Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


a wisconsin record store maintains the vinyl allure for many in the madison area:

B-Sides navigates tricky waters of music industry for 30 years

By Samuel Schmitt

In the era of digital downloads, instant file sharing and a slew of portable music players, it is a rare occurrence to stumble upon a store that is dedicated to selling tangible discs, especially of the vinyl variety.

B-Side Records, a locally-owned record store on State Street, has been around long enough to witness the evolution of several musical formats, with the store nearing its 30-year anniversary this coming October.

The name, B-Side, fits the nature of the store. For those born in the era of Walkmans and cassettes, or perhaps even after that, the B-side of a record refers to the opposite side of a vinyl, where songs that were less likely to be aired on the radio were placed.

In an email interview with The Badger Herald, owner Steve Manley explained how he got started in the business and how it has changed over the past decades.

Read the rest at badgerherald.com

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this segment from CBS news:

Best Vinyl Shops In San Francisco

Vinyl records may seem like something your grandparents used to have stacked in a corner. They are sure to conjure up memories of records that you weren’t allowed to touch due to the delicate nature of the record and outer artwork, however records aren’t just for old folks anymore—they’re making a comeback. There is no better city to visit when looking for the best selection of old and new vinyl records than San Francisco. The Bay City has always housed some of the best vinyls for decades, and with one of the widest selections when it comes to genres, you are bound to be amazed at what you can find

See the list of stores at sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com



Best Vinyl Shops In DC

In the age of illegal downloading and iTunes, locally owned and independent music stores are becoming increasingly hard to come by. Somehow, though, D.C. has been able to sustain some great family and locally owned businesses, and it is definitely not lacking in vinyl shops. When you’re itching to blast your favorite tunes at home and plugging in headphones just won’t do, stop by one of these vinyl shops in D.C. to pick up music how it was originally intended to be heard

See the list of stores at washington.cbslocal.com



Top Place To Find Vinyl Records In Philadelphia

For music fans with vintage souls who enjoy collecting music the “old school” way, Philadelphia is home to a number of record shops that have a large number of vinyl records. Dust off your parent’s record player and head to any of the following record stores spread out through the city. These top record stores have a wide selection of records featuring classic rock artists, doo wop, and R&B and even present musical artists.

See the list of stores at philadelphia.cbslocal.com

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Alive! Peter Frampton Talks Classic Album and His Lost Les Paul

Michael Leonard

By any standards, Peter Frampton had a remarkable 2011. The veteran English guitar star and songwriter played a Frampton Comes Alive! 35 tour to acclaim, revisiting the album that made his name globally for a record that remains one of the best-selling live albums ever. The iconic 3-pickup Gibson Les Paul Custom played on the album became famous in its own right. And, after it was presumed missing for 32 years, Frampton got his Comes Alive! Gibson Les Paul back in late 2011. In a bizarre tale, Peter explains all below.

2012 will see more Comes Alive! shows from Frampton, plus much playing and writing (already started) on THAT famous Gibson Les Paul…

Read the interview at Gibson

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Vinyl Record Buyers Guide Magazine Goes to Quarterly Distribution

Once a semi-annual release, the "Vinyl Record Buyers Guide Magazine" Magazine goes to quarterly distribution, after accessing 1-Million subscribers.

New York, NY, February 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The "Vinyl Record Buyers Guide Magazine," a valuable tool for consumers seeking to find local and regional and online vinyl record and CD related music retailers and associated audio equipment and software, has reached a historic level of 1-Million subscribers who have requested to receive information on music and entertainment oriented sources.

As a consequence, the magazine, once a semi-annual distribution, will begin to send out its pages quarterly, beginning March/April of this year.

Readers can use the publication's vinyl record retail and record label and related vinyl record equipment supplier directory to locate hard-to-find modern and collectible vinyl records and their associated devices, including turntable, stylus, pre-amp, microphone and other related item manufacturers.

In addition, the publication has increased its news article reporting on the vinyl record industry. The first quarterly edition to carry articles on Jack White's "Third Man Records" and its efforts to diminish lost revenues for its music artists who lose income to the hands of eBay LP "flippers," and a review of the "northern soul records" phenomena, where huge prices are being paid for obscure vinyl 45 rpm records, due to their association to UK dance clubs in the North of England during the 1960s.

