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How to Spot The Led Zeppelin II Robert Ludwig Hot “Mix”Vinyl. Do You Have This Rare Version?
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- čas přidán 18. 02. 2021
- In episode 2 I’m going to talk all about the mega rare vinyl version of Led Zeppelin II, the Robert Ludwig Hot Mix! What’s this you ask? Check out my video! #vinylcommunity #vinyl #ledzeppelin #robertludwighotmix #vc #rarevinyl #recordcollection #rarerecord
I'm a proud owner of one of these and it still makes my speakers give a huge run for their money.
I also own the pressing that came out directly after it just to compare Godzilla to bedroom slippers... that's how much a difference the EQ is.
Wrote a letter to Bob Ludwig thanking him for making such a historic treasure. Got a nice reply out it. Life is good!
Wow that’s amazing!
Why can't you just turn the bass up when you play the second pressing?
@@carlmarks8170 its not just bass. R Ludwig himself said its dull and less dynamic. Atlantic didn't call Sterling Sound to correct it but cut it from his file cassett rather than 1st generation lacquers. That takes away alot of tone character. That's why the "SS" is so important
I thought I heard/read most all Zep trivia there is, but this is a new one---they rock so hard that the needle bounces off the vinyl.
My brother made me a very cool Led Zeppelin collection for my birthday in 1988. Four cassettes in a hand made box with the band members symbols on the lid. Unfortunately, I played the tapes so much they deteriorated but I still have the box.
Wow that’s so cool!!!
Awesome in every wayy!
The correct term is “mastering” not “mix”. Bob Ludwig is a mastering engineer.
Exactly. It’s cut hot.
You are 100% correct, for some reason this version has always been referred to as the Robert Ludwig Hot “Mix” 🤷🏼♂️
Some would say that Bob is THE mastering engineer. Weird to hear him referenced as Robert
@@davewestner yeah in this case he’s referred to as Robert to coincide with the initials he uses when he cuts a record. Maybe he refers to himself as Robert and everyone around him just calls him Bob haha
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 Nope, most credits on records list him as Bob Ludwig. Maybe early in his career he went by Robert? Not sure as I haven't looked closely at his credits. He would have been pretty young when he did this record...early 20s. Guy's been at it for a LONG time now and he still does mastering up in Portland Maine
Great video! I love this kind of stuff, and it’s my goal to just learn as much as possible so I don’t miss out on things. Luckily, watching videos like this have paid off. I got a first UK dark side of the moon for $30 thanks to another you tuber telling how to recognize it. Keep it up!
Thanks for watching! I love all the little nuances with pressings it’s so interesting. I would def love to have a first UK press of Dark Side, awesome score man
Such good info Kenny! I have the old SD 8236 but no RL. Most of my older records I got from my mom who collected in the late 60s and 70s, and I try to figure out what gold is in them there hills. This channel helps! She gave me a ton of Chicago, CSNY, ELO and some outliers, but the Led Zeppelin and The Beatles vinyls are my favorites!
Awesome!!
Great LZII Pressing! I love the Hotmix. It's a really Rare Record! 😎😎Great Video. I have subscribed to your great channel!
Thanks a lot! I subbed back
Just found a copy with RL on side A and RL SS on Side B...for 15 bucks at a local record shop. I almost felt bad paying so little for it. The jacket isn't in the best shape but the record itself is, probably a solid VG+, and it sounds *incredible*. Easily my favorite Rock & Roll pressing.
Yes!! That’s an amazing score congrats!! Eventually you will come across a better cover from the common pressing and you can switch it.
Thanks for this.
Received my copy today.
Believe the hype! 🔥
Congrats!! Crank it
I'm picking up what you're puttin' down ! Just subscribed. Hugs from Australia 👍
Thanks!!!
The best Led Zeppelin I, II, III, IV copies I have are French/German BIEN/GEMA. The sound has a great definition and sounds very musical with great highs. These are great copies.
I had recently turned 14 in October of 1969. Based on word-of-mouth conversations I overheard in my Freshman World History class, I felt compelled to go out and buy LZ II. I did not own any other LZ albums, or any Hard Rock albums for that matter. (I was the oldest child, with no older siblings to lead the way). When I put LZ II on that Garrard turntable, with a pair of the big over-the-ear Koss headphones on, my mind and my soul and my heart was blown away!!! By the time I listened to Heartbreaker, I was 100% sold on this band.
