LED ZEPPELIN IV A3/B4 Red/Plum TOP Credit *SUPERB* COVER/INNER & MINT- AUDIO
£
285
$
378
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Description
Led Zeppelin IV A3 / B4 Very Early Red/Plum Press w/Top credit
This early red/plum pressing is absolutely stunning! The sonic quality is so strong and there is no obvious interference on either side - no clicks or pops, no crackle and next to no static. The classics 'Stairway To Heaven' and 'When The Levee Breaks' play with such incredible audio and the reason why I single them out is because they are the last tracks on each side. They are often by interference and especially distortion but not here! This album has been played but only on 'high end' equipment and it has lost none of its original audio quality. The clarity throughout is so good.
This is generally considered as the fifth red/label version as it has printed credits (not stickers) and 'Top' on the S2 label as opposed to the correct 'Hop'. There is no Peter Grant credit on the labels and the feather on S2 is not inverted.
The gatefold cover is in fantastic condition with barely any wear and the paper lyric insert, can you believe, has no side splits or marking at all! This is a stunning 'package'.
Shipping costs to the US have increased recently so please wait for the invoice. As an example I recently sent 3 LPs via tracked shipping and this cost just over £34.00 - packaging costs not included!
2401012 A // 3 1 2 4 PECKO DUCK
2401012 B // 4 1 1 9 PORKY
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint but Mint- for the majority )
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The gatefold is Near Mint-
The lyric inner is Near Mint
The labels are Near Mint
Visual grading
The vinyl is in fantastic condition and at first glance looks 'as new' with no marking or scratches. It has such an amazing glossy sheen and you can see each groove so clearly. This album has been played as there is some spindle wear but it has always been so carefully handled. There is actually some vinyl 'flecking' around the S1 spindle hole - the record has obviously always been placed on the turntable very carefully. I 'searched' for quite some time and all I could detect was one hairline mark on 'Misty Mountain Hop'. The run out grooves are also so clean as are the labels.
Play grading
The intro including Plant's vocal on 'Black Dog' plays with wonderful precision and continues in exactly the same way. The audio is so powerful and has great definition also. None of the original sonic quality has been lost which is impressive when you consider this classic is fast approaching 50 years of age. There are no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either, the clarity is just stunning. Page's solo towards the end could not play any better and the fade out has no intrusion. I detected only a couple of barely audible dust ticks and Mint is more than deserved.
'Rock And Roll' is immense from the opening note! I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint as the sonic quality can quite correctly be described 'as new'. Each note can be heard so clearly and there is no interference whatsoever.
The quiet intro on 'The Battle Of Evermore' has no 'background' and this clarity is still there as the vocal begins. I often find this track has some static/crackle or worse and yet the playback here is immaculate. Sometimes you will find vocal distortion also but that is certainly not the case here. Aside from one very faint tick 3/4 of the way through the clarity of sound is exceptional and Mint- is an honest assessment of the audio. Oh and a perfect fade out again :-)
The acoustic intro on the classic 'Stairway To Heaven' plays beautifully and I cannot remember when I heard better! The first verse is of the same 'high end' standard and thus far all I can detect are a small number of dust ticks but they are so much in the background and barely audible, not even worth a mention really! There are a couple of very light ticks during the second verse but again I am being super critical and the clarity is still so impressive. It continues to play with barely any static and Bonham joins in the audio is STUNNING! The depth and warmth of the audio is so good! The 'Your head is humming...' verse plays with sublime precision and then during Page's next piece there is only a minimal amount of static in thee background - you always find it on this sections but it is so minimal here. His following solo is 'as new' and Plant's 'high octane' vocal has none of the distortion that is often associated with it. Wow the audio here is stunning...again! I must repeat this section is so often plagued by distortion but there is none to be found here. The final quiet section is so clean with no 'background' at all. This is undoubtedly one of the finest versions I have ever heard but I will grade as Near Mint just to be cautious although the majority is Mint for sure. What a version!
