Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

fantastic story of vinyl and family!

Rutledge: For 'the record' and Dad

By MARK RUTLEDGE, Guest Columnist

On New Year's Day I was crawling into the closet under my mother's staircase to reorganize her Christmas decorations when she pointed out a box that held my father's small collection of vinyl record albums.

"If you want to go through those old records, now's the time," Mom suggested.

Taped shut and shoved up under the lowest two steps was this family time capsule marked "Records." For nearly two decades, we had been stepping over the likes of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and "Ain't it funny how time slips away?"

Read the rest of this wonderful article at heraldtribune.com

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i like to present both sides to the arguement, he brings up some valid points, but he'll never convince me that CDs sound better than vinyl, read on:

Why CDs Sound Better Than Vinyl

by James Cruz

That’s a pretty bold statement, I know, and I can feel the collective shudder of the audio world, so I feel I should back it up by telling you a bit about myself. I’ve been a mastering engineer for 18 years. When I started, everything was on tape, digital workstations were new, and every project I worked on went to vinyl. I started at the Hit Factory, was a senior engineer for Sony Music, and now I own my own mastering lab, Zeitgeist Sound Studios in Long Island City. I’ve cut hip-hop singles for OutKast and The Wu-Tang, dance records for C&C Music Factory and Whitney Houston. I’ve cut rock records for Pearl Jam and Metallica. I’ve cut reissues for The Clash and Sly and the Family Stone. I've even done my share of classical records. It's an incredible process and it amazes me every time I do it.

Now to get into my original statement: “CDs sound better than vinyl." I say it for a couple of reasons. There are sonic limitations to vinyl that do not exist on CD. There are also degradation issues that exist on vinyl. The act of playing a record actually destroys it. The inverse is also true of CDs, but in a different way. That is what I would like to discuss.

Read the rest at rockedition.com

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Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales - Week Ending 01/07/2011

The withdrawn first Sex Pistols single tops the list this week, but selling at several thousand less than its usual closing price. The Elvis 7" is interesting; Compact 33 was an RCA label for jukebox vendors. Typically they were like an EP and had two cuts per side from whatever LP the artist had out at the time. This Elvis Compact 33 has one cut per side, like a regular 45. For only the second time in almost five years of keeping this list, there is a three-way tie. The #4 spot has a Butcher Cover, a rare jazz and a rare classical LP all selling for $2k. Finishing the list is a rare Northern Soul 45.



1. 45 - Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen" / "No Feeling" A&M AMS-7284 - $11,710.08

2. 7" - Elvis Presley "Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part Of You" Compact 33 Single - $4,995.00

3. LP - Bach Mozart "Violin Concerto" His Masters Voice ASD 429 W/G UK Pressing - $4,050.00

4. LP - The Beatles "Yesterday And Today" 3rd State Butcher Stereo - $2,000.00

4. LP - Kenny Dorham "Quiet Kenny" New Jazz 8225 - $2,000.00

4. LP - Beethoven "Symphony #9" Furtwangler Akkord D-010851 - $2,000.00

5. 45 - Mac Staten "There She Goes" / "Do The Freeze" Prelude - $1,951.00

Vinyl Record Talk is Live on Radio Dentata on Tuesday, January 10th 2012, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT

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this from our friends at vinylcollective.com

Pre Order Limited Colour Revolt EP

Colour Revolt's debut self-titled EP released in 2006 by Interscope imprint Tiny Evil is being released on Vinyl for the very first time. This is a special limited edition pressing of 1,000 on clear, 180-gram vinyl. The original release was praised by influential publications like Spin, Paste and Stereogum, and led to slots at Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza and tours with Manchester Orchestra and The Breeders. Still the best selling release of the band's history (and fan favorite), the release will coincide with select shows in which the band will play the EP in full.
Track Listing
Blood In Your Mouth
Matresses Underwater
A New Family
Our Homes Are Graves
Change Your Face Or Change Your Name
Circus

Buy it at shopradiocast.com

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KISS: Deluxe Edition Of 'Destroyer' Due Next Month

According to the official release schedule of Universal Music in Denmark, the deluxe 25th-anniversary edition of KISS' classic fourth album, 'Destroyer,' will be released in Europe on February 27 (one day later in North America). The two-disc set will feature remixes of the original LP by producer Bob Ezrin, outtakes from the 1976 album sessions as well as the LP's original cover art.











