Sold Date: March 20, 2016
Start Date: March 10, 2016
Final Price: £162.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 20
Seller Feedback: 1774
Buyer Feedback: 28

[zipedit] Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin III"
Original UK Pressing! Cat No 2401002 Plum/Red Altlantic Labels!
Stunning Near Mint Audio Quality! Near Mint Barely Played Vinyl!
1st Issue E.J.Day & Co Fully Laminated Gate Fold Cover! Complete with Fully Functioning Rotating Wheel!
Early Pressed A5 & B7 (Hand Etched) Matrix Endings "Produced by Jimmy Page" Credits On The Labels!

Here on offer from my personal collection! A very early original UK pressing Led Zeppelin III and totally complete. The vinyl has obviously barely ever been played and the playing surface Looks stunning I find it hard to see a blemish, importantly I can't see any needle scratches. This early pressing features Jimi Page credits on both sides of the labels and would be the second corrected label variation. Features hand etched A5 and B7 matrix endings!   I have sold and own many, many copies of this album, 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! I would grade the audio as Very Near Mint.   This is totally complete with the original atlantic poly sleeve and 1st issue E.Day&co Ltd gatefold with fully functional wheel, made and printed in England! (later pressings were made in Germany)! 

Listen to the recording in the player below! Actual recording from this vinyl listed!

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 album 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!.

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i heard it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light! Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!

The Matrix

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

SIDE 2. 2431002 B-7 (HAND ETCHED) ''SO MOTE IT BE'' (HAND ETCHED ON THE RUN OFF GROOVES ONLY EARLIEST PRESS)

The Vinyl

The vinyl still retains its original glossy sheen from new and lays flat on the turntable! (free from any warping)! 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! Amazingly In strong light I find it hard to even see a blemish on the playing surface  (Importantly there are no deep needle marks that cause any loud constant clicks or pops at least no skips or jumps)  Any marks that could possibly be seen would be sleeve removal only.

The Audio Quality

  I have carefully played this through track for track as usual at very loud volume on a top system prior to listing!   The audio seperation is amaizing and the vibrancy and bassey feel on this vinyl will never be surpassed in any other format, beleive me.   This plays with (no) signs of any distortion or that this has been overplayed at all in my opinion, Please note! The audio quality has always been the uppermost importance when i have purchased records over the years and I have always tried to seek out the earliest stampers that, in my personal opinion makes all the difference for the best audio quality! Any static interference is minimal in between tacks or quieter places but overall and Importantly I heard no loud annoying constant clicks or pops! I must emphisise that this vinyl looks and sounds like it has barely been played and certainly not over played in my opinion.  Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right! Audio is graded at the top! Stunning audio seperation throughout and vibrancy only heard like this on the earliest pressings! I would grade the audio at least Excellent plus to Near Mint for the most part, on my systems!

Hear the complete recording for yourself in the player above! (Actual recording from the vinyl)

Please note! I always make this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd isolated static,crackle/ticks (not) consistant throughout the audio! I  have given my honest opinion, this is a genuine 45 year old vinyl (not a reissue) that would have originally been played on a 45 year old system!

The labels

These are the original Plum\red Atlantic labels! (only 1st press) feature ''Under licence...'' across the labels, above the white stripe and feature Jimmy Page credits on both sides (only early press! ''Made in Gt Britain'' featured (only UK press) credits for 'Warner Bros'  Just barely a handfull of spider traces can be seen when angled to the light. This has barely been played in my opinion, definately not overplayed) little if no spindleware (The hole is perfetly round)

The Record Sleeve

This is the original poly lined atlantic sleeve with no splits or tares just light creasing\browning with age! becoming very fragile and is now stored seperately from the vinyl!

The Cover

This is the original 1st issue, 1st press E.J.Day & co printed gatefold cover with fully functioning wheel ! Very Very hard to find originals in this condition! Please note! I have often seen these covers swapped for later covers that were made in Germany! THIS IS THE ORIGINAL UK printed  features the correct catalogue number on the spine and printed by E.J.Day & co London!  (only 1st press covers)   This is strong and straight as it should be without any splits or tares and no nasty names written also the wheel is fully functional! There is some minor light yellowing with age only around the edges only to note! Amazingly No real nasty creases to mention  (see photos)! Light corner bumping noted bottom right and top left corner and only really noticed if looked for. Any marks or imperfections on this cover you would really have to look hard under a strong light to notice!  Very Very minimal storageware, The wheel is fully functional. Hard to find like this after nearly 44 years old! I would grade this cover at least excellent to excellent plus in my opinion!