Ruben And The Jets

Deseri/Jelly Roll Gum Drop

1968

Runout A: VK 10632 #105597 AudioMatrix (etched, AudioMatrix is stamped)
Runout B: VK 10632  105599 BIZ 101-B TF (etched)
Pressing Plant: Unknown
Material: Vinyl
Mastered At: Audio Matrix, Inc., The Bronx, New York
✅ Physical copy examined and scrutinized by ZappaFrenzy

 

Notes:

We have not been able to identify the pressing plant for this version yet. Side-A has some strange markings , some unclear scribble and an circular indent

Go to US MGM/Verve Records Company Sleeves for more information.

The label has a misprint. Ruben is spelled Reuben.

This version has been wrongly referred to as the “first pressing”. I guess this has been assumed because of the misspelling on the label.
There are no first or second pressings of the Verve singles. They were released at the same time, but pressed at different pressing plants and that is why there are different versions.

Label: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)

Runout A: VK10632 #105597-1 (MR) Δ74412 (etched, (MR) is stamped)
Runout B: VK10632 105599-1 (MR) Δ74602 (etched, (MR) is stamped)
Pressing Plant: Monarch Records Mfg. Co., Los Angeles, California
Material: Styrene
✅ Physical copy examined and scrutinized by ZappaFrenzy

Go to US MGM/Verve Records Company Sleeves for more information.

Label: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)

Runout A: VK 10632 #105597-2 (etched)
Runout B: VK 10632  105599-2 (etched)
Pressing Plant: Midwest Record Pressings Inc., Chicago, Illinois
Material: Vinyl

Go to US MGM/Verve Records Company Sleeves for more information.

Label: Hans-Peter Schmidt

Runout A: VK10632 105597-4 Bestway LW (etched, Bestway is stamped)
Runout B: VK10632 105599-4 Bestway (etched, Bestway is stamped)
Pressing Plant: Bestway Products Inc, Mountainside, New Jersey
Material: Vinyl
Mastered At: Longwear Plating, Long Island City, New York (LW)
✅ Physical copy examined and scrutinized by ZappaFrenzy

 

Notes:

“Bestway” on side-B is very faint and almost impossible to notice. for a long time I thought that only the A-side had “Bestway” stamped.

Go to US MGM/Verve Records Company Sleeves for more information.

The image above was sent to me by Alan Mansfield. here is what he wrote:

 

“Greg Russo in his book ‘Cosmik Debris’ gives the release date for ‘Deseri’ as 12/30/68. If this is correct then the date stamp of ‘Jan 4 1969’ is just five days later, which suggests that it could have been stamped on the day it was received as a promo at the radio station or wherever it was sent. An alternative scenario could be that the date is stamped by a ‘plugger’ as an indication for the DJ as to when the single was available e.g. the record is played and the DJ say something like ‘…and if you like that, it’s available from January 4th…’ Pure speculation of course.”

 

More from Alan Mansfield:

 

“Further to the R&TJ Deseri promo with the Jan 4 – 1969 date stamp – I have learned that the USA magazine Billboard dated January 4th 1969 carried a full-page advertisement for this single, which ties-in with the date stamp.”

Label: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)
Label with stamp: Alan Mansfield

Runout A: MX157020 VS11-1 (etched)
Runout B: MX157021 VS11-2 (etched)
Pressing Plant: Unknown
Material: Vinyl
Lacquer Cut At: ARC, Artarmon (MX######)
✅ Physical copy examined and scrutinized by ZappaFrenzy

The label has a misprint. “Jelly Roll Gum Drop” is spelled “Jelly Roll Gum Drops”.

Label and Company Sleeve: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)