Paul Kaplan Music

Veteran musician and songwriter Paul Kaplan has been an enthusiastic participant in the folk music world since the late 1960s when his early anti-Vietnam war songs were published in the legendary protest magazine Broadside. 

His involvement with the singer-songwriter movement was sparked by his early love of the songs of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton. He pursued that love as a frequent attendee at the Songwriters’ Exchange at the Cornelia Street Cafe, in New York, and as a prolific contributor to The Fast Folk Musical Magazine, in which ten of his songs were included. In the late 1970s, Paul had the opportunity to produce three posthumous albums by Phil Ochs for Folkways.

His first album, Life on This Planet, featured the songs "Call Me the Whale" and "Henry the Accountant", later covered by such folk music greats as Sally Rogers, David Massengill, Jay Mankita and Ed McCurdy. His song "I Had an Old Coat" from King of Hearts (1985) has been sung by Nickelodeon stars Sharon, Lois and Bram (The Elephant Show), as well as by Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise, to name just a few. All three songs are available on his CD The Folk Process.

Paul’s interest in traditional music is reflected in his four years as a member of the group The Derby Ram, resident band of the Eagle Tavern in New York City. With band founder Dan Milner, Paul co-authored the popular A Bonnie Bunch of Roses-Songs of England, Ireland and Scotland, published by Music Sales. 

In his solo career, Paul’s warm style and gentle humor have charmed audiences at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Great Hudson River Revival, The Gotta Get Gon and Denmark’s prestigious Tønder Festival, as well as such venues as Passim, The Eighth Step, Mother’s Wine Emporium and Golden Link. 

Paul has been honored by the inclusion of his songs in two monumental collections produced by Smithsonian Folkways. One of his first songs, Vietnam, appears in the Grammy-nominated Best of Broadside. A second song, King of Hearts, is featured in Fast Folk – a Community of Singers & Songwriters. And in 2004 Henry the Accountant was included in Being Human — Readings from the President’s Council on Bioethics, along with works by Homer, Shakespeare, Dickinson, Whitman, G.B. Shaw, etc. Paul’s latest honor was having  his songs “I Had an Old Coat” and “Call Me the Whale” included in the new Rise Again songbook, the successor to Rise up Singing.

His latest album, King of Hearts, achieved top-ten placement on the Folk DJ International chart for its first two months in release, topping at #3. It has also garnered rave reviews nationally and internationally, and  was nominated for the Critics Award in Germany for May, 2026.

Bob Silvestri - BestofWNY.com Buffalo/Niagara at its Best 3/16/26

Paul Kaplan –- King of Hearts
Iconic folk singer Paul Kaplan was a founding member of the fledgling Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 1980’s, often performing at the Speakeasy in the Village. In 1985 Kaplan decided to record his second album at the Speakeasy, a live album no less. He recruited some musician friends to rehearse including Mark Dann, Robin Greenstein, Kenny Kosek, Ed Baker, Larry Cole and Lisa Roth and on February 8, 1985 recorded his album King of Hearts. Forty years later Kaplan has rereleased the album and the material and lyrics are as relevant and topical as they were back when the album was first recorded. Back in 1985 Kaplan sang about war and the threat of nuclear destruction “Just Another War”, the pervasiveness of greed “Money”, the drifting state of our country “Orphans of the Storm”, the heart break over the tragic death of Phil Ochs (now fifty years since his passing) “Phil (for Phil Ochs)”, about reuse and saving our planet “I Had An Old Coat” which has been recorded by numerous artists including Sharon, Lois & Bram and of course the greatest of all subject matter, love, with the songs “I Will Keep You Warm”, “Blow, Winds, Blow”, “I’m Feeling Blue”, the title track “King of Hearts”, “Wedding in the Village” and “Take Out The Garbage When You Go”. A couple of traditional Irish folk songs shine as well with “Heather on the Moor” and “The Greenwood Lassie”. You can find out more information about Paul Kaplan and his album King of Hearts by going to www.paulkaplanmusic.com or you can go to www.facebook.com/paul.kaplan.902

“Your re-mastered album is a treasure.” Jean Geiger (KBCS-FM, WA)

Wolfgang Giese – music an sich (Germany)

I reviewed Paul Kaplan's fifth release, *We Shall Stay Here*, back in 2021.

And now, about four and a half years have passed until a successor, King of Hearts, finally arrives. But that's not quite accurate, because this isn't a new recording, but rather a re-release, produced by Paul Kaplan himself, of an acoustic folk live concert he performed with friends on February 8, 1985, at the Musicians' Cooperative at Speakeasy in Greenwich Village, New York, and recorded by Claude Demers.

