LED ZEPPELIN II A2/B2 1st PRESS Red/Plum WRECK Credit *SUPERB* AUDIO/Cover NM/M

	£		840
	$		1,113

Led Zeppelin II A2 / B2 1st press w/Wreck credit
This genuine first press on the red/plum label is a stunning example of an album that has been so well preserved over the last 50+ years.  The sonic quality on both sides is of a standard that is so rarely found today and when I say the vast majority is Mint I am not exaggerating!  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is exceptional and I honestly think this is the finest red/plum pressing I have had the pleasure in listening to and need I remind you - this is a 'Wreck' pressing!

The light brown cover (with green tinge) is in superb condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  It is so clean with hardly any marking' just look at the photos!  The A2/B2 first pressings were the ones issued with this light brown cover.  The original inner is also in excellent condition.
As this is a first press it has the highly collectable 'Wreck' credit on the S2 label and of course the 'The Lemon Song' credit on S1 as opposed to 'Killing Floor'.  It has the 'Copyright Control' publishing credit which was soon replaced with 'Warner Bros' on subsequent versions and last not but not least it has the A2/B2 matrix.
 // A 2 // // B  2 //
The audio on S1 is Mint
The audio on S2 is Mint
The gatefold is a very strong Ex+
The original 'plastic bags...' inner is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint

Visual grading

This vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has a very strong jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  At first glance you would be forgiven for thinking it was brand new!  It really is a stunning example and all I could find under a strong light were a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  They are obviously superficial and have no affect on the fantastic audio.  As this has only been lightly played there is no groove wear and the run out grooves are also incredibly clean.  It doesn't get much better than this!
Play grading
The classic 'Whole Lotta Love' plays with stunning clarity and depth from the very first groove.  The intro plays perfectly with no 'background' and as Bonham comes in the playback is equally as good.  It continues to play with exceptional sonic quality and the 'psychedelic' section provides further evidence of a beautifully preserved vinyl.  I cannot quite believe what I am listening to!  As any audiophile knows you cannot beat the warmth and depth on the red/plum pressings but for a genuine Wreck first press to play with such amazing precision is a real rarity.  Page's solo that signals the end of this section is faultless as is the next vocal from Plant.  The  super quiet 'Way down inside...' section is as close to perfect as could be with no underlying static or crackle and just one barely audible dust tick.  The remainder is of the same standard and the fade out also has no interference.  Having played this in its entirety (as I always do) I am confident in grading this as Mint as the audio could not be any stronger.  What a start to the album!
The quiet intro on 'What Is And What Should Never Be' is so clean and precise with not one iota of interference and the first 'chorus' is of the same 'high end' standard.  It has no static distortion which demonstrates how infrequently this record has been played.  Alternating between loud and quiet this track plays with wonderful audio with only one light static tick.  The playback on the top end is so strong and as I say there is literally no distortion of any kind.  Listening to this super clean vinyl it's easy to forget this is 52 years old this year!  The final section again plays with great quality and the fade out has no 'background'.  This is without doubt a Mint- version.
'The Lemon Song', as many Led Zepp collectors know, often has some static distortion on the intro but that is certainly not the case here.  It is as 'clean' as the day when it was first released back in '69!  It continues to play with fantastic precision and Page's first solo is absolutely stunning!  The bass is even stronger on this track and, I repeat, on a relatively unplayed vinyl, the depth and clarity of the audio is further enhanced.  The mid bass section is a prime example of that - not even one dust tick, just pure perfect audio!  The 'high octane' finish is breathtaking and from start to finish this could not play any better, it is Mint in every sense of the word.  I do not exaggerate my listings and as my regulars know I will 'list' any imperfections even if minor.  This audio can correctly be described 'as new'.   
The intro on 'Thank You' again often displays some distortion but...not here, the clarity is first class.   There is no distortion on the more up tempo sections but arguably it's the quieter sections that really stand out.  This final track is often affected by interference, especially on the final section, and yet the clarity during the 'If the sun refused to shine...' passage is nigh on perfect apart from one very light click at the start - I think maybe click is perhaps too harsh a word for it!  There is no underlying static and just how rare is that?!  The playback is STUNNING and I have never heard it play with such accuracy.  Even during the fade out/in/out section the clarity is unlike any other Wreck pressing I have ever listened to, perhaps any red/plum pressing for that matter!    The final few seconds play perfectly with no distortion/static on the final note.  I will grade as Near Mint although the vast majority is Mint and that is an honest appraisal of the tremendous quality on offer here.
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The intro on 'Heart Breaker' is faultless - just that classic riff with superb depth behind it.   In fact I cannot praise it highly enough, the sonic quality is just out of this world!  The 'loud' section just prior to Page's stand alone solo just could not play with any greater audio.  Awesome!  The solo also plays with sublime clarity with just one mega light tick at the end.  The following section plays with unrivalled power and definition and there is just no distortion on the top end, play it loud with the lights off!  STUNNING!  The remainder has no 'background' and Mint- is deserved.
'Livin' Lovin' Maid' is 'as new' from the opening groove and it proceeds to play with imperious quality.  The audio definition is equal to that of a recently pressed 'high quality' vinyl and there is no interference to be heard.   This can again be turned up to 'loud' without any fear of distortion.  Mint

