Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

this is why we love music!

"Songs For Japan" Hits $10m Milestone

STAR-STUDDED BENEFIT ALBUM RAISES MILLIONS FOR RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF

TOKYO, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Songs For Japan, the unique, star-studded album collection created to help raise money for victims of Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami disasters, continues to benefit the survivors through Japanese Red Cross Society.

Yesterday in Tokyo, senior executives from four major music companies – EMI, Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music Group – met with Japanese Red Cross Society Vice President, Yoshiharu Otsuka, to recognise the milestone of $10 million raised and donated from the global sales of Songs For Japan. The occasion was a reception hosted by Frances Moore, chief executive of worldwide recording industry organisation IFPI.

A music industry-wide initiative, Songs For Japan is an unprecedented compilation of 38 major hits and classic tracks, including 21 Billboard Hot 100 hits and five #1s from more than 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music. The collection was rush-released worldwide on March 25 – only 14 days after the earthquake struck Japan – as a digital album via iTunes, followed by the release of a physical two-CD set.

Tadateru Konoe, President of Japanese Red Cross Society, said, "The kind thoughts of the people who made and bought this album have given great encouragement to the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami. One hundred percent of the money raised goes directly to those most in need. On behalf of the Japanese Red Cross and the people affected by the disaster, I want to sincerely thank the artists and music companies for this generous support. It is much needed and greatly appreciated."

All the participating artists, songwriters, music labels, music publishers and iTunes waived their royalties and proceeds to maximise the amount of money donated for survivors. In addition, manufacturers, distributors and marketing partners donated materials, services and advertising time or space.

The first payment of $5 million was made to Japanese Red Cross Society earlier this year, after the initial release and sales of Songs For Japan. The latest, further payment of $5 million was made more recently, bringing the total to $10 million.

Worldwide, music fans have to date purchased more than 1 million digital and physical copies of Songs For Japan. The album rocketed to #1 on iTunes in 18 countries immediately after release.

Songs for Japan features an all-star lineup:

1. John Lennon "Imagine"
2. U2 "Walk On"
3. Bob Dylan "Shelter From The Storm"
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Around The World"
5. Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
6. Beyonce "Irreplaceable"
7. Bruno Mars "Talking To The Moon"
8. Katy Perry "Firework"
9. Rihanna "Only Girl (In The World)"
10. Justin Timberlake "Like I Love You"
11. Madonna "Miles Away"
12. David Guetta "When Love Takes Over"
13. Eminem "Love The Way You Lie"
14. Bruce Springsteen "Human Touch"
15. Josh Groban "Awake"
16. Keith Urban "Better Life"
17. Black Eyed Peas "One Tribe"
18. Pink "Sober"
19. Cee Lo Green "It's Ok"
20. Lady Antebellum "I Run To You"
21. Bon Jovi "What Do You Got?"
22. Foo Fighters "My Hero"
23. R.E.M. "Man On The Moon"
24. Nicki Minaj "Save Me"
25. Sade "By Your Side"
26. Michael Buble "Hold On"
27. Justin Bieber "Pray"
28. Adele "Make You Feel My Love"
29. Enya "If I Could Be Where You Are"
30. Elton John "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
31. John Mayer "Waiting On The World To Change"
32. Queen "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)"
33. Kings Of Leon "Use Somebody"
34. Sting "Fragile"
35. Leona Lewis "Better In Time"
36. Ne-Yo "One In A Million"
37. Shakira "Whenever, Wherever"
38. Norah Jones "Sunrise"

SOURCE Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music

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ultimateclassicrock.com has a nice article about a 70's rocker getting back into it!

Bob Seger Details New Album Schedule, 2012 Tour Plans and His Songwriting Methods

by: Nancy Dunham

Bob Seger has announced plans to release a new studio album, and to support that record with a tour. “I will write from January 1 through March 31. I will finish the next record and right now, yes, I will tour with the next record,” Seger tells Ultimate Classic Rock.

Seger, who has sold more than 50 million albums, with 11 platinum and seven multi-platinum titles, also revealed what convinced him to release a studio album for the first time since ‘Face the Promise’ in 1996.

