The RL cut is always a good test for a new turntable. If your setup can handle it then rest assured it can cope with anything else you throw at it. I have a copy with the narrow deadwax on Side 2 and when I say narrow, I mean there's barely any room for the run-out groove and yet it holds up right to the end. If you see one come up, grab it. It's the best way to hear this iconic album.
Awesome video! I’m still on the hunt for two Ludwig-mastered albums: Led Zeppelin II and Rage Against The Machine’s debut. They’re super pricey, but by all accounts very well worth it.
If I got a nickel for every time I have looked at deadwax on a copy of this album.....someday I will see those magic RL initials in the wild....someday🙏🙏 Great video...
Once you hear the RL version, the next version sounds like there is a blanket over your speakers. Bonzo''s snare drum is amazing...Im lucky enough to ave a double sided RL.
Great explanation! Yep, the person cutting the lacquers is doing just that and not mixing it That was already done to the master tape which was used to cut the lacquers. But, the person cutting the lacquers does have some influence over the resulting record. The cutting engineer is concerned about the finished record and depending on what the owner of the recording wants. If the owner of the recording requests that the record be hot, the person cutting the lacquer can send higher levels to the cutting head. Also being concerned whether the resulting record will track and sound good, the person cutting the lacquer wants to push it to the limit, so has to also vary the groove spacing so the grooves don't run into each other. This is what RL was alluding to when he pointed out that the lacquers which were cut inhouse by Atlantic, when he observed that there was more space between the final groove and the labels. Very conservative means that the cutting levels were lower, so the grooves could be spaced closer together. With the lower levels, the records will have less of an opportunity to skip. The resulting record will not be as hot. Then there are the frequencies. The cutting engineer may find that the EQ of the master tape may be causing distortion at the cutting head, so the cutting engineer can adjust the EQ as well as the cutting levels to prevent the distortion. As far as the first approved records being sent to the radio stations(45 rpm), that was the modus operandi at Atlantic records. Those first records often had plain white labels with what was on the record typed onto the record labels or typed on stickers applied to the labels. Sometimes Atlantic Records would be printed on the white labels and sometimes they would also have printed on the white labels, "Test Pressing" or "Advance Copy". Test pressing were also sent out to radio stations if they sounded like they wanted them to. The 45's wouldn't usually change from those initial 45's, unless there was something wrong with them. But, eventhough those 45's sent to radio stations may have had stereo versions, the public wasn't given the opportunity to buy the stereo version. Instead, the public may only able to buy the mono 45 versions. Those versions were often unique to themselves and never reproduced in mono elsewhere. Atlantic was famous for making special albums for radio stations. In those albums normally segued together, like from Yes, Atlantic would put each track in it's own band and would not go into the next track. As the most common of these were made for AM radio stations, they also were stand alone mono versions. Still talking about 45's, look at a Motown 45 from the 60's. They were mixed so hot that the grooves actually ran into each other. That was from the cutting engineer cranking up the levels. I have noticed that the name "LENNY" is often in the deadwax of these 45's. This is what Motown wanted. Their reasoning behind this was that they felt that the people buying their 45's were usually kids who had inexpensive record players, so they weren't very loud and Motown helped them with hot-cut records. Also, these were also mono because stereo couldn't be cranked up as much. Toward the end of the 60's and into the 70's, Motown went to more of a finer type of groove like a stereo groove might be. Motown eventually climbed onboard in the early-70's and started putting out stereo 45's for the public.
I've always just referred to it as the RL cut or RL hot cut. I've got 5 of them (2 Monarch, 2 Presswells and a Columbia Pitman). My best copy is a solid VG+ PR. My other 4 are VG or lower. Even in a beat up grade the RL cut sound pretty damn powerful and if turned up loud enough will drowned out the surface noise to a pretty decent extent.
I got mine many years ago when vinyl was headed to the graveyard. Excellent copy for 75 bucks. Amazing sound. Its just barks when it comes out of the speakers.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion thanks for replying dave. im in singapore so its quite tough. do u know roughly how many rl lz2 exist? so far i only have the japanese 1st press with blue/green atlantic labels. it sounds amazing with lotsa low end but im sure the rl will trounce it
@@ceejaydeesoozaa I’m sure it’s tens of thousands, but how many are In decent condition (VG or better) probably knocks out half of what was made. Oddly I found my US copy in Sweden so never say never!
I just picked up a copy a few months ago. No regrets that said it was salty $300. It’s VG/+ and Sounds AMAZING! I’d say they will only get harder to find, not making anymore of these! Good Video 🎶⚡️✌️
Somehow, I've been fortunate enough to come across three of these since I opened my record store back in 2019. My keeper is a solid VG+ and it sounds HUGE.
I wonder if a certain area of the US got most of the RL cuts. Mine came from Wisconsin 20 years ago via ebay and the seller told me he bought it new as a kid.
I recently was at a record show and wasn't even looking for an RL Zep 2 but I found one digging through a random crate, the dealer wanted $60 for it, not in great shape probably in G condition no major scratches or skips, he gave it to me for $40 because I've bought from him before, I was thrilled because I just wanted to listen to the damn thing on my system and see what the hype is all about crappy copy or not I was glad to find it, then at another dealers table a few minutes later I found another copy in VG condition, he wanted $175 for it but again I've bought from him before so he gave it to me for $125, two scores in about ten minutes! They both sound incredible, I think the one that's in G condition sounds even "hotter" if that's possible, but there's a lot of surface noise of course, anyway the RL "hot mix" hype is real!
