LED ZEPPELIN IV A3/B4 Red/Plum PRESS SUPERB COVER & AUDIO BEST EVER NM/MINT-
£
420
$
557
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Description
Led Zeppelin IV A3 / B4 Very Early Red/Plum Press
This very collectable red/plum pressing is a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic in my opinion i.e. no need to purchase another as you could not improve upon this audio! The clarity, depth and power of the audio is second to none and there are no clicks or pops on either side and no underlying static either. The sonic quality is just amazing! It was only played by the previous owner 4/5 times at most I would say and has been beautifully preserved since then. That is certainly reflected in the audio and nowhere is that more obvious than on 'Stairway To Heaven' which has to be the finest version I have ever heard! Every track plays to a sublime standard and a complete grading is given below.
The iconic cover is also in fantastic condition with hardly any shelf wear and for once the original paper lyric inner is in great order with only a couple of very small edge splits.
This is one of the later red/plum pressings as everything on it is correct! No Peter Grant credit, no inverted feathers and 'Hop' is also spelled correctly on the S2 label.
With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.
2401012 A // 3 1 3 3 PECKO DUCK
2401012 B // 4 1 2 6 PORKY
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The gatefold is Near Mint-
The original inner is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
Visual grading
The vinyl is in lovely condition overall and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen. It is so clean and has no marks or scratches and only a handful of barely visible sleeve removal hairlines on each side. You would not be disappointed if you had just walked out of the record shop with it...in 1971!! The run out grooves are also incredibly clean and the red/plum labels have barely any spindle wear on S1 and only a minimal amount on S2, aside from that they are perfect and still have their original deep colour. A stunning example!
Play grading
The intro on 'Black Dog' plays perfectly and it certainly gives a good indication of things to come. Plant's opening vocal is 'as new' and what immediately stands out is the incredible depth and warmth of the music. There is certainly no groove wear and each note is just so 'clean' and precise. It is a STUNNING version and the sonic quality is of the highest calibre. Yes I am being a little over enthusiastic but I'm sure the winning bidder will understand why! The only 'background', if you can call it that, are a handful of barely audible dust ticks during one of the 'quieter' moments. Page's solo towards the end is so strong and dynamic and again it is the clarity and definition that strike you, there is no distortion whatsoever. The fade out has no interference and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint- such is the quality.
The percussive intro on 'Rock And Roll' is faultless and continues to play like it has never been played before! There is no interference and again there is no sign of any distortion. The accompanying piano on the final third of the track is so often 'lost' in the background due to the sheer power of the music but I have never heard it play so clearly as it does here. The clarity is just outstanding! This shows just how clean the vinyl is and how well it has been preserved down the years. In my opinion this is the most 'complete' version I have ever encountered and Mint is more than deserved.
The quiet build up on 'The Battle Of Evermore' plays beautifully and only after 20 or so seconds are there 3/4 light ticks and a couple more as the vocal begins. They are hardly intrusive and thereafter it plays with stunning clarity for a relatively quiet track. There are no further ticks and no clicks, pops or static and the fade out is perfect. Overall Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.
The classic 'Stairway To Heaven' begins with an intro that is quite simply astounding! The clarity is equal to that of an un-played record and the opening two verses more than keep up this exemplary standard. This song is generally so over-played that it affects the sonic quality but there is literally no sign of that here. The third and fourth verse continue in the same sublime way and thus far it just could not play with any greater clarity or definition. Absolutely STUNNING! Throughout this opening acoustic section not only are there no ticks or clicks but there is no underlying static either. As Bonham comes in there is no let up in quality and that 'high end' standard is carried on into the 'Your head is humming...' verse. The following section where the volume increases and just prior to Page's solo there is no distortion and you don't need me to tell you how rare that is! The solo then plays with tremendous power and again...no distortion. Plant's 'high octane' vocal on the next verse is so sharp and precise and yep I've never heard better! It is worth reiterating that the sonic quality here has not suffered at all over the intervening years - remember this record is very nearly 50 years of age! The final quiet section is nigh on perfect with only a handful of playback is superb and once again I have to say bare minimum here, the playback is superb! The final few seconds are of course very quiet and yet all I heard were a handful of mega light dust ticks, the clarity remains so impressive to the end. From start to finish the playback is exceptional and again this has to be the most 'complete' version I have heard. This is precisely why we listen to vinyl, the clarity, depth and warmth cannot be replicated anywhere else. I'm not sure I've ever graded this classic as Mint- on a red/plum pressing before but I truly believe it is deserved here.
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'Misty Mountain Hop' plays with genuine quality from the very first groove and continues to impress on every level. This is another example of a hardly played record - every note is so clear and there is no intrusion on the audio at all. The audio is so deep and strong and there are no ticks, clicks etc. A stunning Mint version.
'Four Sticks' is almost of the same standard. Almost! There is just one light tick and a couple of dust ticks on the fade out but aside from that it is pure audio perfection! The clarity, depth and power of the audio is superb and Mint- is a fair assessment.
'Going To California' plays with wonderful clarity from the get go and continues in the same precise way. I often find this track is often affected by some interference but this version cannot be faulted in any way. In Led Zepp terms it is a quiet track so there is no hiding place and yet there are no ticks or clicks at all. A small number of barely audible dust ticks perhaps but in essence this is Mint as there is just no intrusion on the audio.
The percussive intro on 'When The Levee Breaks' is 'as new' and as this track 'kicks into gear' I am already impressed by the total lack of distortion. The entire opening instrumental plays with perfect precision and Plant's first vocal is equally as good. The more you progress the stronger the audio is and there is only a minimal amount of inner groove distortion for a few seconds towards the end - so minimal it hardly deserves a mention but I like to be 100% 'complete' in my gradings. You might not even notice it and the final section also plays with faultless precision. This is one of the finest versions I have ever listened to in many a year with a clarity and power that is majestic. A Mint- version to end the album and wow what an album!
In summary this very early red/plum pressing plays to a standard that is rarely found today and as I might have said once or twice already (!) it is obvious it has hardly ever been played. In my opinion this is a FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing the likes of which turn up once in a blue moon! The clarity and depth of the audio along with the power is absolutely stunning and as stated 'Stairway To Heaven' is most probably the finest example of this classic that I have ever heard. In fact the same could be said for all the tracks! This is truly an album that delivers on every level. A time-warp classic.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The gatefold has also been so well preserved and remains in superb condition with barely any shelf wear. The top edges are in perfect order and if I'm honest I cannot detect any rubbing on the bottom edges. The wide spine is super clean with only a miniscule amount of corner wear, hardly any! The right hand corners are in fantastic shape with again hardly any wear and the opening edge is pristine, it looks untouched. The front cover is totally unmarked and the back cover is almost as good with only a couple of very small 'white' marks. As can be seen this version has the sticker with the 'new' catalogue number top right. The inside of the gatefold is in beautiful condition with only a small number of tiny 'specks' and is certainly one of the cleanest 'insides' I have seen in a long time. It has none of the fading/marking that you so often see. Overall this is a stunning example of this iconic cover.
The original inner sleeve is also in lovely condition when you consider how they are generally found! This one just has one very small side split and one small bottom edge split. It is very clean with no marking on either side and just one of the flipbacks has one small corner crease. This inner has four credit lines as opposed to five that you often see.
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
2401012 A // 3 1 3 3 PECKO DUCK
2401012 B // 4 1 2 6 PORKY
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
I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE WILL BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
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LPs/12" singles : £5.75 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £1.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £23.95 then £2.00 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
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