LED ZEPPELIN II A2/B2 1st Press WRECK Credit RED/PLUM SUPERB AUDIO OVERALL
£
348
$
461
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
4I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently. Led Zeppelin II A2 / B2 1st Press 1969 w/ Wreck credit on S2
This first pressing plays with superb audio for the vast majority with only minimal interference and this is all described below. As always I have listened to every track in full so as to provide a 'complete' grade. There are a small number of clicks during one brief section on S1 plus one other click on S2 but overall the clarity is very impressive. The power and depth of the audio in particular is stunning and there are a number of highlights. The classic 'Whole Lotta Love' could hardly play any better and the majority of S1 is equally as strong. As for S2 it is outstanding! Too many highlights too numerous to mention! Best read my audio grading below...
The light brown cover does have some wear but there is nothing that really stands out aside from the white 'marks' on the back. Overall though it is in excellent order and is certainly not 'wrecked' like so many you see, if you'll excuse the pun! The original inner sleeve (069) just has a little wear. This first pressing has the A2 / B2 matrix and of course the 'Wreck' credit on S2 and 'The Lemon Song' on S1. 'Thank You' is seen as 'ThankYou' on S1 and the publishing credit reads as Copyright Control.
588 198 A ∇ 2 1 1 1 4 // B ∇ 2 1 5 8
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T1 Mint- / T3 VG- in one brief section / T4 Ex)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T4 intro Ex / T5 Ex+)
The light brown gatefold is VG+
The original inner sleeve is VG++
The labels are Near Mint-
Visual description
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no dulling of the surface. There is one small scratch on S1 as detailed below and some faint hairlines but these are superficial as they have no impact on the audio. There is also one tiny 'needle drop' speck on S2 also that is barely visible. The run out grooves are very clean and the iconic red / plum labels (a deeper shade than later pressings) are in great condition with only some spindle wear but not an excessive amount.
Play Grading
The classic 'Whole Lotta Love' plays with great quality from the very first note. The iconic intro is perfect and Plant's opening vocal plays so clearly with only one very quiet tick. The first chorus is faultless and it continues in the same precise way. The 'psychedelic' section plays with incredible clarity and 'as new' sums it up rather well! The red / plum pressings are of course renown for their depth and resonance and nowhere is that more obvious than here - proof that this vinyl has been very well cared for down the years. As Bonham's percussion signals the end of this section soon followed by Page's solo the playback is STUNNING! The next vocal is equally as strong and then the quiet Way down inside... vocal plays so clearly with no intrusion basically. A handful of barely audible dust ticks at most but nothing intrusive. The remainder of this total classic plays with no interference and Mint- is more than deserved. What a version!
The vocal intro on 'What Is And What Should Never Be' has no background and the first high octane section plays with genuine power and depth. The next quiet section has only a couple of minor ticks and from then on it plays as you would want it to - with outstanding clarity and power and no interference. There are of course a number of quiet sections and yet you really cannot fault the clarity on offer here and the more powerful sections have no distortion either. From start to finish I noticed only a handful of mega quiet ticks so I will grade as Near Mint just to be on the safe side but really the sonic quality here is superb.
'The Lemon Song' plays with that by now familiar depth from the word go. The intro has no interference and the opening vocal has no intrusion either aside from a couple of mega quiet ticks. The first high octane passage with the rhythm section and Page going ballistic plays with supreme power and definition and... no interference. It sounds superb and just demands to be played loud! No distortion here. It continues to play with exceptional quality and the 'quieter' vocal section with Jones very much to the fore has just a little background static for a few seconds. There are a few light clicks a little further in during this instrumental section but the final powerful section / vocal has no intrusion at all. As for grading - that one section is VG- but the vast majority is Near Mint for sure.
