I heard that THE holy grail of Zep records, possibly the biggest, is the 1,000,000th pressing of their fourth LP. It had a special plate cut for side 2 which announced to the lucky recipient that they had won a diamond studded stick pin. Unfortunately, the winner of said LP only purchased the album for THAT song, and never turned over the LP! After 2 years though, the lady finally played side two, heard the message (which was placed between Four Sticks and Going to California). She collected her stick pin, and...no more has been heard of it since. Now, ladies and gentlemen...THAT'S what you call a true one-off...
A few years ago I realised that my Led Zep 1 was a rare first UK pressing (with the turquoise lettering and the label error etc) …I bought it for £1 from a friend in 1970 when he decided he didn’t like it! Still near mint too!
If we could measure the slightly envy-flavoured pile of joyful happiness you can feel for a fellow collector , this would reach up to the top of Mount Everest. Congrats from Sweden.
I worked at a station in 1973, had the test pressing for Houses of the Holy. I had to sell my records for money for college, all 800 that I got from the radio station. Many of those were test pressings. Even a signed Queen lp! Of course, I didn't even think I'd be alive today, let alone imagine what those things are worth now!.
Teally enjoyed your story if Zeppelin’s holy grail record. Your excitement is evident in your voice. Big Zep fan myself but have limited resources to enjoy them. Good for you going after that record👏👏👍
Man Love the smile on your face!!! My favorite band as well!!! (Best Ever!) Congratulations on getting that!! Damn!! I just completed my Zepp collection (again!! lost original in a flood!) Actually found a clean Zeppelin 2 "Rob Ludwig Hot Mix" at a yard sale for 5 dollars! Got it home and gave it my special wet/dry cleaning and man it sounds amazing. Anyways Take care bro!
I was in high school when Zep I came out (yup, I’m old). It was definitely mind blowing as well as Zep II. I’m lucky as I still have my first original copy, beat up and, didn’t realize till recently, is a Monarch RL (not that RL meant anything back then). So many of the era I got to experience for the first time. Some notables for me were first Santana and Abraxis, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Joni !Mitchell Blue, the Who Tommy and others of course. Grew up during a great time for great music.
Very Nice Dillon! Fantastic Find!! I Remember Early 69, Hearing "Communication Breakdown" On A Local Station!!! While Hanging With Buddies Telling Everyone To "Hush" Saying What Is This? Then Being Forever Changed!!! Nice Find!! Ahh The Memories!!
Since you asked, I've been pretty lucky regarding Zeppelin records. I have a copy of the Robert Ludwig master of Led Zeppelin 2 (which I didn't realize was different until I threw it on -- that was a pleasant surprise), two different copies of Led Zeppelin 1 (one with red labels, one with the classic labels) and I had a couple of different copies of Led Zeppelin 4, for a while. I still have the Canadian pressing, but I sold the UK copy that I had in order to buy my wife (now ex-wife) a birthday present, I think. Honestly, the Canadian pressing sounds better so I'm happy that I kept the copy that I did. I also have a 1977 reissue of Led Zeppelin 3 that is in great condition. The neat thing about growing up in Niagara Falls was that all the different variants and different pressings of records used to be really easy to find when I was a kid because a lot of people pass through Niagara so, at one time, it was possible to find all different pressings at garage sales. It's not so true now, but it's still pretty neat to find different unusual things occasionally.
After hearing you on Michael's channel the other day saying the Classic sounded better than one of your UK originals, I'd LOVE it if you could do a video on the best sounding Led Zeppelin pressings for each album! 🙂
That is cool. The best Zeppelin’s I have found is mint UK 1st pressings of LZ II and Physical Graffiti. LZ II while not my favorite Zeppelin album is special to me because it was my 1st album. I do not have that copy anymore because sold all my albums when I went to college. I will never forget buying that. I was probably 11-12 years old in 76 or 77.
Zeppelin has always been one of my favorites. I keep watching the Kennedy Center tribute to them. Jack Black was awesome in the introduction and The Wilson Sisters were spot on with their rendition of @Stairway to Heaven”.
Hey dylan. First time comment. I have been watching your videos since before you a record store. I'm going to cush a little and say you are so cool and not prideful at all. A few years back my local record dealer got a led zeppelin I white label promo copy from I think the Ukraine and I cleaned it up for him and got big bucks for it. I happy your new purchase. I'm looking for a led zeppelin I uk with the turquoise lettering. Thanks again.
