LED ZEPPELIN DEBUT UK PRS NEAR MINT AuDiO ArChIve RARE VARIANT PROG ROCK PSYCH

	£		88
	$		117

[zipedit] Led Zeppelin Debut  Album
Original UK Pressing Cat No K 40031
Orange/Green Labels
Stunning Very Near Mint Audio Archive!
Original Fully Laminated MackNeil Press Cover!
Mega Rare A1 B1 Matrix Endings!
"Bilbo Master Press"  and "Bilbo Boppa!" (Hand Etched Master Pressers Signatures Very Rare)


Another from my personal collection of over 50,00 UK albums that I have acquired over the last 45 years or more!  Here is an original UK pressing of Led Zeppelin Debut lp on the 2nd issue Orange and green Atlantic labels! A very scarce and hard to find early variation  Features -A1 and -B1 Hand Etched Matrix endings with "Billbo Master Press" and "A Billbo Boppa!" (Hand etched on the run off grooves. The album is very tidy and the vinyls play back is stunning clear and very vibrant plays as good as new and graded near mint in my opinion. These are becoming very collectable in this top condition!

Listen to the complete album in the player below! Actual recording from the vinyl!






Led Zeppelin is the debut album by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London and released on Atlantic Records on 12 January 1969 in the United States and 31 March in the United Kingdom. Featuring integral contributions from each of the group's four musicians, the album established their fusion of blues and rock. It also attracted a large and devoted following to the band; Zeppelin's take on the emerging heavy metal sound endeared them to parts of the counterculture on both sides of the Atlantic.






Although the album first received negative reviews, it was commercially very successful, and critics have come to view it in a much more positive light. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 29 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time





In August 1968, the English rock band The Yardbirds had completely disbanded. Guitarist Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds' sole remaining member, was left with rights to the group’s name and contractual obligations for a series of concerts in Scandinavia. For his new band, Page recruited bassist John Paul Jones, vocalist Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham. During September 1968, the group toured Scandinavia as The New Yardbirds, performing some old Yardbirds material as well as new songs such as "Communication Breakdown", "I Can't Quit You Baby", "You Shook Me", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", and "How Many More Times". The month after they returned to England, October 1968, Page changed the band's name to Led Zeppelin, and the group entered Olympic Studios in London to record their debut album






In a 1990 interview, Page said that the album took only about 36 hours of studio time (over a span of a few weeks) to create (including mixing), adding that he knew this because of the amount charged on the studio bill. One of the primary reasons for the short recording time was that the material selected for the album had been well-rehearsed and pre-arranged by the band on Led Zeppelin's tour of Scandinavia in September 1968. As Page explained, "the band had begun developing the arrangements on the Scandinavian tour and I knew what sound I was looking for. It just came together incredibly quickly."







In addition, since the band had not yet signed their deal with Atlantic Records, Page and Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant paid for the sessions entirely themselves, meaning there was no record company money to waste on excessive studio time. In another interview, Page revealed that the self-funding was to ensure artistic freedom, "I wanted artistic control in a vice grip, because I knew exactly what I wanted to do with these fellows. In fact, I financed and completely recorded the first album before going to Atlantic... It wasn't your typical story where you get an advance to make an album—we arrived at Atlantic with tapes in hand... Atlantic's reaction was very positive – I mean they signed us, didn't they?






Led Zeppelin's front cover, which was chosen by Page, features a black-and-white image of the burning Hindenburg airship. The image refers to the origin of the band's name itself: when Page, Beck and The Who's Keith Moon and John Entwistle were discussing the idea of forming a group, Moon joked, "It would probably go over like a lead balloon", and Entwistle allegedly replied, "...a lead zeppelin!"





The album's back cover features a photograph of the band taken by former-Yardbird Chris Dreja. The entire design of the album's sleeve was coordinated by George Hardie, with whom the band would continue to collaborate for future sleeves.






Hardie recalled that he originally offered the band a design based on an old club sign in San Francisco—a multi-sequential image of a phallic zeppelin airship up in the clouds. Page declined but it was retained as the logo for the back cover of Led Zeppelin's first two albums and a number of early press advertisements. During the first few weeks of release in the UK, the sleeve featured the band's name and the Atlantic logo in turquoise. When this was switched to the now-common orange print later in the year, the turquoise-printed sleeve became a collector's item.






Side one
 1. "Good Times Bad Times"
2. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
3. "You Shook Me"
4. "Dazed and Confused"




Side two
5. "Your Time Is Gonna Come"
6. "Black Mountain Side"
7. "Communication Breakdown"
8. "I Can't Quit You Baby"
9. "How Many More Times"





The Matrix
Side 1 "K40031 A-1" (Hand Etched Earliest for this variation)
Side 2 "K430031 B-1" (Hand Etched Earliest for this variation)





The Vinyl
The vinyl is clean and lays flat on the turntable it is free of any warping. On inspection I find it hard to see any scratches or marks that would cause any loud constant clicks or pops during the playback. Any other marks that could possibly be seen would be sleeve removal type scuffs only at least there is nothing tht had an adverse effect on the audio quality that I heard on my systems!

The Audio
I have played the vinyl at very loud volume on a top system prior to this listing. The audio was absolutely superb, very vibrant through out without any loud constant clicks or pops and certainly no distortion from being over played at all!  Any static that might be heard was isolated and a constant clean before each play will enhance the audio quality because this album has been stored laying dormant for over 40 years! I would grade the audio at least excellent plus to very near mint for the most part!

Please note I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd isolated static /tick/light pop that may be heard in perhaps quieter places during the play of this vinyl, but nothing consistent though out the audio. Please remember that this is an original 40 year old vinyl that would have originally been played on a 40 year old system.
A constant clean before each play is highly recommended because this vinyl has been stored in a box and laying dormant for a long time. A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static. A constant clean before each play will reduce any static and enhance the audio quality. 

I have recorded the complete album so that you can hear this awesome album for yourself. Click play in the player above.

The Labels
These are the 2nd issue green/orange Atlantic labels very clean. Even when angled to the light it is hard to see spider marks around the spindle hole perhapes just one or two but very difficult to notice. No spindle wear the hole is perfectly round! All indications are that this has barely ever been played no more than a hand ful of times ever in my opinion!

The Record Sleeve
This is the original plain white paper sleeve . Light creasing with age only no splits or tears.

The Cover
This is the original fully Laminate MacNeil Press Ltd. cover. Glossy laminated appearance. Only if looked for I see very small creases at the front top right hand corner and very slight at the spine edge but not noticed unless looked for in my opinion. Amazingly there are no real creases to mention at the rear. There are no edge splits or tears.   This is strong and straight. Any rubbing wear you have to look hard to notice in my opinion. All text is readable. I would grade this cover at least excellent plus in my opinion.

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 IS 18.76 GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 15.76 GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY NEXT DAY SPECIAL DELIVERY

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!

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

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