LED ZEPPELIN II RARER Orig 69 UK Lemon on Plum MINT LP

	£		360
	$		477

IMAGINE – the feeling of being taken back to 1969 and holding an unplayed copy of this record in your hand for the very first time…

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down with Picture & All Shipping Rates.

Artist or Band: LED ZEPPELIN

Album Title: Led Zeppelin II

Producer: Jimmy Page.

Executive Producer: Peter Grant.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Whole Lotta Love; What Is and What Should Never Be; THE LEMON SONG; Thank You.

Side 2: Heartbreaker; Livin’ Lovin’ Maid (Shes just a Woman); Ramble On; Moby Dick; Bring It On Home.

Label format and Condition: Atlantic Red and Maroon (‘Plum’) labels. Stunning richly coloured, fresh and ultra clean examples. Both are of jaw-dropping excellence and both look brand new, yes, truly I am struggling to find a single spindle trace and the audiophile owner who owned a phenominal sound-system said he may have played it once. All text bold and sharp and crystal clear and will rarely be found like this again. These look simply gorgeous, fresh, clean and truly beautiful – almost remarkable infact. All ink fully present with no chips or scuffs and just as importantly, no fingermarks or traces of handling. Over the past few years selling on Ebay, I have had two or three remarkable examples of this legendary record, but this is the most pristine Mint, possibility unplayed copy, I have ever had the privilege of owning. If this was a very rare Victorian postage stamp, it would have a ‘Specimen’ overprint, truly this is a remarkable example.

Cat Number: 588198.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 145 grams. So far, my heaviest pressed example..

Country of Manufacture: England.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: 588198 A 2 1 1 3 ? / 588198 B 2 1 2 1 5

Musicians: Robert Plant – Jimmy Page – John Paul Jones – John Bonham.

Album Information: For many the greatest rock album of all time - a monumental classic, without doubt, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ remains the definitive heavy rock anthem ever made. The album justifiably charted at Number 1 in the UK and US. After the raw brilliance of the heavy blues rock of their debut, ‘II’ expands the horizons still further. Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham rarely ever sounded better than on this massive issue. All rock fans and collectors will know this album well already – it’s content is legendary and it simply refuses to age or its classic status dimish. This is one of the ‘Most Wanted’ albums ever issued, and so it should be. It’s simply never found looking quite like this these days and for anyone wanting this rare first ‘Lemon Song’ example to keep for a life-time, this is an opportunity that will not happen often.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High – almost off-the-scale. This is hardly ever seen devoid of unsightly ringwear or major rubbing. The highly discerning owner made decision to tip-in a fine line of rubbing on this one along line of the internal flipback near the top edge on both sides. Being only light on the front with more on the back. The colour match is superb and with normal viewing it shows little but more with angled viewing. This clearly may an issue for some collectors, but believe me, this is a massively difficult cover and always has been. It remains still one of the very best and most attractive examples I have ever seen and the breathtaking record inside more than compensates a little relatively minor cover blemishing. When most are seen badly rubbed, heavily ringworn and, being honest, just plain ugly, this will also take a lot of beating. Regarding the price guides mention of green ink on spines, well I have never seen one on an E. J. Day printed cover and many dealer friends have told me its a myth. I will simply say, I will believe one when I see one. I have seen green hued spines that have reacted with light over the years but never a deliberate green printed spine on the earliest of pressings – and I have several, including the legendary ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Wreck’ misprint version on the label.

Cover Format and Details: EX+ I still regard this as one of rock’s most difficult covers to ever find looking ‘attractive’. It’s a matt finished, gatefold format, the original pale-brown type and never tolerates over-handling, poor storage or any abuse well. Never laminated as a UK issue (unfortunately), attractiveness and longevity was very limited unless kept in ‘cottonwool’. Printed by E. J. Day and Co London. Please study the pictures, decide for yourself what this is like compared to most seen, my pictures do not lie, there are no digital clean ups ever used on any of my graphics – what you see is what you get. Sometimes my camera flash can actually over-emphasise any mild surface blemishes, but I promise, even with the fine tip-ins, this will be one of the finest looking original ‘LZ II’ covers you will see for possibly some considerable time. My grading is based on visual, I think this is actually undergraded, a subjective point of view.

