Like many in Gen X, my gateway to Led Zeppelin was their album IV, and more specifically, Stairway to Heaven. There’s a good chance, that even if you had never heard an entire Zeppelin record, you would’ve heard Stairway. It’s easily one of the most iconic, if not THE most iconic song in their catalog. But, I did not choose to showcase IV, but II.

No, no, I didn’t choose this album to be a hipster, but truth be told, I am a total music hipster/snob. I chose this album because it genuinely showcases the power & flexibility of Led Zeppelin. Not only do you get the screaming rock anthems, like Whole Lotta Love and Ramble On, but you get a glimpse into the more mellow, soulful tunes like Thank You. Led Zeppelin loves exposing their more vulnerable side on all of their records. For the IV fans, Going to California is that exposé.

Something that will jump out at you immediately is the deep influence Blues has on this album. I think it’s clear that Plant & Page were influenced heavily by The Blues and it really helped form the foundation of the band. This record puts Blues front and center; a worthy companion to their hard rock sound. The opening riffs in Whole Lotta Love and Moby Dick are nothing but excellent homages to that influence of The Blues. Want a track that showcases the Blues but let’s Rock stand forward more? No problem, grab a listen to Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman).

Now that some of the technical stuff is out of the way, the best reason to put this album on, is, it’s perfect for the summer. Nothing makes me want to run outside, hop in the car, and blast some good old fashioned rock music like this album! It’s a treasure and should be celebrated! Get out there and enjoy this great album, and tell them JR sent ya!