Friday, July 26, 2013

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


 
from our friends at SoundStageDirect.com

This Week's Bestselling Vinyl Records at SoundStageDirect

1. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
2. Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue (On Sale)
3. MFSL Original Master Record Sleeves (50)
4. Stone Temple Pilots - Core (Clear Vinyl)
5. Miles Davis - Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud (On Sale)
6. Miles Davis - In A Silent Way
7. Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day (On Sale)
8. Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol 2 (On Sale)
9. Faith No More - Album Of The Year (Pre-Order)
10. Eagles - Hotel California


New Releases & Featured Vinyl Records
Rega RP40 Turntable (Pre-Order) by Rega Turntables
Holst The Planets by Zubin Mehta
The Great Divide by Von Freeman
Bruckner Symphony No. 7 by Herbert Von Karajan
Classic 3 (B-Stock) by VPI
Hard Bop by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Weezer (Green Album) by Weezer
4 by Foreigner
Aeroplane Flies High (Deluxe Edition) by Smashing Pumpkins

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from our friends at VinylCollective.com

Here is a small import vinyl update which includes newly added or updated releases as well as a few vinyl import pre orders.

New Vinyl Import Releases and Pre Orders
 


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new releases from our friends at MusicOnVinyl.com


James Taylor - JT

Recorded in 1977, James Taylor's first album for Columbia Records made a huge impact on the hit charts. The album itself peaked at number 4 of the Billboard 200, and the singles "Handy Man" and "Your Smiling Face" hit high on the charts as well.

JT meant a new direction for the Folk Pop singer, as he shows a newly found positive approach to his songwriting material. Gone were his 'rainy day man' sensitive croons, in comes this mainstream, sunny easy listening vibe. Taylor mixes his patented acoustic guitar-based Folk sound with elements of Rock, Blues and Country to great effect.

Just like the original European pressings, the album is packed in a gatefold sleeve and contains a lyric sheet. 180 gram audiophile vinyl




Byrds - Ballad Of Easy Rider

Having assembled a new line-up, Byrds front man Roger McQuinn hit the bull's eye with Ballad Of Easy Rider in 1969. Except for the title track, the album actually has little in common with the Hippie
movement-defining movie Easy Rider. However, the album profited from its association with the highly successful movie. 

Other great tracks are "Jesus Is Just Alright", the funky "Fido" and "Oil In My Lamp".  Regarded by many as one of the last great albums from the Byrds (which includes the equally fine Untitled Unissued  from 1970), Ballad Of Easy Rider is simply a must have for Byrds and Classic Rock fans alike. 180 gram audiophile vinyl




America - Homecoming

Just when America received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1973, they released their second album Homecoming to great critical and popular acclaim. The single "Ventura Highway" preceded the album and hit a Top Ten status. The album followed suit and stormed the Billboard Top Ten. Polishing their sound, they built further on the Folk Pop formula they invented on their debut America a year earlier.

Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley delivered a compelling and top quality set of songs, by many regarded as their best work. 180 gram audiophile vinyl




Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart

At just 22 years of age, Otis Redding showed incredible maturity in his distinctive gravelly voice that became the vocal benchmark of Soul music. His very first album Pain In My Heart (1964) contained his first hit from 1962, "These Arms Of Mine". His versatility shows in the diverse selection of material, like "The Dog" by Rufus Thomas, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke and "Lucille" by Little Richard.

Backing him up are the rhythm section from Stax house band Booker T. & The MG's and the horn players from The Mar-Keys. The album promised a wonderful career of Redding, which unfortunately would only last a mere 3 years after the release of Pain In My Heart. 180 gram audiophile vinyl




Grim Reaper - See You In Hell

The debut album from New Wave of British Heavy Metal stalwarts Grim Reaper was originally released in Europe in 1983, with the rest of the world following a year later. Despite being a perfect example of Heavy Metal clichés, See You In Hell sold around a quarter of a million copies, reaching #73 on the US Billboard Top 200.

Naturally, a band wearing leather and album artwork depicting 'satanic' imagery also received what is nowadays laughable allegations of demon-worship.  Sadly, we can assure you there are no hidden messages in this album if you play it backwards… For fans of NWOBHM, Motorhead, Saxon & Judas Priest.  180 gram audiophile vinyl




Billy Joel - Turnstiles

His fourth album Turnstiles (1976) marked Billy Joel's return to his hometown of New York, after his  previous two albums Piano Man [MOVLP521] and Streetlife Serenade [MOVLP412] were recorded in glitzy Los Angeles. Listening to Turnstiles it is clear that Joel felt right at home in the Big Apple (with "New York State Of Mind") whilst closing the chapter on his California days ("Say Goodbye To Hollywood").

With solid back up from his tried and true touring band, Turnstiles is an all-killer-no-filler set of eight songs pop classic.  From Sinatra to Springsteen, this Beatle-esque troubadour coasts along with a wide variety of Pop styles with the result truly Joel's own. 180 gram audiophile vinyl

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interesting perspective:

Record Sales Up, But Are People Not Listening To The Vinyl They’re Buying?




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cool article about an album cover artist and his work:

The Lasting Images of Cal Schenkel










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Beatles Revue Opens on Broadway - New production is a tribute rock concert, not play








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album cover art of the day:



RED FANG To Release 'Whales And Leeches' In October