Studio Album · No. 2
Led Zeppelin II Songwriting Credits by Led Zeppelin
Produced by Jimmy Page · Engineered by Eddie Kramer, George Chkiantz, Chris Huston, Andy Johns
Holds writing credit on 9 of 9 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Led Zeppelin carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 1
Led Zeppelin II marks the start of Robert Plant's regular co-writing partnership with Jimmy Page, with Plant supplying most lyrics on tracks like 'Ramble On' while Page built the riffs. Several songs adapted blues material without initial credit, and the credits were later corrected through litigation: 'Whole Lotta Love' added Willie Dixon after its lyrics were found to derive from his 'You Need Love' (a 1985 suit settled out of court in Dixon's favor), 'The Lemon Song' added Chester Burnett (Howlin' Wolf) for its derivation from 'Killing Floor' after a 1972 Arc Music suit, and 'Bring It On Home' had songwriting credit revert to Dixon, whose Sonny Boy Williamson II recording bookends the track. The band kept its own riff-based credits where the music was original.
Led Zeppelin II is the 1969 second studio album by Led Zeppelin and is often called the quintessential hard rock and heavy metal record. Recorded between April and August 1969 at studios across the United Kingdom and North America, including Olympic Studios and A&M Studios, the album was pieced together in short windows between concert dates and produced by Jimmy Page. Robert Plant handled vocals and harmonica, Page played guitar and theremin, John Paul Jones contributed bass and organ, and John Bonham played drums, on songs such as "Whole Lotta Love", "Heartbreaker", and "Ramble On". The album topped both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart and was certified 12 times platinum in the United States. AllMusic noted that it provided the blueprint for the heavy metal bands that followed.