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'Misty Mountain Hop' has just one dust tick on the intro and then plays with no intrusion on the audio. There are a couple of dust ticks during one brief moment but that hardly counts as interference! From beginning to end the clarity, depth and power of the audio cannot be faulted and, you guessed it, another perfect fade out. Mint-
'Four Sticks' more than keeps up the standard with fantastic quality all the way through. Like so many other Led Zepp LPs that I am selling this one has also been preserved so well and the clarity and definition of the audio here is just outstanding. 'As new' is no exaggeration and there is literally no interference not even on the fade out. The audio is just rich and deep and clearly the album has not been played very much, there is no groove wear at all. Mint every day of the week.
The intro on 'Going To California' has no 'background' (no surprise there!) and proceeds to play with stunning clarity. This is all the more impressive when you consider this is largely an acoustic track. I did detect a small number of very light dust ticks but they obviously do not intrude on the quality of the audio but Mint- is definitely a fair grading.
The percussive intro on 'When The Levee Breaks' is perfect and the entire intro is so strong with barely any static. What you do 'pick up' is barely audible and non-intrusive. The first vocal is so clean and this classic continues to play with real power and quality. Much like the final track on Led Zepp III this one is often affected by a fair amount of distortion but I am pleased to say this is one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time. Honestly the playback is superb with no discernible distortion and, as I often say, you can turn it up to 'loud' without having to turn it down. I cannot overstate how good, how powerful this version is. Even the final section plays with great definition. It's so rare to find a Mint- version of this track but I honestly believe we have found one here. A fantastic end to this fine album.
In summary this very early red/plum pressing plays with such sharp precision, the clarity is superb. Arguably their most popular album it was understandably played to 'death' so to find one playing so well is a rarity indeed. There are no clicks or pops on either side, no crackle, and barely any static. I would go so far to say this is a FINAL UPGRADE version it is that good. Together with a lovely cover and an unsplit lyric inner this is stunning album.
The Gatefold
The gatefold is easily one of the finest I have seen in many a year with no obvious shelf wear at all. It is still strong and robust like it hasn't been handled very much and for once still has a wide spine that has not been crushed at all. The top edges are near perfect and only the bottom edge of the back cover has a little rubbing. The spine is in superb shape with only a couple of minor white 'specks' and the corners have only very minimal wear. The right hand corners are almost 'as new' and the opening edge has no handling wear whatsoever, how rare is that! The front cover is in beautiful condition with no marking and the back cover is almost as good with only a couple of very faint creases near the top. The inside of the gatefold is near perfect with only a couple of tiny 'specks' and it has none of the fading/spotting that you so often see. This truly is a spectacular version of this iconic cover. A beautifully preserved copy.
The Lyric Inner
A real find this one! It has been so carefully looked after and has no side splits at all! It has no marking either - in fact the only wear is one very small 'nick' (too small to be called a tear) on one of the flipbacks. Quite possibly the cleanest I have ever seen. Amazing to think this 'piece' of paper is nearly 50 years old!
The Labels
The red/plum labels are in great condition with no marking or writing, just some spindle wear. As stated there is still a little vinyl 'flecking' on the S1 spindle hole.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
2401012 A // 3 1 2 4 PECKO DUCK
2401012 B // 4 1 1 9 PORKY
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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. THIS IS OFTEN 'BUILT' INTO THE SHIPPING CHARGE ALREADY.
WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.
FOR ITEMS OVER £250.00 PLEASE CONTACT ME AS THERE WILL BE A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM AND WILL HAVE TO BE SENT VIA A COURIER SERVICE AND THE COSTS CAN VARY. THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE UP TO £250.00 HENCE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER SERVICE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE EXACT AMOUNT AND THEN WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, MANY THANKS.
COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN 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.
UK Postage Rates (First Class)
LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item
7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra
EUROPE (Standard)
LPs/12" singles : £10.95 then £1.75 per extra
7" singles / CDs : £6.45 then £0.95 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Standard)
LPs/12" singles : £18.95 then £1.95 per extra
7" singles / CDs : £7.95 then £1.45 per extra
I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE I HAVE RECEIVED IT. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!
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