Are the 2015 Led Zeppelin reissues worth buying?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I know these were digitally done (Why oh why Jimmy?), but I might be interested in a few as I'd like to keep my originals as fresh as possible, and to replace them is becoming far too expensive for me. If you have purchased one or some of these I'd love to hear what you think.

[Bill Hart]

Not in my estimation. They are quiet, have good bass and detail, but really sound lifeless to me. (I bought the first three albums as deluxe versions or whatever they were called, so i could get the extra tracks). I don't consider any of the Zep records to be great, sonically, but I think you can do better with the older pressings without going too deep into the piggy bank. Johnny- why worry about keeping the originals 'fresh'? You gonna go to that great listening room in the sky, and say, "yeah, I preserved my good LZ pressings so someone else could enjoy them?" Drive it like you stole it.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Haha! Yeah, you're right I suppose. Probably just best to buy different material (whether new or used) and enjoy my current pressings.

[Bill Hart]

Haha! Yeah, you're right I suppose. Probably just best to buy different material (whether new or used) and enjoy my current pressings.

You know that country called Canada? LZIII Red Label TG is comparable to the UK plum first press I have with Peter Grant credit A5/B5.
Piros re-cut of LZ1 circa 1974 is typically my go-to; I got a 3rd japanese press for 40 or 50 bucks from a seller on Hoffman- also excellent sounding.
LZII- I know the RL is the one everyone touts, but the Canadian Red Label TG is also excellent, and if you can find a UK plum for reasonable money-doesn't have to be a true "first" it is also an impressive listen- more bass than the RL, not quite as punchy but has real gravitas.
The later records- there are US Porkys, RLs, etc. that aren't big money.
From a guy who has too many copies of the same records.

[allenh]

I was able to purchase some Pecko/Porky copies for <$20 at PrEx, some <$15.

[Johnny Vinyl]

You know that country called Canada? LZIII Red Label TG is comparable to the UK plum first press I have with Peter Grant credit A5/B5.
Piros re-cut of LZ1 circa 1974 is typically my go-to; I got a 3rd japanese press for 40 or 50 bucks from a seller on Hoffman- also excellent sounding.
LZII- I know the RL is the one everyone touts, but the Canadian Red Label TG is also excellent, and if you can find a UK plum for reasonable money-doesn't have to be a true "first" it is also an impressive listen- more bass than the RL, not quite as punchy but has real gravitas.
The later records- there are US Porkys, RLs, etc. that aren't big money.
From a guy who has too many copies of the same records.

I have to check on the matrix data, but my first 3 are Red Label as well. I know I have some Peckos, but no RL. Might check on them later.

[Bill Hart]

I have to check on the matrix data, but my first 3 are Red Label as well. I know I have some Peckos, but no RL. Might check on them later.

The magic is apparently on the ones with TG inscribed in the deadwax- don't ask me why- there were all kinds of theories about what it represented- there is a thread on Hoffman about it, but I don't remember the details. Anyway, the TG inscribed Canadian Red Label of III is superb; LZII as a Red Label TG is also impressive (though I haven't done back to back comparisons with the RL and plum). The issue with these Canadian pressings isn't price, it's scarcity. You don't see them nearly as much as the more expensive RL or UK plum copies. I was teasing about Canada, but you knew that....

PS: I have yet to find a TG Canadian of LZ1. And, I think the Red Label was discontinued by the time LZIV was released.

[Johnny Vinyl]

The first three do not have TG or RL in the deadwax. I'm not even sure if RL's on Canadian copies exist...never seen one.

[Bill Hart]

Yeah, I don't know about RL's in Canada. HOTH is an RL and isn't terribly expensive as a US press.

[rockitman]

Classic Records reissues are the ones to get if you don't have originals.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Would be nice, but way out of my price league, although I do have HOTH. Can't believe how much they are all going for now.

[JCOConnell]

Classic Records reissues are the ones to get if you don't have originals.

Make that 180g classic reissues, not 200g classic reissues, although the 2015 reissues are not that bad.

[Metamatic]

Classic Records reissues are the ones to get if you don't have originals.

+1000

makes the Jimmy Page remasters sound broken, almost mp3. by them selves without hearing the Classic reissues they sound not too bad and are at least coherent sounding.

that said I bought LZ 2 & 3 deluxe sets for the companion discs which are enjoyable. I also bought the 2015 reissues of Presence, In thru the Outdoor and Coda as I did not own them ( cheap now) and they are enjoyable, but my expectations were low so pleasantly surprised.

[JCOConnell]

the 2015 reissues depend a lot on the quality of the masters. For example, IN THRU THE OUT DOOR sounds way better than the previous album PRESENCE. Also, the early albums sound better than the middle albums.

[Garth]

Just a question on the RL on the bonus tracks or second bonus record do any of them have the song ZEP did live at a lot of their shows Train get a rolling By Tiny Bradshaw

[Johnny Vinyl]

Found a guy that's selling his duplicates of the Classic LZ I through IV within the next week or so. He wants to play-grade them first (nice). His pricing is usually very fair, so I'm encouraged and might try to get in on LZII and LZIV.

Wish me .