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Long Playing Keystone Record Collectors Still In The Groove After Two Decades
				Annie Corbally Lancaster New Era


WHEN FOUR LOCAL record enthusiasts rented a few market stands at the Columbia Market House in the summer of '79, they didn't realize they were scoring a permanent groove in the history of music collecting. More than 20 years later, the Keystone Record Collectors Club has a membership of over 300 and hosts a monthly record show that attracts nearly 1,000 patrons, some from as far away as Europe. It is believed to be the largest, longest running organization of its kind in the world. This claim to fame has been mentioned in Discoveries and Goldmine magazine and has never been disputed. Whether you are in the market to buy, sell or trade, there is no musical genre that is unheard of or undisplayed at the KRC shows, which are held the second Sunday of each month at the Lancaster Catholic High School, 650 Juliette Ave. The next show is Sept. 9, from 9 to 3 p.m. Alternative, country, doo-wop, heavy metal, jazz, Motown, reggae, Top 40, rock-a-billy and good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll are just some of the musical selections that can be flipped through at one of the 120 stands. Although the show is now internationally known, the four who initially set up stands didn't sell too many records their first time out. However, they did get the names of other music buffs and, with 20 in attendance, they held their first official meeting on Oct. 14, 1979. "The Columbia shows became so successful that the term "Columbia' became synonymous with premiere record shows among the collecting community," says current club president Dr. Philip Schwartz, speaking of the monthly music madness particularly in the 1980s. Schwartz, one of the original members, and a collector of original label vinyl, disc jockey samples and promotional copies, literally owns tens of thousands of records, including 45s and 78s. He owns a DJ copy of The Prisonaire's song "Walkin' in the Rain." Found in Indiana, he had never seen a promotional copy of a 78 on the Sun label. The song later became a big hit by Johnny Ray. A fan of early local music, Schwartz has produced "Stompin' Time Again," a compilation CD of southern Pennsylvania groups from 1965 through 1974, on his label X-Bat records. Also into doo-wop, early R&B, and rock-a-billy, especially those records found on small southern labels, the Lancaster optometrist has traveled many miles, especially in the South, to peruse defunct radio station libraries, obscure music houses and jukebox distributors in search of his musical passion. Schwartz recalls a trip to Princeton, Ky., back in the mid '90s. He was supposed to meet long-time friend and collecting partner Terry Stewart, who is now president and CEO of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. A radio station was selling their library of 60,000 records. Due to a snowstorm, Schwartz could not make it, leaving Stewart to go through the massive amounts of audio plastic himself. At the same time a well-known southern record dealer was there to try to purchase the vinyl. A bidding war began with Stewart phoning Schwartz every hour, then every half hour, the ante rising higher and higher until finally they won. Schwartz laughed and said, "We probably paid too much for those records." Stewart, a long-time member of the KRC says, "It was difficult with Phil not being there because I was spending half the money but so was he, only he wasn't able to see what we were going to purchase. ... But as a record collector, the ultimate goal is to get records, so we felt that we could afford to pay more. We're not dealing records, we're keeping them." About the KRC record show, Stewart says, "It's a great show, you can always depend on good dealers and you can always find something at it."As far as collecting there's only one thing you need to know," he says, "Buy what you like." So agrees Andy Kamm, owner of the Record Connection, 550 N. Reading Road, Ephrata. Open seven days a week, his store has 60,000 45s in stock and 30,000 albums. A member of the KRC for more than 20 years and a collector of '60s and '70s rock, psychedelic and progressive rock, Kamm says, "Record collecting is still holding its own and seems to be picking up again." What you can pick up at the KRC shows ranges from vinyl (including 33s, 45s, 78s, EPs and imports) to CD to DVD to videos. They also have a collection of music memorabilia, T-shirts, picture sleeves, even a computer program to help collectors catalog their musical library. Even CDs are starting to become collectibles. For example, Kamm says, "An original Metallica "Garage Days" CD, once it was out of print it started going for $50." All collectors seem to agree that it's a matter of supply and demand. "Record collectors look for all possible variations," Schwartz says. If you are looking for a particular piece of music at the KRC show and are unable to find it, there is an announcer on hand who can, by using a public address system, let your needs be known to the vendors. Very often a quick match can be found. It would be nice if it were always that easy -- not just to find the record you want, but to find it in mint condition. The problem is that records are not always properly stored. According to Mark Glessner, owner of Stan's Record Bar, 48 N. Prince St., when preserving vinyl "there is only one way to do it." Glessner recommends tearing the shrink-wrap off of a new album immediately. If you don't, the shrink-wrap will keep on shrinking, eventually warping the album. Often albums are stored with the first few grooves sticking out of the sleeve. This causes dust damage to the first five turns or so, which will produce a crackling noise when the album is played. It is imperative that the record goes in the sleeve and that the sleeve goes in the album cover with its open side facing up instead of to the side, Glessner says. Then, the entire album should be stored in a three-milliliter plastic cover for total protection. To protect 45s from getting a ring on the cover sleeve, which never covers the first few grooves, you have to put the 45 in a paper sleeve. Then, separately put the 45 and the cover in a three-milliliter plastic sleeve, he says. "The ultimate 45," Glessner says, "would be a color vinyl 45 with a nice custom label, gatefold sleeves, with a lyric sheet and special inserts. "I love toys," he says. Certain artists and groups like Neil Young and Pearl Jam still demand in their contracts that the recording companies press records. Popular songs only get 3,000 45s pressed for jukeboxes in diners for the entire country. The rarest 45 that Schwartz has seen at the KRC shows is a song called "That's A Teenage Love," by the Teen Kings from Reading. There are only five known copies in the world. A 45 can cost anywhere from 10 cents to over $100. A gold Rolling Stones record was another KRC show highlight. Gold records bring $1,000 to $3,000. Supposedly you can actually play them. "It has the reputation of being a great vinyl show," says Schwartz. KRC members pay $12 in dues each year. That gets you the Key Notes Newsletter, Recorder Magazine, book discounts and voting privileges. You must be a member to have a stand at the show, but you don't need a membership to attend. Admission is always free. So who's your typical KRC member? Well, it was discovered years ago while several KRC members were doing volunteer work at a WITF telethon that seven out of 10 of them were left-handed and they all liked to do picture puzzles when they were younger. Schwartz says, "It must be something about completing the set." Looking for records? If you are interested in collecting records but don't know where to start, try these places: Record conventions and shows. These are a great place to find records and to meet other fans. The Keystone Record Collectors show is the obvious place to start if you live in Lancaster. Monthly shows also are held in Arbutus, Md., and regional shows are held in the Allentown area. Information for these and other shows is available at the KRC shows. Local record shops. Two excellent choices in Lancaster County are Stan's Record Bar, 48 N. Prince St., and The Record Connection, 550 N. Reading Road, Ephrata. The Internet. eBay, in particular, has a wide selection. The disadvantage is you may pay higher costs for items that can be found for less at record shows. Also, it can be difficult to determine the condition of the vinyl from a seller's description. Collectors magazines and publications. Two suggestions are Goldmine and DISCoveries. Both publications are owned by Krause Publications Inc., 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001. Flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales. The Lancaster Area Library sale. Sales are held each spring at Overlook Roller Rink, 2042 Lititz Pike, and each fall at the library, 125 N. Duke St. The next fall sale is scheduled for Nov. 10-11. Copyright 2001 Lancaster Newspapers
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