The publication helps guide readers to find modern and collectible vinyl lp, vinyl 45, hip hop records, indy rock vinyl albums, classical music, record stores, beatles albums, country music, jazz music, folk music, r&b artists, blues music, rock n roll music, heavy metal, funk, pop music, and more.

The "Vinyl Record Buyers Guide Magazine" is distributed across the U.S.A. to readers free-of-charge. To sign up to receive the magazine, please visit the website associated with this press release, where a subscription form allows consumers to subscribe safely, and know that their information will not be shared with 3rd party businesses.

Visit their website HERE

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THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH Announce 'The End Is Where We Begin' Details; Release Planned For April 17th

TFK's 6th Studio Album!

FOUR TOP 25 ACTIVE ROCK HITS

NEW SONGS ALREADY PLACED ON ESPN, NASCAR, NCAA SPORTS AND MORE

"LET THE SPARKS FLY" NOW AT RADIO!

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to go back to the basics, taking all of the raw energy and emotion of the past and channeling it into the present. This is exactly what THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH is doing on the aptly titled ‘The End Is Where We Begin’, which also finds Canada’s favorite modern rockers voluntarily walking away from record label life all together (even after a slew of profitable offers came along) to reignite the passionate DIY work ethos that first emerged over a decade ago.

While waiting for inspiration to arrive and fuel the writing process, TFK’s songwriter and front man Travis McNevan popped in the band’s seminal debut ‘That’s What People Do,’ which echoed respected rappers like Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys, cross-pollinated with the rhythmic grooves of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Those inspirations return throughout ‘The End Is Where We Begin,’ alongside the group’s continuously marinating blend of towering choruses, razor-sharp rhythms, epic arrangements and stadium shaking rumbles.

“Without trying, this record has a very militant theme to it, with songs like ‘War Of Change’ and ‘Courtesy Call’ painting more of a visual for that,” states McNevan. “There's an urgency to it and I think the timing feels right. This record's heart can be summed up by ‘Be The Change,’ the album’s lyric and phrase seen throughout the album artwork.”

For those who’ve been following the Ontario-bred players since their formation in 1998, it’s been a continuously escalating highlight reel that includes best-selling albums, four top 25 Active Rock hits (including the top 20 smashs "Move" and “Fire It Up”), plus a slew of soundtrack slots. In fact, the group has literally infiltrated every facet of pop culture, from ongoing ESPN placements, to various NASCAR, MLB, NHL and NFL airings (including the 2010 Super Bowl), along with the “GI Joe” movie trailer, WGN-TV’s “Smallville” and EA Sports’ “NHL 2010” video game.

That trend is continuing at breakneck speed with the new project, which even prior to hitting streets, found the lead single “Let The Sparks Fly” and fellow adrenaline-infused rocker “Light Up the Sky” picked up by ESPN. Both tracks also serve as the ultimate tone setters for the sonic explosions contained within ‘The End Is Where We Begin,’ which could be considered the ultimate THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH mix-tape showcasing a myriad of full-throttled personalities.

THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH is also already on tour in support of the new album as part of the REDvolution Tour alongside Red, Manafest, Nine Lashes and Kiros.

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this from our friends at vinylcollective.com

Top 10 Albums – February 20, 2012

Here are the Top 10 Albums sold at Shop Radio Cast for the week of February 14 – February 20, 2012:

1. Blink 182 – Enema Of The State LP (Only 40 copies left!)
2. Blink 182 – Blink 182 2XLP
3. Blink 182 – Dude Ranch LP
4. Saves The Day – Daybreak LP (White)
5. Taking Back Sunday – Tell All Your Friends LP
6. Fun. – Some Nights LP
7. AFI – Black Sails In The Sunset LP
8. Joyce Manor – Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired LP
9. Lucero – Women & Work LP
10. Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror LP

Buy these releases and more at Shop Radio Cast

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album cover art of the day:

Unleashed Reveals Album Cover Art For New Release

Swedish death metallers Unleashed have recently revealed the album cover art and track list for the band's new LP called 'Odalheim,' which is schedlued for release on April 20, 2012 (Europe) and April 24, 2012 (North America) via Nuclear Blast.