The only other band I had loved so much, was The Beatles. But when they stopped touring, I lost interest in a band I would never get to see perform in person. This was not the case with LZ. I first saw them, touring on their second album, in August of 1970, in Ft. Worth, Texas. That was my very first rock concert, and the bar was set very very high, for all of the rock concerts I ended up seeing in the 1970's. I saw LZ 8 times during 1970-1977. The impact of first listening to LZ II, and of first seeing LZ in concert in 1970 has never been topped, nor likely ever will be topped, in my lifetime.
Oh wow that’s amazing!!! Thanks for watching!!
@@kennysrecordcollection9573
I was going to say that one has
“ b s “ on it but somehow it sounds like he’s telling the truth. ( rather than “r l “ )
Love a good ole Led Zep story.
Thanks for this video.
@@robinhood480 awesome thanks for checking it out!!
Thank you for this video! Turns out, I have one of these but didn't know what (other than the sound) the difference was. My first copy of Led Zeppelin 2 was pressed in the Eighties (or, at least, I got it in the Eighties -- it was not a gatefold cover, just a single) and that was just how I knew the album. A few years ago, I came into a second copy with a gatefold. I threw it on and was blown away -- the sound was so great. I didn't know there were variants in the sound but it didn't take much effort to figure out that the gatefold copy was pressed on thicker vinyl, and just assumed that, combined with a different mastering from the Eighties, was the difference. All I really knew for sure was that I liked the gatefold copy a lot better, and that's the copy I've been listening to ever since -- and now I know what the actual difference is. Thank you!
Wow that’s amazing!! You’re very welcome for the video!!
I was almost excited... dug out my copy (no small chore!) saw the cover has SD 8236... the disc label ALSO has SD 8236... and scratched into the vinyl it says SD 8236 S-1 (or S-2 on side 2)... but mine is a Canadian version with a solid red label... and no "RL" visible anywhere... so close! LOL... still a significant album for me, I bought it shortly after release in Toronto, on the night I saw the band play at O'Keefe Centre, the unopened album on my lap for the whole show. So it soaked up some heavy vibes!
Wow still an amazing copy and the songs will always speak for themselves no matter what version you have
I also have an SD 8236 Canadian version, but scratched into the vinyl is ST-A-691671 - 1A and ST-A-691671 - 1B-2D ..... this video was like waiting for the lottery numbers :)
@@NedFumpkin haha better much next time!!! Thank you very much for watching
Wow, never knew about this. Awesome stuff!
Yeah it’s such a rabbit hole! U should do a video about all the different versions of “Love it to Death”!
I bought my copy 20 years ago. Amazing.
I have a Zeppelin II RL Presswell. Haven't listened to it in years. Plenty of surface marks but no skipping. Cleaned it. Played it through on my Rega Planar 3 Ortofon Blue cartridge with tube amplification feeding my Klipsch La Scalas. WOW!! What a HOT MIX!!
Yes!!
I own two - used to have three, but sold one of them about a week ago to a guy who was very happy to get it. One was pressed at SRC, VG. The other is a CLEAN Monarch, VG+. I’ll have it for life!
Wow that’s awesome!!
Oh man I saw a Zep II vinyl in an antique shop recently that was the cardboard, non gloss type. Didn't know to look for those initials. Should probably go back and look.
I do have an RL copy. Thank you! Now to clean it and give it a listen.
Crank it!
Love my double RL. Sending it out to get professionally cleaned. Can't wait to hear it after that.
Nice!!!
Thank you !
Thank you for posting. I did not know this fact.
You’re welcome!
Wow. Great info.
Thanks for watching!!
I have the MO version on the old school cover that’s textured. My favorite Led Zep release. I also have the Alister Crowley scribed Led Zeppelin 3. Both records sound great 👍
Awesome thanks for watching!!
