Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 9, 2012


DEAR JERRY: As a young girl, my folks gave me an album made so people could discover if they had any acting ability.

It came with an actual movie script, so I could deliver my lines while the record played the dialogue by the guest actor.

My album's guest star was Jimmy Rogers, but I don't recall anything about the scene he and I did together. Is he the only entertainer who made this type of recording?

My acting career began with that record some 50 years ago, and, unfortunately, ended about the same time. —Tiffany Shore, Pittsburgh


DEAR TIFFANY: I never got to hear your professional audition; however, you should have been a movie star just based on your snazzy name.

Jimmie Rodgers (note spelling) is just one of 15 celebrity co-stars featured on an LP in this series. Like Rodgers, each is ready to share a scene with anyone who plays the album and follows along with the script.

Titled “Co-Star (The Record Acting Game),” this atypical series was conceived by Ray Shaw, a well-known A&R (Artists & Repertoire) man; produced by the legendary Hugo (Peretti) & Luigi (Creatore); then released in mid-1958 on Roulette Records' new subsidiary, Co-Star Records.

Unlike most albums, available only from record retailers, the Co-Star series could also be found where toys and games were sold. They sold for $3.98, a top price for single-disc pop albums in 1958.

Now the 1958 issues are commonly found in the $25 to $50 range. Roulette reissued the complete series in 1977, and those are about half the price of the originals. Here is the complete Co-Star catalog, with featured guest actor and the program:

CS-101 Cesar Romero and You in scenes from: “Room of Life and Death”; “Part of the Job”; and “Hide and Seek”

CS-102 Fernando Lamas and You in scenes from: “The King and the Chorus Girl”

CS-103 Arlene Dahl and You in scenes from: “Casablanca”

CS-104 George Raft and You in scenes from: “They Drive By Night”

CS-105 June Havoc and You in scenes from: “Mamie”; “Prison Break”; and “The Importance of Being Earnest”

CS-106 Sir Cedric Hardwicke and You in scenes from: “Macbeth”; “Death Is Called Sam”; and “School for Scandal”

CS-107 Basil Rathbone and You in scenes from: “The Brothers Karamazov”

CS-108 Virginia Mayo and You in scenes from: “The Girl from Jones Beach”

CS-109 Tallulah Bankhead and You in scenes from: “Hedda Gabler”; “Mr. Chumley and the Giants”; and “Lady Windermere's Fan”

CS-110 Vincent Price and You in scenes from: “The Governor's Son”; “Long Engagement”; “An Enemy of the People”; “The Gambler”; “Love Affair”; “The Importance of Being Earnest”; and Marissa

CS-111 Paulette Goddard and You in scenes from: “Peyton Place”

CS-112 Don Ameche and You in scenes from: “Man in a Hurry”; “The Taming of the Shrew”; and “Press Room”

CS-113 Jimmie Rodgers and You in scenes from: “The Elopement” “Space Ship”; and “The Audition”

CS-114 Pearl Bailey and You in scenes from: “Dead Wrong”; “Country Girl”; and “City Hospital”

CS-115 “Slapsy” Maxie Rosenbloom and You in scenes from: “Romeo and Juliet”; “It Happened in Schenectady”; and “Please, the Lapels”

This format is identical to the many open-end interview records and tapes, frequently sent to dee jays. When properly presented, these give listeners the impression their local radio host is really talking to the celebrity.

Answers to assorted pre-determined questions are on the recording, and an accompanying script suggests the appropriate questions to lead into the reply. The record has enough dead air (silence) for the interviewer to phrase the question.

Here is a brief example of how this works:

Interviewer: The people here in (insert city) really go for your new record, (insert title). It's already one of our most requested tunes.

Recorded response by the “guest”: Thank you for saying that. We had a lot of fun recording it and it's great to know the folks here like it.

As for Jimmie Rodgers, he is far better known as a maker of hit songs than as an actor. But being Roulette's hottest recording artist in 1958 probably earned him a volume in the Co-Star series.

The same applies to Pearl Bailey, another singer in Roulette's stable at the time.

Unlike the other short stories in the series, those on the Rodgers and Bailey discs were originally written just for the Co-Star project.

IZ ZAT SO? Perhaps the Co-Star issue served Jimmie Rodgers well. Two years later, he nabbed the starring role in “The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come,” a 1961 release.

In addition to a couple more films, Jimmie twice had his own network TV variety show, in 1959 and again in 1969. One frequent guest on “The Jimmie Rodgers Show” (1959) was Connie Francis.



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 2012 Osborne Enterprises-

Reprinted By Exclusive Permission

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

RONNIE MONTROSE Death Ruled A Suicide

According to Guitar Player, a report by the San Mateo County Coroner's Office, released on April 6, confirms legendary guitarist Ronnie Montrose died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The toxicology report also showed his blood-alcohol level at 0.31% when he died — almost four times the legal limit in California. No evidence of other drugs was found in his system.

The Montrose family posted the following statement on RonnieMontrose.com:

"By now, the devastating truth of Ronnie's death is public knowledge. We hope you can understand why we wanted to keep this news a private family matter for as long as possible. We can only hope that you will choose to celebrate Ronnie's life, and what his music meant to you, rather than mourn his passing. Ronnie would have wanted it that way. He loved being a guitarist, a composer, a producer, and a creator of magic. He fully understood his gifts, and yet he constantly pushed himself to evolve, improve, and make better music. He did this for himself, and he did this for you, because he adored and appreciated his fans. Please keep his energy, his joy, and his love in your hearts."