Very interesting. I know somebody I believe that has that RL side and L? (I forget Lee's last name) sided pressing. Thanks for the info David. Also, Ahmet Erdegun was the guy at Atlantic Records that made the deal with Led Zeppelin and was close with the LZ camp. He all signed a lot of other very famous bands and was an Atlantic Records big wig. I don't really know what all his role was though. In fact the 2007 final Led Zeppelin show was in his honor because he had just passed away shortly before the concert. It might have been a year or three and I don't really remember. He seemed like he was really a great guy and honest when it came to the bands he worked with. He actually loved the music and would go see the bands often. I think he was sitting next to Mick Jagger, or at least one of the Rolling Stones, at a concert when he had his heart attack and died. I don't remember those details and they may be a little skewed on how he died. But he is responsible for signing a lot of the 1960s and 1970s, and even earlier but I don't know how far back, music that we know today. Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
I have not been able to find a "RL" mastering of this album in good shape. If I'm going to pay the high price this edition is getting, I want it to be clean without loud surface noise. However, I haven't given up yet...lol...
Hi David, I have a question for you. A while back my I bought a several boxes of albums from a woman that was getting rid of albums she had in her garage. There were all sorts of different styles of music. She told me that they were decades old. In the boxes of CW/Rock/Soul/Christian/75's etc, there was the "Led Zeppelin II with the RL/SS on both sides. At the time I had just started collecting records. I bought several dozen and she (being my mail delivering person) said "I see you are collection records, I have some to get rid of, would you be interested in buying them?" I said that I would be interested and went to see the albums. The sadness hit when I noticed that they were in her garage. I looked at the boxes of albums and noticed some were molded jackets because you could smell them. I went and gave here $400 for the lot. There were all sorts of comedy (Cheech and Chong, Bill Cosby, etc) and as I checked them out the covers were ok to pristine however the records have their original sleeves. Static and mold on many of the albums. However some were in really good shape. One of them was the Led Zeppelin II that was very playable. I cleaned it with the microfiber cloth and brushes and record cleaner. It still has a popping sound but not bad, as you turn the sound up it gets drowned out. However listening to it with headphones you will hear every nauseating "crackle, pop" in the background. So I bought a Sonic cleaner and gave it a bath as instructed and then re-cleaned it with a fresh microfiber brush. Now the static/popping is just slight. I bought a better Cartridge for my old Pioneer PL-117d turntable and let it go to town. Now the record is much better but not perfect. Is there anything you would recommend doing to remove the rest or is it better left alone....I really is in very playable condition with no "bumping or skipping" of any tracks. There are really some great albums in these boxes and I am trying to rescue them all..Thanks for your information on RL/SS. Rick Edwards
Hey Rick, sorry for the delay in response. The odds are much of what is left is actual wear within the grooves and not reversible. A high end ultrasonic with a higher frequency and better cavitation could make an improvement if any debris is in the groove. But if it is wear, the damage is done…. Enjoy it as many LZ II RLs are in poor condition.
Good video. Should go nicely with BarakaPDub's video about this exact topic, that he did several years ago as well as Patrick The Vinyl Archivist's video. Where he did a comparison of the LZ II's and talked about this very situation. With such a hotly debated topic it never hurts to have multiple videos explaining things...so thank you again for this one.
I called up to his studio to find out if a master he did was also dispatched to Ampex for the tape configurations in Elk Grove Village,Illin '69,too.Ihad a clear reel/white labeler but didn't have a deck to play it on.Would love to know.
Hi, Thanks for the informative video. I have an original LZ2 4 track reel to reel tape, duplicated by Ampex, but even at it’s 3 3/4 ips speed, it’s several notches better than my Classic Records LP. Haven’t had the opportunity to compare it to the “hot mastered” RL. Hopefully Rhino HF vinyl will eventually have the opportunity to issue LZ2 and try to at least equal the RL, or improve on it. I assume that Classic Records knew of the RL, and one would think they would have tried to equal it, but don’t know.
@@Brian-qg8dg Hi Brian, My tape machines motor capacitors melted a bit, recently, so I wouldn’t be able to make a copy for a while. I also have LZ-1 on R to R, and it’s even more impressive, when compared to my Classic Records LP, and to my first edition UK LP. (The pressing just after the turquoise colored cover edition) One reason why the tape sounds better, to me, is that I’m using a Revox A77 MkIV machine. Will let you know when I can make a copy of a couple of the tracks. Mike
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Very interesting. Thanks for clarifying that. I’m curious though…what happened to the actual master tape?. Are all later editions and repressings of LZ II mastered from that cassette??. There must be an original master tape still in the Vaults. I guess Jimmy Page isn’t going to let anyone touch it.
They were used for the Zeppelin Classic Records way back when. I heard, that at the time, vinyl was so out, that these would stay on the shelves, ans then be discounted and discounted. Nobody wanted any of a baby premium for any record. Shoot, when I was 10 in 1982, new wave was so hot, all kinds of classic rock records were super clean for $2 in the used bins. I had a acdc tnt Austrian original and kiss self tilted original all red. Even with remastering from original tapes, still can never be the same as RL, But maybe close. Keep in mind also that the tape was brand new when RL mastered it. The tapes were used I belive in 1977, those sound pretty good. I also did get a "cassette" at lower volume zep 2, juat to see how bad it was. It was very bad. Noise floor super high, as to be expected. There are also some German pressing thst have one side as RL, and the other that sounds pretty good.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion It's small enough, but mine has it, to.🤣 I just had to catch it in the right light, running parallel to Atlantic's address and "STERLING" is on it, too.