So my wife went to a Yard Sale and brought me home (my favorite band by the way) Led Zeppelin ll for 3$, It was obviously old, different outer jacket cardboard feel not glossy. Sure enough RL on both sides in the "dead wax"!!! I immediately busted out my record cleaning wet/dry machine then popped it on. HOLY CRAP!!! Amazing!!! It just sounds like there in your house playing!!! Super Loud and Heavy deep bass!! Hands down the crown Jewel in my collection!!!
Yes!! Congrats and crank it!!!
I've always wondered about this story. It occurs to me that one of those horrid record changer things (of which I had one!) had such heavy tracking weight that skipping would not have been an issue. But perhaps I'm wrong about that, and I'd give anything to have one of course.
In any case, the pressing I did have was played through a fully-analogue system, so there were no ear-bleeding digital artifacts, and it did indeed sound like it was a live performance.
Most every song from Led Zeppelin 1 to In Through the Outdoor, I followed them as they perfected and the sound evolved. Great band.
Found one yesterday! New video is up
nice man I'm gonna watch!
This is EXACTLY why Discogs needs to ID promos! Lots of Radio stations got early pressings
I never heard of this until this video. Mine is an RL!😊🎉
Yes! Thanks for watching
Very interesting, thank you, subscribed
Thanks a lot!! Subbed back
yes, have one!! Wasn't 100% til seeing this!! I knew the RL on both sides was good, but thanks!!
You’re welcome thanks for watching!
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 Hey man, great topic but I need to clear up some inaccuracies. First (and least important) it was Ahmet Ertegan's niece whose needle jumped with the RL master. And most importantly, Bob Ludwig himself recently confirmed that copies with RL on one side and LH on the other ARE STILL HOT MASTERS! Evidently his partner Lee Hulko would work nights in the same mastering suite where Robert worked days, and with such demand for this record, Lee would crank work with him using the Bobs notes. So as long as at least one side has RL it's a Ludwig Hot Cut. I wish I knew this years ago... The standard version that most people heard was, believe it or not, mastered from a cassette dub. It's hard to believe. Incidentally I just grabbed myself a White Label Promo RL of LED ZEP II and that is about as heavy sounding copy as it gets.
@@ItsOnlyRockAndRollPODCAST wow thanks for the info!!!! I’m gonna read up more about Lee Hulko and hopefully will do a follow up video. Congrats on the promo wow
I have 5 RL's....2 Monarch(MO), 2 Presswell(PR) and a Columbia Pitman(CP). 2 of my presses are pretty beat up (a MO an a PR), 2 of my presses are VG (a MO and a CP) and I have my best copy which is a presswell and its a solid VG+. The LW that you see in the run stands for Longwear Plating...They did a lot of the metal stamper work for Atlantic back then.
Another easy tell of a Ludwig is a super-skinny side 2 deadwax/runout. Not all Ludwigs have, but all the super skinny runouts one are Ludwigs. My PR has the Super Skinny Deadwax(based on the video so does yours). I'm pretty sure that why the RL is smaller on side 2 of these particular cuts.
3 rotations to the end groove. 😂
A really good option is the George Piros Cut pressed at Presswell : SD 19127 (1977), matrix : ST-A 691671/72 - X @ GP (PR) ; even better than my UK "Red/Plum" 1st press !!!
I have 2 original Led Zeppelin II SD 8236 RL on both sides, I also have its horrible successor SD 8236. I also have the German 1969 edition that has only one side RL and the other side with the successor mix
I only have the German Side A only RL cut. Does that differ sound wise from the US RL side A ?
Not sure without checking if one of my two versions are RL or not, (will check later).
But one thing I am sure of is the LP Label on one does not match the track listing on the inner sleeve.
From memory one has Killing Floor as the song title for track 3, but the inner sleeve as The Lemon Song.
The other Lp has matching 'Killing Floor' on both. I seem to recall this was the sought after version when I was at school in the early '70's.
I think this may be a RL version. I will fact check later if all of the above is how remember it to be.
Just hope the old brain box is still in good working order, and I can recall why I went into the room where my Lp's are stored.
I know there were many early versions some with the older style Red on top, Plum on bottom coloured label,
but mainly stores would only have the usual Red on top and Green below as all the old versions were long gone.
I have the German pressing I think they sold to US servicemen in Germany it's has RL on side one only but to me side two sounds just as good IMO good video thanks!