The acoustic intro on 'Ramble On' has no 'background', not even a solitary dust tick, and it continues in the same precise way.  The first 'chorus' is flawless and from then on every note is just so 'clean'.  This is an exceptional version and it has lost none of its original quality over the decades.  I keep on about clarity and depth but that is how every record should be judged of course and because the vinyl is so clean the music is not 'fighting' to be heard, the clarity is quite simply 'as new'.  This track of course has a very long fade out but you won't be surprised to hear that it plays beautifully with no 'background' of any kind.  This is Mint I have no hesitation in saying.
The opening section on 'Moby Dick' has no interference and the power and depth of the audio cannot be underestimated.  Bonham's classic solo is often affected by interference and yet this is perhaps the most impressive I have ever heard.  The clarity is sensational - just listen to every drum note, so clean and precise.   What a version!
The bass/harmonica intro on 'Bring It On Home' has just one light tick, otherwise perfect.  The vocal section then has no background static and only a couple of ticks (one is just slightly louder) but again you will be amazed by the clarity here.  There is nothing that I would call intrusive and as Page comes in the audio is all powerful and has no distortion - that is a genuine rarity for this track and shows once more that it has hardly been played but also so well preserved over the years.  I am delighted to say it continues in the same way and for once you can play it at high volume with...no distortion.  This entire section is STUNNING in every way and the closing 'quiet' section plays beautifully with no interference for once.  I do not wish to repeat myself but this has to be the strongest version to end this classic album that I have found in recent years and...on a Wreck first press!  I would grade the intro as Near Mint but the remainder is Mint for sure.
In summary this first pressing is a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic for sure.  In fact I would say this is the most impressive red/plum Led Zepp II I have ever sold and for it to be a 'Wreck' press - well you cannot deny just how rare it is to find this highly collectable album playing with such sublime quality.  The sonic quality throughout is stunning and with barely any interference the clarity cannot be faulted.  It is a beautifully preserved copy and as I have said it is patently obvious it has only been sparingly played.  Every note plays with such precision and the depth and definition of the audio is again so impressive.  I have sold about ten 'Wrecks' over the last 5/6 years and this is easily the finest I have ever heard.  This is why I am selling it on a best offer basis - a once in a lifetime opportunity it could be said!  I know that sounds like a gimmicky 'sales technique' but I honestly believe it would be nigh on impossible to find another as 'high end' as this.  All reasonable offers will be considered of course :-)
The Gatefold

The original light brown cover is in lovely condition and again you marvel at just how well the previous owner preserved his albums!  As we all know vinyls/covers are delicate items and for this 50+ year old cover to be as 'clean' as this is a rarity indeed.  It is also very strong and robust which can only mean it has not been handled very much.  So many collectors look for the green 'tinge' on this cover and there is certainly an element of that on the bottom half of the spine and at the top and also top right of the abck cover.  I think there is relatively little of this green 'element' precisely because it has been maintained so well.  Something to do with the colours 'mixing' with more exposure to daylight etc, chemistry is not my strong point!  The edges have only very minimal rubbing and the yes the wide spine is in superb order with only very minor wear on the corners and it remains 100% legible which is a rarity in itself.  The other corners are in great shape with barely any wear, just a little bottom right of the front cover.  The opening edge has barely any wear which is another indication of a cover that has hardly been handled down the years.  The front cover is so often marked/stained badly but this is super clean with only a couple of faint marks and it has retained its original light brown colour so well.  The same applies to the back cover which has only very light ringwear, a minor crease top left and no obvious marking at all.  Hopefully the photos do it justice!  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with no marking/creasing and no damage to the inner spine.
This truly is a fine example of this iconic cover and Ex+ is more than deserved.  Stunning!
The Inner Sleeve

The original 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner has no side splits or tears and only very minor age related fading on the top edges.  There is also only a little creasing.  This one does not have the date code 069 but has 'Made In England / 48 / 119' printed in one corner.  Various inners were used for this cover and I have no reason to doubt that this is an original.
The Labels
The red/plum labels are visually stunning and have lost none of their original colour.  They have no marking or writing and not very much spindle wear either.

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