Led Zeppelin II A1 / B4 (red/plum pressing)

This very early pressing red//plum pressing plays with stunning quality and much of it grades as Mint- it is that impressive.  There are only a couple of very faint spindle traces on either side of the label so has only been played 2/3 times in my opinion.  In fact when I first put the record on the turntable there was still some vinyl flecking on the inside of the spindle hole!

This is definitely one of the rarest red/plum pressings out there.  The A1/B1 is seen a lot more often and what makes this A1/B4 pressing even more collectable is that the second 8 is not crossed off on S2.  It still has 'Warner Bros/Jewel Music' publishing credit on the labels.

The laminated cover is also one of the best I have seen in a long time and has the rare K40031 sticker label on the back cover and again these are not often seen today.  This does not have the silver band/strip on the bottom edge.  It has 'Printed and Made by MacNeill Press Ltd, London SE1' and 'Uptight an' Outasight' info on the back of the cover.

588171 (2nd 8 crossed, replaced with etched 8) A // 1  1 3  1 7

588171 (2nd 8 is not crossed) B ? 4  1 1  6

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint / Mint- for the majority)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 1 intro Ex- / track 4 Ex+ to Near Mint)

The laminated cover is Ex+

This is one of those rare red/plum vinyls that has only ever been lightly played, maybe only two or three times.  There is barely any spindle wear, just a couple of faint traces on S1 and only one on S1.  There is one obvious hairline mark on S1 but it has no bearing on the fantastic quality of the audio as detailed below.  There are a couple of other very small faint marks on S1 but again they do not affect the quality of the audio and there are no scratches at all.  The vinyl gleams with a beautiful jet black sheen and rarely have I seen better.  S2 is nigh on perfect and I can only detect one very small hairline, it looks almost 'as new'!  The labels and run out grooves are also in perfect condition.

Play grading  

'Good Times Bad Times' plays with stunning quality from the very first note and there is no obvious static on the intro.  The clarity is incredibly good and as you continue the more you are impressed by the audio.  There is one very faint click during the second chorus and a couple of static clicks on the fade out but aside from that there is no interference whatsoever.  It plays with superb power throughout and there is no distortion on the 'top end' at all.  The guitar solo is a prime example of that and it plays with perfect precision.

The acoustic intro on 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' has to be heard to be believed!  So quiet and yet there is only the lightest of background static for company.  It is only what you would expect to find on a vinyl of this age and the playback is nigh on perfect.  The clarity is remarkable and you can hear the 'baby cry' so clearly after the 'We really got to ramble' which is such a rarity!  This background 'sound' is so often lost on a record that isn't as well preserved as this one.  The instrumental section that follows is so 'clean' and has only a couple of mega light dust ticks.  Again the power and definition is stunning and this continues.  The Bonham heavy louder sections 'rock out' superbly with no distortion and the quieter passages play with delicate precision.  With so many quiet sections this track regularly plays with interference and definitely on the first and early red/plum pressings but that is not the case here, I cannot quite believe what I am hearing!  There are a handful of light dust ticks yes but there are no clicks or pops of any kind.  There is some static on the quiet end vocal but it is not intrusive at all.  Wow what a version!

The intro on 'You Shook Me' plays with superb precision and has only a couple of dust ticks.  This quality does not diminish and of course you cannot help but be aware of the incredibly strong bass line here.  The organ section that starts the long instrumental has 2/3 very light ticks only and plays so clearly.  The harmonica section is 'as new' and the guitar solo that follows is fantastic!  What a solo!!  It is so powerful and again there is no distortion on the top level.  I'm not sure I have heard better.  The final section is also very impressive and even Plant's 'scream' vocal has only the one light click.  Near perfection apart from that.

The quiet bass intro on 'Dazed and Confused' is so 'clean' and has only the lightest of background static and again not one solitary click or pop.  The first vocal plays with immaculate precision as does the following instrumental section.  There is one faint click on the second verse but perhaps I am only hearing it because I am so close to the speakers?  From then on the audio is of a superb standard!  There is one light click at the beginning of the next instrumental piece and a modicum of mega light static but thereafter the playback is out of this world!  It is relatively quiet and yet you couldn't wish for better audio.  As the volume builds the mega powerful rhythm section plays with such dynamic power and again not one iota of distortion.  This section is just mind-blowing and rarely will you hear such clarity and power working in perfect harmony.  This entire section again could not play any better and it plays to the same breathtaking standard to the very end.  Just one mega faint tick and a little static on the fade out but that is the only 'background' of note.  A 'high end' version without doubt that cannot fail but impress.