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love the show and sagal, but she'll always be peggy bundy to me!

Sons of Anarchy CD gives Katey Sagal music outlet

By John Carucci / Associated Press / January 10, 2012

NEW YORK—Somebody get Katey Sagal a record deal -- no really.

Although she's happy with her day job on the successful F/X series "Sons of Anarchy," in her heart, she's a singer -- and she gets a chance to show it as part of a new collection of songs from show's first four seasons.

"I love being an actor, but there's something about playing music that's a gift," the 57-year old Sagal admits.

In the past, Sagal recorded on Elektra and Casablanca Records. But times have changed in the music business for her, and she paid to record her last album. Sagal yearns to record again in a more traditional manner.

"I'm still old school. I have to go in the studio with a producer."

"Music From Sons of Anarchy: Season 1-4" features three songs by Sagal, and represents a return to her main love. Though Sagal gained her fame as an actress, her first big break in show business was in music.

Read the rest at boston.com

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The Shins - Simple Song

Preview the first taster of new album 'Port Of Morrow'.

The Shins have just revealed the first track from their new album 'Port of Morror'

Port of Morrow was recorded in Los Angeles and Portland over the course of 2011 with Mercer as usual handling all songwriting duties, lead vocals and the majority of instrumentation. The record was produced by Greg Kurstin and mixed by Rich Costey. The attached cover art was created by Jacob Escobedo.

The online shop at www.theshins.com is offering an exclusive limited edition lithograph along with physical versions of the album - all of which include an early download of Simple Song. The website is also offering the digital album as a standalone purchase and as a complimentary download with vinyl and reel-to-reel orders. Fans pre-ordering the digital album will receive the download of Simple Song, and iTunes pre-orders will also include the non-LP B-side Pariah King upon album release.




Tracklist:
1. The Rifle's Spiral
2. Simple Song
3. It's Only Life
4. No Way Down
5. September
6. Bait and Switch
7. Fall of '82
8. For A Fool
9. 40 Mark Strasse
10. Port of Morrow

Simple Song by theshins

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UMe Celebrates the New Year with a Fresh Batch from the Highly Successfull ICON Series Collections from Anthrax, Cinderella, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, BLACKstreet, Dru Hill and Ja Rule

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- On January 10, 2012, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) celebrates the New Year with the latest set of releases in their highly successful ICON Series. Among the latest batch of ICON collections are Anthrax - ICON, Cinderella - ICON, Deep Purple - ICON, Uriah Heep - ICON, BLACKstreet - ICON, Dru Hill - ICON and both explicit and edited versions of Ja Rule - ICON.

ANTHRAX - ICON

Heavy metal pioneers Anthrax not only helped to create but they helped define thrash metal in the early '80s. With a career that spans over 30 years, the band pushed the rigid boundaries of underground metal, blending many different styles and influences--including punk and rap--with current affairs and pop culture. Anthrax - ICON collects a wide array of songs showing the many facets of the band including "I Am The Law" (their tribute to comic book hero Judge Dredd), MTV staples "Indians" and "Antisocial," the fast and heavy "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)" and their cover version of "Bring The Noise" featuring Public Enemy.

Anthrax continue to record and tour, and recently took their rightful place on the historic The Big 4 tour alongside Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth as one of most influential American metal bands whose unique blend of metal, punk and rap helped shape metal as we know it today.

TRACK LISTING:
1) Madhouse              
2) A.I.R.                
3) Armed And Dangerous   
4) I Am The Law          
5) Indians               
6) Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
7) Antisocial
8) Got The Time

9) Belly Of The Beast
10) Bring The Noise

11) I'm The Man '91


CINDERELLA - ICON

Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Cinderella emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles. Their videos received heavy rotation on MTV and helped propel them to become one of the top bands of the era, making them a household name.

While Cinderella started with the glam metal movement, the band's hard rock/blues-rock core is where they continued to enjoy success into the new decade. This CD gives the perfect snapshot of the legacy of one of the biggest metal bands from that era and features some of the group's greatest hits, including "Shelter Me" which hit No. 5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and their top 10 single "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)." Other hits included are "Nobody's Fool" "Gypsy Road" and "The Last Mile."