Tracklist:
1. Fimbulwinter
2. Odalheim
3. White Christ
4. The Hour Of Defeat
5. Gathering The Battalions
6. Vinland
7. Rise Of The Maya Warriors
8. By Celtic And British Shores
9. The Soil Of Our Fathers
10. Germania
11. The Great Battle Of Odalheim






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ROB ZOMBIE And MEGADETH Announce Co-Headlining Tour 

Metal heavyweights ROB ZOMBIE and MEGADETH have just announced a co-headlining tour guaranteed to raise the temperature on the planet. The trek, which marks the first time the two bands have toured together, kicks off Friday, May 11 in Holmdel, New JerseyJ and encompasses high-profile appearances at several rock festivals, including M3 Rock Festival, Rock On The Range and wraps Saturday, May 26 at Rocklahoma. ROB ZOMBIE will headline Rocklahoma, co-headline Rock On The Range (with INCUBUS), and will close all shows on the MEGADETH dates. A complete list of dates is below.

Read more and get the tour dates at Blabbermouth

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CHICKENFOOT Announces 'Different Devil Tour'

CHICKENFOOT have set some dates for their "Different Devil Tour" in the spring. Supporting the band is BLACK STONE CHERRY.

Tour Dates:

May 04 - Lake Tahoe, NV @ Harrah's Hotel & Casino
May 05 - Lake Tahoe, NV @ Harrah's Hotel & Casino
May 09 - Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Aud.
May 11 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Brick
May 12 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater
May 14 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
May 16 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theater
May 18 - Atlantic City, NJ @ House Of Blues
May 19 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
May 21 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
May 23 - St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theater
May 25 - Thackerville, OK @ Winstar Casino
May 27 - Pryor, OK @ Catch the Fever Festival Grounds (Rocklahoma)
May 29 - Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
May 31 - Tucson, AZ @ Anselmo Valencia Amphetheater
Jun. 01 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
Jun. 03 - Portland, OR @ Schnitzer Hall
Jun. 05 - Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theater
Jun. 06 - Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater
Jun. 10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater

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Iron Maiden Announces "Maiden England" North American Tour

UK metal icons Iron Maiden have announced the "Maiden England Tour" in North America this summer. Up to July 21, 2012, the special guest act will be Alice Cooper and after July 21, 2012, the band will be Coheed & Cambria.

Vocalist Bruce Dickinson had the following comments on the tour:

"We have great fun playing the History of Maiden Tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. It’s always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original Seventh Son Tour re-visited - with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of Maiden England (shown below*), including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly! We can't wait to get started in Charlotte."





Tour dates so far:

MAIDEN ENGLAND 2012 TOUR DATES:
w/Alice Cooper:

21st June - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
23rd June - Atlanta, GA - Aarons Amphitheatre
26th June - Boston, MA - Comcast Center
27th June - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
29th June - Philadelphia, PI - Susquehanna Bank Center
30th June - Washington, DC - Jiffy Lube Live
2nd July - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
5th July - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank
8th July - Quebec, QC - Colisee Pepsi Arena
11th July - Montreal, QC - Bell Center
13th July - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
14th July - Sarnia, ON - Bayfest
16th July - Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
18th July - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Theatre
19th July - Indianapolis, IN - Klipsch Music Centre

MAIDEN ENGLAND 2012 TOUR DATES:
w/Coheed & Cambria:

24th July - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Center
26th July - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
27th July - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
29th July - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
30th July - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
1st August - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
3rd August - San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
6th August - Phoenix, AZ - Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
9th August - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
12th August - Albuquerque. NM - Hard Rock Pavilion
13th August - Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
15th August - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
17th August - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
18th August - Houston, TX - The Woodlands

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and in music history for february 21st:

In 1958, the first Flying V, by Gibson, was shipped from a factory in Kalamazoo, MI.

In 1964, a New York band called the Echoes recruited a young piano player named Billy Joel. The quartet would play cover songs under the names the Lost Souls, the Commandos and the Emerald Lords before Billy split two years later to join The Hassles. He would make his breakthrough in 1973 with "Piano Man".