“It just comes and goes. I think I picked [the writing bug] up about a year and a half ago and started writing songs again slowly and surely. Then I said I ‘Yeah, I want to do one more.’ I have written a couple of songs that I really, really, really, really like and that was kind of the driving thing. I want people to hear them!”

Read the rest at ultimateclassicrock.com

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album cover art for the day:

COLDWORKER: 'The Doomsayer's Call' Artwork Unveiled

COLDWORKER — the Örebro, Sweden-based "blasting" death metal band consisting of current and former/current members of such acts as NASUM, RELENTLESS, RUIN and PHOBOS — will release its third album, "The Doomsayer's Call", this winter via Listenable Records. The CD was recorded in part at Soundlab Studios in the group's hometown and will feature 13 songs. Mixing took place at Unisound studios with Dan Swanö (OPETH, KATATONIA, DISSECTION).

The cover artwork for "The Doomsayer's Call" was created by the Swedish artist Pär Olofsson who has previously worked with such bands as MALEVOLENT CREATION, IMMOLATION, IMMORTAL, EXODUS and DYING FETUS.

Read more about it at our friends at Blabbermouth










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Lacuna Coil Reveal New Cover Art

Lacuna Coil's sixth album, ‘Dark Adrenaline,’ is scheduled for release on Jan. 24, 2012 and the Italian rock vets have just revealed the cover art. ‘Dark Adrenaline’ features the recently released first single ‘Trip the Darkness,’ which also serves as the album’s opening track. Lacuna Coil will be part of the 2012 Gigantour that also features Megadeth, Motorhead and Volbeat.

Tracklist:
1. ‘Trip The Darkness’
2. ‘Against You’
3. ‘Kill The Light’
4. ‘Give Me Something More’
5. ‘Upsidedown’
6. ‘End Of Time’
7. ‘I Don’t Believe In Tomorrow’
8. ‘Intoxicated’
9. ‘The Army Inside’
10. ‘Losing My Religion’
11. ‘Fire’
12. ‘My Spirit’



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Michael Jackson’s PJ's/Bed Sold At Auction

Sadly, on the same day that Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, some of the music legend’s items raised big money at an auction in Ireland. The BBC reported that a set of silk pyjamas and a bed in which the late singer once slept have been sold at an Irish auction for more than $12,000. Apparently, an American entertainment company bought the star's pyjamas for $3,700, while a mahogany bed he slept in was sold to an undisclosed Irish bidder for $8.500. Both the nightwear and the carved bed were used by Jackson when he stayed at Coolatore House near Moate, County Westmeath, five years ago; he and his children were there for several months while he recorded at Grouse Lodge studios in 2006.

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Buy it at Insound!


Insound.com Top Sellers

1. The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone (Reissue) PRE-ORDER
2. The Beach Boys - The SMiLE Sessions
3. Atlas Sound - Parallax
4. Sigur Ros - Inni PRE-ORDER
5. Real Estate - Days
6. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica PRE-ORDER
7. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming 
8. Panda Bear - Tomboy (Deluxe Box Set)
9. Lucero - That Much Further West (Blue Vinyl)
10. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

Order A Top Seller HERE

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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 10/31 - 11/06, 2011

Top 25 Vinyl:

1. The Beach Boys - The SMiLE Sessions
2. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
3. Tom Waits - Bad As Me
4. Coldplay - Myo Xyloto
5. The Features - The Wilderness
6. RTX / Heavy Cream - split 7"
7. The Decemberists - Long Live The King 10"
8. Wilco - The Whole Love
9. PUJOL - Nasty Brutish & Short
10. Deer Tick - Divine Providence
11. Real Estate - Days
12. El Rego - El Rego
13. Denney & The Jets - Killin' Machine 7"
14. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
15. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
16. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
17. Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams
18. Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do
19. Beirut - The Rip Tide
20. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
21. Big Star - Radio City
22. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
23. Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage
24. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
25. The Postal Service - Give Up

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and in music history for today, november 9th:

One of the iconic voices in folk music, Mary Travers (Peter, Paul & Mary) was born on this date in 1936 (she died in 2009).

