Led Zeppelin II A1 / B1 (1st Turquoise Pressing)

This highly collectable album is in excellent condition.  The audio plays to an excellent standard overall and is fully graded below.  The 'Turquoise' cover though is in wonderful considering its age and certainly not many are found like this today.

Being a genuine first press it has the un-corrected matrix and the 'Superhype' credit on the labels.

The international shipping cost is high as the LP will have to be sent correctly insured.

588171 (2nd 8 un-crossed) A // 1  1 2  5

588171 (2nd 8 un-crossed) B // 1  1 5

The audio on S1 is VG+ (Ex+ in many sections)

The audio on S2 is Ex (Ex+ in many sections / track 1 intro is VG)

The laminated cover is a very strong Ex (close to Ex+)

The labels are Near Mint-

The 'Plastic Bags..' inner is Ex-

Visual grading

There are numerous faint sleeve removal hairlines on both sides and 6/7 more obvious hairline marks but there are no actual scratches causing clicks etc.  In fact for such a rare vinyl it is in excellent condition and has not been mishandled in any way.  I have only seen about 4 or 5 of these and this is certainly the best I have seen.  At first glance it is very clean and for a genuine first press it is very impressive.  There is also not too much spindle wear and the labels and run out grooves also in great condition.

Play grading  

'Good Times Bad Times' has a little light crackle on the intro and then plays with great power and very impressive clarity.  There is some background static here and there but it is quiet and in no way interferes with the quality of the listen.  There are no clicks or pops and the solo guitar work is stunning and has no distortion on the top level.  This grades as Ex+ and much of it better than that!

 There is some crackle on the 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' intro but I have to say it is not loud and the music is still exceptionally clear.  The louder sections play with dynamic power and sound fantastic.  Whilst there is some crackle in the quieter passages there are no clicks or pops and certainly no skips or jumps.  On such a rare and collectable record it is worth differentiating between the level of crackle here.  It is a little more obvious on the intro and the fade out but it is still not that loud and still play very well.  Elsewhere it is definitely more in the background and the quality of the audio is excellent.  Not too much off the clarity is lost in my opinion and it remains a very impressive listen and no hint of distortion at all. 

'You Shook Me' has light crackle in the quieter sections but the power of the audio is not lost.  The depth of the bass and the audio in general is stunning and again there are no clicks or pops.  The music is still very much to the fore and the 'background' does not supersede the audio in anyway.  Indeed the long instrumental section plays very cleanly with minimal crackle and the vocal end section plays with superb clarity and with only a little 'background'.

The bass intro on 'Dazed and Confused' for the majority is stunning and this quality continues.  There is some light crackle yes but much of this classic plays with hugely impressive sound.  The quiet mid section is a prime example of this and has only a modicum of 'background'.  The crescendo guitar/bass/drum section that follows is stunning and has none of the distortion that is so often prevalent.  To the end the audio is super impressive and plays so powerfully with no intrusive interference.  Wonderful audio for a turquoise A1/B1 press.

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The crackle is more obvious on the 'Your Time is Gonna Come' organ intro but the music still plays very clearly and there are no skips or jumps, clicks or pops.  Once the acoustic guitar begins the crackle has decreased and it plays with excellent clarity thereafter.  The sound is very impressive for such a rare vinyl of this age and only static can be heard in the background.  Each instrument plays with wonderful definition and depth.  So barring the intro, which still plays very well, the audio on this track is very impressive indeed.

'Black Mountain Side' displays audio of great quality throughout.  There is a hint of static here and there but quite honestly this is not far off a Near Mint grading the clarity is that good.

'Communication Breakdown' has only minimal 'background' on the intro and then plays loud and true with no discernible interference.  An excellent version there is no distortion and is a fantastic listen.

For such a quiet intro 'I Can't Quit You Baby' the sound quality is very impressive indeed.  You can expect some 'background' even on a new vinyl let alone one of this age but the clarity here pays testament to how well this vinyl has been looked after down the years.  A touch of light static here and there but nothing that can be deemed as intrusive.  I repeat the clarity here is of a wonderful standard for a turquoise pressing and again each instrument can be heard so high in the mix with no muddiness to the sound.  Stunning separation and sonic quality in other words.

'How Many More Times' begins with a couple of dull tick sounds but the intro still plays so clearly and with no other 'background'.  The strong bass sound here is stunning, so much stronger here than on the later pressings.  The guitar solo after the first vocal section is immaculate with barely any distortion and the two second 'silent' section that follows has no interference at all.  Wow!  The quiet section following that does have three light clicks but overall plays with great clarity and only light static in the background.  A little distortion only on the build up to the 'Rosie' vocal section.  This section then plays with stunning clarity and depth which continues to the end.  In fact it is worth stating that the ending on this classic track plays with incredible power and range and the fact that there is barely any distortion pays testament to how well this super rare vinyl has been preserved down the decades.

In summary this rare turquoise pressing does have some 'background' here and there but there is nothing really that detracts from the audio.  A handful of light clicks only the clarity is excellent and S2 in particular plays very impressively.  Of course the fact that it comes with the 'cleanest' cover I have ever seen makes this LP even more collectable.

The 'Turquoise' Cover

This is by far the best example of this iconic cover I have ever seen.  Printed by 'MacNeill' it of course has the silver band on the bottom edge as well as the turquoise lettering of course.  There is very little 'shelf wear' and what there is only superficial anyway.  First of all the edges and thin pinched spine are in wonderful condition with no rubbing at all and there is hardly any corner wear either - there is just some minor creasing of the top right corner on the back cover.  The laminate throughout is in remarkable condition and it has no splits.  There is just a little 'lifting' that runs down the edge of the spine on the front which nearly all of the red/plum pressings have.  The front cover is so clean and there are no marks whatsoever, just 3/4 minor crease lines and a couple of small creases next to the spine.  The opening edge has next to no handling wear.  The back cover is also in excellent condition.  A few faint creases again and some minor creasing next to the opening edge by 'Jimmy' and a few small creases next to the spine which has a little 'lifting' again.

This is a fantastic example of this rare cover.  As I say there is some minor wear but there is nothing that detracts from its overall stunning 'look'.  It is getting harder to find one in this condition and along with the vinyl this will add to any collection.

The Inner sleeve

The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags Can Be Dangerous' sleeve has no splits or tears just some creasing and various fade lines.  It has the Patent numbers 800513 & 973939 and Made in England printed on it.  Three initials are written top right.

The labels

The red/plum labels are in lovely condition with no marking or writing and not too much spindle wear either.  They of course have the un-corrected 588171 catalogue number and the 'Superhype' credits.

Play tested on a Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

588171 (2nd 8 un-crossed) A // 1  1 2  5

588171 (2nd 8 un-crossed) B // 1  1 5

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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