Login
Login

Whole Lotta Love

{{short description|1969 single by Led Zeppelin}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Whole Lotta Love

| cover = wllsingle.jpg

| alt =

| caption = French single picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = Led Zeppelin

| album = Led Zeppelin II

| B-side = Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)

| released = {{start date|df=y|1969|11|7}}

| recorded = 14–19 April 1969, 28–30 April 1969{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=108}}

| studio = Olympic, London; A&M, Hollywood{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=108}}

| genre = *Hard rock{{cite web|first= Andrew |last= Winistorfer |title= VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs list only slightly less annoying than their hip-hop list |website= Prefix Magazine |date= 5 January 2009 |access-date= 1 July 2013 |url= http://www.prefixmag.com/news/vh1s-100-greatest-hard-rock-songs-list-only-slight/24504/}}{{cite book|first= Stephen K. |last= Valdez |year= 2006 |title= A History of Rock Music |publisher= Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company |isbn= 978-0-7575-3379-2 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jegYAQAAIAAJ&q=%22whole+lotta+love%22}}

  • heavy metal{{sfn|Lewis|1990|pp=47–48}}
  • blues rock{{cite web|title= Led Zeppelin Biography |work= Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |publisher= The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum |access-date= 17 July 2013 |url= http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/ |archive-date= 29 June 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160629100259/http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/}}{{cite book|last= Breihan|first= Tom|chapter= Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name|date= November 15, 2022|title= The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music|publisher=Hachette Book Group|location= New York|page= 175}}

| length = *5:33 (Album version){{Cite AV media notes| year = 1969| title = "Whole Lotta Love" / "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)"| type = Single notes| others = Led Zeppelin| location = New York City| publisher = Atlantic Records| id = 45-2690| at = A-side label}}

  • 3:46 (US 7-inch version)

| label = Atlantic

| writer = *John Bonham

| producer = Jimmy Page

| prev_title = Good Times Bad Times

| prev_year = 1969

| next_title = Immigrant Song

| next_year = 1970

}}

"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released as a single in 1969 in several countries; as with other Led Zeppelin songs, no single was released in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it became their first hit and was certified gold. Parts of the song's lyrics were adapted from Willie Dixon's "You Need Love", recorded by Muddy Waters in 1962; originally uncredited to Dixon, a lawsuit in 1985 was settled with a payment to Dixon and credit on subsequent releases.

In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in March 2005, Q placed "Whole Lotta Love" at number three in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was placed 11 on a similar list by Rolling Stone. In 2009 it was named the third greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. In 2014, listeners to BBC Radio 2 voted "Whole Lotta Love" as containing the greatest guitar riff of all time.{{cite web|title= Radio 2's Greatest Guitar Riffs |publisher= BBC Radio 2 |date= 25 August 2014 |access-date= 26 August 2014 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/chart/guitar-riffs}}

Composition and recording

{{Listen

| type = music

| filename = Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love.ogg

| title = "Whole Lotta Love"

| description = Sample with guitar riff

| help = no

}}

Jimmy Page came up with the guitar riff for "Whole Lotta Love" in the summer of 1968, on his houseboat on the River Thames at Pangbourne, Berkshire, England.{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=108}} However, John Paul Jones stated that it probably was developed from a live improvisation during performances of "Dazed and Confused".{{cite AV media notes|first= Cameron |last= Crowe |author-link= Cameron Crowe |title= The Complete Studio Recordings |type= Boxed set booklet |year= 1993}} Page denied that the song originated onstage and that he had the riff and the rest took it from there.{{cite magazine|first= David |last= Cavanaugh |title= Jimmy Page, 'Mission Accomplished' |date= May 2008 |magazine= Uncut |issue= 132 |page= 49 |issn= 1368-0722}} The chugging riff sounds like twin guitars because Page is playing two guitar strings in unison, while bending one of them to slightly change the pitch. At the same time, John Paul Jones is using the same technique on bass guitar, doubling the guitar part in a lower octave. Page recorded his part while playing through a solid-state amplifier.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/j.j.blair/reel/C8pK4QDpQ0m/ |title=Whole Lotta Love Hidden Track |author=J. J. Blair |date=2024 |website=Instagram |access-date=October 23, 2024}}

