75) Led Zeppelin II

Buy the album at Rhino.com

This album opens with one of the most exhilarating guitar riffs in rock & roll: Jimmy Page's searing stutter in "Whole Lotta Love." But, Page told Rolling Stone, "On the second LP, you can hear the real group identity coming together," by which he meant the unified might of his own white-blues sorcery, John Bonham's hands-of-God drumming, Robert Plant's love-god howl and surprisingly tender lyrics (the gorgeous "Thank You"), and John Paul Jones' firm bass and keyboard colors. Other great reasons to bang your head: "The Lemon Song," "Heartbreaker" and "Ramble On."

Total album sales: 12 million

Peak chart position: 1

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