Read more at Blabbermouth

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great review of new cc album

Adam Duritz Talks Counting Crows' Underwater Sunshine
By: Ryan | Source: Alternative Addiction

After seeing the announcement that the first Counting Crows album in over four years was a covers album, the reaction around the web was somewhat tempered. A covers album is something that mainstream rock acts are supposed to put out to bide time between records. It’s not something that a band with a ridiculous amount of credibility, like Counting Crows, would do.
Once people really went through the set list of what was included on the band’s new album, Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation), things clicked. This isn’t “The Joker” being covered for the ten thousandth time; these songs are Counting Crows recreations of great music that hasn’t been discovered by as many people as it should.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows explained in an interview with Alternative Addiction, the very simple reason why the band wanted to do a covers album instead of a traditional Counting Crows album.

Read more of the interview at alternativeaddiction.com

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Queen at Top of Britain's All-Time Top Selling Albums, Adele Continues to Climb

As part of the celebration of the Bank Holiday in the U.K. on Monday, BBC2 brought in legendary DJ Tony Blackburn to count down the forty biggest selling albums of all-time.

The chart, compiled by Britain's Official Chart Company, is topped by Queen's Greatest Hits, which has sold 5.8 million copies since its release in 1981. Second is the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with 5 million sold.

1. Greatest Hits - Queen
2. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Beatles
3. Gold - ABBA
4. (What's the Story) Morning Glory - Oasis
5. Thriller - Michael Jackson
6. 21 - Adele
7. Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
8. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
9. Bad - Michael Jackson
10.  Greatest Hits II - Queen

Read more and see the top 50 at our friends at VintageVinylNews.com

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Beach House Reveal Album Details
Dream-pop duo Beach House have recently revealed the release date, the album cover art and tracklist for their new album 'Bloom.'  The effort is scheduled for release on May 15, 2012 via Sub Pop.

The label also announced its release of the single “Lazuli” on a limited-edition blue vinyl 7” for Record Store Day on April 21, including the non-album b-side "Equal Mind."

Tracklist: 1 Myth
2 Wild
3 Lazuli
4 Other People
5 The Hours
6 Troublemaker
7 New Year
8 Wishes
9 On the Sea
10 Irene


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this from www.revelationrecords.com

Revelation Records Record Store Day Releases

Record Store Day is rapidly approaching (April 21) and once again Revelation is releasing some cool vinyl for the big event. Here's a bit of info on each record:

IGNITE Call On My Brothers LP (REV091)Originally released by Conversion Records in 1995 on CD/LP, Call On My Brothers became a modern day hardcore classic. The record went out of print when Conversion closed up shop a couple of years later. The album was out of print for two years and it was re-released by Revelation on CD in 2000. Now, Call On My Brothers is coming back to vinyl for the first time since 1995! 538 pressed on purple vinyl and only available from record stores on April 21st.

FARSIDE Rigged LP (REV033)Their incredible second LP. So Cal's finest in melodic punk. Great songs, incredible harmony, essential packaging. Possibly the greatest record ever and it's now available on vinyl again after being out of print for several years. 510 pressed on root beer colored vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

SENSE FIELD Killed For Less LP (REV032)The first full-length album from one of the most incredible bands out of Los Angeles. Fourteen songs that take music to new levels and incredible artwork by Gavin Oglesby. Like a lot of our titles from the '90s, this release has been out of print on vinyl for several years. Now is your chance to get it on vinyl again! 556 pressed on yellow vinyl for Record Store Day.

INTO ANOTHER Self Titled LP (REV024)Their first release. Metallic prog-core that set the wheels in motion for a band that even now – fifteen years later – is still ahead of their time. Like Sense Field and Farside, this album has been out of print for years. Now you can own it on green vinyl. 553 pressed for Record Store Day.

These releases will also be available from RevHQ.com on different colors soon. In fact, they're already available for preorder here. All releases include a free digital download of the record. We have more vinyl re-presses in the works. Details will be posted soon.

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Doctor Who Sound Effects LPs Reissued On Vinyl
Two 1970s sound effects LPs are to be re-released on vinyl for Record Store Day.  In a collaboration between audiobook publisher AudioGo and Discovery Records, two albums full of spacey genius from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop will be available on vinyl from 21 April, complete with original sleeve artwork and liner notes.

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from our friends at grimeys.com

GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 4/02 - 4/08, 2012

Vinyl Top 25:

1. The Vespers - The Fourth Wall
2. The Shins - Port Of Morrow
3. Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change The Way I Feel...
4. King Tuff - Wild Desire 7"
5. Black Mountain - Year Zero: The Original Soundtrack
6. Bear In Heaven - I Love You, It's Cool
7. The Black Keys - El Camino
8. White Fence - Family Perfume V. 1
9. Live At Glen Danzig's House 7"
10. Jack White - Sixteen Saltines 7"
11. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
12. Willis Earl Beal - Acousmatic Sorcery
13. Ty Segall / Feeling Of Love split 7"
14. Band Of Skulls - Sweet Sour
15. Quakers - Quakers
16. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls indie-only white label
17. Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action At A Distance
18. Of Monsters & Men - My Head Is An Animal
19. Farrar/James/Johnson/Parker - New Multitudes
20. M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
21. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
22. Radiohead - In Rainbows
23. Daniel Rossen - Silent Hour / Golden Mile
24. Screaming Females - Ugly
25. Dr. Dog - Be The Void