I got lucky finding a pretty clean RL years ago. They do sound great. I don't think Ertegun was crazy to base his decision on how the record performed on his daughter's cheap turntable. His thinking was the record should play correctly on the common person's equipment. However, I do think it's odd that his daughter had the same equipment as the aforementioned common person. With regard to the recut, I wonder if what Bob (or whoever at Atlantic relayed the story to Bob) meant to say was the 1/4" master tape used for the cassette edition was used for the LP. In their prime, cassettes had rather mediocre sound, and they were even worse in 1969. I also have a recut LP, and while it is certainly less impressive than the RL, it does not sound "lo-fi." And I know commercial cassette releases did not take full advantage of the format due to high duplication ratios, but still.
The RL's are only the pressings with the original orange Atlantic label. The GC - Greg Calbi I mentioned earlier in this thread is on the WB label that came after with the green stripes.
I would love to hear this version on my home system! Mine is a 1977 Canadian reissue and it's fine, but the RL would be a great listen. I'd love for Acoustic Sounds to replicate the hot one! Cheers
I can honestly say it’s a new listening experience and the walls shake, literally. Yes using the original plates on super clean vinyl would be nice as these old versions are rarely totally clean or quiet.
@@farrellmcnulty909 I’m sure the band would have to approve. Don’t know if any hard plates of the original RL mastering were retained…if not, anything done now would be a compromise given probable equipment differences even if RL documented his settings. May be a historical piece that can’t wholly be replicated. Would also diminish the aura of the original :)
Pretty sure it's Page's fault.. He insists his 2014 remasters are "the best they've ever sounded", which we know is BS and is probably what anyone would say when they're trying to sell their current pressings/versions. 🤷🏻 Let's hope he has a change of heart before it's too late and let's Chad at AP do a UHQR run. 🤞
It has a green photo of the 4 members in the gatefold and the label is a green Atlantic label. I bought it way back then 1969...it is a rare Australian pressing, no others like it but it sounds lousy I think.@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
But lacquer cutting they probably had some EQ control. I had a LH/RL once and it sounds amazing too. So if you can get RL/RL great. If you can get a RL/LH just as good. I currently have 2 RL/RL pressings. monarch and press well. My press well seems to beat the monarch. I think in general these were crap quality pressings in general. I have only heard one clean copy of it ever. Normally they sound like a campfire. I suspect the parts had crap plating or mfg processes stunk. Ahmet didn’t have a daughter. I think it was his niece or something. Seek a RL version but be prepared for a campfire . Just turn it up real loud and the music will drown out most of the campfire 🔥 or if you have a sugar cube like me….remove the ticks and pops.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion yes but not a mix. Eq. As you said. I am not sure if it is just bottom end. There is some “air” in there other pressings don’t have
I've got a RL edition of it, but I also have a 1979 edition from Germany that sounds as hot and as great as the RL cut, I got it at only 15 dollars and no one talks about it.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion... there are several german (70's) pressings with RL on side one (only on side 1). Easy to find here in Europe. But side two is very weak. I have the RL/LH SS in VG condition, and the 1977 Piros, Presswell, X @t GP , in the Runout, which is very close to the RL !!
If you're asking if the "RL cut" is used on digital releases, the answer is a qualified no. His work on those early cuts were essentially destroyed by Atlantic to assure they couldn't be repressed. if the settings he used to make that cut were documented, they could be reproduced if desired either back onto vinyl or onto digital. I have a digitized copy I've made of my RL LZII for playback in my car (I think it blew one of my speakers actually), so beware of the RL cut if your system can't handle it :)
Great TH-cam Video ! So the next US vinyl pressing was NOT taken from the Original 8 Trsck Tape of Led Zeppelin II !! Thanks. Your visit to London..London's Flag Ship ...Oxford Street. Mega Record Store plans to have the Public scratching again and are opening their door soon again ! Post, Your London A trap for the VC camera crews ??.. Exclusive = colour or marblled etc. Greet TH-cam Video. PS. got an UK Atlantic Plum and UK Atlsntic orange/green A1B1 Led Zeppelin II. I can confirm these have not be looked after very well over the years by their owners. I plan to not buy any Vinyl OGs older than 1971 for the next year 2023. These go for £16 - £18 - £20..so I now add a few more pennie and will buy new something I can play in 2023 Vinyl in the UK !
Original analogue tapes for Classic (re)mastered by Bernie Grundman (Test press 2002, release 2005). Supposedly original tapes used to create digital files used for Jimmy Page to Remaster in 2014. (Albeit tapes 10+ years older)
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion i have both : a RL side A / LH side B + SS (Sterling) on both sides, Terre Hautes ; and the new 2014 J. Page remaster . Sure, RL version is KING, better than the UK Plum which i have sold. Now, the 2014 Page version is actually really good ( and i usually never like modern remasterings ). It's funny : even Tom Port (Better-records) says that the Page version IS good ! .....
I got mine 20 years ago off ebay thanks to Steve Hoffman forums. Less than $25 and the seller wondered why I asked him to look in the runout groove for RL. 🤣 Edit, I found the paper I wrote the purchase on. I paid $9.99 for my RL.
It's very odd to see a cassette in vinyl cutting path, maybe Bob forgot all that stuff? Maybe it was 15 ips/ 1/4? I'm only have original AMPEX R2R 4track 3/4ips and several generation of a production master 15ips 2track. That tapes sounds amazing, so (i think) i dont need a vinyl copy. Anyway - very interesting story.
No what HE used came from a standard studio tape. It was the non-RL presses that used an EQ'd cassette for a source according to Bob. Which means a lot of pressings of the album had that as a source which is dreadful.
I paid the high price for LZ2 RL and in its condition it plays worse than my VG+ 77 reissue. I think if you cannot find or afford a decent RL copy than try the 77 reissue and save the money. I was let down after spending the big bucks.
