LED ZEPPELIN II A2/B2 1st Press WRECK Credit RED/PLUM EX AUDIO OVERALL RARE
£
216
$
286
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently. Led Zeppelin II A2 / B2 1st Press 1969 w/ Wreck credit on S2
This very collectable first pressing plays to an excellent standard for the vast majority with only a little interference and this is detailed below. The most intrusive are some clicks at the end of the 'Ramble On' fade out and a couple plus a little static on the 'Bring It On Home' intro. Aside from that S2 plays with superb audio! S1 plays very clearly overall with minimal intrusion, some static here and there during 'Thank You' as is common. The power and depth of the audio is very impressive on both sides.
The light brown cover is definitely one of the cleanest I have seen in a while and has a little of the green tinge that some of them have. I have graded it as VG++ but it's not far off Ex- if I'm honest. Not perfect but a very respectable one. The original inner is in excellent order. This first pressing has the 'Wreck' credit on S2, 'The Lemon Song' on S1 and the A2 / B2 matrix. 'Thank You' is seen as 'ThankYou' on S1 and the publishing credit reads as Copyright Control.
588 198 A ∇ 2 1 1 1 4 // B ∇ 2 1 5 8
The audio on S1 is Ex+ (T3 ranges between Ex & Ex+ / T4 ranges between VG+ & Ex)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint- (T2 Mint- / T3 Mint- but with a VG- fade out / T5 intro section VG)
The light brown gatefold is a very strong VG++
The original inner sleeve is Ex-
The labels are Near Mint-
Visual description
The vinyl is in very good condition and still has a strong glossy sheen and no actual scratches. It does have a number of faint hairlines but they are superficial as they have no affect on the audio. Under a more forgiving light the vinyl looks very clean indeed and nothing stands out. The run out grooves are very clean and the iconic red / plum labels (a deeper shade than later pressings) have no marking / writing and not too much spindle wear.
Play Grading
The intro on the classic 'Whole Lotta Love' plays so clearly with only 3/4 barely audible dust ticks and Plant's opening vocal has no background at all. The first chorus is perfect and it continues in much the same way. The percussive 'intro' on the 'psychedelic' section is so clean with only a handful of mega light dust ticks and the rest is 'as new' for sure. As Bonham signals the end of this section soon followed by Page the clarity and power is stunning. The next vocal is just as strong and then the quiet Way down inside... vocal has three or four crackles but no other intrusion. The remainder plays with great precision and depth - perhaps a minor touch of distortion but so so minimal. Page's classic riff could not play any better and the long fade is incredibly clean. I will grade as Ex+ but the majority is certainly better than that.
The vocal intro on 'What Is And What Should Never Be' plays with great clarity and the first high octane section has no intrusion or distortion. The following quiet section has a small number of very quiet ticks but it does not interfere with the music at all. From then on it plays so well and whilst there are a number of quiet sections the clarity is very impressive. There are no clicks or pops and only a very small number of insignificant static ticks. The sonic quality is very strong throughout and I think Ex+ is an honest appraisal of the audio. Another superb fade out by the way.
The intro on 'The Lemon Song' so often has a fair amount of static distortion but that is not the case here, it is a very 'clean' start. The opening vocal has no interference and you really notice how strong and deep the audio is and the first high octane section is another example of that. Page and Bonham doing their usual ballistic thing and Jones' frenetic bass in conjunction with that, this entire section has only a couple of minor ticks. The 'quieter' vocal section that follows, lead by Jones deep bass, plays very clearly with only minimal background - a handful of very light ticks and one that is a little more obvious but it is not a click! There are 3/4 very dull sounds towards the end of this section but they are quiet and then the final 'loud' passage plays with great power and just a little static / crackle right at the end. I would say this ranges between Ex and Ex+ but more of the latter.
'Thank You' is renown for playing with some static / distortion but this version whilst not perfect plays with very strong audio overall. The build up intro is perfect and there is only minimal distortion as Bonham comes in. Plant's first vocal has a little static and the chorus then plays very clearly with no obvious intrusion. It proceeds in much the same way and then the mid instrumental is very clean with just one minor tick at the beginning. The next vocal has minimal static / distortion and then the very quiet If the sun refused to shine... vocal plays very well with just one tick and a little more static towards the end. but nothing loud. The fade out / in / out end section has only minimal background and overall I think ranging between VG+ and Ex is about right.
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As many audiophiles will know S2 generally plays with greater clarity then S1 and that is true here. The classic opening riff on 'Heartbreaker' plays with stunning precision and Plant's opening vocal is equal to that. The following instrumental is so close to perfect and I only 'picked' up a couple of barely audible ticks. The next verse is indeed perfect and the next has just one light click in the background. The 'quieter' solo section from Page plays with great clarity and the high octane section that follows is outstanding! The power, depth and resonance of the audio is high end to say the least and it demands to be played loud! The final section keeps up this standard and I am happy to grade this as Near Mint- such is quality of the audio.
'Livin' Lovin' Wreck' plays with STUNNING quality from start to finish without any background. The sonic quality is so strong and Mint- is very much deserved here. Superb!
The acoustic intro on 'Ramble On' has no intrusion and the first vocal is just as clean. The chorus is faultless and there is no distortion on the top end. It continues to play with a clarity and definition that is second to none and this is a version where each note is so clean and precise, no 'muddiness' to the sound here. The sonic quality is phenomenal and the only interference are some light clicks on the fade out. A little frustrating but at least it's the fade out! The majority of the track is Mint- and the fade out is VG-
'Moby Dick' plays superbly from the get go. Bonham's intro followed by Page's section play with genuine precision and then Bonham's classic solo plays with sublime clarity. There is one static tick and just a modicum of mega light static for 3/4 seconds but overall the clarity of sound is so impressive for a first pressing. Page's final section has no intrusion and overall Near Mint- is deserved.
The opening 'bass' intro on 'Bring It On Home' does have one click, a tick and some light static but doesn't that just add to the 'atmosphere'! The first vocal again has some background and another couple of clicks, not very loud though, and as the volume increases the playback is superb! It rocks along in the same way with barely any inner groove distortion and I cannot fault it really. You can turn it up to max without having to turn it down immediately! The final quiet vocal plays so clearly with barely any static. A game of two halves, VG during the quieter passage and Near Mint- for the remainder.
In summary this very collectable 'Wreck' pressing plays with excellent audio overall and with not very much interference. S1 is very clean with very little background on the first three tracks and just a little more static on 'Thank You' which is common. The majority of S2 plays with stunning quality apart from one fade out and the intro on the final track. A great addition to any collection.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The light brown cover is in excellent condition overall and better than so many I have seen. Contrary to popular opinion not all of these first press covers have the green tinge but this one does! You can see it on the top edges and a little on the spine also. The edges have some rubbing but not an excessive amount and the top edge of the back cover has one small split but it really isn't that noticeable. The wide spine is superb and remains 100% legible with only minimal wear on the corners and the right hand corners are very clean also apart from the one bottom right which has a little more wear. The opening edge has hardly any handling wear. The front cover is so clean with only minimal fading and whilst the back cover has a little more in the way of fading / white scuffs it's kind of uniform and still looks really good. A touch of ringwear also. The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition without any marking and still retains its original colouring. A very respectable version and cleaner than so many.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears and not too much age related fading around the edges. Not very much creasing either and in excellent condition overall.
588 198 A ∇ 2 1 1 1 4 // B ∇ 2 1 5 8
Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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Postage & Packaging
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