LED ZEPPELIN III A5/B5 Genuine 1st PRESS UK Red/Plum 'Peter Grant' Credit EX+
£
127
$
168
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Description
LED ZEPPELIN III A5 / B5 Atlantic 2401022 UK 1970 RED/PLUM Label
This is a genuine first pressing on the famous red/plum label. It has the 'Peter Grant' credit as Executive producer on the labels which later copies do not. The publishing credits are 'Warner Bros. Music Ltd'.
It also has the famous Aleister Crowley quotes 'Do what thou wilt' and 'So mote it be' etched on the run out grooves. The rotating wheel still works perfectly on the gatefold.
2401002 // A5 / 11 3 // B5 / 11 6
The audio on both sides is Ex+ (VG+ at the beginning of some tracks, Near Mint in many other sections)
The gatefold cover is Ex+
The labels are Mint
The inner sleeve is Ex
Visual grading
This vinyl has only been lightly played as there is not a lot of spindle wear at all, so rare on a first pressing! Visually it is in stunning condition with no scratches and only one noticeable very faint hairline on track one of Side Two. Needless to say it retains a lovely glossy sheen. Side One does have three marks which were caused during the cleaning process where the lifting arm wasn't taken off immediately leaving a faint residue. They have no affect on the audio whatsoever. In spite of that this is one of the cleanest A5/B5 first pressings you will find.
Play grading
The classic 'Immigrant Song' plays with incredible power and clarity and is a high quality listen. What a start to this classic album! 'Friends' has a little non-intrusive static at the beginning but this soon dissipates and then has very clear audio with no further interference. 'Celebration Day' again does not disappoint and plays with excellent sound quality but with a little distortion on the top level. The bluesy 'Since I've Been Loving You' has a little static at the start but is minimal and I only mention it as I write what I hear! I am perhaps sometimes overly critical in my own grading. This static is not intrusive and for a vinyl just shy of 50 years this track plays with high quality all the way through. A minor amount of distortion again but hey this is Led Zeppelin we're talking about! 'Out On The Tiles' ends Side One with excellent sound. Yes there is perhaps a little more obvious distortion but this is common with final tracks on a side where the grooves are pressed closer together in order to fit it onto the vinyl. In saying that it still plays with great depth and definition and it really rocks out! This side has no loud clicks or pops at all which is a rarity on a genuine first press of this age.
'Gallows Pole' does have some crackle for about 5 seconds and thereafter only has a touch of quiet static. It really plays with excellent quality and you won't find many better versions. 'Tangerine' again has some obvious crackle at the beginning but the remainder plays very clearly with only light background static in the quieter sections, and I do mean very much in the background. 'That's The Way' is stunning and is not far off Near Mint quality in my opinion. The clarity is second to none and this is without doubt one of best versions I have ever heard. It plays so distinctly you just wouldn't know this was from 1969. The 'Bron-y-aur Stomp' following a theme has a little crackle at the start and then plays with incredible 'foot stomping' quality. There is great warmth and depth on this track and again rarely have I heard better. The final track 'Hats off to (Roy) Harper' has no issues other than light background static here and there and is another quality listen. I would say the vast majority of this track plays with high end audio and is a great end to a great album.
In summary it is rare to find a genuine first pressing with no loud clicks or pops and there are certainly no jumps. There may be a little crackle here and there but for the large part it is non-intrusive and many would say it adds to the atmosphere! The audio still plays with real quality and depth and would be a great addition to any collection.
Gatefold cover
The laminated E.J. Day gatefold is in excellent condition and the rotating wheel still works perfectly well. There are no marks or writing and this is one of the cleanest first press gatefolds I have seen. The edges on the front cover have a little rubbing but nothing more than you would expect for a 47 year old cover. It is relatively minor and the edges on the back cover are in excellent condition hardly any shelf wear. The spine is in Near Mint condition. The laminate throughout has no splits or lifting which is a rarity. The inside of the gatefold is beautifully clean and the back cover is also in great shape with no real wear, just a couple of minor creases. This is without doubt one of the better gatefolds you will see with none of the staining that is so common on this LP.
Poly-lined inner sleeve
Included is the original 'Plastic Bags Can Be Dangerous' inner with the usual patent numbers and 0970 printed on it which refers to the release date in the UK. It has no splits or tears only some creasing and a few faint age related marks.
The labels
They are both in beautiful condition with no marking or writing and very little spindle wear.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers
2401002 // A5 / 11 3 // B5 / 11 6
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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