As I've already mentioned, Kaplan isn't exactly a household name among singer-songwriters, although he was quite active in the 1960s, and later produced three albums posthumously released by Phil Ochs, before finally releasing his debut album in 1982.

On King of Hearts are thirteen songs created between 1975 and 1985. In the attached leaflet of this new edition of the CD, all lyrics are printed, as well as a short explanation for each song. This includes not only the original compositions but also the traditional songs. So you can follow the concert very well at home and that ultimately contributes to the fact that you can internalize the songs even better in this way. “Blow, Winds, Blow” was created on the occasion of the wedding of a good friend, Robert Hutchison; “I’m Feeling Blue,” Paul writes, came to him in a dream, and Billie Holiday sang the song. “Just Another War” has a somber background, dating back to England's war in the Falkland Islands. The aforementioned Phil Ochs is honored with a dedication, “Phil (for Phil Ochs)”, and Paul claims to still miss him. Some of the original printed texts have been subsequently changed to adapt them in a contemporary way. 

And now, let's quickly transport ourselves to 1985 in Greenwich Village! "I Will Keep You Warm," the opening track, immediately creates a very pleasant and friendly atmosphere. The message of keeping the flame alive to keep a loved one warm is quite romantic, with a beautiful melody, harmonious backing vocals, and a fantastic opening that already radiates warmth!

The musicians provide sensitive accompaniment, contributing to a truly captivating mood. "Blow, Winds, Blow" features Kenny Kosek with a beautiful fiddle solo. Kenny is considered "one of America's finest fiddlers"! He later played with Jerry Garcia in his band, among others, and is a real asset here.

Finally, we can look forward to this cozy live atmosphere, which will also flow into your living room. The sound quality and mixing are first-rate! And so, the arrangement of the songs by the excellent musicians is clearly presented, providing a perfect foundation for Paul's vocals, which are very expressive and warm (and comforting) in tone. He can convey quite a range of emotions; alongside melancholic and sentimental songs, things can also get more lighthearted with a track like "Take Out the Garbage When You Go." A touch of Celtic feeling resonates here as well, especially in pieces like "Heather on the Moor," a traditional Irish song from Ulster, or "The Greenwood Lassie," also from Ireland.

"Phil" is particularly poignant, a fitting and very introspective tribute to a friend we miss, Phil Ochs, who took his own life in 1976. For almost four minutes, he is brought back to life—a wonderful dedication! ("I dreamed I saw a golden bird outside my windowsill, Phil, I miss you")

Songs full of tenderness, warmth, and beauty—a delight for all the listeners who were there back then, and now for all of us who want to share in King of Hearts! An album full of music that, as a whole, has the makings of a classic in the singer-songwriter genre! And one that should finally help Paul Kaplan achieve the recognition he deserves and establish himself as one of the greats of the folk/singer-songwriter scene.

John Apice - Americana Highways 1/26/2026

Paul Kaplan – King of Hearts

This isn’t a new recording, but a self-produced reissue of a live acoustic folk set performed by Paul Kaplan (vocals/guitar/cuatro/harmonica) with friends at the Greenwich Village, NY Musicians’ Cooperative at Speakeasy, recorded by Claude Demers Feb. 8, 1985.

There are 13 songs on King of Hearts (Drops Feb 1/Old Coat Music/49:03). Mr. Kaplan, who, in his 50-year career, won 11 ASCAP Awards, said he reissued these songs after 40 years because he felt the songs were still relevant. Yes, there are some politically tinted tunes, but many also deal with the little dramas of falling in love, folk legend Phil Ochs, & humor about taking out the garbage when you go with the same audience participation as Strawbs’ classic “Part of the Union.”

Originally released as vinyl, the CD has the story behind the LP & gives folk music aficionados a chance to revisit it. The recording, its production — all pristine with Paul’s voice: clear. He’s a cross between the traditional Tom Paxton & the creative Bob Lind (“Elusive Butterfly,” “Cheryl’s Comin’ Home”), especially on “The King of Hearts.” He’s purposeful with simple & unified tunes as “I Will Keep You Warm.”

As the concert proceeds, Kenny Kosek’s fiddle adds color to “Blow, Winds, Blow.” A simple, optimistic tune. Not all folk songs have to be radical, or anti-war, but offer a lesson, a story or the value of reminiscing. “I’m Feeling Blue” isn’t even a full-fledged folky but a song shaped out of the ashes of the balladry of the Big Band/Swing era, where Bob Eberle could’ve done this one.