That’s awesome there’s so many cool variations
I have the same, my side B sounds like the regular german pressing, not as good as side one.
Mine matches yours all the way up to the matrix numbers as you call them. I don't have the RL but after the number there is what looks like 10 (or maybe 1C) then CTH and after that on SIDE B ONLY there is a really tiny smiley face. I don't know much about vinyl, I never knew of these encrypted messages until you made me look at my Zeppelin III. haha. So if this is common I'm sorry for your time, but in case it's a weird one I thought you might like to know. Glad I found your channel. Now on to check out your Metallica collection... \m/
Oh wow that’s awesome! I never knew about the smiley face but then again there are so many different versions it’s crazy! Thank you for watching though I really appreciate it
I have a SD 8236 cover with a SD 19127 vinyl. Bummer. Thanks for the great info.
Thanks for checking it out! Sorry you didn’t have the right record
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 mine as no number on the cover with k 40037 on the vinyl
Great info on this grail on a record. I was aware of the RL Hot mix but thought it was so rare, I never bothered to check. I had a bunch of copies of LDII and sold off all but the one with the nicest cover & best condition vinyl (visually) .... it was TWO YEARS before I checked my copy and it WAS the RL on both sides. I have more ($) valuable records but this is my prize piece.
That’s awesome what a great surprise!
Have you done a sound comparison? If you have, is the difference *that* profound?
Ive got all Zeppelin albums bought them when I was a teenager , Vinyl is the best way to listen to Zeppelin , wow I think I havd a Ludwick mix , no wonder my dad said look after it when he gave it to me , I was going to give it away as I have 2 copies.
Check ‘em out! Lemme know what you have
Apparently the one I have has a very small RL on side B. I bought the record brand new when it came out. I had heard of the issues with skipping, but my stereos have always been quality systems not all in ones. I am still going to try and find a total RL version if I can. Thanks for the info!!
I’m sure you will find one eventually just keep hunting!! Thank you for watching
The LZ 1 that I’ve got has a turquoise rear cover shot. The front picture just shows the nose end of the airship. The tracks sound much better on this one too. Maybe same issues ! ? Bands sometimes issue slightly different versions of their albums in other countries to test the market in the early days.
That sounds awesome
I'm happy to say I have one of these, original buyer. The end of Moby Dick always made my woofers bottom out.
Thanks - subbed
Sweet thanks!!
Very interesting 🤔
In the mid 80’s we’d buy every copy we found at flea markets and yard sales.
Noticed the different numbers on labels and the covers but only guessed early release to reissue later in 70’s.
I used to swear I heard a difference and no one believed me. Learned to play guitar because of bands like this .
One day a kid wanted to buy one off of me. I said ok to help keep a younger generation on the “ correct “ musical path.
He had to look through all of the zep II records and wouldn’t tell me why. I wonder now.
Have you heard about the writing on the third record ?
“ do what thou wilt”
On vinyl just before the paper label ?
Turns out I have one. By chance. I didn’t go looking for it.
Rumour is that’s some magic creed of jimmy’s interest then.
Yes!! The other side says “So Mote Be It” . They are quotes from Alistair Crowley. I actually made a video about a strange copy of 3 that I found. Has the same matrix and inscriptions as the official release but there’s definitely something off about it haha
@@kennysrecordcollection9573
Yes , I remember that now.
I have read the book 📖 Hammer of the gods. Long time ago.
Thanks
I have both versions evidently. Had no idea 🤷♂️
New sh*t has come to light man!! That’s awesome congrats!!
Damn….I have 4 of those I believe. I’ve got the RL STA#….but a mix on one of them. I’ll have to check out the Metallica vid. Love these old recordings. Everything being equal, the surpass what they are putting out these days. Did I say that….I take it all back. Get the new ones folks!
Hi Kenny! I have a 1977 Greek copy, the cover is light yellowish brown instead of brown, not glossy, almost like sandpaper. SD 8236 on the cover, on the record it becomes strange, it has A 0108, no RL in the inner circle but a mysterious GRAMO on both sides.
Nice I think “Gramo” or “Gramoph” denotes it is a Greek press
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 yes, maybe, the records were pressed by the local branch of EMI which does not exist anymore. This usd to be called EMI-Grammophone...
