Sold Date: April 14, 2016
Start Date: April 7, 2016
Final Price: $490.50 (USD)
Bid Count: 23
Seller Feedback: 543
Buyer Feedback: 158

FROM THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION:
LED ZEPPELIN / "LED ZEPPELIN II" 1969 U.S. Atlantic 1st press with both sides mastered
by Robert Ludwig at Sterling Sound Ultimate version for dynamics and impact Small runout groove on Side 2 Matrices: ST-A-691671-C & ST-A-691672-A Mother/stamper codes: AT / WLP / M / RL SS See this LP in HIGH-RESOLUTION photos
“Cut this bloody thing as hot as you can.” –Jimmy Page And with that as his brief, legendary mastering engineer Mr. Robert Ludwig did precisely that when he mastered the very first U.S. Atlantic Records pressing of Led Zeppelin II. The result was an explosive-sounding, mega-selling LP with an influence on hard rock and heavy metal that is incalculable.
 
Unfortunately, Mr. Ludwig did his job too well. As the story goes, the daughter of Atlantic producer Mr. Jerry Wexler played a Ludwig-mastered Led Zeppelin II at her school and it skipped. Apparently, the cheap record player could not handle the wide, dynamic groove. Wexler complained to Atlantic founder, Ahmet Ertegun, who then reportedly scrapped 200,000 copies already pressed and ordered subsequent pressings to be mastered at Atlantic—at a lower level and with the bass rolled off.
 
Hear the Hammer of the Gods at Full Strength
Nearly 47 years after Led Zeppelin II was released, the ONLY version that presents this monster album as Jimmy Page intended is still the Ludwig-mastered first pressing cut from the then-new master tape at Sterling Sound. The 1st UK pressings just don’t have the same impact (I have a few), and the high-rez download had its dynamic range reduced. Sadly, most Zeppelin fans have never heard Led Zeppelin II the way it should sound, and the way it does sound on this copy.
 
Finding a copy of Led Zeppelin II that has two Ludwig-mastered sides (some copies have only one Ludwig-mastered side) is difficult but not impossible. However, finding one in fantastic condition is nearly impossible, because the LP likely got played to death on some teenager’s cheap turntable. Lucky for you, your search has ended.
 

CONDITION

DISC: This U.S. 1st press LP is visually in EXCELLENT+ condition. Both sides show full gloss, with only some very light sleeve removal marks and signs of play. Both Atlantic labels scarcely show any signs of play.

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COVER: This 1st version of the U.S. "Brown Bomber" cover with the textured finish has a lighter shade of brown than subsequent issues and is in EXCELLENT condition. The cover shows some light signs of wear along the spine and edges, but the cardboard remains firm.



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INNER SLEEVE: The original Atlantic inner sleeve is in EXCELLENT+ condition, with only the barest signs of storage wear.

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HI-FI LPs IN HIGH RESOLUTION

LPs listed are part of a fantastic collection of UK 1st pressings from British rock icons.
Select LPs are Holy Grail examples from an artist’s oeuvre for the completist collector.
See these LPs on eBay as you’ve never seen them before – in high resolution.

GRADING INFORMATION I grade conservatively. MINT is a sealed LP; NEAR MINT is an open LP/cover
with virtually no signs of use/wear; EXCELLENT is a well-looked-after LP/cover
with light signs of use/wear; VERY GOOD+ is an LP/cover with average signs of
use/wear but is not trashed. I use unforgiving sunlight and incandescent light to visually grade each LP. I don’t make unverifiable claims as to how many plays a non-sealed LP has had. SHIPPING
Please note: eBay's shipping cost estimate may not reflect actual shipping cost.

                                                                                                                                           


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