Led Zeppelin II Album

tangentmusic · #1 01-26-2011, 10:03 AM

I was doing some casual reading the other night about Led Zep's 2nd LP. I had not realized it was recorded on the road while they were on tour in '69. It was recorded very quickly in several different studios in between concert dates in England and the States.
What struck me as amazing was that the album has such great flow and continuity. Imagine yourself recording an album this way. I have enough trouble keeping my own recordings under control in my own studio. I'm amazed Zep was able to pull it off so well.
They were in several different studios. Different rooms acoustically, different mics, cords, recording desks, mixing facilities and staff at each location, all done on the fly, yet their recordings all sounded sonically & ambiently very similar.
Guitars recorded in London, bass & drum tracks in NY, vocals in LA, yet the results were so cohesive. One track does'nt sound bassier than another or more treble on this or that song. It truly sounds as if it were done in one controled studio environment.
I have a newfound respect for this LP and the Mastermind behind it all --Jimmy Page.
Any thoughts on this great recording?
Does anyone know of other classic albums done in this way with these fantastic results? Or is this a one-of-a-kind situation in rock history?

BagelBruin · #2 01-26-2011, 10:11 AM

New Adventures in Hi-Fi
by R.E.M.

Recorded as the went from one city to another.

Running on Empty
by Jackson Browne

A live album that was released as a studio album, and I love it

BagelBruin · #3 01-26-2011, 10:11 AM

But Led Zeppelin did it the best!

NKUSigEp · #4 01-26-2011, 10:20 AM

A lot of bands record different tracks in different places these days but it is pretty amazing that Zep did it before the advent of digital recording.

guroove · #5 01-26-2011, 10:23 AM

Jimmy Page never used EQ in the studio, which is probably one reason for it sounding so consistent from song to song.

tangentmusic · #6 01-26-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

A lot of bands record different tracks in different places these days but it is pretty amazing that Zep did it before the advent of digital recording.

Yes... Imagine some of the primitive old school recording equipment being used. So many variables playing against them, yet such fine results.

tangentmusic · #7 01-26-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guroove

Jimmy Page never used EQ in the studio, which is probably one reason for it sounding so consistent from song to song.

True, but imagine setting up your bass amp or guitar amp in 5 different studios, same amp settings. The mic'd sound coming off your amp (to me) would sound different just because of the ambience of the recording room itself.

mcm · #8 01-26-2011, 10:34 AM

i wish bands would record more albums in this manner. there is not a lot of time to sit around and overthink and tweak and make recording SO darn slick. write a song, play it, then record it.

zep 2 rocks.

OldDog52 · #9 01-26-2011, 10:43 AM

Listening to albums like LZ II through good headphones is a real treat. It's musicians playing for real, warts and all, and not a slick overproduced product that's been made perfect in the mixdown.

Fishheadjoe · #10 01-26-2011, 10:46 AM

Well, I guess I get to be the stick in the mud here, but that album sounds like butt to me! The sounds on it make me think it was recorded in a garbage can 2 blocks for the studio...
Now before you all get crazy on me, I'm not talking about the songs, just the sounds... there are far better sounding ablums from the same time period available, so to me that album was done in haste, with little to no regard to the sounds on it! It has the dymanic range of roadkill.
Let the flames begin!
Fishheadjoe

OldDog52 · #11 01-26-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishheadjoe

Well, I guess I get to be the stick in the mud here, but that album sounds like butt to me! The sounds on it make me think it was recorded in a garbage can 2 blocks for the studio...
Now before you all get crazy on me, I'm not talking about the songs, just the sounds... there are far better sounding ablums from the same time period available, so to me that album was done in haste, with little to no regard to the sounds on it! It has the dymanic range of roadkill.
Let the flames begin!
Fishheadjoe

I agree with you, the recording quality is very rough. That's part of its appeal to me.

chjohnst · #12 01-26-2011, 10:53 AM

I believe, LZ is the best! :-)

80'sRocker · #13 01-26-2011, 10:56 AM

This album more or less got me into the bass and was a great learning tool - bass playing 101

tangentmusic · #14 01-26-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDog52

I agree with you, the recording quality is very rough. That's part of its appeal to me.

Totally not a hi-tech recording.

We are talking about a record made in 1969 you know.

DanNowhere · #15 01-26-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDog52

I agree with you, the recording quality is very rough. That's part of its appeal to me.

Agreed. Listening to things like Zep records and The Beatles "Let It Be" are probably the reason why I love lo-fi stuff like Guided By Voices, and hate using compressors.

BigOldHarry · #16 01-26-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangentmusic

Totally not a hi-tech recording.

We are talking about a record made in 1969 you know.

Yeah, and given how bad some other recordings were in that same period, it sounds *great*. It's not my fav zep album by any means (that would be III because I'm that kinda guy) but there's really no room to bag on it - too many epic tunes (though I could live without Moby Dick - that one was phoned in...)

kelleysdad · #17 01-26-2011, 11:10 AM

Disraeli Gears was recorded in 11 days.....

Corevalay · #18 01-26-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcm

i wish bands would record more albums in this manner. there is not a lot of time to sit around and overthink and tweak and make recording SO darn slick. write a song, play it, then record it.

zep 2 rocks.

Seriously. I'm so sick of hearing perfect recordings. Everything to a grid, all sounds are made absolutely perfect (which in turn makes them sound fake). Drums being replaced with triggers and other drum sounds. Nothing really sticks out anymore or sounds unique. I love hearing older stuff where you know the band just jumped in and recorded and what came out is what you hear.

jaywa · #19 01-26-2011, 11:12 AM

Nobody else of that era got the sounds out of a drumkit that Bonham did.

Listen to the drum sounds on those Cream and Hendrix records. Garbage. Not even close to what was on Zep albums of the same era.

Closest I've ever heard to a decent cop of the Zep drum sound was mid-70s Heart (whose drummer Mike Derosier was a flat-out monster).

Joe Nerve · #20 01-26-2011, 11:17 AM

I recently got involved in a Zep Tribute band. Always loved them, appreciating them on and entirely new level now. Zeppelin II is easily one of the greatest and most succesful albums ever. It doesn't surprise me that it was recorded while on the road. I'd think they'd be most connected at a time like that.