LED ZEPPELIN II A2/B2 1st RED/PLUM 'Wreck' PRESS *Superb* AUDIO & Clean COVER
£
285
$
377
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Description
Led Zeppelin II A2/B2 UK Red/Plum Label with 'Wreck' credit
This rare and highly collectable album plays to a wonderful standard for the vast majority with only minimal interference. The clarity and depth of the audio is stunning!
This has the rare 'Wreck' credit on the S2 label instead of 'Maid' and of course has 'The Lemon Song' credit on S1. The publishing credits are shown as 'Copyright Control' rather than the 'Warner Bros and Jewel Music' on the later red/plum pressings.
The original light brown gatefold has some shelf wear but remains strong with no obvious marking. It also includes the original inner which is in lovely condition.
588198 // A ? 2 // 1 5 6
588198 // B ? 2 // 1 4
The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Mint- in many sections)
The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Mint- for the majority / track 2 end section VG+ / track 5 intro VG+)
The original gatefold is VG+
The original inner sleeve is Ex+
The labels are Ex+
Visual grading
This is one of the most impressive 'Wreck' pressings I have ever seen. It still has a superb glossy sheen and has always been carefully handled. Under a strong light I can only detect a small number of faint hairlines on each side - the majority are small and only a couple are a little longer - and there are no marks or scratches. There is not that much spindle wear on S1 and whilst there is certainly more on S2 I would not say this record has been overplayed. The run out grooves and labels are also super clean with no marking. Overall this is a superb A2/B2 'Wreck' pressing that will not disappoint, it would be difficult to find cleaner.
Play grading
There is barely any static on the lead in grooves and then the classic 'Whole Lotta Love' begins in fine style with only the bare minimum of very light static on the intro and first vocal. A very strong start and the audio following the first chorus is stunning with no 'background' at all. The psychedelic instrumental just has a handful of mega faint static ticks at the beginning but they really are so quiet. The more you progress the more you are impressed, the sonic quality is absolutely breathtaking! It has such depth and there is no interference whatsoever. As Plant's vocal comes back in the clarity does not falter and only in the following 'quieter' section is there a minor amount of light static. It is minimal and in no way is it intrusive and from that point on it plays with sensational depth and power and the fade out has very little 'background'. A superb Near Mint- start for this rare 50 year old album.
The quiet intro on 'What Is And What Should Never Be' is unbelievably good with no 'background' and the first chorus is equal to that and plays with sublime power and depth. Again the clarity on this track is what really stands out and all I heard was one faint 'tick' in one of the early quieter sections and three static ticks later on. Not quite perfect but a superb version nonetheless and the fade out has only a little static right at the end.
'The Lemon Song' has only minimal static distortion on the intro (you will always find this) and then plays with 'high end' audio. There are a couple of faint static ticks on the first vocal section but from then on the playback cannot be faulted. Page's first solo is so powerful and there is no distortion of any kind. This entire instrumental section is breathtaking and is 'as new'! The quieter mid section has barely any static which as any Led Zepp collector knows is a rarity and especially on a Wreck first press! It plays with wonderful clarity and Jones' bass work is so strong and clear here. I cannot stress enough just how superbly this entire section plays! It is so 'clean' and the clarity really is exceptional, wow! Page's final solo is stunning and the end section just has a couple of faint ticks. What a version!
The build up on 'Thank You' so often has static distortion but that is not the case here and that is such a rarity. The first 'quiet' vocal section then plays with great clarity and no 'background'. As the volume increases the playback is very impressive and the first chorus nigh on perfect. It continues to play with wonderful clarity and the mid instrumental section is without fault. The vocal that follows is of course very quiet and yet there is very little static. The mega quiet 'if the sun refused to shine...' vocal is so 'clean' and following keyboard passage also plays with great clarity and only a modicum of very light static. This track so often plays with a fair amount of static/crackle but that is certainly not the case here! The first fade out is exceptional - it is so quiet - and only at the end is there one light click and another that is slightly louder. As the music fades back in there is no distortion and the final fade out is perfect. A fantastic version overall and it's rare to find one with clarity like this. Yes a couple of light clicks near the end but this is easily Ex+ but the majority is Near Mint without doubt.
