RARE - The Kinks - Four More Respected Gentlemen - Unreleased Acetate 1968 EX

$

8,203

RARE The Kinks -Four More Respected Gentlemen- Unreleased Acetate 1968 EX

ARTIST: The Kinks

TITLE: Four More Respected Gentlemen

LABEL: Reprise; Columbia Reference Recordings

NUMBER: 30796 RS 6309

MONO/STEREO: Mono

SPECIAL PRESSING INFO: Test Pressing; Columbia Reference Recording 12" 33 Mono; Reprise Records 10-03-68

GRADE (Sleeve): Generic Sleeve

GRADE (RECORD): Ex

About Record:

Columbia Reference Recording Acetate; this record is directly from the original master tape, cut with a lathe to acetate with the intention of being used as a reference pressing to give notes and final changes prior to the molds being made. There are an unknown number of acetates in existence for this record, with that being said, each that exists would be unique in some way due to the fact that cutting a record with a lathe can only yield one acetate at a time.

This album was going to fulfill The Kinks obligations in the US to release a record with Reprise in 1968. 

The band originally sent 15 tracks to reprise for the album and after some revisions the label agreed on the version we have, with 11 tracks. 

Some point after this acetate was produced the entire project of "Four More Respected Gentlemen" was scrapped, only a month prior to the intended release.

The album's songs were eventually released in other Kinks records, some a year after scrapping the album the rest in the early to mid 70's.

This album was never released as its own project, with the only available versions being bootlegs made by fans or playlists with the songs in the original order.

The only official versions of this album are the test pressings, which there are only a few known versions, and the acetates.

For more information regarding this release there is a fantastic Wikipedia article titled "Four More Respected Gentlemen" as well as some others that will show up when the title is looked up.

Provenance: 

Purchased at an private sale of 60's Arista A&R representitive

We have spent hours researching all info to the best of our ability and spoken with forum members on different sites. To the best of our knowledge this is

the genuine article. 

Condition Detail:

The acetate is in outstanding shape. Side A has light surfaces scratches, mostly faint with 2 being more visible.

Side B is in very similar shape with a few light scratches.

Playback:

This is a fantastic sounding record. Definitely could be considered a hot press, with really nice low thump to the kick drum and bass guitar at some points distorting the song slightly...

The album plays back fantastic, the before mentioned scratches cause some light pops here and there but none that are too disruptive.

Album starts off fantastic with a short run in groove, getting straight to the infectious rocking groove of "She's Got Everything."

In the dead wax between tracks 1 & 2 there is some surface noise. The rest of the record is pretty quiet with some very faint surface noise in the background.

All of Side A sounds amazing with only minor surface noise and a few pops that were very faint and only lasted a revolution or three.

Side B is in great shape with the first track having a little bit louder surface noise than any track on side A. The surface noise dies down by track two and continues at the same volume as side a for the remainder of the record. I did not hear any major pops on this side, but there was the occasional very quiet pop.

Overall the condition of this record is outstanding for age and rarity, any buyer will be more than pleased with the playback of this record!

Track List:

Side A:

"She's Got Everything"

"Monica"

"Mr. Songbird"

"Johnny Thunder"

"Polly"

"Days"

Side B

"Animal Farm"

"Berkeley Mews"

"Picture Book"

"Phenomenal Cat"

"Misty Water"

Record cleaned with VPI HW27 Typhoon before grading, sleeved with archival liner and shipped using Bags Unlimited Mighty Mailers. 

Buyer pays shipping and insurance. For protection we will ship registered mail with USPS. International shipments will only be through eBay Global Shipping program and shipped and covered by eBay outside of domestic US shipping - Shipped registered mail via USPS to ebay shipping center. . Item will be carefully tracked by USPS. Signature upon delivery required. Will only accept offers from established ebay buyers or sellers.

Played with a AT12S Shibata with NAD pre into anaragon 8008 with PSB Stratus Goldi speakers. A detailed and visceral testing system.

We generally undergrade our records due to how detailed the stylus is. Small noise on our system will probably not replicate on a conical

or elliptical stylus.

This is sold as is. Please look at all info and ask any questions you have before you purchase.  

Thank you.