Apr 29, 2008
Story by: Michael Tedder
Dovecote Records recently opened one of the most exclusive music clubs around, and access is extremely limited. But to get in you don't need to know the right dress code or the door man, but it might help to bookmark their website and get a quicker modem speed. The New York-based label, home to artists such as Ed Harcourt and Mason Proper, recently launched their vinyl club with the release of a limited-edition two-song 7-inch from Cincinnati indie rockers Bad Veins, and has since put out releases by dance duo Blamma! Blamma! whom the label discovered through their MySpace page. The releases are sold directly, and exclusively, through Dovecote's site and limited to 500 copies.
"We love the format and want to keep it alive. For lots of these artists it makes sense," says Carter Matschullat, president and founder of Dovecote. "Blamma! Blamma! for example, create phatty-boom-batty dance tracks, but have yet to gain much exposure. A vinyl release is a credible introduction to their work and fans from around the world have been ordering their 12-inch. We've even been exporting to Japan and Europe from our small office. It's great fun."
Though the label also released the debut album by their own Mason Proper, There Is A Moth In Your Chest, on high-grade, 180-gram vinyl, one of the perks of their club is that it lets them work with artists outside of their usual roster.
"Vinyl rights are mostly ignored by labels so this club allows us to work with artists that may already be in the process of signing to other labels or haven't released anything on their own," Matschullat says, adding, "We produce limited quantities in hopes that once we run out, each release eventually becomes a rarity."
www.dovecoterecords.com
reprinted from: http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=64547423
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Vinyl records making a comeback
I enjoyed this article about the 'vinyl comeback' and I thought I would share it:
By Steve Adams
Reprinted by permission from The Patriot Ledger http://www.patriotledger.com/
Eclipsed by CDs and later by online music downloads, the vinyl album is experiencing a bit of a renaissance.
Some music stores are expanding their album sections to take advantage of rising sales. They’re tapping demand from audiophiles who swear by an LP’s sonic qualities, and members of the iPod generation who are discovering the novelty of records and turntables.
Year-to-date sales of vinyl albums are up 35 percent at the Newbury Comics chain, which has 27 stores in five states. The chain’s stores have been expanding shelf space for LPs, said Duncan Browne, chief operating officer of the Boston-based company.
“We only recently started concentrating on the category as something we ought to pour some gas on the fire for,” Browne said.
Newbury Comics first reintroduced vinyl around 2000 with a focus on 12-inch dance tracks, but scaled back because of weak demand. But after an increase in vinyl sales in 2007, the stores have expanded their record sections in recent months.
Vinyl selections at Newbury Comics are predominantly recent alternative rock releases by groups such as the Shins and time-tested classics such as “Led Zeppelin III.”
New releases are more likely to contain extra materials such as photographs, liner notes and bonus tracks.
The Dropkick Murphys’ latest album, “The Meanest of Times,” is available on vinyl in a “deluxe” two-disc set that includes two bonus tracks and a CD. It sells for $19.99 at Newbury Comics.
Boston alternative rockers Mission of Burma recently reissued three 1980s albums with bonus tracks. Like many new releases and reissues, the album is printed on 180-gram vinyl, which is thicker than the normal 140-gram vinyl used for albums and less likely to warp.
Planet Records has sold new and used LPs since 1983 at its original store in Kenmore Square and its current location in Harvard Square. Owner John Damroth said vinyl loyalists generated sufficient demand even as CDs and MP3 downloads became mainstream alternatives.
In the past year, however, Damroth has noticed a new kind of clientele showing enthusiasm for records.
“The people who seem to be coming to it now are a combination of late high school and college age people who got hip to it through their parents, and up into the 30-year-olds and older doing it from an audiophile perspective,” Damroth said.
Customers in their late 30s and up are the most likely to spend up to $35 for deluxe albums because they came of age listening to vinyl and miss the experience, said Richie Parsons, manager of Newbury Comics’ Braintree store.
One customer sold his turntable and most of his album collection last year.
“Six months later, he came in and said, ‘Why did I do it? The records sound so much better,’” Parsons said.
CD sales still dwarf those of records, with 990,000 new albums sold last year compared with 449.2 million new CDs, according to market researcher Nielsen SoundScan. But album sales did notch a 15 percent gain over the previous year.
Joseph Levy, founder of the Vinyl Tourist Web site, has tracked an influx of new record stores in cities like Montreal that have large student populations. Levy, who lives in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., posts store reviews on the site about vinyl-friendly cities such as Cambridge, which has a cluster of stores selling new and used records along Massachusetts Avenue.
“It’s undergone a resurgence in the last six years, mainly because of a lot of kids are discovering their parents record collections,” Levy said. “Maybe it’s just the novelty of having an album with artwork you can actually see.”
Vinyl buffs swear by the sound quality produced by records, describing it as warmer and more natural than CDs and MP3s. While digital recordings are made by encoding recordings into thousands of bits and reassembling them, vinyl recordings reproduce sound in a continuous wave format similar to how the human ear processes sound.
“There’s a natural tonality of instruments and voice (that is) more lifelike than any other format,” said Josh Bizar, director of sales for Music Direct. “There’s a warmth in the mid-range, and the high end sounds more natural and lifelike. The bass sounds like it does at a live performance.”
Chicago-based Music Direct has staked its fate on the resurgence of vinyl. Through a Web site and a retail store, it sells nearly 4,000 record titles.
Most of the sales are in the rock new releases category, which attracts the attention of the 16- to 27-year-old audience.
“They’re the group of people that are just now coming into analog, and that’s the most interesting part of this resurgence,” Bizar said.
Music Direct also sells nearly 100 turntable models ranging from $99 to $24,000. The newest twist in turntable technology suggests that vinyl enthusiasts can make accommodations with the digital era. Some models now come with built-in USB ports enabling listeners can upload albums to their MP3 players.
Reprinted by permission from The Patriot Ledger http://www.patriotledger.com/
By Steve Adams
Reprinted by permission from The Patriot Ledger http://www.patriotledger.com/
Eclipsed by CDs and later by online music downloads, the vinyl album is experiencing a bit of a renaissance.
Some music stores are expanding their album sections to take advantage of rising sales. They’re tapping demand from audiophiles who swear by an LP’s sonic qualities, and members of the iPod generation who are discovering the novelty of records and turntables.
Year-to-date sales of vinyl albums are up 35 percent at the Newbury Comics chain, which has 27 stores in five states. The chain’s stores have been expanding shelf space for LPs, said Duncan Browne, chief operating officer of the Boston-based company.
“We only recently started concentrating on the category as something we ought to pour some gas on the fire for,” Browne said.
Newbury Comics first reintroduced vinyl around 2000 with a focus on 12-inch dance tracks, but scaled back because of weak demand. But after an increase in vinyl sales in 2007, the stores have expanded their record sections in recent months.
Vinyl selections at Newbury Comics are predominantly recent alternative rock releases by groups such as the Shins and time-tested classics such as “Led Zeppelin III.”
New releases are more likely to contain extra materials such as photographs, liner notes and bonus tracks.
The Dropkick Murphys’ latest album, “The Meanest of Times,” is available on vinyl in a “deluxe” two-disc set that includes two bonus tracks and a CD. It sells for $19.99 at Newbury Comics.
