Led Zeppelin IV original CD question

I did a lot of searches in the forum, but I couldn't find the exact answer to this:

I noticed that my non-remastered CD of LZ IV has the channels reversed compared to the remastered CD (on all tracks). Apparently, this is also the case with some other Led Zeppelin CD's, but my question pertains to LZ IV.

Which version is correct, i.e. like the original LP pressing? Maybe there are also LP pressings with channels reversed. I would take an older pressing as the reference point.

On my non-remastered CD, at the beginning of "Stairway to Heaven", the acoustic guitar is more in the right channel and the flute (organ?) is more in the left channel. Which version is "correct".

In threads regarding Led Zeppelin IV, some people were complaining about the poor sound of the non-remastered version. On my CD, the sound quality varies from song to song, and I think the remastered version sounds a little bit better on "Misty Mountain Hop" and "Going to California".

But on "Stairway to Heaven" and "Battle of Evermore" the non-remastered version is miles ahead of the remastered version. The remaster sounds like no-noise has been used and sounds very lifeless. I cannot imagine anyone would like the remaster better for these two songs, the difference is so drastic. I also clearly prefer "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll" on the non-remastered version, but the difference is not as drastic.

Maybe there are different non-remastered versions floating around, since the original target CD is not supposed to be great sounding.

As always, the comments on the sound quality are just my humble opinion.

Roland

 

As to which is correct I will leave that up to our vinyl hounds to answer as I have both. As for the Target CD it sounds exactly like every other non-remastered Zeppelin CD in existence. Zeppelin is one artist where every non-remastered CD pressing of an album I've ever heard sounds identical.

 

Dave, thanks for the info.

I thought I read in another thread that there are two non-remastered versions of Physical Graffiti, one without the cough at the end of "In My Time Of Dying" and a RE-1 versions which has the cough. Is this correct?

If every non-remastered version of LZ IV sounds the same, I don't really understand what people's complaints are/were about "Stairway to Heaven". Is there really anyone who prefers the remastered version of this song? Same can be said for "No Quarter" from HOTH, at least in my opinion. On other tracks, the difference is not as big, and I can at least understand why some people would prefer the remaster, even if I generally don't. But for these two songs, I just can't imagine anyone who would like the remaster better.

Roland

 

Sorry Roland, I don't know as I haven't listened for this little detail and have sold the remaster a long time ago.

 

I am responding to the request for a viyl hound with LZ IV. I have several LP versions but won't be home til Sunday night. I'll check the channels then.

 

IIRC the first issue is reversed. Just one of the reasons I chuckled at early CD 'being better than the LP'. And yes, it does happen with LP reissues too.

You might want to play that CD in mono, just for fun. The tape machine they used was not aligned to the tape, and there's a lot of phase error between the channels.

Nevertheless, it is more enjoyable on a deeper level than the remaster.

We know it's there on the tape; now if someone other than Classic could try to get it off we'll get somewhere. Until then I'll keep spinning my many LP copies. Maybe even after then, too.

 

Led Zep IV

First pressing SD 7208 "PORKY" LP
Late seventies SD 19129 LP
Classic Records 180 gram LP
Remastered CD 82638-2


All versions above have the Stairway To Heaven acoustic guitar (at the start of the track) on the left channel.

 

There were two versions of this and the differences were as you decribed . I bought the first version, then the RE-1 after it became available. This was one of the first times I saw RE-1 mentioned to indicate a WEA remaster.

 

I have a LZ IV West German target CD, and the channels are the same as on the remaster.

Phil Elliott has a non-remastered non-target version of LZ IV with reversed channels. We compared a one-minute-long sample of both. After the channels were swapped, a one-sample offset on one channel was corrected, it was identical to mine except for three different samples.

The only non-remastered Led Zeppelin CD I have with reversed channels is LZ II.

 

O.k., from the information provided in this post, I take it that the correct version is where the acoustic guitar in the beginning of Stairway to Heaven is on the left channel. That means, my non-remaster (non-target) version has the channels reversed, Thanks for clarifying this.

Now, according to Andreas, the target non-remastered version has the channels correct and not reversed. I am wondering if there are any other differences between the target and the later non-remastered version.

Also, is there anybody who likes the sound of "Stairway to Heaven" better on the remaster than the non-remaster? If so, I would be really interested why.

Weren't the channels also reversed on the non-remastered Led Zeppelin I versions? I read this somewhere on this forum.

Also, was there any other difference on Physical Graffiti between the first non-remastered version and the later RE-1 version besides the cough at the end of In My Time Of Dying? Is there also a difference in sound quality?

From what I remember, back when I compared the 4-CD remastered box-set right after it came out to my non-remastered Physical Graffiti, I felt that on some songs the original version sounded better. And that was in the days when I thought all remasters are pretty much great and a big improvement.

Roland

 

On my W. German Bild am Sonntag Gold! version, catalog #250 008, the guitar is indeed on the left channel.

My Japanese non-remastered copy of Physical Graffiti cat. #SS 200-2 the cough is definitely not there FWIW.

 

My orig. US (CD made in JPN.) CD of LZIV has the guitar to STH in the left channel.

 

Same with mine.

Dave, does this go for HOTH, too? I picked up a target today, which tonally is awesome but has some glitches because it's scratched, assuming they're not there on the source tape, like static or weird sounds from 1:33 to 1:53 of The Ocean. It would be nice if I could pick just any old non-remastered version instead of trying to find another target.

 

Same for Japanese 20P2-2026 Forever young edition.

 

I haven't heard the Target version, but I would be willing to bet that it is the same. Grab a US. regular copy for cheap and let us know.

 

The target CD of HOTH is identical to the old standard Atlantic CD.

(More precisely: I compared a one-minute excerpt from a target CD of HOTH to the same part on my non-target CD, and it came out 100% identical bit for bit.)

With the exception of the occasional channel reversals, I have not heard about any differences among the un-remastered LZ discs, whether they are targets or not.

 

I remember hearing some glitches on "The Ocean" on my non-remastered CD which I just bought brand new (sealed). I can't confirm the timings right now, but it sounded like some kind of distortions.

Roland

 

Well, I picked up a brand new, sealed BMG, non-target USA edition of HOTH (not remastered). It sounds the same as my West German target, which is to say tonally very nice but the source tape must have been awful. For example, The Ocean still has tons of weird noise that shouldn't be there. Put headphones on and cue up the song to 1:30 and you'll see what I mean. If there's one band I might get a TT for, this might be the band.

 

Oh well, one the charms of the original. A nice SH mastering would cure that problem I'm sure.

 

Well Led Zeppelin is on a WEA label, so maybe there is hope...

 

I was lucky and received a non-remastered target version of LZ IV. I won it in an eBay auction and did not know it was a target. I knew it was a non-remastered version. I had to bid a little more than usual, but I am glad I did. I almost let it go since I thought I could get a regular non-remastered version cheaper. Now I can listen to LZ IV with the channels correct.

Roland

 

I almost started a thread on this the other day, when I noticed these sounds listening to my remastered HOTH (cd) through the headphones. There is indeed a crackling sound at the times mentioned above. I also noticed some pops and clicks in other areas. Almost like this track was mastered from vinyl. Anyone got any info on this?

 

About the crackling sound on The Ocean:
This is also ony my remastered Houses Of The Holy CD as well as on my unremastered non-target CD.

 

Then it must be on the master tape