Cinderella recently finished their 25th Anniversary Tour and will take part in the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2012.

TRACK LISTING:
1) Shake Me          
2) Gypsy Road        
3) Nobody's Fool     
4) Somebody Save Me  
5) The Last Mile     
6) Heartbreak Station
7) Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)
8) Shelter Me

9) The More Things Change
10) Bad Attitude Shuffle
11) Coming Home


DEEP PURPLE - ICON

Considered one of the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Deep Purple uniquely combined progressive rock, hard rock and classical elements, carving their niche in music with a sound all their own. Their 1969 debut album Shades Of Purple put them on the U.S. charts with the hit "Hush" and their 1971 release Fireball, along with their top 10 releases Machine Head (1972) and Burn (1974), helped cement their iconic status in the history of rock.

This compilation features many of Deep Purple's greatest hits including "Nobody's Home," "Knocking At Your Back Door" and "Call Of The Wild." Also included are live versions of classic Deep Purple tracks such as "Smoke On The Water," "Hush" and "Black Knight," highlighting the best of the Brit band's iconic sound.

TRACK LISTING:
1) Smoke On The Water [1987/Live In Oslo, Norway]     
2) Hush [Live Version]                                
3) Woman From Tokyo [Live (1987 / Irvine Meadows, CA)]
4) Knocking At Your Back Door [Album Version]         
5) Call Of The Wild
6) Perfect Strangers [Album Version]
7) Bad Attitude
8) Nobody's Home
9) Black Night [Live (1987 / Verona, Italy And Oslo, Norway)]
10) Child In Time [Live (1987 / Phoenix, AZ, and Oslo, Norway)]
11) Strange Kind Of Woman [Live]


URIAH HEEP - ICON

Uriah Heep remains one of British rocks most consistent and long-standing acts with a career spanning over four decades. Their uncompromising blend of progressive rock, and what would later be labeled heavy metal, made them one of the most popular hard rock outfits to come out of the '70s. With album sales over 30 million worldwide and classic rock anthems such as "Easy Livin'," this five-man British band (who took their name from a key character in a classic Charles Dickens's novel) carved a sizable niche in the annals of rock.

To this day, Uriah Heep continues to tour playing to millions of fans across the globe and performing many of the songs featured on this collection.

TRACK LISTING:
1) Easy Livin'  
2) July Morning 
3) Free Me      
4) Gypsy        
5) Wonderworld  
6) Lady in Black
7) Look At Yourself
8) The Wizard

9) Echoes In The Dark
10) Paradise / The Spell
11) Stealin'


BLACKSTREET - ICON

BLACKstreet is one of the most successful pop and R&B/hip-hop groups of the 1990s. Founded by new jack swing pioneer Teddy Riley after the breakup of his seminal trio Guy, BLACKstreet, also featuring Chauncey Hannibal, Levi Little and Dave Hollister, released their platinum-selling, self-titled debut album in 1994 and it immediately hit top 10. For their second release, 1996's Another Level, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams replaced Hollister and Little and it quickly became their breakthrough release reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200.

This collection features many of their chart-topping singles including the Grammy® Award-winning No. 1 hit "No Diggity" featuring Dr. Dre, "Don't Leave Me," "Joy" (which was co-written with Michael Jackson), "Booti Call," and "Fix" featuring Wu Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard.

TRACK LISTING:
1) No Diggity            
2) Booti Call            
3) Before I Let You Go
4) Joy                   
5) Tonight's The Night   
6) Never Gonna Let You Go
7) Don't Leave Me
8) I Can't Get You (Out Of My Mind)

9) Fix
10) Coming Home To You
11) The Lord Is Real (Time Will Reveal)



Dru Hill - ICON

R&B vocal group Dru Hill, a name derived from a park in an area where they grew up in Baltimore, first hit the charts in 1996 when their self-titled debut album hit No. 5 on the R&B Album chart. They continued to stay on the chart with 1998's double-platinum release Enter The Dru, hitting No. 2 on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B Album charts, followed by their 2002 release Dru World Order, which reached the No. 2 position on the R&B Album chart. Led by their charismatic blond-haired lead vocalist Mark Andrews, nicknamed "Sisqo," Dru Hill offered their own take on New Jack Swing blending in elements of hip-hop and combining their R&B and gospel-style singing which appealed to the masses and took them to the top of the charts.

Included on the disc are their No. 1 hits "How Deep Is Your Love" featuring Redman, "In My Bed" and "Never Make A Promise." Also included are "5 Steps," "You Are Everything," "I Should Be..." and the track "These Are The Times" which reached No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

TRACK LISTING:
1) In My Bed [Radio Edit]                
2) Never Make A Promise [Radio Edit]
3) How Deep Is Your Love [Single Version]
4) These Are The Times [Album Version]   
5) 5 Steps                               
6) I Should Be...[Radio Edit]
7) You Are Everything [Album Edit]
8) No Doubt (Work It) [Radio Edit]

9) I Love You [Radio Edit]
10) Beauty
11) Tell Me


JA RULE - ICON

The platinum-selling New York rapper Ja Rule began his career in the hip-hop group Cash Money Click and in 1994 became the flagship artist for Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. label. His hard-hitting 1999 debut album Venni Vetti Vecci hit No. 1 on the R&B Album chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200. For his next album, 2000's Rule 3:36, Ja Rule began to collaborate with R&B singers for a more radio-friendly formula, and as a result hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and R&B Album charts consecutively. On 2001's Pain Is Love he continued to use his successful rap/R&B template and once again shot to No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B Album charts. His 2002 release, The Last Temptation, peaked at No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart; Blood In My Eye reached No. 1 and R.U.L.E. went to the No. 3 position also on the R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart.

Released in both explicit and edited versions, this collection features Ja Rule's biggest hits, including the No. 1 smash "Always On Time" and the No. 2 charting "Mesmerize" (both featuring Ashanti); "Holla Holla" and "Wonderful," the latter featuring R. Kelly. Other tracks included are "Between Me & You," "Down A** B**ch" and "Livin' It Up," all showcasing why Ja Rule became one of the rap industry's most commercially successful artists during the early 2000s.

TRACK LISTING: ICON (EDITED)
1) Livin' It Up [Album Version (Edited)]
2) Put It On Me [Album Version (Edited)]
3) Wonderful [Album Version (Edited)]   
4) Mesmerize [Album Version (Edited)]   
5) Holla Holla [Album Version (Edited)] 
6) New York [Album Version (Edited)]
7) We Here Now [Album Version (Edited)]
8) Down A** B**ch [Album Version (Edited)]
9) Between Me & You [Album Version (Edited)]
10) Thug Lovin' [Radio Edit]
11) Always On Time [Album Version (Edited)]

TRACK LISTING: ICON (EXPLICIT)
1) Livin' It Up [Album Version (Explicit)]
2) Put It On Me [Album Version (Explicit)]
3) Wonderful [Album Version (Explicit)]
4) Mesmerize [Album Version (Explicit)]   
5) Holla Holla [Album Version (Explicit)] 
6) New York [Album Version (Explicit)]
7) We Here Now [Album Version (Explicit)]
8) Down A** B**ch [Album Version (Explicit)]
9) Between Me & You [Album Version]
10) Thug Lovin' [Album Version (Explicit)]

11) Always On Time [Album Version (Explicit)]

Universal Music Enterprises' ongoing and highly successful ICON series features greatest hits, signature songs and fan favorites from many of the most influential artists in music history. Each collection is specially priced offering unprecedented value for music fans.

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

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from redefinemag.com a really super look and summary of album cover art of 2011!!

2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Illustration, Painting & Drawing

Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork.

THE BREAKDOWN

12 Collage
+ 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design
+ 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing
+ 8 Black And White Photography
+ 22 Color Photography
+ 6 Deluxe Packaging
+ 10 Fashion, Sculpture, Installation
_____________________________
91 Album Covers For 2011

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and in music history for january 10th:

In 1949, RCA Victor announced the creation of a new record format logically nicknamed the "45," since the two-sided seven-inch vinyl discs were designed to play at 45-RPM. There are some contradictions as to when 45s actually started. 
(for more information go to history-of-rock.com  and let the discussion begin!)

In 1955, Alan Freed hosted his first New York stage show, featuring The Clovers, The Drifters and Fats Domino.

In 1956, Elvis Presley recorded his first songs as an RCA Victor artist in Nashville. Elvis recorded "Heartbreak Hotel," "I Was the One," "I’m Counting On You," "I Got a Woman" and "Money Honey." He was backed by a drummer, D.J. Fontana for the first time, in addition to guitarist Chet Atkins and piano player Floyd Cramer in an eight hour recording session.

In 1959, Jerry Lee Lewis has his only UK #1 single with "Great Balls Of Fire."

In 1964, the first US Beatles album, 'Introducing The Beatles,' was released on Vee-Jay records. The album cover showed John, Paul and George with their now famous "mop top" haircuts, but Ringo had yet to convert. Vee-Jay would be forced to stop selling the disc by the end of the year because of legal complications, but by then over 1.3 million copies had been sold.

Starting in the late 1960s and continuing through the 1990s,' Introducing The Beatles' was frequently counterfeited. These counterfeits can be identified by the cover printing and quality, the label, or the sound quality.

The counterfeits may have some differences from the commercial issue. For example, one common variation has the title of the album and the group's name separated by the center spindle hole, even though all variations legitimately released by Vee-Jay Records have both the title and the group's name above the hole.

On another counterfeit variation, dating from the late 1970s, George Harrison's shadow is not visible on the right side of the cover. However, all legitimate copies of the album and even most counterfeits include his shadow.

Nearly all fakes claim to be in stereo (though the actual sound of the record is often in mono). As legitimate stereo copies of Introducing... The Beatles are rare, the majority of copies with "stereo" or "stereophonic" printed on the cover are counterfeits

In 1964, in London, the Rolling Stones recorded Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away."



In 1969, frustrated at Paul McCartney's dominance during the filming of Let It Be, George Harrison nonchalantly tells the rest of the band that he is quitting immediately and sarcastically says as he walked out, "See you around the clubs." George would later say that while he had a growing backlog of new material, he constantly had to work on Lennon and McCartney's songs before the group would work on his. George was the second Beatle to quit; Ringo had left the group for a brief period a year earlier.

In 1976, the North American fascination with CB radios helped push C.W. McCall's truck driving song, "Convoy" to the top of the Billboard Pop chart. McCall, whose real name is William Dale Fries, Jr., used a pre-Rap vocal technique that wavers between singing and speaking called "sprechgesang" (German for spoken-song and spoken-voice). He would place three more songs on the Hot 100 and a dozen on the Country chart.

In 1976, Foghat's "Slow Ride" becomes the first of their five Billboard chart entries and the only one to crack the Top 20.

Also in 1976, 66 year old Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin' Wolf, passed away at the age of 66. Although he never gained mainstream popularity, the legendary American Blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at #51 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

In 1981, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy" LP goes Platinum a little over a month after Lennon's assassination. The album would be number one in the US for eight weeks.

In 1984, Cyndi Lauper became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to be nominated for five Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

In 2000, Melissa Etheridge announced that the father of her and Julie Cypher's children was David Crosby.

In 2003, a collection of 500 Beatles tapes known as the 'Get Back sessions', which were stolen in the 1970's, were found after UK police cracked a major bootleg operation in London and Amsterdam. Five men were arrested.

In 2006, the iTunes Music Store reached 850 million songs sold.

In 2007, the iTunes Music Store reached 2 billion songs sold.

In 2007, a fire razed the Clio, Michigan home of ? and The Mysterians leader Rudy Martinez, destroying all of his memorabilia. He did not have insurance on the house and was forced into living in a mobile home nearby.

In 2008, Rod Allen, the last remaining original member of The Fortunes, died of liver cancer at the age of 64. The band scored a trio of Billboard Top 40 hits, including "You've Got Your Troubles" in 1965 and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" in 1971.

birthdays today include (among others): Don Letts (Big Audio Dynamite) (56), Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets) (53), Matt Roberts (3 Doors Down) (34), Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) (64), Ronnie Hawkins (77), Scott McKenzie (73), Rod Stewart (67), Bob Lang (Mindbenders) (66), Michael Schenker (UFO, Scorpions) (57) and Pat Benatar (59)