LED ZEPPELIN III -VERY RARE 1ST UK PRESS A5 / B5 PETER GRANT CREDIT - SUPERB

	£		50
	$		66

LED ZEPPELIN III

LOVELY VERY FIRST UK PRESS 2401 002 A5 / B5 WITH PETER GRANT LABEL CREDIT

SIDE 1 - 'DO WHAT THOU WILT'

SIDE 2 - 'SO MOTE IT BE'

ATLANTIC DELUXE 2401 002

RELEASED 14th October 1970

I have owned this album since the day of it's release, when only the very first pressings of Led Zeppelin's 3rd album had 'Executive Producer: Peter Grant' on the Red/Plum Atlantic label. This outstanding cover was, (and still is) a thing of beauty to behold, and to play with as you listened to Lez Zep blaring out of your stereo in your bedroom.

Jimmy Page was not happy with Peter Grant being quoted as the Executive Producer, so it was removed from all subsequent pressings.

Those later pressings had ‘Produced by Jimmy Page’ on the bottom part of the red/plum Atlantic label.

This original 1st pressings has the correct full song title ‘Celebration Day‘ on it! When the labels where reprinted in a hurry to reflect the producer change the credit then read ‘Celebration’ making this record one of the earliest 1st pressings of this classic rock album by the biggest group of the time.

All early pressings of the album had the messages ‘Do what thou wilt’ and ‘So mote it be’ etched into the run off grooves by studio engineer Terry Manning at the request of Jimmy Page. Jimmy wanted Terry Manning as the engineer for "Led Zeppelin III "  at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee. Manning completed this job up to the mastering stage (where he hand wrote the now famous Aleister Crowley inscriptions into the Run off grove by hand)  Aleister Crowley was a notorious occultist in the first half of the 20th century, whom Jimmy Page had a great interest in.

I try to grade my records as accurately as possible and obviously want to give 100% satisfaction to my buyers. I have played and listened to this album on a ION Profile deck whilst converting it to itunes. I have graded using the Record Collector grading system as follows: I do not and will not sell records that jump or skip, or are warped. 

RECORD COLLECTORS GRADING SYSTEM:

MINT: THE RECORD ITSELF IS IN BRAND NEW CONDITION WITH NO SURFACE  MARKS OR DETERIORATION IN SOUND QUALITY. THE COVER AND ANY EXTRA ITEMS, ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION.

EXCELLENT: THE RECORD SHOWS SOME SIGNS OF HAVING BEEN PLAYED BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE LESSENING IN SOUND QUALITY. THE COVER AND PACKAGING MAY HAVE SLIGHT WEAR AND/OR CREASING.

VERY GOOD: THE RECORD HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN PLAYED MANY TIMES BUT DISPLAYS NO MAJOR DETERIORATION IN SOUND QUALITY, DESPITE  NOTICEABLE SURFACE MARKS AN OCCASIONAL LIGHT SCRATCH. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE COVER AND CONTENTS WITHOUT ANY MAJOR DEFECTS IS ACCEPTABLE.

GOOD: THE RECORD HAS BEEN PLAYED SO MUCH THAT THE SOUND QUALITY HAS NOTICEABLY DETERIORATED PERHAPS WITH SOME DISTORTION AND MILD SCRATCHES. THE COVER AND CONTENTS SUFFER FROM FOLDING, SCUFFED EDGES, SPINE SPLITS, DISCOLOURATION ETC.

The heavy vinyl album sits nice and flat on the turntable with no signs of warping

Cover: VG+/Ex

This cover is outstanding, it is very clean and has very minor wear in places, (see photos) I have put three photo's of the front cover for you to see which show that the inner disc does still rotate. I used to have hours of fun trying to figure out what some of the pictures meant. The original inner polythene lined sleeve is pristine with no tears/rips/marks etc. Inside the gatefold is also very clean. The whole of the cover is still lovely and bright.

Side 1: VG+

Matrix 2401 002 A5 - with handwritten inscription 'Do what thou wilt'

Very nice shiny heavy vinyl with minimal marks and rubs..........these do NOT affect the playing or indeed the listening of this classic RARE album. As you go from track 1, 'Immigrant Song' into track 2, 'Friends' you can clearly hear the studio chatter and the turning of paper, (music sheets I assume) with Robert Plant asking "Are you tuned up?".  Track 4, 'Since I've Been Loving You' sounds excellent. No ticks/pops etc, only minor noise between tracks. The label is really nice and clean with no marks.

Side 2: VG

Matrix 2401 002 B5 - with handwritten inscription 'So mote it be'

Very nice shiny heavy vinyl with minimal marks and rubs, there is one mark that does go across the album, (hence the VG rating) however it does not affect the aural pleasure of listening, there are no ticks/pops etc.  Only minor noise between tracks. The label is really nice and clean with just one small mark below the spindle hole in the purple section, (see photo). The quieter more acoustic tracks still sound brilliant even with the mark mentioned above. 

I have graded both sides as VG+ and VG, however I personally think they are nearer VG+/EX, but I don't want to disappoint anybody's expectations in the bidding for this classic MEGA RARE copy of Led Zeppelin III.

Due to my grading above, I don't believe that this is a copy for purist, but I cannot stress enough how good this sounds, there really is no detrimental effect to the aural listening experience, as you play air guitar, bang your air drum and exercise your vocal chords, or simply just twiddle with the interactive cover.

Postage and payment details :
I will send the album in a quality cardboard album mailing envelope. If you are an international buyer please wait for my invoice so that I can add postage to the winning bid. I will also, if requested add insurance, if that is the case then let me know and I shall invoice you with details.

But anyway, it’s here and good luck to any interested collector for reading this advert. This could conceivably be one of the very best Led Zeppelin III, (Peter Grant credits) example you will ever be offered so don’t let it slip through your hands. 

It's got what I believe to be a low start price and no reserve. If you want to own this excellent album then bid while you can.

I also have up for auction at the moment the first two Led Zeppelin albums, Led Zep I with TURQUOISE lettering, and Lez Zep II with Livin' Lovin Wreck label error. I will be listing Led Zep IV Zoso over the next couple of days so keep your eyes peeled!

Happy bidding and check out my 100% feedback.