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Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin II

What the critics heard when these records were new. Original reviews, release anniversaries and chart histories.

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First release · United States
Album cover: Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin II
Cover source ↗Led Zeppelin / Rhino Entertainment
1969

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin II

hard rockheavy psychblues rock
Hostile review

The sophomore album the critic called puerile

Released in the US on 22 October 1969. A contemporary hostile review, alongside chart results with their dates.

The verdict at the time

Mendelsohn attacked the record as "just one especially heavy song extended over the space of two whole sides," dismissed the band as "Limp Blimp," mocked Page's height, and admitted reviewing under the influence of mescaline and other substances while sneering at Plant's vocals.

John Mendelsohn · Rolling Stone ·

Read the contemporary review

Chart peaks

USA#1Billboard 2001969-12-27 · Original release periodChart source
UK#1Official Albums Chart1970-02-07 · Original release periodChart source
Europe · Germany#1German Albums Chart1970 · Original release periodChart source
Europe · Netherlands#1Dutch Album Top 1001970-01-31 · Original release periodChart source

European positions are listed by country. Later chart entries are labelled separately.

Sources & context

One critic's sarcastic dismissal, summarised from the original Rolling Stone review of 13 December 1969. The album is now recognised as a foundational document of hard rock and heavy metal.

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