Which song has one of most memorable opening guitar ever? Probably only closely rivalled by the first bars of Michael Jacksons ‘Black and White’, I would have to propose a vote for Led Zeppelins’ Whole Lotta Love’.
Used for many years as the intro music for BBCs Top Of The Pops this is one of the greatest songs of all time. After these the monopoly would still seem to be with Led Zep think Rock’n’Roll or Kashmir.

Whole Lotta Love is no soft song though and is a song about sex. It is erotic rock aimed at seducing the listener. The lyrics and vocals spell out the desire backed by Jimmy Pages brilliant guitar playing. It is also superbly produced including a dreamy distorted sequence and ripping guitar solo. After such an epic start they follow with a track which is sheer quality. What Is And What Should Never Be is most part an acoustic piece and a masterpiece at that. This track proves again what superb musicians Led Zep were capable of playing with a subtlety and beauty not normally associated with rockers. The song drifts and meanders in and out of the conscious state before releasing a blinding finale.

The classic Heartbreaker follows which is another song initially built around a killer guitar riff. The backing by Jones and John Bonham add depth and again Plant is on top form. Initially slow with each line stabbed into the mind but with a superb Page solo to follow, one of their most complete early tracks. The excellent Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just A Woman) is blended neatly onto the back of Heartbreaker and is another top track. Has the feel of a live track as there are no obvious joins or intrusive production add-ons. Ramble On is one of my favourite tracks of all time. It is lyrically unusual as it suggests a different mythical world. Zeppelin lyrics were normally pretty simple and standard but this is different. The music is too as it swirls around before sliding into one the most sublime steel guitar solos ever and the back with Bonham hammering in a solid ending as Plant wails away. Brilliant.

Many bands falter on the second album but no such problems for Led Zeppelin. They were still ascending their particular stairway and most will know where it led to. As an overall album this ranks alongside Led Zeppelin 4 as the best they produced. It paved the way for their early University circuit popularity to be left far behind as the stadia of Britain, Europe and the US beckoned. They were beginning to set standards in rock and roll behaviour not only in the studios and stadia but also the airplanes and hotels of the world.