Creedence Clearwater Revival - Suzie Q
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Top 20 Most Outrageous Heavy Metal Album Covers
Last week we looked at Gigwise.com's list of best & worst album covers for 2008. Switching gears a bit, let's look at www.spike.com's look at The Top 20 Most Outrageous Heavy Metal Album Covers. Actually, I think some of these are classic album covers, I love heavy metal covers! We will look at five a day, sometimes that's all a person can handle. Longtime readers of the blog will certainly recognize some of these classic album covers.
Heavy metal bands have always relied on their album covers. Most metal bands wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for their ridiculously awesome album art. But how did it go so wrong? When did bands start thinking it was okay to take their shirts off and pose as medieval warriors? Let's explore #5-#1 on the list:
5. Twisted Sister: Stay Hungry
4. Poison: Look What the Cat Dragged In
3. Manowar: Anthology
2. W.A.S.P: Animal (F*ck Like a Beast)
1. Cannibal Corpse: Wretched Spawn
Now, I have a some of my own, these are classic heavy metal covers: Anybody care to add to the list?
Angel Witch
Burning Point
Disturbed
Violence
Heavy metal bands have always relied on their album covers. Most metal bands wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for their ridiculously awesome album art. But how did it go so wrong? When did bands start thinking it was okay to take their shirts off and pose as medieval warriors? Let's explore #5-#1 on the list:
5. Twisted Sister: Stay Hungry
4. Poison: Look What the Cat Dragged In
3. Manowar: Anthology
2. W.A.S.P: Animal (F*ck Like a Beast)
1. Cannibal Corpse: Wretched Spawn
Now, I have a some of my own, these are classic heavy metal covers: Anybody care to add to the list?
Angel Witch
Burning Point
Disturbed
Violence
Music News & Notes
Reba Studio LP
Reba McEntire has returned to the studio to record her first solo album in over five years.
McEntire explained, "It’s not like I ever consciously decided to wait so long between studio albums. We just had these great opportunities along the way-to put out another Greatest Hits, plus the TV show was going on and then we did the Duets project. Before I knew it, six years had gone by."
=====================================
Saxophonist Newman Dies
Saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman passed away Tuesday from pancreatic cancer at the age of 75.
Newman not only recorded his own albums and played with a number of jazz greats, but also worked with Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, Aaron Neville and the Ray Charles Band among others.
=====================================
Neil Young News
Neil Young's The Archives Volume 1, 1963-1972 has been postponed once again until later in the year. He will be releasing the album Fork in the Road on March 31, but early reactions to the new songs have not been positive.
=====================================
Haggard Feeling Better
Merle Haggard has told People magazine that he's feeling better everyday and wants to get back to the studio and on the road. "I'm doing real well, a little better every day.....I'm going into the studio to see how my voice sounds.
"Most of the reports were like, 'He's got six months to live!' There was never any indication of that. I lost the upper lobe of my right lung where there was a tumor suspended like a fruit on a tree. But there was no chemo. I feel like I've extended my life. I'm in better shape than when I went in."
=====================================
Faces Reunion News
The U.K. paper The Sun reports that the reformed Faces have already recorded their first album in over thirty years. Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan and an unnamed bass player supposedly were inspired after a trip together to Costa Rica, Bermuda and Miami.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror tempers that a bit by saying that Stewart and Wood are done writing the songs for the album, which they completed in three days on that vacation. The Mirror also "confirms" that Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be the bass player.
=====================================
Falling For Obama
It's been reported that James Taylor was taken to the hospital and received fifty stitches after falling at a rehearsal for the Barack Obama concert last Sunday. A spokesperson for the singer said that he fell, cutting his forehead on a guitar, which would explain why he wore the hat and sunglasses when he performed.
=====================================
New Bowie Music
David Bowie announced that he was working on new music via a Twitter message. "Cheers from a snowy Berlin! Working on some new material!" Bowie has made three other albums in the German city (Low, Heroes, Lodger).
=====================================
Springsteen says music can influence society
Bruce Springsteen would like to think that music played a small part in helping Barack Obama become president.
Springsteen performed during the weekend inaugural festivities, and was a big Obama booster during the campaign.
He tells Rolling Stone magazine he doesn't think rockers have a whole lot of influence, but can create a vision of the world as it should be.
Bob Dylan's classic album "Highway 61 Revisited" did it for him, and Springsteen says he hopes that in some way, his music may have had the same effect.
Springsteen says the world he envisioned for years in his songs was realized when Obama was elected. Says the 59-year-old singer: "It's not just something I dreamed up. It can exist."
Reba McEntire has returned to the studio to record her first solo album in over five years.
McEntire explained, "It’s not like I ever consciously decided to wait so long between studio albums. We just had these great opportunities along the way-to put out another Greatest Hits, plus the TV show was going on and then we did the Duets project. Before I knew it, six years had gone by."
=====================================
Saxophonist Newman Dies
Saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman passed away Tuesday from pancreatic cancer at the age of 75.
Newman not only recorded his own albums and played with a number of jazz greats, but also worked with Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, Aaron Neville and the Ray Charles Band among others.