Boston alternative rockers Mission of Burma recently reissued three 1980s albums with bonus tracks. Like many new releases and reissues, the album is printed on 180-gram vinyl, which is thicker than the normal 140-gram vinyl used for albums and less likely to warp.
Planet Records has sold new and used LPs since 1983 at its original store in Kenmore Square and its current location in Harvard Square. Owner John Damroth said vinyl loyalists generated sufficient demand even as CDs and MP3 downloads became mainstream alternatives.
In the past year, however, Damroth has noticed a new kind of clientele showing enthusiasm for records.
“The people who seem to be coming to it now are a combination of late high school and college age people who got hip to it through their parents, and up into the 30-year-olds and older doing it from an audiophile perspective,” Damroth said.
Customers in their late 30s and up are the most likely to spend up to $35 for deluxe albums because they came of age listening to vinyl and miss the experience, said Richie Parsons, manager of Newbury Comics’ Braintree store.
One customer sold his turntable and most of his album collection last year.
“Six months later, he came in and said, ‘Why did I do it? The records sound so much better,’” Parsons said.
CD sales still dwarf those of records, with 990,000 new albums sold last year compared with 449.2 million new CDs, according to market researcher Nielsen SoundScan. But album sales did notch a 15 percent gain over the previous year.
Joseph Levy, founder of the Vinyl Tourist Web site, has tracked an influx of new record stores in cities like Montreal that have large student populations. Levy, who lives in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., posts store reviews on the site about vinyl-friendly cities such as Cambridge, which has a cluster of stores selling new and used records along Massachusetts Avenue.
“It’s undergone a resurgence in the last six years, mainly because of a lot of kids are discovering their parents record collections,” Levy said. “Maybe it’s just the novelty of having an album with artwork you can actually see.”
Vinyl buffs swear by the sound quality produced by records, describing it as warmer and more natural than CDs and MP3s. While digital recordings are made by encoding recordings into thousands of bits and reassembling them, vinyl recordings reproduce sound in a continuous wave format similar to how the human ear processes sound.
“There’s a natural tonality of instruments and voice (that is) more lifelike than any other format,” said Josh Bizar, director of sales for Music Direct. “There’s a warmth in the mid-range, and the high end sounds more natural and lifelike. The bass sounds like it does at a live performance.”
Chicago-based Music Direct has staked its fate on the resurgence of vinyl. Through a Web site and a retail store, it sells nearly 4,000 record titles.
Most of the sales are in the rock new releases category, which attracts the attention of the 16- to 27-year-old audience.
“They’re the group of people that are just now coming into analog, and that’s the most interesting part of this resurgence,” Bizar said.
Music Direct also sells nearly 100 turntable models ranging from $99 to $24,000. The newest twist in turntable technology suggests that vinyl enthusiasts can make accommodations with the digital era. Some models now come with built-in USB ports enabling listeners can upload albums to their MP3 players.
Reprinted by permission from The Patriot Ledger http://www.patriotledger.com/
This Date In Music History- April 29
In 1966, Bob Dylan, backed by the Hawks (better known as The Band), performed in Stockholm, Sweden. Six more weeks of dates follow across Europe in what will come to be regarded as one of rock’s most historic tours.
Tommy James ("Hanky Panky") is 61.
April Stevens ("Deep Purple" with brother Nino Tempo) turns 72.
Carl Gardner of the Coasters ("Yakety Yak") is 80.
Beach Boy Brian Wilson's daughter, Carnie (of Wilson Phillips) was born in 1968.
Composer Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in 1899.
In 2003, ancient metal band Great White played their first gig since a fire at one of their Rhode Island shows killed 100 people. The concert is to establish a scholarship fund for the son of Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire.
Mick Ronson, genius guitarist and arranger for Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust phase, died of cancer in England in 1993. He also played on albums by Bob Dylan, Ian Hunter, Morrissey, and even John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane."
After suffering the indignity of having an album rejected by their label in 1975, the Bee Gees released their career renaissance Main Course, featuring the disco hits "Jive Talkin'" and "Nights on Broadway."
Skiffle hero Lonnie Donegan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1931. His biggest American hit was the 1956 No. 8 "Rock Island Line."
Songwriter and poet Rod McKuen was born in Oakland, CA in 1933. His more than 900 songs include Terry Jacks' 1974 No. 1 "Seasons in the Sun."
1980 - Black Sabbath began their first tour with Ronnie James Dio as singer.
In 1967,Aretha Franklin releases her interpretation of the Otis Redding song "Respect."
Otis Rush, one of the most intense and inventive guitarists of the post-War Chicago blues renaissance, was born in Philadelphia, Miss in 1934. Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, and Fleetwood Mac have covered his songs.
In 1970, George Harrison announced The Beatles will eventually reunite. He’s wrong about that one. George also discusses his plans for his first post-Beatles solo album, “All Things Must Pass.”
1976
Having already appeared on both the covers of Time and Newsweek, Bruce Springsteen jumps the fence at Graceland in an attempt to meet Elvis. Security guards catch him. Springsteen tells them who he is but the guards are unimpressed and escort “The Boss” off the premises without ever meeting “The King,” who wasn’t home at the time anyway.
In 1960, with the payola scandal still in the news, Dick Clark relinquished the rights to music publishing that he owned. The value of those rights, Clark indicated later, amounted to about $80 million.
In 1963, 19 year old Andrew Loog Oldham signed a contract with The Rolling Stones, becoming their manager. Oldham had seen the band in concert the previous day at the Crawdaddy Club in London.
Cindy Birdsong makes her stage debut with The Supremes at The Hollywood Bowl in 1967, replacing the increasingly unreliable Florence Ballard.
In 1972, New York Mayor John Lindsay intervened in the immigration proceedings against John Lennon. Lindsay called attempts by the US government to deport Lennon "a grave injustice in light of Lennon's unique contributions to music and art." Lennon was granted permanent resident status in the US in 1976.
Tommy James ("Hanky Panky") is 61.
April Stevens ("Deep Purple" with brother Nino Tempo) turns 72.
Carl Gardner of the Coasters ("Yakety Yak") is 80.
Beach Boy Brian Wilson's daughter, Carnie (of Wilson Phillips) was born in 1968.
Composer Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in 1899.
In 2003, ancient metal band Great White played their first gig since a fire at one of their Rhode Island shows killed 100 people. The concert is to establish a scholarship fund for the son of Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire.
Mick Ronson, genius guitarist and arranger for Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust phase, died of cancer in England in 1993. He also played on albums by Bob Dylan, Ian Hunter, Morrissey, and even John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane."
After suffering the indignity of having an album rejected by their label in 1975, the Bee Gees released their career renaissance Main Course, featuring the disco hits "Jive Talkin'" and "Nights on Broadway."
Skiffle hero Lonnie Donegan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1931. His biggest American hit was the 1956 No. 8 "Rock Island Line."
Songwriter and poet Rod McKuen was born in Oakland, CA in 1933. His more than 900 songs include Terry Jacks' 1974 No. 1 "Seasons in the Sun."
1980 - Black Sabbath began their first tour with Ronnie James Dio as singer.
In 1967,Aretha Franklin releases her interpretation of the Otis Redding song "Respect."
Otis Rush, one of the most intense and inventive guitarists of the post-War Chicago blues renaissance, was born in Philadelphia, Miss in 1934. Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, and Fleetwood Mac have covered his songs.
In 1970, George Harrison announced The Beatles will eventually reunite. He’s wrong about that one. George also discusses his plans for his first post-Beatles solo album, “All Things Must Pass.”
