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Led Zeppelin I A1 / B1 Red/Plum Label (Superhype credit)
This very early red/plum pressing is one of the most collectable as it has the rare Superhype mis-credit on the labels which was also found on the original 'turquoise' first pressings.  Subsequent pressings had the 'Warner Bros/7 Arts...' publishing credit on the labels.  The rare pressing that I am selling is known as Version 4 as it does have the corrected matrix number on the run out grooves - the stamped 8 is replaced with an etched 8.
I am pleased to say it plays with stunning sonic quality for the vast majority with only a little interference at the end of 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' on S1 and just one light click and a handful of light ticks on 'I Can't Quit You Baby' on S2.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is among the best I have ever heard and it obvious this vinyl has been so well preserved and not overplayed down the years.  I cannot stress enough just how fantastic the audio is for 99% of the record!  There are so many highlights but the classics 'Dazed And Confused' and 'How Many More Times' stand out as they play with stunning quality and no distortion which is a rarity.  They are the final tracks on each side of course.
The vinyl is also visually stunning with only a couple of faint hairlines and one barely visible scratch on S1.  S1 is very impressive but S2 is stunning to say the least!
The iconic cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and the original inner has only a little wear also.
588171 (2nd 8 corrected) A // 1   1 2 4
588171 ( 2nd 8 corrected)  B // 1    1  2 1 6
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 G+ for final 6/7 seconds / T3 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex / T3 Near Mint-)
The cover is Ex
The original 'plastic bags...' inner is Ex-
The labels are Near Mint-
Visual Grading
The vinyl is visually very impressive and still has a lovely glossy sheen with no dulling of the surface and no 'bag rash' either.  S1 has only a couple of hairlines that are a little more obvious but, and this is worth pointing out, they are still very faint.  There are no actual marks to be seen but there is one very tiny scratch at the end of track two but this really is the only 'imperfection'.  It has only 2/3 more very faint hairlines.  S2 is absolutely stunning!  In all honesty it looks 'as new' with an immaculate glossy look and I cannot detect any obvious hairlines and there are obviously no marks or scratches at all.  The run out grooves are pristine and the labels are also very clean and have retained their original red/plum colour perfectly.  There is one small 'squiggly' white line on S1 no doubt caused during manufacture and only a little spindle wear, just a little more on S2.  A superb example of a Superhype pressing!
Play Grading
The intro on 'Good Times Bad Times' has no ticks, clicks or pops and no discernible static either.  Plant's first vocal is of the same 'high end' standard and it continues to play with stunning clarity.  The opening track on any vinyl from this era can often be affected by sound issues but there is certainly no 'muddiness' to the sound here and from start to finish there is no interference.  There is no distortion not even during Page's solo.  The audio definition is so strong and Mint- is very much deserved - the fade has no 'background' either.  What a start!
The acoustic intro on 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' plays beautifully with no intrusion, just one dust tick, and the opening vocal is faultless.  The first 'up tempo' section is 'as new' and the next vocal section is as close to perfect as could be with only a couple of very quiet static ticks.  You can hear very clearly the infamous 'baby cry' around the 1.40 minute mark which gives you an idea of the clarity on offer here. It proceeds to play with a sonic quality that is so impressive - the quieter sections play with sublime precision and the louder sections have such depth and power.  I cannot emphasise enough just how good the clarity is here - how often does this classic track play as clearly as this on a rare Superhype pressing?  The super quiet end section is the only thing that lets the side down.  The majority plays perfectly but on the final '...back home' line there are a couple of intrusive dull pops followed by 3/4 ticks.  This is caused by a very small scratch that you would not even notice unless you played the record.  The majority is Mint- but the last 6/7 seconds are G+ in my opinion.
The intro on 'You Shook Me' is flawless and the first vocal plays to perfection.  It continues in the same way with no interference and during this entire opening section I heard only a couple of very light audible ticks.  The mid instrumental also demonstrates how well this vinyl has been preserved - the clarity throughout is breathtaking!  I detected just one very minor click during Plant's harmonica section but you could easily miss it!  Page's following solo is faultless and the final vocal has only a couple of barely audible ticks.  Plant's 'high octane' vocal is superb!  I will grade as Near Mint but the vast majority undoubtedly grades as Mint- it is that good.