I'm not sure you're 100% correct about the cassette theory that all the other pressings besides the Robert Ludwig were mastered from a cassette because I have a RL copy and I have a PR copy that sound identical both with the same catalog numbers from 1969 but I do not know who PR is but it sounds identical to RL the hot mastering and the next pressing of led Zeppelin II the gold record award copy sound quality is really dull so the cassette theory I'm not sure if that is accurate
I have read that PR was an associate who worked with Ludwig on off shift and did cuts with the same settings as Bob this their similar sound. I wasn’t saying all subsequent pressings had a cassette source, it was an interim solution only and was relatively short lived. If my presentation implied otherwise, it was not my intention.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion that's interesting that PR worked with Bob Ludwig and there's another source out there that sounds similar to the RL pressing with the same short dead wax same catalog numbers same year but you can still find the pr pressing for cheap because most people out there don't realize it almost sounds the same
The letter from Bob Ludwig explains it all, great work in obtaining and posting on your video David. The Greg Calbi mastered Zeppelin II about 4 years or so after the Ludwig, is comparable to the RL record. Most don't know this which enabled me to obtain a copy. He used RL's notes and mastered it almost as good- I have compared the RL with my GC and they are very close. My friend brought his RL over to compare and both sound awesome. So at the least the GC is 2nd to the RL. All of this because of Warner Brothers US CEO Ahemt Ertegun's daughter's crappy turntable skipping when she played the album. Then Greg Calbi basically restored what Robert Ludwig did from RL's notes. The way Ahmet handled this was not a good decision and one of the very few bad choices he made since he was probably the most beloved record label head of all time. Check out his history, very interesting and he got to work with and know so many great musicians.
A hot "mix" or mastering has nothing to do with low end but mastering loud. One can increase the low end but that is not this. This is the same problem RCA had with certain stereo classical LP records (1s/1s such as Fritz Reiner CSO in about 1960) having the stylus jump out of the groove. It was made clear in the notes much later that RCA cut them hot.
While the RL is a tad louder overall that the subsequent release, I would have to argue that certain frequencies were in fact boosted on the first mastering by RL.
Thank you for catching this misstatement as it was his NIECE. "The story goes that Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun gave a copy to his brother Nesuhi to give to his daughter. Her "kiddie" phonograph couldn't track the record, which had been cut with full dynamic range and bass response (the notion that vinyl can't do wide dynamic range or deep bass is a bunch of hooey)." from Michael Fremer article: www.analogplanet.com/content/start-new-year-rl-version-whole-lotta-love
His ONLY"Niece", Leyla Ertegun was born in 1979 which was 10 Years after the Album was released.So do You know the True Story?@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
You're quite the sleuth! I was stating my information from a story in an article from Michael Fremer. However, I recently found this information courtesy of AI ChatGPT: The discovery that the initial pressings of Led Zeppelin II had a manufacturing error that caused a skip in the "Whole Lotta Love" track was made by a listener named Barry Diament. Barry Diament was a high school student at the time, and he noticed the skip while listening to the album on his newly purchased copy. Diament brought the issue to the attention of Atlantic Records, Led Zeppelin's record label, and it was confirmed that there was a problem with the pressing of the album. The skip occurred at around the 4:12 mark of "Whole Lotta Love." The error was related to the mastering and pressing process during the manufacturing of the vinyl records.
No,not a "sleuth" just someone trying to dispel misinformation.Now the story takes a 180 ? Why not jst tell the truth in the first place?instead of spreading the misinfo?@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
The RL cut is always a good test for a new turntable. If your setup can handle it then rest assured it can cope with anything else you throw at it. I have a copy with the narrow deadwax on Side 2 and when I say narrow, I mean there's barely any room for the run-out groove and yet it holds up right to the end. If you see one come up, grab it. It's the best way to hear this iconic album.
Super video!! Many thanks. I've got one of the RL/LH....very happy.
Awesome video! I’m still on the hunt for two Ludwig-mastered albums: Led Zeppelin II and Rage Against The Machine’s debut.
They’re super pricey, but by all accounts very well worth it.
The MOV 2009 pressing MOVLP043 uses the same master as the original RL and the vinyl is super quiet
Great walk through David! I bet this will be a highly watched + highly appreciated video. 👍🏻
If I got a nickel for every time I have looked at deadwax on a copy of this album.....someday I will see those magic RL initials in the wild....someday🙏🙏
Great video...
I can NOT believe the master was replaced by one made from a...CASSETTE - oh sure EQ - all well and good, but....A CASSETTE...
I'll bet stuff like that happened more than we wish to believe.
Once you hear the RL version, the next version sounds like there is a blanket over your speakers. Bonzo''s snare drum is amazing...Im lucky enough to ave a double sided RL.
Txs David! Always digging to the real truth of a story!
Great explanation!
Yep, the person cutting the lacquers is doing just that and not mixing it That was already done to the master tape which was used to cut the lacquers.
But, the person cutting the lacquers does have some influence over the resulting record. The cutting engineer is concerned about the finished record and depending on what the owner of the recording wants. If the owner of the recording requests that the record be hot, the person cutting the lacquer can send higher levels to the cutting head. Also being concerned whether the resulting record will track and sound good, the person cutting the lacquer wants to push it to the limit, so has to also vary the groove spacing so the grooves don't run into each other. This is what RL was alluding to when he pointed out that the lacquers which were cut inhouse by Atlantic, when he observed that there was more space between the final groove and the labels. Very conservative means that the cutting levels were lower, so the grooves could be spaced closer together. With the lower levels, the records will have less of an opportunity to skip. The resulting record will not be as hot.
Then there are the frequencies. The cutting engineer may find that the EQ of the master tape may be causing distortion at the cutting head, so the cutting engineer can adjust the EQ as well as the cutting levels to prevent the distortion.