Notation for the song indicates the key of E major and a tempo of 92 beats per minute{{cite book|year=2008|title=Led Zeppelin Mothership Authentic Guitar Tab Edition|chapter=Whole Lotta Love|publisher=Alfred Publishing|isbn=978-0-7390-5317-1|page=52}} in a compound AABA form.{{cite book|first= John |last= Covach |editor-first= Deborah |editor-last= Stein |year= 2005 |title= Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis |chapter= Form in Rock Music: A Primer |publisher= Oxford University Press |location= New York |pages= 65–76 |isbn= 0-19-517010-5 |url= http://www.cs.unsyiah.ac.id/~frdaus/PenelusuranInformasi/tugas2/data/Form%20in%20Rock%20Music.pdf}}

During the two day mix of the Led Zeppelin II album, audio engineer Eddie Kramer discovered what he thought was some magnetic tape bleedthrough on Plant's vocals on the "Whole Lotta Love" track, which could not be removed, so he put some echo on it, and Page liked the sound.{{cite web|title= Kramer Archives: Bio |website= Kramerarchives.com |url= http://www.kramerarchives.com/bio.html |archive-date= 25 March 2009 |url-status= usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090325073043/http://www.kramerarchives.com/bio.html}} Page also employed a backwards echo production technique. Years later, engineer J. J. Blair analyzed the multi-track tape and found that the second guitar track contained traces of an earlier vocal track by Plant caused by microphonic induction of the guitar pickup. This thin-sounding vocal preceded the main vocal track in a manner similar to bleedthrough.

Personnel

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=108}}

Release

On 7 November 1969, "Whole Lotta Love" was released as a single in several countries, with "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" as the B-side.{{cite book|first= Jon |last= Bream |year= 2010 |orig-year= 2008 |title= Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time |publisher= Voyageur Press |pages= 65, 273 |isbn= 978-0-7603-3955-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-8NvIJD-kg4C&pg=PT52}} In the US, Atlantic provided an edited 3:12 version as the flipside for radio stations.{{Cite AV media notes| year = 1969| title = "Whole Lotta Love" Long version / "Whole Lotta Love" Short version| type = Single notes| others = Led Zeppelin| location = New York City| publisher = Atlantic Records| id = 45-2690| at = Labels}} Billboard described the single as a "powerful, commercial swinger that should have no trouble putting [Led Zeppelin] up the Hot 100."{{cite magazine|title= Spotlight Singles |magazine= Billboard |volume= 81 |issue= 46 |page= 98 |issn= 0006-2510 |date= 15 November 1969 |accessdate= 20 February 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1969/Billboard%201969-11-15.pdf}}{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xigEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Whole+lotta+love+Led+Zeppelin&pg=PA44 | title=Billboard | date=27 December 1969 }}Cash Box described it as "a mixture of rock and blues with special production touches and a rousing lead vocal performance."{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=November 15, 1969|page=24|accessdate=2021-12-08|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/CB-1969-11-15.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}} In the UK, Atlantic Records expected to issue an edited version, and pressed initial copies for release on 5 December 1969, but this was cancelled by request of manager Peter Grant.

Similarities to "You Need Love"

{{Main|You Need Love (Muddy Waters song)}}

In 1962, Muddy Waters recorded a blues vocal, "You Need Love", for Chess Records.{{cite book|first= Mitsutoshi |last= Inaba |year= 2011 |title= Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues |publisher= Scarecrow Press |pages= [https://archive.org/details/williedixonpreac00inab/page/n223 191]–193 |isbn= 978-0-81086-993-6 |url= https://archive.org/details/williedixonpreac00inab |url-access= limited}} As he had done with "You Shook Me", Waters overdubbed vocals on an instrumental track previously recorded by blues guitarist Earl Hooker and his band. Willie Dixon wrote the lyrics, which Dixon biographer Mitsutoshi Inaba describes as being "about the necessity of love":

{{poemquote|

You've got yearnin' and I got burnin'

Baby you look so, ho, sweet and cunnin'

