You Need Love (later known as Whole Lotta Love).
APRIL 12, 1969 - OLYMPIC SOUND STUDIOS, BARNES, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

APRIL 14, 1969 - OLYMPIC SOUND STUDIOS, BARNES, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
The band also worked on You Need Love (later known as Whole Lotta Love) and But What Is And What Should Never Be (later known as What Is And What Should Never Be).

Recording Includes: La La (backing track).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. 4 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Official CD Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

      Another pop-oriented composition bestowed on Zeppelin fans. It begins with an enticing keyboard hook that draws you in. The whole band comes in and what stands out is the 1960s style song is the famous acoustic guitar strumming by Jimmy that we all loved. Near the first minute tempo changes reminiscent of Swan Song before it goes off into another direction as Bonham and Page convert the song momentarily into an electric piece but stop soon after. The ending is drowned in a heavy, psychedelic guitar licks reminding those from the early live versions of Whole Lotta Love.

APRIL 19, 1969 - OLYMPIC SOUND STUDIOS, BARNES, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Whole Lotta Love is yet still under its initial title, You Need Love and What Is And What Should Never Be is But What Is And What Should Never Be.

Recording Includes: Whole Lotta Love (rough mix), What Is And What Should Never Be (rough mix).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. 10 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Official CD Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

      This is the famous Whole Lotta Love rough mix with vocals. It does not contain the backwards echo guitar slide nor a chorus yet. So we are hearing this song in kinda embryonic form. There are no bongos added to the midsection or sonic treatments by Page and Eddie Kramer. There's more Theremin than on the official release, and it's crystal clear. When Jones' bass starts working its way back in to start the end of the middle section, you know the guitar solo spot is near, but it's not on this version. It's interesting at the end to hear Bonham do a four-note drum lick to stop the track on the fade-out. What Is And What Should Never Be rough mix with vocals is next. The song sounds pretty much like the original album version. However, at the start of the slide solo, there's a rough beginning to it which will be edited out. So it shows the track's basics were laid down well and just a few things like a vocal bit here removed, or the rough slide start cleaned up, and it shows the band kept it simple and it works.

MAY 1969 - A&M STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES (CA), UNITED STATES
Overdubs for Whole Lotta Love.
MAY 1969 - JUGGY SOUND STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
MAY 1969 - QUANTUM STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES (CA), UNITED STATES
APRIL 29/MAY 1, 1969 - MIRROR SOUND and/or GOLD STAR, LOS ANGELES (CA), UNITED STATES

MAY 6, 1969 - MIRROR SOUND, LOS ANGELES (CA), UNITED STATES
There seems to be some confusion as to the specific location of this studio. Some sources claims that there was no Mirror Sound Studio on the west coast at the time. It is possible that initial work was done at one studio, and then the Mirror Sound name became attached to the tape box at a later point. A total of six tracks are recorded by the end of their stint in Los Angeles.

Recording Includes: Moby Dick (backing track), [ cut ], drum solo [ cut ].
Source: Incomplete very good to excellent & superb soundboard recording. 8 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Official CD Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Bootleg CD Reference(s): I Sessions (Wendy Records), Alternates And Outtakes I & II Volume 1 (Boogie Mama), Bonzo's Last Stand (Empress Valley Supreme Disc), Eternal Magic (Empress Valley Supreme Disc 3CD), Evolution Is Timing 2 (Empress Valley Supreme Disc box), Led Zeppelin II Classic Records 45rpm Treasured Version (Empress Valley Supreme Disc), Meet The Led Zeppelin (Akashic Records), Sessions (Antrabata Reference Master box), Studio Magik - Sessions 1968-1980 (Godfatherecords box), & Studio Sessions Ultimate (Scorpio box)

      The backing track is how this song was originally recorded. As it stops where the drum insert would go, there's a pause, and we hear Bonham count out and the ending riff begins confirming what we'd been told if you don't have the bootleg. The real treat is the extra power chord at the end with a rough slide down and right off the fretboard. The drum solo segment is available on bootlegs only, and has much worse quality.

MAY 10, 1969 - VANCOUVER (BC), CANADA
It was not confirmed at all if group recorded anything or just rehearsed that day. Sources reported that they laid down harmonica tracks and vocal overdubs for Bring It On Home, and later recorded the entire song too.
MAY 19, 1969 - A&R STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
The other possible locations are Juggy Sound Studios, Mayfair Studios and Groove Studios.

MAY 21, 1969 - A&R STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES

Recording Includes: Heartbreaker (rough mix).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. 4 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Official CD Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

      A rough mix that sounds much similar to the final album version but with different balance. The drum track may have been replaced with another vibrant one as it's different from the release, and the guitar solo is a raw first attempt to remind Page the direction to take it in when he returns to it to redo it alone in the studio by himself. The track has the harmonic feedback beeps in it as the songs speeds up after the guitar solo. What's really cool is the three-and-a-half mark in the track, reminiscent of the rave-ups the Yardbirds used to do, and it's different which made it an excellent choice for companion disc.

MAY 22, 1969 - A&R STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
The band likely continued working on Heartbreaker.
JUNE 1969 - GROOVE STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
Recording vocals and overdubs for What Is And What Should Never Be.
JUNE 1969 - MAYFAIR RECORDING STUDIO, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
Recording of Moby Dick drum solo.
JUNE 1969 - OLYMPIC SOUND STUDIOS, BARNES, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Recording of Whole Lotta Love middle section (disputed as it was probably recorded in May at A&M Studios, Los Angeles) and What Is And What Should Never Be.
JUNE 1969 - MORGAN STUDIOS, WILLESDON, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Recording of Thank You and Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman).

JUNE 1, 1969 - JUGGY SOUND STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES

Recording Includes: Ramble On (rough mix).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. Near 5 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Official CD Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

      Another rough mix for the possibly most delicate and beautiful composition from the second album. It differs only in lacking guitar overdubs, everything else is just about same, except for several additional vocal ad-libs at the latter part. Some back-up vocal overdubs known from the album version are missing here too. Very nice to hear these type tracks to see how the band polished them, as they are so-called bare-bones tracks.

JUNE 25, 1969 - MORGAN STUDIOS, WILLESDON, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
A competing title for Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman) was Livin' Lovin' Wreck. It is possible that this track may have been known by that title at the time this backing track was mixed.

Recording Includes: Thank You (instrumental backing track), Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman) (instrumental backing track).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. 7 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

Official CD Reference(s): Led Zeppelin II "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Atlantic)

      Thank You is another backing track and stands as a real beauty, being also the first song ever with lyrics written by Plant alone. It differs in a few places, of which the most prominent is the complete lack of any vocals, leaving us to hear this song's unique musical-instrument construction. It also misses a nice and delicate classical style guitar solo in the middle and the fade out and fade back in at the end. Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman) is another backing track minus vocals. Everything else is much similar to the album version in its instrumental form, but it sounds more rough and runs for three minutes.

JULY 24, 1969 - ATLANTIC STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
Bring It On Home is yet still under its initial title, Bring It All Home. This working title (with "all") may have simply been a misheard "on".

Recording Includes: Bring It On Home (rough mix).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. 4 minutes.

Official LP Reference(s): Coda "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Swan Song)

Official CD Reference(s): Coda "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions (Swan Song)

      Straight into the riff part with Robert's wailing harmonica - and then very much a live vocal with the singer freely expressing himself with complete abandonment - as he was doing nightly on stage in the United States at the time. Bonzo tearing along with it all as the harmonica comes back in. Totally wild and chaotic with an electric ending. Superb snapshot of their on the road ad hoc studio recording methods.

AUGUST 1969 - A&R STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES

Recording Includes: Whole Lotta Love (main guitar bleed), Whole Lotta Love (guitar overdubs bleed), Whole Lotta Love (bass bleed), Whole Lotta Love (drum right bleed), Whole Lotta Love (drum left bleed), Whole Lotta Love (tympani/tambourine bleed), Whole Lotta Love (vocals bleed), Whole Lotta Love (vocal overdubs bleed), What Is And What Should Never Be (main guitar bleed), What Is And What Should Never Be (bass bleed), What Is And What Should Never Be (drum right bleed w/count-in), What Is And What Should Never Be (drum left bleed w/count-in), What Is And What Should Never Be (main vocals bleed), What Is And What Should Never Be (vocal overdubs bleed, take 1), What Is And What Should Never Be (vocal overdubs bleed, take 2), What Is And What Should Never Be (guitar and vocal overdubs), Heartbreaker (main guitar bleed, take 1), Heartbreaker (main guitar bleed, take 2), Heartbreaker (bass bleed), Heartbreaker (drum right bleed), Heartbreaker (drum left bleed), Heartbreaker (guitar, bass and drums bleed), Heartbreaker (vocals bleed), Heartbreaker (vocals and guitar bleed), Ramble On (acoustic guitar bleed), Ramble On (electric guitar bleed), Ramble On (guitar overdubs bleed), Ramble On (bass bleed), Ramble On (drum right bleed w/tympani), Ramble On (drum left bleed w/tympani), Ramble On (vocals bleed), Ramble On (vocals and guitar bleed).
Source: Complete superb soundboard recording. 209 minutes.

Bootleg CD Reference(s): Alternates And Outtakes I & II Volume 1 (Boogie Mama), Countdown (Boogie Mama), Evolution Is Timing 2 (Empress Valley Supreme Disc box), Led Zeppelin II Classic Records 45rpm Treasured Version (Empress Valley Supreme Disc), The Making Of Led Zeppelin II (Empress Valley Supreme Disc, original & reissue), Led Zeppelin II Multi Track Mixdowns (Empress Valley Supreme Disc, original & reissue), The Lost Sessions Volume 2 (Empress Valley Supreme Disc), Royal Albert Hall 1970 (Wendy Records), & Studio Magik - Sessions 1968-1980 (Godfatherecords box)

      A true Holy Grail here! The Led Zeppelin II pre-mixdown tapes standing not so far away from the final album version. Each of the four songs are divided into eight separate tracks, so you can grab them and mix your own version of this eponymous piece of rock history. They provide a fascinating glimpse into not only the mixing but how the songs were written and constructed. While sometimes some of the bleed tracks can get tedious other times you marvel at some sounds or parts you never heard before. Whole Lotta Love is no fading at the end, presenting fantastic Theremin coda. Perhaps that was kept on the reel for possible use but then left out during mixing. What Is And What Should Never Be has also longer ending, and the song abruptly ends with a soft coda, similar to live arrangement. Some of the takes have many additional guitar snippets too. Heartbreaker is just terrific, it looks like Jimmy is working hardly on middle guitar section trying differences in his solo. The last take has a much different guitar solo and some accented slides as well as some vocals snippets and is a superb mix-up. Ramble On is particularly interesting, the acoustic guitar bleed brings to light a lot of the depth of the song you don't usually hear and notice due to the eventual prominence of the electric guitar. This song has the most multi mixes, all variations of each other with extra vocals and guitar and drum snippets scattered throughout.

AUGUST 5, 1969 - MYSTIC SOUND STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES (CA), UNITED STATES
Overdubs for The Lemon Song and Bring It On Home verses and chorus.
AUGUST 12, 1969 - A&R STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
Jimmy Page and Eddie Kramer complete the mixing of Bring It On Home and playback Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman), Heartbreaker and What Is And What Should Never Be.
AUGUST 29~30, 1969 - A&R STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY (NY), UNITED STATES
Final mixing of Led Zeppelin II album.