Saturday, February 26, 2011

Michael Fremer Album Review

Rock Out With Dick Dale and His Del Tones Live at Ciro's
(reissue)

Dick Dale and His Del-Tones

Capitol/Sundazed LP 5296 180g LP

Produced by: Jim Monsour and Jim Economides
Engineered by: N/A
Mixed by: N/A
Mastered by: Bob Irwin
Lacquer cut by: Wes Garland at Nashville Record Productions




MUSIC



SOUND






Iconic Live Dick Dale Back on Vinyl!
by Michael Fremer
January 01, 2011

The only original copy of this album that I ever saw was in The Library of Congress's record collection. It features great period cover art that Green Day lifted for their Foxboro Hot Tub album and a live performance from guitar legend Dick Dale.

The whole affair: the cover art, the stage get-up, the amateur but pure recording and the totally inept stage presentation coupled with Dick Dale's inability to emote beyond mechanically hitting the notes somehow add up to an interesting listen but not what I would call an essential one—unless, like Sundazed's main man Bob Irwin, you are guitar-obsessed.

In that case you'll easily ignore that Dick sings the songs as if he's not got a clue as to their meaning or emotional content and concentrate on the Frug and Twist rhythms of the surf music.

If you're of a certain age you'll remember the Go-Go cage installed at your college's local pizzeria and "womaned" by traveling-the-college-circuit teams of moderately attractive, slightly flabby young girls grinding and gyrating while you wolfed down the pie.

You'll eat up the reverb-drenched, twanging, bubbling Stratocaster, the crackling, insistent snare, the sax playing harmony to Dale's surf-leads and the whole weird Ciro's vibe of people sitting in a famous Strip night club watching a high school prom band over-achieving.

The recording by Dick Dale's Dad and a friend piles echo on top of the already reverb drenched guitar and everything else in the live to two track mix.

I once made a similar recording in 1965 in the basement of University Halls #3 at Cornell University of Oz and the Ahs performing the popular dance tune "Everybody Learn to Master The Bate." Same crisp cymbal and snare sound, same watery but twangy Strat reverb. Someone stole the tapes around 1976 in Boston darn it.

Anyway, this one, well--pressed on quiet 180 vinyl at Rainbo is only for the surf guitar fanatics and nostalgia freaks among you....


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

Deftones Announce Covers Album For Record Store Day

Deftones recently announced that they will be releasing a special covers LP, approprietly titled 'Covers' for Record Store Day. The album, limited only to 5,000 copies, includes covers of The Cure, The Smiths, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Duran Duran, among many others.

Here’s the tracklisting:

Side A:
Drive (The Cars)
Caress (Drive Like Jehu)
Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (The Smiths)
No Ordinary Love (Sade)
Savory (Jawbox)
Do You Believe (The Cardigans)

Side B:
Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Ghosts (Japan)
The Chauffeur (Duran Duran)
If Only Tonight We Could Sleep (The Cure)
Sleep Walk (Santo & Johnny)

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Franz Ferdinand Releasing EP For Record Store Day

Franz Ferdinand will be releasing a covers EP for the upcoming record celebration, featuring artists such as LCD Soundsystem, the Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt, Blondie's Debbie Harry, ESG and Peaches. The group will cover the Scottish rockers' 2009 effort 'Tonight.'

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Vinyl Records Turn Up the Volume





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Strokes, Arcade Fire Confirm New Orleans Jazz Fest

Several of alternative rock's biggest names will hit the stage at this year's New Orleans Jazz Festival, set to kick off on April 29. This year the Stokes and Arcade Fire join an impressive lineup that features an array of classic rock, hip-hop, country and jazz artists.

This year's fest will take place over the course of two weekends, the first running April 29 to May 1 and the second running May 5 to May 8.

The first weekend will include headlining performances from Robert Plant & the Band of Joy, Tom Jones, Bon Jovi, Arlo Guthrie, John Legend & The Roots, Jeff Beck, the Decemberists, the Avett Brothers, Wyclef Jean, Jason Mraz, Kenny G, Mumford & Sons, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, and Justin Townes Earle.

The second weekend will include the Strokes, Lauryn Hill, Wilco, Willie Nelson, Lupe Fiasco, Jimmy Buffett, Kid Rock, Cyndi Lauper, Gregg Allman Blues Band, Allen Toussaint, The Neville Brothers, Lucinda Williams, and Michael Franti.