Hey man, thanks so much for this EXCELLENT tutorial!! I followed along rapturously as my vinyl matched every mark you mentioned (RL both sides, one side it's smaller, LW's ALL of it is there!). BUT, the weird thing about mine is, BOTH sides are stamped with the label for Side One. There is NO Side Two label. However the songs are different one both sides (i.e., it PLAYS a side one and a (different) side two). What is it that I have here? Is it common to have this double-Side-One-label phenomenon? Thanks again for your excellent work, and for sharing your wisdom with all us neophyte audiophiles out here!
Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words! It sounds like you have a very rare variant. Not sure if that adds value but it is still really cool to hear about it! I’ve had some other records over the years that I’ve noticed had label mix ups, I even have a copy of Def Leppard Pyromania where the side B label is Kurtis Blow haha
I have a johnny cash live at San Quentin with the same problem.
Yes, Lots of versions. Discogs lists 800. I have 8236 with the glossy cover and PRC etched into the matrix.
This was so cool..really interesting why they stopped pressing
Thank you my man. Yeah some crazy censorship. I’m not sure but it’s gotta be one of the first records with the F Bomb
I do have a analog CD burner and have made CD copies of my many vintage LP's and cassettes. I am sure a hot RL Zep 2 would also make a great sounding recorded CD as well. I would think there would be some kind a market for RL CD copies.
I for one would love to hear it
Nothing makes a CD sound GOOD
Don’t CD burners (as well as normal manufacturing) clip top and bottom of waves to compress, in order to fit limited data space? No matter the source of “master”.
@@idaslpdhr moving from underneath your bridge would help, troll.
@@_steffinwolf_ that's vinyl that does that.
This geezer of a Zeppelin fan thanks you for the info! Uhm... any chance we could a digitized version of your grooves?
Thanks for watching!! I wouldn’t know how to digitize them sorry, I’m sure there’s an upload available somewhere online
I have an original Australian 1969 pressing. I hope that's the original mix. I'll have to check it.
green silver was eng..stamped
@@victorsthought I bought an RL pressing, I believe it's exactly the same as Kenny's, sounds terrific. However the Australian green label is quite good sounding, just not as loud.
Lol,. That's funny you said unfortunately you do not have the hot mix. Somebody was about to get really excited! Peace
Haha yeah man so many variables with this thing
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 I've never found any good enough condition to drop the amount of money they want for it maybe one day
@@happyhippythevinylguy yeah hopefully you will find yours when you least expect it like I did
Two weird RL variations ive seen:
German copies. I had one for ages I found in the wild for a good deal. RL cut, but ONLY side 1. The difference is truly crazy. This record literally made me grimace any time I went to flip it, but that side 1 was so sweet.
Tiwaneese Bootleg. Somehow, I have no idea, tiwaneese bootleggers got their hands on the RL metalwork and started pressing copies. You can find these copies listed on ebay quite a bit but they are NOT official, they are bootlegs. The pvc material mix they used was likely recycled and apparently sounds like crap.
Wow never knew about that version! Thanks for watching and commenting
Ahmet Ertegun was the executive Kenny was talking about. He is also the founder and head of Atlantic Records and signed Led Zeppelin to his label.
Where did you get that Halloween decoration in the background? I know it's not a music question, and thanks for your heads up on the Zep. album, now I scrambling to find mine, but that skeleton is cool.
Thanks for watching!! I got the Misfiits skeleton from Super 7, they make a lot of cool pop culture related toys and other great stuff.
You rock!
Thank you!!
Great info thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it thanks!
are there sound examples somewhere comparing the 2 versions? Love to hear it.
I believe there are some CZcams videos that compare the 2
czcams.com/video/9473P_0oH84/video.html
I have two versions. The 5 digit shiny one that I got in the 80s. The second one was a gift from about 10 years ago. I noticed the cover felt different, but I had no idea it could be rare. Close but no cigar. As per Discogs, my copy may be from 1973.
side 1. ST-A 691671-J AT W
side 2. ST-A 691671-J AT W
Still a treasure!
