LED ZEPPELIN I A1/B4 2nd PRESS RED/PLUM SUPERB COVER & FINAL UPGRADE AUDIO MINT-

	£		175
	$		232

Description

I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.   Led Zeppelin I A1 / B4 2nd Press 1969 Red / Plum
This very collectable album plays to an incredible standard with NO interference!  There are no clicks, pops, jumps or static - the clarity, depth and power is stunning and this is easily one of the finest examples of this classic debut that I have ever listened to.  As always I have played every track in full and I can safely say it is a FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing.  It has been so well looked after and clearly not played too much as there is no distortion at all.  There are so many stand out moments but one thing that 'jumps out' is the organ intro on 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' has no background / interference - how rare is that!  So many classic riffs this truly is audio of the highest calibre and not surprisingly the vinyl is visually stunning also.
The laminated cover is in lovely condition with hardly any wear and as it is an early pressing it has the grey band along the bottom edge.  The inner sleeve is also in excellent condition.    This is still known as a second pressing and is recognised as Version 6 on Discogs.  It has the Warner Bros / 7 Arts... publishing credits on one line on both labels.
58#8171   A // 1   1 2 1 3 (second 8 crossed & replaced with etched 8 above) // 588171   B∇ 4   1 1 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The laminated cover is Ex++
The original inner sleeve is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in superb condition and still has an immaculate glossy sheen with no scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a small number of ultra faint hairlines and one small very faint 'blemish' on the final track on S1 but neither have any impact on the audio.  This blemish is very very faint, I did well to spot it!  The run out grooves are super clean and the iconic red / plum labels have no marking / writing and only minimal spindle wear.
Play Grading
The intro on 'Good Times Bad Times' is so close to perfect with just one minor static tick at the start but there is no underlying static at all.  Plant's opening vocal has no background and the first chorus is just as strong.  It continues to play with that typical dynamic Zeppelin sound with no interference and zero distortion on the top end.  It is such a powerful version and the clarity cannot be faulted - Jones' quieter bass moments and the fade out are prime examples of that.  This is easily a Mint- start to this classic album.
The acoustic intro on 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' is so clean with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks and the opening verse is just as impressive.  As good a start that you could wish for!  The first up-tempo section is faultless and there is just one very minor tick at the beginning of the next vocal, you could easily miss it.  From then on it plays with sensational clarity and the 'baby' around the 1.40 mark is clearly audible.  The next instrumental taking in the first high octane passage is STUNNING and the remainder keeps to the same standard - great clarity and power in equal measure.  Bonham's frenetic drumming and Plant's vocal on the higher register are so strong and every note through the entire 6+ minutes is so clean and precise.  Nowhere is that more obvious than during the quieter end section where there is no intrusion and that is a rarity!  Another Mint- track for sure.
The intro on 'You Shook Me' has no interference and the first verse is equal to that.  The second again has no ticks, clicks, pops or static and again the overall sonic quality is phenomenal.  The long mid instrumental is another example of a vinyl so well preserved and not played very much.  Every section plays with sublime quality and the depth of the audio really stands out here helped so much by Jones deep bass of course.  I cannot emphasise enough just how well this classic plays!  You can turn it up to max without fear of distortion and the final vocal with Plant reaching heady heights is superb!  Again there is no intrusion, a couple of mega dust ticks at most, and I am 100% confident in grading this as Mint- such is the quality.  Rarely have I heard this track, with so many quiet sections, play with such precision.
The bass intro on 'Dazed And Confused' is 'as new' and the opening vocal has no intrusion and from then on it plays with remarkable quality with... no intrusion on the audio.  Even the quieter mid instrumental plays with no ticks, clicks etc.  This is a track you want to 'blast out' and it does not disappoint!  I mean the all powerful instrumental with Page, Jones & Bonham going ballistic is just STUNNING!  The sonic quality can only be described 'as new' and the final vocal / instrumental have no interference either.  This is up there with the best I have ever heard, the definitive version you could say, and Mint is very much deserved, no need for a minus here.
