Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 28, 2011


DEAR JERRY: Frankie Avalon and Bobby Vinton are two pop stars of my youth whose records I bought plenty of.

Looking back, it seems their careers share many similarities, with both starting out in their teens as instrumentalists, then successfully switching to singing, and both are still alive and performing.

Can you elaborate further on how similar their paths have been?
—Jan Mueller, Hanover, Pa.


frankie avalon
DEAR JAN: Gladly, and I think you will enjoy the journey.

Both were born in the 1930s, in Pennsylvania; Bobby in Canonsburg (1935), and Frankie in Philadelphia (1939).

Both began working professionally as teen-age instrumentalists in the 1950s, and both played a horn; Bobby a clarinet, and Frankie a trumpet.

Both achieved only a modicum of fame after signing their first recording contracts, but each began by making two unsuccessful records; Avalon for the “X” label in 1954, and Vinton for Alpine in 1959 and '60.

Next they both moved to the labels that would soon sell millions of their discs; however, both watched as their earliest recordings for the new label flopped — Frankie with two on Chancellor (1957), and Bobby with three on Epic (1960-'61).

Once past the grueling years, both began a very impressive string of hits.

With Elvis spending all of 1959 in Germany, serving in the U.S. Army, Frankie Avalon elevated to the top male singles artist of the year. From 1956 through '62, this would be the only time someone other than Presley wore that crown.

In that magical year, Avalon had five consecutive Top 10 hits, two of which reached No. 1 (“Venus” and “Why”).

In 1962, Bobby Vinton's “Roses Are Red (My Love)” became the first of his four No. 1 hits (“Blue Velvet”; “There I've Said It Again”; and “Mr. Lonely”), and first of nine songs in the Top 10.

For his first 15 years (1962-1976), Bobby rang up 30 Top 40 hits, making him 10th among solo artists in that prestigious category.

Here are the other nine, whose first pop hit came in the 1950s or '60s. They are listed in order of total number of Top 40 songs during their first 15 years on the pop charts:

93: Elvis Presley (1956-1970)
39: James Brown (1958-1972)
38: Pat Boone (1955-1969)
37: Fats Domino (1955-1969)
34: Rick Nelson (1957-1971)
34: Aretha Franklin (1961-1975)
33: Stevie Wonder (1963-1977)
32: Ray Charles (1957-1971)
31: Marvin Gaye (includes three duets) (1962-1976)

Finally, both Avalon and Vinton appeared many, many times in films and on television, which leads right into our next question:


DEAR JERRY: When Frankie Avalon hit it big with songs like “Just Ask Your Heart,” I remember flashing back to seeing him several years earlier doing a comedy skit on TV with Jackie Gleason.

He was quite young, and played his trumpet, while Jackie Gleason stood by in disbelief at how good he was. I don't know the name of the song.

I checked IMDb and the only appearances they have for him with Gleason are 1967-'68. In fact, they don't credit him as being on any TV shows until 1958 (“American Bandstand”).

I'd like your thoughts on this, as I recall it too well for it not to be true.
—Ralph McGuinn, Spokane, Wash.


DEAR RALPH: I have seen video of Frankie's appearance on the Jackie Gleason Show, and can tell you the tune he plays on the trumpet, live and with very little accompaniment, is “Tenderly.”

Taking into consideration that “Tenderly” was one of the top hits of 1952 (Rosemary Clooney), and that Frankie had probably not yet recorded (early 1954), I believe he first appeared on Jackie Gleason's show in either 1952 or '53.

Your recollection is excellent, and IMDb should add this significant performance, surely his first on network TV, to Frankie's credits.


IZ ZAT SO? In a 2009 column, we discussed how Brenda Lee's first two Decca singles (1956) intentionally credit her as “Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old),” though she actually turned 12 that year (December 11).

But Decca was not the first label to shave two years off someone's true age.

Two years earlier, “X” Records chose to credit Frankie's first two records thusly: “Trumpet Solo By Eleven Year Old Frankie Avalon.”

Born Sept. 18, 1939, when he recorded “Trumpet Sorrento” and “Trumpet Tarantella” (1954), Avalon was between 13 and 14.


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

Record Store Day Specials Fuel Music Sales

Although all the numbers are not officially in, indie merchants who had exclusives that the labels issued as part of Record Store Day's "Back To Black Friday," say that music sales were great over the weekend. Newbury Comics CEO Mike Dreese says music sales were up 12%-14% on Friday and Saturday, thanks to Record Store Day vinyl !!

Hail vinyl!