In 1955, the Everly Brothers made their first studio recordings, cutting four tracks in 22 minutes at Nashville's Old Tulane Hotel Studios.

In 1958, Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" became only the third record in history to sell over three million copies, joining "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby and Gene Autry's "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer".

In 1959, Billboard Magazine says that this is "one of the most frantic weeks in the history of the music business," as the government probe into disc jockey payola steps up.

Also in 1959, RCA executives offer a guarantee of $100,000 to Sam Cooke in an effort to lure him to their label when his Keen Records contract expires.

In 1961, Brian Epstein went to Liverpool's Cavern Club to see The Beatles perform for the first time. He had been getting requests at his NEMS music store for a record called "My Bonnie". After several more visits, Epstein would offer to manage the group, which he did until his death in 1967.

In 1962, Motown Records released "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," by the Miracles.

Written by Smokey Robinson and featuring Robinson on lead vocals, with Miracles second tenor Bobby Rogers on harmony co-lead, the song explores the feelings of a man so in love with a woman that he can't leave her despite the fact that she treats him badly. The song was a major hit for the Miracles,reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart, peaking at number eight , and was a number-one smash on the Billboard R&B singles chart during the winter of 1962-63. The Miracles' original version is a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. It was also the group's second single to sell over a million copies, after "Shop Around". It has also been selected as one of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Interestingly, it almost didn't happen, because "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" wasn't the single's "A" side. The original "A" side of the single (Tamla 54073) was the uptempo song "Happy Landing", a solid rocker of a tune that had hit potential,and even charted regionally. Surprisingly, however, the nation's Dee-Jays flipped the record over, because they liked "Hold On Me" better.



Additionally, "You Really Got a Hold on Me" was the first track recorded for the Beatles' second United Kingdom LP, With the Beatles, and features John Lennon on lead vocal with George Harrison on close harmony. The Beatles acquired an imported copy by the Miracles and included it in their repertoire early in 1963. In the fall of 1963, when EMI acquired their first four track recording equipment, the Beatles recorded another version of the song at Lennon's request, perhaps with the intent of including it as a B-side to an upcoming single, or as part of a four song EP. However, the group concluded that in spite of the enhanced recording technology, the new version was not substantially better than their original studio effort, and the remade cover has yet to be officially released in any form.

The Beatles also recorded "You Really Got a Hold on Me" on four occasions for BBC radio in 1963. One of these, from July 30, 1963 was included on the Live at the BBC collection. A live version recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in October 1963 was released in 1995 on Anthology 1.

The song was performed once again in 1969, during the Let It Be recording sessions, and featured in the 1970 documentary film, Let It Be.



In 1963, the Kingsmen's classic, "Louie, Louie" was released in the US. It will enter the Hot 100 near the end of November and peak at #2 in early January.

The Kingsmen's edition was also the subject of an FBI investigation about the supposed but non-existent obscenity of the lyrics, an investigation that ended without prosecution. In February, 1964, an outraged parent wrote to Robert Kennedy, then the Attorney General of the United States, alleging that the lyrics of "Louie Louie" were obscene. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the complaint. In June 1965, the FBI laboratory obtained a copy of the Kingsmen recording and, after two years of investigation, concluded that the recording could not be interpreted, that it was "unintelligible at any speed," and therefore the Bureau could not find that the recording was obscene. In September 1965, an FBI agent interviewed one member of the Kingsmen, who denied that there was any obscenity in the song. The song is ranked #55 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

In 1966, John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at a showing of her work at the Indica Art Gallery in London. She supposedly doesn't know who Lennon is. The two wouldn't get together until 1968.

In 1967, David Crosby left the Byrds. The next year Crosby, Stills, and Nash was formed.

Also in 1967, the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine was published in San Francisco. It featured a photo of John Lennon on the cover, dressed in army fatigues while acting in his recent film, How I Won the War. The name of the magazine was compiled from three significant sources: the Muddy Waters song, the Bob Dylan song and The Rolling Stones.

