Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti - 1st U.S. double Lp Pressing?

Thanks a lot Chris, it seems the Canadian Led Zep pressings continue to get high marks here on the Forum with the addition of your findings. I'll be looking for a couple of Zeppelin Lp's on Canadian vinyl (I'm pretty sure you can't have too many Zeppelin records... )

Did I mention yet that this place (the Forum) rocks???

Many thanks,

Scott

 

It was my pleasure.

Thanks to you too...

I found I had a first pressing UK. So we all learned a little.

 

Hi Ben- I am very glad you listened to your UK 1st pressing again, and reported that its not muddy. I have one also with A-1/ B-1/ C4/ D-1 stampers and its not muddy at all! I compared the UK with the Classic and I will save you the trouble. The Classic (I have the 180g) is dead sounding, outside of that its sounds a lot like the UK. Let me know if you come to the same conclusion. I also have a non original US purchased in 1977, thats just OK. You know the type, not the last word in bass, dynamics, tansparancy, or involvement, but very good tonally- like a milloin other US zep pressings!

Excellent thread, I love talking about Zep on vinyl, I simply do not tire of it.

 

Hi John...Thanks, but shoot-out has been done and reported. See post # 42.

 

Ooops you are correct Sir!

 

One thing that amazes me is how good records sound when treated nicely. I've had my copy of Physical Graffiti for 30 years...still has the shrink on it with the black sticker listing the songs. One VPI wash about 5 years ago is the only thing I've done to it. It sounds as nice and quiet as the day I bought it.

 

Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti - US Pressings Question

I would like to continue some discussion on this subject, sticking strictly to US Atlantic copies. I'm not interested in Classic pressings.

What I got from this thread (and specifically from Ben's excellent comparisons... I always trust his ears), is that his early US pressing of PG sounds really good... different from the UK first press but still really nice.

In fact, everybody who posted their US matrix codes had good things to say about the sound quality.

Ben's matrix codes are as follows:
ST-SS-753309-B CP AT PR CO-PIT
ST-SS-753310-B CP AT PR F.T. CO-PIT
ST-SS-753311-C CP PR CO-PIT
ST-SS-753312-B CP PR CO-PIT

Stax Fan posted his matrix codes for an 80s pressing cut by Sam Feldman (of Bell Sound fame):
ST-SS-753309-J 1-1 sf/atl.
ST-SS-753310-H 1-1 sf/atl.
ST-SS-753311-H 1-1 sf/atl.
ST-SS-753312-H 1-1 sf/atl.

HeavyDistortion posted his matrix codes for a promo copy:
ST-SS-753309-B AT PR GRT
ST-SS-753310-B AT PR GRT F.T.
ST-SS-753311-B AT PR GRT F.T.
ST-SS-753312-D ATGP(George Piros written/scribbled initials) PR GRT

Here's my first question:
Does anybody have ST-SS-753309-E pressings of Physical Graffiti? Honestly, this seems to be the most common pressing I see around here. I've seen clean copies and trashed copies. I never bite though.

Perhaps Ben, Stax or HD have purchased additional copies in the last four years, and can comment or compare.

I'm intrigued by the Feldman and Piros pressings... would like to hear them.

 

Sorry, I'm out of town, so I can't check the dead wax of my PG copies.

My favorite is a US "Monarch" pressing. The sound is warm and funky. It came from a person who worked in the music industry in the 1970s. Most of the records he had were promos and very early pressings.

For some reason, I think the matrices end with E. I'll have to check next week.

 

My copy is a Columbia House Record Club pressing with the following matrix codes:

Side 1: label--ST-SS-753309-PR deadwax--T1 ST-SS-753309-CRC-1 @T/GP
Side 2: label--ST-SS-753310-PR deadwax--T1 ST-SS-753310-CRC-1 @T/GP
Side 3: label--ST-SS-753311-PR deadwax--T1 ST-SS-753311-CRC-1 @T/GP
Side 4: label--ST-SS-753312-PR deadwax--T1 ST-SS-753312-CRC-1 @T/GP

After reading the above link, I am surprised to have a version with all four sides being George Piros cuts.

All the labels have the 75 Rockefeller Plaza address.
Boogie With Stu has the Mrs. Valens credit.
In My Time Of Dying, however, has NO studio chatter/cough...

The only comparison I have is with the non-remastered CD (that also has no studio chatter/cough at the end of In My Time Of Dying). The vinyl and CD sounded quite similar on the tracks I compared (In The Light, Ten Years Gone, Kashmir, and In My Time Of Dying). I'd like to think the similarity is a tribute to the CD instead of a dig at the LP, but I'd need another pressing for further comparison...

 

Hi Keith. Thanks for your kind words. I'm afraid I haven't acquired any more Graffiti vinyl since. Can't believe it's been over four years. Time sure flies. I am curious about the sf reissue pressing as well. We all know about his well regarded Deja Vu cut.

 

I have three copies of US pressings - two MO (Monarch) and one PR (?) - the MO pressings sound a bit better regarding dynamics/liveliness, but the PR is on quieter vinyl (and generally in better shape).
But I also have a 1st UK press with the Kings Road adress and printed by Gothic and it is my favourite pressing - it really rocks !

 

My PR copy has the cough and it sounds WAY better than my unremastered CD..... IMO

 

Keith,

I have not purchased any other copies of " Physical Graffiti", but I can tell you that my Promo copy sounds even better (and quieter) since I've upgraded my turntable/tonearm/cartridge, amplifier and pre-amplifier in the last 2 years.


Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

Looks like I was mistaken about the "E" matrices. On my US Monarch pressing all the matrices end with "B B" (the second B is very faint)

SIDE ONE ST-SS-753309-B B MR(in circle) (triangle)19707(3) AT PR
SIDE TWO ST-SS-753310-B B MR(in circle) (triangle)19707-X (3) IS PR F.T.
SIDE THREE ST-SS-753311-B B MR(in circle) IS AT (triangle)19708(4) F.T. PR
SIDE FOUR ST-SS-753312-B B MR(in circle) (triangle)19708-X (6) PR IS

 

Thanks for taking the time to post the Monarch Deadwax

 

Here is the information about the 4 copies that I kept:

SSK 89400 (SS2-200) UK pressing
Inner sleeves with die cut, test pressing? or Promotional copy?
hand etched matrix numbers with E.G. that means "exempli gratia"=> free sample
Side One
SSK.89400.A E.G. S-4
Side Two
SSK.89400.B E.G. S-4
Side Three
SSK.89400.C E.G. S-4
Side Four
SSK.89400.D E.G. S-2

SSK 89400 (SS2-200) First UK pressing
Side One
SSK.89400.A1
Side Two
SSK.89400.B4
Side Three
SSK.89400.C1
Side Four
SSK.89400.D1

SWAN SONG SS2-200 1198 US elder pressing
Side One
ST-SS-753309-MO
ST-SS-753309-BB MR Δ19707(6) AT PR
Side Two
ST-SS-753310-MO
ST-SS-753310-BB MR AT Δ19707-X(9) PR FT
Side Three
ST-SS-753311-MO
ST-SS-753311-BB MR AT Δ19708(9) FT PR
Side Four
ST-SS-753312-MO
ST-SS-753312-BB MR Δ19708-X(1) PR

SWAN SONG SS2-200 1198 US pressing
Promotional copy not for sale sticker
Black sticker with track names
Side One
ST-SS-753309-PR
ST-SS-753309-E AT PR FT
Side Two
ST-SS-753310-PR
ST-SS-753310-C AT PR FT
Side Three
ST-SS-753311-PR
ST-SS-753311-E AT GP S5-5 PR
Side Four
ST-SS-753312-PR
ST-SS-753312-D AT GP PR

The best sounding for me is the 1st UK pressing with A1,B1,C4,D1. It's the only that when you play "In My Time Of Dying" you can hear and feel the untamed dynamic of the 1st drum beats On this one there's no limiting!

 

For those that might be interested, I stumbled on this popsike archived auction of a Physical Graffiti US test pressing. Here are the Matrix #s listed in the ad.

ST-SS-753309-D AT F.T. PR

ST-SS-753310-D A.T. F.T. PR

ST-SS-753311-D AT PR F.T.

ST-SS-753312-D AT-51 PR

http://www.popsike.com/Led-Zeppelin-Physical-Graffiti-RARE-LP-TEST-PRESSING/290322800587.html

 

FYI, I came across a CRC copy today that had Piros deadwax for all 4 sides. Was in great shape. Guessing late 70s as there was no barcode, however since I typically avoid Record Club Pressings I don't know a lot about them. This was different since GP cut it, and the condition was great.

So far sounds quite good.

 

Cassius,

How does it compare to some other pressings you may have?

(A CRC with Piros on all 4 sides should be close to my copy...)

 

I just purchased a Monarch pressing. The catalog number is SS 2-200 The labels/matrices read:
(gray text is lightly etched)
Side 1:
Label: (ST-SS-753309-MO)
Matrix: ST-SS-75330-BB-EX MR(in circle) triangle19707(13) AT PR

Side 2:
Label: (ST-SS-753310-MO)
Matrix: ST-SS-753310-DD-EX MR(in circle) AT tringle19707-X F.T.(10) PR

Side 3:
Label: (ST-SS-753311-MO)
Matrix: ST-SS-753311-BB MR(in circle) AT triangle19708(crossed out 6)(7) F.T. IS(maybe, very light) PR

Side 4:
Label: (ST-SS-753312-MO)
Matrix: ST-SS-753312-CD C-EX ST-7 MR(in circle) tringle19708-X(14) PR

 

Mine has in the label: SS 2-200 (Rockefeller)
Dead Wax
ST-SS-753309-B AT PR
ST-SS-753309-B AT PR FT
ST-SS-753309-D AT PR FT
ST-SS-753309-D AT PR GP

Is it a US first press or what?

 

OK, I'll give this a shot. This is what mine has (US SS 2-200 75 Rockefeller Ave. Labels). It's always sounded great to me. Thick vinyl.

Grey is lightly etched.

1: ST-SS-753309-D AT F.T. Fl PR Encircled "2" D-A
2: ST-SS-753310-D Encircled "2" AT F.T. Fl PR D-A
3: ST-SS-753311-C Fl PR L D-A
4: ST-SS-753311-C D (Scratched out) L ST-7 Fl PR D-A

 

Interesting. I just checked my US pressing and it matches almost all of the matrix info in the listing for that test press. Mine has the same except my Side 3 is different:

Side 1: ST-SS-753309-D AT F.T. PR

Side 2: ST-SS-753310-D A.T. F.T. PR

Side 3: ST-SS-753311-G (I can't quite make out the writing here it almost looks like "@fGP")

Side 4: ST-SS-753312-D AT-51 PR (I think the listing posted on Popsike is wrong with it being AT-51. To me it looks like AT-SP or AT-SD.)

There are some more faint etchings too, but I'm a little too lazy too type those out right now.

It also SS 2-200 labels with the 75 Rockefeller address and the Mrs. Valens credit.

 

mine are pretty similar to this. there is a very light CTH on all for sides as well. what would that mean?

 

That one's easy. Pressed at Columbia Terre Haute, Indiana. Site eventually became Sony's US CD plant DADC.