Wish LZ would’ve put as much effort into making all they’re other albums sound as good as 2. Not only is 2 their best album from start to finish (imo), it’s definitely the best sounding, no matter which pressing you’re listening to. I Wish I could find an RL copy though. My reissue is still one of the best sounding records in my collection. I Do have a near mint Ludwig pressing of Houses of the Holy though. Best copy of that album as well.
yeah 2 is definitely their best album in my opinion as well.keep on hunting and. you will def find one. try garage sales, estate sales etc. mine was in a large collection I purchased. I just posted a follow up to this video too if you are interested
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 Thanks for the advice but I know there’s no way I’d find that at a garage sale. I don’t have that kind of luck 😆.
My dad drove a material truck for Phillips in Richmond Indiana from 1971-73. Phillips was "RI" for Atlantic or "PRC" in Discogs abbreviation. Here's the scoop on Columbia press-plants and record clubs.
CT/CTH, CP, CSM, RI and MO were pressed for retail outlet only.
SP and PR were pressed for both retail and record club.
Why'd Atlantic farm out their work to Columbia? Whenever RI, SP, PR and MO were running 24/7, Columbia's shops took up the slack. Sometimes a plant for MGM or another plant for RCA would step in, but they were used only when Atlantic was hard pressed to make deadlines.
Why Columbia not press for Columbia House? Atlantic had their record club contracts with RCA until 1973 when Kinney Group's shares of Atlantic were sold to Warner Comm and the Columbia press-plant contracts had either expired or were bought out. That's why 1975-and-later, most Atlantic albums were pressed by SP and PR; any overload was sent to RI, MO, LY and AR.
What's this all have to do with Robert Ludwig? Not a goddamn thing. This is just shop-talk to clear up the Columbia plant/Columbia House confusion. Did the old man know of Ludwig? No. He'd met George Piros a few times who came by to cut plates for production, but that's about it. I don't think George lived in Richmond; he was in NY or NJ most likely.
Thanks for the info! Really cool
Very cool
Thanks man!! It’s a lot to take in but when you hear this version it’s mind blowing especially the drums
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 especially What Is And What Should Never Be.... super powerful and dynamic.
not sure which master/mix i have but its a plum label and Ther lemon song is called the killing floor.i'll have to dig it out.
Wow that’s awesome
Just Bought 1 today !
Yes!
LW in LZ deadwax: refers to Long Wear Plating company, that supplied some of the materials to the pressing plants. FYI, and not really important…
Robert Ludwig Hot Mix Worth 10X's more. So you'll take $2.50 then? Yours has 25 cents on the cover.
Good info man. I'll have to check mine.
Haha I’ve since gotten a cover without the writing. Thanks for checking it out!
In New Zealand rl slip by most ..they go for new ones..got my LZ2..for 20 bucks 2years ago
Can you upload the R.L version so we can hear it? I have 3-4 versions I'm gonna have to do some research
Awesome video 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thanks for watching!! I have a cool update to this coming up this weekend
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 awesome looking forward to it
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 I see you have some misfits stuff in the background on the video are you a big fan?
Yes I’m a huge Misfits fan! Def gonna do a breakdown of my collection soon
I think I have this! Thanks for the in depth guide. My second side, with the small RL, actually looks like SS LR. Any idea if that is it?
Awesome thanks for watching!!! There are quite a few variants, plug the numbers into Discogs, hopefully there’s already another one up there. If not you may have an unknown variant!
Is it ss LH? If so, you have it!
Nice info thanks. Was there a particular plant they where pressed at? I have 3 copies of 8236 can’t find any with the RL though. The matrix’s are pretty worn.
Mine came from Presswell(PR) but I’m pretty sure they were pressed at other plants too
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 Yeah one of the ones I have is from Presswell. And it has J after the 691671. And all the other letters but no RL 😞. Guessing the J came right after they changed it. The LW stands for Long Wear plating metal plants. AT is Atlantic Studios. And the sideways W means Blank lacquers came from Audiodisc. Well the hunt continues 😊!!
@@Bill22jack good luck!!!
Nice walk through on LZII and the RL version.
Thank you bro
@Fred c. Dobbs Hey Fred , no that I don't ...have not been that lucky.
@Fred c. Dobbs Nice , I come across one eventually .
