Led Zeppelin: II LP, Gatefold, Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1969

	£		23
	$		30

Led Zeppelin: II  LP, Gatefold, Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1969
Led Zeppelin II is the second studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 22nd October 1969 in the United States and on 31st October 1969 in the United Kingdom by Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at several locations in both the United Kingdom and North America from January to August 1969.
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are cited as one of the progenitors of hard rock and heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music.
In their second album the band learnt how to raise rock & roll excess into an art form.
This is the 2nd pressing, gatefold, red / maroon label, Atlantic Records, UK release from 1969.
With A3 as "The Lemon Song" and B2 as "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's A Woman)" on both  sleeve and labels, and the mistyping of A4 THANKYOU, indicates that this is the 2nd pressing.
The matrix numbers are: 
588 198 A ▽ 2 1  8    5 7   588 198 B ▽ 2 12 25 
This record has been kept in storage in a smoke free household. It is from a large record collection, not a DJ collection, this record has never been DJed and is in generally good condition. 
On Side 1, there are crackles and low surface noise in the run in of the 1st track. These crackles run into the 1st track, 'Whole Lotta Love'. After which they are barely audible during the opening choruses, until the first break around 1.22. Then again from 3.54 minutes with Mr. Plant's cry of lord. Between tracks 1 and 2 there are crackles. Then with track 2, 'What Is' there are crackles during the three quiet vocal segments. At 1.46 minutes there is another crackle before Page's first solo. Then at 3.24 minutes there are other crackles. Between tracks 2 and 3, there is a small pop and further crackles. About 18 seconds into track 3, 'The Lemon Song' there are two little crackles. Then from 2.56 minutes there are further crackles. Right at the end of this track, there are crackles and two small pops.  With track 5, 'THANKYOU' there are several crackles during this song's first 58 seconds. Then there are again further crackles from 2.18 minutes, at various intervals during the vocal intervals. Finally there are small pops at 4.06 and 4.23 minutes during the closing fade in / fade out. 
Turn it over to Side 2, there is medium level of surface noise, crackles in the run in the start of track 1. This runs over into the first 20 seconds of .'Heartbreaker', the 1st track. Then on occasions, there are further little crackles until the guitar solo about 1.59 minutes into this song, during which there are louder crackles. Between tracks 2 and 3, there are wee crackles. During the fade out ending [starting around 4 minutes, lasting 20 seconds] of track 'Ramble On' there are wee crackles. Between track 3 and 4, there are two wee crackles. During track 4, 'Moby Dick', around 1.06 minutes, there are crackles during the percussion solo. Then at 2.16 minutes, another crackle. Finally there are crackles during the blues harmonica and vocal intro of track 5,'Bring It On'. Finally at 3.45 minutes, there are little crackles during the closing harmonica and vocals.has
Although both run ins have varying levels of audible surface noise and there are other crackles on this LP, it  plays damn well. 
There is some foxing, marks and heavy wear to the record sleeve, especially the spine of the gatefold sleeve from age and being in storage (see pictures).
International postage is available on request.
Tracklist:
A1 Whole Lotta Love A2 What Is And What Should Never Be A3 The Lemon Song A4 Thank You
B1 Heartbreaker B2 Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's A Woman) B3 Ramble On B4 Moby Dick B5 Bring It On Home