1976
Having already appeared on both the covers of Time and Newsweek, Bruce Springsteen jumps the fence at Graceland in an attempt to meet Elvis. Security guards catch him. Springsteen tells them who he is but the guards are unimpressed and escort “The Boss” off the premises without ever meeting “The King,” who wasn’t home at the time anyway.
In 1960, with the payola scandal still in the news, Dick Clark relinquished the rights to music publishing that he owned. The value of those rights, Clark indicated later, amounted to about $80 million.
In 1963, 19 year old Andrew Loog Oldham signed a contract with The Rolling Stones, becoming their manager. Oldham had seen the band in concert the previous day at the Crawdaddy Club in London.
Cindy Birdsong makes her stage debut with The Supremes at The Hollywood Bowl in 1967, replacing the increasingly unreliable Florence Ballard.
In 1972, New York Mayor John Lindsay intervened in the immigration proceedings against John Lennon. Lindsay called attempts by the US government to deport Lennon "a grave injustice in light of Lennon's unique contributions to music and art." Lennon was granted permanent resident status in the US in 1976.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Top 5 eBay Sales Vinyl Records
Week Ending 04/26/2008
1) LP - Bob Dylan "John Wesley Harding" Red Vinyl LP - $10,655.55
2) LP - The Bachs "Out of the Bachs" Private Press LP - $8,450.00
3) 12" - Madonna "Like A Virgin" alternative jacket hand crafted by Basquiat $8,100.00
4) LP - The Savages "Black Scorpio" INDIA Psych - $3,200.00
5) 45 - Nirvana "Love Buzz" Sub Pop - $2,950.00
1) LP - Bob Dylan "John Wesley Harding" Red Vinyl LP - $10,655.55
2) LP - The Bachs "Out of the Bachs" Private Press LP - $8,450.00
3) 12" - Madonna "Like A Virgin" alternative jacket hand crafted by Basquiat $8,100.00
4) LP - The Savages "Black Scorpio" INDIA Psych - $3,200.00
5) 45 - Nirvana "Love Buzz" Sub Pop - $2,950.00
RIAA Admits Vinyl Sales Are Climbing
(Updated)
By Eliot Van Buskirk April 28, 2008
Source: http://blog.wired.com
When I asked RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy last October whether the association was seeing a spike in vinyl record sales, he confounded my expectation. "Our numbers, at least, don't really point to a resurgence," he said.
Indeed, the '05 to '06 numbers showed a decline in vinyl sales, but the association's new numbers confirm what we were driving at: vinyl records made a major comeback last year.
According to the RIAA's recently-released 2007 sales report, the American music industry sold 36.6 percent more Extended Play (EP) and Long Play (LP) records than it had in the previous year, increasing vinyl sales revenue by 46.2 percent. CD unit sales, on the other hand, declined 11.7 percent with revenue dropping 20.5 percent during the same period.
I gathered plenty of evidence for this story, and all of it pointed to a vinyl resurgence, which is why the RIAA's response didn't seem to make much sense at the time. Now, it's clear that its numbers just hadn't caught up to the trend. With this report, the vinyl resurgence has been officially acknowledged by the RIAA.
By Eliot Van Buskirk April 28, 2008
Source: http://blog.wired.com
When I asked RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy last October whether the association was seeing a spike in vinyl record sales, he confounded my expectation. "Our numbers, at least, don't really point to a resurgence," he said.
Indeed, the '05 to '06 numbers showed a decline in vinyl sales, but the association's new numbers confirm what we were driving at: vinyl records made a major comeback last year.
According to the RIAA's recently-released 2007 sales report, the American music industry sold 36.6 percent more Extended Play (EP) and Long Play (LP) records than it had in the previous year, increasing vinyl sales revenue by 46.2 percent. CD unit sales, on the other hand, declined 11.7 percent with revenue dropping 20.5 percent during the same period.
I gathered plenty of evidence for this story, and all of it pointed to a vinyl resurgence, which is why the RIAA's response didn't seem to make much sense at the time. Now, it's clear that its numbers just hadn't caught up to the trend. With this report, the vinyl resurgence has been officially acknowledged by the RIAA.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
This Date In Music History- April 27
Casey Kasem ("American Top 40") and voice of Scooby Doo's Shaggy is 76.
Al Hirt ("Java") died of liver disease in 1999.
In 1976, David Bowie was detained on a train trip from Russia to Poland for having Nazi books (research for a project).
Nearly three years to the day after it opened, New York's Studio 54 disco closed in 1980.
At 15 years, 1 month and 13 days old, Little Peggy March became the youngest female singer to have a #1 record in the US when "I Will Follow Him" reached the top of the Billboard chart in 1963. Her producers stuck the "Little" to her stage name despite her strenuous objections.
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffered a brain hemorrhage after falling out of a palm tree on the island of Fiji in 2006. The Richards’ family were on vacation. Doctors say the rock warhorse will need an operation to drain his skull. Maybe it knocked some sense into him…or not.
Iggy Pop reunited with the Stooges for the first time in decades in 2003, on the closing night of California's Coachella Festival. Other performers include the White Stripes, the Hives, Primal Scream, Blur, Hot Hot Heat, the Libertines and Queens of the Stone Age.
Here’s a surprise- During Pink Floyd's five-night stand at the Los Angeles Arena in 1975, 511 audience members are busted for smoking marijuana.
Joe Cocker made his debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969.
In 1969, John Lennon's book In His Own Write was published in the U.S. Newsweek , who declared that the Beatles singer/guitarist is "an unlikely heir to the English tradition of literary nonsense."
Sheena Easton was born in Scotland in 1959. She shocked the world by turning from that nice girl who sang "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" to a Prince protegee who invited you inside her "Sugar Walls."
Ace Frehley was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1952. And his name isn't really Ace, it's Paul.
Ann Peebles, one of America's finest soul singers and the voice behind "I Can't Stand the Rain," was born in St. Louis in 1947.
Also in 1947, Badfinger's tragic songwriter Peter Ham was born in Swansea, Wales.
Cuba Gooding, lead singer with the Main Ingredient and dad of Cuba Gooding Jr., was born in New York in 1944.
The Fillmore club reopened in San Francisco in 1994.
Singer Kate Pierson (The B-52's) was born in Weehawken, NJ in 1948.
Members of Cheap Trick and the Allman Brothers Band initiate a class-action suit against Sony BMG in 2006, claiming that the music company hasn't paid them what’s due from digital-download sales. The action also includes ring tone sales. Cheap Trick and the Allmans ask for more than $25 million in damages.
Al Hirt ("Java") died of liver disease in 1999.
In 1976, David Bowie was detained on a train trip from Russia to Poland for having Nazi books (research for a project).
Nearly three years to the day after it opened, New York's Studio 54 disco closed in 1980.
At 15 years, 1 month and 13 days old, Little Peggy March became the youngest female singer to have a #1 record in the US when "I Will Follow Him" reached the top of the Billboard chart in 1963. Her producers stuck the "Little" to her stage name despite her strenuous objections.
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffered a brain hemorrhage after falling out of a palm tree on the island of Fiji in 2006. The Richards’ family were on vacation. Doctors say the rock warhorse will need an operation to drain his skull. Maybe it knocked some sense into him…or not.
