LED ZEPPELIN III A5/B5 1st PRESS 1970 Red/Plum PETER GRANT Credit SUPERB AUDIO
£
579
$
767
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Description
I 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 currently to Russia.
Led Zeppelin III A5/B5 1st Press w/Peter Grant credit
This genuine first press on the red/plum label plays to a superb standard with only a little interference during 'Friends' which lasts for only 6/7 seconds. The rest of the album plays with stunning quality and S2 in particular is practically 'as new' all the way through! The clarity of sound across the entire album is so 'clean'. The vinyl is also visually very impressive with just one tiny scratch on S1 and some light hairlines. This is a record that has certainly not been overplayed.
The iconic E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only a wear, some fading around the edges, and the it still has a fully functioning wheel of course. The original inner is also in excellent order.
As this is a first pressing it has the Peter Grant credit on the labels and of course an A5/B5 matrix. There is also no hyphen in the 2401002 catalogue number.
2401002 // A - 5 1 2 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5 1 5 4 // So mote it be
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 G+ for a few seconds)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 intro Near Mint)
The gatefold is Ex-
The 'plastic bags' inner is Ex
The labels are Near Mint-
Visual grading
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen. There is just one mega tiny scratch resulting in a little interference as detailed below but aside from that it is visually very impressive. There are no other marks or scratches and only a small number of hairlines of which only a couple on S1 are a little more obvious. S2 really is in lovely condition. The red/plum labels have retained their original deep colour so well and have no marking or writing and not too much spindle wear.
Play grading
The classic intro on 'Immigrant Song' plays with great power and depth and with a clarity that is second to none, you can even hear the countdown at the start! It continues to play with sublime quality and no interference. It could not play any better and is easily a Mint start to the album. Every note is crystal clear.
The 'spoken intro' on 'Friends' is 'as new' as is the first acoustic section. Just after 20 or so seconds during the next acoustic part there are nine clicks although only 3/4 are what you would call intrusive. This does not last long and Plant's opening vocal is perfect as is the remainder of the track. So often this track plays with a distorted 'tinny' type sound but that is not the case here. This is Mint but with a brief G+ section near the start.
The moog intro on 'Celebration Day' has no 'background' and this quality is kept up as Page joins in. Once Bonham comes in the playback is so strong and proceeds in the same way with exceptional clarity and power. Having played every second (as I always do) I can safely say this is Mint from start to finish with no interference and no distortion. The fade out has no 'background' either giving you an idea of the clarity here. A stunning version.
The entire intro on 'Since I've Been Loving You' plays beautifully with not even a single dust tick. It's easy to forget Bonham's contribution here (yes I did say that sorry!) as you are concentrating on Page's work but needless to say every beat is so crisp and clear and. Plant's first vocal is just as impressive and thereafter plays with a clarity and depth that cannot be faulted. Plant's higher register has no distortion and Page's long solo is STUNNING! I cannot put into words just how unbelievable the playback is! There is no interference and the quiet section that follows also plays with sublime clarity. The final 'high octane' vocal has only the absolute minimum of distortion and I only mention this to be 'complete 'with my grading. It is so minor and does not impact on the quality of the listen whatsoever. This is worthy of a Mint- grade for sure.
'Out On The Tiles' plays with tremendous power and depth from start to finish with very little of the sound issues/distortion that you regularly associate with this track. This is due to it being the final track and how it was recorded/produced and does not take away from what is easily one of the finest versions I have heard. The 'heavier' section towards the end where the bass is so prevalent is superb! This is such a strong version and the fade out again has no interference. In my opinion Mint- is an honest assessment of the audio.
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The acoustic intro on 'Gallows Pole' plays perfectly and the first vocal is just as 'clear' with literally no intrusion. As the tempo increases it continues to play with imperious quality with that added dimension when Bonham joins the party. This demands to be turned up to max - the sonic quality does not suffer and to the end it cannot be faulted. This is a Mint version in every way.
The 'first' acoustic intro on 'Tangerine' has no 'background' and the 7 second 'silent' passage is just as clean. The next acoustic section is again perfect and Plant's opening vocal is like the record was pressed only yesterday! The chorus is 'as new' and it proceeds in the same way with of course no interference. For a largely acoustic number that is now over 52 years old to play with such precision is a rarity. Each note is so clean and this is undoubtedly another Mint track.
'That's The Way' plays so clearly on the intro with just one light click before the vocal begins. From then on it plays as it would have done when first pressed with no intrusion of any kind. It has that 'fresh' acoustic sound of an unplayed vinyl with a clarity and warmth that is outstanding. A Near Mint intro but the rest is Mint with a capital M!
'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp' just has one light tick on the intro and it then plays as per the previous track - with 'as new' clarity. The playback is so impressive in that when I say 'as new' I mean literally no other 'background' - no dust ticks and no underlying static. It plays beautifully and with great depth also and Mint is fair.
'Hat's Off To (Roy) Harper' ends this near perfect album with stunning audio from beginning to end with...no interference. There is no need to elaborate, this is Mint with not even a single dust tick.
In summary this first pressing plays to a standard you rarely find today. Admittedly there is a little interference on S1 but this only lasts for a few seconds and the rest of the side is stunning. S2 is STUNNING and then some! The clarity and depth of the audio is sensational and if not for the one light click and even lighter tick the entire side would qualify 'as new'. The red/plum pressings are of course very collectable today and it's not surprising when you find sonic quality such as this! They beat the later pressings hands down for sure.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear and as stated the 'wheel' still works perfectly. The edges are very clean with very little rubbing and as per the first/early pressings the top and bottom edge of the front cover is 'open' so as to allow free movement of the wheel. The wide spine is in superb shape with hardly any wear and remains 100% legible. All corners are very clean with only very minimal wear and the opening edge again has only minimal handling wear. The front cover is very clean overall but does have a small crease top left, a little creasing in the lower left corner and some minor fading around the edges. The back cover has just one very small mark near the right hand edge, some faint creases to the left and a little fading around the edges again. One laminate crease also. The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with no obvious wear at all and there is no inner spine damage. An excellent example overall and better than many you see today.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner (date coded 0970) is in excellent condition with just one small side split and a little creasing.
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
2401002 // A - 5 1 2 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5 1 5 4 // So mote it be
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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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!!
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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra
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