Cover Front: A cover well-known for rubbing, often badly and most often along the inner flipback end-lines. The original owner decided to lightly, and cleverly tip-in these white line blemishes with a superbly matching colour. Being honest, I would have let it be, but that was his choice, not mine. Anyway, this front still looks lovely. Very clean and unusually fresh looking, the paler brown finish has few marks other than the small brown enhancements near the top edge. The bottom edge has a fine glue line residue which is clearly present from manufacture and shows little. The artwork is fantastic and has not faded at all and avoiding grubbiness is never easy, but has here. This has no creasing as all, even thumb creases which this always seems to attract. No scuffing and barely even a hairline to be seen with no indentations. Tiny corner rubs just encroach into view but few will ever avoid this at the least, the total lack of ringwear or even record impression is great news. Minus the fine cosmetics, this front would be almost top draw gorgeous (and to my eyes, still is).

Cover Back: Even harder to find in decent condition usually due to major ringwear issues – this is a very fine example. Again, and a little more on this side, a fine line tip-in has been made near the top edge. If this is an issue, please do not bid. It retains a ‘Island Record Centre’ sticker on the back, a Jersey shop from the distant past. This sticker is pristine and clearly has never been removed or tampered with. I guess it would remove easily enough, but I feel it’s part of the record’s history and I would leave well alone. Also the original shop pre-decimal asking price of 31/10 was written, very neatly in pencil near the top right corner. Again, this would easily rub out, but I consider this important as it helps date the album. Many copies of this album would have sold after decimalisation and lovely to see the old LSD currency being applied to any vintage cover. The LSD price roughly translates to £1.68 in the current currency value. I cannot reitterate enough how difficult this large brown area back is to find devoid of major rubbing and ringwear. This has barely any, any ring marks are super faint with barely any ink disturbance. With just one very fine surface scratch and no grubbiness or noteworthy creasing, this makes for a very attractive back. Again, if the skillful cosmetic tip-in to (presumably) hide a fine line rub against the inner seam, is an issue, do not bid.

Cover Gatefold Inner: Superb with barely anything of note to fault – that famous huge Zeppelin rarely looked better.

Top Edges: Odd tiny surface chip or rub trace, few will have less. Both very straight.

Bottom Edges: Very light and faint, patchy rub traces, more near corners.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp, barely any wear at all, with no feathering or trimming. Minor burr traces viewed end-on if being very critical. Record entered on right outside back edge.

Spine and Text: A very fine spine also, this too wears very badly, often tatty with the text eroded and often badly discoloured. I have seen green hued examples that are a result of light exposure, is this the so-called ‘green spine’ many think is normal? I don’t know. Anyway, this has little wear: A tiny trace of rubbing on the top fold near the centre (emphasise TINY), a small chip on the white area shows little and the very ends have lightly rubbed. That apart, little else to fault with all text present and unworn (please see my close-up pictures). Solid, straight with minor compression tilt only that few ever escape. Folded squarely so the right edges meet up very closely and pretty much parallel. Again, I have seen some of these folded off-square which never makes them look this neat.

Corners: The spine top and bottoms have lightly rubbed, how many won’t have? The right four have small tip rubs, slightly large on bottom pair but still modest for this unforgiving cover. All retain fine to very fine shape.

Cover Summary: A highly attractive example that sets a very high standard, few will match or better it, this view based on many example seen where most disappoint visually. My visual grading does not take into account the cosmetics, just purely on looks. You decide, if this is important to you, any doubts, do not bid. But I feel confident, this ‘pretty’ LZ II cover will please most collectors.

The Inner: Mint(-) and in supreme condition for a record now 40-years-old, guaranteed original. Proving just how early this copy is, it has the date code 1/0370 as can be seen on my close up picture. This has aged little with any discolour ultra mild and faint. The window is immaculate with pristine circles with crisp circumference. The polylining clear and fully intact, no edge splits or noteworthy creasing, t his vintage original inner will also prove hard to find better.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: If I cannot grade this sensational record Mint, well nothing ever could be. I really do not like using the word on a 40-year-old record, so I will say undergraded at Mint(-). But if a better example can ever be found, I sure would like to see and hear it. This is beautifully clean, and retains an intense black finish with with fantastic shine and is quite heavily pressed. Complex, well patterned grooves, telling vinyl ‘readers’ it has the most incredible potential sound quality and thunderous dynamics – and boy it certainly does. A visual feast and copy for the connoisseur collector with surfaces as unmarked as they could possibly ever be. The original owner could not even remember if he had indeed even played it. Yes truly, my play-grade could have even been its very first, this legendary record is barely even ‘run-in’ in vinyl terms. The playing surfaces are in supreme condition and will remind of what a new record once looked like. Will another exist quite like this? if so, will it ever be made available for sale? Well logic tells me one in many thousands will approach this purist quality, and this goes beyond. Any ‘Plum’ example of this landmark recording in such conditions is the exception rather than the rule. Early Lemon/Plum copies of this one infrequently show up quite like this, a record of a life-time, a keeper reference copy and the ultimate upgrade for any discerning audiophile collector.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality: This astonishing record plays up too its incredible visual grading with absolutely NOTHING to fault. As stated it has amazing sound quality with nothing unwanted. This is not an easy recording, it’s like a roller coaster ride in volume and quiet passages. This has immensely powerful clean sound and is totally devoid of groove-wear distortion. ‘Thank You’, easily the most difficult song on the album, plays beautifully and is devoid of the usual crackle that blights so many, especially on the fragile fade-in and fade-outs. I cannot remember ever hearing this delicate song play so beautifully quiet – few will get close or match this. Also, the intro to ‘Bring it on Home’ often causes problems too, but again plays superbly. Overall sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound and has practically zero surface sounds or blemishes at all. No pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing for a very complex album. The grooves are pristine clean and this record is a gateway into the recording studio itself. Nothing betters the earliest Plum pressings and if anyone one can match or outperform this vintage pressing, I sure would love to hear it. I know for certain this record has barely even been handled, let alone played, possibly a virgin copy until my play-grade and stored within a non-smoking environment. A copy to get the pulses racing, all you need is the system to utilise the thundering dynamics embedded into these pristine grooves. Nothing whatsoever spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this astonishing record. This copy will prove near impossible to find better, and on that, I state my reputation.

