Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin II was Led Zeppelin's second studio album. It was produced by lead guitarist and songwriter Jimmy Page and featured three tracks that were reworks of Chicago blues songs originally released by Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf. The most successful song from the album, "Whole Lotta Love", peaked in the top ten, while the album reached number one on the Billboard Albums chart.

The Robert Ludwig mastering of Led Zeppelin II is one of the most sought after variations of the album due to its loud or "Hot" mix. The release was said to be so hot that it would cause the needles of cheap record players to jump out of the groove. As such, many thought the album to be defective and returned it. Only later did people realize that it was the mastering of the album that caused such a ruckus. Those "defective" versions are actually some of the best sounding of all variations of the album and sell for hundreds of dollars today.

Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs released their mastering of Led Zeppelin II in 1982 as a part of their Original Master Recording series. Mastered at half speed using the "original stereo master tapes" as the source and lacquers cut on the Ortofon cutting System, the MOFI version has been well received over the years, with many comparing it to the Robert Ludwig original release.

While not having heard a Robert Ludwig pressing, we must say that the MOFI release sounds pretty darn good.  The vinyl is fairly quiet, enabling the music to be the focus. John Bonham’s drums kick, Robert Plant's vocals project into the room, and Jimmy Paige's guitar riffs are powerfully present. The dynamic range of the album is exceptional and the musical separation is exactly as you would want a 70s rock album to be, with excellent distinction between instruments.
 
If you are a fan of this album or just a classic rock fan, this is one worth an investment if you can afford it.  They are pricey, but still cheaper than the Robert Ludwig hot mix and it sounds nearly as good…so we think. 💰

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