Paul touches on some controversy, but he’s basically a light-touch artist. Nothing that would upset tender ears & personalities. He stretches his artistry to sing dusty songs that would fit comfortably in the oeuvre of Fairport Convention, The Strawbs & Steeleye Span — “Heather On the Moor” sounds very John Renbourn, Bert Jansch & Richard Thompson. Old English balladry filled with old-world melodic tradition & charm.

Paul entertains – his voice is well-articulated, & his traditionalism never veers into something old-fashioned. “I Had An Old Coat” is a fine example. The album is a bit nostalgic, but the music is good, the performance was captured well & since it was recorded in the ‘80s & not the ‘60s, it doesn’t sound too dated. The audience certainly had a good time. Even if the re-release becomes a souvenir, that would be a compliment.

Highlights – “I Will Keep You Warm,” “Blow, Winds, Blow,” “I’m Feeling Blue,” “The King of Hearts,” Take Out the Garbage When You Go,” “Heather On the Moor,” “I Had An Old Coat,” & “Money.”

Musicians – Mark Dann (bass), Robin Greenstein (vocals/banjo), Ed Baker (piano/Yamaha DX-7), Larry Cole (bagpipes), Lisa Roth (tambourine) & the Speakeasy audience.

Photo of Paul’s face on the playing card courtesy of Alan Beck & the card by Brian Rose.

CD @ Amazon & https://paulkaplanmusic.com/home

 Gabriele Haefs - folk magazin (Germany)

Paul Kaplan has been one of the greats of the US folk scene for so many years, yet he is still not as well-known here as he deserves to be. His existing fans, however, have been eagerly awaiting a new CD for several years, and now it's finally here. Its title is "King of Hearts," and we know ng a new CD for several years, and now it's finally here. Its title is "King of Hearts," and we know that such a title usually suggests unrequited love, but the King of Hearts on the cover is smiling, that such a title usually suggests unrequited love, but the King of Hearts on the cover is smiling, so it's not all gloom and doom (and even when it is, as in the title track, it's done in such a wonderful, heart-melting way!). With the first song, the listener thinks how great it would be if it were recorded live, but then it turns out it is a live album. The audience isn't a distraction; it only enhances the atmosphere. Almost all the songs are original compositions, along with a few traditional tunes from Scotland and Ireland, beautifully rendered: "Heather on the Moor." Some titles sound traditional but offer unexpected surprises: "Blow, Winds, Blow" isn't a sea shanty, but a song Paul Kaplan wrote in 2014 for his daughter and daughter-in-law on their wedding day. One song, "Phil," is dedicated to the memory of Phil Ochs, and "Take out the garbage when you go" sounds, both in title and style, like a Tom Lehrer piece.  Each song on this album is a masterpiece that evokes numerous associations, and you'll want to listen to it forever. I highly recommend it to everyone in the FM listening area. 

Paul Kaplan: King of Hearts, Old Coat Music, www.paulkaplan.music.com 

Donald Teplyske - Fervor Coulee Roots Music Opinion

Paul Kaplan King of Hearts PaulKaplanMusic.com Old Coat Music

Sweeping us back to a time we barely recall, Paul Kaplan’s King of Hearts arrives as a freshly issued CD decades after its initial appearance.

Forty-one years ago, in the Greenwich Village Speakeasy’s basement, Paul Kaplan and select friends gathered to record the folksinger’s second album live with a sing-a-long of audience participants. Comprised largely of originals, Kaplan presents an engaging set of folk music, light in places with other parts significantly more grave.

Quickly apparent is the relevancy the songs possess.

“Orphans of the Storm,” recalling Stephen Stills at his best, examines the diminished value system of politicians and is but one of several songs as pertinent today as during the post-Watergate years. Ditto “Money” and “Just Another War,” timeless songs reflecting the greed and thirst for political influence and power, as prevalent today as in the years of Thatcher and Reagan.

Select songs recall the folk tradition of the British Isles (“Heather on the Moor” and “The Greenwood Lassie”) while others are more obviously influenced by the likes of Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton (the familiar “I Had an Old Coat,” as well as “Blow, Winds, Blow,” and “Take Out the Garbage When You Go.”) Also impressive is the heartfelt tribute “Phil (For Phil Ochs)” not previously encountered.

In places, including “I Will Keep You Warm” and “King of Hearts,” we are reminded of the freshness revealed in Murray McLauchlan songs of fifty-plus years ago.

Throughout we are treated to injections of fiddle from Kenny Kosek and the harmony vocals of Robin Greenstein, who also plays banjo in a couple places alongside a fill band including Mark Dann (bass), Ed Baker (piano and keys), Larry Cole (Northumbrian bagpipes), and Lisa Roth (tambourine on a single number commemorating Kaplan’s marriage.)