Lots of misinformation in this video. When the Ludwig cut was replaced it still had the dull cover and the original catalog number. The late 70's press you held up was actually remastered by George Pyros and is almost as good as the Ludwig cut sonically
If you find a German pressing, side 1 is RL. Side two is a softer mix and is like night and day. That is a great direct comparison. You will wonder where the dynamics of side 1 went. Moby Dick is just terrific on the hotter version.
Thanks I was unaware of that!
Shows SD8236 with 40 037 above it. Shiny brown cover versus the dull brown we all know. Made in Germany printed inside gatefold.
Damn, I have the 4 digit, low gloss cover but the 5 digit record inside 😢
Epic dude
For sure a lot of people have them and don't know. The ones for sale on Discogs..they obviously know what's up.
I wish I was in the States, I'm sure I'd have found one in the wild for 15$.
If there are any in Canada, they also belong to those who know. 😪
I don't listen to enough classic/hard rock or LZ to justify the cost. Haven't put on any Zep in two+ years. Otherwise I'd have a copy. I still check copies at my locals digs though. Can't hurt, right?
Keep searching! Garage sales are probably the best bet, I’ve had a lot of luck with them
Jeez I wonder if I had one...the one thing I recall about this particular album is how it would traverse speakers all four if you had em. I guess I just thought the drugs that I was doing at the time were really good
Hahah probably a little bit of both
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 ya probably lol
Darn. I'm following along with you and getting encouraged. "cardboard" Cover - Check. Atlantic Catalog insert - check. SD 8236 on cover and disc label - check. The correct number in the dead space - check. But can't find RL initials anywhere. Is it worth anymore with all of the above attributes except RL initials? Thanks
Aww that’s tough!! Without the RL it’s a very common record unfortunately. Thanks for watching though I appreciate it!
I own a SD8236 with Side A RL hot mix SS and Side B LH SS
That means both sides are really the RL hot cut master on your copy. There are two versions of the RL cut and you have the second version. SS stands for Sterling Sound and LH are the initials for Lee Hulko who was Ludwig's fellow engineer at Atlantic Records.
Taken directly from a widely circulated letter online from Bob Ludwig himself:
"When there were big orders of certain titles and there wasn't physically enough time for one person to crank out the lacquers as fast as the record company wanted, sometimes we would help each other out.
For instance, my initials might appear on a Beatles record that Lee mastered.
In every case, compared to now, those titles were relatively easy to master. Once one of us mastered an album and it was approved, we made careful notes, either one of us could cut it and it should come out the same. Back then, Lee and I shared the one room and worked different hours so it is possible one of the plants blew a part and needed a replacement right then with no delay.
So after I mastered the album (which Eddie Kramer & Atlantic approved) it was shipped to all the radio stations and the initial pressing was all from me and Sterling Sound.
Amhet Ertegun at Atlantic heard the album (which Eddie demanded be as hot as possible) and apparently it skipped on his daughters little turntable. Instead of calling us at Sterling and asking us to lower the level a little and telling us where it skipped, they had the disk cutters at Atlantic use my EQ'd cassette file copy and they cut it WAY lower than my original cut plus, in my opinion, it sounded dull and generally not very good sounding in comparison.
So all the disks that were played at the radio stations and all the initial pressings world wide came from me (and apparently Lee cut a part or two) and that was what "sold" the record and made it a hit. A year later, whenever I visited someone I would look at their Zeppelin II album to see if it was my cut or Atlantic's cut. It was easy to see by eye, the Atlantic cut ended much farther from the label and the grooves to the naked eye looked very conservative."
Labels include "CTH" suffix (indicating Terre Haute pressing) and "Mfg By Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y.".
The dead wax side two is slightly narrower than that on side one.
My copy has a white rectangular "PROMOTIONAL COPY - NOT FOR SALE" sticker in the lower left area of the front cover.
Standard Atlantic labels. Generic white inner sleeve. The matrix info sets the record itself as variant 4 according to Discogs.
Nice!!!
I bought this LP when it first came out (Fall 1969) and still have it ..... yep, it's the "RL" version. SO much better than the Release that followed!!!!!!!!!
That’s amazing and thank you very much for watching!!!
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 Thanks for doing this Video, Kenny.
