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Led Zeppelin I A1/B1 2nd Press Red / Plum Label
This second pressing on the very collectable red/plum label is stunning!  There is just one light click on S1 and literally no other intrusion.  This audio quality is only found on a vinyl that has only been lightly played and also very well cared for down the years.  I cannot overstate just how immaculate the audio is - the clarity, depth and power is comparable to an unplayed vinyl and not surprisingly it is very impressive visually.  If you are lucky enough to win this album listening to the 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' intro should in a way be your first port of call as I have never heard clarity like it.  This intro always has some background but not here!  The entirety of S2 is just incredible sonically and S1 is not far behind!  A FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic in my humble opinion.
The cover has the silver band / stripe along the bottom and is easily one of the finest I have ever seen with hardly any wear.  It has retained its original shape and structure so well which can only mean it has not been handled very much.  The original inner sleeve is also very clean and clearly hasn't been out of the cover that many times.
As this is a second pressing it has the 'Warner Bros/7 Arts...' publishing credit on one line and the label and cover incorrectly lists the playing time of 'How Many More Times' as 3:30.  It has the corrected matrix number on the run out grooves where the stamped 8 is replaced with an etched 8.
588171 (2nd 8 corrected) A // 1   1 1 5 2
588171 ( 2nd 8 corrected)  B // 1    1 2 4
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The cover is Ex+
The original 'plastic bags...' inner is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in superb condition and as you would expect from a lightly played one it still has a lovely glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  There is no dulling of the surface or groove wear and all you can see under a strong light are some of the usual faint hairlines that obviously have no impact on the audio.  The run out grooves are very clean and the red / plum labels have lost none of their original deep colour.  S1 has hardly any spindle wear and S2 just a little more.
Play Grading
'Good Times Bad Times' plays with sublime quality from the very first note.  The intro is 'as new' without any interference and the opening verse and chorus are equally as strong.  It continues in the same precise way with no ticks, clicks, pops or static and the sonic quality is easily comparable to how it would have been back in '69.  Already you can tell this vinyl has not been overplayed and that isn't just because there is minimal spindle wear.  From start to finish it plays with sensational audio and Mint is the only grade I can give.
The acoustic intro on 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' plays beautifully and this clarity of sound continues into Plant's first vocal, there is not even a single dust tick.  The first up-tempo section is faultless and next vocal has no background either.  The 'baby cry' around the 1.40 minute mark can so easily be heard and again that pays testament to how well this vinyl has been preserved.  From then on it plays with genuine quality - the powerful mid instrumental is STUNNING with no distortion on the top end and the following acoustic section has no background either.  There is one light click during the acoustic section near the end but is hardly intrusive as it is in the background.  The final up-tempo passage is flawless and the quiet end section for once plays with perfect clarity - so clean in fact with not one dust tick.  I will grade as Near Mint but safe to say 99% is 'as new'!
The intro on 'You Shook Me' has static etc and the opening vocal also plays to perfection.  Jones' deep bass adds so much to the overall sound and especially on such a clean vinyl like this.  This standard is kept up as it progresses and the mid instrumental is a prime example of that - the clarity and definition of the audio here is spectacular!  And as you would expect Page's solo just takes it to another level.  Plant's next vocal is faultless and his 'high octane' vocal at the end just could not sound any better.  You could not get a more 'complete' version than this and Mint is very much deserved.
The classic bass intro on 'Dazed And Confused' has no background and the opening vocal is just as impressive.  The first instrumental piece continues this exemplary standard and again there is just so much to admire here!  The clarity and power of the audio is just STUNNING!  Despite being the final track on the side there is no distortion and every note is so clean and precise.  The quieter mid instrumental where Jones' bass is so much to the fore plays with sublime quality and the dynamic frenetic section that follows is as strong as it ever was.  Every beat from Bonham and of course Page's immense work are just out of this world!  This is precisely why the red//plum pressings are so collectable today - you do not get this power, depth and resonance from the later pressings.  I cannot overstate just how unbelievable the audio is here, well throughout the entire track!  The final vocal/instrumental is equally as strong and again I have no hesitation in grading this classic track as Mint not even a minus is necessary!  What a version and what a side!
