Saturday, March 21, 2009

Music News & Notes

Nirvana Catalog To Be Re-Released On Vinyl


The bulk of Nirvana's catalog is set for a high-fidelity do-over this year as the Original Recordings Group (ORG) prepares to release "Nevermind," "In Utero," and "MTV Unplugged" on 180-gram, audiophile quality vinyl for the first time ever.

All three records will be released in 2009, with "Nevermind" coming first, says Monti Olson, a senior VP of Universal Music Publishing Group/Interscope Records and founder of ORG, who will announce the deal at South By Southwest tomorrow (March 21).

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John Mellencamp Working on New Album, Box Set


John Mellencamp's website has recently been updated with new information on a new album that he plans to record this summer and an update on the long rumored and grossly overdue career spanning "box set."

On the new album:

"During the tour, John hopes to cut a new album, "as American folk as I've ever been," he says. To be produced again by T-Bone Burnett, the album will be recorded at old hotels including the famed former Statler Hilton Hotel in Downtown Dallas, where legendary bluesman Robert Johnson recorded 13 blues songs during the summer of 1937...

"...John hopes to refocus attention on it and other such buildings within quick travel distance during his summer tour (another is the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, where Johnson recorded Sweet Home Chicago and Crossroad Blues), bringing along 1950s recording equipment to get a vintage sound to go with the setting. Additionally, the sessions will be filmed by acclaimed photographer Kurt Marcus; background footage of the surrounding areas will also be shot and mixed in with material about the music and the summer tour itself. If things go according to plan, a Sundance-quality documentary will result."

On the box set:

"They've been talking about this one for years, but real work is now being done on what looks to be a 4-CD set. In fact, music business A & R and Producer veteran Steve Berkowitz, who among many other things did the a&r work for the ongoing series of Bob Dylan and Miles Davis boxes has been brought on as consultant.

"According to Berkowitz, then, the box will not so much focus on the obvious hits as present a full picture of a "life-long, hall-of-fame, great artist" and his songs.

"The layout of the set at this time involves one disc of early demos; two discs of various versions of well-known songs (these may be alternate takes and mixes, early versions, acoustic versions, etc.), as well as previously unreleased songs; and a fourth disc, which Berkowitz is currently referring to as "Let Us Reconsider," to also include different versions of other material. He estimates that 65-75% of the material will be "previously unreleased" recordings."


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Simon & Garfunkel May Tour Australia and Asia


CNN has reported that legendary folk icons Simon & Garfunkel are preparing to announce dates for late spring shows in Australia and Asia.

The possibility first surfaced during the first of Simon's two gigs reopening the renovated Beacon Theater. Simon's manager, Jeff Kramer, hinted that more shows might be coming.

According to the article, Kramer has asked Paul's supporting musicians to clear their calendars from late-May through June. This would allow rehearsals to start in May in New York and for the tour to last throughout June.

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Duran Duran in the Studio With Mark Ronson

It's being reported that Duran Duran have entered the studio to record their 13th album with production by producer Mark Ronson. The group and Ronson also worked together last summer for a special gig in Paris.

While Ronson has become huge in the last couple of years while working with Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, Adele and others, he's been friends with John Taylor back to their childhoods. Ronson also recently admitted that, when he was young, he idolized the band and would "take a picture of John Taylor with me to the barber shop".

On the Duran Duran blog, the group says "Working with Ronson is a natural next step for the band, who continue to challenge themselves with each new phase of their career."

Kramer, though, would not confirm any plans to Rolling Stone, saying "Yes there have been conversations taking place, but nothing has been confirmed."

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Jonas Brothers Tour

With the Jonas Brothers on the verge of embarking on their first world tour, the trio recently held a conference call to discuss their new concert arrangement, their Monkees-inspired JONAS television show and their new June album.

“The tour will be in-the-round,” Nick Jonas tells Rock Daily about the arena shows that will plant the band at center court. “We’ve always talked about wanting to do a tour like that, and this has been our first opportunity. It’s a way for us to really connect with our fans.”

The tour will kick off this Sunday, March 22nd, with a show in the Bahamas, after which the JoBros will invade South America, before returning to North America and then heading to Europe.

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