Iggy Pop reunited with the Stooges for the first time in decades in 2003, on the closing night of California's Coachella Festival. Other performers include the White Stripes, the Hives, Primal Scream, Blur, Hot Hot Heat, the Libertines and Queens of the Stone Age.
Here’s a surprise- During Pink Floyd's five-night stand at the Los Angeles Arena in 1975, 511 audience members are busted for smoking marijuana.
Joe Cocker made his debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969.
In 1969, John Lennon's book In His Own Write was published in the U.S. Newsweek , who declared that the Beatles singer/guitarist is "an unlikely heir to the English tradition of literary nonsense."
Sheena Easton was born in Scotland in 1959. She shocked the world by turning from that nice girl who sang "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" to a Prince protegee who invited you inside her "Sugar Walls."
Ace Frehley was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1952. And his name isn't really Ace, it's Paul.
Ann Peebles, one of America's finest soul singers and the voice behind "I Can't Stand the Rain," was born in St. Louis in 1947.
Also in 1947, Badfinger's tragic songwriter Peter Ham was born in Swansea, Wales.
Cuba Gooding, lead singer with the Main Ingredient and dad of Cuba Gooding Jr., was born in New York in 1944.
The Fillmore club reopened in San Francisco in 1994.
Singer Kate Pierson (The B-52's) was born in Weehawken, NJ in 1948.
Members of Cheap Trick and the Allman Brothers Band initiate a class-action suit against Sony BMG in 2006, claiming that the music company hasn't paid them what’s due from digital-download sales. The action also includes ring tone sales. Cheap Trick and the Allmans ask for more than $25 million in damages.
Friday, April 25, 2008
This Date In Music History- April 25
Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA ("SOS") turns 63.
The late Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. in 1913. Her incredible interpretative ability makes her one of the most influential singers in America.
Songwriter Jerry Leiber (wrote "Hound Dog", "Stand By Me", "Charlie Brown" "Yakety Yak" and "Jailhouse Rock" and many other tunes with his partner, Mike Stoller) is 75.
Bobby "Boris" Pickett ("Monster Mash") died of leukemia in 2007.
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s bassist, Stu Cook, was born “down on the corner” in Stanton, CA. in 1945.
In 1999, "Joe DiMaggio Day" is held at New York's Yankee Stadium and Paul Simon sang "Mrs. Robinson" in his honor.
The Ramones' movie, "Rock & Roll High School" opened in 1979.
Blues guitarist Albert King was born in Indianola, Miss in 1923. Guitarists like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan have spent their lives searching for his unique expressive tone.
In 1964, the Beatles have an amazing 14 singles on the American chart.
Also in 1964, in England, Peter & Gordon take the Lennon/McCartney song "World Without Love" to the top of the singles chart, where it knocks off the Beatles' own "Can't Buy Me Love."
In 1974, Rolling Stone reported that concerts by Yes and Gregg Allman, were hit by streakers, no doubt inspired by Ray Stevens' No. 1 hit "The Streak." In a related story The Beach Boys are streaked by members of their own road crew, during a concert in 1974.
In 1977, Elvis Presley made his last-known recordings during a live concert at the Saginaw (Mich.) Civic Center. The tracks will turn up on the posthumous album Moody Blue.
In 1990, the Fender Stratocaster on which Jimi Hendrix played "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock sold at a London auction for $295,000.
The Beatles recorded "All You Need Is Love" during a British TV broadcast in 1967. Marianne Faithfull sang in the chorus.
1955- John Walker, the British delegate on the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs announced that there is a "definite connection between increased marijuana smoking and that form of entertainment known as bebop and rebop."
On this date in 1968, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed that listening on the job to Radio 1, the major Pop and Rock station of the BBC, made workers less productive. (maybe they were listening to bebop!)
Elvis Presley's first release since leaving the US Army, "Stuck On You" topped the Billboard chart in 1964. The record had been so highly anticipated, it sold over one million copies before it was even recorded. It reached #3 in the UK.
The Eagles performed their first reunion concert in 1994. Though having previously said it would never happen, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmitt, play for an invited audience at Warner Burbank (CA) Studios. The concert was taped and shown on MTV later in the year.
Bruce Springsteen's "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" was released in 2006. The album features 13 tracks associated with Folk singer Pete Seeger.
The late Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. in 1913. Her incredible interpretative ability makes her one of the most influential singers in America.
Songwriter Jerry Leiber (wrote "Hound Dog", "Stand By Me", "Charlie Brown" "Yakety Yak" and "Jailhouse Rock" and many other tunes with his partner, Mike Stoller) is 75.
Bobby "Boris" Pickett ("Monster Mash") died of leukemia in 2007.
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s bassist, Stu Cook, was born “down on the corner” in Stanton, CA. in 1945.
In 1999, "Joe DiMaggio Day" is held at New York's Yankee Stadium and Paul Simon sang "Mrs. Robinson" in his honor.
The Ramones' movie, "Rock & Roll High School" opened in 1979.
Blues guitarist Albert King was born in Indianola, Miss in 1923. Guitarists like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan have spent their lives searching for his unique expressive tone.
In 1964, the Beatles have an amazing 14 singles on the American chart.
Also in 1964, in England, Peter & Gordon take the Lennon/McCartney song "World Without Love" to the top of the singles chart, where it knocks off the Beatles' own "Can't Buy Me Love."
In 1974, Rolling Stone reported that concerts by Yes and Gregg Allman, were hit by streakers, no doubt inspired by Ray Stevens' No. 1 hit "The Streak." In a related story The Beach Boys are streaked by members of their own road crew, during a concert in 1974.
In 1977, Elvis Presley made his last-known recordings during a live concert at the Saginaw (Mich.) Civic Center. The tracks will turn up on the posthumous album Moody Blue.
In 1990, the Fender Stratocaster on which Jimi Hendrix played "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock sold at a London auction for $295,000.
The Beatles recorded "All You Need Is Love" during a British TV broadcast in 1967. Marianne Faithfull sang in the chorus.
1955- John Walker, the British delegate on the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs announced that there is a "definite connection between increased marijuana smoking and that form of entertainment known as bebop and rebop."
On this date in 1968, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed that listening on the job to Radio 1, the major Pop and Rock station of the BBC, made workers less productive. (maybe they were listening to bebop!)
Elvis Presley's first release since leaving the US Army, "Stuck On You" topped the Billboard chart in 1964. The record had been so highly anticipated, it sold over one million copies before it was even recorded. It reached #3 in the UK.
The Eagles performed their first reunion concert in 1994. Though having previously said it would never happen, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmitt, play for an invited audience at Warner Burbank (CA) Studios. The concert was taped and shown on MTV later in the year.
Bruce Springsteen's "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" was released in 2006. The album features 13 tracks associated with Folk singer Pete Seeger.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
This Date In Music History- April 23
In 1949, "Tell Me So," by the Orioles, entered the R&B chart. It will be their second #1 hit in less than a year.
'Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie Together in Concert,' a live collaboration between two generations of folk-music legends, was released in 1975. It will be followed by another, 'Precious Friends,' in 1982.
The late Roy Orbison ("Oh, Pretty Woman") was born in 1936. His haunting voice has graced some of the most extraordinary songs of the rock era, including the 1961 No. 1 "Running Scared."
The late Ray Peterson ("Tell Laura I Love Her") was born in 1935.
