Just came across this, sorry if its been mentioned before.
It looks pretty legitimate, is it the real deal?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1965-BEACH-BOYS-GOLD-RECORD-HAND-SIGNED-BRIAN-WILSON-RIAA-COA-/251104408223?_trksid=p5197.m1998&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D18%26meid%3D934283927037059223%26pid%3D100017%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D4%26#ht_2561wt_1398This very plaque is from the lobby walls of the world famous Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, CA where it had been on display since it's original 1965 'Gold Record' status until 1976 when Capitol began changing the award presentations to include cassettes. At this point, the older awards were replaced with the new style that included cassettes in the frame under glass (unlike the early awards that had no glass). The old plaques were then offered up to senior Capitol Records employees and were distributed among those that wanted them.
John Carter was a Senior Vice President of A&R Capitol Records during this period and ended up choosing a few gold records for himself including this one.
In 1977, Scott Mathews went to Abbey Road Studios with Mr. Carter to work on a record called 'Red' by Sammy Hagar (Carter was Hagar's A&R man and producer). During the
weeks they spent together in London, they developed a tight friendship and upon returning to the States, Carter gifted Mathews (a HUGE Beach Boys fan) with the gold record offered here as a bonus for helping with the Hagar recordings.
Within two years, Mathews had signed and released his own album for Capitol Records as an artist, songwriter and producer under a band name 'Durocs' (along with Ron Nagle).
Carl Wilson became a big fan and supporter of Mathews and played the Beach Boys inspired 'Durocs' record for Brian Wilson who was becoming very involved in Beach Boys sessions after a long sabbatical. Brian was so impressed with what he heard, he asked Bruce Johnston to call Mathews which led to Mathews playing and singing on the next Beach Boys record. Carl Wilson and Mathews continued writing and recording together and Mathews would perform with The Beach Boys whenever they appeared in the Bay Area where he lived.
Brian Wilson signed the gold record offered here in San Francisco when Wilson was on a book tour for 'Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story' in 1991.
Mathews has stayed in close touch with Brian Wilson, sang (with Al Jardine) on Wilson's final Pet Sounds performance in Oakland, CA and has been presented many gold records (Pet Sounds, Smile, Good Vibrations Box Set, etc.) for facilitating in various roles to Wilson, Jardine and The Beach Boys.
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