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'Heartbreaker' plays with a deep rich sound right from the start with only a couple of minor static ticks on the intro. Thereafter the audio is absolutely stunning and the definition is so impressive - it is obvious the record has only been lightly played as there is no groove wear and no distortion. The depth of the sound is superb! The 'quieter' Page solo section again plays to a sublime standard with only a couple of dust ticks. A stunning section with no intrusion whatsoever, wow! The remainder plays with rip-roaring power and you would be hard pressed to find a better version. I will grade as Near Mint because of the two static ticks on the intro but in all honesty the remainder is Mint- the audio is that good.
'Livin' Lovin' Wreck/Maid' does play with immaculate Mint- audio from the very first note but on the final 20 seconds there are a couple of clicks. They are not that intrusive as they are 'hidden' to a degree in the classic riff. Apart from that the audio plays with stunning precision.
The acoustic intro on 'Ramble On' is very 'clean' aside from a couple of faint static ticks and then plays with great clarity and power, the audio quality is 'high end'. On the three minute mark there are a couple of faint clicks but that is the only intrusion on the otherwise fantastic audio. This track of course has a very long fade out and this one has to be heard to be believed! There is no 'background', just a couple of dust ticks right at the end.
'Moby Dick' plays with wonderful quality from the very start with only a couple of barely audible ticks. The iconic drum solo is stunning and is one of the finest I have ever heard and to think this is a rare first press Wreck pressing! There is just the one faint tick near the start and as for the remainder? It has a clarity and definition of sound that is just so rare to find. I am just blown away by the quality on offer here! It showcases Bonham's talents so well and any die-hard Led Zepp fan would be suitably impressed by this astounding audio. The final section where Page comes back is also without fault. What a stunning Near Mint version!
The quiet intro on 'Bring It On Home' has barely any static but after one minute there are a couple of obvious clicks. A shame because apart from that it plays with excellent clarity. As the track 'gets going' the audio is so powerful and is one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time. I say this because it so often plays with a fair amount of inner groove distortion but there is hardly any here and the playback is very strong indeed. Stunning in fact! There is nothing to detract from the depth and power of the audio and the quiet end section also plays with superb clarity, another rarity!
In summary the vast majority of this rare and very collectable 'Wreck' pressing plays with wonderful quality and with very little interference. I played it loud (as you should!) so as to 'pick up' any imperfection however and whilst there are a small number of clicks there is barely any 'background'. On a 50 year old record you might expect some underlying static or crackle but there is none here whatsoever. The playback is very 'clean' and the depth and resonance you get from the audio is only found on these first red/plum pressings. This is a very impressive vinyl and as stated has not been overplayed and is visually in great order also.
The Gatefold
The original light brown E.J. Day cover is very clean on the whole with only the usual wear on the edges. So often they are found with severe marking and staining but that is certainly not the case here. The edges do have some rubbing and there is one very very small split on the top edge of the back cover. The left hand corners have some wear but not an excessive amount and the right hand ones are cleaner with less rubbing. The wide spine, again so often affected, is quite impressive with only a couple of obvious rub marks and it remains 100% legible. The opening edge has only minimal handling wear and remains in excellent shape. The front cover is very clean I would say and has only very minimal fading around the edges and the back cover is similar with just some of the usual ringwear. The inside of the gatefold is in superb order with no marking. There is no writing anywhere on the cover, a rarity! Overall a highly creditable version with no major wear.
Inner Sleeve
This has the original poly-lined inner sleeve and this is incredibly rare to see! It has '069' printed on one side which of course refers to the release date. It is in great shape with no splits and only a little age related fading around the edges. There is very little creasing and is a superb example overall.
The Labels
The red/plum labels retain a strong vivid colour and have no marking or writing. There is some spindle wear on the S1 label and a little more on S2.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
588198 // A ? 2 // 1 5 6
588198 // B ? 2 // 1 4
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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