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This has to be the cleanest intro on 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' that I have heard in a long long time!  It is absolutely STUNNING!  So often affected by sound issues this entire organ intro only has a handful of barely dust ticks - no ticks, clicks or pops and no static either.  As the volume decreases all you can hear is the organ, nothing else.  I would go so far to say this is the most perfect Mint start I have ever heard.  As Bonham comes in the audio is just as good and the opening verse and chorus more than keep up this incredible standard.  It continues in the same way and in all honesty it's as if it has never been played before!  I do not wish to repeat myself but it's so rare to find clarity and audio definition like this on such an early red/plum pressing.  This truly is audio of the highest calibre and Mint is deserved.  It may well be the only Mint version of this classic that I have ever listened to because like I say the intro always has some background.  Not here!
The segue into 'Black Mountain Side' is perfect and this clarity is kept up to the very end.  It is Mint from start to finish, no need to say any more.
'Communication Breakdown' then plays with exceptional quality from the first note to the last.  The power and depth of the audio is superb and for once there is none of that tinny distorted sound that you regularly find.  Such a clean version and Plant's powerful vocal is flawless.  Page's solo near the end again has no distortion and again Mint is an honest assessment of the audio.
With complete silence in the dead wax (again) the vocal only intro on 'I Can't Quit You Baby' plays with stunning precision.  The opening vocal has only a couple of mega quiet dust ticks and Page's first extended solo is 'as new' with Jones and Bonham adding so much to the overall sound...as per usual.  The quieter moments play so clearly and that is very much in evidence during the 'moaning and groaning...' verse towards the end.  It just doesn't get any better than this - you do not find many Mint versions of this classic but we certainly have one here...
The classic bass intro on 'How Many More Times' has no background (no surprise there) and Page's first classic riff keeps up this fine standard.  Plant's first vocal is perfect and it continues in the same way.  For a powerful final track you might expect some inner groove distortion but that is not the case here.  You can turn it up to max without losing any of the original sonic quality and it plays with remarkable quality throughout.  Page's mid solo section is so strong and powerful and the quieter 'I was a young man...' section that follows plays with sublime clarity and literally no intrusion.  As it builds the playback is phenomenal and the 'Oh Rosie' section can also be described 'as new'.  The closing section rounds off this total classic with soaring power and depth and again I cannot emphasise enough just how stunning the sonic quality is here.  Right through to the final note it could not play with any greater precision I am 100% confident in calling this Mint you just could not wish for a stronger more powerful finish!
In summary this second red/plum pressing is quite simply outstanding!  With only one light click on S1 the clarity of sound is incredible and there is also no background static getting in the way of the audio.  As stated a measure of this clarity is on the 'Your Time Is Gonna Come' intro which honestly plays more clearly than any other I have listened to before.  Only lightly played the sonic quality could not be any more impressive - the power and depth of the audio has not deteriorated over the last 54 years at all.  Even with that one light click I'm happy to classify this as a FINAL UPGRADE album as it would be so difficult to find a better version.  In hand with a lovely cover this will add to any high end collection.  A stunning album.
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The laminated MacNeill cover is in superb condition with hardly any shelf wear, certainly nothing obvious.  The edges have no marking / rubbing and the thin pinched spine is so clean and remains 100% legible with barely any wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are also in great shape with no obvious wear and the opening edge has no handling wear either.  The front cover has retained its original look so well and has a couple of minor laminate crease on the airship.  For once the area next to the spine has barely any of the laminate lift that you so often see.  The back cover is just as impressive with only a minimal amount of the usual light fading around the edges, very minimal indeed.  There is no laminate damage on either side.  In my opinion this is so close to a Near Mint cover but I will say Ex+ just to be on the safe side but wow what a superb example.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner (dated 0470) is in great shape with no marking and hardly any creasing.  It just has one small tear on the central 'window'.
588171 (2nd 8 corrected) A // 1   1 1 5 2
588171 ( 2nd 8 corrected)  B // 1    1 2 4
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

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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