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Led Zeppelin : Led Zeppelin II A2 / B2 1st Press Wreck / Lemon Song credits 1969

This may well be the finest first 'Wreck' pressing that I have ever listened to.  The only real background is a couple of static ticks / clicks on 'Thank You' and a little static at the end of the same track.  However, it still plays so well and is cleaner than so many.  The rest of S1 is superb and S2 is just incredible!  As always I have played every track in full and the clarity, depth and power of the audio is sensational!  S1 is very impressive but this has to be the strongest S2 I have ever listened to!  Yes there are some hairlines on the record but clearly there are no scratches and it shows just how strong and robust these first pressings are.  In all honesty I noticed things during the playback that I have never heard before, that's a measure of the clarity and separation on offer here.  A stunning album - I sold another Wreck first press last month and I have to say this one is even more impressive!

The light brown cover has also been very carefully looked after and has only minimal wear.  It has retained its original shape and structure so well, just look at the spine on the photos!  The poly-lined Plastic Bags... inner sleeve is in excellent condition although I suspect it isn't the original as it dated 0770 and of course this album album was released in Oct '69.

This first pressing has the A2/B2 matrix, the Wreck credit on S2 and The Lemon Song credit on S1.  The publishing credit is Copyright Control and 'ThankYou' is printed as one word on the S1 label.  The cover is always light brown in colour.

588 198  A ∇  2  1 2 5

588 198  B ∇  2  1 1 4

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T4 Ex+)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T4 & T5 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex-

The Plastic Bags... inner sleeve is Ex

The labels are Ex+

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a glossy sheen with no actual scratches.  Under a bright light you can see some faint hairlines but there is nothing that stands out and S1 does have a small area of mottling on T1 that has zero affect on the superb audio.  Looking at it under 'normal' light the vinyl is in lovely condition!  This is a red / plum Atlantic labels are very clean and still retain their original deep colour.  There is some spindle wear but not an excessive amount.

Play grading

The run in on S1 is so clean so you are expecting good things!   The iconic intro on 'Whole Lotta Love' then plays so clearly with only a couple of barely audible statics, the audio is so strong and deep.  Plant's opening vocal section is the same with just one minor static and the chorus is just as impressive.  It continues in the same way and then the 'psychedelic' section is stunning!  It has no background and the sonic quality is out of this world, you would not believe how clean and precise each note is.  Plant's 'vocal' has never played better and as Bonham / Page introduce the next section the playback is just as strong.  The quiet Way down inside vocal plays with great clarity with only a handful of minor statics, no clicks or pops, and the final section again plays with remarkable quality, the fade out is perfect.  I played this classic loud and there is no loss in sound quality, no 'muddiness' and no distortion either.  Near Mint is a fair assessment of the audio.

The quiet opening vocal on 'What Is And What Should Never Be' is nigh on perfect with only 3/4 very quiet statics and the first powerful section plays with sublime clarity and power.  The next quiet vocal section again plays so clearly and thereafter plays with exceptional quality.  You really notice the power and depth of the audio here, the sonic quality is quite remarkable for a '69 A2/B2 first press.  Page's mid instrumental is superb with only a couple of seconds of light static right after.  In essence every section, quiet and loud, plays with such quality and there is no intrusion on the audio, no clicks or pops once more.  This track has a long fade out and yet the clarity is stunning.  Another Near Mint track in my opinion.

'The Lemon Song' so often has a static distorted type sound on the intro but it is kept to a minimum here.  The opening vocal is flawless and the first high octane passage is phenomenal.  Jones and Bonham working at such a frenetic pace and combined with Page the playback could not be any more impressive.  I do not think I have ever this section play with such power and definition.  The 'quieter' mid section, with Jones very much to the fore, is so clean and the powerful closing section has no interference either.  So powerful of course and yet no sign of any distortion.  There is just a hint of light static / couple of ticks on the fade out so I will grade as Near Mint but the vast majority is Mint- for sure.