'Thank You' is well known for playing with some distortion but this version is very clean I am pleased to say. The build up intro has no interference and Plant's first quiet vocal plays with great clarity also. The chorus has only minimal distortion and from then on it plays very clearly indeed with no ticks, clicks or pops. The mid instrumental is stunning and the next quiet vocal again impresses with no interference as such and only very minimal distortion, nothing that intrudes on the quality of the audio. The very quiet If the sun refused to shine... section plays exceptionally well and is so much cleaner than so many versions I have heard on later pressings! There is only minimal distortion and the fade out / in / out end section is superb with very little intrusion and again there are no clicks or pops. I would say Ex is a fair assessment of the audio here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The classic opening riff on 'Heartbreaker' is more or less perfect with only a couple of mega quiet ticks and Plant's opening vocal section has no intrusion at all. It continues to play with outstanding power and depth and even the 'quieter' solo section from Page plays with stunning precision and only a couple of minor static ticks that hardly deserve a mention. The high octane section that follows is staggering! Incredible power and definition with zero distortion on the top end. Audio does not get any better than this! The final section keeps up this standard and I am confident in grading this as Mint- such is quality of the audio.
'Livin' Lovin' Wreck' plays with flawless audio from start to finish with... no interference. There is not one solitary dust tick let alone anything more and Mint is 100% deserved. The sonic quality is certainly comparable to how it would have played back in '69. A sublime version.
The acoustic intro on 'Ramble On' has no background and the first vocal section is equal to that. The chorus is again faultless and it continues to play with a clarity, depth and resonance that is second to none. There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and once more I cannot believe what I am listening to! The long fade out has no real background, just a couple of minor ticks right at the end. Let's be honest the track has practically finished by this point but I will say Mint- just to err on the side of caution.
The percussive intro on 'Moby Dick' is perfect and Page's introduction just brings one click due to that tiny 'needle drop' as mentioned previously. Aside from that this entire intro has literally no other background. Bonham's classic solo then plays with a clarity you so rarely find on these first pressings. You would not believe how clean it is! There is quite simply no interference and all I heard were a couple of barely audible dust ticks - that does not qualify as interference! The depth on each note is just STUNNING and this may well be finest version I have ever heard on any pressing! Page's final section also plays with sublime quality - the intro is Ex due to there being just one click and the remainder is Mint in every way.
The quiet opening section on 'Bring It On Home' plays very clearly with only a handful of static ticks that are not intrusive. The first vocal is super clean with only the bare minimum of mega light static in the background and as the volume increases the playback is very strong with only very minimal inner groove distortion. It continues to play so well and any you can easily turn it up to max without fear of distortion. Perhaps just a minor touch but by no means intrusive, it is the final track after all. It still plays superbly! The final quiet piece plays with great clarity and very little static. I would say Ex+ is an honest appraisal of the audio overall.
In summary this very collectable 'Wreck' pressing plays to a very high standard with only minimal interference the most notable of which is that one relatively section during 'The Lemon Song'. Aside from that S1 plays with genuine quality and S2 is STUNNING with just that one click and light static on the intro of the final track. I know on the first / early pressings S2 more often than not plays better than S1 but I didn't expect it to play this well! The power, depth and resonance of the audio is so impressive on both sides something you only find on the red / plums pressings and that is exactly why they are so collectable. And especially on one that plays as well as this for the vast majority. A great addition to any collection.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The light brown cover is in very good condition overall and is certainly one of the 'cleaner' first press covers that you will find in my opinion. Not perfect but in pretty good shape. This one by the way does not have any of the green tinge - it is incorrect to say they all have it as it is down to how colouring / print responds to various factors. The edges have some rubbing but no damage and the wide spine remains 100% legible but with some 'specks' here and there and some rubbing on the corners. The right hand corners have only a little wear and the opening edge has only minimal handling wear. The front cover is in great condition and for once is still very clean with hardly any fading / spotting and just one sticker removal type mark in the lower right corner. The back cover does have some white 'marks' next to the left edge which is a little odd but aside from that it is very clean with hardly any fading, a couple of minor indents and light ringwear. The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with no marking or writing. A very respectable version overall.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner dated 069 is in excellent shape and has no side splits or tears and only a little creasing. It does have a name stamp on it and some fading around the edges but no major marking.
588 198 A ∇ 2 1 1 1 4 // B ∇ 2 1 5 8
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
Recent Feedback
Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!
Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you
100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++
Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!
Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.
Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.
Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!
Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!
Postage & Packaging
I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
price rating