As far as the first approved records being sent to the radio stations(45 rpm), that was the modus operandi at Atlantic records. Those first records often had plain white labels with what was on the record typed onto the record labels or typed on stickers applied to the labels. Sometimes Atlantic Records would be printed on the white labels and sometimes they would also have printed on the white labels, "Test Pressing" or "Advance Copy". Test pressing were also sent out to radio stations if they sounded like they wanted them to. The 45's wouldn't usually change from those initial 45's, unless there was something wrong with them. But, eventhough those 45's sent to radio stations may have had stereo versions, the public wasn't given the opportunity to buy the stereo version. Instead, the public may only able to buy the mono 45 versions. Those versions were often unique to themselves and never reproduced in mono elsewhere.
Atlantic was famous for making special albums for radio stations. In those albums normally segued together, like from Yes, Atlantic would put each track in it's own band and would not go into the next track. As the most common of these were made for AM radio stations, they also were stand alone mono versions.
Still talking about 45's, look at a Motown 45 from the 60's. They were mixed so hot that the grooves actually ran into each other. That was from the cutting engineer cranking up the levels. I have noticed that the name "LENNY" is often in the deadwax of these 45's. This is what Motown wanted. Their reasoning behind this was that they felt that the people buying their 45's were usually kids who had inexpensive record players, so they weren't very loud and Motown helped them with hot-cut records. Also, these were also mono because stereo couldn't be cranked up as much.
Toward the end of the 60's and into the 70's, Motown went to more of a finer type of groove like a stereo groove might be. Motown eventually climbed onboard in the early-70's and started putting out stereo 45's for the public.
I've always just referred to it as the RL cut or RL hot cut. I've got 5 of them (2 Monarch, 2 Presswells and a Columbia Pitman). My best copy is a solid VG+ PR. My other 4 are VG or lower. Even in a beat up grade the RL cut sound pretty damn powerful and if turned up loud enough will drowned out the surface noise to a pretty decent extent.
Thanks for sharing and you’ve beat the odds finding that many.
I got mine many years ago when vinyl was headed to the graveyard. Excellent copy for 75 bucks. Amazing sound. Its just barks when it comes out of the speakers.
thanks for the revisit dave. i will never be able to own a lz2 rl but im still hopeful..
Anytime you see one, check it. That's the lesson I learned...many out there but unknown by the seller!
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion thanks for replying dave. im in singapore so its quite tough. do u know roughly how many rl lz2 exist? so far i only have the japanese 1st press with blue/green atlantic labels. it sounds amazing with lotsa low end but im sure the rl will trounce it
@@ceejaydeesoozaa I’m sure it’s tens of thousands, but how many are
In decent condition (VG or better) probably knocks out half of what was
made. Oddly I found my US copy in Sweden so never say never!
I just picked up a copy a few months ago. No regrets that said it was salty $300. It’s VG/+ and Sounds AMAZING! I’d say they will only get harder to find, not making anymore of these! Good Video 🎶⚡️✌️
That is a great price!
Great info David! You went the extra mile on this one brother!❤❤❤
Somehow, I've been fortunate enough to come across three of these since I opened my record store back in 2019. My keeper is a solid VG+ and it sounds HUGE.
You’ve beaten the odds! I found my VG+ in Sweden for $39Euro ($45USD at the time). Store owner didn’t know what he had.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion All three of mine have been a dollar, or less, because they came from bulk collections.
I wonder if a certain area of the US got most of the RL cuts. Mine came from Wisconsin 20 years ago via ebay and the seller told me he bought it new as a kid.
Excellent explanation. Thank you
Great stuff. Such a great story
I recently was at a record show and wasn't even looking for an RL Zep 2 but I found one digging through a random crate, the dealer wanted $60 for it, not in great shape probably in G condition no major scratches or skips, he gave it to me for $40 because I've bought from him before, I was thrilled because I just wanted to listen to the damn thing on my system and see what the hype is all about crappy copy or not I was glad to find it, then at another dealers table a few minutes later I found another copy in VG condition, he wanted $175 for it but again I've bought from him before so he gave it to me for $125, two scores in about ten minutes! They both sound incredible, I think the one that's in G condition sounds even "hotter" if that's possible, but there's a lot of surface noise of course, anyway the RL "hot mix" hype is real!
Nice story! Certainly you beat the odds!
We just refer to this as the “Hot Cut” version.
Informative as always. 👍🏻❤️🙏🏻
Very interesting. I know somebody I believe that has that RL side and L? (I forget Lee's last name) sided pressing. Thanks for the info David.
Also, Ahmet Erdegun was the guy at Atlantic Records that made the deal with Led Zeppelin and was close with the LZ camp. He all signed a lot of other very famous bands and was an Atlantic Records big wig. I don't really know what all his role was though. In fact the 2007 final Led Zeppelin show was in his honor because he had just passed away shortly before the concert. It might have been a year or three and I don't really remember. He seemed like he was really a great guy and honest when it came to the bands he worked with. He actually loved the music and would go see the bands often. I think he was sitting next to Mick Jagger, or at least one of the Rolling Stones, at a concert when he had his heart attack and died. I don't remember those details and they may be a little skewed on how he died. But he is responsible for signing a lot of the 1960s and 1970s, and even earlier but I don't know how far back, music that we know today.
Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
Lee Hulko was Bob’s assistant engineer in 1969. Ahmet died in 2006. Thanks as always Brian!!!
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion Thank you 👍
This would make an interesting RSD release.
I have not been able to find a "RL" mastering of this album in good shape. If I'm going to pay the high price this edition is getting, I want it to be clean without loud surface noise. However, I haven't given up yet...lol...
Good luck as I’ve seen many worn copies. I ended up finding mine in Sweden for $45 (VG++)
Yeah, no point in shelling out the cash for a worn out copy.
