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Randy Kaplan
Folk / Americana / Indie

"Which one of the two of us is writing this page?"

BROOKLYN, New York
United States

Profile Views:  6608




Last Login:  6/26/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Randy Kaplan

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/randykaplan  

   Randy Kaplan: General Info
Member Since5/24/2007
Band Websiterandykaplan.com
Band MembersANCIENT RUINS
Randy Kaplan: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica
Mike West: Banjo, Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Nylon-String Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar on "Rusty & New" and "Action Figure"
Katie Euliss: Upright Bass, Vocals, Percussion, Drums on "Deer Park Avenue" and "On a Plain"
Colin Mahoney: Drums
Bradford Hoopes: Piano, Organ, Keyboards, Percussion on "Deer Park Avenue"
Rev. Aaron Morris: Trumpet
Wallace Cochran: Vocals on "Action Figure" and "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
Josephine Michener: Fiddle

PERFECT GENTLEMAN
Randy Kaplan: Guitars, Vocals, Pianos, Organs, Stop Laser Gun, High Frequency Items, Drum Machines

MIRACULOUS DISSOLVING CURES
Randy Kaplan: Guitars, Vocals, Harmonica, Hammond Organ, Piano, Percussion, Voice Box, Rhodes
Brian Schey: Bass, Drum Programming, Conn Organ, Juno Synthesizer, Glockenspiel
Colin Mahoney: Drums, Chimes, Bongo, Air Can, Simmons Kit
Bradford Hoopes: Wurlitzer, Hammond Organ, Juno Synthesizer
Tom Johnson: Lowrey Organ
Lisa Miller: Vacuum Cleaner

LAKE CHAMPIONS
Randy Kaplan: Guitar, Vocal, Harmonica

REBORN AS BEES
Randy Kaplan: Guitars, Vocals, Piano, Clarinet, Rhodes, Harmonica, Ukulele
Brian Schey: Bass, Voice Box
Colin Mahoney: Drums
Bradford Hoopes: Organ, Rhodes

BOYISH HIPS
Randy Kaplan: Guitars, Vocals, Harmonica, Piano, Percussion
InfluencesL. Cohen, B. Dylan, Doc Watson, Charlie Poole & the rest of the Harry Smith gang, Prince, Woodys - Allen & Guthrie, J. Prine, Scott Bernstein, R. Newman, Carl Sagan, R. Johnson, Henry Cowell, Eric Rohmer, J.P. Sartre, Rene Descartes, B.O.C., Bruce Leigh, William James, Rashi, Dave Van Ronk, J.L. Borges, Stephen Sondheim, Violent Femmes, The Beach Boys, I.B. Singer, L. Wainright III, L. Lovett, P. Simon, Leadbelly, Arnold Dreyblatt, F. Truffaut, B. Joel, Agent Orange, S. Kierkegaard, H. Chapin, Ice Cube, Rodgers & Hammerstein, C. Porter, Yip Harburg, A. Garfunkel, Ralph Stanley, R. Wagner, Duke Ellington, e.e., G.E. Leigh, Cantor Lam, A.C. Jobim, Mozart & Da Ponte, C. Bukowski, M. Buber, J. Ashbery, A. Dvorak, E. Presley, Ogden Nash, Grandmaster Flash.
Record LabelYellow Thing Records & Books
Type of LabelNone




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   About Randy Kaplan
Randy Kaplan is a Brooklyn-based songwriter known for his incisive lyrics and songs that blend American roots, folk, alternative, and pop.

As indebted to I.B. Singer, John Ashbery, and Woody Allen as he is to Robert Johnson, John Prine, and Dave Van Ronk, Kaplan intricately finger-picks his way through his own compositions as well as Tin Pan Alley gems, obscure Broadway numbers, Rap classics, and Delta Blues songs.

Randy spent many years in Los Angeles performing with his band "i" and traveling the U.S. with his acoustic guitar and harmonica. He has released eight records, two geared towards children. Click here for Randy's MySpace site for kids and information about his two kids' CDs.

Here are some excerpts from reviews of Randy's work, ablum by album (for more reviews click here).

Click on any album title to hear song clips and/or find out more information!

