Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 27, 2011



DEAR JERRY: Many artists have a signature song, one instantly connected with them and only them. Tony Bennett's “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”; Wayne Newton's “Danke Schoen”; and Dean Martin's “Everybody Loves Somebody” are three such examples.

Yet when it comes to a signature song for Nina Simone, there are at least three different answers: “I Loves You Porgy”; “Mississippi Goddam”: and “My Baby Just Cares for Me,” are all referred to as her most famous recording.

As far as I know, Nina's only hit was “I Loves You Porgy,” making it a no-brainer.

“My Baby Just Cares for Me” was one of her early singles, but bombed, and I know nothing about “Mississippi Goddam.” I doubt any radio station would have played such a song, at least not in those days.

Do you agree with me?
—Lucille Carmichael, Philadelphia


DEAR LUCILLE: I do agree with you … though there is one little proviso: “I Loves You Porgy” is only a no-brainer to folks living in America in the late 1950s and early '60s.

Simone's “Porgy,” as it is sometimes shown (Bethlehem 11021), reached the Top 15 in the States in 1959, and was her only U.S. hit of consequence. However, Nina's soulful revival of the Gershwins' “Porgy and Bess” standard went nowhere in Europe. Most folks in that part of the world, especially the British, might say “Porgy? Isn't he that Looney Tunes pig?”

Over there, the best-known Nina Simone tune is “My Baby Just Cares for Me” (Bethlehem 3031) — not that listeners on either side of the Atlantic heard it in 1962 when first issued as a single.

Remarkably, 25 years later, Paris-based Chanel produced a 30-second TV spot for their No. 5 Parfum, featuring beautiful French actress Carole Bouquet frolicking about to Simone's “My Baby Just Cares for Me.”

Both the commercial and the song became wildly popular in Europe, prompting a UK rush-release single of “My Baby Just Cares for Me,” backed with “Love Me Or Leave Me” (Charley CZY-7112).

By late November 1987, the tune no one noticed in 1962 held the No. 4 spot on the UK New Musical Express Top 30.

Feeding the frenzy, Aardman Animation (“Wallace & Gromit”; “Chicken Run”; “Flushed Away,” etc.) created a magnificent claymation-style video. The Chanel spot and Aardman video are both on YouTube.

Which brings us to “Mississippi Goddam.” This is one of seven live cuts on “Nina Simone in Concert,” her first LP for Philips (200135/600135). Issued in June 1964, this collection includes portions of New York performances in March and April.

Anyone buying “Nina Simone in Concert” expecting the folk-blues repertoire found on her earlier live albums (“Nina at Town Hall”; “At Newport”; “At the Village Gate”; “At Carnegie Hall”) may have slipped into shock.

The program begins with a new reading of “I Loves You Porgy,” and includes two more of her 1958 recordings: “Plain Gold Ring” and “Don't Smoke in Bed.”

Simone then uses the four remaining selections, “Old Jim Crow”; “Go Limp”; “Pirate Jenny”; and “Mississippi Goddam,” to sermonize her views on race-related issues.

This she did more than a year before Barry McGuire's protest song, “Eve of Destruction,” topped all the nation's charts, creating a new genre for gloom, doom, and even violent revolution themes. I'd say this line from “Mississippi Goddam” falls into that category:
“This whole country is full of lies, and you all gonna die; die like flies.”

As you suspected, no radio station would even consider airing “Mississippi Goddam.” Flying in the face of reasonable expectations, the label still released the song as a single (Philips 40216).

“Mississippi Goddam,” written by Nina, may be her most controversial song, but not her most famous.

Neither this tune, nor the one preceding it, “Old Jim Crow” (Philips 40194), stood a chance of being a hit.

Even “Nina Simone in Concert” failed to make the Top 100 albums, pretty much the case with all her LPs except “Nina at Newport” (Colpix 412).

Simone left America in 1970, landing first in Barbados. In 1992, several countries and continents later, Nina found a permanent home in France, where she remained until her death in April 2003.


IZ ZAT SO? In response to negative feedback from the media over “Mississippi Goddam,” in which she sings those words six times, Philips created a custom, promotional 45 rpm for dee jays.

A special paper sleeve shows the 'new' title as “Mississippi *@!!?*@!,” along with an explanation of how all mentions of “goddam” is replaced by beeping tones.

To say this bizarre concoction was awful is to be as complimentary as possible.


Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368 E-mail: jpo@olympus.net   Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com  

All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.

Copyright 2011 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission



Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

'Chipmunks' Owner Suing Over 'Chipmunks' Tribute Album

Bagdasarian Prods, owner of the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise, is said to be suing the producers of an "artistically inferior knockoff" Chipmunks tribute album on iTunes, Amazon.com and other digital stores. The lawsuit was filed last Thursday in U.S. District Court in California.

The Chipmunks were the created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., who in 1958 had the idea of recording his own voice and speeding it up. He made a Grammy-winning chart-topper, "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)," and followed it up with an animated TV show, hit feature films, and albums full of hit pop songs done at high speeds. The franchise has made more than $1 billion.

In the lawsuit, Bagdasarian Prods. (now controlled by Ross Jr.) claims the Jerry Naylor Company distributed a digital album called "A Tribute to Alvin and the Chipmonks," that uses a nearly identical set of songs to past Chipmunks hits, including "The Chipmunk Song," "Funkytown" and "Mess Around."

The fact that the defendant spelled Chipmonks with an "o" and is re-recording past hits from Ray Charles and the Lips, among others, isn't enough to escape Bagdasarian attention. The plaintiffs claim the "knockoff"/tribute infringes its trademarks and is likely to confuse the public on its source of origin.

Bagdasarian is seeking more than $1 million in believed damages and an injunction.

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The Chariot Long Live on Vinyl

The Chariot have scheduled an August 2nd release date for the new vinyl LP version of their latest release, 'Long Live.' Long Live was released on November 22nd, 2010 and is the band's fourth full-length album to date.

The new 180 gram weight vinyl LP comes with exclusive silk-screened, hand-numbered jackets. Hot Topic will exclusively carry a white version of the vinyl with black spatters, numbered 1 through 1,000. The GOOD FIGHT store, the band (on tour), and your favorite local vinyl retailer will carry black with white spatters, numbered 1,001 through 2000.

The vinyl will include a bonus track, 'Music of a Grateful Heart', previously available only on the limited edition 7-inch version.

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Pink Floyd & The Beatles Met In The 60s

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason revealed that the band was simply starstruck when they met the Beatles when the two acts were at the same recording space in the ’60s.

Pink Floyd were laying down tracks for their first album, ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,’ in London’s Abbey Road studios at the same time the Beatles were recording songs for their classic 1967 album ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.’

“We were recording in Abbey Road, the temple of greatness, and they were recording ‘Lovely Rita,’” recalls Mason in an interview the Wall Street Journal. “They were God-like figures to us. They all seemed extremely nice, but they were in a strata so far beyond us that they were out of our league.”

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and in music history for today:

In 1957, Buddy Holly recorded the song "Peggy Sue."

In 1963, Del Shannon's cover version of the Beatles' "From Me To You" became the first song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney to appear on the American charts, where it would stay for four weeks, reaching #77. The Beatles' rendition climbed only to #116. The title of the song was inspired from a letters column called From You To Us that ran in the popular British music newspaper, The New Musical Express.

In 1966, 500 police are needed to control the crowd when the Beatles play Tokyo.

In 1967, Keith Richards was found guilty of allowing his property to be used for the smoking of marijuana and was sentenced to one year in jail and was fined. Mick Jagger was found guilty of illegal possession of pep pills and was sentenced to three months in jail.

Pink Floyd's second album "A Saucerful of Secrets" was released in 1968.

Also in 1968, Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" entered the Billboard chart, where it would reach #5. The song featured former Yardbirds guitarist, Jeff Beck.

In 1969, the Jimi Hendrix Experience played their last concert on the last day of the Denver Pop Festival.

In 1969, soul singer Shorty Long drowned aged 29 after his boat capsized on the Detroit River in Michigan. Had the 1968 U.S. #8 single “Here Comes the Judge.” He acted as an MC for many of the Motown Revue shows and tours.

In 1973, Ian Gillan singer with Deep Purple quit the band at the end of a tour in Japan.

In 1974, Canada's Gordon Lightfoot scored his first US number one single with "Sundown". His best previous outing had been "If You Could Read My Mind" which reached number 5 in 1971.  not even his best songs, in my book....

In 1979, American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Lowell George died of a heart attack. The Little Feat front man was found dead at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.


In 1985, the Cooper-Hewitt Museum auctions off John Lennon's psychedelic-painted 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V at Sotheby's in New York. The car, which Lennon donated to the museum in 1977, was sold to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum for a then record price of $2,299,000.

In 1998, George Harrison announced that he was being treated for throat cancer. Harrison says he has been given a clean bill of health by saying, "I'm not going to die on you folks just yet." That sad event would take place on November 29th, 2001.

In 1999, Michael Jackson was severely bruised but nothing was broken when he fell 50 feet during a concert in Munich.

In 2007, George McCorkle, the rhythm guitarist for The Marshall Tucker Band, died of cancer at the age of 60. He penned many MTB songs, including the band's first Country Top 40 hit, "Fire on the Mountain".



celebrating birthdays today (among many others) include Don Dokken (Dokken) (58), Evelyn "Champagne" King (51) and Ian Paice (Deep Purple) (63)


Monday, June 27, 2011

New Vinyl Record and Music Releases - June 28, 2011



Slim pickings in this week's new music releases, but there are some gems that the CVR Blog recommends including vinyl reissues like two from the Black Crowes (Amorica and Shake Your Money Maker), The National with Cherry Tree, Left Banke's The Left Banke Too, Montrose with their self-titled album, Poison's Open Up & Say Ahh, Iron Maiden's From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010 (3 LPs, picture discs) and lest we forget Alice Cooper's Old School: 1964-1974 (4 CDs, DVD, LP, vinyl single package)

Other vinyl releases include Hot Tuna's Steady As She Goes, Jonsi with Go Out (EP), Paperhead with Focus On The Looking Glass and Pat Metheny's What's It All About; to name a few.

Other CVR Blog picks include Buddy Guy's Buddy and the Juniors, Taking Back Sunday's self-titled effort, Gillian Welch's Harrow & the Harvest, the Strawbs with Hero & Heroine-in Ascencia and a collection of tunes from 13th Floor Elevator with Albums Collection (4 CDs)

Help support the CVR Blog and buy your vinyl records at SoundStageDirect.com, use the code CVR and get 5% off your order!

13 & God - Own Your Ghost (vinyl)
13th Floor Elevator - Albums Collection (4 CDs)
Alice Cooper - Old School: 1964-1974 (4 CDs, DVD, LP, vinyl single)
Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor - 10th Anniversary Edition (remastered)
Anti-G - Presents Kentje'sz Beatsz
Arcade Fire - Scenes From The Suburbs
Avi Buffalo - How Come
Bad Company - Live at Wembley
Betty Black - Slow Dance
Beyonce - 4
Biffy Clyro - Revolutions: Live At Wembley
Big Sean - Finally Famous
Billy Ray Cyrus - I'm American
Black Crowes - Amorica (reissue)(vinyl)
Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker (reissue)(vinyl)
Black Vatican - Oceanic Feelin (vinyl)
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Haggard Harper Bonnie (vinyl)
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - There Is No God
Bread - The Best of Bread (vinyl)
Buddy Guy - Buddy and the Juniors
Burn Halo - Up From the Ashes
Byrds - Lost Broadcasts
Chadwick Stokes - Simmerkane II
Christopher Cross - Cross Words / Very Best of Christopher Cross (2 CDs)
Christopher Titus - Neverlution'
Chucha Santamaria Y Usted - Chucha Santamaria Y Usted
Clam Casino - Rainforest (EP)
Com Truise - Galactic Melt
Curren$y - Weekend at Burnies
D & M - Delawanna (EP)
DMA - Drem Beb
Dala - Girls From the North Country - Dala Live in Concert
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - It's A Corporate World (vinyl)
Dave Stewart - The Blackbird Diaries
David Cook - This Loud Morning
Devon Williams - “Your Sympathy” (7")
Dirty Three - Whatever You Love, You Are
Dolly Parton - Better Day
Doobie Brothers - Live at the Greek Theater 1982
Duane Eddy - Road Trip
Eddie Vedder - Longing to Belong (vinyl)
Efren - Rise On Up And Melt
Eilen Jewell - Queen of the Minor Key
Evan Brewer - Alone Sumerian Records
Fonzi Thornton - Pumpin': Limited Edition
Foster The People - Torches
Fotheringay & Sandy Denny - Lost Broadcasts (2 CDs)
Gillian Welch - Harrow & the Harvest
Graham Wright - Shirts vs. Skins
Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital
Hot Tuna - Steady As She Goes (vinyl)
ISIS – ISIS Live III 12.17.04
Iced Earth - Festival Of The Wicked
Incredible String Band - Lost Broadcasts (2 CDs)
Iron Butterfly - Lost Broadcasts (2 CDs)
Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010 (3 LPs, picture discs) (vinyl)
Janis Ian - Between the Lines (Gold CD)
Jenavieve Varga - Tambovieve
John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
Jolie Holland - Pint Of Blood
Jonsi - Go Out (EP) (vinyl)
Junior Battles - Idle Ages
K.C. & the Sunshine Band - KC & The Sunshine Band (vinyl)
Kaiser Chiefs - The Future Is Medieval
Kids These Days - Hard Times (EP)
King Crimson - Scarcity of Miracles- a King Crimson Projekct: Deluxe Edition (CD & DVD)
King Louie's Missing Monuments - Painted White (vinyl)
Kinks - Arthur (remastered with bonus CD)
Kinks - Face to Face (remastered with bonus CD)
Kinks - Something Else (remastered with bonus CD)
Left Banke - The Left Banke Too (vinyl)
Left Banke - Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina (vinyl)
Limp Bizkit - Gold Cobra
Little Barrie - King Of The Waves
Machinedrum - Sacred Frequency (vinyl)
Marianne Faithfull - Horses & High Heels
Mighty Clouds - Mighty Clouds
Montrose - Montrose (vinyl)
Night Beats - Night Beats
Paperhead - Focus On The Looking Glass (vinyl)
Pat Metheny - What's It All About (vinyl)
Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
Paul Dempsey - Everything Is True
Paul McCartney - Driving Rain
Paul McCartney - Run Devil Run (reissue)
Pillars and Tongues - The Pass and Crossings
Poison - Open Up & Say Ahh (vinyl)
Queensryche - Dedicated To Chaos
Ramin Djawadi - Game of Thrones
Relient K - K is for Karaoke (EP)
Richard Thompson - Live at the BBC (3-CD & DVD box set)
Riverside - Memories in My Head (EP)
Robbie Robertson - How to Become Clairvoyant: Deluxe Edition (2 CDs)
Robin Trower - Robin Trower Live
Ronnie Hawkins - The Ballads of Ronnie Hawkins
SBTRKT - SBTRKT
See-I - See-I
Selena Gomez And The Scene - When the Sun Goes Down
Set Your Goals - Burning At Both Ends
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
Shirley Bassey - Magic Is You / Thought of Love (2 CDs)
Silkie - City Limits Volume 2
Sistema Subversiva - Da Cruz
Small Sur - Tones
So Many Wizards - “Inner City”/”Best Friends” (7")
Strawbs - Hero & Heroine-in Ascencia
Suede - Head Music: Deluxe Edition (remastered with bonus CD & DVD)
Sylvia Gordon - Slow Dance
Taking Back Sunday - Taking Back Sunday
Teena Marie - First Class Love: Rare Tee (2 CDs)
Teena Marie - Irons in the Fire
The Bunny The Bear - If You Dont Have Anything Nice to Say
The Echo-Friendly - Same Mistakes
The Francesco Artusato Project - Chaos and The Primordial
The Fruit Tree Foundation - First Edition
The Island of Misfit Toys - Bear Hair
The National - Cherry Tree (reissue) (vinyl)
The Red Krayola - God Bless the Red Krayola (reissue)
The Red Krayola - Parable of Arable Land (reissue)
The Thing With Jim O'Rourke - Shinjuku Growl
Thea Gilmore - John Wesley Harding
There For Tomorrow - The Verge
Thievery Corporation - Culture Of Fear
Twin Sister - Vampires with Dreaming Kids
Various Artists - Rave On Buddy Holly
Various Artists - Larry Crowne: Music From Motion Picture
Various Artists - Putumayo Presents: Kids World Party
Various Artists - Red Hot + Rio 2
Various Artists - Take It Or Leave It
Wax Museums - Eye Times
White Wives - Happeners
Wu-Tang - Legendary Weapons


New Jazz Releases




Remember, if you are a record company and have new releases or know of any I missed (especially vinyl), please email me and I will add your music to the list. I also do reviews of new vinyl, email me for more information.




Have new music for the list? Email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

great read, makes you think back.....

Think back to the first album you bought

Rich Copley Herald-Leader Culture Columnist

Last weekend, I flipped to the music section of Entertainment Weekly and suddenly felt a lot closer to Amy Poehler.

The comedic genius was featured in the "My First Album" item. Her pick, Signals by Rush, put me in the DeLorean and sent me right back to 1982, listening to Subdivisions, the album's cool song about not being cool (remember, "Be cool or be cast out!").

The shared junior high school pop culture already sucked me in, and then Poehler threw in something I really identified with: "The Grease double-album may have been earlier ..."

Read more at kentucky.com

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still love this album cover art!

SEPULTURA Guitarist Offers Track-By-Track Breakdown Of First Four Songs On 'Kairos'

Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA released their new album, "Kairos" (an ancient Greek word signifying a time in between, a moment of undetermined period of time in which something special happens) in Europe on June 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork for the CD, which will be made available in North America on July 12, was created by Erich Sayers, a Los Angeles-based freelance digital artist and photographer whom SEPULTURA first met at the band's concert at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

Read the rest at Blabbermouth






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Jack White And Stephen Colbert Release Song Together

Last Thursday, Stephen Colbert debuted his new Jack White-produced single, "Charlene II (I'm Over You)", on his comedy show "The Colbert Report". Colbert has been featuring White all week long in his "rock odyssey" series, titled "Dr. Pepper Presents StePhest ColbChella '011 – Rock You Like A Thirst-Icane". In addition to producing the track, White is releasing "Charlene II (I'm Over You)" on his Nashville-based label, Third Man Records. The Black Belles, an all-female goth band on Third Man, served as Colbert's backing band.

The White-Colbert collaboration will soon be available both on iTunes and directly from Third Man. White's label also is producing vinyl copies of the single, including a limited edition red-white-and-blue version in which the vinyl bears the colors of the American flag.

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more muppets!!

Weezer, Paramore, Evanescence for Muppets tribute album

Alkaline Trio, The Fray and My Morning Jacket also sign up for furry homage

Weezer, Paramore's Hayley Williams and Evanescence singer Amy Lee have all contributed tracks to a new compilation which sees artists covering songs from The Muppets.

The album, which is titled 'The Green Album', will be released in the US on August 23 and precedes the release of the new Muppets movie The Muppets, which is set to come out in February next year in the UK.

Tracklist:

OK Go – 'Muppet Show Theme'
Weezer and Hayley Williams – 'Rainbow Connection'
The Fray – 'Mahna Mahna'
Alkaline Trio – 'Moving Right Along'
My Morning Jacket – 'Our World'
Amy Lee – 'Halfway Down The Stairs'
Sondre Lerche – 'Mr Bassman'
The Airborne Toxic Event – 'Wishing Song'
Brandon Saller and Billy Martin – 'Night Life'
Andrew Bird – 'Bein' Green'
Matt Nathanson – 'Hope That Something Better Comes Along'
Rachael Yamagata – 'I'm Going To Go Back There Someday'

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lovely review of faithfull's album over at pastemagazine.com

Marianne Faithfull:

Horses and High Heels

By Stephen Deusner

Marianne Faithfull’s new album begins with a particularly well-chosen cover. She kicks off Horses and High Heels with the ominous chords and spiritual misgivings of “The Stations,” by the Gutter Twins (better known as Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan). With its ominous pace and prickly guitars, it’s a perfect showcase for Faithfull’s distinctive voice, a gravelly instrument that locates new trials and transgressions in these lyrics. “Oh mama, ain’t no time to fall to pieces,” she sings in that beautifully scarred rasp, as though steeling herself against sins too dark for salvation.

Read the rest at pastemagazine.com











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here is an interview with prince, in all his glory (i can agree with some of the things he said and really disagreee on others), read on:

Prince: 'I'm a musician. And I am music'

Ringtones are evil. Islamic countries are fun. The internet is like 'a carjacking', where there are no boundaries. Prince on being pop's 'loving tyrant'

by Dorian Lynskey

Prince is running late, and when Prince is running late the prospective interviewer begins to worry. I'm in the otherwise empty upstairs room of a chic Paris restaurant, its walls, carpet and banquettes all (perhaps by chance) a Prince-appropriate purple. As last trains and planes out of Paris are missed, I think of the writer in the early 90s who spent six days rattling around Paisley Park, Prince's Minneapolis nerve centre, waiting for an audience, only to have to speak to him on the phone. Even a relatively modest three-hour wait can make one nervous.

But suddenly there he is, sans entourage, full of handshakes and apologies.

Read what else the signed one chimes in on at guardian.co.uk

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this from our friends at vinylcollective.com

Top 10 Albums – June 27, 2011

Here are the Top 10 Albums sold at Shop Radio Cast for the week of June 21 – June 27, 2011:

1. Dead To Me / The Flatliners – Under the Influence Volume 16 7″
2. Cheap Girls / Noise By Numbers – Under the Influence Volume 15 7″
3. Ruiner / Attica Attica Under the Influence Volume 14 7″
4. NOFX – “Untitled” 10″ (Hardcore Covers)
5. The Menzingers – A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology LP
6. Against Me! – White Crosses 3XLP (Reissue)}
7. Dead And Divine – Antimacy
8. Alkaline Trio – Damnesia
9. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – Introducing
10. The Tigermilks – We Dont Stand A Chance 7″




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USA


Albums:
1. Bad Meets Evil :Hell The Sequel
2. Jackie Evancho :Dream With Me
3. Adele :21
4. Lady Gaga :Born This Way
5. Jason Aldean :My Kinda Party
6. Owl City :All Things Bright And Beautiful
7. Barry Manilow :15 Minutes
8. Ledisi :Pieces Of Me
9. Brad Paisley :The Is Country Music
10. Original Broadway Cast Recording :The Book Of Mormon


Singles:
1. Adele :Rolling In The Deep
2. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
3. LMFAO :Party Rock Anthem
4. Katy Perry :Last Friday Night
5. Katy Perry feat. Kanye West :E.T.
6. Lady Gaga :The Edge Of Glory
7. Jason Aldean :Dirt Road Anthem
8. Nicki Minaj :Super Bass
9. Bruno Mars :The Lazy Song
10. Lupe Fiasco :The Show Goes On


UK


Albums:
1. Lady Gaga :Born This Way
2. Adele :21
3. Take That :Progress
4. Bon Iver :Bon Iver
5. Adele :19
6. Arctic Monkeys :Suck It And See
7. Caro Emerald :Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor
8. Bruno Mars :Doo Wops and Hooligans
9. Rihanna :Loud
10. Bad Meets Evil :Hell The Sequel


Singles:
1. Jason Derulo :Don't Wanna Go Home
2. Example :Changed The Way You Kiss Me
3. Calvin Harris :Bounce
4. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
5. Ed Sheeran :The A Team
6. Alexandra Stan :Mr Saxobeat
7. Tinchy Stryder & Dappy :Spaceship
8. Lady Gaga :The Edge Of Glory
9. Nicole Scherzinger :Right There
10. Aloe Blacc :I Need A Dollar

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and in music history for today:

In 1949, the immortal Christmas tune "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" was recorded by Gene Autrey.

Jan & Dean's "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" was released in 1964.



Also in 1964, Peter and Gordon's "World Without Love" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Paul McCartney wrote the song, but it was not credited to him on the disc, to see if a McCartney tune would be successful even if no one knew he had written it. At the time he composed "World Without Love", McCartney was courting Jane Asher, the sister of the duo's Peter Asher.

In 1967, Mick Jagger was found guilty of illegal possession of two drugs found in his jacket at a party given by Keith Richards. Jagger (prisoner #7856) was held overnight at Lewes jail in England. He requested books on Tibet and modern art plus two packs of Benson & Hedges cigarettes.

1968, Elvis Presley appeared on an NBC TV show that was billed as his "comeback special". The show featured a black leather-clad Presley performing on a small, square stage, surrounded by mainly women.

In 1968, Elvis Presley appeared on an NBC TV show that was billed as his "comeback special". The show featured the king performing on a small, square stage, surrounded by a mostly female audience. Presley was outfitted in black leather and belted out many of his early recordings, including "That's All Right Mama", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" and "Blue Suede Shoes". The highlight of the show was his final number of the evening, which featured Elvis, alone on the stage, dressed in a white suit, singing "If I Can Dream".



In 1969, the Denver Pop Festival was marred when violence broke out and police came in with clubs and tear gas.

Bill Graham closed the Fillmore East in 1970. The final concert featured the Allman Brothers, the Beach Boys and Mountain.

Also in 1970 - The Trans-Continental Pop Festival (aka Festival Express) began with Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, the Band, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Buddy Guy Blues Band traveling between cities in Canada by train.

Freddie Mercury made his live debut with the group Smile (soon to be Queen) in Cornwall, England in 1970.

In 1975, ZZ Top earn their second Gold record for their fourth album, "Fandango" which includes the Top 20 hit, "Tush".

In 1976, John Lennon finally became an American citizen when he receives his green card.

In 1987, Whitney Houston becomes the first female artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart when her self-titled CD reaches the top. At the same time, her single "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" leads the Hot 100 singles list.

MCA Records bought Motown Records for $61 million in 1988.

Cosmic Thing by the B-52's was released in 1989.

In 1989, The Who perform the Rock opera "Tommy" in its entirety for the first time in 17 years at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The show raised money for a children's charity as well as the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

In 1994, Aerosmith became the first major band to let fans download a new song for free from the Internet. and so it began........

In 2002, one day before the first show of the Who’s 2002 U.S. tour, 57-year old bassist John Entwistle died in his hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas medical examiner determined the cause of death to be a heart attack induced by an undetermined amount of cocaine.

In 2009, Fayette Pinkney, an original member of The Three Degrees who lent her voice to the 1970s hits "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" and "When Will I See You Again?", died of acute respiratory failure at the age of 61.

birthday wishes to (among others) Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer) (35) and Bruce Johnston (Beach Boys) (69)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Michael Fremer Album Review


 
Wee Tam
(reissue)

The Incredible String Band

Elektra/4 Men With Beards 4m209 180g LP

Produced by: Joe Boyd

Engineered by: John Wood

Mixed by: John Wood

Mastered by: N/A







MUSIC



SOUND






British Psych/Folk Classic Issued by 4 Men With Beards
by Michael Fremer
June 01, 2011

As the liner notes for ISB's self titled debut (Elektra EKS-7322) tell it, in the mid '60s Robin Williamson was singing traditional Scottish ballads, MIke Heron was in an r&b group and Clive Palmer was playing ragtime banjo.

As we all know, the world then went through some kind of strange wormhole and out came a warped universe that turned a skiffle band into the Beatles and an American idolizing r&b cover band into The Rolling Stones.

That's obviously an oversimplification but how else to explain what occurred back in the 1960s? Look at what happened to this group of traditional folk singers!

The group's first album issued on Elektra's more expensive four digit series came and went, attracting a small following in America for what was an album of folky, traditional originals performed with chipper high energy and a nod to Bob Dylan. The multi-instrumentalists played banjo, guitar, fiddle, pennywhistle and mandolin.

After its completion, Palmer left for Afghanistan and Robin went to Morocco. Uh, oh.

Upon his return, Palmer left the group. Williamson and Heron continued on as a duo, releasing Layers of the Onion (EKS-74010) in 1967, which featured one of the most memorable psychedelic covers of the era. The album veered from folky to world music before there was such a term. The songs were far more introspective and drone-like than before and infused with a strong Indian influence.

The album concluded with a wry song called "Way Back in the 1960s" that mimics Dylan while referencing him in the lyrics. "You made your own amusement then," Williamson sings, "...you could eat a real food meal." That was before WW III of course. I remember listening to it "back in the '60s" thinking what it would be like hearing it way in the future when it would be appropriate to say "back in the '60s" and I can assure you, it is nothing like I imagined it might be—except for vinyl still being around.

Just as The Beatles veered away from poppy tunes, the Williamson/Heron duo deep into the metaphorical woods and on the cover of their next and possibly finest album, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter seemingly into the real forest. The hippie/back to nature era was now in full swing and the cover created the image of a communal band of men, women and children who seemed to slip back in time.

Surely the photo was staged with props but somehow it appeared legitimate and it was easy to believe this band lived in the forest and for all we knew, grew out of the dirt. The music became denser and more convoluted. The lyrics dealt with the big issues of life and death seemingly from a druid's perspective.

These limeys were positively loamy!

And as a college-aged kid from the 'burbs I ate it up and bought into every word and atmospheric musical element. So did all of my friends. You could put that album on and be transported to a different time and definitely a different place filled with odd spirits, mythical beasts ghostly apparitions. It was the most unlikely of scenarios but we bought in and the musical duo delivered aided by increasingly ambitious production by engineer John Wood.

We weren't alone, either. The ISB was big at this point, selling out large concert halls.

Next came the double LP Wee Tam and The Big Huge (Elektra EKS-74036/7) recorded in the Spring and Summer of 1968 and issued in November of 1968 as two separate albums in America for the Christmas gift giving season. Yes, back in the '60s records made great gifts. Just as they do once again!

The cover was unusual in that both the back and front were just lyrics.


The interior gatefold was a photo of just the duo, even though their girlfriends contribute their angelic voices to the mix.

While the cover photos on the American issues move the boys from the dank forest into the sunlight, the music continues its mystical, serpentine path, though somewhat more tunefully. You can almost imagine Richard Thompson and Linda Pettifer (Peters) harmonizing to the Appalachian-like "Log Cabin Home in the Sky" with Linda taking Williamson's higher part and Thompson Heron's lower one.

But that's probably just my imagination running away with me.

The songs contain earthy, religious imagery, life/death questions, exaltation and dark mystery. The music veers from sturdy American hymns to the old English folk music from which it sprang. Somehow, forty three years later it has not turned stale or dated, nor does it sound overly precious.

Some of the songs like the opener, "Job's Tears" are long, ambitious complex constructions, others like "The Yellow Snake" are pristine reflections, while the Heron's instrumental "Beyond the See" never fails to delight and surprise—and that's after listening to it for more than forty years!

The atmospherics are deep and wide thanks to the unerring brilliance of engineer John Wood in his tiny Sound Techniques space where some of the greatest UK folk music was recorded—everyone from Fairport Convention to Nick Drake. Wood's ability to capture the sound of an acoustic guitar was astonishing and despite the many overdubs, the vocals sound pristine. Everything from the silky sounding sitars to the well-textured tablas and other percussion instruments was captured brilliantly by Wood.

While the jacket says "manufactured by Rhino," there's no indication of who mastered this or what the source was. Nor do I know where the 180g LP was pressed. That said, whatever the source and whoever did the mastering and wherever this was pressed, the sonics compare quite favorably to the original UK and American pressings.

Though the images are not quite as delicately wrought as the original, they are still finely drawn and the original's three dimensionality and airiness has been preserved. If this was cut from a digital master, it must have been a high resolution file. If this is 16 bit/44K, I'll eat a compact disc. The thick slab of a pressing was quiet and well produced and the paper on cardboard jacket completes a very nice reissue.

Highly recommended as is the companion disc The Big Huge. I just wish 4 Men With Beards would divulge the source and mastering information.

Thanks to Michael over at www.musicangle.com  for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.   Stop by MusicAngle.com for more reviews and features.

©2011 MusicAngle.com & Michael Fremer - - All rights reserved

Reprinted by Permission

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

the ebook i was selling about collecting vinyl records is now off the market, getting some well-needed updating and revisions. i hope to have it done as soon as possible.

i also shut down the site, www.collectingvinylrecords.com and will be launching a new site dedicated to the ebook in the near future. for those who have bought the ebook, i thank you for your interest. and, please visit the sponsors and advertisements here at the CVR Blog, they help me pay for medications and living expenses :O)

i am toying with the idea of launching a new site dedicated to album cover art. anyone interested in joining me on this project, let me know. also, i am open to suggestions, what do you want to see?

I am also working on getting more material to the blog. right now, i pick and choose music news and other interesting stories on the net and pass them along to you. i am certainly open to suggestions on the best way to improve the blog, so please email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com  with your comments!

on to today's vinyl record news & music notes


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Screaming Trees Release 'Last Words: The Final Recordings' August 2

It's been 20 years and not much has changed; just as word becomes official the band are about to reach into their archives, this other band from Washington state you might remember is about to release a 20th anniversary of some album called Nevermind.

The Screaming Trees will are ready to write the final chapter of their incredible musical story when they release Last Words: The Final Recordings digitally on August 2; a CD/vinyl release is planned but still being finalized.

The members of Screaming Trees had their ups-and-downs, culminating in a hiatus in the mid-'90s.

Read the rest at blindedbysound.com

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Mathieu Santos of Ra Ra Riot To Release Debut 7" On Old Flame Records

Old Flame Records is pleased to announce the debut release from Mathieu Santos. Limited to a pressing of 300 green vinyl 7-inch records, I Can Hear The Trains Coming will be available July 26, 2011. To celebrate the release, Old Flame Records is making the title track A-side available for free download. Flip the wax and the B-side features "Northern Mentality" (MIDI Demo) which will exclusively be available on the limited edition pressing.

Read the rest at hangout.altsounds.com












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Dirty Beaches Unveils Speedway King Video; Announces Worldwide Release of 'Badlands'

ZOO MUSIC is pleased to announce Dirty Beaches' critically acclaimed Badlands full-length album is available worldwide. The record will be limited to a first pressing of 500 rare black vinyl records and distributed in the UK and EU by Italian Beach Babes for an exciting new partnership that will make ZOO's releases more affordable outside of the United States. The records can also be purchased directly from ZOO MUSIC.

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GHOST BRIGADE To Release 'Until Fear No Longer Defines Us' In August

Finnish metallers GHOST BRIGADE will release their third album, "Until Fear No Longer Defines Us", on August 19 in Europe and August 23 in North America via Season Of Mist.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. In The Woods
02. Clawmaster
03. Chamber
04. Traces Of Liberty
05. Divine Act Of Lunacy
06. Grain
07. Breakwater
08. Cult Of Decay
09. Torn
10. Soulcarvers

"Until Fear No Longer Defines Us" will be released as a CD digipak limited to the first pressing, a double gatefold coloured vinyl with digital download card, and a collector's box with CD digipak, regular or unisex t-shirt, leather bracelet, postcard hand-signed by all band members and metal button badges.

i love this album cover art!


Read the rest at Blabbermouth

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Red Hot Chili Peppers promise "dynamic" new music

By Lewis Corner, Music Reporter

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has described the band's new album as "very dynamic".

The Californian four-piece will release their tenth studio album I'm With You on August 29, with Flea - real name Michael Balzary - explaining that the record contains a mixture of different moods.

Read more at digitalspy.com

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Bruce Springsteen to guest on Pete Seeger LP

By Justin Harp, Entertainment Reporter

Bruce Springsteen has recorded a duet with 92-year-old folk legend Peter Seeger.

The track, 'God Is Counting On Us', was apparently written by Seeger in response to last year's Gulf Coast oil spill and will appear on his upcoming studio LP.

Read more at digitalspy.com

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New Phish Vinyl at Super Ball IX

Phish’s Super Ball IX will not only feature the return of the House of Live Phish but also the band’s own JEMP Record Store. While the store will offer a variety of catalog items it also will offer exclusive new vinyl releases on each day of the festival. These items will include the first-ever vinyl appearances of the The White Tape (on 180g white vinyl) and Party Time (2 LPs on 180g vinyl). In addition, “Two Soundchecks” will be offered on 7” vinyl. This record previously appeared in April during Record Store Day. Information regarding the days and times for these releases will be available on site.

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Spin Doctors to Mark 20 Years of "Two Princes"

The Spin Doctors will commemorate the 20th anniversary of its debut album Pocket Full of Kryptonite with a deluxe two-CD release on August 30 through Epic/Legacy. The album features remastered versions of the original songs such as hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” along with unreleased demos and live recordings. In May, the band reunited for a string UK dates where they performed the Kryptonite album in its entirety. Next week, the group kicks Summer US Tour and is also expected to announce a major fall 2011 Tour.

The seminal NY-based jamband rose to national fame in the early ‘90s, selling over 10 million copies of Kryptonite worldwide. In 1992, The Spin Doctors toured the country alongside Phish, Blues Traveler, The Black Crowes and others as part of the H.O.R.D.E. tour.



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FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE Unveil Agony Album Artwork


Italy's brutal/symphonic horde FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE has revealed the cover art for the band’s Nuclear Blast Records debut, Agony. Marco Hasmann, who worked with the band on the previous releases, Mafia And Oracles, crafted the record’s intricate cover design.

The band comments: “The album cover is about the eternal struggle of mankind; we’re condemned to live facing our evil side, which dwells in every one of us. We are like tied to the ground, forced in chains that can't be broken, so the man in the cover is representing all humanity and its eternal agony, knowing that it's almost impossible to liberate ourselves from the obscurity of our nature. Unless we decide to admit to ourselves who we are and face our doom, that would be the only way to free our kind and rise to an higher conscience, someday.”

super album cover art!







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from our friends over at vintagevinylnews.com

Bangles Sign With Model Music For First Album in Eight Years

The Bangles are readying their first album in eight years, Sweetheart of the Sun, which will be released via their new alliance with Model Music Group on September 13.

Sweetheart of the Sun will be the fifth album in the 27-year history of the group that gave us Manic Monday, Walk Like an Egyptian and Eternal Flame. The three original members, Susanna Hoffs and sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, continue to be the principles in the group.

Read the rest at vintagevinylnews

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Hank Williams III to Release Four Albums on the Same Day

With his own new label, Hank3 Records, and the sense that he has thrown off the chains that have been holding him back, Shelton Hank Williams III, aka Hank 3, is coming out swinging with the release of four records on September 6th. That's right -- four.

The unprecedented launch, in a distribution partnership with Megaforce Records, features a broad range of music that bridges more than one head-thumping genre - a familiar theme that true Hank 3 fans have embraced for years. 'Ghost to a Ghost/Guttertown,' a double-album set, is a straight-shooting country collection, flavored with Hank3's trademark hellbilly sound and heavily weighted with Cajun influences and an ambient, lonesome mood, along with a few very special guests including Tom Waits.

Read the rest at noisecreep.com

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and some music history for today, June 25th:

In 1966, the final Beatles world tour kicked off in Munich, Germany as the Fab Four saw "Paperback Writer" leap from number 15 in the US to number 1. Although John Lennon was the Beatle who actually wrote books, the song was penned by Paul McCartney.

Also in 1966, the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Love, Captain Beefheart, the Lovin’ Spoonful and Percy Sledge all appeared at The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California.

In 1967, during a North American tour, The Jimi Hendrix Experience gave a free afternoon concert in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. They then played another two shows that evening at the Fillmore West.

Also in 1967, 40 million people saw The Beatles perform “All You Need is Love,” live via satellite as part of the TV global link-up, Our World. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, Keith Moon and Gary Leeds provided backing vocals.



In 1969, the Hollies recorded "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," with Elton John playing piano.

Also in 1969, Mick Taylor made his first concert appearance with the Rolling Stones after he had replaced Brian Jones.

In 1975, Tim Buckley, a popular performer and song writer during the 1960s and early 70s, died from a drug overdose at the age of 28.

In 1984, the soundtrack "Purple Rain" was released five weeks ahead of the film.

In 1987, songwriter Boudleaux Bryant died. With his wife Felice, he wrote The Everly Brothers hits “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do is Dream” and “Wake Up Little Susie” and “Raining in My Heart,” a hit for Buddy Holly. Other acts to record their songs include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, the Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ruth Brown, Cher, R.E.M. and Ray Charles. The team also composed "Rocky Top," which became an anthem for the state of Tennessee.

In 1988, Hillel Slovak, original guitarist and founding member of The Red Hot Chili Peppers died from a heroin overdose shortly after the band returned from a European tour. Slovak recorded two albums with the band, Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.

Also in 1988, Jimmy Soul, who hit #1 in the US in 1963 with the novelty tune "If You Wanna Be Happy", died of a heart attack. He was 45.

In 2003, the RIAA announced that it would fight internet piracy by suing individual computer users who they found were downloading music.

In 2004, Eric Clapton raised about $7.5 million for a drug addiction center he set up in the Caribbean by auctioning off some more of his favorite guitars. The items that were sold were the "Blackie" Stratocaster that Clapton played from 1970-1985 for $1 million, a 1964 cherry-red Gibson for $847,000 and a 1939 Martin acoustic that Clapton played on his "Unplugged" album went for $800,000.

In 2006, Turkish-American music producer and arranger Arif Mardin died at age 74 from pancreatic cancer. He worked at Atlantic Records for over 30 years, before moving to EMI. The winner of 11 Grammy Awards, he worked with Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Wilson Pickett, Average White Band, The Bee Gees, Barbra Streisand and Norah Jones.

In 2007, Hank Medress, best known as the voice behind The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", died of lung cancer at the age of 68

In 2009, a Sgt. Pepper souvenir poster bearing the signatures of all four Beatles sold for $52,500 at a Pop memorabilia auction in New York City.

In 2009, Sky Saxon, lead singer and founder of the 1960s band The Seeds, who had a Top 40 hit in 1967 with "Pushin' Too Hard", died unexpectedly in an Austin, Texas hospital. At the time of his death, he had been scheduled to begin a tour of the United States and Canada with a reformed versions of The Seeds.



On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died while in his bed at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills district of Los Angeles. Attempts at resuscitating him by Conrad Murray, his personal physician, were unsuccessful. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics received a 911 call at 12:22, arriving three minutes later at Jackson's location. He was reportedly not breathing and CPR was performed. Resuscitation efforts continued en route to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and for an hour after arriving there at 1:13. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 local time.

Michael Jackson - Thriller Music Video



birthday wishes to Carly Simon (66), Tim Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) (59) and George Michael (48), just to name a few....

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 20, 2011

DEAR JERRY: I just discovered a wonderful video series online with excerpts of Billboard's No. 1 hits in order, from January 1955 through December 1979. For those 25 years, there are about 550 tunes. It's like the soundtrack of my life!




The artists and song titles in this “Time Tunnel Medley,” as it's called, are not listed, which means I need help identifying the instrumentals. The vocals are all pretty recognizable.

Are you able to name all of those No. 1 instrumentals?
—Tina Jean Carlson, Fredonia, Wisc.


DEAR TINA JEAN: Ready, willing, and definitely able. Here are the 29 No. 1 instrumentals in order, including a few with occasional vocal extras, such as “The Hustle” and “Fly Robin, Fly”:

1955: “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (Perez “Prez” Prado & His Orchestra); “Unchained Melody” (Les Baxter His Chorus & Orchestra); “Autumn Leaves” (Roger Williams).

1956: “Lisbon Antigua” (Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra); “The Poor People of Paris” (Les Baxter His Chorus & Orchestra); “Moonglow and Theme from 'Picnic'” (Morris Stoloff).

1957: None.

1958: “Tequila” (Champs); “Patricia” (Perez Prado & His Orchestra).

1959: “The Happy Organ” (Dave 'Baby' Cortez); “Sleep Walk” (Santo & Johnny).

1960: “The Theme from 'A Summer Place'” (Percy Faith & His Orch.).

1961: “Wonderland By Night” (Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra); “Calcutta” (Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra).

1962: “Stranger on the Shore” (Mr. Acker Bilk with the Leon Young String Chorale); “The Stripper” (David Rose & His Orchestra); “Telstar” (Tornadoes). All three of these acts are English.

1963 - 1967: None.

1968: “Love Is Blue (L'amour Est Bleu)” (Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra); “Grazing in the Grass” (Hugh Masekela).

1969: “Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet” (Henry Mancini His Orchestra & Chorus).

1970 - 1972: None.

1973: “Frankenstein” (Edgar Winter Group).

1974: “Love's Theme” (Love Unlimited Orchestra); “TSOP The Sound of Philadelphia” (MFSB Featuring the Three Degrees).

1975: “The Hustle” (Van McCoy & Soul City Symphony); “Fly Robin, Fly” (Silver Convention).

1976: “The Theme from S.W.A.T. (Rhythm Heritage); “A Fifth of Beethoven” (Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band).

1977: “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky')” (Bill Conti); “Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band”; (Meco).

1978: None.

1979: “Rise” (Herb Alpert).

My review of this list inspired some gripping observations:

Only once did one instrumental replace another as the nation's top hit. In March 1956, when “Lisbon Antigua” (Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra) gave way to “The Poor People of Paris” (Les Baxter His Chorus & Orchestra). Equally unusual is these two titles held the top two chart spots one week, then merely reversed positions the next.

At the opposite extreme, over five vocally-abundant years (Dec. 1963 - Feb. 1968) separated “Telstar” (Tornadoes) and “Love Is Blue (L'amour Est Bleu)” (Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra).

In May 1956, two versions of “Moonglow and Theme from 'Picnic'” were in the Top 5, one by Morris Stoloff and the other by the George Cates Orchestra.

Twice, the No. 1 song of the entire year was an instrumental: “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (Perez “Prez” Prado & His Orchestra) (1955) and “The Theme from 'A Summer Place'” (Percy Faith & His Orch.) (1960).

As for Perez Prado (“Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” and “Patricia”), he and Les Baxter (“Unchained Melody” and “The Poor People of Paris”) are the only ones with two tunes on the list.

Three versions of “Unchained Melody” ranked in Top 10 in May 1955: Besides the instrumental, there were two similar vocal versions, one by Al Hibbler and another from Roy Hamilton.

“Unchained Melody” is one of five songs on the list with a modicum of voices. The others are: “Tequila” (Champs); “The Hustle” (Van McCoy & Soul City Symphony); “Fly Robin, Fly” (Silver Convention); and “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky')” (Bill Conti).

Except for Silver Convention, all of the acts are males.

The only No. 1 instrumentals in 1977 are both film themes: Conti's “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky')” and Meco's “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band.”

Of these 27 artists, nine are foreign-born: Perez Prado (Cuba); Percy Faith (Canada); Bert Kaempfert (Germany); Mr. Acker Bilk (England); David Rose (England); Tornadoes (England); Paul Mauriat (France); Hugh Masekela (South Africa); and Silver Convention (Germany).


IZ ZAT SO? We must also acknowledge eight instrumentals from these same 25 years that didn't quite top the Billboard charts, but did reach No. 1 on Cash Box:

1955: “The Crazy Otto (Medley)” (Johnny Maddox & His Rhythmasters); 1958: “Topsy II” (Cozy Cole); 1961: “Exodus” (Ferrante & Teicher); 1965: “A Taste of Honey” (Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass); 1968 “Classical Gas” (Mason Williams); 1972 “Outa-Space” (Billy Preston); 1973 “Dueling Banjos” (Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell); and 1974 “The Entertainer” (Marvin Hamlisch).


Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368 E-mail: jpo@olympus.net     Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com  

All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.

Copyright 2011 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission




Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


Super Deluxe Edition of Nirvana's 'Nevermind'


Universal Music Enterprises and Universal Strategic Marketing have just announced the 4-CD/1-DVD Super Deluxe Edition of Nirvana’s Nevermind will be available globally on September 19, 2011. The CDs will include previously unreleased tracks, rarities, b-sides, BBC radio appearances, alternative mixes, rare live recordings and an unreleased concert in its entirety on DVD.

Released in September of 1991, Nirvana’s Nevermind garnered near-unanimous praise and rose within a few months to the #1 slot on Billboard’s US sales chart. Nevermind was propelled to #1 across the globe by their young fans worldwide that identified with the band and embraced their anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and its landmark music video. Since then, it has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

Universal is also planning to celebrate the anniversary with "various events and releases" throughout the year, according to a statement.


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Judas Priest Single Cuts - The Complete UK CBS/Columbia Singles


Judas Priest and Sony Music are proud to announce the release of the complete CBS/Columbia singles collection, Single Cuts.

Few heavy metal bands have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest has during their 40 year career. Responsible for not only issuing some of metal's all-time classic albums (British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance and Painkiller among them) and anthems ('Breaking The Law', 'Living After Midnight' and 'You've Got Another Thing Coming’), the group has been one of the leading arena rock acts for decades. To date the band have sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.

Single Cuts is not only a testament to Priest's enduring influence but also tells the story of why they are such a force in metal.

Boasting a massive 52 tracks across 20 discs the collection includes legendary cuts such as "Dissident Aggressor", "Living After Midnight", "Breaking The Law", "Turbo Lover" and "Painkiller". Also featured are much-loved tracks such as Priest's unique cover of "The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)" plus a raft of live b sides.

Housed in a deluxe, numbered box, Single Cuts brings together the CBS/Columbia singles from 1977 to 1992, including 7" and 12" cuts. All singles are issued on vinyl replica CDs with original labels and 7" vinyl artwork wallets.

Tracklist:

1977
Diamonds and Rust
Dissident Aggressor

1978
Better By You, Better Than Me
Invader

1978
Evening Star
Starbreaker

1978
Before The Dawn
Rock Forever

1979
Take On The World
Starbreaker (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1978)
White Heat Red Hot (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1978)

1979
Evening Star
Beyond The Realms Of Death (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1978)
The Green Manalishi (with the Two-Pronged Crown)

1980
Living After Midnight
Delivering The Goods (Live In Tokyo)
Evil Fantasies (Live In Tokyo)

1980
Breaking The Law
Metal Gods

1980
United
Grinder

1981
Don’t Go
Solar Angels

1981
Hot Rockin' 3:03
Breaking The Law (Live)
Steeler
You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise

1982
You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Exciter (Live)

1982
(Take These) Chains
Judas Priest Audio File

1984
Freewheel Burning
Breaking The Law (Live from US Festival May 1983)
You've Got Another Thing Comin'

1984
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (Live)
Jawbreaker

1986
Turbo Lover
Hot For Love

1986
Locked In
Reckless
Desert Plains (Live)
Freewheel Burning (Live)

1990
Painkiller
United
Better By You, Better Than Me

1991
A Touch Of Evil
Between The Hammer And The Anvil
You've Got Another Thing Comin' (Live)

1992
Night Crawler
Breaking The Law (Live)
Living After Midnight (Live)



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AC/DC and Metallica Editions of Monopoly Due This August

by Amy Sciarretto


An AC/DC-themed edition of the popular board game Monopoly is due out this August. A Metallica version is also on the docket. Key details have recently emerged about both editions.

For the AC/DC version, game pieces will include cannons (from 'For Those About to Rock'), dynamite bundles (from 'TNT), and the schoolboy hat favored by guitarist Angus Young. We'd love to see devil horns for 'Highway to Hell' and late singer Bon Scott, among other things.

Read more at noisecreep.com







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VOLBEAT: '16 Dollars' To Be Released On Limited-Edition 7" Illustrated Vinyl

"16 Dollars" from Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT is being released on a seven-inch illustrated vinyl in a very limited edition. In addition to the studio version, the single features a bonus track with live recordings from the Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The single will be made available on July 11 and can be purchased for 5,99 £ exclusively from U.K.'s What Records. (Note: Only 500 copies are being made available worldwide.)








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AXEL RUDI PELL Pays Tribute To RONNIE JAMES DIO On 'The Ballads IV' 

SPV/Steamhammer has set a September 27 release date (one day earlier internationally) for "The Ballads IV", the new compilation from German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL. In addition to all of the group's ballads since the release of "The Ballads III" (which came out in 2004), the disc includes three newly recorded songs.

"The Ballads IV" will be released as standard version, double gatefold LP in colored vinyl and as a digital download.

Read more at Blabbermouth





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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 6/13 - 6/19, 2011

Top 25 Vinyl:

1. The Flaming Lips w/ Prefuse 73 - The Supermoon Made Me Want To Pee 12"
2. Radiohead - Supercollider 12"
3. My Morning Jacket - Circuital
4. Eastern Block - Wing Walker 7"
5. KORT - Please Don't Touch 7"
6. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
7. The Flaming Lips w/ Neon Indian - Is David Bowie Dying? 12"
8. Black Lips - Arabia Mountain
9. Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi - Rome
10. Neil Young & The International Harvesters - A Treasure
11. The Features - Rambo 7"
12. Vetiver - Errant Charm
13. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
14. The Head & The Heart - The Head & The Heart
15. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
16. KORT - Invariable Heartache
17. Foster The People - Torches
18. Paul McCartney - McCartney
19. Paul McCartney - McCartney II
20. Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
21. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
22. Adele - 21
23. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
24. The Black Keys - Thickfreakness
25. My Morning Jacket - At Dawn

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ZZ Top Releasing New Music

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top promises "The Little Ol' Band from Texas" will be releasing its first new album in seven years; hopefully by the end of the year.



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amusing, but not really insightful:

Stephen Colbert Visits Jack White

Last night's "Colbert Report" is the first of a three-part series that will continue tomorrow and Thursday on the "Report".



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and in music history for today:

In 1846, in Paris, France, 32 year old Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musician and musical instrument designer, patents the saxophone. Sax continued to make instruments throughout his life, however, rival instrument makers challenged the legitimacy of his patents and initiated a campaign of litigation against him and his company, driving him into bankruptcy twice, in 1856 and 1873.

In 1963, The Safaris' "Wipe Out" is released in the US, where it will enter the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later and reach #2 by mid-August. The record would also reach #5 in the UK. The song would be re-issued in 1966 and climb to #16 on the Billboard Top 40 and again in 1970 when it failed to chart.

Also in 1963, 13-year old Stevie Wonder first entered the U.S. singles chart as Little Stevie Wonder with “Fingertips Parts One and Two.”

In 1964, the Beatles played their first ever show in New Zealand at Wellington Town Hall. The local Chief Constable refused a police escort for The Beatles leaving just two policemen to control over 5,000 fans.

In 1969, singer, actress, Judy Garland, died of a barbiturate overdose aged 47, she was found on the floor of her rented Chelsea home, in London, UK.

Also in 1969, Blind Faith's first and only LP was released.

In 1971, the seminal album 'Blue' was released by Joni Mitchell.

In 1974, Gordon Lightfoot started a two-week run at the top of the Billboard album chart with "Sundown". The title track reached #1 on the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts as well as #13 on the Country chart, while "Carefree Highway" reached #10 on the Pop chart, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #81 on the Country chart.

In 1981, Mark David Chapman pleads guilty to murdering John Lennon in December of 1980 and was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison. The most hated man in Rock and Roll history was denied parole at his first hearing in October of 2000 and again in October 2002, October 2004, October 2006, October 2008 and September 2010. He is still in New York's Attica state prison, right where he belongs.  let him rot!

In 1990, Kripp Johnson, a founding member of the Dell-Vikings, died of cancer at the age of 57. One of the first racially-integrated Rock 'n' Roll groups, the Dell-Vikings had two top 10 hits in 1957, "Come Go With Me" and "Whispering Bells".

In 1993, Ozzy Osbourne came out of retirement and announced he would tour with Black Sabbath.

In 1995, newsman Dan Rather performed What's the Frequency Kenneth? with R.E.M. during a sound check.



birthdays today include: Peter Asher (Peter & Gordon) (67), Kris Kristofferson (75), Howard Kaylan (Turtles) (64), Todd Rundgren (63), Cyndi Lauper (58), Gary Beers (INXS) (54) and Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) (41), just to name a gew

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


great insights!

A Slightly Cranky Meditation on Vinyl Records

By Edy Eddins

I love all things old. I love old cars. I like holding a real book in my hand instead of an electronic reader. I would rather listen to big band and roots music than the over-produced popular artists of the day. And I love vinyl records.

As an audiophile, I use tube amps, vintage speakers, and a turntable. But more than that,I love album art. I would spend hours at Stan’s Records in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, thumbing through row after row of records. Even if I had never heard of the artist, I was captivated by the album art. The jackets to albums by Bostson, Kansas, Journey, and thousands provided hints of the auditory delights that lay inside. I have often bought albums by artists of whom I had never heard, based purely on the cover.

Record stores were shrines erected to the musicians and their labors. These houses of worship were home to the sages who lived and breathed their wares like Trappist monks. They could quote bands and songs like scripture. When I went into a record store, these brethren shared my joys and secrets

Read the rest at goodmenproject.com

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fantastic piece over at popmatters, well worth the time

Waxing Nostalgic: The Mantras of the Music Geek

By Dave Whitaker

Paul managed a record store in the early ‘90s. For those unfamiliar with the concept, music was once purchased at actual physical locations on actual physical media. Quaint, isn’t it?

Anyway, reminiscing around a table at Joe’s Crab Shack, Paul recounted his memory of the resurgence of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” courtesy of Wayne’s World. When the song first charted in 1975, it was a number one in the UK and went top ten stateside. On its second go-round in 1992, it topped the charts again on British soil and bested its original US peak, this time going all the way to #2.

Read more at popmatters.com

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Stars of Original No Nukes Show Coming Back to Support Japan Nuclear Disaster Relief

A group of artists who performed at the original No Nukes concerts in 1979 are coming back together with some new additions in support of Japan disaster relief efforts. The concert will be held on Sunday, August 7 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA with proceeds going to Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) and other organizations throughout the world who promote "safe, alternative, non-nuclear energy."

Read the rest at our friends at vintagevinylnews.com















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this from our friends at vinylcollective.com



Top 10 Albums – June 20, 2011

Here are the Top 10 Albums on Shop Radio Cast for the week of June 14 – June 20, 2011:

1. Swellers – Good For Me
2. Portugal The Man – In The Mountain In The Cloud LP
3. Ruiner / Attica Attica Under the Influence Volume 14 7″
4. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – Introducing
5. Blink 182 – Enema Of The State LP (Exclusive)
6. The Menzingers – A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology LP
7. NOFX – “Untitled” 10″ (Hardcore Covers)
8. Alkaline Trio – Damnesia
9. White Wives – Happeners
10. Big D and The Kids Table – For The Damned, The Dumb and The Delirious 2XLP (Exclusive)


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take a listen today, you will find an interesting show!!

New Vinyl Record Talk Tuesday June 21th 8pm ET/ 5pm PT

Ringo's birth home is back in the news, and just for Tiffany at CRAGG we bring back The Pussy Cat song. And we ask in our poll, just what kind of pussy do you want scratching at your back door?

It's also a great big whoring show today, where just about everything we play is available in our store. We've got Northern Soul from The Jive Five and The Spellbinders, plus we share our big find last week, a Shelly 11-18-71 Rolling Stones "Hot Wax" with the alternate takes of "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses". If you don't know what we're talking about, Norm will give a history lesson.

Plus, as always the Top 5.

Go to Vinyl Record Talk Today!

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and in music history for today:

In 1948, Columbia Records started first mass production of 33-1/3 records.

In 1955, Johnny Cash's first single, "Cry Cry Cry," was released.

In 1958, Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" enters the US record charts, where it would reach #3. Bobby would later say that the song only took him about ten minutes to write. ya think?

Jimmy Page made his live debut with the Yardbirds in London in 1966.

In 1966, working at Abbey Road studios in London, the Beatles recorded from start to finish, a new John Lennon song “She Said She Said.” The song was reportedly based on a bizarre conversation that Lennon had with Peter Fonda while John and George Harrison were tripping on LSD.



In 1973, the soft rock group Bread, lead by David Gates, give their final concert in Salt Lake City. A truck accident earlier in the day had destroyed the band's equipment, so they had to play with borrowed instruments and amps.

Ritchie Blackmore quit Deep Purple to form Rainbow in 1975.

James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is" was released in 1975.

In 1981, Donald Fagan and Walter Becker announced the break-up of Steely Dan.

In 2001, John Lee Hooker, American blues singer and guitarist died in his sleep aged 83. Had hits wilth “Boom Boom,” “Dimples” and “I'm In The Mood.” His songs have been covered by many artists including Cream, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Doors and The White Stripes. He appeared and sang in the movie The Blues Brothers.



Eminem's album "Recovery" was released in the U.S and the U.K in 2010.

Also in 2010, Billboard magazine estimated that Michael Jackson's album catalog had generated about $383 million in sales and that MJ Inc. had earned at least $1 billion in revenue in the year following his death.

birthdays today (among others) include Ray Davies (Kinks) (67), Greg Munford (Strawberry Alarm Clock) (62), Joey Kramer (Aerosmith) (61), Nils Lofgren (60), Pat Sansone (Wilco) (42) and Brandon Flowers (Killers) (30)