Congratulations Man , You Scored . I Always regret selling off Records to Make these kinds of Purchases too . We need to start adding a Tag to each Record describing the Value and what we Paid and went through to get the Record . Liked , Shared . Cheers :) QC
I always new of Zeppelin. But I became a true Zeppelin fan after tripping all night at a zoo. Went back to a friend's house. He was channeling surfing, I yelled out, "go back"! We had found "The song remains the same," @ 3 am. Such great music!
I finally got a very nice copy of LZ 1. Not sure what pressing it is but at the end of the listen my first word was “creamy “. LZ1 is my favorite Zeppelin album. Glad you found your test pressing of it. Thanks for all your videos.
You are one lucky dog! Congratulations***** I lived in Florida 90s came back from a vacation and they had a radio station that I normally listen to had turned into a all LED Zeppelin 24/7 stay station so I do have a few tapes from that. I never thought one bad could have so much 🎶 sounds like you could start your own. Thank you for the video. Keep it Rocking!
My friend Jerry saw Zeppelin at Crawford Hall, Irvine, Ca. just a few months after the 1st album was released, he said it was the best concert he's ever seen. tickets $4.00
The Dog’s bollocks or The Dog’s is best of the best or something to be proud of. But simply saying something is bollocks means it’s either a fake or valueless object, or a completely untrue statement 😉
I’m a led head too. Have about a half dozen bootleg lps. All the deluxe versions on lp. A couple of cd box sets. Just found the Zep III album with the cover printed in France with the band on the front. Yeah it’s a problem I have too! Rock on great channel!
Love to see your enthusiasm, over this band, here in the UK I bought the Records the week they came out from Houses onwards, played them to death, until one day they announced the concert in Knebworth on the 4th of august 1979, I bought tickets and went along aged 17 at the time, that whole weekend is ingrained into my memory, the biggest rock band in the world onstage and I was there, so special an occasion.
@@noblerecords Thanks, there was so much demand they had to do add a following date on the 11the of August, that has neve happened in the history of that venue.
@@deantaylor1512 I can still remember those first chords by Mr Page before they went into the first number, then the ground shaking due to John Bohnam, pounding his drum kit. I was very close to the front, and remember that massive PA they had.
I highly recommend watching Celebration Day as a close second for people who never saw them live in their prime live or on video. Jason Bonham on drums holds the traditional sound very well and keeps the DNA of the original band intact. It's a phenomenal show, IMO. Filmed very well with many tight shots having the entire band in them. Plus iconic songs never performed live before. They still have the magic!
Awesome video - congrats on your score! I always enjoy your vids - thank you. I'd like to comment on the VG++ grading, if I may. I hear what you're saying, but I think the VG++ grading can be especially helpful for sellers who sell online (like myself). A NM grading is pretty clear, but there is often a lot of variation within the VG+ grade. If someone is in a record store and looks at a VG+ record, they can see for themselves whether it's closer to NM or closer to VG. Online, we can provide photos, but photos can never be as good as holding and seeing something. So, I find the VG++ grading very useful. For example, if a jacket is NM but has a minor imperfection, like the tiniest corner ding, it gets a VG++. If a record is glossy and looks minty, but there is the faintest, tiniest little hairline that only shows up in the right light - that's a VG++. Just my take on it, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts. Maybe a video on the subject of grading? 🙂 Thank you!
We have a few things in common: We lived in Matthews for 27 years (now in Mint Hill), Led Zeppelin has been my favorite band since my early teens, and l love Benchmade knives - nice Adamas you got there. New sub, looking forward to checking out your content.
