LED ZEPPELIN PHYSICAL GRAFFITI Mega EARLY PRESS A1/B5/C1/D1 *Stunning* NM/MINT-
£
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Description
Led Zeppelin : Physical Graffiti A1/B5/C1/D1
This classic album plays with stunning quality and a full grading is given below. It has only been played two or three times at most judging by the lack of spindle wear and the superb visual quality of the vinyls. The cover and inserts are also very impressive with very little wear..
As per all the first/early pressings it has the 'Swan Song, 484 Kings Road' address on the back cover and the 'red lettering' on the spine.
Some 1/5/1/1 pressings have the 'Warner Bros' logo on the labels but this one does not so is without doubt one of the earliest pressings. Many say this is actually a first pressing although I prefer to call it a second press as you do sometimes find S2 with the B4 matrix. Nonetheless it is a very early pressing and it would be difficult to find a better one.
SSK 89400 // A1 / B5 / C1 / D1
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)
The audio on S2 is Mint-
The audio on S3 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 VG for 3 seconds / track 4 Near Mint-)
The audio on S4 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)
The cover is a very strong Ex almost Ex+
The labels are Mint-
The outer 'credits' sleeve is Mint- and the inner sleeves are Mint
Visual grading
Both records are in superb condition and the first one in particular is stunning. Quite simply it looks 'as new' and I cannot detect any hairlines and there are certainly no scratches or marks. It gleams beautifully and I can only detect one barely visible spindle trace on the S2 label. The second record is also very impressive visually with a few faint hairlines on S3 but hardly any on S4. There are no scratches on either side and again next to no spindle wear. The labels and run out grooves are super clean with no markings.
Play grading
'Custard Pie' has only a little static on the intro and then plays with stunning depth and precision. There are no clicks or pops, no distortion on the top end and hardly any 'background' on the fade out. A superb start. 'The Rover' is fantastic from the very first groove, the intro could not play any better. As the vocal begins the quality does not drop and the entire track plays without fault. This is so powerful and the bass adds so much depth here. This is Near Mint if not better! The intro on the classic 'In My Time Of Dying' has very little static and once Bonham comes in the audio is sublime. This is also the case when Plant enters and it continues to play with wonderful clarity and power. The quieter sections all play so well with hardly any 'background', just the odd light static. The instrumental mid section is the most impressive I have heard in a many a year, is it astounding! It is so dynamic and the definition of the audio is stunning. Wow this is incredible! To the end it plays 'as new' there is just no interference of any kind. There is no distortion and no clicks or pops. The majority is Mint- no exaggeration.
'Houses Of The Holy' is very impressive from the start with very little static on the intro and then plays with stunning depth and clarity. I do not wish to over-emphasise the quality here but there is just nothing to fault here, the playback is Mint- and again the fade out is so clean. 'Trampled Under Foot' goes one better and has to graded as Mint the audio is faultless. I know I should include the minus so as to adhere to RC guidelines but I know audio perfection when I hear it! The classic opening riff on 'Kashmir' could not play any better and then continues to play to the same exacting standard. I play every second of every track so as to provide a comprehensive grading and this is very possibly the most 'complete' version of this classic that I have ever heard. There is nothing to fault. The music is so powerful and there is no interference of any kind and impressively there is no distortion either. Whilst you can't forget Page's work the rhythm section here is so strong and of course Bonham was the main writer behind this track anyway. A stunning Mint version without doubt.
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The quiet intro on 'In The Light' is stunning and has barely any static. For the opening grooves to play with such breathtaking clarity on a track that begins so quietly is a rarity and pays testament to how well it has been preserved down the years. There are no clicks or pops and no crackle either. A superb start that's for sure. Once the vocal begins the audio is 'high end' and there is no intrusive 'background' at all. As the volume increases the playback is 'as new' and continues in the same way. There are three light clicks during the next 'Eastern' section but obviously this is only fleeting and the remainder of the track plays with fantastic quality and no other interference. 'Bron-Yr-Aur' plays superbly from start to finish and qualifies as Mint- it is that good. Needless to say there is no interference. 'Down By The Seaside' plays to a standard that you so rarely find on these early pressings. A relatively quiet track and there are only a small number of light dust ticks but you hardly notice them. As the tempo picks up the audio is stunning and the final quieter section also plays with sublime quality. A mega impressive track that grades as Near Mint for certain. The super quiet intro on 'Ten Years Gone' is so impressive and has only 3/4 light ticks, it is so clean! From then on the audio does not disappoint. One other tick in the next quiet section but as the vocal begins the playback is superb. There is a little inner groove distortion as is it progresses but the quieter sections continue to play with incredible clarity. The final section plays extremely well with only minimal distortion and the fade out plays with perfect precision.
'Night Flight' plays with great clarity from the very first cymbal. There is nothing that intrudes on the audio here, it is a 'high end' version from beginning to end and provides a superb start to the side. 'The Wanton Song' is of the same standard - the sound is so deep and rich here. There is just a little static at the end of the fade out but aside from that this is Mint- without a doubt. 'Boogie With Stu' has only the lightest of static on the intro and then plays with fantastic foot-stomping quality! No interference whatsoever. The spoken intro on 'Black Country Woman' again has barely any static and then proceeds to play with wonderful precision and, you guessed it, no 'background' of any kind not even on the super quiet end section. Thus far the sound quality on this side is of a superlative standard. 'Sick Again' ends this beautifully preserved album with fantastic depth and power. Any distortion is minimal and again the bass is so strong. It is a very strong version and Bonham is so high in the mix as per usual, such a strong rhythm section here. A wonderful finish to the double album.
In summary this very early pressing has an audio quality that is so rarely found today. As stated the vinyls have been hardly played in my opinion judging by the clarity of the recording and the total lack of spindle wear. There is only one track that has any obvious interference and those three clicks are certainly not loud! This really is an impressive album and the sonic quality and definition could scarcely be any better. The cover is also one of the cleanest I have seen in a long time and has barely any of the usual corner wear that you so often see.
The Cover
This iconic 'first press' cover really is a fine example of its type and has minimal shelf wear. The corners are often in poor condition but all four here have barely any rubbing - this is one cover that has always been very carefully handled. The wide spine is in great order and the red lettering stands proud and is 100% legible. The edges are again very clean with just a little more rubbing on the wide bottom edge. The top edge of the front cover is in superb condition and the top edge on the back has very little rubbing. This edge is regularly seen with a lot of fraying/fading but not here! The front cover is nigh on perfect with no marking and the back cover has only a handful of minor 'specks' and one small scuff near the foot, it took me a long time to notice it! Rarely all the 'windows' are intact although two do have a very minor 'lift' where the material has come away ever so slightly but again this is not at all obvious. Overall this is a very impressive cover and infinitely better than so many you see today.
Inner Sleeves
The outer credits sleeve is near perfect and I am sure many would call it Mint. I will however grade it as Mint- as there is just very minor amount of creasing along the top edges. It is only visible if you hold it up close! There are no marks, spotting or fading and really is super clean.
The inner sleeves are in perfect Mint condition with no wear of any kind. Stunning!
The Labels
They are in fantastic condition with no writing/marking and only a mega faint spindle trace on the S2 label. These vinyls have been hardly played.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
The records have been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SSK 89400 // A1 / B5 / C1 / D1
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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