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Here's the latest MUSIC CHARTS:

USA

Albums:
1. Various : Now 37
2. Mumford and Sons : Sigh No More
3. Justin Bieber : My World 2.0
4. Nicki Minaj : Pink Friday
5. Pink : Greatest Hits ... So Far
6. Bruno Mars : Doo-Wops & Holligans
7. Eminem : Recovery
8. Rihanna : Loud
9. Jason Aldean : My Kinda Party
10. Justin Bieber : My Worlds Acoustic

Singles:
1. Lady Gaga : Born This Way
2. Katy Perry : Firework
3. Bruno Mars : Grenade
4. Wiz Khalifa : Black and Yellow
5. Pink : Fucking Perfect
6. Enrique Eglesias : Tonight (I've Lovin' You)
7. Cee Lo Green : Fuck You
8. Rihanna : S&M
9. Black Eyed Peas : The Time
10. Britney Spears : Hold It Against Me

UK

Albums:
1. Adele : 21
2. Bruno Mars : Doo Wops & Hooligans
3. Rihanna : Loud
4. Eva Cassidy : Simply Eva
5. Chase & Status : No More Idols
6. Adele : 19
7. Rumer : Seasons Of My Soul
8. The Streets : Computers and Blues
9. James Blake : James Blake
10. Take That : Progress

Singles:
1. Adele : Someone Like You
2. Jessie J feat. B.o.B. : Price Tag
3. Lady Gaga : Born This Way
4. Adele : Rolling In the Deep
5. Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown : Champion
6. Rihanna : S&M
7. Bruno Mars : Grenade
8. JLS : Eyes Wide Shut
9. Taio Cruz feat. Kylie Minogue : Higher
10. Ke$ha : We R Who We R

Europe

Albums:
1. Take That : Progress
2. Rihanna : Loud
3. Bruce Springsteen : The Promise
4. Shakira : Sale El Sol
5. Pink : Greatest Hits ... So Far
6. Bon Jovi : Greatest Hits
7. James Blunt : Some Kind Of Trouble
8. Susan Boyle : The Gift
9. Kings Of Leon : Come Around Sundown
10. JLS : Outta This World

Singles:
1. Bruno Mars : Grenade
2. Adele : Rolling In the Deep
3. Katy Perry : Firework
4. Rihanna : What's My Name
5. Black Eyed Peas : The Time
6. Martin Solveig : Hello
7. David Guetta feat. Rihanna : Who's That Chick
8. Taio Cruz : Higher
9. Duck Sauce : Barbra Streisand
10. Bruno Mars : Just The Way You Are

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The Groove’s Vinyl Best Sellers 2.14-2.20.2011

1 Ryan Adams – Gold
2 The Black Keys – Brothers
3 Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
4 Bright Eyes – The People’s Key
5 The Pixies – Wave Of Mutilation: The Best Of
6 The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
7 Destroyer – Kaputt
8 Arcade Fire – Suburbs
9 Dr Dre – The Chronic
10 Tristen – Charlatans At The Gate
11 Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
12 The Decemberists -The King Is Dead
13 Robert Plant – Band Of Joy
14 The Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps
15 Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots

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Music History for today:

In 1955, Billboard reported that for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45rpm singles were outselling the old standard 78s.

In 1964, The Beatles worked on the final mixes for “Can't Buy Me Love” and “You Can't Do That” tracks. The single, which was released the following month, topped the charts all over the world.

The Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown" was released in 1966.



In 1980, after seeing U2 play at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium in front of 2,400 people, Rob Partridge and Bill Stewart from Island Records in the UK offered the band a recording contract. Smart move....
Chuck Berry received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1985.

Capitol Records released the first 4 Beatles albums on CD in 1987.

In 1983, Michael Jackson's Thriller went to #1 on the U.S. album chart. It went on to become the most successful album of all time with sales of over 50 million copies.

Fats Domino was born in 1928.

The late Johnny Cash was born in 1932.

iCrates Launches iPhone App – a Mobile Search Tool and Information Source for Record Collectors, Music Lovers and Crate Diggers

not something I usually post about, however, this seems like it could be very useful.  Myself, I don't even own a cell phone, but for those who do, maybe someone can try this out and give us an opinion about it.  And, yes, I guess it's true - they have an app for everything....


