LED ZEPPELIN II - Plum/Red Atlantic 588198 UK 1st PRESS 1969

	£		56
	$		74

LED ZEPPELIN - II

ATLANTIC 588198

Plum/Red labels

 earliest possible matrices

   UK 1st PRESS 1969

Brief Info: 

Led Zeppelin II was conceived during a hectic period in Led Zeppelin's career from January to August 1969. In this window they completed four European concert tours and three in North America. The album was written on tour during intermissions between shows, and each song was separately recorded, mixed, and produced at various studios across the UK and North America, resulting in a spontaneous and urgent sound. Bassist John Paul Jones recalled: "We were touring a lot. Jimmy Page's riffs were coming fast and furious. A lot of them came from onstage especially during the long improvised section of 'Dazed and Confused'. We'd remember the good stuff and dart into a studio along the way."

Some of the recording studios used were technologically primitive. One studio in Vancouver, referred to as "a hut" (Mushroom Studios),  had an 8-track set up without proper headphone facilities. Lead singer Robert Plant later discussed the writing and recording process: "It was crazy really. We were writing the numbers in hotel rooms and then we'd do a rhythm track in London, add the vocal in New York, overdub the harmonica in Vancouver and then come back to finish mixing at New York."

"Thank You", "The Lemon Song" and "Moby Dick" were overdubbed during the tour, as was mixing of "Whole Lotta Love" and "Heartbreaker". Page has stated, "In other words, some of the material came out of rehearsing for the next tour and getting new material together.

Led Zeppelin II is Led Zeppelin's first album engineered by Eddie Kramer, whose earlier work with Jimi Hendrix had impressed the band—especially Page. Led Zeppelin expert Dave Lewis wrote of the album's production "That the album turned out to be such a triumph, in particular for a production quality that still sounds fresh today, was in no small way due to the successful alliance with Page and Kramer in the control room." One noteworthy example of the duo's work is "Whole Lotta Love"'s central section. According to Kramer, "The famous Whole Lotta Love mix, where everything is going bananas, is a combination of Jimmy and myself just flying around on a small console twiddling every knob known to man."

In another interview, Kramer substantially credited Page with achieving the album's sound—despite the inconsistent conditions in which it was recorded: "We did that album piece-meal. We cut some of the tracks in some of the most bizarre studios you can imagine, little holes in the wall. Cheap studios. But in the end it sounded bloody marvellous. There was a unification of sound on [Led] Zeppelin II because there was one guy in charge and that was Mr. Page." Page and Kramer spent two days mixing the album at A&R Studios.

"Led Zep II was very virile. That was the album that was going to dictate whether or not we had the staying power and the capacity to stimulate. It was still blues-based but it was a much more carnal approach to the music and quite flamboyant. It was created on the run between hotel rooms and the GTOs, and that was quite something." (Robert Plant)

        Vinyl: VG++.  A great vinyl and I have played it through twice. A few light hairlines do not impact on the audio. there are of course NO skips or clicks and NO jumps. The audio separation is truly gorgeous and this recording was going to be a hard act to follow!! This is an early very heavy slab of gorgeous vinyl, these days hard to find even here in England. Most collectors will be very pleased with this vinyl.

      Gatefold sleeve: EX+. A fantastic sleeve with hardly any signs of wear. Being a matt sleeve this will always be prone to extensive wear. This copy ,however, has fared very well!! The colours are strong and not faded. The edges are frankly sublime as is the opening .... sharp and crisp. The inside gatefold is truly mint. The spine is 100% legible and frankly and surprisingly unworn. There is a name in faint blue felt to the front and on one label. This is, luckily not at all intrusive. This is the original UK sleeve, printed by the E.J.Day Group. 

Labels: EX++.

Stamper Codes: 1 U / 1 U

THE STEREO REPRODUCTION IS SUPERB AND EVERY NOTE IS HEARD CLEARLY AND CRISPLY.  NO HEAVY MARKS, LIGHT HAIRLINES ONLY,  NONE DEEP, NEEDLESS TO SAY, NO STICKS OR JUMPS!

             This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next psych album to go completely through the roof. Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 45.00.  Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

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This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.