Monday, December 12, 2011

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

TouchTunes Releases Year-End Music Charts

Jason Aldean's "Dirt Road Anthem" The Most-Played Song of the Year, 900 Million Songs Played in 2011

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TouchTunes Interactive Networks, the largest interactive in-venue entertainment network in North America, today released its top songs and artists of 2011. The results, based on an analysis of over 900 million songs played across TouchTunes' network of 50,000 in-venue music systems, revealed that consumers choose a mix of newly released and classic songs to listen to when they're out in a social setting.

TouchTunes' top played song of the year across every genre was country superstar Jason Aldean's hit single "Dirt Road Anthem." Other notable songs to make TouchTunes' 2011 Top 10 most played list includes Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," Eric Church's "Smoke a Little Smoke" and Kid Rock's "All Summer Long."

"Having the #1 song of the year running on TouchTunes jukeboxes is a cool thing for me. It means my songs are being played in most every bar and honky tonk in the country," stated Jason Aldean. "Those are the kinds of places I used to have gigs when I was a teenager down in Georgia. It's a really cool full circle kind of moment."

Jason Aldean was also the third most played artist on the network, surpassed only by long time fan favorites AC/DC, who was the second most played, and Kid Rock, who was the most played overall. Other top artists on TouchTunes in 2011 include Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"It's always fun to look at the most played songs and artists on our network," said Vicki Saunders, TouchTunes Vice President, Music Marketing. "TouchTunes provides fans with a unique listening experience, and gives them a chance to find that one perfect song that will set the mood for their night out. For many this year, Jason Aldean did just that."

More information on TouchTunes top music plays of 2011 is available here: www.touchtunes.com

2011 Top 10 Played Songs:

1. Dirt Road Anthem – Jason Aldean

2. Rolling in the Deep – Adele

3. Smoke A Little Smoke – Eric Church

4. All Summer Long – Kid Rock

5. Chicken Fried- Zac Brown Band

6. Down On Me (ft. 50 Cent) – Jeremih

7. Copperhead Road – Steve Earle

8. Country Girl (Shake It For Me) – Luke Bryan

9. Somewhere With You – Kenny Chesney

10. Rockstar – Nickelback


2011 Top 10 Artists

1. Kid Rock

2. AC/DC

3. Jason Aldean

4. Toby Keith

5. Johnny Cash

6. Nickelback

7. Zac Brown Band

8. Lynyrd Skynyrd

9. Rolling Stones

10. Metallica

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DEEP PURPLE, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN, KROKUS Members Featured On 'Help! For Japan' Charity EP

Some of Europe's leading rock artists — including current and former members of DEEP PURPLE, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN, GOTTHARD, MAGNUM, KROKUS and TNT — have joined a campaign initiated by singer Tommy Heart (SOUL DOCTOR, FAIR WARNING) to raise money for the victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan's northeast coast this past March. The musicians have recorded a cover version of the classic THE BEATLES song "Help" for an EP entitled "Help! For Japan", which will be released in Europe on the German label Avenue Of Allies in early March 2012. All proceeds from the sales of this project will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

Read the rest at our friends at Blabbermouth





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it's that time of year, when the 'best of' lists start popping up. i'll try to keep up with it!

Radiohead, Friendly Fires, Bon Iver: The Best Album Covers Of 2011

Gigwise reveals the results to its artiest poll to date...

Gigwise.com



















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pastmagazine chimes in as well:

The 50 Best Album Covers of 2011



pastemagazine.com



















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interesting stories behind some classic LPs:

The Stories Behind 11 Classic Album Covers


www.mentalfloss.com












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in music history for december 12th:

In 1896, Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of radio at Toynbee Hall, London

In 1901, Marconi's first transatlantic radio signal, sent from Cornwall, England, was received by Percy Paget in St. John's, Newfoundland.

The immortal Frank Sinatra was born on this date in 1915 (died May 14, 1998)

In 1955, in New York, Bill Haley And His Comets recorded "See You Later, Alligator," popularizing a catchphrase already in use at the time. It became Haley's third and final million-selling single.

In 1957, disc Jockey Al Priddy of KEX, Portland, Oregon, was fired for playing Elvis Presley's rendition of "White Christmas." He had violated the radio station's ban against the song.

