LED ZEPPELIN II VERY RARE 1st UK Kinney with 'Killing Floor' Label Variant.

	£		19
	$		25

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Postage: UK £4.25. Europe (including Russia) £12. Rest of World £16. ALL signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes.

PLEASE NOTE: Overseas packets that go through the customs system, can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to process and deliver, this IS normal. For Russia, this can take even longer and is out of my control, so please be patient.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably a little heavier.

Artist or Band: LED ZEPPELIN

Album Title: Led Zeppelin II

Producer: Jimmy Page.

Executive Producer: Peter Grant.

Label/Format, Rarity & Overview: Atlantic – Deep green and orange format, matt, smooth finish with several circle ridges. (Please see my label scans).

This an ultimate first transition pressing when the Atlantic ‘Plum’ design became defunkt, and one until know I had never seen, or even knew existed before this showed up. The history of this legendary album is a little complex: the very first pressings on the red and maroon label included the track ‘The Lemon Song’ as seen on side one’s label. This was then changed for legal reasons to ‘Killing Floor’, then as far as I was aware, it was then changed back again to ‘The Lemon Song’ on the new Kinney labels, although I knew this existed later again back to ‘Killing Floor’ on mid-70s pressings that included the small Warner logo near the 3 o’clock position of the labels. These are all well-documented pressings – but this one on offer is different in a couple of major ways. The first being, side one’s label retains the ‘The Killing Floor’ song title, but has NO Warner logo, meaning this is the very first new Kinney pressing made. Side one’s run-out grooves includes BOTH the new Kinney number as well as a late Polydor A//6 (11) matrix that was seen on the final ‘Plum’ runs. The Kinney number being K 40037 A (with no 1, 2 etc), just a plain ‘A’. Side two is B1 and Kinney only. I have only ever seen transition matrixes on this album on side two and with ‘The Lemon Song’ on side one, never as with the final ‘Plum’ copies with ‘Killing Floor’. Also, and very importantly, this copy’s cover has the new Kinney K 40037 catalogue number but still includes an E. J. Day printer’s imprint (as seen in close-up). My other stock transition copy has a cover printed by Gothic Print.

So far, I have found no other copy or information about this ‘first state’ new Kinney pressing that includes ‘Killing Floor’ with NO Warner logo, and I am sure very few of these were ever made. I am 55 years old and this is my very first sighting of this pressing that has possibly slipped under the radar for me (and possibly many others too). Certainly an unusual piece and a considerable variant for the serious and specialist Led Zeppelin collector. The record very solidly pressed at 140 grams, that being heavier than most ‘Plum’ first issues and it sounds superb – this one being very little played on all the available evidence. I have never seen the much darker cover that includes an E. J. Day imprint either – this has a little wear, but still very respectable indeed. I truly consider this unusual Led Zeppelin II variant rare, and potentially rarer than just about any other copy made in the UK.

Label Conditions & Overview: Both retain strong, rich and vibrant colour and freshness with light spindle marks very few, mostly fine and light.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Whole Lotta Love; What Is and What Should Never Be; [KILLING FLOOR]; Thank You.

Side 2: Heartbreaker; Livin’ Lovin’ Maid (Shes just a Woman); Ramble On; Moby Dick; Bring It On Home.

Cat Number: K 40037.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 140 grams. Way above average for a Kinney pressing and heavier than most ‘Plum’ label copies too.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Original Year of Release: October 1969. This would have been pressed in 1972 as the ‘Plum’ copies were phased- or sold-out.

Rarity: I think this is a rare variant and my first ever seen as described in more detail above. The album is not hard to find on the ‘Plum’ label as it sold in vast numbers. Conditions are always the paramount factor.

Matrix Nos: K 40037 A [588198 A//6 420 1 1] & K 40037 - B1 [all punched and very clear]

Musicians: Robert Plant – Jimmy Page – John Paul Jones – John Bonham.

Album Information: For many the greatest rock album of all time - a monumental and evergreen classic. Without any doubt, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ remains the definitive heavy rock anthem ever made. The album justifiably charted at Number 1 in the UK and US. After the raw brilliance of the heavy blues rock of their debut, ‘II’ expands the horizons still further. Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham rarely ever sounded better than on this massive issue. All rock fans and collectors will know this album well already – it’s content is legendary and it simply refuses to age or it’s ‘classic’ status diminish. This is one of the ‘Most Wanted’ albums ever issued, and so it should be. This a variant that is totally new to me – a Kinney transition pressing with ‘Killing Floor’ on the label and NO Warner logo making it a very first issued on the new format. Also with an E. J. Day cover with the new Kinney number. This a lovely record that packs a huge punch for sound that is up there with the very best I have heard. A very clean ‘new’ cut and without any doubt, not mass-produced in the numbers of the ‘Plum’ predecessors.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High. ‘Perfect’ examples are nigh-on impossible to find these days.

Cover Condition and Details: EXCELLENT(–): and in context of how wear-prone it is, arguably better. An unlaminated gatefold format with matt smooth surfaces. This the later darker brown colour brown, these I personally think are rarer as fewer were actually made. This still printed and made in England by E. J. Day but very unusually with the new Kinney number. I consider this cover also to be a rare variant.

Cover Front: Overall, clean and still fresh with barely any creasing or significant grubbiness. But there is some patchy rubbing near the top left corner and on the right edge. It retains deep colour with no fading and no sticker marks and the rubbing apart, is impressive.

Cover Back: Even harder to find in decent condition often due to severe ring wear issues – large solid areas of dark colour always wear badly and are seldom seen so devoid of major wear. This has a little rubbing on the very edges and the odd tiny chip or two. But minimal rim impression and no penetrating ring wear with any marks few and very light indeed. This side especially will prove difficult to find much better.

Cover Gatefold Inner: I am sure this is my first E. J. Day LZII cover that includes the new Kinney catalogue number. It has little to fault, maybe a trace of fading near the left top edge but marginal.

Top Edges: Light patchy surface rubbing, both straight.

Bottom Edges: Only light patchy rubbing on the front, more moderate and still patchy on the back, again both straight.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean and both fairly sharp with just a little thickening seen on the back towards the bottom. The record enters on the back edge, the front being sealed – both guaranteed untrimmed.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with a little mild compression and a gentle tilt to right. The odd small surface chip and small rub here and there, but the important new Kinney text and details are fully present and unworn.

Corners: Light to moderate tip rubs with largely fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: A classic cover in very fine condition overall, this so hard to find without often significant or heavy wear. Without doubt, the final E. J. Day printed cover variant for this famous sleeve and album. I cannot imagine it will be seen or offered too often and it should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: a plain white unlined open inner. One corner crease, clean and still fresh looking. Both window circles crisp and undamaged and no edge splits or repairs.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+): a very fine example that is very clean and retains an intense black finish with a fine shine, also quite heavily pressed. Complex, well patterned grooves, telling vinyl ‘readers’ it has the most intense sound quality and varied volume. In places wide and jagged which indicates thunderous dynamics – and it certainly has. This offers all the high-fidelity sound and details of the early ‘Plum’ copies, and actually cleaner pressed than many I have heard. It appears very little played and this very first transitional pressing appears very little played. Any surface marks very few, fine and faint as seen with scrutiny under bright angled light, this should please many, if not most collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality: This unusual first Kinney issue plays even above it’s high visual grading with very little to fault at all. As stated it has amazing sound quality and this is not an easy recording. A roller coaster ride in volume and quiet passages. This has immensely powerful and mostly very clean sound and is totally devoid of groove-wear, distortion or pressing noises. ‘Thank You’, easily the most difficult song on the album, plays well. So prone to distortion and heavy crackle, sometimes scratched as well due to premature lifting of the arm as the music faded away – only to return again. This has avoided scratching and any surface sound is gentle and very minimal indeed on this most difficult area. Just the odd trace to politely remind it is a 41-year-old record being played and not a clinically clean digital version. The intro to ‘Bring it on Home’ often causes problems too, but again plays very well indeed. Overall sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. A complex album with some monumental sound, all remained focused and sharp. The grooves are very clean and this record is a gateway into the recording studio itself. Few copies will outperform this copy significantly I feel sure. I feel certain this record has been played carefully and only very lightly from the one-owner-from-new copy. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This copy will prove difficult to find significantly better and merits strong recommendation.

The Zeppelin II Hi-Fi Experience: This proves beyond any doubt, not that there was any doubt anyway, that an original vinyl record will blow away any other format. The sound on this album is simply awesome and I use the word in it’s true context because this simply takes the breath away. If anybody has not heard a very early pressed Led Zeppelin II they have not really heard it at all – and this is no lesser repressing – far from it, heavier pressed than most and an ultra clean cut and press. This is captable of shaking the foundations, the inherent power, scale, drama, dynamics, detail and stereo imagery are phenomenal and give that rare tingle factor only the truly great recordings ever can. Listen to that massive ‘slam’ on ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and the channel-to-channel guitar pyrotechnics, this is hi-fi nirvana. It is always fascinating watching my Ittok arm and Ortofon tracking this complex record. The drum parts on ‘Moby Dick’ have such realism the kit could have almost been in the room. Complete silence is almost unrealistic for any vintage copy of this demanding title – but this copy has little to fault, if absolute clinical silence is demanded, stick to the silver disc format, but you will miss out on a sound experience of a lifetime. The colossal low frequency on ‘Whole Lotta Love’ will test any amp and speakers to the limit and the sound can simply saturate on even mid-priced systems. I remember hearing this album back in the 70s at an exhibition in London through a pair of Linn Isobarik speakers using a Naim six-pack active amp set up with a Linn LP 12 front-end deck (well at least I have that part). This left an impression of sheer awe, that took the breath away. The sounds embedded into the early examples are amazing and will never be replicated or beaten by any other pressing or format. Now I am again a LP12 owner, I really turned up the volume again and let this go – I can never resist this on a worthy copy (and this easily measures up). This will sort out the real hi-fi systems, because many systems simply fall apart trying to control the sound on this one. A worthy amp and speaker system is almost mandatory to control the bass dynamics on this album - lesser ones will surrender almost immediately. Do not play this record on a less than worthy turntable. With amps running hot, the bass thunders and growls, the drums and cymbals crash and zing, the guitars splinter into a frenzy and Plants vocals rarely ever sounded more sublime than on this wonderous record - yes I rather like this album, who wouldn’t?

End Piece: The word ‘essential’ and ‘classic’ are both overused (I too am guilty sometimes when offering a beautiful condition piece for a favourite title), but I make no apology for using them for this groundbreaking (and earth-shattering) album. Timeless vintage blues-rock the likes that will never be equalled. After the reunion, now come and gone, remind yourself what the boys sounded like back in 1969. If they sounded half as good as this monumental album, it would have been be a good night. Okay, the cover has a little wear, most have (at the very least) but is still a nice looker. And the record is also very fine, and I am very confident this is a rare and very briefly available variant copy – it should interest the specialist and completist collector. But the most important factor is the music, and this really delivers. Strong recommendation mandatory – do not lose this one.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16 (£17 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.