LED ZEPPELIN II UK PRES PLUM/RED LABEL BaReLy PlAyEd

	£		180
	$		239

LED ZEPPELIN ''LED ZEPPELIN II''  UK PRESSING CAT NO. 588198 ATLANTIC LABEL 1969! MEGA AWESOME TOP AUDIO ON MY SYSTEMS! LOOKS BARELY PLAYED A HANDFULL OF TIMES ONLY! NO LOUD CLICKS OR POPS)   

 (so rare for a 39 year old Zep album)

Another from my personal collection.  This is an original UK pressing features the Atlantic plum/red labels. The third label variation which features 'The Killing Floor' label credit! What makes this so desirable is that this looks and sounds like it has only ever been played a handfull of times ever! Very rare to find like this! I have play tested the vinyl at very loud volume on a top system prior to listing and the audio is truly exceptional throughout cristal clear and very vibrant without any loud clicks or pops, any interfearence heard was extreemely minimal in my opinion. Audio graded at least excellent to excellent plus in my opinion! Complete with the original E.Day &co gatefold cover. please see photos. Very collectable and sought after like this indeed!  

Led Zeppelin II is the second album released by English rock band Led Zeppelin in 1969. Here they further developed ideas established on their debut album, creating a work which became even more widely acclaimed and arguably more influential!

The album was recorded during a hectic and much-traveled period of the band's career from January through August 1969, when they completed four European and three American concert tours. Each song was separately recorded, mixed and produced at various studios in the UK and the U.S. The finished tracks reflect the raw, evolving sound of the band and their innovations as live performers!.

It has been suggested that Led Zeppelin II largely writes the blueprint for 1970s hard rock.[Blues-derived songs like "Whole Lotta Love", "Heartbreaker", "The Lemon Song" and "Bring It on Home" are now standards of the genre, where the guitar-based riff (rather than vocal chorus or verses) defines the song and provides the key hook. Such arrangements and emphases were at the time atypical in popular music. As such, the album is generally considered to be very influential on the development of rock music, being an early forerunner of heavy metal, and inspiring a host of other rock bands including Van Halen and Guns N' Roses

Led Zeppelin II also experimented with other musical styles and approaches, as on the alternately soft-and-loud "What Is and What Should Never Be" and "Ramble On" (which featured Page's acoustic guitar), or the pop-influenced ballad "Thank You". With its mysterious atmospherics, "Ramble On" helped develop hard rock's association with fantasy themes, which had partly derived from the psychedelic rock of two to three years before, but also from lyricist Robert Plants personal interest in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien.

 This direction would later culminate on Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album (and countless subsequent groups would later carry the influence to further extremes). Conversely, the instrumental "Moby Dick" features an extended drum solo by John Bonham, which would later be extended to a half-hour or more in live Led Zeppelin concert performances.

Jimmy Page's contribution to this album was significant, as his electric guitar solo on the song "Heartbreaker" was emulated by many younger rock guitarists, and exemplifies the group's intense musical attack!

 Page's innovative recording and drum miking effects on tracks such as "Ramble On" and "Whole Lotta Love" also demonstrated his considerable skill, resourcefulness and originality as a producer. This was the first Led Zeppelin album to feature Page playing a 1959 Gibson Les Paul, the guitar he helped make famous!

Side one

1. "Whole Lotta Love" (John Bonham, Willie Dixon, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 5:34
2. "What Is and What Should Never Be" (Page, Plant) – 4:45
3. "The Lemon Song" (Howlin' Wolf, Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) – 6:19
4. "Thank You" (Page, Plant) – 4:50

Side two

1. "Heartbreaker" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) – 4:14
2. "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" (Page, Plant) – 2:39
3. "Ramble On" (Page, Plant) – 4:24
4. "Moby Dick" (Bonham, Jones, Page) (instrumental) – 4:22
5. "Bring It on Home" (Page, Plant) – 4:20

The matrix

side 1. ''588198 A #6''

side2.  ''588198 B #4''

The Vinyl

On initial inspection the vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable! The vinyl retains its original glossy sheen from new and the playing surface looks absolutely stunning! AWESOME for an unbelievable 38 years old! On intitial inspection of the playing surface IT IS HARD FOR ME TO EVEN SEE A BLEMISH!!  Only in very strong light could possibly any light sleeve removal marks be seen. (TO BE HONEST IT IS HARD FOR ME SEE ANY!)

The Audio Quality

I have played this vinyl through track for track at loud volume on a top sysyem prior to this listing! This plays through cristal clear and vibrant throughout with (no) signs of grooveware or that this has been overplayed WHAT SO EVER, IN FACT THIS LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS BAERELY EVER BEEN PLAYED IN MY OPINION! I heard no major problems and rate the audio at the top on all frequencies!Please note!  (NO) CLICKS OR POPS AND CERTAINLY (NO) JUMPS OR SKIPS!!! THE AUDIO IS TOP! TOP! ON ALL FREQUENCIES!  Please note! This would benefit from a constant clean before each play which would reduce any static! This has been stored in a case for the best part of 25 years and build up of dirt and dust in the grooves subsequently cause static crackle! I have noted debrit that could be seen on the playing surface after play! Please allow for slight static in isolated places only and isolated static ticks that I heard in the odd isolated places only and certainly not consistant throughout the audio.  I MUST EMPHISISE THAT THE AUDIO IS RATED AT THE VERY TOP!! CRISTAL CLEAR AND VERY VERY VIBRANT! I would class myself as highly critical! Please look at my completed listings of records that i have solds of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!!!!!! I would rate this audio top on all frequencies!!! very vibrant\awesome!! Audio is graded at least excellent to excellent plus on my systems! UNBELEIVABLE FOR A 38 YEAR OLD ZEP. !

Points to note! I have played this vinyl at very loud volume using a top system!  I always add this disclaimer! I have given my very honest opinion on the audio quality as I heard it! Please allow for the odd very (very) light static crackle/isolated light ticks only  (not) consistant throughout the audio!! Please remember this is a genuine 38 year old vinyl that would have been played on a 38 year old system!!!!! TOP AUDIO!!!!

The labels

These labels are superbe the original plum\red Atlantic labels (only found on early press)  Features ''The Killing Floor'' credit. Amaizingly I can barely see a handful of spidering angled to the light only!  THIS HAS ONLY EVER BEEN PLAYED A HANDFUL OF TIMES EVER IN MY OPINION  ''MADE IN GT BRITAIN'' is featured (UK press)

The Record Sleeve

This is the original white poly lined sleeve. There is light creases general staining fading with age only. There is no splits or tares. The vinyl is now always stored seperately from the cover and sleeve!

The Cover

This is the original Ist press unlaminated gatefold cover  printed by E.DAY & CO (ENGLAND) Only early press!  These are very, very hard to find in good condition! There is (no) splits or tares in fact amaizingly there is hardly any creases to talk of. There is light general rubbing to the edges and there is some small dot marks noticable at the rear if looked for, writing on the spine is very slightly rubbed and there is also some light browning with age at the spine, again noticable if looked for. (see photos) This is strong and straight as it should be! The inside of the gatefold features blue green tint (only 1st press covers)  

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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