THE KAPLAN BROTHERS-UNIVERSAL SOUNDS OF 1969 AUTOGRAPH?

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TITLE: The Kaplan Brothers - The Universal Sounds Of The Kaplan Brothers

PRESSING: Stereo Pressing with black/green Kap Record Productions labels

CATALOG NUMBER/ LABEL : Kap Record Productions PM 6912

REVIEW: Where do you even begin with something like this ... Ed and Richard Kaplan simply epitomize the concept of a Holiday Inn lounge act trying to go hip. One spin makes it clear why these guys are so popular amongst collectors.

Released on their own Kap Records, 1968's "The Universal Sounds of the Kaplan Brothers" is the first of their highly sought after albums. Musically it offers up a mix of originals, popular MOR hits and the truly bizarre (c'mon, can you imagine the crowd bopping along to 'Hava Nagilia'?). Backed by bassist Jeff Czech and guitarist Scott Klynas, the album starts out with a bang. The self-penned instrumental 'Running Scared' sounds like the brothers had been listening to a lot of Ennio Morricone's spaghetti western soundtracks while stoned out of their minds (love the whistling segment). Their popular covers are equally fascinating. Bobby Hebb's 'Sunny' makes a congas propelled appearance that is as wrong spirited as you can get. Their dark and pained cover of 'A Taste of Honey' is equally wrong-headed though it sports some killer fuzz guitar (courtesy of Kylnas). Elsewhere 'Malaguena Solorosa' offers up a bizarre mixture of Spanish and Balkan influences, while Jimmy Webb's 'Gentle On My Mind' is reworked to give it a lounge edge that has to be heard to be believed. These guys must have been a blast to hear live (particular after a couple of beers). Love the album's back cover. The 'genre' pictures are hysterical.- Rate Your Music.com

"The Universal Sounds of the Kaplan Brothers" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Running Scared (instrumental) (Ed Kaplan - Richard Kaplan) -
2.) Green, Green Grass of Home
3.) Sunny (Bobby Hebb)
4.) Malaguena Solorosa
5.) A Taste of Honey

(side 2)
1.) Gentle On My Mind (Jimmy Webb) -
2.) Gone (Ed Kaplan - Richard Kaplan) -
3.) This Guy's In Love with You (Herb Alpert) -
4.) Yellow Bird
5.) Hava Nagila

NOTE: This copy of this LP bears what appears to be an autograph on the front cover, in the top right corner. The writing reads "To Lucille From The Kaplan Bros. Dick 12/12/71". Perhap a Christmas gift for a lucky fan. While I am not an autograph expert, and cannot attest positively to its authenticity (as I did not witness the event), I have no reason to doubt it, either. I purchased the LP at an Estate Sale several years ago, and am only stating what I see.

RARE U.S. STEREO PRESSING WITH BLACK/GREEN KAP RECORD PRODUCTIONS LABELS, AND AUTOGRAPH ON FRONT COVER. VINYL IN STRONG  SHAPE.

CONDITION: (we visually grade albums according to Goldmine Standards, BUT questionable vinyl marks are also play-graded. For a detailed description of the Goldmine Grading Scale, see the bottom of this listing.)     

                        VINYL: Very Good Plus

                        JACKET: Very Good Plus (with autograph)

                        SLEEVE: plain paper

                        INSERT / EXTRAS : Autographed cover

AS WITH ALL USED LPS, A THOROUGH CLEANING SHOULD BE PERFORMED BEFORE PLAYING, FOR OPTIMUM AUDIO PERFORMANCE.

Please click on "View Seller's Other Items" to see the other fine recordings we are offering this week!

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ADDITIONAL LPS SHIP FOR FOR $5 EACH TO EUROPE/ASIA/REST OF WORLD ($5 PER SINGLE OR  GATEFOLD LP, 2LP SETS COUNT AS 2). THERE IS A WEIGHT MAXIMUM OF 4LBS FOR FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL (APPROXIMATELY 5-6 LPS). FOR LARGER ORDERS, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SHIPPING QUOTES AND SERVICE OPTIONS.

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THE GOLDMINE GRADING SCALE:

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-)

A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.” In other words, it’s nearly perfect.

Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect.

Near mint records are shiny and free of visible defects. No writing, stickers, other markings or spindle marks appear on the label. No major factory defects are present; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint.

If played, an NM record will do so without surface noise. Near Mint records don’t have to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.

NM covers have no creases, ring wear or seam splits of any kind.

These are high standards, and they are not on a sliding scale. A record or sleeve from the 1950s must meet the same standards as one from the 1990s or 2000s to be Near Mint!

It is estimated that no more than 2 to 4 percent of all records remaining from the 1950s and 1960s are truly Near Mint. This is why they fetch such high prices, even for more common items. They must meet these standards to qualify.
 

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) OR EXCELLENT (E)

A good description of a VG+ Record is “except for a couple of minor things, this would be Near Mint.”

Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it is toward the high end of the grade, (sometimes called VG++ or E+).

VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that don’t affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, so long as repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.

VG+ Covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable locataion. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

VERY GOOD (VG)

Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ Record are more obvious on a VG record. That said, VG records — which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of a an NM record — are among the biggest bargains in record collecting, because moost of the “big money” goes for more perfect copies. For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve will be worth the money.

VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape. They lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail.

When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise won’t overpower the music otherwise. Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.

VG covers will have many signs on human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover, where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious; it may appear on all three sides, thought it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have written on it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

Thanks for looking!