LED ZEPPELIN II A1 / B1 (2nd pressing)

This iconic debut LP is the first pressing after the 'Turquoise' one and is in wonderful condition with superb audio.  This tends to be known as a second pressing as it has the Warner Bros publishing credit on the label.

It is fully laminated with orange lettering and has the grey/silver band along the bottom edge.  'Printed and Made by MacNeill Press Ltd, London SE1' and also has the 'Uptight an' Outasight' info on the back of the cover.  This is one of the best covers I have ever seen.

It obviously has the red/plum labels with the 'Warner Bros/Jewel Music' credit.

Side One // 588171 (2nd 8 crossed out , replaced with etched 8) A // 1 1 3  1

Side Two // 588171 (2nd 8 crossed out , replaced with etched 8) B // 1 1 3  2 9

The audio on Side One is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections)

The audio on Side Two is Ex+ (Near Mint in some sections - first minute of 'Your Time is Gonna Come' is Ex-)

The laminated cover is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

The original 'Plastic Bags..' poly-lined inner is Ex

Visual grading

This is without doubt one of the cleanest A1/B1 pressings I have ever seen and judging by the amount of spindle wear it has not been played a great deal.  It still has a lovely glossy sheen and only a minimal number of faint hairlines and there are certainly no scratches or marks anywhere.  There is some 'mottling' on the vinyl but this has no affect on the audio whatsoever and as detailed below it plays to a very high standard especially when you consider its age.  A wonderful example of this iconic LP and rarely seen in this condition today.

Play grading  

With hardly any lead in static you are hoping that 'Good Times Bad Times' is going to play well and the audio does not disappoint!  The strength and power is second to none and there are no clicks, pops or crackle at all.  There is a little static in the background here and there but it is just that, in the background and it does not intrude on the high quality audio at all.  The acoustic sections on 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' play extremely well with only light intermittent static again.  There are no clicks or pops.  The louder sections 'rock out' superbly and have none of the distortion that you so often find.  The quiet ending has a little crackle but it isn't loud.  The bluesy 'You Shook Me' has very impressive audio and displays a clarity and depth you so rarely hear on A1/B1 pressings today.  The bass comes to the fore superbly and there is nothing intrusive on this classic track whatsoever.  At worst there is some light static in the background but your ears have to be so close to the speakers to hear it!  Again there are no clicks, pops or jumps at all.  The quiet bass intro on 'Dazed and Confused' plays superbly and the track continues with 'high end' quality.  There is almost no interference and the quiet instrumental section in the middle plays with sublime audio and no 'background' at all.  The crescendo into the end section plays with stunning power and almost no distortion.  I just do not have enough superlatives for this track.  A fantastic end to a fantastic sounding side.

'Your Time is Gonna Come' has one pop and some light crackle for the first minute but once the vocal begins there is barely any interference to be heard and there are no other clicks or pops.  Perhaps just a hint of static in the quieter sections not that there are many of them!  'Black Mountain Side' plays with stunning clarity and no interference and can easily be graded as Near Mint.  What follows is a superb version of 'Communication Breakdown'.  With no interference it really 'rocks out' and if there is any distortion it is minimal, it really is very impressive.  The quiet intro on 'I Can't Quit You Baby' is exactly that, quiet!  There is a absolute minimal amount of static in background and the remainder of the track plays with stunning quality also with just a touch of static here and there.  Whilst Jimmy's guitar sound is always high in the mix and plays with 'high end' quality the bass once again has a superb 'sound' on this recording.  What can I say about the 'How Many More Times' intro?  The audio quality is quite simply stunning and the clarity and power does not diminish as the track continues.  This is without doubt one of the best versions I have ever heard and for an A1/B1 red/plum pressing to play this well is an incredible rarity.  The first quiet section plays beautifully and has only the slightest of static in the background and for fear of repeating myself how many of these pressings play with as little interference as this?  Not many!  There is perhaps a minimal amount of distortion on the 'top end' again but in all honesty I'm not sure it counts as a negative and maybe I'm just looking for faults when they are not there!  The stunning quality continues through to the end of the track.  Phew!

Cover (with silver band)

The laminated 'MacNeill' cover is one of the best I have ever seen and after 48 years it remains remarkably clean.  The edges and thin pinched spine are in superb shape with no shelf wear and even the corners have hardly any rubbing.  The opening edge is also supremely clean and has barely any handling wear.  The laminate on both sides has no splits or lifting and there are only a couple of small creases on the front which you can only see when tilted at a certain angle.  The back cover is also in wonderful condition with just a couple of barely visible creases again.  There is also very small sticker in the bottom right hand corner with 1 on it, I have not attempted to remove it.  In summary this iconic cover is in stunning condition and you would have to travel far and wide to find a better one.

Poly-lined inner sleeve

The 'Plastic Bags Can Be Dangerous' sleeve has no splits or tears and only some light creasing and faint age related marking.  It has the Patent nos 800513 &  973939 and 1/0370 printed on the sleeve which refers to the release date so when you consider this is a second pressing this is most probably the original inner.

Labels

They are both in lovely condition with no writing or marks and not very much spindle wear.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

Side One // 588171 (2nd 8 crossed out , replaced with etched 8) A // 1 1 3  1

Side Two // 588171 (2nd 8 crossed out , replaced with etched 8) B // 1 1 3  2 9

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AS TOO MANY ITEMS GO MISSING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £6.00.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKED IN PROFESSIONAL MAILERS WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS.  THEY ARE ALSO PLACED IN SEPARATE SLEEVES AND PLACED OUTSIDE THE COVER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST.

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK AS SOON AS I RECEIVE FEEDBACK - SO I KNOW THE ITEM WAS RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT.  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be putting plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and Marillion items on the site so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!

FOR ITEMS SENT OVERSEAS I WOULD SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" ESPECIALLY FOR ITEMS SELLING OVER £40.00.  IT PROTECTS US BOTH IF ITEMS GET LOST OR DAMAGED IN THE POST AND COSTS AN EXTRA £6.00 SO PLEASE JUST ASK IF YOU WOULD PREFER THIS. 

UK POSTAGE RATES (SECOND CLASS)

LPs/12" singles : £4.95 (recorded) then £0.75 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £7.95 then £1.25 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £4.95 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £11.95 then £1.75 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £5.95 then £0.95 per extra