Great video and Great get!!! Led Zeppelin 1 Test Press!! Congrats man!! I Love Zeppelin like you ,my favorite and while I don't have a Test Press of Zepp 1, I have all 1st US pressings of Zeppelin with a Promo of Zepp 3 and 4, a RL/SS Monarch Zepp 2. I have the Promo 45 of Stairway and the 1st Pressing 45 of Immigrant Song /Hey Hey What can I Do (w/Do what thou wilt) I also have the Classic records Test Pressings of Zeppelin 1,2 3,4,HOTH,Physical Graffiti. I also have all British 1st Pressings of Zeppelin including the Turquoise cover. I have as probably my favorite Zeppelin items are my 1st issue Japanese Pressings of Zeppelin and they are all Promo/Test Pressings with the Original Obi's. Lastly I have a Zeppelin 2 autographed by all four members. I met Robert Plant over 30 years ago and got his autograph. I have a Original 75 Zeppelin Tour of America concert shirt in great condition that I personally got at the show! I have many back stage passes for Zeppelin from 75,77 I have a few really cool Zeppelin Belt buckles, one is Solid Brass from 75. I have a Program/Book from Zeppelin's 1st Tour in the US. But I don't have a Zeppelin 1 US Test Press, Congrats again!! Peace ✌️
Looks like the station call letters on the jacket are KMET, in Los Angeles. I grew up in SoCal in the 1980’s and they played bands nobody else did. We nicknamed it KMetal
Awsome Dillon! My rarest Zepplin is a Double Record gate fold. Russian press of House of the Holy / Zepplin 4 . It has awsome different album art and Russian language!!!
Wow very cool, Zeppelin is also my favorite band and one of the few that I will collect different copies of. Mainly early pressings and the remasters, but I don't have any test pressings never really crossed my mind but I'm sure the price tag would be shocking. My Zeppelin Grails are a RL zep II and a 1978 mispress Houses of the holy from Columbia House with a silver label intended for Foreigner's Double Vision
In the days of my youth i was told what it means to be a man...T E S T P R E S S I N G !!! I wish I could have heard the dj's intro..." Here's a new band folks...What do Ya think"? Way to go Noble ! I actually heard Zep II before I found Zep I back in 1972. Have all used copies, plus every Super Deluxe box since 2014. That's 42 years, and 50 years of listening and some collecting, Plus Jimmy Page's Soundtracks 4 LP. Walking in to Clarksdale is good too. Even their acoustic tracks on 1968 lp are HEAVY. Not ready to sell anything yet. Where's that confounded bridge...keep collecting my friend...
Imma Zeppelin fanatic also. Good vid, I felt the stoke. I have several copies of most their studio stuff and none of them the rare. I have one bootleg Lp and several cassette booties. I probably gave away more Zep albums than any other band as gifts to friends. Seen them live in 77 and to this day am euphoric to that fact.
Congrats my friend. Great album to have a test pressing of. Hopefully it sounds great. Love Zep I & Presence & Houses of the Holy probably my top three Zeppelin albums. Last band I was in we opened for Jason Bonhams Led Zeppelin experience. My buddy was their production manager...really good band.
Every time Dillon does a holy Grail video, whether it's one like this all us vinyl geeks can get off on or some band I've never heard of - it seems to coincide with me debating getting out of vinyl all together. I sometimes get jaded with how many people just jump on and off the bandwagon for profit or because , sometimes, these days especially , that I just pissed at how much people at flea markets and FB online have jacked up pricing for a record I could've bought for 20.00 10 years ago, and the copy they are selling is STILL only worth 15-20 bucks, shitty condition, etc, but because of all the YT hype they think it's worth hundreds , all that. Then - Dillon comes out with a video that reminds me of how damn geeked out I get when I do find that elusive record, the price is right, or I find it at that yard sale or goodwill, and that's so dope - vinyl collecting is a drug man, lol, watching this I can remember squiring those I really wanted and how the endorphins are kicking , and then I think of the many, many, times I've had to sell a personal holy Grail - and 99.9% of the time I sold it for peanuts because damn - bills are real. Debt is real, and thats one of the worst feelings in the world. I could and maybe have literally cried at having to do that - then this video reminds me - that as long as your breathing , you never know if that HG record may be in the next stop, the next flea market , next yard sale - the next record shop or even the next guy you run into a the records store and exchange contact info with. I literally watched this video and put my records back on my shelf in my man cave, that I had been stacking to sell. There's NO WAY Dillon could know how much his videos impact people and local record store business. I had put back 800.00 for a family vacation that was gonna put me in Matthews NC on my way to my brother's house in NC from Memphis TN - then life happened and I had to use it for bills. My trip is now postponed til 2023, but man - I'm back in the game and the savings start back from scratch - Dillon brother , see you in 2023 , God willing. - Peace
WOW! I didn't know what to expect. Fun fact: Robert Plant was hanging out in the town next door to me just yesterday. He had a show in the area last night.
60 year old boomer here. A test pressing is for quality control. They press a couple ofgeneric vinyl to play and test that the sound and quality are correct. Also to test weight about 120 grams is the norm. A demo has a white label and somewhere on the cover it's stamped not for resale. Those went to the radio stations. There great to pick up because usually the only song played was the hit on the charts. Sometimes a dj back in the day on night shift would play the whole thing if he liked it. test pressings were to be destroyed after .
I like your content. I started about 1968, I was five. My brother came back from Vietnam and was my mentor. I have a wall of equipment still and have never stopped even in the nineties when people were giving them away at garage sales.
Wish you told us how much $. Nice score. I was 12 in ‘68, with stuff like Zeppelin and Pink Floyd playing everywhere you can see why the Beatles just didn’t cut it for my generation. With older brothers we have two great sound systems in our house, friends would come over and I would blow their minds dropping the needle on the latest Zeppelin album. Never forget the look on their faces. 😳
In the 80's I had a Stairway To Heaven bootleg record that consisted of nothing but different mixes of the song Stairway to Heaven. These were all demos of Stairway To Heaven as the band worked on the song, starting with just an instrumental, then other versions featuring Robert Plant singing different lyrics, etc. I cannot find any evidence of this record anywhere on the internet and I sold my copy decades ago. Has anyone else run across this record??
Absolutely you should play it. I have a bunch of test pressings. Not Zeppelin but still test pressings and I clean them, play them, enjoy them but I handle them with extra care. Killer score man!
That's very cool 😎 I'm currently collecting the 2014/15 'deluxe' editions with the companion discs. I have no other LZ vinyl and have no plans to buy any other pressings for the foreseeable future as I really enjoy these reissues. Your collection is cool though 👍
Me too! I have all of the Page reissues with the companion discs and my (currently highly unfashionable view) is that these are brilliant releases which sound great, the companion discs are fascinating and under appreciated (had they been released in a separate standalone limited edition box set it would be highly coveted) and these releases are going to be collectible some day soon. The elephant in the room, of course, is they are cut from digital, but I pity those who let that knowledge get in the way of enjoying a great release.
@@londonrecordlover965 Yep, I'm very happy with the ones I've got so far (I,II,III,IV,HOTH) they put a smile on my face and have me tapping my toes and that's all that matters to me. I'm sure I could pay hundreds for older pressings which sound 3% better (if that!) but that's not a game I'm interested in playing.
That's awesome dude, what a piece of history. I was 12 years old when a girl I knew down the street who was 14 had Led Zeppelin 1 in early 1969 and we were listening to it in her front living room on a record player. Still remember that day!🤘🤘🤘
@@noblerecords I saw lots of the comments and a lot of people don't really understand or appreciate how rare it is what you've got in VG++ condition, it's amazing. On another note, what is your opinion rarity-wise of an original Canadian Atlantic Led Zeppelin I from early 1969, a 9216 red label in VG+ condition?
Awesome!!! 🎶 I know what a test pressing is but I've never seen one. Led Zeppelin is by far my favorite band as well. I really have two favorites but Led Zeppelin is definitely one of the two and the first one at that! I've done the same thing with collecting the boots also. If it's out there, I likely have a copy (or 20) in a lossless format. And new stuff has been surfacing lately. With my vision factoring in I just haven't been able to keep up as much this last year. So I feel like I may be a little behind on some of these more recent DoD Led Zeppelin projects and show releases. I've only got three LZ LP boots at the time and They are all 2 LP sets. And the other 99.999% are CDs, master copies,, and the highest resolution files I can find performances in. It's a lot of fun and I've been doing it for almost decades now. I way overpaid for the 4/27/69 Fillmore West LP set but I wanted to have it on LP. I got pressing number 7 out of 500 on that 2 LP set. Unfortunately it isn't the master copy version but it still sounds great. I just had to be able to listen to it on a turntable anyhow. And it's a lot better than the first copy I got of it back in the early '90s I think. Unfortunately, when it comes to the boots, we're a lot more likely to get better copies in digital format then through LP pressings from EVSD and others. But thankfully some of the groups I'm in get actual master transfers before anybody edits them and then I of course get the edits and remasters/ reworkings as well. It's amazing how many sources there can be for just one show oftentimes. Congratulations on the Led Zeppelin test pressing! I'd be interested in knowing just how much better or different it sounds if you could let me know. I'll probably never be that lucky but I'm glad you found this gem you have been wanting! Rock on... And I'm going to stop rambling on haha 🎶