Peter Ham of Badfinger ("Baby Blue") committed suicide in London in 1975. He wrote the classic song "Without You" with 'finger bassist Tom Evans. Evans also took his life after becoming frustrated with his career.
Cass Elliot collapses before a scheduled performance on NBC-TV's "Tonight Show", 1974
In 1956, Elvis Presley, accompanied by Bill Black and Scotty Moore, made his Las Vegas debut at the New Frontier Hotel when he opened for the Freddie Martin Orchestra and comedian Shecky Greene. Despite having "Heartbreak Hotel" at the top of the charts, Elvis was not well-received by the middle-aged audience. Management of the Frontier was so unimpressed, they gave Elvis his walking papers after one week of a two-week engagement. Presley wouldn't play Las Vegas again for almost 13 years.
Jan & Dean recorded their No. 1 "Surf City" in 1963. Brian Wilson appears on backing vocals.
Bruce Springsteen defends the beleaguered Dixie Chicks in 2003, who suffered a backlash after criticizing George W. Bush. In a statement, he declared, "To me, they're terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech. For them to be banished wholesale from radio stations, and even entire radio networks, for speaking out is un-American."
Harold Arlen died at age 81 in 1986. The pianist wrote pop standards like "Get Happy," and "Stormy Weather" with lyricist Ted Koehler. He also penned the song "Over the Rainbow."
A song called "My Bonnie" by Tony Sheridan and The Beatles was released in America on the Decca label in 1962. It was the first commercial release anywhere in the world to carry The Beatles name. John Lennon would later say "It's just Tony Sheridan singing with us banging in the background. They're flogging it, but I wish they'd just shut up! It's terrible! It could be anybody." The mono 45 failed to chart on Billboard or Cashbox.
In 1960, in Caversham, England, a very young John Lennon and Paul McCartney performed together as the Nerk Twins.
In 1995, the Sunday Times of London reported that a Liverpool man, Peter Hodgson, had found a tape in his attic containing 16 of The Beatles' earliest recordings made in 1959. The session included "Hello Little Girl", a Lennon-McCartney composition that the Beatles never recorded commercially and Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So". The tape had been made on a reel-to-reel recorder that Hodgson's father had lent to Paul McCartney.
'Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie Together in Concert,' a live collaboration between two generations of folk-music legends, was released in 1975. It will be followed by another, 'Precious Friends,' in 1982.
The late Roy Orbison ("Oh, Pretty Woman") was born in 1936. His haunting voice has graced some of the most extraordinary songs of the rock era, including the 1961 No. 1 "Running Scared."
The late Ray Peterson ("Tell Laura I Love Her") was born in 1935.
Peter Ham of Badfinger ("Baby Blue") committed suicide in London in 1975. He wrote the classic song "Without You" with 'finger bassist Tom Evans. Evans also took his life after becoming frustrated with his career.
Cass Elliot collapses before a scheduled performance on NBC-TV's "Tonight Show", 1974
In 1956, Elvis Presley, accompanied by Bill Black and Scotty Moore, made his Las Vegas debut at the New Frontier Hotel when he opened for the Freddie Martin Orchestra and comedian Shecky Greene. Despite having "Heartbreak Hotel" at the top of the charts, Elvis was not well-received by the middle-aged audience. Management of the Frontier was so unimpressed, they gave Elvis his walking papers after one week of a two-week engagement. Presley wouldn't play Las Vegas again for almost 13 years.
Jan & Dean recorded their No. 1 "Surf City" in 1963. Brian Wilson appears on backing vocals.
Bruce Springsteen defends the beleaguered Dixie Chicks in 2003, who suffered a backlash after criticizing George W. Bush. In a statement, he declared, "To me, they're terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech. For them to be banished wholesale from radio stations, and even entire radio networks, for speaking out is un-American."
Harold Arlen died at age 81 in 1986. The pianist wrote pop standards like "Get Happy," and "Stormy Weather" with lyricist Ted Koehler. He also penned the song "Over the Rainbow."
A song called "My Bonnie" by Tony Sheridan and The Beatles was released in America on the Decca label in 1962. It was the first commercial release anywhere in the world to carry The Beatles name. John Lennon would later say "It's just Tony Sheridan singing with us banging in the background. They're flogging it, but I wish they'd just shut up! It's terrible! It could be anybody." The mono 45 failed to chart on Billboard or Cashbox.
In 1960, in Caversham, England, a very young John Lennon and Paul McCartney performed together as the Nerk Twins.
In 1995, the Sunday Times of London reported that a Liverpool man, Peter Hodgson, had found a tape in his attic containing 16 of The Beatles' earliest recordings made in 1959. The session included "Hello Little Girl", a Lennon-McCartney composition that the Beatles never recorded commercially and Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So". The tape had been made on a reel-to-reel recorder that Hodgson's father had lent to Paul McCartney.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Back to basics: A visit to vinyl
By Jim Downing, Musician and Writer
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Reprinted by permission from http://www.tulsatoday.com/
The counter-revolution has been on for some time now, as I’m shopping for a new cartridge for my turntable.
I’m not much of a casual music listener anymore; I don’t have an iPod and don’t particularly want one. I didn’t even use my Walkman very often. When I listen to something, I pay attention, and I want good sound.
You may disbelieve, but nothing sounds as good as a vinyl record. That’s not an opinion; it’s a fact. That’s why some records were cut direct-to-disk, bypassing analog tape with 1/8” track widths. By comparison, a cassette is just a little wider with four tracks on it, and those awful 8-track tapes had one-fourth of that track width.
Audio quality has gone steadily downhill since the ‘70s. Studios used tube amps until the manufacturers sold them a bill of goods that transistors were the way to go. The studios then bought tube pre-amps to regain some of the lost quality. With CDs, they lopped off the highs and lows and were able to get more than twice the time on one disk. MP3s subtract even more signal. We may be headed toward the tinny AM pocket radios of the fifties; why not – who cares?
On the other hand, you have the car stereos with grossly disproportionate low frequencies that amount to scrotal massage – nothing at all like music is supposed to sound.
Donald Fagen made the first digitally recorded hit album 25 years ago. He complained then about the dullness of the sound and digital’s deafness to nuance and dynamics. The good part is that there is no extraneous noise from tape hiss or a speck of dust in a groove.
The four-track that the Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ was recorded on was bigger than your dishwasher. They tediously spliced different tapes together with a razor blade and tape. Now you can put a decent four-track in a briefcase. That certainly makes it a lot easier to record a gig.
Digital recording has made many amazing things possible. One unit has so much RAM that you can record 256 tracks for 40 hours before dumping to a hard drive. There is even software that composes music. You can cut out one measure of a guitar lick and paste it into another spot. This would be like cutting windows in tapes: nearly impossible. You can alter the sounds into digital samples of other instruments, turn a wobbly drummer into a human clock and even make a tone-deaf banshee sing on pitch. In short, bad musicians can be made to sound almost talented. Is this a good idea?
These capabilities are wonderful and can be very useful. But a perfectionist can also get bogged down in the details and literally tweeze something to death, not to mention spend far too much time in the studio reinventing the wheel.
Artists and engineers are rebelling. One Los Angeles mixing engineer even wrote a hilarious book about a crappy band with a ridiculous budget that he was recording for a major label. He could make a bad band sound good even without using all the tricks he could have used, but why? It was an epiphany for him; he now produces music he actually cares about.
