LED ZEPPELIN I A1/B1 Very EARLY Red/Plum PRESS UK 1969 *Stunning* AUDIO NM/MINT-
£
150
$
199
£ 150
Sold For
Nov 24, 2019
Sold Date
Nov 14, 2019
Start Date
£ 10
Start price
21
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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Description
Led Zeppelin I A1/B1 Red/Plum Label
This FINAL UPGRADE red/plum pressing plays with a clarity and definition that you so rarely find today. The playback is absolutely stunning and there is hardly any interference! The vinyl is extremely clean and there is only minimal spindle wear which leads me to believe the record has only been infrequently played down the years. As detailed below the stunning quality of the audio would certainly suggest that.
As any collector know there are various versions of this red/plum press. This cover with the orange lettering I would call a second press as it has the 'Warner Bros/7 Arts' publishing credit on the labels and not 'Superhype Music'.
The cover itself is in excellent shape with only minimal wear and of course has the grey stripe/band along the bottom edge.
588171 (2nd 8 corrected with hand etched 8) A // 1 1 3 4 1
588171 (2nd 8 corrected with hand etched 8) B // 1 1 3 2 2
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority/ tracks 2 & 3 Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 1 intro Ex+ / track 4 Near Mint-)
The cover is Ex
The original inner sleeve is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
Visual grading
The vinyl is in lovely condition and still retains an impressive glossy sheen with no scratches. There are a small number of hairlines that at first are not that easy to spot as they are so faint. S2 just has one that is a little more obvious but I am pleased to say none of them have any affect on the 'high end' quality audio as detailed below. There is not very much spindle wear and overall it has a superb visual 'look' and this very early pressing is rarely seen as 'clean' as this. The run out grooves and labels are also in fine condition.
Play grading
The intro on 'Good Times Bad Times' plays superbly with no interference and this continues into the first vocal. From that point on this classic plays with great power and aside from a couple of dust ticks there is no 'background' of any kind. There is no distortion on the top end and this is a dynamic Mint- start to S1 that is for certain. The fade out also plays with perfect precision.
There is then complete silence in the dead wax and the first section on 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave' is stunning with no intrusion whatsoever. So quiet and yet the clarity cannot be faulted. As the volume increases the audio is of the same impeccable quality and it's only on the following quieter section that a small number of light ticks can be heard. However, they are very quiet and non-intrusive. Thereafter the audio plays to a wonderful standard with every section be it loud or quiet playing to the same 'high end' standard. Again there is no distortion and any collector would be hugely impressed by the definition of the audio here, it has preserved its quality extremely well. The quiet end section has barely any static and for a 50 year old record the clarity is incredibly good. Due to the 3 or 4 faint ticks I will grade this as Near Mint- and it is without question a fantastic version.
'You Shook Me' has a near perfect intro with only a couple of mega faint dust ticks. Once the vocal starts there is no intrusion on the audio and it continues in much the same way. There is one click on the first 'I have a bird that whistles' line but that is the first real intrusion on the audio and the long instrumental section that follows could hardly play any better it is absolutely stunning! The clarity and power is exceptional, wow! To the end it plays in the same way with no interference and the bass is just so strong in the mix here. Ok there is one light click but the remainder is stunning and even Plant's vocal 'exertions' at the end play with sublime precision and power. I still think is worthy of a Near Mint- grading as the vast majority is just so damn good!
The bass intro on 'Dazed And Confused' is very 'clean' with only a small number of light static ticks which are totally non-intrusive. Plant's first vocal is 'as new' and this standard is maintained throughout. It plays with stunning precision during the quieter moments and with great power and no distortion during the louder sections. A prime example of the amazing clarity is on the first long quiet instrumental where there is just no 'background' at all. The 'high octane' section that follows needs to be turned up loud! It plays with breathtaking power and no discernible distortion whatsoever. This truly is an outstanding version of this classic and the remainder does not disappoint either. The entire track has no real intrusion and it provides a fantastic Near Mint finish to the side although the vast majority is better than that!
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The organ intro on 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' always has some static/crackle as any collector knows and it is just a matter of how much. I am pleased to say this is one of the 'cleanest' intros I have heard in a long time. Yes there is a little static in the background but it very minimal and does not interfere with the music. It really is very impressive and there are no static ticks, clicks or pops. The quieter mellotron section also plays with great clarity and this intro easily grades as Ex+ and there are very few as good as that! As the vocal starts the playback is superb and the first chorus is again faultless. It continues to play with sublime quality and each note plays with incredible precision, there is just no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever. With only a couple of mega faint ticks this is a stunning version that belies its age and from the very clean intro to the final note this impresses on every level. In fact following the intro the playback is easily Near Mint as there is just no intrusion on the audio. What a version!
