LED ZEPPELIN III A5/B5 1st PRESS RED/PLUM Label 'PETER GRANT' EX+/NEAR MINT
£
112
$
148
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Description
LED ZEPPELIN III A5 / B5 Atlantic 2401022 UK 1970 Red/Plum Label
This genuine first pressing on the famous red/plum label has the 'Peter Grant' credit on the labels. The publishing credits are 'Warner Bros. Music Ltd'. In the main the audio plays to a very high standard with only a little interference.
The famous Aleister Crowley quotes 'Do what thou wilt' and 'So mote it be' are etched on the dead wax and the rotating wheel still works perfectly. The gatefold itself is in lovely condition with only very minimal shelf wear.
2401022 // A5 / 1 2 9 // B5 / 1 2
The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint in some sections / track 5 Ex)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / end track 2 VG- / track 4 intro Ex-)
The gatefold cover is Ex
The labels are Near Mint-
The original inner sleeve is Near Mint
Visual grading
This first pressing retains a very healthy glossy sheen and you can see it has always been carefully handled over the last 49 years. You can see it has been played a number of times judging by the spindle wear but there are no scratches and only a very small amount of faint hairlines. Visually it is very impressive indeed and you won't find many cleaner. The run out grooves are very clean as are the red/plum labels which have no marking or writing.
Play grading
'Immigrant Song' on S1 plays with highly impressive audio from start to finish. There is a couple of light clicks a few seconds in but they are so 'lost' in the music as to be inconsequential. The power and depth is so strong and of course the bass line is so high in the mix also adding to the 'depth'. The clarity throughout is superb and there is no other 'background' whatsoever. A superb start to this classic album.
The spoken intro on 'Friends' is so 'clean' and there is just the one click when the acoustic guitar comes in. Thereafter it plays extremely well although there is a minimal amount of light static in the background here and there and it is a little more obvious on the quiet end section. Aside from that it does not interfere with the music and it still plays with great clarity and there are no other clicks or pops.
'Celebration Day' has some light background static on the intro and then plays with stunning power. This track will often play with some distortion as there is so much 'going on' but there is no deterioration in sound quality whatsoever. There is no 'muddiness' to the sound and the clarity and sonic quality is superb. The fade out is also very impressive and has very little static.
The intro on 'Since I've Been Loving You' is so quiet and again will often have some interference but there is only the absolute minimum of mega quiet static here. It is a superb start. As the vocal begins the audio the quality remains and there are no clicks or pops at all. As it continues some background static can be heard every now and then but in my opinion it is not intrusive. It is exactly that...in the background and the music can still be heard very clearly. The guitar solo is stunning and has no distortion on the top end at all. Following that there are a handful of very light 'ticks' in the mega quiet section. It may sound I am listing a lot of negatives but I like to provide a comprehensive so my customers know what they are buying so I will list every nuance etc. This classic still plays with excellent audio with perhaps a little distortion on the end section and 2/3 crackle sounds literally at the end of the fade out. It is worth repeating there are no loud clicks or pops anywhere.
'Out On The Tiles' plays with great power from the very start but as is often the case there is some distortion on the top end. This is common on the final track of any side and especially one that is nearly 50 years old! It isn't 'jarring' to the ears and it still plays very well and the instrumental end section is very strong. The rhythm section is so strong here and it closes the side in superb style and there is no interference on the long fade out!
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The super quiet intro on 'Gallows Pole' plays so cleanly with barely 'background'. As the volume increases the audio is absolutely stunning! This great 'foot stomper' plays 'as new' and grades as Near Mint if not better it is that good! The sonic quality is first class and again the bass is so powerful. Plus there is no distortion and the long fade out is nigh on perfect. Wow what a version!
The quiet intro on 'Tangerine' also plays incredibly well with barely any static, wonderful clarity. From then on it plays with great depth and precision. There are a couple of very light 'ticks' just prior to Page's guitar in the middle and this particular solo then plays fantastically well. Sadly there are six clicks right at the end but apart from that the audio is very impressive on this track.
'That's The Way' has hardly any static on the intro and it continues to play with immaculate clarity. This is a breathtaking version and whilst there are 3/4 mega quiet 'ticks' it still deserves a Near Mint grading as the overall 'sound' is stunning. One of the cleanest versions I have ever heard, the clarity is incredible!
'Bron-y-aur Stomp' has a few gentle 'ticks' on the intro and then plays as per the previous track with wonderful depth and quality and no other 'background'. The more you get into this track the more you are impressed by it! The clarity is superb and it basically plays 'as new' with Mint- quality.
The final track 'Hats off to (Roy) Harper' ends the album with stunning 'high end' audio and again is 'as new' with no interference of any kind. A superb end to this classic album.
In summary this first pressing plays with very impressive audio for the vast majority. Yes it is not without fault but S2 in particular is stunning aside from the final few seconds of track 2. That really is the only intrusive interference across the entire album in my opinion. As can be seen the gatefold is in great condition and has very little shelf wear.
The Gatefold
The fully laminated E.J. Day gatefold is in excellent condition but with some minor wear. I am pleased to say the rotating 'wheel' works perfectly. The 'open' top edge of the front cover is extremely clean with no rubbing and the 'open' bottom edge just has a small amount of rub wear. The top and bottom edges of the back cover are in superb shape with no wear at all. The wide spine is also very impressive and is one of the cleanest I have ever seen and there is very little corner wear also. The opening edge has next to no handling wear which is very rare. The laminated front cover is very clean but there is what I can only describe as a small repair mark near to the bottom edge but it really is not that obvious. The back cover has none of the discolouration that you so often see and remains brilliantly white and has only one small mark top right. The inside of the gatefold is in beautiful condition and has looks practically 'as new'. I would grade this iconic gatefold as Ex+ but because of the 'mark' on the front cover I believe an Ex grading would be more suitable.
Inner sleeve
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags Can Be Dangerous' inner is in superb condition and has no splits and barely any fading either. There is only some very minor creasing. It has 1070 printed bottom right which refers to the release date and proves it's an original inner.
The labels
The 'Peter Grant' red/plum labels are in great condition and the colours remain string and vibrant. As stated there is some spindle wear but there is no other marking or writing to be seen.
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 cleaning machine
2401022 // A5 / 1 2 9 // B5 / 1 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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