Inneresting!! SD 8236 with an RL only on the first side - assume European pressing as I’m in Berlin - picked it up in a collection with loads of AC/DC and good stuff - few hairliners but it’s listenable! Whatever the pressing - Led is always intense!!!
Hell yes!
I have an SD 8236 pressing, but it's underwhelming. The very first thing I noticed when you turned your copy around was that it doesn't have type under the LZ logo ("Manufactured and distributed By...."). My SD # is also under the Atlantic logo on the label, not beside it. The dead wax numbers are like a lottery ticket. So close to a winning ticket! But, no. Explains a lot of what I'm hearing, or not hearing in this case.
I am depressed to see mines not but< im still happy to have it! :) Edit: Its still a SD 8236
Keep hunting! You will find one eventually
is there a digital version of this? i've always said this was their best sounding recording/mix especially compared to 3 and 4
I’m sure someone ripped it to CZcams somewhere. There’s definitely a comparison video too. Not sure who put it up tho
#19127 was the reissue in 1977
I've always found the best way to do a quick spot check is to look at the dead wax on side two. If it's thin as hell (like the one you have there) then you're golden. Are there any RLs that aren't like that?
Nice method! Never thought of it.
Not too sure if there are any other differences. I’ve only come across a few in my years
There are at least 2 RL side two cuts. One has the narrow deadwax area you describe, and the other one is wider. The wider one sounds a bit different - the drums in Bring It On Home are slightly more dynamic and in my opinion, sounds better. I suspect the wider deadwax on side two is an earlier cut because there is an interview with Bob Ludwig where he remembers cutting a few lacquers to try to get them louder. I have had several RL cuts of LZII and the wider deadwax side two version has both RL and SS inscribed on it.
@@dconsmack wow I need to find one of those!
I’m going to look now on my copy It’s 8236 but no RL???
darn.. I have the SD 8236 on the cover but ST-A-691672-A CTH on the record (Columbia-Terre Haute pressing).... like missing the last number on the raffle ticket...
Aww damn that’s frustrating!
I have the same with RL SS on both sides
I bet the CTH suffix means it was a “Columbia House” pressing. I think I got my copy from a local record store (Music+), but need to confirm 🤔 since I got several records from CH.
@@_steffinwolf_ good ol Columbia House haha
Here's my adventure with Led Zep II. Very long story short. I bought the album right after release. Sounded OK, except...side 1 was just fine, but side 2...one channel OK, other channel (right side?) was about half audio level of what it should have been. That could be remedied by adjusting the level control, but here's what I did. Got my hands on about 12 copies and played each one. Same side 2 problem on about 11
of them, but one was OK. So there must have been a mistake at the mastering lab, most of the defective ones were caught, but a few defectives got through, along with a few good ones that were rejected. I should have said, these were factory seconds that I was allowed to look through. This would explain the defective retail one and the one good one among the seconds, I guess. Maybe I had the "hot mix" at some point. I can't look at the record now, cause I sold it years ago, cause I was a starving student at the time. Have you heard of any side 2 problem? Thanks!
Wow really interesting! I had no idea about that issue!
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 I am on the west coast, so it must have been an issue at the L.A. area plant only. Mistakes happen , especially when they are trying to press thousands of copies, as fast as they can.
What about a sound comparison? What am I listening for? We're both versions released on CD or digital download? Which version is in the deluxe edition?
There are a few videos on CZcams that do sound comparisons but this really needs to be heard in person to fully understand what all the hype is about.
Welp now I gotta go home and check mine!
Awesome and thanks for watching! Let me know how it turns out
@@kennysrecordcollection9573 it’s all there except the matrix reads ST-A691671-1B CTH
@@THEDnARACER awww man that’s close
I have the sd8236 STA 691672-MO then sta 671612-L etched on the vinyl always Tape recorded and then put all of my albums in plastic inner-outer sleaves after the 1st listen . still mint to M- after 50 yrs
Nice!! The MO is for the Monarch Pressing plant
If you're playing it, it's not mint.
How does the sound quality of the RL vinyl pressings compare to the sound on CD's? I would guess the CD's are just as good or better?
Honestly not sure about how the sound compares to a CD. Thanks for watching!