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Bob Ludwig mastered version of Led Zeppelin II

nitrous

nitrous

96 dB freak!
It recently came to my attention that the original mastered Bob Ludwig version of Led Zeppelin II is attracting big bucks today.
So I decided to check out my copy of the LP that I purchased back when it was first released. I haven't listened to it in decades.
Sure enough, it's a "RL" version. So I carefully placed it on my turntable to give it a listen. It sounds so dynamic, that even one of our cats was mesmerized. He sat in front of the speakers, turning his head right to left, left to right as "Whole Lotta Love" was phasing R to L, L to R for almost the whole track. I had to laugh! It even caught a feral beast's attention.
 
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nitrous said:
It recently came to my attention that the original mastered Bob Ludwig version of Led Zeppelin II is attracting big bucks today.
So I decided to check out my copy of the LP that I purchased back when it was first released. I haven't listened to it in decades.
Sure enough, it's a "RL" version. So I carefully placed it on my turntable to give it a listen. It sounds so dynamic, that even one of our cats was mesmerized. He sat in front of the speakers, turning his head right to left, left to right as "Whole Lotta Love" was phasing R to L, L to R for almost the whole track. I had to laugh! It even caught a feral beast's attention.
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There are other LP masterers worth finding. Many worked for Customatrix Mastering or Masterdisk Mastering.

Gilbert Kong and Bernie Grundman are also great vinyl mastering engineers. The good ones usually have their initials or some saying etched into the runout.


Sweet Sticky Thing.
Ohio Players - "Honey." Mercury Records. SRM 1-1038. Terre Haute pressing. Masterdisk mastered. Sterling Sound lacquer cut. Gilbert Kong mastered. 1975.
Run-out: SRM-1-1038-A-CT2 T MASTERDISK G.K.

Roundabout.
Yes, "Fragile." Atlantic Records. SD 7211. Monarch Pressing. Mastered by George Peckham (GP). 1972.
Run-out: ST-A-712367-A A AT/GP PR PORKY
 
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A Ludwig mastered LP. :)

Slave To Love.
Bryan Ferry. "Boys and Girls." Warner Bros. Records. EG 1-25082. Specialty Record pressing. Masterdisk mastered.. Robert Ludwig mastered. 1985.
Run-out: 1-25082-A-SR1 1-1 [SRC logo] MASTERDISK

Note: No "RL" in the runout.

 
Mr Boochie said:
Yes, "Fragile." Atlantic Records. SD 7211. Monarch Pressing. Mastered by George Peckham (GP). 1972.
Run-out: ST-A-712367-A A AT/GP PR PORKY
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I listened to the entire "Fragile" album last week and really enjoyed it. Looking at the run-out just now, I see ST-A-712367-A A AT/GP PR PORKY.........:)
 
malden said:
I listened to the entire "Fragile" album last week and really enjoyed it. Looking at the run-out, I see ST-A-712367-A A AT/GP PR PORKY.........:)
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From what I read, George Peckham was quite a character.

Another of his mastered LPs. :thumbsup:


Jeepster.
T.Rex. "Electric Warrior." Fly Records. HIFLY 6. Mastered by George Peckham. 1971.
Run-out: HIFLY 6 A-2U PORKY [side 1] PECKO-DUCK [side 2] [sideways] 2 L
 
nitrous said:
It recently came to my attention that the original mastered Bob Ludwig version of Led Zeppelin II is attracting big bucks today.
So I decided to check out my copy of the LP that I purchased back when it was first released. I haven't listened to it in decades.
Sure enough, it's a "RL" version. So I carefully placed it on my turntable to give it a listen. It sounds so dynamic, that even one of our cats was mesmerized. He sat in front of the speakers, turning his head right to left, left to right as "Whole Lotta Love" was phasing R to L, L to R for almost the whole track. I had to laugh! It even caught a feral beast's attention.
Click to expand...

Nice. Its the bests sounding LZ II that was pressed back in the day. Keep in mind Atlantic issued a recall on this since most turntables of the day would not track it. People thought it was defective. The Classic Records 33 is a touch better. The Classic records 45 RPM box set is a mind blower. The money the RL cut achieves really depends on condition. So many are VG with a few VG+. Can't remember the last time I saw a NM copy. Even VG+ copies are commanding a hefty price.
 
I do not listen to LP's much anymore but I have the Zeppelin four CD box set remastered by Jimmy Page. If you're a Zeppelin fan, imo it's what you want in your collection, imo it's blows away any LP because of its quality and dynamic range.
 
nitrous said:
Sure enough, it's a "RL" version. So I carefully placed it on my turntable to give it a listen. It sounds so dynamic, that even one of our cats was mesmerized. He sat in front of the speakers, turning his head right to left, left to right as "Whole Lotta Love" was phasing R to L, L to R for almost the whole track. I had to laugh! It even caught a feral beast's attention.
Click to expand...

I remember my cat doing something similar a zillion years ago. It was the opening birds chirping on Close to the Edge.
 
He also mastered the first Def Leppard CD. Dare I say, not enough low end on that…

I will have to drag out my old vinyl once I get the turntable all set up in order to compare.
 
Another song with a reputation for being hard to track is the Bernie Grundman master of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." Heavy bass modulations inducing "S" sibilance.

Billie Jean.
Michael Jackson. "Thriller." EPIC QE-38112. Pitman pressing. Bernie Grundman mastered. 1982.
Runout: PBL 38112-2AH P.
 
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