Some of the biggest names in music are returning to the old method: rehearse the songs and then go in and record them live, maybe overdubbing only the solos and vocal harmonies. After all, some of the biggest sounding records ever made were recorded on one track. The first Beatles tracks are just what they sounded like in the studio. Creativity, talent and passion cannot be synthesized and never will be.
A factory in Nashville still produces vinyl recordsMixing is an art in itself now, and good mixers command high salaries. That’s just the way it’s done. But, as one said, “We can give you all kinds of haircuts, but it won’t matter if you’re just ugly.”
I’m looking for a stereo tube amp, maybe even a Heathkit, to go with these nice Bozak speakers.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Reprinted by permission from http://www.tulsatoday.com/
The counter-revolution has been on for some time now, as I’m shopping for a new cartridge for my turntable.
I’m not much of a casual music listener anymore; I don’t have an iPod and don’t particularly want one. I didn’t even use my Walkman very often. When I listen to something, I pay attention, and I want good sound.
You may disbelieve, but nothing sounds as good as a vinyl record. That’s not an opinion; it’s a fact. That’s why some records were cut direct-to-disk, bypassing analog tape with 1/8” track widths. By comparison, a cassette is just a little wider with four tracks on it, and those awful 8-track tapes had one-fourth of that track width.
Audio quality has gone steadily downhill since the ‘70s. Studios used tube amps until the manufacturers sold them a bill of goods that transistors were the way to go. The studios then bought tube pre-amps to regain some of the lost quality. With CDs, they lopped off the highs and lows and were able to get more than twice the time on one disk. MP3s subtract even more signal. We may be headed toward the tinny AM pocket radios of the fifties; why not – who cares?
On the other hand, you have the car stereos with grossly disproportionate low frequencies that amount to scrotal massage – nothing at all like music is supposed to sound.
Donald Fagen made the first digitally recorded hit album 25 years ago. He complained then about the dullness of the sound and digital’s deafness to nuance and dynamics. The good part is that there is no extraneous noise from tape hiss or a speck of dust in a groove.
The four-track that the Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ was recorded on was bigger than your dishwasher. They tediously spliced different tapes together with a razor blade and tape. Now you can put a decent four-track in a briefcase. That certainly makes it a lot easier to record a gig.
Digital recording has made many amazing things possible. One unit has so much RAM that you can record 256 tracks for 40 hours before dumping to a hard drive. There is even software that composes music. You can cut out one measure of a guitar lick and paste it into another spot. This would be like cutting windows in tapes: nearly impossible. You can alter the sounds into digital samples of other instruments, turn a wobbly drummer into a human clock and even make a tone-deaf banshee sing on pitch. In short, bad musicians can be made to sound almost talented. Is this a good idea?
These capabilities are wonderful and can be very useful. But a perfectionist can also get bogged down in the details and literally tweeze something to death, not to mention spend far too much time in the studio reinventing the wheel.
Artists and engineers are rebelling. One Los Angeles mixing engineer even wrote a hilarious book about a crappy band with a ridiculous budget that he was recording for a major label. He could make a bad band sound good even without using all the tricks he could have used, but why? It was an epiphany for him; he now produces music he actually cares about.
Some of the biggest names in music are returning to the old method: rehearse the songs and then go in and record them live, maybe overdubbing only the solos and vocal harmonies. After all, some of the biggest sounding records ever made were recorded on one track. The first Beatles tracks are just what they sounded like in the studio. Creativity, talent and passion cannot be synthesized and never will be.
A factory in Nashville still produces vinyl recordsMixing is an art in itself now, and good mixers command high salaries. That’s just the way it’s done. But, as one said, “We can give you all kinds of haircuts, but it won’t matter if you’re just ugly.”
I’m looking for a stereo tube amp, maybe even a Heathkit, to go with these nice Bozak speakers.
Monthly Ebay Record Sales
April 2007 - March 2008
April 2007 / 45rpm - Rolling Stones "Street Fighting Man" Pulled 45 w picture sleeve - $15,200.00
May 2007 / LP - Mozart Oubradous Pathe Box Set - $11,300.00
June 2007 / LP - Beatles "White Album" #0000006 - $21,411.00
July 2007 / 45 - The Counts "Peaches Baby" / "My Only Love" - $6,776.00
August 2007 / LP - The Beatles White Album Acetate - $5,478.00
Sept 2007 / 45rpm - The Five Crowns "I Want You" / "Hillum Bay" De'Besth - $5,900.00
Oct 2007 / LP - Beatles - Yesterday and Today Butcher - $10,000.00
Nov 2007 / LP - Bach Cello Suites, Andre Levy Box Set - $20,000.00
Dec 2007 / LP - Mozart a Paris Oubradous Pathe 7 LP Box Set - $7,230.00
Jan 2008 / 45rpm - The Misfits "Horror Business" (Signed) - $14,301.38
Feb 2008 / 45rpm - Bruce Springsteen "Spirit In The Night" / "For You" Columbia - $5,100.00
March 2008 / 45rpm - The Limelights "Don't Leave Me Baby" / "(Time Has Passed) You Don't Love Me Anymore" Uncle - $6,889.10
April 2007 / 45rpm - Rolling Stones "Street Fighting Man" Pulled 45 w picture sleeve - $15,200.00
May 2007 / LP - Mozart Oubradous Pathe Box Set - $11,300.00
June 2007 / LP - Beatles "White Album" #0000006 - $21,411.00
July 2007 / 45 - The Counts "Peaches Baby" / "My Only Love" - $6,776.00
August 2007 / LP - The Beatles White Album Acetate - $5,478.00
Sept 2007 / 45rpm - The Five Crowns "I Want You" / "Hillum Bay" De'Besth - $5,900.00
Oct 2007 / LP - Beatles - Yesterday and Today Butcher - $10,000.00
Nov 2007 / LP - Bach Cello Suites, Andre Levy Box Set - $20,000.00
Dec 2007 / LP - Mozart a Paris Oubradous Pathe 7 LP Box Set - $7,230.00
Jan 2008 / 45rpm - The Misfits "Horror Business" (Signed) - $14,301.38
Feb 2008 / 45rpm - Bruce Springsteen "Spirit In The Night" / "For You" Columbia - $5,100.00
March 2008 / 45rpm - The Limelights "Don't Leave Me Baby" / "(Time Has Passed) You Don't Love Me Anymore" Uncle - $6,889.10
This Date In Music History- April 21
The Cure's Robert Smith was born in Sussex, England in 1959.
Guitarist Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies was born today in 1959.
Ernie Maresca ("Shout! Shout! Knock Yourself Out") turns 69.
In 2003, legendary vocalist/pianist Nina Simone died at age 70 at her home in France. Her biggest hit was the smoky "My Baby Just Cares For Me."
Elton John made his solo concert debut in 1970, opening for T. Rex in London, England.
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck and avid vinyl record collector was arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2001 after allegedly causing a drunken ruckus during a flight from Seattle to London. He was later found innocent of all charges.
In 1993, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann saved a young surfer from a California riptide.
Folk singer Sandy Denny died in 1978 at age 31 after falling down a flight of stairs. You can hear her on Led Zeppelin IV's "Battle of Nevermore" and with her band Fairport Convention on albums like 1969's Unhalfbricking.
In 1973, Alice Cooper had the #1 album in the US with "Billion Dollar Babies.” The LP also topped the chart in the UK.
