Whole Lotta Love : Rolling Stone

Written by: Willie Dixon, Led Zeppelin
Produced by: Jimmy Page
Released: Oct. '69 on Atlantic
Charts: 15 weeks
Top spot: No. 4

When Page recruited his new band, Led Zeppelin, the four musicians got their sound together by jamming on the blues standards they loved, stretching them out into psychedelic orgies. "Whole Lotta Love" was their tribute to Chicago blues songwriter Willie Dixon. It was based on his "You Need Love," a single Muddy Waters cut in 1962, though Plant also threw in quotes from songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf: "Shake for Me" and "Back Door Man." Avowed Dixon fans, the band also covered "You Shook Me," "I Can't Quit You Baby" and "Bring It On Home" on its first two albums -- but never sorted out the copyright issues until 1985, when Dixon brought legal action and got his rightful share of the credit for "Whole Lotta Love." "Page's riff was Page's riff," Plant said. "I just thought, 'Well, what am I going to sing?' That was it, a nick. Now happily paid for." Said Page, "Usually my riffs are pretty damn original. What can I say?"

Appears on: Led Zeppelin II (Atlantic)

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