What was the first album recorded by Led Zeppelin?

The first album recorded by Led Zeppelin was Led Zeppelin, commonly called Led Zeppelin I. It was the band's debut studio album, released in 1969 after the group had formed from the remnants of the Yardbirds.

The recording sessions took place at Olympic Studios in London during September and October 1968. Jimmy Page produced the album and paid for the sessions with manager Peter Grant, allowing the band to work without waiting for record-company funding. Page later said the album required only about 36 hours of studio time, including mixing.

The album was released in the United States in January 1969 and in the United Kingdom on March 31. Its distinctive cover showed the Hindenburg disaster, while songs such as "Good Times Bad Times," "Dazed and Confused," and "Communication Breakdown" established the band's early hard-rock sound. Led Zeppelin II followed later in 1969, which is why it is sometimes confused with the debut.