Legendary Skatalites trombonist Don Drummond, who wrote and arranged hundreds of ska hits, died in Bellevue Hospital in New York in 1971. He had been committed to the institution after his girlfriend was found stabbed to death in his home in 1965.
In 1970, Chicago slide guitarist Earl Hooker died from tuberculosis at age 41.
In 1961, Folk singer Cisco Houston died of cancer in San Bernardino, Calif. The influential troubadour traveled America with Woody Guthrie and was Leadbelly's houseguest.
In 1960, Dick Clark admitted that he had a financial stake in more than a quarter of the records that were played on American Bandstand. The congressional committee investigating payola orders him to sell off several of his holdings.
1947- Rock's wondrous front man, Iggy Pop, was born today in Michigan as James Osterberg. He's led the wild and wildly influential band, The Stooges, and recorded a string of solo albums.
The Bihari brothers founded Modern Records in 1945. Over the years, the label will become an R&B powerhouse, releasing discs by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Etta James among others.
In 1963, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones met for the first time during a Stones performance at the Crawdaddy Club. 'We got all nervous', said Bill Wyman, “but then we had a chat with them afterwards and stayed up all night rapping and became really good mates.”
In 1969, Janis Joplin made her first London concert appearance at Royal Albert Hall, a performance considered by many to be one of the best of her career.
In 2000, Neal Matthews of the Jordanaires died of a heart attack. He sang back-up on Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" and also worked with Ricky Nelson, Marie Osmond, Tom Jones and Merle Haggard.
Guitarist Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies was born today in 1959.
Ernie Maresca ("Shout! Shout! Knock Yourself Out") turns 69.
In 2003, legendary vocalist/pianist Nina Simone died at age 70 at her home in France. Her biggest hit was the smoky "My Baby Just Cares For Me."
Elton John made his solo concert debut in 1970, opening for T. Rex in London, England.
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck and avid vinyl record collector was arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2001 after allegedly causing a drunken ruckus during a flight from Seattle to London. He was later found innocent of all charges.
In 1993, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann saved a young surfer from a California riptide.
Folk singer Sandy Denny died in 1978 at age 31 after falling down a flight of stairs. You can hear her on Led Zeppelin IV's "Battle of Nevermore" and with her band Fairport Convention on albums like 1969's Unhalfbricking.
In 1973, Alice Cooper had the #1 album in the US with "Billion Dollar Babies.” The LP also topped the chart in the UK.
Legendary Skatalites trombonist Don Drummond, who wrote and arranged hundreds of ska hits, died in Bellevue Hospital in New York in 1971. He had been committed to the institution after his girlfriend was found stabbed to death in his home in 1965.
In 1970, Chicago slide guitarist Earl Hooker died from tuberculosis at age 41.
In 1961, Folk singer Cisco Houston died of cancer in San Bernardino, Calif. The influential troubadour traveled America with Woody Guthrie and was Leadbelly's houseguest.
In 1960, Dick Clark admitted that he had a financial stake in more than a quarter of the records that were played on American Bandstand. The congressional committee investigating payola orders him to sell off several of his holdings.
1947- Rock's wondrous front man, Iggy Pop, was born today in Michigan as James Osterberg. He's led the wild and wildly influential band, The Stooges, and recorded a string of solo albums.
The Bihari brothers founded Modern Records in 1945. Over the years, the label will become an R&B powerhouse, releasing discs by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Etta James among others.
In 1963, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones met for the first time during a Stones performance at the Crawdaddy Club. 'We got all nervous', said Bill Wyman, “but then we had a chat with them afterwards and stayed up all night rapping and became really good mates.”
In 1969, Janis Joplin made her first London concert appearance at Royal Albert Hall, a performance considered by many to be one of the best of her career.
In 2000, Neal Matthews of the Jordanaires died of a heart attack. He sang back-up on Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" and also worked with Ricky Nelson, Marie Osmond, Tom Jones and Merle Haggard.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Record Store Day
I hope everyone had a chance to get out and visit their local record store yesterday (Saturday, April 19) and joined in the celebration of the first annual Record Store Day.
Nationally, hundreds of independent record stores celebrated the event with sidewalk sales, live music, refreshments, in-store specials and what I think is the best part of it all- actually using the 'old fashioned' way to obtain vinyl, by physically flipping through bins of records to add to a collection.
I made the forty-mile trek into the east side of Milwaukee to visit Atomic Records, who had a full day of events planned. Local bands were entertaining the crowded store while customers enthusiastically shopped for music.
What struck me the most were the people, all ages and races, happily celebrating this historic day. I saw many customers with their arms full of vinyl records, from the classic like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, to the obscure punk and alternative musical genres.
I spoke with Kevin, who had also made a long 'road trip' to get to Atomic Records.
"I do a lot of my vinyl shopping online nowadays because we don't have a record store close by, but I am here to lend my support," related Kevin. "Vinyl records are a part of the music culture and so are record stores, and this is a wonderful way to draw attention to the record stores that are still open."
Since 2003, over 3,100 record stores have shut down, making vinyl lovers have to scramble to find records. But there was something very special in the air on this springtime afternoon in Milwaukee. I can remember all the great times I had as a youth at Insound & Stereo in Indiana (where I used to obtain vinyl records), the people I met, the music I heard, why, even the smell of that old record store. I don't get back to Indiana much and I wonder if the store is even open anymore.
But, this Saturday afternoon, I would suppose there were a lot of memories made. I saw the excitement on people's faces, heard the laughter, listened in on some vinyl vs. CD debates and heard some fantastic local music, and, by the way, also added several nice gems to my own record collection. I can only hope that this celebration can be duplicated, it truly was a marvelous day.
Do you have any Record Store Day experiences? Please share them; we would love to hear your thoughts and comments!
Nationally, hundreds of independent record stores celebrated the event with sidewalk sales, live music, refreshments, in-store specials and what I think is the best part of it all- actually using the 'old fashioned' way to obtain vinyl, by physically flipping through bins of records to add to a collection.
I made the forty-mile trek into the east side of Milwaukee to visit Atomic Records, who had a full day of events planned. Local bands were entertaining the crowded store while customers enthusiastically shopped for music.
What struck me the most were the people, all ages and races, happily celebrating this historic day. I saw many customers with their arms full of vinyl records, from the classic like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, to the obscure punk and alternative musical genres.
I spoke with Kevin, who had also made a long 'road trip' to get to Atomic Records.
"I do a lot of my vinyl shopping online nowadays because we don't have a record store close by, but I am here to lend my support," related Kevin. "Vinyl records are a part of the music culture and so are record stores, and this is a wonderful way to draw attention to the record stores that are still open."
Since 2003, over 3,100 record stores have shut down, making vinyl lovers have to scramble to find records. But there was something very special in the air on this springtime afternoon in Milwaukee. I can remember all the great times I had as a youth at Insound & Stereo in Indiana (where I used to obtain vinyl records), the people I met, the music I heard, why, even the smell of that old record store. I don't get back to Indiana much and I wonder if the store is even open anymore.
But, this Saturday afternoon, I would suppose there were a lot of memories made. I saw the excitement on people's faces, heard the laughter, listened in on some vinyl vs. CD debates and heard some fantastic local music, and, by the way, also added several nice gems to my own record collection. I can only hope that this celebration can be duplicated, it truly was a marvelous day.