The segue into 'Black Mountain Side' is perfect and thereafter this acoustic instrumental plays with 'high end' clarity and definition. I think I heard one faint click just before the minute mark but it is very difficult to pick up even when sitting so close to the speakers as I do! This is still worthy of a Near Mint grading in my opinion.
'Communication Breakdown' is so strong from the very first groove and this may sound like I am repeating myself now but from start to finish there is no interference. I have never heard power like it and rarely there is no distortion on the top end. An absolutely stunning Mint- version it is up there with the best I have ever heard. A super clean fade out also.
The vocal only intro on 'I Can't Quit You Baby' provides further evidence of a beautifully preserved vinyl. There are only a couple of minor dust ticks and there is then just the one light click on the first verse. From then on it plays with a clarity that is so rarely found on these A1/B1 red/plum pressings and to say the audio is 'as new' is no exaggeration! There is no interference, not even a dust tick, and Page's first solo could not play with any greater precision. This is audio at its very best and is the reason why we listen to vinyl - the playback is sensational! There is one light click on the final verse but aside from that there is no other 'background' and plays with Mint precision to the end. So there are two light clicks on this bluesy classic but for there to be no other 'background' is a genuine rarity and because of this I honestly think Near Mint- is a fair assessment. I do not think I have heard this track play with a clarity and depth more impressive than this.
That iconic bass intro on 'How Many More Times' also plays with immaculate precision i.e. no 'background' at all. The first 'high octane' vocal/riff section is of the same standard and the more you get into this classic the more you are impressed by it. There is no distortion on the top end and the first 'quiet' section again just makes you scratch your head in disbelief! The clarity cannot be faulted in any way and how many 50 year old records play with such clinical precision as this?! The 'Oh Rosie' section plays as well as it did in '69 and the remainder is so impressive also. The final riff section plays with stunning definition and if there is any inner groove distortion it is kept to an absolute minimum. This is a mind-blowing version that has no interference and again it's rare to find this classic playing with such power and finesse in equal measure. I have listened to it twice now and a Mint- grade is deserving. A truly astounding version to end this fine album.
In summary this FINAL UPGRADE red/plum pressing is up there with the strongest and most impressive I have ever heard. Yes there are a couple of light clicks but the vast majority plays to a standard that you so rarely find today. What makes this early pressing even more 'special' is that there is barely any static and there is certainly no crackle. The louder sections display immense power and definition and the quieter sections play with a great clarity and precision. In a sense this clarity is not surprising as just one careful look at the vinyl makes you realise how little it has been played i.e. it is super clean and it has minimal spindle wear also. Another point of interest is just how clean the beginning of S2 is. I may 'only' have graded it as Ex+ but it is the 'cleanest' intro on 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' I have heard in a long time and again pays testament to how well this record has been preserved over the decades. Any collector would love to have this in their collection :-)
The Cover
The iconic laminated cover has only minimal wear and is in excellent condition. The edges rarely have no rubbing and the thin pinched spine is in superb condition and remains 100% legible with only a couple of minor creases lines that you so often see. The corners have hardly any wear and the opening edge has no handling wear either which is so rare! The front cover is very clean with no marking but does have a small number of faint laminate creases near the bottom of the 'airship' and close to the opening edge. They are not large and can only be seen when held at a certain angle. There is some laminate lifting next to the spine but again this is a common occurrence and rarely seen without it. The edge next to the spine however is very clean and has only a couple of minor creases. There is also a faint crease line in the lower left corner. The back cover is in great order with no marking and only a couple of small creases and a little laminate lifting by the spine again. An impressive cover overall and better than so many you see today!
Inner Sleeve
The original 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner is in excellent condition with no side splits or marking. There is hardly any creasing and only a little age related fading. It has '1070' printed on one side which refers to the release/manufacture date.
The Labels
They are in fantastic shape and still have their strong vivid colours. There is no marking or writing and only minimal spindle wear. This is a record that has not been overplayed.
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
588171 (2nd 8 corrected with hand etched 8) A // 1 1 3 4 1
588171 (2nd 8 corrected with hand etched 8) B // 1 1 3 2 2
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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