20 Cool Facts About Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”
via Led Zeppelin / Youtube
“Whole Lotta Love,” a blistering track from Led Zeppelin’s second album, is a song that has left an indelible mark on the world of rock music.
Here are 20 cool facts about this iconic song:
1. Lascivious Lyrics
The song contains some of Robert Plant’s most lascivious lyrics, which were inspired by the blues. It’s not poetry, but he gets his point across quite effectively, letting the girl know that he’s yearning, and ready to give her all of his love – every inch.
2. Inspiration from Muddy Waters
Plant’s lyrics are based on a 1962 Muddy Waters song written by Willie Dixon called “You Need Love,” where Waters sings:
I ain’t foolin’, you need schoolin’ Baby, you know you need coolin’ Woman, way down inside
3. Settlement with Willie Dixon
The band reached an agreement with Dixon, who used the settlement money to set up a program providing instruments for schools.
4. Similarity with Small Faces Song
The 1966 Small Faces song “You Need Loving” also borrowed from Dixon’s song, and those lyrics are more similar to what Plant used.
5. Massive Drum Sound
The massive drum sound was the foundation of this track, so Jimmy Page recorded it in the big room at Olympic Studios in London, which had 28-foot ceilings.
View this post on Instagram
6. Innovative Techniques
Jimmy Page served as Led Zeppelin’s producer, and on this song, he let loose in the studio, using all kinds of innovative techniques.
7. The Freakout
Particularly in the freeform section about 1:20 in, which was the result of him and engineer Eddie Kramer “twiddling every knob known to man.” This part is often referred to as “the freakout”.
8. Backward Echo
One of the more intriguing sections of this song comes at the 4-minute mark, where the distant voice of Robert Plant sings each line (“Way down inside… woman… you need… love”) before his full-throated vocal comes in.
9. First US Single
“Whole Lotta Love” was the first song they allowed as a US single, and it became their biggest hit, going to #4 (their only Top 10 entry) despite a 5:33 running time.
10. Basis for a Medley
Led Zeppelin used this as the basis for a medley they performed in their later shows.
View this post on Instagram
11. Racy Meaning
The meaning behind Led Zeppelin’s 1969 hit “Whole Lotta Love” is more about lust rather than a whole lotta the former. Using lyrics that involve yearning and drooling, the racy rock standard heaves with lascivious intentions against a throbbing rhythm and pulsating guitar riff.
12. Origins
“Whole Lotta Love” appeared on the band’s sophomore album, Led Zeppelin II, as its opening track1. Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page crafted the song’s iconic riff and the lust-filled lyrics followed when the band’s frontman Robert Plant penned the words with a whole lotta help.
13. Lawsuit
The song resulted in a lawsuit against the band much later, and in 1985, they settled out of court with Dixon awarded an unknown amount.
14. Plant’s Admission
Plant has since openly admitted to his appropriation of Dixon’s lyrics, explaining to Musician magazine in a 1990 interview.
15. The Lyrics
The chorus then plays with “Want a whole lotta love” repeated over and over, driving home the song’s desirous theme.
View this post on Instagram
16. 2014 Reissue
The 2014 Led Zeppelin II reissue included a rough mix vocal version of Whole Lotta Love recorded at Olympic Studios on April 19, 19692.
17. Greatest Guitar Riff
In the same year the reissue appeared, the Whole Lotta Love riff was voted the greatest guitar riff of all time by listeners of BBC Radio 22.
18. Jimmy Page’s Contribution
Jimmy Page initially came up with the classic Whole Lotta Love riff at his Pangbourne home in the late summer of 19682.
19. Song’s Popularity
Despite its running time of 5:33, “Whole Lotta Love” became their biggest hit in the US, reaching #4 on the charts3.
20. Influence on Rock Music
“Whole Lotta Love” continues to be a staple in rock music and has influenced countless musicians around the world.
