LED ZEPPELIN III A5/B7 5? Red/Plum PRESS PETER GRANT credit GREAT AUDIO/COVER
£
166
$
220
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Description
Led Zeppelin III A5 / B 7 5 w/Peter Grant credit
This red/plum pressing plays with superb audio for the vast majority and has only minimal interference. The clarity and depth overall is very impressive and a full grading is given below.
As this is such an early pressing it of course have the Peter Grant credit on the labels. However, there is a little conjecture as to what pressing it exactly is. A-5 on S1 is undisputed but S2 does have B5 with no dash but there is a 7 in between the two but in a different etched 'font'. No whether the B5 was an error and corrected with a 7 I do not know but I will not advertise it as a genuine A5/B5 first press. There are of course A5/B7 pressings with the PG credit but at least I have given all the info, I certainly haven't seen one like this before.
The famous cover, with a fully working 'wheel', is in great condition with only minimal wear and the original inner is also in excellent shape.
2401002 // A-5 1 2 2 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B 7 5 1 2 1 // So mote it be
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (Mint- in many sections / T2 spoken intro Ex / T5 Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / T1 intro Ex- / T2 Ex+)
The gatefold is Ex+
The 'plastic bags' inner is Ex-
The labels are Near Mint-
Visual grading
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen. There are no marks or scratches just some faint hairlines on each side and also one tiny 'speck' on S2 which has no affect on the audio. The run out grooves are very clean and all the matrix info can easily be seen and the red/plum labels are also in great shape with no marking or writing and of course have the Peter Grant credit. There have only a little spindle wear and have kept their original deep colour very well.
Play grading
The classic 'Immigrant Song' plays with tremendous power and clarity from the first groove to the last with no sign of any interference. There is no distortion on the top end and it plays exactly as you would want it to. A Mint start to the album.
The 'spoken' segue into 'Friends' has a couple of static clicks and the acoustic intro then plays perfectly with no 'background' and this clarity is maintained during Plant's first vocal and beyond. This track often has a distorted 'tinny' type sound in my opinion but this version is very clean and shows just how infrequently it has been played. There is no groove wear and only the louder end section has a minimal touch of non-intrusive distortion, hardly any truth be told! I would grade the 'spoken' intro as Ex and the remainder as Mint-
The moog intro on 'Celebration Day' is so 'clean' with only a small number of barely audible dust ticks and as Page and then Plant join in the playback is stunning. Even better when Bonham and Jones enter the scene! There are no ticks, clicks or pops and only a very very minor touch of distortion. I only mention this to be 'complete' in my grading - it still sounds fantastic and easily grades as Near Mint such is the quality. The long fade out plays with superb precision.
The quiet intro on 'Since I've Been Loving You' is stunning with no 'background' aside from a couple of mega light dust ticks. The first vocal section is 'as new' and already it's the clarity that stands out here. The playback is incredibly 'clean' and that applies to Plant's higher register where you will often find some distortion. Page's long solo is so dynamic with barely any distortion and the quiet section that follows has no 'background' at all. The final section plays with great power and distinction and only minimal distortion - you can still turn the volume up without having to turn it down immediately! I am still confident in a Near Mint grade for this track. Just one static sound as you reach the end of the fade out.
'Out On The Tiles' will always play with some inner groove distortion (no avoiding it!) but this is a very strong version with only a minimal amount. There are no clicks or pops and the 'heavier' section towards the end where the bass is very much prevalent is superb and even fade out has no interference. I think Near Mint- is fair here.
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The acoustic intro on 'Gallows Pole' plays very clearly but does have a small number of light ticks and one static sound which is not that intrusive. It lasts for only 30 seconds and then plays with great clarity. As the tempo increases the audio is stunning and apart from one click there are negatives. The audio is so strong and deep and it plays as you would want it to with no intrusion. The intro is Ex- but the remainder is Near Mint in my opinion.
The very quiet intro on 'Tangerine' has only a little static and the 7 second 'silent' is very clean indeed. The first verse has a couple of static ticks and as the rhythm section of Bonham and Jones join in the audio is superb. It continues in the same way with only a couple of static ticks and overall the playback is very impressive. Ex+
The acoustic intro and opening vocal sections on 'That's The Way' play with amazing clarity and there are no ticks, clicks or pops at all. There is only a minimal amount of barely audible static in the middle section and then plays with wonderful clarity and definition for the remainder. There is one light click towards the end but it is a stunning version and Near Mint is still deserved.
'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp' is 'as new' from start to finish - each note is so sharp and precise and there is no interference of any kind. I cannot overstate just how 'clean' the audio is and there is a genuine sense of depth here. This is Mint every day of the week!
'Hat's Off To (Roy) Harper' ends the album in the same way with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted. A Mint finish for sure!
In summary this red/plum plays with great clarity and definition for the vast majority. There is only a minimal amount of interference and as always I have listened to every second so as to provide a comprehensive description. There may be a little discrepancy with the pressing info so I won't sell it as a genuine first press - you can make up your own minds on that!
The Gatefold
The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear and as stated the 'wheel' works perfectly. The edges of the front cover have very little rubbing and as is common the top and bottom edge are 'open' so to allow free movement of the wheel. The edges of the back cover are in superb order and the wide spine is also very impressive and remains 100% legible. There is barely any corner wear and the opening edge has only a little handling wear. The front cover is in great condition with no marking or laminate damage and the back cover again has no marking and only a very minimal amount of yellowing/fading around the edges. The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with only a minor amount of light fading down the right side and for once the inner spine area is in great shape with no wear. This is a fine example of this iconic cover.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears and just one very small tear on the central 'window' plus a little creasing.
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
2401002 // A-5 1 2 2 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B 7 5 1 2 1 // So mote it be
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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