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Deerhoof Vinyl Reissue And New 7-Inch Single

Deerhoof has recently announced the upcoming release of a very limited-edition clear blue vinyl 7-inch collaboration with David Bazan, properly titled DeerBazan. The record will include David Bazan-penned lyrics sung over instrumentation by Deerhoof, and will be released via Polyvinyl Records on January 17, 2012. It is limited to just 2,000 copies.

Deerhoof’s seminal album 'Reveille' will be released on 180 gram light blue vinyl, also on Polyvinyl. The 7-inch and the reissue are available for pre-order now








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holy crap, it's december tomorrow!

Marshall Tucker Band Releases New Holiday Album ‘Carolina Christmas’

by Alanna Conaway

The Marshall Tucker Band wants their fans to get in the Christmas spirit! The legendary rockers have released their new holiday-infused album, ‘Carolina Christmas.’

Rather than just an album of Christmas classics, the band has also included a handful of originals that will be sure to put a smile on your face as you decorate your tree this year!

“It’s got a song on here that I know a lot of people will appreciate,” MTB’s frontman, Doug Gray, tells Ultimate Classic Rock with a grin.

Read the rest at ultimateclassicrock.com




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Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black' Dress Sells At Auction

The dress that Amy Winehouse wore on the front cover of her 'Back To Black' album has been sold for more than $67,000 at an auction in London.

The BBC reported that the printed chiffon dress, which was made by fashion designer Disaya Sorakraikitikul, was purchased by the Chilean fashion museum Museo de la Moda at La Galleria yesterday for more than twice what it was expected to fetch. Sorakraikitikul donated the proceeds of the sale to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, the charity set up by the late singer's family in July to honor her memory.

Winehouse's father Mitch Winehouse, who was present at the auction, stated: "We are just over the moon and we owe a great debt to the designer, Disaya, who donated the proceeds from the sale."




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i know, i know, this is a vinyl record blog. however, there is so much great music that was recorded, i will bet there will be vinyl issues at some point...

Deluxe to Digitize 36 Years of Austin City Limits for KLRU-TV

Deluxe's MediaRecall platform will enable instant search and retrieval

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Deluxe Media Services and MediaRecall, subsidiaries of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc., have been engaged by Austin, Texas, PBS Station KLRU, to digitize and archive its legendary music program, Austin City Limits. Distinguished as the longest running music program in television history, Austin City Limits exists on more than 8,000 hours of tape featuring 450 finished programs and over 5,400 individual songs by many of the world's best known artists.

For 36 years, Austin City Limits has showcased popular music legends and innovators from every genre. In addition to being honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Austin City Limits is the only television program ever to receive the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest award for artistic excellence.

"The Austin City Limits collection is one of the most significant music catalogs anywhere," said Bill Stotesbery, General Manager of KLRU-TV. "Digitizing this incredible archive before time and other threats take it away from us is our highest priority. We are happy to be in good hands with Deluxe."

In addition to digitizing the program's performances, Deluxe is writing metadata for each song, including title, composer, musicians, soloist names and instruments played, among other information. Once the project is completed, all of the Austin City Limits will be searchable on Deluxe's powerful MediaRecall online asset management platform.

"Deluxe is honored to be working with the visionary staff at KLRU to archive Austin City Limits," said Robin Rutledge, V.P. & General Manager, for MediaRecall. "Not only will we be preserving the media's original quality, but detailed metadata for every song in every program will allow for unprecedented search and retrieval of virtually any performance in the archive," Rutledge added.

From Coldplay to Foo Fighters to Robert Plant to The Dirt Band, over 800 musical artists have performed on Austin City Limits since its first show in 1974. The program reaches approximately 1.8 million households and it is carried globally on the Armed Forces Network. Austin City Limits has helped Austin, TX, to become widely known as the "Live Music Capital of the World."

Deluxe and its MediaRecall platform has provided digital services for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Oprah Winfrey Show, National Geographic, Martha Stewart, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company, and Getty Images, among others.

SOURCE Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc.

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album cover art of the day:

ASPHYX: 'Deathhammer' Cover Artwork Unveiled

Dutch doom death metal legends ASPHYX have completed work on their new studio album, "Deathhammer", for a February 27, 2012 release in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.

The cover artwork for "Deathhammer" was created by ASPHYX's longtime partner in designs, Axel Hermann. Hermann not only worked on all of the early ASPHYX artworks and most recently on their "Live Death Doom" release, but is also responsible for many of the classic Century Media artworks by bands like MORGOTH, UNLEASHED, SAMAEL and GRAVE.