Baby way down inside, woman you need love

Woman you need love, you've got to have some love

I'm gon' give you some love, I know you need love}}

In 1966, the British band Small Faces recorded the song as "You Need Loving" for their eponymous debut Decca album. According to Steve Marriott, the group's vocalist and guitarist, Page and Plant attended several Small Faces gigs, where they expressed their interest in the song.{{cite book|first= Mick |last= Wall |author-link= Mick Wall |year= 2010 |title= When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin |publisher= St. Martin's Griffin |page= 149 |isbn= 978-0-312-59039-0}} Plant's phrasing is particularly similar to that of Marriott's, who added "he [Plant] sang it the same, phrased it the same, even the stops at the end were the same". Similarities with "You Need Love" led to a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin in 1985, settled out of court in favour of Dixon for an undisclosed amount.{{cite book|first= Dave |last= Lewis |year= 1994 |title= The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin |chapter= Led Zeppelin II |publisher= Omnibus Press |isbn= 0-7119-3528-9 |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AQLtgOAQcqQC&pg=PT18}} On subsequent releases, Dixon's name is included on the credits for "Whole Lotta Love".{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 10 January 2016 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-ii-mw0000190649}} Plant explained in an interview with Musician:

{{quote|Page's riff was Page's riff. 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{{nbsp}}... well, you only get caught when you're successful. That's the game.{{cite magazine|first= Charles M. |last= Young |title= Robert Plant's manic persona |magazine= Musician |date= June 1990 |issue= 140 |page= 45 |issn= 0733-5253 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pz9LAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Page's+riff+was+Page's+riff.+It+was+there+before+anything+else%22}}}}

Accolades

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+Accolades

!scope="col"|Publication

!scope="col"|Country

!scope="col"|Accolade

!scope="col"|Year

!scope="col"|Rank

scope="row"|Spin

|US

|"100 Greatest Singles of All Time"{{cite web|title= Spin: 100 Greatest Singles of All Time (1989) |work= Spin |via= Rocklist.net |access-date= 10 February 2009 |url= http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/spin100.html#singles89|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051001133950/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/spin100.html#singles89|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 1 October 2005}}

|1989

|39

scope="row"|Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

|US

|"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"{{cite web|title= Experience The Music: One Hit Wonders and The Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll |publisher= Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum |access-date= 4 June 2009 |url= http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/}}

|1994

|*

scope="row"|Classic Rock

|UK

|"Ten of the Best Songs Ever!.. (Bubbling under)"{{cite web|title= Ten of the Best... Songs Ever! |work= Classic Rock |via= Rocklist.net |access-date= 10 February 2009 |url= http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/50.html#ten|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060220204844/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/50.html#ten|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 20 February 2006}}

|1999

|30

scope="row"|Rolling Stone

|US

|"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"{{cite magazine|title= The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (1–500) |magazine= Rolling Stone |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/1 |archive-date= 23 October 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061023195417/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/1}}

|2003

|75

scope="row"|Q

|UK

|"100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever"{{cite web|title= Q Magazine – 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever! |work= Q |via= Rocklist.net |access-date= 10 February 2009 |url= http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Guitar%20Tracks|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120529202643/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Guitar%20Tracks|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 29 May 2012}}

|2005

|3

scope="row"|Toby Creswell

|Australia

|"1001 Songs: the Great Songs of All Time"{{cite book|first= Toby |last= Creswell |author-link= Toby Creswell |year= 2005 |title= 1001 Songs: the Great Songs of All Time |edition= 1st |chapter= Whole Lotta Love |location= Prahran |publisher= Hardie Grant Books |page= 303 |isbn= 978-1-74066-458-5}}

|2005

|*

scope="row"|Grammy Awards

|US

|"Grammy Hall of Fame Award"{{cite web|title= Grammy Hall of Fame – w |publisher= Grammy Hall of Fame Award. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |access-date= 21 December 2012 |url= http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#w}}

|2007

|*

scope="row"|Rolling Stone

|US

|"100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time"{{cite magazine|title= The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time |magazine= Rolling Stone |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20947527/page/41 |archive-date= 7 June 2008 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080607000936/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20947527/page/41}}

