Led Zeppelin/First Album US Hot Cut AT/GP Edition

LED ZEPPELIN’s historic debut album, bearing their band name, exists on various vinyl versions, including the famous UK Blue Turquoise vinyl. This time, we’re introducing a record that reigns supreme in terms of sound quality, delivering a thunderous sound! “Is the sound of the vinyl mellow?” No, this sound is truly stunning. Enjoy the power of the “Hot Cut,” which surpasses even the UK Blue Turquoise vinyl. The film “Led Zeppelin: Becoming” finally sees the release of this first album, described as a proud first step for the band. The UK Blue Turquoise logo is a symbol of this album, and with the current popularity of vinyl, it’s becoming an item with sky-high prices. This mega-rare LP has been meticulously reissued on CD, and remains a best-seller to this day: “LED ZEPPELIN UK LP (Atlantic 588171 Turquoise Lettering).” This album was highly praised by enthusiasts for capturing the natural sound of the original LP pressings on CD, something that cannot be experienced with current remasters. It even became a must-have for any first CD release, even if it wasn’t a current remaster. However, among the first releases was a surprising hidden gem: a LP! Among the first reissues released in the US in 1972, when Zep’s popularity was already skyrocketing, was a newly cut LP from the analog master tapes by George Piros, pressed at Atlantic Records’ main plant, Presswell, with a “C” on both sides. This newly cut LP, the “Super Loud Cut,” surpasses the first pressing, resulting in a mega-rare pressing highly acclaimed among LP enthusiasts as a truly exceptional pressing, surpassing even the UK Blue Turquoise pressing in the history of Zep’s first releases, offering a truly loud sound. Indeed, that loud sound explodes right from the opening track, “Good Times Bad Times,” and even “Communication Breakdown” is a masterpiece. Even “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” is overwhelmed by its loud, raw sound—the difference is obvious. While the current remaster’s rugged yet refined finish is appealing to everyone, this is the perfect way to experience the raw energy of a debut album, as touched upon in the film. It’s no wonder this album is referred to as a “hot cut” by enthusiasts: its loud, raw sound is on a whole other level, not only compared to the current version, but also to the UK Blue Turquoise version! Not only that, this album also features the unusual phenomenon of being pressed with the left and right reversed during cutting. As a result, Bonzo’s hi-hat in the intro to “Good Times Bad Times” sounds from the left, and Jonesy’s organ on “You Shook Me” sounds from the right. This sudden loudness and impact, coupled with the left-right inversion, makes it seem like a completely separate mix. Naturally, the difference is easily noticeable even with headphones. While this album has a strong, hard-hitting sound, there are also many delicately-sounding parts, like “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “Your Time Is Gonna Come.” Furthermore, tracks like “Dazed and Confused” and “I Can’t Quit You Baby” have quiet passages despite their intense playing, making a clean transfer surprisingly difficult. This is even more challenging on a loud LP pressing like this one, but once again, the recording is so clear you’ll almost forget it’s from an LP. Be swept away by the literally “hot” and raw sound, completely free of clutch noise. This is an incredible CD release! (44:50) 1. Good Times Bad Times 2. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You 3. You Shook Me 4. Dazed And Confused 5. Your Time Is Gonna Come 6. Black Mountain Side 7. Communication Breakdown 8. I Can’t Quit You Baby 9. How Many More Times