In 1959, after being overtaken as the best selling record in the US for a couple of weeks, Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife" returned to the top spot on the Cashbox chart. It is a feat that is seldom duplicated.

In 1963, 'John Fitzgerald Kennedy - A Memorial Album' became the fastest-selling album in history, selling four million copies at 99 cents each in six days. The tribute was recorded on the day of President Kennedy's assassination.

In 1964, Bobby Vinton scored his fourth Billboard chart topper with "Mr. Lonely." It was a song that Bobby co-wrote and had added to his Greatest Hits album as a filler, but the track was quickly released as a single when it started to get airplay.

Also in 1964, the Zombies reached their highest point on the Billboard Pop chart when "She's Not There" topped out at #2. Although they recorded the track in just one take, it would stay on the Hot 100 for 3 months and climbed to #12 in the UK.

"Love the One You're With" by Steven Stills was released in 1970. Stills wrote the song after being inspired by the tag line -- "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" which was a frequent remark by musician Billy Preston. Stills asked him for permission to use the line in a song which Preston immediately agreed to.

In 1970, the Doors played their last concert with Jim Morrison as lead singer, at the Warehouse in New Orleans. Band members Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore would later recall watching Jim Morrison lose "all his energy" as the show came to a close.

In 1970, although they had enjoyed 26 previous Top 40 Hits, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles reached number one on the Billboard Pop chart for the first time with "The Tears Of A Clown". It was also a #1 in the UK.

In 1971, filming began on the Diana Ross movie, 'Lady Sings the Blues.'

In 1974, saying that he felt that now was the time to move on and do something new, Mick Taylor quit The Rolling Stones 5½ years after replacing Brian Jones as lead guitarist. Former Faces member, Ron Wood would be named to take his place.

In 1982, Karen Carpenter made her last public appearance, singing Christmas carols at Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California.

In 1985, Ian Stewart, the "Pete Best" of The Rolling Stones, died of a heart attack in his doctor's waiting room. He left the band in May of 1963 when manager Andrew Loog Oldham felt that he didn't fit the bad boy image of the group, but continued to work with them as a road manager and played keyboards on most of The Stones' essential albums from the 1960s until the 1980s.

On this day in 1986, "Walk Like An Egyptian" by the Bangles was the #1 song.



In 1991, Cynthia Lennon, as well as Sean and Yoko Ono attended the funeral of John Lennon's Aunt Mimi. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all sent floral arrangements. During the service, the funeral home played "Imagine".

In 1998, a seven inch single by The Quarry Men featuring John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison was named as the rarest record of all time. Only 50 copies were made with each one being valued at £10,000 ($20,500).

In 2000, Tony Bennett commemorated the birthday of the late-Frank Sinatra by announcing the September 2001 opening of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.

In 2001, Arthur Lee of Love was released from prison after serving six years of an eleven-year sentence for possession of a firearm and firing it in the air in a dispute with his neighbor.

In 2001, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic countersue Courtney Love who had previously sued Universal Music Group saying all of Nirvanna's rights reverted to her after the death of Kurt Cobain.

In 2002, Les Paul announced he would be donating 2,000 records and pieces of sheet music along with other memorabilia for an exhibit in his hometown of Waukesha, WI.

In 2003, Mick Jagger was knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Jagger's 92 year-old father was in attendance to see his son receive the award.

In 2007, a copy of John Lennon's book, 'A Spaniard in the Works,' which contained a lock of Lennon's hair, sold at Gorringes Auction House for $48,000. Lennon gave the book and the hair to Betty Glasow, the Fab Four's hairdresser during their heyday. He wrote in the book, "To Betty, Lots of Love and Hair, John Lennon xx."

Also in 2007, Ike Turner, whose role as one of Rock and Roll's most innovative architects was overshadowed by his image as the man who abused his former wife and singing partner Tina Turner, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 76.

birthdays today include (among others): Connie Francis (73), Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) (48), Terry Kirkman (Association) (72), Dionne Warwick (71), Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) (68), Ralph Scala (Blues Magoos) (64), Ray Jackson (Lindisfarne) (63), Sheila E. (born Sheila Escovedo) (54) and Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) (65)








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