Hi David, I have a question for you. A while back my I bought a several boxes of albums from a woman that was getting rid of albums she had in her garage. There were all sorts of different styles of music. She told me that they were decades old. In the boxes of CW/Rock/Soul/Christian/75's etc, there was the "Led Zeppelin II with the RL/SS on both sides. At the time I had just started collecting records. I bought several dozen and she (being my mail delivering person) said "I see you are collection records, I have some to get rid of, would you be interested in buying them?" I said that I would be interested and went to see the albums. The sadness hit when I noticed that they were in her garage. I looked at the boxes of albums and noticed some were molded jackets because you could smell them. I went and gave here $400 for the lot. There were all sorts of comedy (Cheech and Chong, Bill Cosby, etc) and as I checked them out the covers were ok to pristine however the records have their original sleeves. Static and mold on many of the albums. However some were in really good shape. One of them was the Led Zeppelin II that was very playable. I cleaned it with the microfiber cloth and brushes and record cleaner. It still has a popping sound but not bad, as you turn the sound up it gets drowned out. However listening to it with headphones you will hear every nauseating "crackle, pop" in the background. So I bought a Sonic cleaner and gave it a bath as instructed and then re-cleaned it with a fresh microfiber brush. Now the static/popping is just slight. I bought a better Cartridge for my old Pioneer PL-117d turntable and let it go to town. Now the record is much better but not perfect. Is there anything you would recommend doing to remove the rest or is it better left alone....I really is in very playable condition with no "bumping or skipping" of any tracks. There are really some great albums in these boxes and I am trying to rescue them all..Thanks for your information on RL/SS. Rick Edwards
Hey Rick, sorry for the delay in response. The odds are much of what is left is actual wear within the grooves and not reversible. A high end ultrasonic with a higher frequency and better cavitation could make an improvement if any debris is in the groove. But if it is wear, the damage is done…. Enjoy it as many LZ II RLs are in poor condition.
I just bought a very clean version of LZII. I spent a pretty penny, but I have RL on both sides.
@@samantham277 congratulations! Enjoy the power of that RL :)
Good video.
Should go nicely with BarakaPDub's video about this exact topic, that he did several years ago as well as Patrick The Vinyl Archivist's video. Where he did a comparison of the LZ II's and talked about this very situation.
With such a hotly debated topic it never hurts to have multiple videos explaining things...so thank you again for this one.
Thanks Mark!
I called up to his studio to find out if a master he did was also dispatched to Ampex for the tape configurations in Elk Grove Village,Illin '69,too.Ihad a clear reel/white labeler but didn't have a deck to play it on.Would love to know.
Let me know if you get a response!
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion Well,Id have to email them to find out!!The studio guy I talked to couldn't get an answer for me directly.
Hi,
Thanks for the informative video.
I have an original LZ2 4 track reel to reel tape, duplicated by Ampex, but even at it’s 3 3/4 ips speed, it’s several notches better than my Classic Records LP.
Haven’t had the opportunity to compare it to the “hot mastered” RL.
Hopefully Rhino HF vinyl will eventually have the opportunity to issue LZ2 and try to at least equal the RL, or improve on it.
I assume that Classic Records knew of the RL, and one would think they would have tried to equal it, but don’t know.
Maybe you can post at least one track from that reel. I would love to hear it agaisnt my RL vinyl version
@@Brian-qg8dg Hi Brian,
My tape machines motor capacitors melted a bit, recently, so I wouldn’t be able to make a copy for a while.
I also have LZ-1 on R to R, and it’s even more impressive, when compared to my Classic Records LP, and to my first edition UK LP.
(The pressing just after the turquoise colored cover edition)
One reason why the tape sounds better, to me, is that I’m using a Revox A77 MkIV machine.
Will let you know when I can make a copy of a couple of the tracks.
Mike
Very interesting. Thanks for clarifying that. I’m curious though…what happened to the actual master tape?. Are all later editions and repressings of LZ II mastered from that cassette??. There must be an original master tape still in the Vaults. I guess Jimmy Page isn’t going to let anyone touch it.
They were used for the Zeppelin Classic Records way back when. I heard, that at the time, vinyl was so out, that these would stay on the shelves, ans then be discounted and discounted. Nobody wanted any of a baby premium for any record. Shoot, when I was 10 in 1982, new wave was so hot, all kinds of classic rock records were super clean for $2 in the used bins. I had a acdc tnt Austrian original and kiss self tilted original all red.
Even with remastering from original tapes, still can never be the same as RL, But maybe close. Keep in mind also that the tape was brand new when RL mastered it.
The tapes were used I belive in 1977, those sound pretty good.
I also did get a "cassette" at lower volume zep 2, juat to see how bad it was. It was very bad. Noise floor super high, as to be expected.
There are also some German pressing thst have one side as RL, and the other that sounds pretty good.
I have 3 RL copies. Yes they sound great. The first UK press can hold its own though. Sometimes its my preferred listen.
Does anyone know if the “Remastered” Amazon streaming version is the Ludwig master or some Amazon funny business?
He did Houses, too? I have an original pressing at home. I must check the run out groove.
Yes I check mine and there it was!
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion It's small enough, but mine has it, to.🤣 I just had to catch it in the right light, running parallel to Atlantic's address and "STERLING" is on it, too.
Great explanation Michael. What do you think about Jimmy Page’s remasters in comparison to the Robert Ludwig’s?
Not a fan of the Jimmy Page remasters plus they are digital and suffer from weak dynamic range compared to anything RL did. Thanks for watching.
I got lucky finding a pretty clean RL years ago. They do sound great.
I don't think Ertegun was crazy to base his decision on how the record performed on his daughter's cheap turntable. His thinking was the record should play correctly on the common person's equipment. However, I do think it's odd that his daughter had the same equipment as the aforementioned common person.
With regard to the recut, I wonder if what Bob (or whoever at Atlantic relayed the story to Bob) meant to say was the 1/4" master tape used for the cassette edition was used for the LP. In their prime, cassettes had rather mediocre sound, and they were even worse in 1969. I also have a recut LP, and while it is certainly less impressive than the RL, it does not sound "lo-fi." And I know commercial cassette releases did not take full advantage of the format due to high duplication ratios, but still.
The RL's are only the pressings with the original orange Atlantic label. The GC - Greg Calbi I mentioned earlier in this thread is on the WB label that came after with the green stripes.
I had a super clean "cassette " version. Volume low, high noise floor, sound bland.. yep, that'd the sound of a cassette recorded at low volume!!
I would love to hear this version on my home system! Mine is a 1977 Canadian reissue and it's fine, but the RL would be a great listen. I'd love for Acoustic Sounds to replicate the hot one! Cheers
I can honestly say it’s a new listening experience and the walls shake, literally. Yes using the original plates on super clean vinyl would be nice as these old versions are rarely totally clean or quiet.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion So, who or what's to stop anyone from cranking out a reissue? The band?
@@farrellmcnulty909 I’m sure the band would have to approve. Don’t know if any hard plates of the original RL mastering were retained…if not, anything done now would be a compromise given probable equipment differences even if RL documented his settings. May be a historical piece that can’t wholly be replicated. Would also diminish the aura of the original :)
Pretty sure it's Page's fault.. He insists his 2014 remasters are "the best they've ever sounded", which we know is BS and is probably what anyone would say when they're trying to sell their current pressings/versions. 🤷🏻
Let's hope he has a change of heart before it's too late and let's Chad at AP do a UHQR run. 🤞
I have the Australian "green photo" pressing of Led Zep 11...how does this rate please?
I have researched “green photo” for LZII Australian and not found a match. Is it the cover photo that is green?
It has a green photo of the 4 members in the gatefold and the label is a green Atlantic label. I bought it way back then 1969...it is a rare Australian pressing, no others like it but it sounds lousy I think.@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
So the remastered one that's on streaming platforms is from a cassette?
But lacquer cutting they probably had some EQ control. I had a LH/RL once and it sounds amazing too. So if you can get RL/RL great. If you can get a RL/LH just as good. I currently have 2 RL/RL pressings. monarch and press well. My press well seems to beat the monarch. I think in general these were crap quality pressings in general. I have only heard one clean copy of it ever. Normally they sound like a campfire. I suspect the parts had crap plating or mfg processes stunk. Ahmet didn’t have a daughter. I think it was his niece or something. Seek a RL version but be prepared for a campfire . Just turn it up real loud and the music will drown out most of the campfire 🔥 or if you have a sugar cube like me….remove the ticks and pops.
They do have some EQ control to boost at various frequencies which is how they got that bottom end so pronounced.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion yes but not a mix. Eq. As you said. I am not sure if it is just bottom end. There is some “air” in there other pressings don’t have
@@revelry1969 yes I agree it’s more that just bottom end EQ but bottom end is what caused the “hotness” skipping issue :)
His only Niece Leyla Ertegun was born in 1979(10 years after Album was released). FYI
I've got a RL edition of it, but I also have a 1979 edition from Germany that sounds as hot and as great as the RL cut, I got it at only 15 dollars and no one talks about it.
Wow, wonder who mastered that German pressing?
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion... there are several german (70's) pressings with RL on side one (only on side 1). Easy to find here in Europe. But side two is very weak. I have the RL/LH SS in VG condition, and the 1977 Piros, Presswell, X @t GP , in the Runout, which is very close to the RL !!
Does this master apply to the digital releases of LZII?
If you're asking if the "RL cut" is used on digital releases, the answer is a qualified no. His work on those early cuts were essentially destroyed by Atlantic to assure they couldn't be repressed. if the settings he used to make that cut were documented, they could be reproduced if desired either back onto vinyl or onto digital. I have a digitized copy I've made of my RL LZII for playback in my car (I think it blew one of my speakers actually), so beware of the RL cut if your system can't handle it :)
I can speak for everyone…. If you own one it’s probably top 3 best sounding in your collection. Doesn’t matter the condition.
One question: what ive the disc has RL on one side but no initial on the other?
He explained his co-engineer did some lacquer creation off shift and didn’t have the RL initials but were the same source.
Great TH-cam Video ! So the next US vinyl pressing was NOT taken from the Original 8 Trsck Tape of Led Zeppelin II !! Thanks. Your visit to London..London's Flag Ship ...Oxford Street. Mega Record Store plans to have the Public scratching again and are opening their door soon again ! Post, Your London A trap for the VC camera crews ??.. Exclusive = colour or marblled etc. Greet TH-cam Video. PS. got an UK Atlantic Plum and UK Atlsntic orange/green A1B1 Led Zeppelin II. I can confirm these have not be looked after very well over the years by their owners. I plan to not buy any Vinyl OGs older than 1971 for the next year 2023. These go for £16 - £18 - £20..so I now add a few more pennie and will buy new something I can play in 2023 Vinyl in the UK !
Ok, so what tapes were used to cut the Classic Records version, and what tapes were used to make the 2014 hi rez cut???
Original analogue tapes for Classic (re)mastered by Bernie Grundman (Test press 2002, release 2005). Supposedly original tapes used to create digital files used for Jimmy Page to Remaster in 2014. (Albeit tapes 10+ years older)
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion i have both : a RL side A / LH side B + SS (Sterling) on both sides, Terre Hautes ; and the new 2014 J. Page remaster . Sure, RL version is KING, better than the UK Plum which i have sold. Now, the 2014 Page version is actually really good ( and i usually never like modern remasterings ). It's funny : even Tom Port (Better-records) says that the Page version IS good ! .....