In 1968, a US Army captain is quoted in Rolling Stone Magazine as saying "Rock and Roll music contributes to both the usage of drugs and the high VD rate among enlisted men in the army today."

Also in 1968, Led Zeppelin played their first-ever London show when they appeared at The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, on the same bill as John Lee Hooker, Deviants, John James and Tyres. Zeppelin singer Robert Plant married his girlfriend Maureen in London on this day and held the reception at the gig.

In 1969, Simon and Garfunkel recorded what would become their signature tune, "Bridge Over Troubled Water", with future member of Bread, Larry Knechtel on piano. Art wanted Paul to sing the song, but Paul insisted that Art's voice was better suited for it. It was a decision that Paul would later say he regretted.

In 1973, Cat Stevens made his national TV debut on ABC's "In Concert."

In 1973, after years of struggling as a member of two New York area bands, The Hassels and Attila, and as a bar room piano player, Billy Joel releases what will ultimately be his breakthrough album, "Piano Man". The title song will be released as a single and become a Top Twenty-five hit early next year.

In 1974, Randy Bachman, the former lead guitarist for The Guess Who, enjoyed a number one song with his new band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Randy stuttered through the lyrics of "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" on a demo recording as a private joke about his brother Gary, who had a speech impediment. The record company liked that take better than the non-stuttering version and released it. The song not only gave the band their third US top thirty hit and a #2 in the UK, Gary Bachman stopped stammering.

Jan Hammer went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1985 with the “Miami Vice Theme.”

In 1990, all of Willie Nelson's bank accounts and property was seized by the Internal Revenue Service to use towards and outstanding $16 million tax bill.

In 1993, Dave Matthews Band released their first album, 'Remember Two Things,' on the Bama Rags label.

In 1998, Michael Jackson settled a lawsuit over stories and pictures in the London Daily Mirror that said his face had been disfigured by cosmetic surgery. A lawyer for the publisher said, "The photographs were taken honestly and were not tampered with, but the Mirror has since met with the plaintiff in person and acknowledges that the photographs do not accurately represent the plaintiff's true appearance."

In 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America announces their Artists Of The Century. The Beatles top the list for US sales of over 106 million albums. Garth Brooks was named most successful male artist (89 million albums sold) and Barbra Streisand the most successful female artist. (62 million albums sold). Elvis Presley had the most Gold and Platinum singles with 77, to go along with his 80 Gold and Platinum albums. Elton John's "Candle In The Wind" (Princess Diana version) is the best selling single of all time and the Eagles "Greatest Hits 1971 - 1975" is the record holder for best selling album.

In 1999, American producer, songwriter and co-founder of Atlantic records Herb Abramson died. He wrote and produced Tommy Tucker’s 1964 hit “High Heeled Sneakers.”

Also in 1999, Fiona Apple released an album called: 'When The Pawn Hits The Conflicts He Thinks Like A King What He Knows Throws The Blows When He Goes To The Fight And He’ll Win The Whole Thing ‘Fore He Enters The Ring There’s Nobody To Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand And Remember That Depth Is The Greatest Of Heights And If You Know Where You Stand, Then You’ll Know Where To Land And If You Fall It Won’t Matter, Cuz You’ll Know That You’re Right.' hmmm ok

In 2000, the Beatles launched their official internet web site, www.thebeatles.com

In 2008, Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 with "Pata Pata" suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 76. Among her many notable achievements was becoming the first African woman to win a Grammy, for Best Folk Recording in 1966 with Harry Belafonte for "An Evening With Belafonte / Makeba".

In 2010, a warehouse in San Carlos, CA that housed instruments, paintings and cars belonging to Neil Young burned.

birthdays today (among others) include: Corin Tucker (Slater-Kinney) (39), Lee Graziano (American Breed) (68), Phil May (Pretty Things) (67), Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult) (63), Alan Gratzer (REO Speedwagon) (63) and Dennis Stratton (Iron Maiden) (57)