|2008

|11

scope="row"|VH1

|US

|"The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time"{{cite web|title= It's Only a Riff, But We Like It |publisher= VH1 |url-status= dead |url= http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1436393/20000107/story.jhtml |archive-date= 8 April 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090408042358/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1436393/20000107/story.jhtml}}

|2009

|46

scope="row"|VH1

|US

|"VH1 Greatest Hard Rock Songs"

|2009

|3

scope="row"|BBC Radio 2

|UK

|"Radio 2's Top 100 Greatest Guitar Riffs"

|2014

|1

scope="row"|Rolling Stone

|US

|"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"{{cite magazine|title= The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time > 128: Led Zeppelin, 'Whole Lotta Love' |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= 15 September 2021 |access-date= 10 October 2021 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/led-zeppelin-whole-lotta-love-2-1225210/}}

|2021

|128

(*) designates unordered lists.

Charts

The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 22 November 1969. It remained on the chart for 15 weeks, peaking at number four and becoming the band's only top-10 single in the US.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Original release=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (1969–1970)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (Go-Set National Top 40){{cite magazine|title= Go-Set National Top 40 |magazine= Go-Set |via= Pop Archives |date= 4 April 1970 |access-date= 19 January 2009 |url= http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/19700404.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080829102650/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/19700404.html |archive-date= 29 August 2008}}

|align="center"|1

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|title= Australia No. 1 hits – 1970's |website= World Charts |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://www.worldcharts.co.uk/chartfeatures/aus/aus70.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 31 July 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130731062613/http://www.worldcharts.co.uk/chartfeatures/aus/aus70.htm}}

|align="center"|1

{{singlechart|Austria|3|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}
{{singlechart|Flanders|2|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}
{{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=6102|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}
scope="row"|Denmark (Tipparaden){{cite web|title= Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin |work= Danske Hitlister |access-date= 1 April 2016 |url= http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=1361}}

|align="center"|2

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}

|align="center"|7

{{singlechart|Dutch40|4|year=1970|week=4|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}
{{singlechart|Dutch100|5|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}
scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite book|first= Dean |last= Scapolo |year= 2007 |title= The Complete New Zealand Music Charts |edition= 1st |chapter= Top 50 Singles – May 1970 |location= Wellington |publisher= Transpress |isbn= 978-1-877443-00-8}}

|align="center"|4

scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web|title= South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (L) |website= Rock.co.za |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(L).html}}

|align="center"|6

scope="row"|Spanish Singles Chart{{cite book|first= Fernando |last= Salaverri |date= September 2005 |title= Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |edition= 1st |publisher= Fundación Autor-SGAE |location= Spain |isbn= 84-8048-639-2 |language= es}}

|align="center"|4

scope="row"|Sweden (Tio i Topp){{Cite book|last1=Hallberg|first1=Eric|title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74|last2=Henningsson|first2=Ulf|publisher=Premium Publishing|year=1998|isbn=919727125X|location=|pages=}}

|align="center"|9

{{singlechart|Switzerland|5|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|4|artist=Led Zeppelin|rowheader=true|access-date=6 May 2021|refname="Hot100"}}
scope="row"|US Cash Box{{cite magazine|title= CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 10, 1970 |magazine= Cash Box |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19700110.html |archive-date= 22 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120922141334/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19700110.html}}

|align="center"|2

scope="row"|US Record World{{cite magazine|title= 100 Top Pops |magazine= Record World |date= 17 January 1970 |page= 25 |issn= 0034-1622 |access-date= 17 September 2017 |url= http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-01-17.pdf}}

|align="center"|4

{{singlechart|West Germany|1|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|songid=134|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2014}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (1997)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=163}}

|align="center"|52

{{single chart|Scotland|15|date=19970913|rowheader=true|access-date=28 August 2019}}
{{single chart|UK|21|date=19970913|rowheader=true|access-date=2 July 2013}}
{{single chart|UKrock|1|date=19970913|rowheader=true|access-date=28 August 2019}}

=Single (digital download)=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Chart

!Peak
position

rowspan="3"|2007

|Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Singles){{cite magazine |title= Hot Digital Singles – 1 December 2007 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= 19 January 2009 |url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/led-zeppelin/chart-history/hot-canadian-digital-singles |archive-date= 21 November 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211121092639/https://www.billboard.com/artist/led-zeppelin/chart-history/hot-canadian-digital-singles/ |url-status= dead }} {{cbignore}}

|align="center"|49

{{singlechart|Switzerland|57|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|access-date=4 June 2014}}
{{singlechart|UK|64|artist=Led Zeppelin|date=20071118|access-date=2 July 2013|refname=UK2007}}
2010

|Belgium (Ultratop 30 Back Catalogue Singles Wallonia){{cite web|title= 30 Back Catalogue Singles – 15/05/2010 |publisher= Ultratop.be |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://www.ultratop.be/fr/weekchart.asp?cat=sb&year=2010&date=20100515}}

|align=center|18

2012

|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Back Catalogue Singles Flanders){{cite web|title= 50 Back Catalogue Singles – 14/04/2012 |publisher= Ultratop.be |access-date= 17 July 2013 |url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/weekchart.asp?cat=sb&year=2012&date=20120414}}

|align=center|43

2013

{{singlechart|France|52|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|access-date=4 June 2014}}

2014

{{singlechart|France|151|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Whole Lotta Love|access-date=4 June 2014}}

Note: The official UK Singles Chart incorporated legal downloads as of 17 April 2005.

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (1970)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (Go-Set Top 40){{cite magazine|title= Go-Set top 40 for 1970 |magazine= Go-Set |via= Pop Archives |access-date= 19 January 2009 |url= http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/top1970.html}}

|align="center"|18

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|title= Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s |publisher= Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40276 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131106213449/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40276 |archive-date= 6 November 2013}}

|align="center"|11

scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|title= Jahreshitparade 1970 |website= Austriancharts.at |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://www.austriancharts.at/1970_single.asp |language= de}}

|align="center"|10

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten 1970 |website= Ultratop.be |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1970 |language= nl}}

|align="center"|65

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|title= RPM's Top 100 of 1970 |magazine= RPM |via= Library and Archives Canada |volume= 14 |issue= 20–21 |date= 9 January 1971 |access-date= 16 August 2018 |url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3740&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3740.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3740}}

|align="center"|23

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|title= Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1970 |publisher= Dutch Top 40 |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1970 |language= nl}}

|align="center"|28

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten – Single 1970 |publisher= Single Top 100. Hung Medien |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1970&cat=s |language= nl}}

|align="center"|27

scope="row"|US Cash Box{{cite magazine|title= The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1970 |magazine= Cash Box |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1970YESP.html |archive-date= 22 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120922141548/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1970YESP.html}}

|align="center"|54

scope="row"|West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|title= Jahrescharts – 1970 |website= Offiziellecharts.de |publisher= GfK Entertainment charts |url= https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1970 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 9 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150509191315/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1970 |language= de}}

|align="center"|17

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Whole Lotta Love|nocert=true|relyear=1970|salesamount=400,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X0UEAAAAMBAJ|magazine=Billboard|title=From Music Capitals of the World – Berlin|page=58|issn=0006-2510|date=1 August 1970|access-date=28 May 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Whole Lotta Love|award=Platinum|relyear=1970|certyear=2018|id=5274|access-date=5 February 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Whole Lotta Love|award=Platinum|relyear=1970|certyear=2025|access-date=21 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Whole Lotta Love|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|access-date=11 April 2023|id=14254-2162-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Whole Lotta Love|award=Gold|relyear=1970|certyear=1970|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

Performances

Led Zeppelin first performed "Whole Lotta Love" on 26 April 1969. Other live versions were released officially:

  • The Song Remains the Same (28 September 1976, from a 1973 concert and movie soundtrack){{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link = Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= The Song Remains the Same Review |website= AllMusic |access-date= 12 October 2021 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-song-remains-the-same-mw0000204431}}
  • Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions (11 November 1997, from a 1971 concert){{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link = Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= BBC Sessions Review |website= AllMusic |access-date= 12 October 2021 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/bbc-sessions-mw0000028731}}
  • How the West Was Won (27 May 2003, from a 1972 concert){{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link = Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= How the West Was Won Review |website= AllMusic |access-date= 12 October 2021 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-the-west-was-won-mw0000392033}}
  • Led Zeppelin DVD (2003, from a 1979 and a 1970 concert){{cite web|first= Lindsay |last= Planer |title= Led Zeppelin [Video Box Set] Review |website= AllMusic |access-date= 12 October 2021 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-video-box-set-mw0000996637}}

"Whole Lotta Love" was the last song Led Zeppelin played live. It was, however, performed again at the band's reunions at Live Aid in 1985 (with drummers Phil Collins and Tony Thompson), at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in 1988, and at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 Arena, London, on 10 December 2007 (both with drummer Jason Bonham).{{cite news|title= Led Zeppelin confirm reunion gig |publisher= BBC News |date= 12 September 2007 |access-date= 3 March 2020 |url= http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6990704.stm}}

In 2008, a reworked version by Jimmy Page on guitar, with Leona Lewis on vocals, was performed in the "London 2012" presentation during the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Both Lewis and the organisers requested that some of the lyrics be changed, notably "I'm gonna give you every inch of my love". Lewis felt that the line made little sense coming from a female singer.{{cite news|first= David |last= Bond |title= Led Zeppelin classic 'too racy' for Olympics |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |date= 22 August 2008 |access-date= 4 June 2014 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2603561/Led-Zeppelin-classic-too-racy-for-Olympics.html}}

Cover versions

"Whole Lotta Love" has been recorded by several artists. Versions that reached the record charts include:

  • 1970{{snd}}CCS (or C.C.S.) recorded a mainly instrumental rendition with a flute playing the melody.{{cite news|first= Nick |last= Coleman |title= Music: The tune that hooked a generation |newspaper= The Independent |date= 23 October 2011 |access-date= 21 September 2021 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-tune-hooked-generation-1162149.html}} Billboard described their version as a "blockbuster instrumental treatment of the Led Zeppelin hit",{{cite magazine|title= Spotlight Singles |magazine= Billboard |date= 23 January 1971 |page= 70 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8ggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70}} while Nick Coleman of The Independent thought that the cover "succeeded in ameliorating the tune's sexual specificity without stripping it of its rutty throb". Released as a single on the RAK label, it reached number 13 on the UK singles chart in November 1970;{{cite web|title= Official Singles Chart Top 50 |publisher= Official Charts Company |access-date= 21 February 2021 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19701122/7501/}} number 26 in Belgium (Flanders);{{cite web|title= Ultratop.be – C.C.S. – Whole Lotta Love |publisher= Ultratop 50 |access-date= 21 February 2021 |url= https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1e072/C.C.S.-Whole-Lotta-Love |language= nl}} number 37 on the RPM 100 Singles in Canada;{{cite magazine|title= Top RPM Singles: Issue 5231 |magazine= RPM |access-date= 21 February 2021 |url= https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5231&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5231.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5231 |via= Library and Archives Canada}} number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100;{{cite magazine|title= Billboard Hot 100 |magazine= Billboard |date= 20 February 1971 |volume= 83 |issue= 8 |page= 64 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6QgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64}} and number 58 on the US Cash Box Top 100 Singles.{{cite magazine|title= Cash Box Top 100 Singles |date= 20 February 1971 |magazine= Cash Box |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710220.html |archive-date= 20 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120920014525/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710220.html}} The UK music variety television programme Top of the Pops used brief versions by CCS members and others as its intro theme music at different times over the years.{{cite news|title= Top of the Pops: Still Number One |website=bbc.co.uk |date=13 September 2002 |access-date= 25 September 2021 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2249276.stm}}
  • 1971{{snd}}King Curtis and the Kingpins recorded an instrumental version with the melody line performed on saxophone. Atco Records released it as a single in the US, where it reached number 64 on the Hot 100 and number 43 on the R&B chart.{{cite book|last= Whitburn |first= Joel |authorlink= Joel Whitburn |year= 1988 |entry= King Curtis |title= Top R&B Singles 1942–1988 |location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher= Record Research |isbn= 0-89820-068-7 |page= 237}} A live version, recorded at the Fillmore West, is included on Curtis' 1971 live album Live at Fillmore West.{{cite magazine|title= Aretha, King Curtis Fillmore Sets Remastered |magazine= Billboard |date= 18 May 2006 |access-date= 21 April 2020 |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58377/aretha-king-curtis-fillmore-sets-remastered}}
  • 1975{{snd}}Tina Turner on her 1975 album Acid Queen. Released by United Artists Records, her version reached number 61 on the Billboard R&B chart{{cite magazine|title= Hot Soul Singles |magazine= Billboard |date= 13 December 1975 |volume= 87 |issue= 50 |page= 40 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard-1975-12-13.pdf}} and number 45 on the Record World R&B chart.{{cite magazine|title= The R&B Singles Chart |magazine= Record World |date= 6 December 1975 |volume= 31 |issue= 1485 |page= 42 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/75/RW-1975-12-06.pdf}}
  • 1996{{snd}}British band Goldbug, including a sample of "Asteroid" (the Pearl & Dean advertising music).{{cite news|first= Julia |last= Day |title= Pearl & Dean's theme tune remixed for the digital age |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 28 June 2006 |access-date= 12 February 2018 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jun/28/newmedia.advertising1}} It reached number three in the UK singles chart and number one on the Indie chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-02-03.pdf|title=Independent Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=3 February 1996|page=34|issn=0265-1548|via=World Radio History}}{{cite web|title= Official Singles Charts Top 100|publisher= Official Charts Company |url= http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/833/goldbug/ |access-date= 21 February 2021}} number 24 in Ireland,{{cite web|title= The Irish charts – Search Results – Whole Lotta Love |publisher= Irish Singles Chart |access-date= 21 February 2021 |url= http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=Whole+Lotta+Love}} and number 9 in the Netherlands.{{cite web|title= Goldbug – Whole Lotta Love |website= Dutchcharts.nl |access-date= 22 July 2021 |url= https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Goldbug&titel=Whole+Lotta+Love&cat=s |language= nl}} In 2000, band member Richard Walmsley sued his former label Acid Jazz over unpaid royalties relating to the song.{{cite magazine|title= Acid Jazz & Goldbug in court over Led Zep cover |magazine= NME |date= 20 March 2000 |access-date= 21 September 2021 |url= http://www.nme.com/news/goldbug/2913 |archive-date= 22 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121022185108/http://www.nme.com/news/goldbug/2913}} Walmsley received thousands of pounds following the battle.{{cite magazine|title= Gina G ex-label boss hit by legal bill |magazine= Music Week |date= 3 April 2000 |access-date= 21 September 2021 |url= http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/gina-g-ex-label-boss-hit-by-legal-bill/025911 |archive-date= 2 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120902172817/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/gina-g-ex-label-boss-hit-by-legal-bill/025911}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book|first1=Jean-Michel|last1=Guesdon|first2=Philippe|last2=Margotin|year=2018|title=Led Zeppelin All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track|publisher=Running Press|isbn=978-0-316-448-67-3}}
  • {{cite book|first=Dave|last=Lewis|year=1990|title=Led Zeppelin: A Celebration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SzgDAwAAQBAJ|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-711-92416-1|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025235138/https://books.google.com/books?id=SzgDAwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}

External links

  • {{YouTube|HQmmM_qwG4k|"Whole Lotta Love " (official video)}}
  • {{YouTube|0bcIjILqORM|"Whole Lotta Love" (remaster)}}

{{Led Zeppelin songs}}

{{Led Zeppelin}}

{{Willie Dixon}}

{{Tina Turner singles}}

{{King Curtis}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1969 songs

Category:1969 singles

Category:1970 singles

Category:1975 singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:United Artists Records singles

Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients

Category:Led Zeppelin songs

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies

Category:Song recordings produced by Jimmy Page

Category:Songs written by Jimmy Page

Category:Songs written by John Bonham

Category:Songs written by John Paul Jones (musician)

Category:Songs written by Robert Plant

Category:Songs written by Willie Dixon

Category:Tina Turner songs

Category:Music television series theme songs

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles