Led Zeppelin II A1 / B1 (2nd red/plum pressing)

This iconic debut LP is the first pressing after the 'Turquoise' one so is generally regarded as the second red/plum pressing.  It is in stunning, immaculate condition and has been hardly played judging by the lack of spindle wear, perhaps only played once or twice.  It looks pristine and I have never seen or heard better.

It has the Warner Bros/Jewel Music publishing credit on the labels.

Identical to the one housed in the Turquoise lettered cover it is fully laminated with orange lettering and has the grey/silver band along the bottom edge.  It is 'Printed and Made by MacNeill Press Ltd, London SE1 and also has the 'Uptight an' Outasight' info on the back of the cover.

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

588171 (2nd 8 crossed out , replaced with etched 8) B // 1 1 2 5

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint in many sections)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Mint in many sections - 'Your Time is Gonna Come' organ intro is Ex+ )

The laminated cover is Ex to Ex+

The labels are Mint-

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

Visual grading

This A1/B1 pressing is visually stunning and the 'cleanest' I have ever seen.  For a vinyl approaching 50 years of age to have a stunning glossy sheen like this is very rare.  Even under a strong bright light it is extremely difficult to see any spindle wear, I can just about make out 1 or 2 tiny spindle traces on each side.  I am confident in saying this incredible vinyl has been barely played and that is borne out by the stunning audio quality as detailed below.  S1 is in immaculate, pristine condition and looks like it was pressed yesterday, I cannot detect any hairlines or scratches at all.  S2 is nearly as good although there is one small radial line and 3/4 very faint hairlines on the final two tracks, caused by sleeve removal no doubt, but they they have no affect on the audio.  The run out grooves are also spotlessly clean, so rare on a vinyl of this age.  The records was inside an anti static sleeve when I purchased it and this is another reason why it has maintained its superb quality down the years and the fact that it has hardly been played of course.

Play grading  

This stunning vinyl has practically no lead in static on S1 prior to 'Good Times Bad Times' starting so you're immediately thinking this is going to play well...and it does not disappoint!  The power and clarity is incredible and there are no clicks, pops, jumps or crackle whatsoever.  Perhaps an absolute minimal amount of mega light static in a couple of places but in all honesty this sounds as good as the day it was first released back in '69.  The sonic quality is breathtaking and I have never heard better on an A1/B1 pressing.  The fade out also plays with zero 'background' showing just how immaculate the audio is and there is then complete silence before track two starts.

The acoustic intro to 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' is quite simply sublime and again the music plays so clearly and without intrusion.  The louder sections have no distortion which pays testament to how infrequently it has been played and to how well it has been cared for down the decades and throughout all of the acoustic sections I heard only 3/4 of the lightest dust ticks imaginable.  The super quiet ending also plays with stunning quality.  This track as per the first plays with mega impressive Near Mint quality, no exaggeration.

The bluesy 'You Shook Me' has immaculate audio once more although (shock, horror!) I did hear one light click near the beginning.  The remainder displays a clarity and depth you so rarely find on these red/plum pressings and there is no other intrusive interference.  There is the odd static sound but again they are so much in the background as to be totally negligible.

The bass intro into 'Dazed and Confused' is absolutely stunning and sounds as new.  Yes there is one mega light click but let's face it this can happen with newly pressed vinyl let alone one that is nearly 50 years old!  The track then continues with mind-blowing quality and the quiet instrumental middle section plays with near perfect precision, the clarity is astounding.  The louder sections again are so impressive and again play with no distortion.  I just do not have enough superlatives for this track, for the whole side really!

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Again there is no lead in static on S2.  The organ intro on 'Your Time is Gonna Come' then plays very clearly but with a little static in the background.  However, it is worth pointing out this is always the case on these early pressings, at least in my experience, and I have listened to a lot of A1/B1 pressings.  Thereafter the audio is of a near impeccable standard and plays with such a dynamic range it belies its age.  No clicks, no pops, no crackle, no distortion, no nothing just pure unadulterated listening pleasure!

  'Black Mountain Side' plays with stunning Mint quality there is just no other way to describe it.  There was not one iota of interference and I have never heard a better version.

What follows is a truly superb version of 'Communication Breakdown'.  With no interference apart from one dull 'background' click towards the end it really 'rocks out' with no distortion, an incredible listen.  As per all the other tracks there is complete silence in the dead wax leading into the next track.

The quiet  intro on 'I Can't Quit You Baby' again just has to be heard to be believed.  This classic track has only 3/4 dust ticks, and I know this is sounding repetitive now, but I have never heard such clarity and depth on any pressing let alone an A1/B1 one.  When you consider how many quiet sections there are it is just so rare for this track to play so cleanly and with such dynamic precision.  I would say 99% of this track plays as Mint such is the immaculate quality.

'How Many More Times' ends the classic album with fantastic quality again.  The intro is of superb Mint quality and the audio just gets better!  There is no interference of any kind and not even any distortion on the top end and again this is the 'cleanest' version I have had the pleasure in listening to.  The bass, as is always the case with these pressings, really shines through but then the drums are so high in the mix and play so loud and true, absolutely stunning.  I have just listened to this track again and I am totally blown away by the power and sheer strength and clarity of this track.  The sound is so dynamic and for a final track on a side to play so clearly, where the grooves are often pressed closer together, is such an incredible rarity.  A fantastic ending to a near Mint album.

In summary this is without doubt a genuine final archive museum copy.  It is a real find the likes of which I have never heard before on an A1/B1 pressing and that is no exaggeration.  I have heard many wonderful copies down the years but this is unreservedly the greatest I have ever listened to.  This is a genuine collectors' piece and one I am sure any fan would be happy to have in their collection.

Cover

The laminated 'MacNeill' cover has stood the test of time very well and is in excellent condition.  The edges and thin pinched spine are in superb order and have no shelf wear and the corners have only a minimal amount of rubbing.  The opening edge is beautifully clean and has no obvious handling wear at all.  The laminate on both sides remains in great condition with no splits at all.  There are 3/4 very small creases on the 'airship' with one longer one just to the left of the Atlantic logo and one small crease only on the back cover.  There are also a handful of barely noticeable faint creases around the spine.  The front and back cover are very clean and only the former has a couple of very faint 'lines' towards the top edge.  Overall this iconic cover is in great shape and there can't be many around that would better it.

Poly-lined inner sleeve

The 'Plastic Bags Can Be Dangerous' sleeve has only one small split on the top corner and some light creasing.  There are no splits to the sides or bottom edge.  It has the Patent nos 800513 &  973939 and Made in England 36 /0970 printed on the sleeve.

The labels

They are both in superb condition and look as new.  There is barely any spindle wear and no markings or writing.

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

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

588171 (2nd 8 crossed out , replaced with etched 8) B // 1 1 2 5

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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