Monday, January 25, 2010

Music News & Notes

James McMurtry Announces iPhone App and Tour Dates

James McMurtry fans can now stay up to date with concert information, photos, videos, music and blog posts while they are on the go with the his new official iPhone application. The app also allows users to post photos from their iPhone directly to the fan community and engage other fans across Facebook and iLike.

McMurtry and his band will be touring the western United States in support of his latest release, Live in Europe (Lightning Rod Records). The album is a document of McMurtry's first European tour, on which he was joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan and fellow Texas songwriting legend Jon Dee Graham. The set is available as a CD with a bonus DVD, or as a deluxe vinyl LP package with a CD and DVD insert.

Live in Europe, available as a CD/DVD set or as a vinyl LP/DVD set, has earned praise from the critics. Mike Seely, writing in the Seattle Weekly, wrote: "The great Texan James McMurtry released a new album of old material in 2009—in other words, a live album. No matter: Mere mention of its drop date gave me an excuse to delve deeper into McMurtry's supremely underrated oeuvre. . . This re-exposure made me surer than ever that McMurtry is the Springsteen of the South."

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The Scorpions Announce Retirement

German hard rock legends The Scorpions have announced that at the end of their upcoming world tour they will be retiring. The tour will be in support of their new album, "Sting in the Tail," which is set for release on March 19th. The band made the announcement on their website as well as releasing a couple of previews from the new album. Here is the announcement:

It was always our pleasure, our purpose in life, our passion and we were fortunate enough to make music for you - whether it was live on stage or in the studio, creating new songs.


While we were working on our album these past few months, we could literally feel how powerful and creative our work was – and how much fun we were still having, in the process. But there was also something else: We want to end the Scorpion's extraordinary career on a high note. We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we've always had since the beginning. This is why, especially now, we agree we have reached the end of the road. We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years.


We want you, our fans, to be the first to know about this. Thank you for your never-ending support throughout the years! We uploaded the very first snippets from our new album for you. And now… let's get the party started and get ready for a "Sting in the Tail"! See you on the world tour

Revolver Boutique Puts One Million Vinyl Records Up For Sale

Company Lost its Lease on Warehouse and Needs to Liquidate Entire Record Collection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 25, 2010 – SAN DIEGO – Calling all collectors of vinyl records! San Diego-based Revolver Boutique has lost its lease on its warehouse and is now liquidating one of the nation’s largest collection of vinyl records – one million pieces in stock – all up for immediate sale.

“We lost our warehouse and must liquidate this enormous vinyl record collection,” said Gabe Galvez with Revolver Boutique. “This is a great addition to any record collector’s collection and it is available below cost.”

The diverse collection of music covers everything from rock and jazz to even classical and pop music. Most of the record inventory covers the span of the 1950s to the 1980s, but the album collection for sale pretty much has something available for every music lover.

“We are willing to take options on medium size to large size orders of these albums,” Galvez said. “We are even willing to work with the buyer to help sort the albums or even help move them. No appropriate offer will be rejected.”

Revolver Boutique acquired the record collection in the takeover of San Diego-based vintage clothing and music store Thrift Trader. Thrift Trader was an active purchaser of vintage vinyl records in the greater San Diego area and stored the extensive collection in a local warehouse.

“They were buying 10,000 or more vinyl records per month,” Galvez said. “It’s easy to see how this diverse collection of records grew to more than one million albums very quickly.”

For more information on the extensive collection of more than one million vinyl records, or to make an offer to acquire the inventory, please contact Gabe Galvez with Revolver Boutique at 619-507-5946 or via email at gabe.galvez@revolverboutiques.com.

For more information on Revolver Boutique, please check out their brand new website at http://www.revolverboutiques.com/

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Media Contact:

Gabe Galvez
Revolver Boutique
Phone: (619) 507-5946
Email: gabe.galvez@revolverboutiques.com
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This Date In Music History-January25

Birthdays:

Etta James (1938)

Michael Cotten - Tubes

Mal Green - Split Enz (1953)

Richard Finch - KC and the Sunshine Band (1954)

Andy Cox - Fine Young Cannibals (1956)

Gary Brian Tibbs - Adam and the Ants (1958)

Alicia Keys (1980) Has sold over 25 million albums and singles worldwide and won numerous awards, including nine Grammys.


They Are Missed:

(Sleepy) John Estes, an important early bluesman, was born in Ripley, Tennessee in 1903. He played on the streets of Memphis in the 1920's, supporting himself by working the night shift at a trainyard. His tendency to doze off on the job earned him his nickname. (died June 5, 1977)

In 1983, the Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer (age 34). He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley.