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The organ intro on 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' is so often affected by static / crackle but this is without doubt one of the cleanest I have ever heard, if not the best!  The clarity is absolutely stunning and there is nothing to detract from the sound.  In essence there is no background aside from a couple of barely audible dust ticks and the next 'low key' organ section is just as impressive.  Wow what a start!  As Bonham and then Page come in the clarity does not falter and the opening vocal is of the same high end standard also.  The first chorus is perfect and proceeds to play with impeccable quality.  There is one minor tick prior to the final chorus but it really is very minor!  This is another track where nothing is 'lost' as every note is just so clean and distinct.  This may well be the first Mint- version I have ever heard!
The segue into 'Black Mountain Side' is perfect and this acoustic instrumental then plays with a clarity that is second to none.  It is Mint from start to finish.
'Communication Breakdown' then plays with great power and depth and... no interference.  This high octane track is regularly affected by 'tinny' distortion but not here!  The clarity of sound is stunning and whilst I do not wish to repeat myself I honestly cannot remember when I last heard it plays with such quality.  'As new' is no exaggeration and when I say there is NO distortion I 100% mean it!  It is Mint in every way.
The vocal only intro 'I Can't Quit You Baby' is nigh on perfect and when Jones' bass and then Page's bluesy guitar come in the playback is flawless.  The next vocal is just as strong and it continues to play in exactly the same way.  The sonic 'landscape' is breath-taking and the sheer depth on the audio is incredible.  Page's mid instrumental is so clean with only a couple of insignificant light ticks and the final verse has no intrusion at all.  Mint-
'How Many More Times' of course has another classic bass intro and here it is just perfect.  The clarity and depth is faultless and Plant's opening vocal accompanied by such strong musicianship is equal to that.  The first extended instrumental is 'as new' and the following quiet section has no intrusion either, just one mega light static at the beginning - it's not even a tick!  As the volume builds there is no interference, no distortion and the Oh Rosie.. vocal has not one dust tick let alone anything else.  It continues in the same precise way and once again I am lost for words!  Nearly!!  The final vocal / riff section plays with sublime power and clarity and for once the entire 8 minutes play with no distortion.  This is as 'complete' a version that you could find and once again I cannot overstate just how STUNNING the sonic quality is.  It basically plays like it would have done back in '69 - a bit like all the other tracks!  A Mint version to end this classic album.
In summary this early red / plum pressing plays to a standard you rarely find today.  Put simply the entire album plays to the highest standard possible with no interference and perhaps even more rarely no distortion either.  This was a vinyl that was purchased, not played too much and stored so well.  There are no clicks, pops or static and only a small number of very quiet ticks that you do well to hear!  The clarity, depth, power and resonance of the audio is incredible and this is a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic in every single way.  So many highlights too numerous to mention!  It certainly belongs in any high end collection.
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The laminated cover is in superb condition with no obvious shelf wear.  The edges have no rubbing / marking and the thin pinched spine has only a handful of usual 'indents' but no actual wear and remains 100% legible.  For once all four corners are incredibly clean with no obvious wear and the opening edge is in also in great condition with no noticeable handling wear.  The front cover is stunning with just two faint creases and a couple of very faint laminate creases on the right side that you can only see when you hold the cover at a certain angle.  There is a little laminate lift next to the spine as is common but much less than usual and 3/4 small creases next to the spine also.  The back cover is just as impressive if not better with just one minor crease and minimal laminate lift next to the spine.  This is definitely one of the best you will find today, a stunning example!  Totally unmarked.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears and just one minor 'scuff' in the top left corner.  It has only very minimal age related fading around the edges and minimal creasing.
58#8171   A // 1   1 2 1 3 (second 8 crossed & replaced with etched 8 above it) // 588171   B∇ 4   1 1 1
Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
  I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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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.

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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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