Read more at our friends at Blabbermouth












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album cover art, part two:

GOD SEED's 'Live At Wacken' To Be Released In January

GOD SEED's "Live At Wacken" DVD and CD will be released on January 27 in Europe and January 31 in North America via Indie Recordings.

The number of tracks on the "Live At Wacken" DVD was recently reduced to nine from the previously announced 13.

GOD SEED was the Norwegian band featuring former GORGOROTH members King (bass; real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and Gaahl (vocals; real name: Kristian Espedal).

"Live At Wacken" will include footage of the group's infamous live show from the 2008 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany where they performed on the main stage in front of 75,000 screaming fans.

Read more at our friends at Blabbermouth








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Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales - Week Ending 11/26/2011

Santa always takes care of The Beatles and Elvis during the holidays. But this week's list also has some odd treasures. The D A Hunt blues 78 topped the list back in August of '09 selling for over $10k. Mellow Candle and The Churchills are two psychedelic holy grails.




1. LP - The Beatles "Introducing The Beatles" VeeJay Adback - $5,000.00

2. 78 - D A Hunt "Greyhound Blues" / "Lonesome Old Jail" Sun 183 - $4,500.00

3. LP - Mellow Candle "Swaddling Songs" Deram UK Pressing - $3,194.70

4. 7" - Elvis Presley "Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part Of You" RCA Compact 33 Jukebox - $3,161.00

5. LP - The Churchills "self titled" Hed Arzi Israeli Pressing Promo - $3,000.00


More on this week's top 5 on Vinyl Record Talk, Tuesday 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific on Radio Dentata.











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FRESHMAN 15 Reveal New Album And Cover Art

Freshman 15 return with their brand new album 'Here’s To Feeling Good' on March 13th, 2012. The album is loaded full of tasty songs about embracing life and living in the the moment. This album takes a huge leap forward on all levels, showcasing the bands stronger musicianship and a bolder, more creative lyrical flair.

Freshman 15's “Here’s To Feeling Good” will be available on March 13th, 2012 on Standby Records. For more information on Freshman 15, visit them at www.facebook.com/freshman15rock, or on their label home at www.standbyrecords.net.






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GRIMEY'S BEST-SELLING VINYL 11/21 - 11/27, 2011

1. Wilco - Speak Into The Rose 10"
2. The Black Keys - Lonely Boy 12"
3. Ryan Adams - Do I Wait 7"
4. The Civil Wars - Tracks In The Snow 10"
5. Brendan Benson - Upstairs At United 12"
6. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Soul Time! LP
7. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic LP
8. Miles Davis - Prestige LP 161 10"
9. Phish - The White Tape LP
10. The Beatles - RSD 7" Box
11. Dr. Dog - Warrior Man 7"
12. Justin Townes Earle - Slippin' & Slidin' 7"
13. Bob Dylan - Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window 7" box
14. Tom Petty - Kiss My Amps Live LP
15. Amos Lee - Live At Grimey's 7"
16. Nirvana - Nevermind: The Singles 10" box
17. Pink Floyd - The Wall 7" box
18. The Grateful Dead - Europe '72 Vol. 2 LP
19. Guided By Voices - We Won't Apologize For The Human Race 7"
20. Phish - Party Time LP
21. The Byrds - Eight Miles High 7"
22. The Beach Boys - The SMiLE Sessions LP
23. John Lennon - Imagine: 40th Anniversary LP box set
24. Pinback - Information Retrieved A 7"
25. The Yardbirds - Ten Little Indians 7"
26. Silversun Pickups - Seasick 10"
27. Cory Chisel - Upstairs At United 12"
28. She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas LP
29. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow LP
30. Kings Of Leon - Early Albums LP box set
31. The Byrds - The Times They Are A-Changing 7"
32. Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel 7"
33. The Rolling Stones - Some Girls LP
34. Warren Haynes - River's Gonna Rise 12"
35. Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials LP
36. Syd Barrett - Mick Rock Tin 7"
37. Craig Finn - Honolulu Blues 7"
38. Nick Lowe - Go 'Way Hound Dog 7"
39. Pete Townshend - Quadrophenia Demos Vol. 1 10"
40. Iron & Wine - Morning Becomes Eclectic LP
41. Tom Waits - Bad As Me LP
42. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire LP
43. PUJOL - Nasty Brutish & Short 10"
44. The Doors - L.A. Woman 7" box set
45. Fear - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 7"
46. Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow LP
47. Chris Cornell - Songbook LP
48. Jimmy Cliff - Sacred Fire 12"
49. Mastodon - The Hunter LP
50. Wilco - The Whole Love LP

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and in music history for the day (november 30th):

In 1954, in New York City, Nat "King" Cole played the first of six nights at Harlem's Apollo Theatre.

In 1956, "Shake, Rattle & Rock!," starring (Mike) "Touch" Connors, Lisa Gaye, Sterling Holloway and Margaret Dumont, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters. Reflecting a real-life parental concern at the time, the plot involved adults trying to ban rock 'n' roll music in their town because they thought the music promoted juvenile delinquency. The movie included performances by Fats Domino (I'm In Love Again, Honey Chile, Ain't It A Shame) and Big Joe Turner (Feelin' Happy, Lipstick Powder & Paint).

In 1958, Coed Records released "16 Candles" by the Crests. The classic doo wop single would go on to reach number 2 on Billboard's Pop chart and number 4 on the R&B chart, and earned the New York quintet a Gold record. The original recording by the Crests features in the film American Graffiti (1973).



In 1959, in a Billboard magazine article, disc jockey Alan Freed said his career had gone "down the drain" due to the recent "payola" scandal. In their story, Billboard claimed the scandal "will substantially damage the careers of at least twenty-five DJs."

In 1963, 'With the Beatles,' the second album by the Fab Four, became the first million-selling album by a group in the UK.

Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" was released in 1968. Sly Stone wrote this about how everyone is essentially the same, regardless of race or background. Sly and the Family Stone was a mash up of musical styles with band members of different genders and ethnic backgrounds. Billy Preston played organ the recording.



In 1969, Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special, "Songs of America," aired on NBC, even though their sponsor, AT&T, had backed out when they learned that during the special the duo planned to show footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral march and clips of the Vietnam War.

Also in 1969, the Monkees made their final live appearance at a show in Oakland, California. Mike Nesmith announced plans for a new band, while Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz said they would continue to perform as the Monkees. It was fifteen years before the original four played together live again.

In 1972, Paul McCartney and Wings release "Hi, Hi, Hi" which is promptly banned from the BBC because of its "unsuitable lyrics." The song still managed to be a hit, reaching #5 in the UK and #10 in the US early the next year.

In 1977, on CBS-TV, David Bowie appeared on Bing Crosby's 42nd Christmas special, taped shortly before Crosby's death six weeks earlier. The two sang the medley "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy."

In 1979, Pink Floyd released the album "The Wall" in the UK. It was issued in the US a week later. It sold six million copies in the first two weeks of its release.

In 1982, after nearly eight months in production, Michael Jackson released the album 'Thriller.' Seven of the album's nine songs were issued as singles and all reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Recording sessions took place between April and November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a production budget of $750,000, assisted by producer Quincy Jones.

Thriller enabled Jackson to break down racial barriers via his appearances on MTV and meeting with President Ronald Reagan at the White House. The album was one of the first to use music videos as successful promotional tools—the videos for "Thriller", "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" all received regular rotation on MTV.

Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time, with 110 million copies sold worldwide, and is also tied for the best-selling album in the United States. The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards at the 1984 Grammys.

In 1988, LL Cool J performed the first rap concert held in Africa.

In 1996, novelty singer (Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me) Tiny Tim died after a heart attack at the age of 64.

In 1999, jazz guitarist (Desafinado w/ Stan Getz) Charlie Byrd died of lung cancer at the age of 74.

In 2000, Scott Smith, bassist for Loverboy, died at the age of 45 after a 26-foot wave swept him overboard in shark infested waters off the coast of San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. Loverboy reached the Billboard Top 40 ten times, including two Top 10 hits, "Almost Paradise" and "Lovin' Every Minute Of It".

In 2003, in New York, a block of East 2nd Street was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place.

In 2005, police were said to be investigating claims that Michael Jackson was trafficking drugs to feed his 40 pills-a-day habit. The singer was suspected of having antidepressants and painkillers flown from the U.S. to his current home in Bahrain.

In 2007, during a Christie's rock 'n' roll auction at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, a collection of 276 ticket stubs, saved by a rock journalist who covered many of the greatest rock concerts at New York City venues from the late 1960s to the 1990s, sold for $2,000.

birthdays today include (among others): Dick Clark (82), Frank Ifield (74), Leo Lyons (Ten Years After) (68), J.J. Barnes (68), Billy Idol (56), John Ashton (Psychedelic Furs) (54), John Moyer (Disturbed) (38) and Roger Glover (Deep Purple) (66)