Vance Records Gold Standard VG+ Rare Soul Garage Rock

$

200

This particular 7" record is a 1967 release by a group named Gold Standard, released on the Vance Records label.

Key Record Details

Artist: Gold Standard.

Catalog Number: DV-00135.

Year Released: 1967.

Format: 7" Vinyl Single, likely 45 RPM.

Label: Vance Records (sometimes listed as Vance Records (2) on collector databases to distinguish it from other labels with the same name).

Tracklist

Side A: "Love Is Everywhere".

Side B: "On The Road Again".

Label Context

Vance Records was an independent label active in the 1960s and early 1970s that specialized in a variety of genres including soul, rock, and country. Other artists on the label during this period included Little Stanley, The Miller’s Tails, and The Lords.

While specific member names for the 1967 group Gold Standard are not documented in major historical databases, the 7" record (catalog number DV-00135) holds a niche value among collectors of rare 1960s soul and rock.

The "Vance" Connection: Some researchers have looked into groups associated with David Vance, who was a member of a band that also included Gary Gutknecht, Jim Pechan, and Richard Hipenbecker, but it is unconfirmed if this specific lineup performed as Gold Standard.

Modern Namesakes: There are contemporary groups using the name "Gold Standard," such as a powerhouse party band and a modern record label, but these are not related to the 1967 Vance Records artist.

Label: Yellow or white label with "Vance Records" at the top.

Catalog Number: DV-00135 (etched into the dead wax/runout area near the center label).

The Gold Standard (the 1967 group on Vance Records) is an "obscure" independent act that likely only released this one single. Unlike modern bands with the same name, this group was part of the regional music scene of the late 1960s.

The Band's Identity & Background

Genre & Style: The band is primarily categorized as Soul or Garage Rock. Their A-side, "Love Is Everywhere," features a soulful, upbeat arrangement typical of mid-60s "Northern Soul" sounds, while "On The Road Again" leans more toward the rock/rhythm-and-blues style popular in the era.

The "Vance" Connection: The band was a studio-focused project / local touring group managed by the label's owner. Some historical accounts of the label mention a group known as "The Fab Four" (not the Beatles) that occasionally performed under other names and included:

David Vance (label associate/namesake)

Gary Gutknecht

Jim Pechan

Richard Hipenbecker

Note: It is strongly suspected, though not officially verified in liner notes, that these musicians formed the core of the Gold Standard recording sessions.

Why They Are Obscure

One-Hit Label: Vance Records (Catalog DV-00135) was a small, likely Milwaukee or Chicago-based independent label. Most of their artists, like The Lords or Little Stanley, only released one or two singles before the label folded.

John Sebastian and Oakland, California on your copy of the Gold Standard 7" reveals a deeper connection to 1960s rock history than typical regional independent releases.

The John Sebastian Connection

John Sebastian, founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, is credited as the songwriter for this record.

"Love Is Everywhere": This song was written by John Sebastian and originally recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful for the 1966 soundtrack of the film What's Up, Tiger Lily?.

"On The Road Again": This is another Sebastian composition, first appearing on the Spoonful's debut 1965 album, Do You Believe in Magic.

Oakland, California Origins

If you know more about this 45, please feel free to message us. We're always learning!