Nicely packaged including with a Smithsonian Folkways-styled full-sheet of notes with lyrics and insights, King of Hearts is a lively collection of folk music that retains relevance and energy four decades on.

Danny McCloskey - The Alternate Root

This CD is a reissue of Paul Kaplan’s 1985 LP King of Hearts, providing a second life to the songs. King of Hearts puts the musician in the spotlight, a space that he inhabits masterfully. Paul Kaplan is a folk singer. Like the traditions begun in coffee houses and basement bars, his voice rings like a bell. The words are clear, the music chiming in support of songs that harken back further than the late 50’s, early 60’s folk boom, returning to the days of traveling troubadours moving from town to town with a parcel full of stories. The collected tracks on King of Hearts speak truths that tell tales of love, beginning with the heartfelt words of album opener “I Will Keep You Warm.” Paul Kaplan points fingers at a cultural weight on our shoulders when singing of “Money,” the melody sways gently to cradle the woes of “I’m Feeling Blue,” while history writes the story in “Orphans of the Storm.”

The tunes show no signs of wear and tear as King of Hearts offers timeless tracks. Logging in over fifty years in the music business, Paul Kaplan is a songwriter who takes pride in his work, with neither his passion, his voice, nor his songs showing any past due dates. The King of Hearts title track tenderly tells a tale of loss, “Blow, Winds, Blow” watches children grow into adults, while “Take Out the Garbage When You Go” bids goodbye with a request for cleanliness, and “Just Another War” looks at armed conflict from the perspective of one soldier’s observations. Backing the words, the playing on the album supports the songs with bright bounces (“Wedding in the Village / Rondeau from Gascony”) as they sing from folk traditions stretching back centuries (“Heather on the Moor,” “I Had an Old Coat”). A student of music, Paul Kaplan has curated Phil Ochs albums for reissue, and he sends a song out to a much-missed mentor with “Phil (for Phil Ochs).”

Michael Doherty - Michael Doherty's Music Log

Paul Kaplan: “King of Hearts” (1985/2026) CD Review

Singer and songwriter Paul Kaplan released his first album, Life On This Planet, in 1982. And then he decided to make his second album, King Of Hearts, a live album, an interesting choice, especially as how the album includes all different material from the first album. But, as he describes in the liner notes of the new CD edition, he wanted the sound of an audience singing along. And when you listen to the album, that makes complete sense. It was recorded on February 8, 1985 at Speakeasy in Greenwich Village. It features mostly original material written by Paul Kaplan, who plays guitar and harmonica, and provides lead vocals on these tracks. He is joined by Mark Dann on bass, Kenny Kosek on fiddle, Robin Greenstein on vocals and banjo, Ed Baker on piano and synthesizer, and Larry Cole on bagpipes.

The first track gets right into the music. There is no introduction or anything, no immediate indication that it is a live recording. Yet soon we hear folks singing along, so this must have been a song Paul had been playing out for a while, so that the audience would be familiar with it. The song, "I Will Keep You Warm," is exactly the kind of song we need in these rough days. "I will keep you warm/I'll keep the fire burning/Keep you dry in the storm/When winter is returning true to form/I will keep you warm." Robin Greenstein provides some excellent backing vocal work. And this track includes some really nice work on harmonica. "Let me take your cup and I will fill it/With as much as it can hold." Look out for each other, friends. Keep each other safe in these unsavory times. There is applause at the end of the track. "I Will Keep You Warm" is followed by "Blow, Winds, Blow," the title of this one making me think of King Lear on the heath ("Blow winds and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!"). But this song has a decidely different vibe. The family of this song is certainly more functional than that of Lear. It's a sweet song full of love for a couple getting married, told from the perspective of their parents. I love the way the song urges them to experience life. "So blow, winds, blow/Flow, rivers, flow/Grow, children, grow." Kenny Kosek delivers some uplifting work on fiddle.

"I'm Feeling Blue" has a delightful, fun, light, jazzy vibe. "I'm not looking for someone else/I don't want to live by myself/But I'm feeling blue lately when I'm with you," Paul sings at the beginning. But we get the feeling, or at least the hope, that these guys will work it out, especially when he sings, "No one but you can make me sigh/No one but you can make me high." This track features a particularly wonderful vocal performance, and some excellent work on fiddle, those elements making this track one of my personal favorites. It is followed by the album's title track, "The King Of Hearts." Paul introduces this one, and it begins with some good work on guitar. There is some humor to this one, as he sings, "He's a royal pain in the neck," a wonderful nod to the fact that the king holds a sword just behind his head in the picture on the playing card. Will a pain in his own neck result? This song has a great classic folk feel, as it tells a timeless story. "I ran out into the road/But all that I could find/Was a golden band from her left hand/That she had left behind, that she had left behind."