PERFECT GENTLEMAN

"(Kaplan's) lyrics don't underestimate their listener's intelligence, being literate and occasionally not a little highbrow ... unafraid of multi-syllable words or obscure subject matter. Kaplan is a craftsman in the tradition of Paul Simon, to whose "Still Crazy After All These Years" "Perfect Gentleman" is first cousin."
-Jeremy Searle / AMERICANA-UK.com

"Kaplan's musical approach is homemade cheerful multi-instrumental confidence with a harmonica... plunder chests full of styles and rhythms sitting under clever drolleries and nifty tunes... personal story telling, cheerful nuttiness, (and an) ability to slip into and out of the mournful or the weird."
-Sam Saunders / www.WHISPERINANDHOLLERIN.com

"Quality recordings from lo-fi underground recording popster Randy Kaplan. Kaplan's tunes are nice and laidback... often recalling the music of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. (Rating: 4+++)"
-Baby Sue / www.BABYSUE.com

"Kaplan has a pleasant, easy-going hand in his songwriting, and the songs here are instantly likable... This demonstrate(s) Kaplan's ample writing skills."
-CENT.com

MIRACULOUS DISSOLVING CURES

"On 'Miraculous Dissolving Cures', transcontinental singer-songwriter Randy Kaplan sounds like he can hold the line against most folk-pop comers. He compiles a collection of stories that incorporates elements of longing and loss, and from the get-go of "Crushed Berries"- with the line "My friends will save a fly from a spider's web/But then they'll order rack of lamb or baby back ribs"- there's also a serving of irony. Kaplan, who's obviously well-read, conjures the Big Dipper, Sinatra and Job's wife on "Volunteers," a seeming non sequitur fest. But somehow, everything on the album fits together."
- Kevin Amorim / NEWSDAY, New York

"Kaplan's creativity sends out sparks. One can only hope that if he eventually cheers up, that won't dilute the intensity of his songwriting."
-DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE / Northampton, Massachusetts

"Randy Kaplan is a cheeky songwriter with enough personality to stand out from the dulling crowd of singer-songwriters."
-TIME OUT NEW YORK

LAKE CHAMPIONS

"(Kaplan's) songs are sweetly personal and wonderfully void of pretentious overtones... The stories he sings wind and twist away from the ordinary and toward refreshing new ideas often humorous and bizarre... never predictable."
-THE INDEPENDENT / Lawrence, Kansas

"Long Island-born Randy Kaplan sings of modern romance, male neuroses, and quirky character studies with the off-kilter viewpoint of a man who appreciates the blurred edges as much as the finer points. Like Leonard Cohen before him, and his friend and musical compadre Dan Bern, Randy's self-effacing lyrics make you laugh, cry and blush at their honest simplicity."
-THE BOTTOM LINE / Required Listening preview; New York City

"(Kaplan's) songs display keen psychological insight... His emotional range is broad, running the gamut from uplifting to bleak."
-THE MATTRESS / Olympia, Washington

REBORN AS BEES

"Kaplan originals... resound with a thought-provoking consciousness."
-THE ISLAND VOICE / Long Island, New York

"Melody, lyrics, arrangement, production... it's all here... The lyrics stand on their own as poetry, unique and compelling in its imagery... This guy's no lightweight."
-THE INSIDE CONNECTION / Long Island, New York

BOYISH HIPS

"Kaplan makes us smile as he points out hypocrisy... (He crafts) exceptionally tender songs (and) pens understated tunes that, the more we hear them, eventually evolve into anthems."
-NEWSDAY / Long Island, New York

"Whether he's singing about despair or ecstasy, Kaplan's songs are bittersweet, romantic, and sometimes nostalgic. And his point of view is always original and often startling."
-THE PERDIDO PELICAN; Pensacola, Florida


   Randy Kaplan's Friend Space (Top 23)
Randy Kaplan has 315 friends.
 Randy Kaplan - kids 


 Gabriel 


 fabulous secret powers were revealed to me 


 Michelle 


 Arnold Dreyblatt / Orchestra of Excited Strings 


 Truckstop Honeymoon 


 Brian Schey 


 Eleni Mandell 


 Dan Bern 


 Myshkin’s Ruby Warblers 


 Andras 


 Yasmina 


 Jenny 


 Byron Thames 


 Julia Albert 


 Leila 


 Aubrie 


 LR 


 GReGG 


 Infinity 


 Colin Sean Mahoney 


 Sam Champion 


 danielle harrison 





Randy Kaplan's Friends Comments
Displaying 41 of 41 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Stephen S. Katz Appreciation





Jun 7 2008 8:55 AM

RK!

Cheers friend, an honour having you here, be well, and do enjoy the library/blog's contents, here's hoping that it'll inspire you, as your creative spirit has inspired mine, sweet dreams then...

DSH & SSK
=^..^=
abby





May 22 2008 3:11 PM

When will you be here???

~a
Tara





Apr 18 2008 8:20 PM

Sadly couldn't make your show this week, but hopefully will see you this summer back in NY! Happy travels.
ARMOREDBABY





Apr 16 2008 11:40 AM

HELOO!

fabulous secret powers were revealed to me





Mar 6 2008 5:25 AM

randy! how are you? I was just wondering where can I order your two new cds from? Hope all is well with you. Lots of love cuzin ambar
Jenny





Feb 6 2008 10:01 AM

Hello sir! How are you?
Leila





Jan 21 2008 9:22 PM

hello love, i miss you. i hope to see you while you're here on the west coast.
Kristen





Jan 15 2008 8:27 PM

I'm so there on saturday in silverlake! Glad to have you back in L.A. Hope you're well luv.
~K.
Yiannis





Jan 11 2008 1:54 PM

Thank You For Being A Friend!
WONDERFUL SONGS :-)
'Perfect Gentleman' is my favourite.
Have a Happy & Creative 2008!
Violet





Jan 3 2008 6:06 PM

Hello.
Happy new year. How's your life in LA?
abby





Dec 18 2007 1:18 AM

Happy Birthday...a bit late, but...

xoxo
~a
Young Adults





Nov 18 2007 11:06 AM

hey Randy... it was great seeing you.

keep up the good work.

nikki
GIL





Nov 14 2007 7:13 PM

Rar!
Jenny





Nov 10 2007 4:23 PM

Hi...
Buckley





Nov 10 2007 9:12 AM

The Perch Cafe





Nov 7 2007 9:55 AM

Hey! its jamey Hamm. My band is playing at perch this friday, 11/9 @9pm...are you coming out?
Amanda Jane





Oct 29 2007 4:29 PM

Thanks for adding me... Would love to check out a show when you are in LA! Let me know...
Kristin





Oct 16 2007 1:41 PM

Umm, so are we not friends anymore?
Jenny





Oct 13 2007 11:48 AM

Thank you so so much for the gift! It arrived yesterday. You absolutely made it within a year! Completely unnecessary, and completely appreciated. Miss you, talk soon.
Mange





Oct 12 2007 12:34 PM

Great songs...thanks for adding me:)
LR





Oct 5 2007 1:10 AM

Hi Randy!
Thanks for the add and the kind words.
Very nice songs by the way
L

The Think Tank





Aug 29 2007 8:52 PM

Thanks for the message! My real name by the way is Tammy (or "Tammy T" on the radio). Hope to see you back in the NW soon, and it would be great if you do end up in L.A. (I love L.A! Like Randy Newman...)
The Think Tank





Aug 28 2007 11:40 AM

Remember me? Andras's co-host? I saw you at the Live Radio8Ball Show! How did you like that? I enjoyed your question...!
Kristin





Aug 16 2007 9:49 AM

1) how is your trip?
2) when are you coming back?
xx
Identical Strangers





Jul 15 2007 5:44 PM

You're super cool!
Jenny





Jul 14 2007 3:04 PM

We'll be in Lawrence from Monday night the 23 until early Friday morning the 27th... hopefully we can sit down for lunch or dinner if you are not too busy being a rock star. Miss ya love ya see ya soon...
Miki





Jul 12 2007 9:45 PM

Hey, you finally entered 2004 and got a Myspace page! ;-)

I look forward to your LA visit. I see some cupcakes in your future.....
gemma





Jul 12 2007 11:43 AM

Good to see you! Anything interesting planned for the summer?
Douglas E Powell





Jul 3 2007 1:25 PM

Thanks for the add my friend.
Stay in touch.

Regards,

DEP
tig notaro





Jul 3 2007 2:40 AM

get in touch when you get to LA.
Sandman the Rappin' Cowboy





Jun 25 2007 10:28 PM

Music & baseball. The good life . . .
The Mars Hall





Jun 21 2007 8:49 PM

Now this is what I like to hear
Sounds great
The 7th Deadly Cin





Jun 19 2007 12:09 AM

I think you are a genius. And that you rock.
Keli Kadamba





Jun 14 2007 9:02 AM

Randy! How was Perch yesterday afternoon. Were the kids naughty and weird there like they were last week?
There are two spellings of my name.I'll tell you all about it over yogurt Tuesday morning...
kisses!
The Wiyos





Jun 14 2007 8:45 AM

Thanks for making space for some washbaord fueled vaudevillian ragtime/jugband blues and hillbilly swing!
BRAD





Jun 7 2007 3:54 PM

I saw you walking on 3rd St a few days ago. Nice gait!
COREY





Jun 4 2007 10:40 AM

THANKS FOR THE REQUEST RANDY!!I STLL LOVE YOUR MUSIC...I HOPE EVERYTHING IS GROOVY WITH YOU!!!!
the Maybelles