Sold Date: August 17, 2014
Start Date: August 10, 2014
Final Price: £21.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 3
Seller Feedback: 1445
Buyer Feedback: 12

This item is not for sale. Gripsweat is an archive of past sales and auctions, none of the items are available for purchase.

Here on offer is a very early/earliest original UK pressing Led Zeppelin III and totally complete. This early pressing features Peter Grant credits on both sides of the labels (only found on the earliest plum/red Atlantic labeled pressings), and hand etched matrixes on both sides!  This audio is absolutely awesome throughout and absolutely stunning seperation and a real deep basey feel that in my opinion can only be acheived from the earliest pressings and there is no other format than these early UK vinyls that even come close to the awesome feel that is produced!
Led Zeppelin III, the third album by English rock band Led Zeppelin, was released October 5th 1970 by Atlantic Records. It was recorded between January and July 1970 at Olympic Studios, London and Headley Grange, East Hampshire, then mixed at Ardent Studios, Memphis in August 1970 during Led Zeppelin's sixth American concert tour. The album was produced by guitarist Jimmy Page and engineered by Andy Johns!!It has been suggested that Led Zeppelin III was something of a watershed release for the band, as it marked a change from Page's domination of the first two albums towards a more democratic affair in which all four group members offered up their own compositions and ideas - a pattern that would continue in future sessions. The album added acoustic and folk rock elements to the band's established rock and blues repertoire, which also helped endear the band to progressive rock fans. However, some detractors attacked the heavier tracks as being mindless noise, whilst the acoustic material was criticised by others for imitating the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Although these negative reviews had a slight effect on sales at the time, Led Zeppelin III was still a trans-Atlantic #1 hit. Sales eventually lagged in the wake of Led Zeppelin I and II, but with the passage of time III's reputation has recovered considerably!The album contains two of Led Zeppelin's most well-known songs: "Immigrant Song" and "Since I've Been Loving You". The first of these, written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, is about the Norse invasions of England and was inspired by the band's recent performances in Iceland!"Since I've Been Loving You" is a classic, original blues in the key C minor featuring heartfelt interplay by all four group members. It would become a performance staple of Led Zeppelin concerts, especially from 1971 through 1973, replacing Willie Dixon's "I Can't Quit You Baby" from the first album as the band's slow blues showcase.Other fan favorites from the aOlbum were the rock songs "Celebration Day" and "Out on the Tiles", and the acoustic tracks "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" and "That's the Way", the latter considered by many critics to be a breakthrough for still-developing lyric writer Plant. The song "Gallows Pole" is actually an arrangement of a traditional folk song by that name, also recorded by Lead Belly some thirty years earlier!.Led Zeppelin III's original vinyl edition was packaged in a gatefold sleeve with a novelty cover, designed by Richard Drew, a lecturer in fine arts at Leeds Polytechnic. The cover and interior gatefold art consisted of a surreal collection of seemingly random images on a white background, many of them connected thematically with flight or aviation (as in "Zeppelin"). Behind the front cover was a rotatable paper disc, or volvelle, covered with more images, including photos of the band members, which showed through holes in the cover. Moving an image into place behind one hole would usually bring one or two others into place behind other holes. This could not be replicated on a conventional cassette or CD cover, but there have been Japanese and British CDs packaged in miniature versions of the original sleeve. In France this album was released with a different album cover, simply showing a photo of the four band members!.

The Sleeve

The heavyweight sleeve is complete with functioning rotating wheel, however it has sustained some spine damage as pictured. Even taking the damage into account this is still a very sought after LP.

THE MATRIX

SIDE 1. 2421002 A-5 (HAND ETCHED)''DO WHAT THOU WILT'' (HAND ETCHED ON THE RUN OFF GROOVES ONLY 1ST PRESS) 

SIDE 2. 2431002 B-5 (HAND ETCHED) ''SO MOTE IT BE'' (HAND ETCHED ON THE RUN OFF GROOVES ONLY 1ST PRESS) 

The Vinyl

On visual  initial inspection this vinyl does have some scratches which don't affect the play apart from a scratch midway across track 4 which does produce a light audible click that is not too intrusive. Still retains a glossy sheen. This is the original heavier thicker type of vinyl with deeper grooves only found on these original 1st pressings!!! They are also more robust than later pressings which were more flimsier.