Albert Grossman, who managed the careers of Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan, died in 1986 on a flight from the US to Britain.

Born today in 1915, folk singer songwriter Ewan MacColl, composer of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," a hit for Roberta Flack in 1971. MacColl died on October 22, 1989.

Born on this day in 1931, Stig Anderson, songwriter, producer and Abba's manager. Co-wrote some of Abba’s biggest hits, such as "Waterloo," "Mamma Mia," "S.O.S," "Fernando," "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You." Died of a heart attack on 12th Sept 1997.


History:

Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single ever to enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One in 1958.

The original cast recording of 'The Sound Of Music 'started a 16-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1960.

Sam Cooke recorded "Chain Gang" in 1960.

Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away," was released on RCA Records in 1962. It will make it up to #9 on the pop chart.

In 1964, producer Phil Spector appeared as a panelist on the British rate-a-record TV program "Juke Box Jury."

In 1967, the Beatles made a last-minute remix of "Penny Lane" before the pressing of their next double A sided single"Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane." Both songs were originally intended for forthcoming Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.



David Gilmour played his first show with Pink Floyd at Southampton University in 1968. He replaced Syd Barrett whose behavior had become increasingly unpredictable.

Creedence Clearwater Revival released their classic “Born On The Bayou” LP in 1969.

In 1971, Charles Manson and three female members of his "family" are found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit murder and seven counts of murder in the first degree and are sentenced to life imprisonment. During one of the most sensational trials in history, it was revealed that Manson regarded the Beatles as angels who communicated to him through their music. In particular, "Helter Skelter," "Piggies," "Revolution 9" and other songs on the "The White Album."

Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane become the proud parents of a baby girl in 1971, which the they originally wanted to name God, but settled on China. Good move.....

The Carpenters went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1975 with their version of The Marveletts 1961 hit "Please Mr. Postman."

In 1978, Bob Dylan headlined a seven-hour benefit concert for imprisoned boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. The show at the Houston Astrodome also featured Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, Carlos Santana, Steve Stills and Ringo Starr.

Nanci Griffith releases her debut album, 'There's a Light Beyond These Woods' in 1978.

In 1979, the Cars won the Rolling Stone magazine annual readers' poll as the best new band of the year.

Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo jail in 1980 where he'd been imprisoned for ten days after trying to carry a half pound of marijuana through customs at the Tokyo airport. He was immediately deported.

The day after his birthday, comedian John Belushi of "Saturday Night Live" and Blues Brothers fame jams with punk rockers, the Dead Boys, at The Whiskey in Los Angeles in 1980.

Yoko Ono donated $425,000 to Liverpool old people’s home Strawberry Fields in 1984.

Barbra Streisand started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1986 with 'The Broadway Album.'

Paul McCartney recorded an acoustic set in London for MTV Unplugged in 1991.

Color Me Bad scored their second US #1 single in 1992 with "All 4 Love."

Today in 1992 the song "Don't Let the Sun Go Down" by George Michael & Elton John topped the charts and stayed there for a week.

In 1994, singer Markey Mark was sued by a Portland, Oregon woman who said she was trampled during one of his shows. She said he invited the crowd to rush the stage after he stripped down to his underwear.

Also in 1994 - Lawyers for Michael Jackson and a 14-year-old boy announced a multi-million-dollar settlement of a civil lawsuit. The boy had accused Jackson of sexually molesting him — the superstar denied it. Reports put the settlement at anywhere from 5 million to 24 million dollars.

Billy Joel totals his Mercedes on a Long Island, New York highway in 2003 (but receives only facial cuts).

In 2007, Ted Nugent (who is never at a loss for words) claimed reports by the "hyper-liberal media" stating he made racially offensive remarks during his performance at Texas Governor Rick Perry's inauguration ball are untrue. "In total defiance to the vicious lies and hateful allegations of 'racism' leveled at me by irresponsible, unprofessional and downright goofy media punks, I never said a word . . . against 'illegal immigrants' or 'non-English-speaking' anyone," writes Nuge in a Waco Tribune-Herald guest column. "I will intensify my fight for a united America by demanding all Americans speak English."

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young attended the Sundance Film Festival in 2008 for the premiere of CSNY Deja Vu documentary about the quartet's antiwar-themed '06 tour. Neil Young directed (under his Bernard Shakey alias) and co-wrote the film which focuses on CSNY's '06 Freedom of Speech tour and examines the group's opposition to the Iraq war.