The Making of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'

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Last edited Wed Jun 4, 2014, 12:33 PM - Edit history (1)

More LZ, but this time from an unlikely source.

The Making of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'

Music

Anatomy of a Song: 'Whole Lotta Love'
The Making of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'

An oral history from guitarist Jimmy Page and the engineers who helped place Robert Plant's vocals at the top of the charts.

By Marc Myers
Updated May 29, 2014 3:10 p.m. ET

In late 1968, Led Zeppelin began pioneering a heavier, more metallic-sounding form of rock geared for FM radio's new album-oriented stereo format. By combining a slashing electric guitar and wailing vocals with a rhythmic bass and locomotive drums, the band quickly became the darlings of better stereo systems and large indoor arenas—and inspired several generations of metal-driven rockers.

When "Whole Lotta Love" was released in October 1969, it appeared first on "Led Zeppelin II," the band's second album, and then as a single weeks later—with a shorter edit for AM radio. While the single reached No. 4 on Billboard's pop chart, the album shot to No. 1 in November, and a three-month battle with the Beatles' "Abbey Road" for the top spot ensued.

With the reissue of Led Zeppelin's first three albums on Tuesday by Atlantic Records, guitarist Jimmy Page, 70, recording engineer George Chkiantz, 70, and final-mix engineer Eddie Kramer, 71, reflected on how the famed guitar riff evolved, why the voice of lead vocalist Robert Plant pre-echoes on the recording and how a 1985 lawsuit by blues artist Willie Dixon resulted in a co-songwriter credit for "Whole Lotta Love." (Mr. Plant, who opposes a reunion tour, and bassist John Paul Jones declined to be interviewed.) Edited from conversations.
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Mr. Page: Some people said later that "Whole Lotta Love" was based on Willie Dixon's "You Need Love" [recorded by Muddy Waters] and the Small Faces' "You Need Loving." My riff—the basis for the entire song—sounds nothing like either of them. Robert had referenced the Dixon lyrics because with my riff, they felt right. This eventually forced us to give Dixon a co-credit on our song. But if you take Robert's vocal out, there's no musical reference to either song.

John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham in London in 1968 Redferns/Getty Images