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'Your Time is Gonna Come' always has some interference on the organ intro, all Led Zepp fans know this, but this has to be one of the 'cleanest' I have heard in a long time.  There is just a little more static/light crackle in that quieter section just prior to the drums coming in.  It then plays wonderfully well with only a minimal hint of very light static in the background but only infrequently and there is nothing to detract from the quality of the audio.  The separation is excellent i.e. you can hear each note so clearly and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.

The segue into 'Black Mountain Side' plays with perfect precision and from start to finish this track grades as Mint- as there is no interference at all, not even a solitary dust tick!  This is a 'high end' version of this acoustic track without doubt.

'Communication Breakdown' then plays to a standard that is rarely heard today.  So often there is some distortion but that is certainly not the case here.  The power is immense and from the very first groove the clarity and lack of distortion confirms just sparingly this vinyl has been played.  There is no 'background' and it 'rocks out' in true Led Zepp style and the fade out just has a little static.

'I Can't Quit You Baby' has only minimal static on the opening section and the one light click and plays very clearly indeed.  The 'background' is not intrusive in any way and in fact the more you get into it the more impressive the playback is.  You have to remember this is a red/plum pressing from the early 70s and not many play this well!  The long bluesy guitar section is stunning and is practically 'as new' and as my regulars know I do not exaggerate my gradings.  Even during the quiet section towards the end there are only 2/3 mega light dust ticks.  It continues to play to the same wonderful standard and the final vocal has only the bare minimum of static.

The bass intro on 'How Many More Times' is breathtaking and rarely have I heard such Mint clarity.  There is no 'background' and as Page and then Plant enter the fray there is no decrease in quality.  This is audio of the highest calibre and you cannot forget the rhythm section here.  Bonham and Jones add immeasurable quality to the overall stunning 'sound' and quite simply this long opening section plays 'as new' with incredible depth, warmth and power.  I cannot emphasise enough just how beautifully this track plays!  The first extended guitar solo has no distortion and plays as well as when the record was first pressed!  There is only the lightest of static in the quiet section that follows and as the volume then build the clarity and power just cannot be beaten, it is mind-blowing!  The 'Rosie' section is Mint- and all I heard were a couple of dust ticks.  Leading up to the final section the audio again could not play any better and the sonic quality is 100% stunning!  The familiar riffs then come back in and play with fabulous precision and power.  This is immaculate audio and may well the strongest version I have ever heard and as for the closing section?  Well...what can I say?  It plays  plays with a power and depth that is second to none.  This classic easily grades as Mint- the audio could scarcely play any better.

In summary this rare A1/B4 pressing plays with such impressive audio and with only a small number of light clicks the clarity is stunning.  Indeed much of the audio plays to a Near Mint standard and quite often better than that!  'How Many More Times' is a fantastic example of that.  It is so powerful and has no interference at all.  As stated this vinyl has hardly ever been played and that reflects in the quality of the audio, you would be hard pressed to find a 'cleaner' red/plum pressing.  With only one obvious hairline it is visually stunning and the stickered laminated cover is also one of the 'cleanest' I have ever seen.

The Cover

This is a stunning example of this laminated 'MacNeill' cover which has only very minor shelf wear.  The edges and thin pinched spine are in superb condition and have no rubbing at all which is incredibly rare!  The corners have no 'real' wear - only the bottom right one has a tiny rub mark and the opening edge looks practically untouched with no obvious handling wear.  The front cover is so clean and what is so rare is that there is hardly any of the laminate 'lift' you always see running down the spine area, there is just one small 'bubble' towards the top.  You can see three small creases next to the spine and a couple of other faint creases and some very minor 'spotting' also.  Very minor and not that easy to see!  The back cover is beautifully clean with no real marking and it has the 'new' catalogue sticker in the top right corner.  This is a great example of this iconic cover and as stated it does not have the 'silver band' along the bottom edge as this is the rarer A1/B4 press.

Inner sleeve

The original 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner is in superb condition with no side splits, no marking and barely any creasing.  It has obviously not been removed from the cover too many times!  One of the best I have ever seen.

The labels

The red/plum labels are in pristine condition, they are 'as new' almost with only a couple of tiny spindle traces on each side.  It's not often you find a vinyl of this age that has hardly ever been on a turntable but this is one of those which is reflected in the quality of the labels.  They have lost none of their original colour and have no marking or writing at all.  Stunning!

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 crossed, replaced with etched 8) A // 1  1 3  1 7

588171 (2nd 8 is not crossed) B ? 4  1 1  6

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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