The intro on 'Thank You' is renown for not playing so well and yet the clarity here is superb with no static distortion at all.  The first vocal has only a small number of statics at the start and then plays with great clarity as does the chorus.  I had to play it again actually just to confirm how clean and warm the audio is!  Once again I am so impressed by the sonic quality, it is so so much 'cleaner' sounding than maybe all other versions I have heard and you can certainly play it loud without losing any of the original audio definition.  The mid instrumental is superb and then there are a couple of light static clicks at the beginning of the next vocal.  The very quiet If the sun refused to shine vocal plays with exceptional clarity and the instrumental section has only a little static as the volume decreases, it doesn't long.  The fade out / in / out is actually very clean and that final note has no distortion for once.  Overall I think Ex+ is about right here, a very strong version.

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Another clean run in and then the first classic riff intro on 'Heartbreaker' plays to perfection as does Plant's opening vocal.  From then on it plays with stunning quality.  The clarity and separation is 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment and that is not me exaggerating!  I grade with honesty as my feedback testifies.  The high octane section just prior to the mid instrumental is a prime example of what I mean - phenomenal audio with no distortion at all.  Page's stand alone section then plays so clearly with only a handful of very quiet statics and the next section is equal to that - the Jones and Bonham going ballistic section I like to call it!  I guess you can add Page into that mix as well!  The final vocal / riff has no background and I have no hesitation in calling this Mint- it is the most 'complete' version I have heard in many a year, on any red / plum pressing.  Wow!

'Livin' Lovin' Wreck' then plays to the same exact standard with zero interference.  Vacuum cleaning a record obviously helps the clarity but the sheer depth and precision of the audio is unbelievable.  No need for a minus this is Mint in every way.

The acoustic intro on 'Ramble On' has not one dust tick let alone anything more and Plant's opening vocal / chorus has no intrusion either.  It continues to impress and I have to mention the separation again - each note is so sharp and precise and there is literally nothing getting in the way of the audio.  I cannot emphasise how strong the audio is, only the long fade out has a minimal amount of light static towards the end.  Very minimal!  Mint-

The entire intro on 'Moby Dick' plays with stunning precision and then Bonham's iconic solo plays so clearly with no intrusion.  Just the odd very light static at the start and during the quieter passage but there are certainly no intrusive ticks, clicks or pops.  This is easily one of the 'cleanest' solos you are likely to hear and especially on a Wreck press!  As the pace quickens the playback is superb and the closing section of the solo is 'as new'.  The ending Page is on the same level and overall Near Mint is well deserved.

The quiet intro on 'Bring It On Home' for once plays so clearly and I only 'picked up' a handful of insignificant light statics.  The first vocal is very similar with only a couple of mega light ticks and as you get into the 'meat' of the track the playback is superb.  Outstanding power and depth and no interference.  In my opinion there is no inner groove distortion which is a genuine rarity, you can definitely blast it up to max and it does not affect the sound quality!  The very quiet end section plays beautifully with only a couple of minor ticks.  This is Near Mint and this has to be the best S2 I have ever had the pleasure in listening to!

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The light brown gatefold has been preserved so well and has only minimal wear and there is nothing that stands out.  The top edges have barely any rubbing and there is not too much on the bottom edges either, just a bit more towards the corners as is common.  The spine is superb!  It is still wide and strong and has not been compression which is very rare.  It is 100% legible and has only a little wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are in excellent shape also with only light rubbing and the opening edge is so clean with hardly any handling wear.  The front cover has no marking as such and has hardly any of the rubbing / spotting that you so often see.  The back cover is often found discoloured but this one is in pretty good shape with only one small spot, minimal fading and a little ringwear.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with just one tiny white mark / spot that I almost missed!  This is a fine example of this iconic cover and rarely found in this condition today.  It is worth noting that it does not have any of the green 'tinge' on the edges.  Despite what is often said this is not found on all the first pressings!

The poly-lined Plastic Bags inner is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears and only a little age related fading mainly on the top edges.  Not too much creasing either.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

588 198  A ∇  2  1 2 5

588 198  B ∇  2  1 1 4

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 will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

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