Record collectors and music lovers get mobile support while “digging the crates” and searching for rare vinyl, CDs or tapes on the go.


Berlin, Germany, February 25, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The iCrates app gives instant access to the biggest music databases and marketplaces such as Discogs, eBay, Amazon and iTunes. Users find detailed information on releases, artists and labels while searching for music in record stores or on flea markets.

The built-in barcode scanner allows even faster access to search results.

iCrates shows real-time price offers for releases and evaluates the rarity and average selling price in various currencies. This way music collectors will know when they have spotted a real bargain. With iCrates users can even listen to audio samples and full tracks or watch related videos on Youtube.

In addition the app includes the iCrates Magazine, a high end online music magazine focussing on the love of vinyl and analogue music.

It provides insights into the international record digging scene, offering readers a new way to rediscover old music. Read stories, reviews and interviews as well as guides to the hottest record stores and markets on the planet.

“To us, the interest in analogue music and vinyl records is pure passion. There is a huge treasure trove of musical recordings out there that can change everything for you when you discover it for the first time.”
-- Gunnar Menzel, founder and Design Director of iCrates.

“The app is unlike anything else on the market,” says Bram van der Poel, founder and developer of iCrates. “With iCrates, record collectors get a mobile tool that not only enables them to access and browse easily through all the information they need, but let’s them compare prices from various key marketplaces on the go.”

“We only see this as the start. We are constantly developing the app concept and are really looking forward to the first feedback from music diggers and record collectors, because we’ve developed iCrates for them.”
-- Ann-Kristin Leder, founder and Marketing Manager of iCrates.

iCrates. Developed for music lovers, by music lovers.

Key Features:

Search for artists, releases, labels or catalogue numbers

Find detailed information such as sub-labels, release dates, aliases, credits and album covers

Browse through artists profiles and find video interviews, real names, groups, official artist websites and relevant links

Scan the barcodes of releases to get faster search results (only available for iPhone)

Watch music videos (YouTube)

Listen to tracks and audio samples

Buy songs on iTunes

Get the average selling price and rarity evaluation of a release in your currency (Euro, USD, GBP, Yen) plus find real-time offers on eBay and Discogs

Remember your ten recent searches

Add each search entry to your favorites for future reference and access them even when the device is offline
Share with friends on Twitter, Facebook or by email

Geotag releases and send the location to your friends on Facebook or by email

Get Insights into the international record digging scene with the iCrates Magazine. Read stories, reviews and interviews as well as guides to the hottest record stores and markets. The Magazine is also accessible when device is offline

Optimise your search results and overall app performance by easily customising your settings

Access the following databases: Discogs, eBay, Amazon, Youtube, iTunes

Formats The application includes the following formats: Vinyl, Shellac, CD, CDV, DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray, Cassette, DAT, DCC, Betamax, VHS, Video 2000, Laserdisc, Minidisc, Memory Stick, Box Set and many more.

Please Note:
To use and experience the full functionality of the app you need to have an internet connection. Your favorites and the iCrates Magazine are accessible when device is offline.

Device requirements:
– iPhone and iPod touch
– Requires iPhone OS 4.0 or later
– 4 MB

For further information, please visit the press section: http://www.icrates.org/press/

How to digg music with iCrates (video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0KBSNA-nX4

Product website:
http://www.icrates.org/app

Download app:
http://itunes.com/apps/icrates

About iCrates

The Digital Creative Director, Gunnar Menzel had the initial idea to develop an app for DJs and vinyl collectors. He further developed the concept with the support of developer and composer Bram van der Poel and Arts Manager and Marketing Professional Ann-Kristin Leder. In 2010 they founded iCrates. Being music lovers themselves, the vision was to create the ultimate search tool for record collectors, DJs and crate diggers that would not only provide relevant information on releases, artists and labels, but also allow them to listen to tracks on the spot.

Realising that record sales have increased over the past years and that a global platform was missing for todays vinyl lovers, the idea of the iCrates Online Magazine was born. In a short time more than twenty international authors and creatives came on board to give a classic music medium a fresh twist and explore the boundaries between the analogue era and the digital world.

The aim of iCrates is to nurture the love of vinyl and analogue music, and to show the world that records are still spinning.

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