Do you have any Record Store Day experiences? Please share them; we would love to hear your thoughts and comments!
David Bowie to release 'Ziggy Stardust' live album
David Bowie will release a live album, 'David Bowie, Live Santa Monica '72' on June 30 on CD and double vinyl.
The album is a recording from Bowie's gig at the Los Angeles Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 20, 1972. The gig was part of Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' US tour.
In a statement to NME.COM, Bowie said of the recording: "I can tell that I'm totally into being Ziggy by this stage of our touring. It's no longer an act; I am him.
"This would be around the tenth American show for us and you can hear that we are all pretty high on ourselves. We train wreck a couple of things, I miss some words and sometimes you wouldn’t know that pianist Mike Garson was onstage with us but overall I really treasure this bootleg. Mick Ronson is at his blistering best."
The track-listing for 'David Bowie, Live Santa Monica '72':
'Introduction'
'Hang On To Yourself'
'Ziggy Stardust'
'Changes'
'The Supermen'
'Life On Mars?'
'Five Years'
'Space Oddity'
'Andy Warhol'
'My Death'
'The Width Of A Circle'
'Queen Bitch'
'Moonage Daydream'
'John, I'm Only Dancing'
'I'm Waiting For The Man'
'The Jean Genie'
'Suffragette City'
'Rock 'N' Roll Suicide'
The album is a recording from Bowie's gig at the Los Angeles Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 20, 1972. The gig was part of Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' US tour.
In a statement to NME.COM, Bowie said of the recording: "I can tell that I'm totally into being Ziggy by this stage of our touring. It's no longer an act; I am him.
"This would be around the tenth American show for us and you can hear that we are all pretty high on ourselves. We train wreck a couple of things, I miss some words and sometimes you wouldn’t know that pianist Mike Garson was onstage with us but overall I really treasure this bootleg. Mick Ronson is at his blistering best."
The track-listing for 'David Bowie, Live Santa Monica '72':
'Introduction'
'Hang On To Yourself'
'Ziggy Stardust'
'Changes'
'The Supermen'
'Life On Mars?'
'Five Years'
'Space Oddity'
'Andy Warhol'
'My Death'
'The Width Of A Circle'
'Queen Bitch'
'Moonage Daydream'
'John, I'm Only Dancing'
'I'm Waiting For The Man'
'The Jean Genie'
'Suffragette City'
'Rock 'N' Roll Suicide'
Saturday, April 19, 2008
This Date In Music History- April 19
Happy Record Store Day!!
In 2003, Madonna's Web site Madonna.com was hacked, with the hacker making her entire new album American Life available as free MP3 downloads.
Mark Volman (Flo of the Turtles-- "Happy Together") turns 61.
The late Bobby Russell (sang "Saturday Morning Confusion" and wrote songs like "Honey" and "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia") was born in 1941.
Jackie Wilson made his debut at the Copacabana in New York in 1962.
In 1993, saxophonist Steve Douglas, 55, died of heart failure while in a recording session with guitarist Ry Cooder. He played on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Be My Baby," produced by his school chum Phil Spector.
1980- Women hold the top five positions on the country music chart for the first time ever: Crystal Gayle heads the list, followed by Dottie West, Debby Boone, Emmylou Harris, and Tammy Wynette (with George Jones).
In 1968, John and George follow Paul and Ringo's lead and leave the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India, two weeks before their studies are complete. Lennon later wrote "Sexy Sadie" about the yogi's attraction to fellow acolyte Mia Farrow. All four Beatles will later renounce their association with the Maharishi.
Animal’s organist Alan Price was born in County Durham, England in 1941. In addition to being an early advocate of Randy Newman, Price had a solo career that included writing the songs for O Lucky Man!
1986 - Prince became only the 5th songwriter to have two top ten hits at the same time. The songs were "Kiss" (Prince and the Revolution) and "Manic Monday" (Bangles).
Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) was found dead in his apartment in 2002. Drug overdose is listed as the probable cause. Coroner says he may have been dead for up to two weeks before his body was discovered.
In 1958, a 13 year old British teen named Laurie London had the best selling song in the US with an up-tempo version of the gospel song "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands". Although the song was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, none of London's follow-up releases cracked the US top 100.
In 1965, the film T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show featuring the Rolling Stones, the Supremes, the Four Tops, James Brown, The Beach Boys and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles opened in London under the title Teenage Command Performance.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a European tour in 1982 after the success of their New York Central Park concert the year before. Tensions between the pair cause them to split again before they can tour the US and by the time the album they were working on came out 18 months later, all traces of Garfunkel's contributions had been electronically removed. Now that is payback.
Pete Seeger left the Weavers in 1959 after they record a commercial for Lucky Strikes cigarettes over his objections.
Today in 1980, the song "Call Me" by Blondie topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.
Also in 1980, Brian Johnson is now AC/DC’s new lead singer, replacing the deceased Bon Scott. “Back In Black” is the first album with Johnson.
In 2003, Madonna's Web site Madonna.com was hacked, with the hacker making her entire new album American Life available as free MP3 downloads.
Mark Volman (Flo of the Turtles-- "Happy Together") turns 61.
The late Bobby Russell (sang "Saturday Morning Confusion" and wrote songs like "Honey" and "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia") was born in 1941.
Jackie Wilson made his debut at the Copacabana in New York in 1962.
In 1993, saxophonist Steve Douglas, 55, died of heart failure while in a recording session with guitarist Ry Cooder. He played on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Be My Baby," produced by his school chum Phil Spector.
1980- Women hold the top five positions on the country music chart for the first time ever: Crystal Gayle heads the list, followed by Dottie West, Debby Boone, Emmylou Harris, and Tammy Wynette (with George Jones).
In 1968, John and George follow Paul and Ringo's lead and leave the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India, two weeks before their studies are complete. Lennon later wrote "Sexy Sadie" about the yogi's attraction to fellow acolyte Mia Farrow. All four Beatles will later renounce their association with the Maharishi.
Animal’s organist Alan Price was born in County Durham, England in 1941. In addition to being an early advocate of Randy Newman, Price had a solo career that included writing the songs for O Lucky Man!
1986 - Prince became only the 5th songwriter to have two top ten hits at the same time. The songs were "Kiss" (Prince and the Revolution) and "Manic Monday" (Bangles).
Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) was found dead in his apartment in 2002. Drug overdose is listed as the probable cause. Coroner says he may have been dead for up to two weeks before his body was discovered.
In 1958, a 13 year old British teen named Laurie London had the best selling song in the US with an up-tempo version of the gospel song "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands". Although the song was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, none of London's follow-up releases cracked the US top 100.
In 1965, the film T.A.M.I. (Teen-Age Music International) Show featuring the Rolling Stones, the Supremes, the Four Tops, James Brown, The Beach Boys and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles opened in London under the title Teenage Command Performance.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a European tour in 1982 after the success of their New York Central Park concert the year before. Tensions between the pair cause them to split again before they can tour the US and by the time the album they were working on came out 18 months later, all traces of Garfunkel's contributions had been electronically removed. Now that is payback.
Pete Seeger left the Weavers in 1959 after they record a commercial for Lucky Strikes cigarettes over his objections.
Today in 1980, the song "Call Me" by Blondie topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.
Also in 1980, Brian Johnson is now AC/DC’s new lead singer, replacing the deceased Bon Scott. “Back In Black” is the first album with Johnson.
Friday, April 18, 2008
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