LED ZEPPELIN - Presence 12" Vinyl LP Album

- German and BIEM Countries

"Presence" is Led Zeppelin's influential 1976 album, etching a sonic legacy in rock history. Released on Swan Song, the 12" vinyl LP features a distinctive Fold Open Cover by Hipgnosis. Led by Jimmy Page and producer Peter Grant, the album showcases meticulous sound engineering by Jeremy Gee and Keith Harwood. The original inner sleeve unfolds with album details and captivating artwork. "Presence" stands as a timeless emblem of Led Zeppelin's creative zenith.

Album Front Cover Photo of LED ZEPPELIN - Presence

"Presence" Album Description:

in the world of rock history, Led Zeppelin's "Presence" stands as a monumental testament to the band's enduring influence on the musical landscape. Released in 1976, this 12" vinyl LP album, adorned with a Fold Open Cover (FOC) – also known as a Gatefold cover – encapsulates the essence of an era marked by artistic innovation and sonic experimentation.

The album cover, designed by the iconic Hipgnosis, adds a visual dimension to the auditory journey that "Presence" promises. The inner pages of the gatefold cover unfold to reveal a visual tapestry of photos and artwork, providing fans with a deeper connection to the music within.

Led Zeppelin, spearheaded by the legendary Jimmy Page, took on the roles of both musicians and producers for "Presence." This dual role allowed them to exert meticulous control over the creative process, shaping the album's sound and direction. Peter Grant, albeit misspelled as Peter Grand, contributed significantly as a producer, adding another layer to the collaborative synergy that defined the band's ethos.

The sound engineering prowess behind "Presence" is credited to Jeremy Gee and Keith Harwood. Their expertise played a pivotal role in capturing the raw energy and intricate nuances of Led Zeppelin's performance. The meticulous attention to sound engineering is evident in every track, making the album a sonic masterpiece.

One of the distinctive features of this album is the original custom inner sleeve, a canvas that unfolds to reveal not only the album details but also the captivating artwork and photos of "The Object." This added visual element further immerses the listener into the band's creative universe, enhancing the overall sensory experience.

The catalog number "Swan Song SSK 59 402" serves as a historical marker, placing "Presence" within the discography of Led Zeppelin. Released in 1976, the album arrived at a time when the music industry was undergoing dynamic shifts, and the band's sonic explorations resonated with the evolving tastes of the audience.

Product Information and Collector Notes
 

How can the album cover be distinguished from other versions of this album

  • Front sleeve has Embossed artist and title on front cover (other released has this printed in black ink)
  • Spine has LED ZEPPELIN PRESENCE SWAN SONG 59402 (nothing else)
  • Rights society GEMA/BIEM (some albums have only GEMA and no BIEM)
  • LC 3445
  • Label: SSK 59 402
  • Back cover: SS 59402
  • Label side A: ST-SS 763 559
  • Label side B: ST-SS 763 560
  • Side A: (Stamped) R/S Alsdorf 59402 A4 / STRAWBERRY (nothing else)
  • Side B: (Stamped) R/S Alsdorf 59402-B3 (nothing else)
Production & Recording Information
Album Packaging

This 12" LP vinyl music record comes comes in a Fold Open Cover (FOC), which is also also known as a Gatefold cover. The inner pages of this album cover contains photos, artwork.

Album Cover Design: Hipgnosis

Hipgnosis was an English art group founded in 1968 by Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey Powell, and Peter Christopherson. The group was known for their innovative and creative album covers, which became iconic in the music industry. Hipgnosis worked with some of the most influential musicians of their time, including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Yes.

more...

The group's name, "Hipgnosis," was a play on the words "hypnosis" and "hip." They believed that their art had the power to hypnotize people and transport them to another world, which was reflected in their album covers. The group's style was surreal and often incorporated elements of fantasy, science fiction, and the occult. Their designs were highly detailed and often required extensive planning and preparation.

One of the group's most famous album covers was for Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon." The cover featured a prism refracting light into a rainbow, which became one of the most recognizable images in rock history. The design was so successful that it became synonymous with the band and their music. Another iconic design was for Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy," which featured a group of naked children climbing on a rock formation. The image was highly controversial but helped to solidify the band's rebellious image.