I got mine 20 years ago off ebay thanks to Steve Hoffman forums. Less than $25 and the seller wondered why I asked him to look in the runout groove for RL. 🤣
Edit, I found the paper I wrote the purchase on. I paid $9.99 for my RL.
It's very odd to see a cassette in vinyl cutting path, maybe Bob forgot all that stuff? Maybe it was 15 ips/ 1/4? I'm only have original AMPEX R2R 4track 3/4ips and several generation of a production master 15ips 2track. That tapes sounds amazing, so (i think) i dont need a vinyl copy. Anyway - very interesting story.
No what HE used came from a standard studio tape. It was the non-RL presses that used an EQ'd cassette for a source according to Bob. Which means a lot of pressings of the album had that as a source which is dreadful.
I paid the high price for LZ2 RL and in its condition it plays worse than my VG+ 77 reissue. I think if you cannot find or afford a decent RL copy than try the 77 reissue and save the money. I was let down after spending the big bucks.
I'm not sure you're 100% correct about the cassette theory that all the other pressings besides the Robert Ludwig were mastered from a cassette because I have a RL copy and I have a PR copy that sound identical both with the same catalog numbers from 1969 but I do not know who PR is but it sounds identical to RL the hot mastering and the next pressing of led Zeppelin II the gold record award copy sound quality is really dull so the cassette theory I'm not sure if that is accurate
I have read that PR was an associate who worked with Ludwig on off shift and did cuts with the same settings as Bob this their similar sound. I wasn’t saying all subsequent pressings had a cassette source, it was an interim solution only and was relatively short lived. If my presentation implied otherwise, it was not my intention.
@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion that's interesting that PR worked with Bob Ludwig and there's another source out there that sounds similar to the RL pressing with the same short dead wax same catalog numbers same year but you can still find the pr pressing for cheap because most people out there don't realize it almost sounds the same
This info kind of makes the Mofi DSD debackel pointless. At least DSD is a high resolution format unlike a cassette at 1 7/8 ips.
The letter from Bob Ludwig explains it all, great work in obtaining and posting on your video David. The Greg Calbi mastered Zeppelin II about 4 years or so after the Ludwig, is comparable to the RL record. Most don't know this which enabled me to obtain a copy. He used RL's notes and mastered it almost as good- I have compared the RL with my GC and they are very close. My friend brought his RL over to compare and both sound awesome. So at the least the GC is 2nd to the RL. All of this because of Warner Brothers US CEO Ahemt Ertegun's daughter's crappy turntable skipping when she played the album. Then Greg Calbi basically restored what Robert Ludwig did from RL's notes. The way Ahmet handled this was not a good decision and one of the very few bad choices he made since he was probably the most beloved record label head of all time. Check out his history, very interesting and he got to work with and know so many great musicians.
Ahmet Ertegun had NO Children.
A hot "mix" or mastering has nothing to do with low end but mastering loud. One can increase the low end but that is not this. This is the same problem RCA had with certain stereo classical LP records (1s/1s such as Fritz Reiner CSO in about 1960) having the stylus jump out of the groove. It was made clear in the notes much later that RCA cut them hot.
While the RL is a tad louder overall that the subsequent release, I would have to argue that certain frequencies were in fact boosted on the first mastering by RL.
Great stuff Michael. What do you think about the Jimmy Page remasters in comparison to the RL’s?
Not a fan of the Jimmy Page remasters and them being digitized takes some of the dynamic range out to my ears. Thanks!
I agree with you 100% on that . The reissues aren't that great at all .
It’s the same people that don’t know the difference between lose & loose. 🤯
Or dis and dat!!! :)
Sorry David!
I have a son named Michael so maybe you were channeling/psychic :)
Hi, You mention "Ahmet Ertegun's Daughter" 3 Times in Your Video.Ahmet Ertegun had NO Childern.Can You please Explain? Please and Thank You.
Thank you for catching this misstatement as it was his NIECE. "The story goes that Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun gave a copy to his brother Nesuhi to give to his daughter. Her "kiddie" phonograph couldn't track the record, which had been cut with full dynamic range and bass response (the notion that vinyl can't do wide dynamic range or deep bass is a bunch of hooey)." from Michael Fremer article: www.analogplanet.com/content/start-new-year-rl-version-whole-lotta-love
His ONLY"Niece", Leyla Ertegun was born in 1979 which was 10 Years after the Album was released.So do You know the True Story?@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
????
His only Niece was Leyla Ertegun.She was Born in 1979,which is 10 Years after the Album was released.Do You know the true story?
You're quite the sleuth! I was stating my information from a story in an article from Michael Fremer. However, I recently found this information courtesy of AI ChatGPT:
The discovery that the initial pressings of Led Zeppelin II had a manufacturing error that caused a skip in the "Whole Lotta Love" track was made by a listener named Barry Diament. Barry Diament was a high school student at the time, and he noticed the skip while listening to the album on his newly purchased copy.
Diament brought the issue to the attention of Atlantic Records, Led Zeppelin's record label, and it was confirmed that there was a problem with the pressing of the album. The skip occurred at around the 4:12 mark of "Whole Lotta Love." The error was related to the mastering and pressing process during the manufacturing of the vinyl records.
No,not a "sleuth" just someone trying to dispel misinformation.Now the story takes a 180 ? Why not jst tell the truth in the first place?instead of spreading the misinfo?@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion
does AI stand for Artificial Intelligence? Are You really relying on a chatbot for information? WoW!!@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion