I just listened to my new copy of Led Zeppelin IV (vinyl) and wanted to see what anyone else has to say about the sound quality. It sounded pretty good but since I don't own the CD nor an older album to compare it to, I can't tell if it's lacking in any way.
Original Physical Graffiti sounds excellent, as does II, the classic reissue III also sounds very good, HOH is OK but the original IV does not sound good....it's rough.....but ya gotta have it!
By the way don't be surprised to see Pagey remater and re-issue all of the old Zep albums.
Mothership should give all of us Zep fans an idea of how they will sound.
P.S. Kmulkey get all of the Classic Records re-issues while you can. Page has stopped them from producing any more copies. Which is why I think he is going to re-issue his own versions.
Regarding the original issue vinyl, how did you find a good sounding one? I remember back in the day being constantly frustrated that the albums sounded like the guy that pressed them was smoking a cigarette and got the ashes all over them. Horrible stuff.
Agree with Jlambrick. No two records sound alike in vinyl--there can be significant differences between copies of their 1970s work. Atlantic records was not known from "quality" vinyl during the period. British copies generally sound better than the domestic copies of the earliest albums (1 to 3). US copies were great after 1974. Their popularity caused the plants to run overtime to meet initial demand so production was varied. I have heard nice copies of the original work (the really great ones smoke) and I would agree that II, IV and Physical Graffiti have moments of master tape quality on the best copies.
Most of the re-issues play to the middle ranges (guitar and vox) although Classic did a great job with II.
IMHO: Very hard to collect--most vintage records are pretty beat up from overuse. Many lack solid bass or quiet surface noise that usually drives the best copies. You may wish to wait to the reissues coming in the Fall.
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