Hipgnosis also worked with a number of other influential musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Black Sabbath, and Genesis. They designed the cover for Peter Gabriel's first solo album, which featured a photograph of Gabriel wearing a mask with only his eyes visible. The image became another iconic design and was later referenced in Gabriel's music video for "Sledgehammer."

The group's success continued into the 1980s, with designs for bands such as Scorpions and Styx. However, the rise of digital technology and the decline of album sales led to the group's decline. Hipgnosis disbanded in 1983, but their legacy lives on in the countless album covers they created.

Hipgnosis was not just an art group, but a collective of artists who had a significant impact on the music industry. Their innovative designs helped to define the visual style of rock music in the 1970s and 1980s. Their work was not just a complement to the music, but an essential part of the overall experience. They created a world that fans could enter into and lose themselves in, just like the music they were listening to.

Here is a web-page with a gallery of album covers created by Hipgnosis

 

Producers:

Jimmy Page

Peter Grant (mispelled at Peter Grand)

Peter Grant was record executive of "Swan Song Records" and has produced bands like: Bad Company, Led Zeppelin and The Yardbirds.

Sound & Recording Engineers:

Jeremy Gee - Sound Engineer

Keith Harwood - Sound Engineer

Trivia:

The black object on Led Zeppelin's "Presence" cover is simply called "The Object." It's an obelisk symbolizing the band's powerful and mysterious presence. The band is absent, leaving the object to represent their force and influence. Its meaning is open to interpretation, but it's intended to be a powerful visual metaphor for Led Zeppelin's impact.

Music Genre:

Blues-Rock, Hard Rock 

Label & Catalognr:

Swan Song SSK 59 402

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram  

Year & Country:

1976 Made in Germany and European Countries

Musicians:
  • Robert Plant - Lead Vocals
  • Jimmy Page - Guitars
  • John Bonham - Drums
  • John Paul Jones - Bass, Keyboards
Tracklisting Side One:
  1. "Achilles Last Stand" 10:30
  2. "For Your Life" 6:22
  3. "Royal Orleans" (John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Page, and Plant) 2:58
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Nobody's Fault but Mine" 6:16
  2. "Candy Store Rock" 4:10
  3. "Hots On for Nowhere" 4:44
  4. "Tea for One"
High Resolution & Quality Photos
Front Cover Photo Of LED ZEPPELIN - Presence
High Resolution Photo #1 LED ZEPPELIN Presence

Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

Photo Of The Back Cover LED ZEPPELIN - Presence
High Resolution Photo #2 LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Photo of the inside cover Ledz Zeppelin Presence
High Resolution Photo #3 LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Photo of the inside cover Ledz Zeppelin Presence
High Resolution Photo #4 LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Photo of the custom inner sleeve Ledz Zeppelin Presence
High Resolution Photo #7 LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Photo of the custom inner sleeve Ledz Zeppelin Presence
High Resolution Photo #8 LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Close up of the record's label
High Resolution Photo LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Photo Side One LED ZEPPELIN - Presence
High Resolution Photo #5 LED ZEPPELIN Presence
Photo of Side Two LED ZEPPELIN - Presence
High Resolution Photo #6 LED ZEPPELIN Presence

LED ZEPPELIN Vinyl Records and Albums Discography

LED ZEPPELIN Related Rock Bands and Similar Music

Cream

Another influential British rock band, featuring Eric Clapton on guitar. Cream explored a wider range of styles than Led Zeppelin, but their blues-rock foundation and improvisational jams share some similarities. Cream

Deep Purple

Pioneered hard rock and heavy metal, with influences from blues and psychedelia. Known for their powerful vocals, driving riffs, and complex instrumentals. Deep Purple

Jimi Hendrix

A legendary guitarist known for his innovative playing style and use of effects pedals. While not strictly a band, Hendrix's influence on rock guitar is undeniable, and his music shares some elements of blues and psychedelia with Led Zeppelin. Jimi Hendrix

The Who

Pioneered power pop and mod rock, known for their energetic live performances and Pete Townshend's distinctive guitar work. The Who's music is often heavier and more aggressive than Led Zeppelin's, but both bands share a love for extended jams and powerful vocals. The Who