The iconic bass intro on 'Dazed And Confused' is as 'clean' as it was back in '69 and the opening vocal is equally as good.  It continues to play with incredible sonic quality and the power of the audio is exceptional.  Nowhere is that more obvious than during the first 'high octane' passage.  Wow!  This STUNNING quality is maintained during the quiet instrumental section and as the volume increases there is no decrease in quality.  This has to be one of the most 'complete' versions of this classic that I have ever heard and I repeat this is on a Superhype pressing!  The final section provides further evidence why the red//plum pressings are so sought after - the audio is mind-blowing there is no other way to describe it!  There is no distortion, this really is audio of the highest calibre and to the end it plays with wonderful precision.  A Mint- version of this classic without question.  I need a breather...
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'Your Time Is Gonna Come' has some light static on the intro but this is common as any Led Zepp collector will know.  However, it is only minimal and there are no clicks or pops.  A couple of light ticks but overall it plays very clearly and is one of the 'cleanest' intros that you will find today.  As Bonham comes in the audio is superb and this continues into Plant's opening vocal.  From then it plays with great clarity and there is no intrusion on the audio aside from one minor static tick.  The intro is Ex and the remainder is Mint- for sure.
The segue into 'Black Mountain Side' could not be any better and this instrumental then plays 'as new' with no 'background' of any kind.  I keep on about clarity but that is how any vinyl should be judged of course and you won't find better clarity than this!  This is Mint from start to finish, no need for a minus here!
'Communication Breakdown' then plays with a power and precision that you rarely find on these early pressings.  It often has a 'tinny' distorted sound but not here!  It has to be one of the strongest versions I have ever heard and there is literally no distortion on the top end.  Page's solo near the end is a classic example of that and this easily grades as Mint and you don't need me to tell you how rare that is!  What a version!
The vocal only intro on 'I Can't Quit You Baby' has not one single dust tick and it continues to play to a sublime standard through every section.  Again it's the clarity of sound and the depth of the music that really stands out and it is clear this side has hardly been played.  Page's first extended solo is so close to 'as new' with just one light click in the quieter section.  There are a small number of light ticks as the vocal returns (once per rotation) but they are not intrusive and there is no background static at all, the playback is very 'clean' indeed.  The final section is faultless and overall Near Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.
The bass intro on 'How Many More Times' again plays with stunning precision and Plant's first vocal in unison with Page's classic riff has no 'background' either.  There is no inner groove distortion (for once!) and Page's solo then plays with outstanding quality also.  The quiet section then plays beautifully with no intrusion and as the vocal 'builds' there is no let up in quality.  Woah this is good!  The 'Oh Rosie' section then plays with exceptional clarity the final section more than keeps up the standard.  Plant's soaring vocal and Page's stunning work accompanied by the immaculate rhythm section of Bonham and Jones has never sounded better!  This is unequivocally one of the finest versions of this classic that I have ever listened to - the clarity and power throughout is breathtaking and Mint- is so deserved.  A STUNNING version to end this classic debut album.
In summary this very early Superhype red/plum pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any intrusion.  Yes the end of 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' does have some interference but it is only brief and S2 has only the usual static on the intro plus one light click and a handful of light ticks on 'I Can't Quit You Baby'.  But for a Superhype pressing the clarity, power and depth of the audio on the remainder is nothing short of stunning!  The vast majority is plays with Mint precision and that is no exaggeration.  The vinyl has been so well preserved down the years and that is reflected in its superb visual look also.  It has very much retained its original sonic quality and for once there is no underlying static.  A stunning album overall.
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The laminated MacNeill cover, with the silver band/stripe along the bottom, is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear and is better than so many you see today!  The edges have no rubbing and the thin pinched spine is near perfect with only three small crease lines.  For once there is barely any corner wear and the opening edge has only minimal handling wear.  The front cover is very clean with only a handful of faint scratch lines that you can only see when you hold it at a certain angle and a couple of faint creases near the opening edge.  There is some of the usual laminate lift next to the spine but this is something you always find on the early pressings.  The back cover is in excellent shape with only 3/4 minor laminate creases by the opening edge and some small creases around the edges.  Only minor laminate lift next to the spine here.  A very strong example overall.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner sleeve is in excellent condition with just one small side split and minimal creasing.  There are a couple of minor marks and just a little age related fading around the edges.
588171 (2nd 8 corrected) A // 1   1 2 4
588171 ( 2nd 8 corrected)  B // 1    1 2 1 6
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

At the moment eBay do not allow shipping to Russia due to the ongoing crisis.  Apologies to my Russian customers, you know who to blame.
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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Postage & Packaging

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