While the title of "Blow, Winds, Blow" had me briefly thinking of King Lear, "Take Out The Garbage When You Go" actually does mention a Shakespeare play in its first lines: "You tell me that you're leaving/That our love has lost its glow/Though you were once my Juliet/And I your Romeo." Soon it becomes a delightful, humorous song, as he asks her to please take out the garbage when she goes. This is another song that benefits from an audience singing along. I wonder if he taught the audience the song in an introduction, which was then cut from the final recording, or if the folks already knew their part. This is one you might also find yourself singing along to before very long. Or at least laughing. There is audible laughter from the audience at certain points, as in reaction to the line "My house is filled with smells." And your laughter will likely join that on the recording. This track features some nice work on fiddle. Then "Orphans Of The Storm" has a more somber, serious sound. It's a song about this country, and though it was written many decades ago, it speaks to us right now. "America the beautiful/Certainly has changed/She wears a lot of makeup/But she'll never be the same." The chorus is delivered with a certain power, and it's easy to imagine, say, David Crosby singing it: "We are orphans of the storm/With no father and no mother/We are orphans of the storm/With no home to go to/We are orphans of the storm/With nobody but each other."

Paul Kaplan then gives us a drinking and dancing song, "Wedding In The Village." Amen to that. "Oh ho, won't you come and join the fun/A wedding in the village/A festival for everyone/Oo-wee, the sun keeps coming up/So let's all drink another round/From the loving cup." It's a song that sounds like a celebration, a song that makes us want to introduce ourselves to strangers, and think of everyone as a friend (it's hard to remember that feeling these days, but music is what can help). And I love the traditional folk dance at the end, this song coupled with "Rondeau From Gascony," a traditional song. It feels perfect. Lisa Roth joins the band on tambourine on this track. That's followed by another traditional number, "Heather On The Moor." Paul Kaplan is a perfect voice to deliver it, for he has the ability to tap into that timeless something. He has that quality in his voice. Not everyone does. He delivers a wonderful rendition, inviting us to step into another place outside of the now.

"I Had An Old Coat" feels like a traditional folk song. It has that kind of vibe. Part of it is the audience singing along, making us feel that the song has been around for a long time. And, actually, the story behind this song has apparently been around a long time, even if this specific song hasn't. Again, you'll likely find yourself singing along too. I certainly do each time I listen to this song. "And I sing every day of my life." This track includes some good work on fiddle. That's followed by a traditional number, "The Greenwood Lassie," an Irish song, usually presented as "Greenwood Laddie." This one has a different vibe, for Paul Kaplan plays the cuatro on it, immediately transporting us. The focus then is on his voice, on the lyrics, and he gives us a beautiful rendition. That is followed by "Money," a funny number that had me laughing out loud almost immediately. "Well, here's a tip for you: make money," he sings. Remember, this was the 1980s, that awful time of Reagan, a time of greed. The nation is still suffering because of that despicable person's time in office, and now we have an even worse person in the White House. There are a lot of laughs here. Part of the humor is the way he delivers it, and part of it is a line like "No matter how you get it, they call it legal tender," which is brilliant. And there is a reference to The Merchant Of Venice: "What buys flesh by the pound?" Paul delivers some good work on harmonica too. This song is delightful.

"Phil (For Phil Ochs)" is a pretty, tender song, opening with the line, "Phil, what went wrong? Why are you quiet now?" Phil Ochs was an excellent and influential songwriter who killed himself in 1976. He wrote about the events of his day, songs that were seen as protest songs. We could use his songwriting now, don't you agree? And in this song, Paul sings, "Phil, where's your song? I really need it now." I suppose we'll always need those songs. The album concludes with another somber number, "Just Another War." And, guess what, this country is now involved in another war, this time purely to distract a stupid population from the fact that the president raped children. Yeah, we're in seriously ugly territory now, the country hitting a shocking new low. And that, of course, is not the only war going on. Russia is still involved in its depraved activity, and Israel seems to have gone completely nuts in Gaza. As far as countries go, I've always appreciated Maude's take: "What sense in borders and nations and patriotism?" Here Paul sings, "Governments, flags/Borders all are fleeting/In an hour they disappear/But somehow the drums of war/Never stop their beating/Year after bloody year."

This special reissue of King Of Hearts was released on February 1, 2026. This is the first time the album has been made available on CD.

Jean Geiger (KBCS-FM, WA)

"Your re-mastered album is a treasure.”