The Hi-Fi Zeppelin Experience: This proves beyond any doubt, not that there was much doubt anyway, that an original vinyl record will blow away any other format (and I rather partial those those excellent Japanese card format CDs these days when played on the correct equipment). The sound on this album is simply awesome and I use the word in its true context because this simply takes the breath away. If anybody has not heard an original Led Zeppelin II on the early ‘Plum’ labels they have not lived. This will shake the foundations (and damn near did), the inherent power, scale, drama, dynamics, detail and stereo imagery are phenomenal and give that rare tingle factor only the truly great recordings ever can. Listen to that massive ‘slam’ on ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and the channel-to-channel guitar pyrotechnics, this is hi-fi nirvana. It was fascinating watching my Ittok arm and Ortofon tracking this complex record. The drum parts on ‘Moby Dick’ have such realism the kit could have almost been in the room. Complete silence is almost unrealistic for any vintage copy of this demanding title – but this copy pretty much does just that. If ultimate clinical silence is demanded, stick to the silver disc format, but you will miss out on a sound experience of a lifetime. The colossal low frequency on ‘Whole Lotta Love’ will test any amp and speakers to the limit and the sound can simply saturate on even mid-priced systems. I remembering hearing this album back in the 70s at an exhibition in London through a pair of Linn Isobarik speakers, using a Naim six-pack active amp set up with a Linn LP 12 front-end deck. This left an impression of sheer awe, that took the breath away. The sounds embedded into original pristine grooves are amazing and will never be replicated or beaten by any other later pressing or format. Now I am again a LP12 owner, I really turned up the volume again and let this go. This will sort out the real hi-fi systems, because many systems simply fall apart trying to control the sound on this one. A capable power amp and speaker system is almost mandatory to control the bass dynamics on this album - tin boxes will surrender almost immediately. Do not play this record on a less than worthy turntable. With my amp running hot, the bass thunders and growls, the drums and cymbals crash and zing, the guitars splinter into a frenzy and Plants vocals rarely ever sounded more sublime than on this wonderous record - yes I rather like this album, who doesn’t?

End Piece: The word ‘essential’ and ‘classic’ are both overused (I too am guilty sometimes when offering a beautiful condition piece for a favourite title), but I make no apology for using them for this groundbreaking (and earth-shattering) album. Timeless vintage blues-rock the likes that will never be equalled. This original version with ‘The Lemon Song’ song title on the ‘Plum’ label are truly getting rare and demand is high. I would imagine many Led Zeppelin collectors will not have this album in such conditions within their collection and also will the cover be anything like this fine? Just holding this over-40 masterpiece gives pleasure, when the record is seen and heard, it will thrill and astonish. Such a copy deserves a fine home and demands to be heard again – good luck to all. This will be posted anywhere FREE of charge and include signed-for and insured first-class service.

… IMAGINE no longer, this record turns fantasy into reality.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET - PLEASE SEE MY TYPICAL PACKING BOX PICTURE.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional thick boxes (NOT Mailers or Cruciforms, these do not offer maximum protection). The record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with THREE or EVEN FOUR ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. The thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. Please see my picture of a typical finished box packet that will now be used on ALL transactions as from now. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. These boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand based on over 6,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £8. (insurance optional extra £3). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £12. Add £3 per extra LP. (insurance optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT neccessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.