News The Led Zeppelin song that took almost three decades to chart
In conversations about Led Zeppelin, it doesn’t take long before their most career-defining track is brought up. Of course, this song not only became a cornerstone of rock ‘n’ roll but has also inspired numerous covers. What the casual listener might be unaware of, however, is that ‘Whole Lotta Love’ didn’t chart until nearly 30 years after its initial release.
After the massive success of their debut album, Led Zeppelin wasted no time reconvening in the studio. Just five months later, they found themselves at London’s Olympic Studios. Jimmy Page assumed the role of producer for ‘Whole Lotta Love’, infusing the track with his innovative experimental concepts and pioneering recording techniques, ultimately elevating its impact.
The legendary song showcases each member operating at the peak of their abilities and features some of Robert Plant’s most evocative lyricism. However, the same lyrics became central to a lawsuit in 1985 after the track was accused of directly ripping off Muddy Waters’ ‘You Need Love’.
In response to the incident years later, Plant expressed his view: “Page’s riff was Page’s riff,” he told Musician Magazine. “It was there before anything else. I just thought, ‘well, what am I going to sing?’ That was it, a nick. Now happily paid for. At the time, there was a lot of conversation about what to do. It was decided that it was so far away in time and influence that .. well, you only get caught when you’re successful. That’s the game.”
Still, nothing could hinder the unstoppable force of ‘Whole Lotta Love’. Led Zeppelin’s approach to success diverged from focusing solely on singles; instead, they prioritised crafting cohesive albums to deliver the ultimate listening experience for fans, one that transcended individual tracks. Consequently, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and other Zeppelin songs didn’t initially chart upon release.
It wasn’t until nearly three decades later, in September 1997, that ‘Whole Lotta Love’ finally made its mark on the charts, spending five weeks there and peaking at number 21. This occurred after the band, having formed 29 years prior, finally relaxed its longstanding aversion to releasing singles. The beauty of their tenure, however, was that they probably would have garnered the same amount of success without any of their tracks making the charts at all.
The moment Led Zeppelin dropped their debut album in 1969, rock was a changed landscape. Their music transcended generations, influencing countless artists and bands across various genres. Their image, sound, and style became synonymous with the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, shaping the collective consciousness of an entire era.
