LED ZEPPELIN III A5/B5 1st PRESS RED/PLUM 'Peter Grant' *STUNNING* Audio MINT-
£
166
$
220
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Description
LED ZEPPELIN III A5 / B5 Atlantic 2401022 UK 1970 RED/PLUM Label
On offer here is an immaculate first pressing on the red/plum label and has the 'Peter Grant' credit on the labels which later copies do not. The publishing credits are 'Warner Bros. Music Ltd'.
It has the famous Aleister Crowley quotes 'Do what thou wilt' and 'So mote it be' etched on the dead wax and the rotating wheel still works perfectly. The audio is of a stunning standard with no obvious interference apart from one pop and plays 'like new' for practically the entire record, it is STUNNING! Nigh on impossible to improve upon and a comprehensive grading is detailed below. The gatefold is also in superb condition.
2401022 // A5 / 1 2 2 // B5 / 1 1 3
The audio on S1 is Mint-
The audio on S2 is Mint- ('That's The Way' Near Mint due to one pop only)
The gatefold cover is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
The original inner sleeve is Ex+
Visual grading
Visually this vinyl is stunning and has obviously been so well cared for down the years. There is also not a vast amount of spindle wear confirming it hasn't been played a great deal. It really is a fantastic looking first press and retains a lovely glossy sheen. There are only a small number of mega light hairlines caused by sleeve removal, one slightly longer one on S2 which is still extremely faint, and one very small dull mark on S1. None of these have any affect on the astounding audio on offer. This is definitely one of the cleanest first pressings I have ever seen (or heard) with no scratches at all and at first glance it looks 'as new'. For a vinyl nearing 50 years of age it is in stunning condition. The labels and run out grooves are also super clean.
Play grading
This version of the classic 'Immigrant Song' is one of most impressive I have heard in a long time. With barely any lead in static it plays with great power and depth and with no distortion whatsoever. As any Led Zepp fan knows the bass is so strong in the mix and the overall sound is just stunning. I grade honestly as my feedback testifies and this is Mint- without a shadow of a doubt. There is not one iota of interference, an absolutely stunning start to this A5/B5 first pressing.
The dead wax leading into 'Friends' has no 'background' and then the intro plays in the same way with no ticks, clicks, pops or crackle. This is audio of the highest calibre and this continues throughout and thus far this album is playing as new! A bold statement to make but the clarity and definition of the sound is immaculate.
There is a minimal hint of static on the 'Celebration Day' intro but this can be found on new vinyl let alone one that is 47 years old! I hasten to add it is so minimal as to be negligible and after a few seconds the audio plays with a strength of sound again that is breathtaking. There is no 'background' and even the fade out plays in stunning fashion with no static etc.
Again there is complete silence between and then the quiet intro on the bluesy 'Since I've Been Loving You' just has to be heard to be believed, it is 100% absolutely mind-blowing! I think I only heard one second of barely audible static and this impeccable quality is prevalent to the end. In all my years I don't think I have ever heard a 'cleaner' more dynamic version of this track. Jimmy's guitar solo in the middle section plays with incredible precision and power and none of the distortion that you so often hear on these first pressings. If I am being super harsh there is a minor static sound on the top end in a couple of places but is in no way intrusive and is barely audible if I'm honest. No clicks, pops etc and not even any 'background' on the quiet ending. This grades as Mint in my humble opinion but I had better add a minus as the LP isn't sealed!
'Out On The Tiles' ends the side with incredible power once more. There is perhaps a little distortion on the top end but it certainly does not interfere with what is a stunning listen. Again this is quite possibly the best version I have heard on a genuine first pressing or any pressing for that matter! The end instrumental section plays with such depth and power you don't believe you're listening to a record from 1970. Even the fade out has barely any 'background' which is a rarity on the final grooves of any vinyl let alone one of this age. Phew! Onto S2 now...
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There is a tiny amount of mega quiet static on the first few seconds of 'Gallows Pole' but again it is so much in the background as to be totally negligible. For fear of being repetitive this foot stomper is again just so impressive. I keep on about 'power' but to my mind this is how a good LZ3 plays i.e. with real power and depth. With no interference there is no muddiness or distortion on the top level and it plays with stunning definition and not one single dust tick or click etc on the fade out.
There is complete silence again in the dead wax prior to 'Tangerine' starting. The quiet intro then plays in sublime fashion with only a couple of very minor static sounds. Yes I'm getting boring now ! but this plays so much better than the recent reissues. 2/3 other mega quiet dust ticks yes but the clarity is of the highest standard possible and easily grades as Mint- such is the quality.
'That's The Way' would qualify as Mint if not for one pop towards the end. I imagine it is a pressing fault as the vinyl is spotless and I have given it a thorough clean on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine. A shame because aside from that this is stunning and the clarity is as 'high end' as you could possibly get. There is no other interference of any kind and 99% of the track definitely qualifies as Mint and is 'as new' apart from that one indiscretion.
'Bron-y-aur Stomp' this time is Mint from beginning to end. One mega quiet dust tick on the intro but this is impeccable audio sent from the Gods in my opinion! The clarity again is just stunning and you will not hear better. There is no interference and the audio throughout is immaculate there is no other way to describe it.
The final track 'Hats off to (Roy) Harper' ends this incredible first pressing with no 'background' and grades as Mint again without doubt. Forget adding a minus audio does not get better than this!
In summary this is a final upgrade archive copy that is for certain. I have played many genuine first pressings but I would go so far to say that this is cleanest/best I have ever heard. I have played every second of this vinyl as any reliable and honest seller should and for there to be only one pop in total and no other intrusive interference is very rare. I should perhaps put this on a high 'bin' price but I am happy to see where it goes on auction. Yes I am running out of superlatives for this album, stunning, immaculate whatever you want to say this is audio of the highest standard and sends shivers down the spine in all honesty! This is how music should be heard and it knocks spots off later pressings and the more recent reissues.
Gatefold cover
This really is a lovely example of this laminated E.J. Day gatefold and rarely have I seen one as clean and fresh looking as this one. The top edges are in superb condition and the opening on the top edge above the 'wheel' on the front cover has no shelf wear at all. The opening on the bottom edge does have a little rubbing but it is only minor. Also I am pleased to say that wheel still rotates perfectly. The bottom edge of the back cover is in perfect condition. The wide spine is in fantastic shape and remains 100% legible with no corner wear and the right hand corners are also supremely clean. The laminate throughout has no splits or lifting and the front cover is extremely clean with only a couple of very faint small scratch marks. The back cover is super clean and has none of the discolouration around the edges or laminate creasing that you so often see. There is just a little creasing in the top right corner by the spine. The inside of the gatefold has to be seen to be believed! It quite simply looks as new and there is no marking or discolouration at all. The opening edge has no handling wear either.
Overall this is a stunning example of this iconic gatefold and is one of the cleanest I have seen in a long time and infinitely deserves an Ex+ grading in my opinion.
Inner sleeve
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags Can Be Dangerous' inner is in excellent order with no splits or marking just a few creases. It has the patents numbers printed on the left and 'Made In England 1070' on the right.
The labels
The red/plum labels with the Peter Grant credit are in superb condition shape with no marks or writing and no fading either. There is not a great deal of spindle wear and what there is is centred around the spindle hole only.
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 cleaning machine
2401022 // A5 / 1 2 2 // B5 / 1 1 3
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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