LED ZEPPELIN IV A3/B4 Early RED/PLUM PRESS 'TOP' Credit INCREDIBLE AUDIO WOW
£
252
$
334
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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 to Russia currently. Led Zeppelin IV A3 / B4 Early Red / Plum Press 'Top' Misspelling on S2
This very early red / plum pressing, known as Version 5, plays with incredible quality on both sides with no clicks, pops or static. The clarity and definition of the audio is amongst the best I have ever heard, I cannot put into words just how STUNNING the audio is although as always I have given it a good go! There is a clarity and depth that is impressive and then there is the clarity and depth we have here! The sonic quality is outstanding and as always I have played every track in full so as to provide a 'complete' grading. The classic 'Stairway To Heaven' plays with a quality that would be hard to improve upon and that pretty much applies to every track. Not surprisingly the vinyl is in lovely condition with only a small number of faint hairlines.
The iconic cover has been so well preserved and has hardly any wear, it is stunning. The original inner sleeve is also in superb condition (how rare is that!) with just one tiny split and barely any marking.
This version has the incorrect spelling of 'Hop' on the S2 label, everything else is correct. The 'Under licence...' text is now below the Atlantic logo.
2401012 ## A // 3 1 2 1 0 (PECKO DUCK etched)
2401012 B // 4 1 1 1 1 (PORKY etched)
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint-)
The gatefold is Ex++
The lyric inner sleeve is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in superb condition and has a lovely glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches. Under a bright light I can only see a small number of faint hairlines with only a couple on each side that are a little more obvious but they are short and do not exactly stand out. The run out grooves are very clean and the red / plum labels are unmarked and have retained their original colour perfectly. They have only a little spindle wear.
Play Grading
The intro on 'Black Dog' with Page 'warming up his guitar' has not even a single dust tick and Plant's opening vocal and Page's introduction are of the same high end standard. From then on it plays with supreme power and definition and all of the brief quieter 'moments' play perfectly. There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and it just could not play any better. Page's final solo is a prime example of that - the sonic quality is outstanding and for once there is no distortion. The fade out has no background and this is a STUNNING Mint version in which to start the album.
'Rock And Roll' plays with phenomenal quality with a power that is just off the scale. Rarely do you hear this classic play with such clarity - there is just no 'muddiness' to the sound and a good judge of the clarity is just how clear and concise the piano is on the final third. I have never heard it play so clearly as here! Bonham and Jones of course add so much to the overall sound and this is another definitive version. The playback is 'as new' from start to finish and Mint is deserved.
The quiet build up on 'The Battle Of Evermore' is one of the cleanest you are ever likely to hear. The entire intro has only a couple of mega quiet statics and then Plant's opening vocal has no intrusion either. It continues to play with sublime clarity and warmth and there is nothing to detract from the crystal clear audio. I honestly cannot remember when I heard the mandolin playing as clean and succinct as this. It's also worth pointing out that there is often some static distortion on the vocal but that is not the case here and it's already obvious this vinyl has not been overplayed judging by the sonic quality so far. Mint- is definitely a fair assessment of the audio.
The acoustic intro on the classic 'Stairway To Heaven' plays beautifully and I only 'picked up' a small number of very quiet statics and when I say quiet I mean super quiet! Totally in the background and non-intrusive, there is no underlying static. The first verse is perfect and the second again just has a small number of mega quiet background statics. Honestly so quiet and hardly worth a mention. The first It makes me wonder... vocal has no intrusion and the following two verses / instrumental play with wonderful clarity. As Bonham comes in the audio is superb and the depth and warmth of the music is breath-taking! This continues into the next two verses and Page's 'acoustic' sound is just so clean and 'fresh' here. His 'jangly' guitar section is often affected by a lot of distortion but it really is kept to a minimum here ands the solo that follows is STUNNING and has no distortion on the top end. Plant's high octane vocal is equal to that and you can certainly listen to it loud! This section is easily one of the strongest I have ever heard and the final quiet vocal ends this classic with great clarity and just one minor static. I think an overall grade of Near Mint- is fair but I am sure many would grade higher! It is such an impressive version.
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The intro on 'Misty Mountain Hop' is perfect and the opening vocal is just as strong. This is a powerful 'busy' track and yet the clarity of sound throughout is so impressive and there is nothing that detracts from the sonic quality. The vocals are very clean and there is no distortion either. Another Mint track.
'Four Sticks' plays with stunning precision from the intro and then through every vocal and instrumental section. If you turn up the volume during the first 'chorus' you'll know exactly what I mean, the audio is so strong and deep it sounds superb! Jones' bass is very much to the fore here and I cannot compliment this version highly enough. The keyboard section towards the end is phenomenal and the final vocal is of the same high end standard. Mint all the way. It has another perfect fade out by the way just like all the others!
The intro on 'Going To California' plays perfectly (you can easily hear Plant's single breath!) and the first vocal then plays with sublime clarity. The acoustic interlude has no background and from then on plays with genuine quality and... no interference. There is just a hint of mega light static for a couple of seconds on the final vocal but so quiet you could easily miss it! A relatively quiet track and yet Mint- is still deserved.
The percussive intro on the classic 'When The Levee Breaks' is 'as new' and the rest of this section plays with superb audio and with barely any of the inner groove distortion which the track is renown for. The harmonica plays brilliantly! Plant's opening vocal is perfect and it continues to play with tremendous power and depth and with a rare clarity of sound. I say rare because it plays with much less distortion than usual. It's worth pointing this out because you cannot escape said distortion on the red / plum pressings as any collector will know and I am sure they had it when first placed on the turntable back in '71! The mid instrumental plays with real quality and the final third is as strong as the audio preceding it. Yes this classic does play with a little distortion but it is kept to a minimum and perhaps I shouldn't downgrade it as a result but I will say Near Mint- just to play it safe. Needless to say there are no ticks, clicks or pops.
In summary this very collectable album plays to a superb standard with no clicks or pops and with a clarity you rarely find today. Both sides are stunning and as stated this vinyl has been so well cared for over the last 52 years. The classic 'Stairway To Heaven' is a genuine highlight and plays so clearly throughout with only a small number of the quietest ticks imaginable! In conjunction with a lovely cover and inner this would grace any collection. A stunning listen!
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The cover is in lovely condition and has retained its original shape and structure so well. The edges have hardly any rubbing which you don't really notice anyway because of the grey colouring and the 'wide' spine is super clean with no obvious wear either - the corners have only minimal wear. The other corners are in superb shape with no obvious wear and the opening edge is pristine. The front cover is so close to perfect with just one tiny 'speck' top left and the back cover is so clean with just one small 'spot'. The inside of the gatefold is stunning with just one small white spot next to the hermit and a couple of other tiny specks. A stunning example overall.
The original lyric inner is one of the best you will find! It has just one tiny split on the bottom edge and NO side splits! The 'Stairway...' side has a couple of small indents and the credits side a handful of minor indents but it is remarkably clean when you consider it is a piece of paper! The flipbacks are still very much in place and there is hardly any creasing either. Like I say a very clean example and rarely found in this condition.
2401012 ## A // 3 1 2 1 0 (PECKO DUCK etched)
2401012 B // 4 1 1 1 1 (PORKY etched)
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
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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.
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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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