In 1964, the Rolling Stones released the single "Not Fade Away" in the UK, two weeks before it was issued in North America.
The Rolling Stones version of "Not Fade Away" was one of their first classic hits. Recorded in late January 1964 and released by Decca on February 21, 1964, with "Little by Little" as the B-side, it was their first Top 5 hit in Great Britain, reaching #3. In March 1964 it was also the Rolling Stones' first single release in the United States, on the London Records label, with "I Wanna Be Your Man" as the B-side (briefly preceded by "Stoned", which had immediately been withdrawn). The single reached #48 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Not Fade Away" was not on the UK version of their debut album, The Rolling Stones, but was the opening track of the US version released a month later as England's Newest Hitmakers. It was a mainstay at Rolling Stones concerts in their early years, usually opening the shows. It was revived in that capacity for their 1994-95 Voodoo Lounge Tour. Ironically the Stones' version, unlike the original, chooses to fade-out on the "not fade away" lyric.



In 1966, Elvis Presley began filming "Spinout," co-starring Shelley Fabares, his 22nd movie.

In 1967, Elvis Presley recorded "Clambake," the title song of his 25th movie, which also co-starred Shelley Fabares.

Also in 1967, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles finished recording "Fixing A Hole." Initial tracks for the song had been recorded at Regent Sound Studio on February 9.

In 1970, Simon And Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" entered the UK album chart at number 1, where it would stay for 12 consecutive weeks. It would return to the top seven times, spending a total of 41 weeks there over the next two years. In the US, the LP spent 10 weeks at number 1 on the strength of three Top Ten singles and was the number 7 album of the decade in America.

Also in 1970, The Jackson 5 make their TV debut on American Bandstand where they sing "I Want You Back".

In 1975, John Lennon released the Phil Spector-produced album "Rock 'n' Roll" after a much shabbier version of the material called "Roots" began to be marketed on late-night television. "Roots" was music executive Morris Levy's version of the "oldies" sessions, which Lennon had been court-ordered to undertake as payment for appropriating a Chuck Berry lyric for the Beatles' "Come Together." Levy's copyright was judged to have been infringed by the line "Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly." "Rock 'n' Roll" was Lennon's last record before taking a five-year hiatus from the music business. In 2004, Yoko Ono supervised the remixing of "Rock 'n' Roll" for reissue, including four bonus tracks from the Spector sessions.



In 1980, Janet Vogel, who sang soprano for The Skyliners on their 1959, US number one hit, "Since I Don't Have You", committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. She was 37.

In 1981, Dolly Parton topped the Billboard Pop Chart with her own composition, "9 to 5". The record reached #47 in the UK.

In 1981, REO Speedwagon started a 15 week run at the top of the Billboard album chart with "Hi Infidelity".

In 1982, disc jockey, Murray "The K" Kaufman, died of cancer at the age of 60. Kaufman's influence on Rock and Roll and its audience led the Beatles to seek him out when they first came to America in 1964. Kaufman's friendship with the group gave him cause to start calling himself "The Fifth Beatle".

In 1987, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King topped the UK singles chart after it was featured in a movie by the same name. The song first became a hit in 1961.

In 1990, Milli Vanilli are awarded the Best New Artist Grammy. It would take until the following November for producer Frank Farian to confess that the duo of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus never actually sang a single note on their recordings, causing the award to be withdrawn.

In 2001, Johnny Cash is released from a Nashville hospital after recovering from pneumonia in time to accept his Grammy Award that night for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his cover of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man".

In 2007, after a Motown spokesman had said the film Dreamgirls had upset several of their artists who felt the label was falsely depicted in a negative light, Dreamworks, the makers of Oscar-nominated musical took out a full page ad in the movie trade papers The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety where they apologized to Motown Records, saying "Dreamgirls is a work of fiction. It is also an homage to Motown." Berry Gordy accepted the apology.

In 2008, a US music aficionado sold his collection of more than three million vinyl albums, singles and compact discs to an eBay buyer from Ireland for just over $3 million. An eBay spokeswoman said the sale is one of the highest ever for the online auction site.

In 2009, an exhibit of James Brown's personal belongings opened at South Carolina State University. The collection included photos, crystal-studded suits, and even the hair curlers Brown used to form his signature pompadour.

In 2011, the Cars announced that May 10th would be the release date for their first new album in 24 years.

In 2011, Boy George revealed a Culture Club 30th anniversary album and tour plans for 2012.

Aso in 2011, the Monkees announced their 45th anniversary tour featuring Mickey Dolenz, Davey Jones and Peter Tork.

birthdays today include (among others): David Geffin (69), Paul Newton (Uriah Heep) (64), Mary Chapin Carpenter (54), Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) (46) and Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) (63)