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Led Zeppelin II A6 / B4 Early Red/Plum Press
This red/plum pressing plays to a superb standard and may well be the finest example I have ever listened to.  The clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio on both sides is absolutely stunning and there is only a couple of seconds of interference, two light clicks that is all.  It's the overall clarity that really stands out, there is no background static and the sonic quality is just incredible.  There is no distortion and it is obvious this record has hardly been played.  I would go so far to say that this is a FINAL UPGRADE pressing in that it could hardly play any better.
The cover is in very good condition with not too much shelf wear and like I say it's the vinyl that is the star performer here!  The original inner has only minimal wear.
This red/plum pressings has the correct 'Killing Floor' credit on the label and the correct 'Warner Bros/Jewel Music' publishing credit.  It also has the 'incorrect' Baldwin credit on the S2 label as opposed to Jones which is on the S1 label.  As always the cover has 'The Lemon Song' credit on the inside.
588198  A // 6▽  420  1 1
588198  ▽  B // 4  1 1  1 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T5 first vocal Ex)
The gatefold is VG+
The original 'plastic bags...' inner is Ex
The labels are Mint-
Visual grading
The vinyl is the real star of the show here!  It is visually in fantastic condition with no marks or scratches and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen.  It is only on close inspection that you can find a small number of very faint hairlines but certainly at first glance it looks as new!  The red/plum labels are close to perfect with only minimal spindle wear on S1 and barely any on S2.  There is a minor 'kink' on one edge, not a warp, and it has no affect on the stylus or the audio of course.  Overall this is a stunning example of this vinyl.
Play grading
The classic 'Whole Lotta Love' plays so clearly from the outset with that familiar deep rich tone that you only get from a very clean vinyl.  The intro has no 'background' and Plant's first vocal only has a couple of very minor static ticks, the clarity is stunning.  It continues in the same way and the 'psychedelic' section is 'as new' I have never heard anything like it!  The clarity and warmth of the audio is amazing!  There is no interference not even a dust tick and there is no let up in quality as Bonham comes back in.  Page's brief solo is just as impressive as is the next vocal section.  The 'Way down inside...' section has to be the 'quietest' I have ever heard also with only a couple of very light dust ticks at most.  The remainder is of the same standard and this has to grade as Mint- as it cannot be faulted in any way.
The opening vocal on 'What Is And What Should Never Be' has no 'background' and the first chorus is just as good.  It continues in exactly the same way with a clarity that is so close to perfect.  There is just one light static tick just after the 'If you wake up with the sunrise...' just beyond the half way point but the clarity throughout is superb to say the least.  The quieter sections play beautifully and the louder passages play with great power and depth.  This is a track that regularly plays with a fair amount of 'background' but this is up there with the best I have heard and even the fade out has no interference.  Another Mint- track.
'Killing Floor' plays with stunning quality from the get go.  Plant's first vocal is flawless and Page's first excursion is like you are back in late '69 also!  Jones' bass adds so much to the 'sound' and that is so obvious during the slower paced mid section.  The clarity here is unbelievable - there is no background static and only one minor static click.  The 'high octane' finish is so powerful and there is no distortion.  In my opinion this also deserves a Mint- even if it does have one light static click.  Audio does not get much better than this!  This is precisely the reason why the red/plums are so collectable as the sonic quality is infinitely superior to anything that came later.
The slow build up intro on 'Thank You' plays with stunning precision and for once has no static distortion.  'As new' sums it up perfectly.  Plant's first vocal is again so clean with only a couple of dust ticks and as the volume increases the playback does not falter.  From then on it plays so clearly and there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  The mid section instrumental is faultless and the next vocal also plays with great precision.  The super quiet 'If the sun refused to shine...' passage so often plays with a lot of interference but here the clarity is STUNNING!  There is barely any static and just one light tick.  The fade out/in/out section is so 'clean' and the silent section is exactly that - silent!  I will grade as Near Mint but I am sure many would grade higher.  The closing section is one of the most impressive I have ever listened to.
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The classic opening riff on 'Heart Breaker' plays to perfection and Plant's first vocal is 'as new' with no sign of any interference.  It continues to play with impeccable quality with no ticks, clicks or pops etc.  Once again the clarity and power of the audio here could not be any more impressive and even Page's 'quieter' stand alone solo has no 'background'.  The 'high octane' passage that follows is STUNNING!  It has lost none of its original sonic quality and the final vocal has no 'background' either.  This is Mint no minus is welcome here!
'Livin' Lovin' Maid' plays to the same 'high end' standard with no interference.  In true Led Zepp style it plays with tremendous power and depth and there is no distortion on the top end.  A stunning Mint version.
The acoustic intro on 'Ramble On' has no 'background', not even a single dust tick, and the opening vocal is equally as good.  The first chorus plays to the same standard - has this side ever been played?!  Every section plays with a clarity and definition that is comparable to an unplayed record and again I cannot overstate just how perfect the playback is.  Even the long fade out has no 'background'.  This is Mint in every sense of the word.
The opening section on 'Moby Dick' is faultless and Bonham's solo then plays with exceptional clarity.  The audio is so clean and there is no interference of any kind.  This is as good as it gets!  How often does this section play as clearly as this?  The end section is just as strong and Mint is again deserved.
The quiet bass/harmonica intro on 'Bring It On Home' plays with great precision i.e. no interference and Plant's first vocal has just one static click followed by one lighter tick and another a little further in.  There is however no background static and the playback is very impressive overall.  As the volume increases the playback is fantastic!  For once there is no distortion and there are no negatives.  The quiet closing section ends this classic with barely any 'background', just one light tick either.  The majority is Mint- but will grade the opening vocal as Ex which I think is an honest appraisal of the audio.  This 'interference' is only minor and it remains a superb version - a superb end to this classic album. .   In summary this very early red/plum pressing plays with stunning quality for the vast majority and in essence the only interference is one light click and a couple of ticks.  The clarity and depth of the audio is very much what you find on a hardly played record and as stated the labels have only very minimal spindle wear.  It is getting harder to find this album in Near Mint condition but we do have one here!  And what makes it even more collectable in my opinion is the complete lack of distortion on any of the tracks.  A stunning album in every way that would add to any 'high end' collection.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The cover is in excellent condition with only a little wear here and there.  It is of the lighter brown variety and the edges do have some rubbing but not an excessive amount.  The wide spine has some wear but you can just about make out the band name - the catalogue number is 100% legible.  The corners have some wear but again not too much and the opening edge has only very minimal handling wear.  The front cover is very clean overall with only some light fading and one scuff mark top right which has been coloured in at some point.  Presumably at some point there was a price sticker here.  The back cover is very clean with only a couple of minor indents, a little fading and ringwear and a couple of minor creases also.  The inside of the gatefold is near perfect with only a couple of minor white marks in each top corner.  A respectable cover that grades as VG+ I would say.
The original 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner is in excellent  condition with no side splits or tears and only a little creasing.  There is hardly any age related fading around the edges and just one small mark on the reverse side.
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
588198  A // 6▽  420  1 1
588198   ▽  B // 4  1 1  1 1
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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