LED ZEPPELIN HOUSES OF THE HOLY A2/B3 VINYL UK LP w/OBI *Stunning* AUDIO NM/M-
£
343
$
455
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Description
Led Zeppelin A2/B3 UK Houses Of The Holy with very Rare Obi
This FINAL UPGRADE album plays to a sublime standard with no intrusive 'background' of any kind, the clarity is stunning from start to finish.
This is the highly collectable Robert Ludwig cut and many collectors say this best pressing sonically. Having listened to this in full I have no reason to disagree! Being the first variant of the first pressing it has no WEA logo on the labels.
What makes this stunning record even more collectable is that it comes complete with the very rare and original Obi. It is in lovely condition and not torn or marked making it even rarer still!
The gatefold is also in superb condition as is the textured lyric inner. In fact the previous owner told me that as soon as he purchased it he put a pvc sleeve inside the lyric inner which is how both the record and the inner have remained so strong and clean over the years.
K 50014 // A2 STERLING RL (Stamped) / B3 STERLING RL (Stamped)
The audio on S1 is Mint- (track 2 intro Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint- (tracks 3 & 4 Near Mint+)
The gatefold is Mint-
The original Obi is Ex++
The lyric inner is Mint
The labels are Near Mint-
Visual grading
This vinyl is in near perfect condition and retains a beautiful glossy sheen, it is certainly the most impressive I have seen in a long time. There are no hairlines and no scratches either. The only negative if you can call it that is one minor mark on track 3 of S1 but it has no affect on the stunning quality of the audio at all. S2 is visually stunning and looks 'as new' in all honesty! This record has been so well preserved down the decades and whilst there is some spindle wear there is not an excessive amount. It shows that it has been played but that it has always been carefully handled also. You won't find many better! The run out grooves and labels are super clean with no marking etc.
Play grading
The run in grooves on S1 have no static so I'm thinking this is going to play well and it does not disappoint! The intro on 'The Song Remains The Same' quite simply plays 'as new' the depth and quality of the audio is sensational! As Plant's vocal begins there is no decrease in quality and it continues to play with incredibly power and definition. On a super clean vinyl such as this that is also a Robert Ludwig cut you would expect 'high end' sonic quality and wow does it deliver! From start to finish there is no 'background' of any kind and even the fade out plays with immaculate precision. I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint the audio cannot be faulted.
This is one of the 'cleanest' versions of 'The Rain Song' that I have ever heard. The acoustic intro is stunning and has only a small number of light dust ticks which are totally non-intrusive of course. The more it progresses the more you are impressed by it! For a track with so many quiet sections the audio is 'crystal clear' and the vast majority is 'as new' no question about it. There are no clicks or pops and even when the volume increases towards the end there is no let up in quality. Each note can be heard so clearly and I cannot overstate just how beautifully the 'music' plays here. It is a stunning Mint- version although Near Mint- on the intro I would say.
The acoustic intro 'Over The Hills And Far Away' plays with immaculate precision - not even a dust tick! This is audio at its very best and it continues to play with superb definition. It's hard not to repeat myself but there is just no interference at all and the clarity is exceptional. There is no intrusion on the Mint audio and even on the mega quiet instrumental end section there is no interference! I cannot believe what I am hearing! This vinyl has been incredibly well preserved that's for sure.
'The Crunge' ends the side with fantastic quality once more. Perhaps not a Led Zepp classic but it nonetheless plays with sublime audio from the first groove to the last. There is only the bare minimum of inner groove distortion and it's hardly worth a mention really! This is how it would have sounded back in '73 and the playback is 'high end' to say the least.
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'Dancing Days' is just sheer audio perfection all the way through. A special mention for the definition of the sound here - so many rate the Robert Ludwig cuts as the best of all the pressings and listening to this you cannot doubt it. Of course it helps when the record is as well preserved as this one but the depth and clarity here is among the finest I have ever heard. The only grade I can give this is Mint as the audio cannot be faulted in any way.
'D'yer Mak'er' is of the same 'high end' standard with not one iota of interference and Mint is no exaggeration. No more needs to be said!
The real test for this vinyl is always going to be 'No Quarter' as it has so many quiet sections and regularly plays with static or crackle or worse! The intro is stunning with only a small number of light dust ticks and as Bonham enters the scene the audio is 'as new' once more. The first verse is incredibly 'clean' with no intrusion and this clarity of sound continues throughout. There are only a small number of light static ticks but having listened to many different versions over the years this has to be most impressive I have ever listened to. The definition and sonic quality could hardly be improved upon and one thing that stands out is just how well the quieter sections play. There is quite simply no intrusive 'background' and this is a stunning Near Mint+ version. The fade out also plays with sublime precision.
The 'spoken' intro on 'The Ocean' is 'as new' and it then plays with wonderful power and depth. A minor touch of inner groove distortion but I only mention it to be complete in my grading and it is not intrusive in any way. An example of the stunning clarity is during the quiet 'la la' mid section which has no interference whatsoever. This is a fine way to end this often underrated album - a little more distortion on the end section perhaps but a superb version for sure with no clicks or pops etc.
In summary I am confident in grading this as a FINAL UPGRADE album as the clarity and depth of the recording is easily the finest I have heard on an A2/B3 pressing. The 'Robert Ludwig' cut more than lives up to expectation here and any avid collector would be highly impressed with the audio on this mega clean record. I find this is one album that often plays with a fair amount of interference but I am being honest when I say there is none here in my opinion. Yes there are a small number of dust ticks and an even smaller number of static ticks but there is absolutely nothing that intrudes on the playback. a stunning listen. Not only that but the gatefold and lyric inner are in superb condition and how rare is it for the OBI to be included?! And in such lovely condition! A fantastic 'package' for certain.
The Gatefold & Obi
This cover is in superb condition with no real shelf wear and rarely are they seen as clean as this. The edges and wide spine are stunning with no rubbing and there is no obvious corner wear either. The opening edge is near perfect aside from a couple of tiny 'dings' and the front and back cover are beautifully clean with no marking and the inside is also 100% pristine. This really is a stunning example and I'm not sure if I have ever seen better!
The rare Obi is also a fine example of its type and has no splits or tears. The left side just has some minor creasing and a little fading and there is also a very small faint mark near the top edge and a couple on the back. Just to confirm this is the UK edition and not the more commonly German or French issues.
Lyric Inner
The rough textured inner is 'as new' with no marking or side splits. The record has always been contained within a pvc inner and this in turn has helped protect the lyric inner from any wear.
The Labels
They have lost none of their original colour and there is no marking. As stated there is a little spindle wear only.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
K 50014 // A2 STERLING RL (Stamped) / B3 STERLING RL (Stamped)
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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