LED ZEPPELIN II 1st UK PRESS - Lemon Song and Livin' Lovin Wreck -

	£		52
	$		69

You are bidding for a MEGA RARE VERY, VERY 1st label variation pressing of Led Zeppelin II with the ULTRA collectable double errors of The Lemon Song and Livin' Lovin Wreck (She's a Woman)
 
Heavy Vinyl - Matrix numbers 588198 A 2 Stamper 114
and 588198 B 2 Stamper 118

About This Record and it’s Rarity: Once in a while a record comes along that will cause collectors to salivate – and this one easily falls into that rare and elusive category.

This example of Led Zeppelin’s second album is the very very rare and highly elusive pressing that lists the label error ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Wreck’ (She’s a Woman) on side two that should of course read ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Maid’. The cover listing indeed does show Livin’ Lovin Maid. Side 1 also has 'The Lemon Song' on the label.

Examples with this label error are way, way rarer than standard ‘Lemon Song’ copies, which was later changed to ‘Killing Floor’ for legal reasons, this early example includes the Lemon Song’ credit also of course. Original, first pressed copies with ‘The Lemon Song’ printed on the UK Red/Plum format are quite rare now anyway and highly treasured and sought after. When the famous Red/Plum labels are found showing both ‘Lemon Song’ and ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Wreck’ titles, you know you have one of the RAREST ever UK Led Zeppelin albums ever made. Rarer than the turquoise labelled Led Zeppelin I album.

These error’s were corrected very quickly and very few made their way into people’s album collections – a mere handful still survive.

This comes with a genuine first pale brown cover as well which obviously does show signs of wear, I bought this on its day of release, October 22nd 1969.  Due to the production of the cover being non laminated coupled with a long haired spotty youth, (me) there is some wear and slight discolouration along the spine and cover where I proudly carried it around. No doubt displaying my music choice to the lesser educated public like a proud peacock.

Beware of red/plum copies offered with darker brown covers, they will have been swapped with later pressings, these are far more common and with more around, more often seen in better conditions. The original pressings should have a very pale brown E. Day cover (as this one does), the second pressings (Killing Floor version) have a mid-brown cover, the later Kinney orange and green pressings have a very dark brown cover and catalogue number, looking very different to the early examples - these can vary a little but this is pretty much a general guide. However I will leave it up to you to judge by the pictures in this auction. The back of the cover also shows wear with the outline of the LP showing through where it has worn off the light brown colouring. It is NOT split or torn.

I try to grade my records as accurately as possible and obviously want to give 100% satisfaction to my buyers. I have played and listened to this album on a ION Profile deck whilst converting it to Itunes, and I have graded using the Record Collector grading system as follows:

MINT: THE RECORD ITSELF IS IN BRAND NEW CONDITION WITH NO SURFACE  MARKS OR DETERIORATION IN SOUND QUALITY. THE COVER AND ANY EXTRA ITEMS, ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION.

EXCELLENT: THE RECORD SHOWS SOME SIGNS OF HAVING BEEN PLAYED BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE LESSENING IN SOUND QUALITY. THE COVER AND PACKAGING MAY HAVE SLIGHT WEAR AND/OR CREASING.

VERY GOOD: THE RECORD HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN PLAYED MANY TIMES BUT DISPLAYS NO MAJOR DETERIORATION IN SOUND QUALITY, DESPITE  NOTICEABLE SURFACE MARKS AN OCCASIONAL LIGHT SCRATCH. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE COVER AND CONTENTS WITHOUT ANY MAJOR DEFECTS IS ACCEPTABLE.

GOOD: THE RECORD HAS BEEN PLAYED SO MUCH THAT THE SOUND QUALITY HAS NOTICEABLY DETERIORATED PERHAPS WITH SOME DISTORTION AND MILD SCRATCHES. THE COVER AND CONTENTS SUFFER FROM FOLDING, SCUFFED EDGES, SPINE SPLITS, DISCOLOURATION ETC.

Cover: Very Good
The original light brown E. Day gatefold cover. As mentioned earlier I purchased this album on it's release date in 1969 as a sixteen year old. As you can see from the photo's there is wear and tear on the cover, but no major defects.  The spine is barely readable. The inside of the gatefold cover is very clean with no marks.  It is in it's original inner cover with  it's polythene liner, no rips or tears.
The heavy vinyl album sits nice and flat on the turntable with no warping.

Side 1: Red/Plum, Matrix 588198 A 1. (there is a small inverted triangle between the A and 1)
Nice clean shiny vinyl with minimal marks and scuffs that have no major deterioration in sound quality, with no skips or jumps. I have recorded it to itunes using a Profile LP converter, and it sounds excellent. I'm now listening to it with the same deck via my Bose Lifestyle system and it sounds absolutely blinding, the Big B banging away, Jimmy Page slipping, sliding, violin bowing, and riffing, Planty screaming out 'LUUUUVVVEE' and Jonesy's bass going through you like an earth tremor. There are just a few very minor tics during a couple of the tracks, and during the quieter moments e.g. Thank You (track 4) there is  a very slight noise. However this does not effect the listening experience. VG

Side 2: Red/Plum, Matrix 588198 B 2. (there is a small inverted triangle between the B and 2)
Nice clean shiny vinyl with minimal marks and scuffs that have no major deterioration in sound quality, with no skips or jumps. Small tick just at the intro of Heartbreaker, (track 1) but again this does not have any detrimental effect on listening. Just listening to Moby Dick and it is clean as a whistle, this track is definitely one where you would expect to hear hissing/poping etc, but there is none. Brilliant!
Another great example of clear listening is the last track, 'Bring It On Home' with Robert Plant in the intro doing his Sonny Boy Williamson impression, this is also clean and tick/pop free. VG

I have graded both sides as VG, however I personally think they are nearer VG+/EX, but I don't want to disappoint anybody's expectations in the bidding for this classic MEGA RARE copy of Led Zeppelin II.

Due to my grading above, I don't believe that this is a copy for purist, but I cannot stress enough how good this sounds, there really is no detrimental effect to the aural listening experience, as you play air guitar, bang your air drum and exercise your vocal chords. 

Postage and payment details :
I will send the album in a quality cardboard album mailing envelope. If you are an international buyer please wait for my invoice so that I can add postage to the winning bid. I will also, if requested add insurance, if that is the case then let me know and I shall invoice you with details.

So here it is and good luck to any interested collector for reading this advert. This could conceivably be one of the better Lemon Song/‘Livin’ Lovin’ Wreck’ examples you will ever be offered so don’t let it slip through your fingers!

It's got what I believe to be a low start price and no reserve. If you want to own this MEGA RARE Holy Grail of an album then bid while you can. All Led Zeppelin collectors will know how just how elusive this label error version is.

This is the rarest earliest and most sought after variation of this pressing!!!

I also have Led Zeppelin (I) up for auction which is a first pressing TURQUOISE lettering, bought on the day after it's release which was 31st March 1969.  Check it out!! 
I will be adding Led Zep III and IV first pressings in the next few days so keep your eyes open!
Happy bidding and check out my 100% feedback.