Kiss Kiss US Orig'74 Casablanca NB-9001 White Label Promo DJ Radio Station Copy

$

1,580

ORIGINAL CASABLANCA RECORDS NB-9001 PRE-RELEASE PROMOTIONAL DJ RADIO STATION COPY

KISS ~ KISS (1974)

ORIGINAL 1st PRINT COVER INCLUDES THE “KISSIN’ TIME” TRACK

ORIGINAL “PROMOTIONAL COPY NOT SALE” PINK ROUND SEAL STICKER

ORIGINAL CASABLANCA RECORDS WHITE “BOGART” SMOKING MAN “PROMOTION NOT FOR SALE” LABELS

ORIGINAL VINTAGE “HUMPHREY BOGART” PROMO T-SHIRT WITH THE CASABLANCA RECORDS LOGO

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED “®” SYMBOL BELOW THE “CASABLANCA” LOGO ON THE T-SHIRT’S IMAGE

ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1974 “KISS” DEBUT ALBUM PRESS KIT INSERT AND THE PHOTO

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Up for auction is the original promotional copy of Kiss’ debut album released by Casablanca Records on February 18, 1974. We’ve decided to include into this listing two unique items which have a direct relationship to the album. The first item is the original Casablanca Records T-shirt which just like the album itself belonged to one of the DJs of the New York based WNEW-FM radio station.  For a long time, we tried finding an original fully complete Kiss debut album press kit. We’re still searching, but we’ve come across several items from this press kit and we couldn’t help but purchase them as they belonged to the early Kiss tour manager. Original press kit insert with a photo of Neil Bogart, the founder of Casablanca Records, surrounded by the band members. Please pay attention at Paul Stanley’s “Bandit” make up which represents one of the earliest fragments of Kiss’ history. Original 8” x 10” glossy press kit photo of the band from the same photo session as the photo used for the album’s artwork. The album was recorded in October / November, 1973 at the New York based Bell Sound recording studio which was an unusual end-to-end complete service, from studio recording, to mastering and pressing. It’s very important to note that this white label promo copy has a unique sound, known as “dry master”, distinguished by unique equalization which is different from later commercial pressings. This copy was delivered to the WNEW-FM radio station which was also located in Manhattan close to the Bell Sound Studios. WNEW-FM was one of the nation’s most prominent radio stations and played a crucial role in the popularization of rock music. According to the information found in the February 23rd, 1974 issue of the Billboard magazine, WNEW-FM was one of the four radio stations which added the Kiss debut album into its airplay. We can’t help but share with you a short review of the album included in this issue: “KISS, Casablanca NB 9001 (Warner Bros.). Debut LP by this new energy group with strong ensemble singing is solid musicianship but nothing extraordinary. "Strutter" and "Deuce" are good dancing cuts.” We’ve also uploaded a photo of the album’s advert located in the same issue as the listing’s last image. (Please note that the magazine advert isn’t included into this listing, just a photo for your reference) According to the memories, the WNEW-FM also received several promotional T-shirts which represented Casablanca Records’ 1st merch ever that was produced after the establishment of the company and released at the same time as the promotional copy of Kiss’ debut album. These original promo T-shirts were ordered for the employees of Casablanca Records to promote the company and according to the participants were used by the staff members at the famous Casablanca’s party organized by Neil Bogart at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The T-shirt contains the All Rights Reserved “®” symbol below the “Casablanca” logo which you won’t find on the unofficial modern T-shirts having a similar image. The image on this original T-shirt is unique due to the fact that it was the only time when Casablanca Records officially combined its logo with the portrait of actor Humphrey Bogart. Even the 1st style blue Casablanca Records labels depict just a smoking man instead of the actor’s image. Original 1st print promotional cover contains a round “Promotional Copy Not For Sale” pink sticker on the front without having the “Kissin’ Time” track title on the back. Original “Promotion Not For Sale” NB-9001 2.75” pressing ring black and white labels with the “Manufactured and Distributed by Warner Bros. Records, Inc” rim text. The full matrix numbers contain the machine stamp “Bell Sound” on both sides as well as “Joe”, the first name Joe Brescio, a recording and mastering engineer who worked at the Bell Sound Studios, and are as follows: Side 1 - NB9001-6000-1B Bell Sound Joe  A 4; Side 2 - NB9001-60002-1D Joe A. The album comes with the original Casablanca Records inner sleeve.

★

We grade the cover of this extremely rare promotional copy as Excellent Minus. Though not perfect, this example is way better than the majority of covers of the “KISS” album that you can find for sale these days, not to mention the fact that it’s a promotional cover containing the original promo pink sticker. The cover retains its rich black tones and gloss without having any writing, splits or residue. The front and back cover have some light age shelf wear as well as some light hints of ring wear. The spine doesn’t have any missing pieces containing a fully readable pink text. We grade the promotional white label vinyl conservatively as Strong Very Good Plus and we’re sure that many sellers would grade it as Excellent. The vinyl retains its beautiful factory gloss only having a few very light non-feelable hairlines as well as scuffs from the original Casablanca Records inner sleeve which is in Near Mint condition without having any splits or tears. The snow-white labels are in stunning Near Mint condition, almost Mint Minus, and don’t have any scuffs or wear. The original Casablanca Records T-shirt, the glossy photo and the insert with an article and a photo of the band showing Paul Stanley wearing the early “Bandit” make-up are in great vintage condition. The vinyl sounds amazing having a punchy and dynamic Stereo sound with perhaps just some very light occasional static which most likely will go away if the record is professionally cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We don't accept bids from the accounts created during the auction or the ones created by the blocked bidders. The buyers with a low rating, please contact us prior to placing a bid. In order to assure a safe transit and prompt delivery we prefer shipping our items with Priority Mail, it concerns the domestic shipping as well as the international. You can be sure that your purchased item(s) will be professionally packed as we don't save on the packing materials. 100% of our buyers are satisfied with our packaging. We guarantee an exact and professional description of each item. If for some reasons something escapes our attention, please let us know. Please do it before you make the decision to open a return request. We'll put our best effort into providing the best customer service. We 100% guarantee a full refund and issue a partial refund only in certain rare cases. We're a Top Rated Plus seller and an opened return request would negatively affect our seller performance. Who would like that? Opening a return request is your right, however, we're sorry but we'll have to block you and it's our right. We're not going to hide the fact that we prefer to see among our customers the intelligent, decent and kind people. If you don't possess these qualities, you won't like dealing with us. We don't list items for an auction often and when we do it's a small quantity as these items are highly collectible and very rare.

FOR INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS' CONSIDERATION

Due to the high risks involved when it comes international shipping, we’ve recently stopped sending our items with USPS First-Class Mail International and now use only USPS Priority Mail International Express. However, if your order exceeds the amount of $5000, we’ll have to ship the package with FedEx as oppose to USPS.

We don't have information concerning the existing customs regulations and policies in your country. Before placing a bid, please find out more details about it yourself. We don't take any responsibility for the length of customs clearance process. We also don't have any ability to influence the work of postal carriers abroad in any way. For this particular reason, we ship internationally only with expedited shipping service that includes signature confirmation. Our capabilities are limited to professional packing that assures a safe transit throughout the way and fastest shipping dates. After shipping the package, we don't accept any claims related to the work of postal carriers or problems related to the absence of knowledge related to the customs clearance in your country. If you have any negative experience related to the postal service and you'd like to insure the purchased item please contact us about it beforehand. Keep in mind that just like you, we’re interested in our transaction being concluded successfully but our abilities are limited to the service we describe above.