=====================================
Neil Young News
Neil Young's The Archives Volume 1, 1963-1972 has been postponed once again until later in the year. He will be releasing the album Fork in the Road on March 31, but early reactions to the new songs have not been positive.
=====================================
Haggard Feeling Better
Merle Haggard has told People magazine that he's feeling better everyday and wants to get back to the studio and on the road. "I'm doing real well, a little better every day.....I'm going into the studio to see how my voice sounds.
"Most of the reports were like, 'He's got six months to live!' There was never any indication of that. I lost the upper lobe of my right lung where there was a tumor suspended like a fruit on a tree. But there was no chemo. I feel like I've extended my life. I'm in better shape than when I went in."
=====================================
Faces Reunion News
The U.K. paper The Sun reports that the reformed Faces have already recorded their first album in over thirty years. Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan and an unnamed bass player supposedly were inspired after a trip together to Costa Rica, Bermuda and Miami.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror tempers that a bit by saying that Stewart and Wood are done writing the songs for the album, which they completed in three days on that vacation. The Mirror also "confirms" that Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be the bass player.
=====================================
Falling For Obama
It's been reported that James Taylor was taken to the hospital and received fifty stitches after falling at a rehearsal for the Barack Obama concert last Sunday. A spokesperson for the singer said that he fell, cutting his forehead on a guitar, which would explain why he wore the hat and sunglasses when he performed.
=====================================
New Bowie Music
David Bowie announced that he was working on new music via a Twitter message. "Cheers from a snowy Berlin! Working on some new material!" Bowie has made three other albums in the German city (Low, Heroes, Lodger).
=====================================
Springsteen says music can influence society
Bruce Springsteen would like to think that music played a small part in helping Barack Obama become president.
Springsteen performed during the weekend inaugural festivities, and was a big Obama booster during the campaign.
He tells Rolling Stone magazine he doesn't think rockers have a whole lot of influence, but can create a vision of the world as it should be.
Bob Dylan's classic album "Highway 61 Revisited" did it for him, and Springsteen says he hopes that in some way, his music may have had the same effect.
Springsteen says the world he envisioned for years in his songs was realized when Obama was elected. Says the 59-year-old singer: "It's not just something I dreamed up. It can exist."
Rock & Roll Tidbits
Before Glen Campbell had a successful solo career, he was a studio musician who played lead guitar on The Beach Boys' "Dance, Dance, Dance" and Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night".
David Rose, who led his orchestra to Billboard's number one position with "The Stripper" in July, 1962, was a prolific composer of television theme songs in the 1950s. At one point, there were 22 TV shows on the air using his music. He later went on to win Emmy Awards for the theme for "Bonanza", and "An Evening With Fred Astaire", as well as writing music for "Little House On The Prarie" and "Highway To Heaven".
Mr. Aker Bilk, who took "Stranger On The Shore" to Billboard's number one spot in May, 1962, learned to play the clarinet while he was in prison. He had been sentenced to three months in jail after falling asleep while on guard duty for the British Army in Egypt.
Elvis Presley was number 1 in record sales in the US in the 1950s. In the 1960s he was number 2 and in the 70s he was number 13.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were always on the look-out for interesting titles to write a song around. They did just that when a tired Ringo uttered "God, it's been a hard days night" and again when a chauffer told Paul, "I'm very busy at the moment. I've been working eight days a week."
Ellas Bates was still in grammar school when classmates started calling him "Bo Diddley". He says he doesn't know why. A bo diddley is actually a one-string, African guitar.
Songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant wrote "All I Have To Do Is Dream" in 15 minutes, but the tune would reach the US charts in four straight decades. The Everly Brothers took it to number one in 1958, Richard Chamberlain's version went to number 14 in 1963, Glen Campbell and Bobby Gentry reached number 27 with it in 1970, and Andy Gibb and Victoria Principal peaked at number 51 in 1981.
Dan Whitney, the comedian known as "Larry The Cable Guy" has been influenced by show business all his life. His father used to played guitar with the Everly Brothers.
Herman's Hermits recorded "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" as an album filler, never intending it for release as a single. After an American DJ started giving it airplay, MGM issued it as a 45 and it became the group's third Billboard number one hit in a row.
The first time that Del Shannon and his keyboard player, Max Crook, ever played "Runaway" on stage, Crook improvised the organ solo as he went along. When it came time to record the song and in all future performances, he never changed a single note.
John Fred and his Playboy Band hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in January, 1968 with "Judy In Disguise". At one time, John's father, Fred Gourrier was a professional baseball player.
Before Pete Townshend of the Who began working on the rock opera “Tommy,” he had planned to write an opera about a big white rabbit that ruled the world.
After The Tokens achieved a number one record with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961, follow up recordings failed to sell. The group however continued to perform and sang back up vocals for Connie Francis, Del Shannon and Bob Dylan, as well as recording commercials for Pan Am, Ban Deodorant, Wendys and Sunkist.
In the 1960s, during the height of Beatlemania, there were about 90 records released every week in the UK. Only 2 or 3 ever made the charts.
The Shirelles 1962, US Top 10 hit, "Baby, It's You" was actually recorded with only Shirley Alston Reeves' voice over the instrumental demo. The other members of the group don't appear on the record at all, as the original backup vocals, provided by male singers, were left in place.
It took Elvis Presley 31 takes of "Hound Dog" to get the final version that we hear today. In 1988, the song was named the most played record of all time on American juke boxes.
'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' by Wham! was inspired by a note that group member Andrew Ridgeley left lying in his bedroom.
Paul Evans, who sang the US Top Ten hits "Seven Little Girls" and "Happy-Go-Lucky Me", wrote the music for Bobby Vinton's hit, "Roses Are Red" in 3 minutes, just after seeing Al Byron's lyrics for the first time. After Vinton recorded it, the song went to #1 in the US and sold over 4 million copies.
Poor Ringo. In 1989, after becoming clean and sober, Starr sued to stop the release of an album that he had recorded during his drinking days, claiming he sounded too drunk. The court agreed and the album was never released.
Tommy James and the Shondells' "It's Only Love" album cover was the first professional photo shoot by Paul McCartney's wife, Linda Eastman.
Robert Todd Storz is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format. In the early 1950s, he noticed that people would play the same juke box selections over and over, and gradually converted his stable of radio stations from playing dramas and variety shows to an all-hits format. He dubbed the result "Top 40". Storz also pioneered the practice of surveying record stores to determine which singles were the most popular each week. Ironically, he died of a stroke in 1964, in his 40th year.
John Hall, co-founder of the Rock band Orleans, was elected to US Congress in November, 2006, representing New York's 19th congressional district. That's him you hear doing the slick guitar work on "Still The One" and "Dance With Me".
Before they formed The Lovin' Spoonful, John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky were in a group called The Mugwumps, whose other members included Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, who would rise to fame in The Mamas and The Papas.
David Rose, who led his orchestra to Billboard's number one position with "The Stripper" in July, 1962, was a prolific composer of television theme songs in the 1950s. At one point, there were 22 TV shows on the air using his music. He later went on to win Emmy Awards for the theme for "Bonanza", and "An Evening With Fred Astaire", as well as writing music for "Little House On The Prarie" and "Highway To Heaven".
Mr. Aker Bilk, who took "Stranger On The Shore" to Billboard's number one spot in May, 1962, learned to play the clarinet while he was in prison. He had been sentenced to three months in jail after falling asleep while on guard duty for the British Army in Egypt.
Elvis Presley was number 1 in record sales in the US in the 1950s. In the 1960s he was number 2 and in the 70s he was number 13.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were always on the look-out for interesting titles to write a song around. They did just that when a tired Ringo uttered "God, it's been a hard days night" and again when a chauffer told Paul, "I'm very busy at the moment. I've been working eight days a week."
Ellas Bates was still in grammar school when classmates started calling him "Bo Diddley". He says he doesn't know why. A bo diddley is actually a one-string, African guitar.
Songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant wrote "All I Have To Do Is Dream" in 15 minutes, but the tune would reach the US charts in four straight decades. The Everly Brothers took it to number one in 1958, Richard Chamberlain's version went to number 14 in 1963, Glen Campbell and Bobby Gentry reached number 27 with it in 1970, and Andy Gibb and Victoria Principal peaked at number 51 in 1981.
Dan Whitney, the comedian known as "Larry The Cable Guy" has been influenced by show business all his life. His father used to played guitar with the Everly Brothers.
Herman's Hermits recorded "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" as an album filler, never intending it for release as a single. After an American DJ started giving it airplay, MGM issued it as a 45 and it became the group's third Billboard number one hit in a row.
The first time that Del Shannon and his keyboard player, Max Crook, ever played "Runaway" on stage, Crook improvised the organ solo as he went along. When it came time to record the song and in all future performances, he never changed a single note.
John Fred and his Playboy Band hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in January, 1968 with "Judy In Disguise". At one time, John's father, Fred Gourrier was a professional baseball player.
Before Pete Townshend of the Who began working on the rock opera “Tommy,” he had planned to write an opera about a big white rabbit that ruled the world.
After The Tokens achieved a number one record with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961, follow up recordings failed to sell. The group however continued to perform and sang back up vocals for Connie Francis, Del Shannon and Bob Dylan, as well as recording commercials for Pan Am, Ban Deodorant, Wendys and Sunkist.
In the 1960s, during the height of Beatlemania, there were about 90 records released every week in the UK. Only 2 or 3 ever made the charts.
The Shirelles 1962, US Top 10 hit, "Baby, It's You" was actually recorded with only Shirley Alston Reeves' voice over the instrumental demo. The other members of the group don't appear on the record at all, as the original backup vocals, provided by male singers, were left in place.
It took Elvis Presley 31 takes of "Hound Dog" to get the final version that we hear today. In 1988, the song was named the most played record of all time on American juke boxes.
'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' by Wham! was inspired by a note that group member Andrew Ridgeley left lying in his bedroom.
Paul Evans, who sang the US Top Ten hits "Seven Little Girls" and "Happy-Go-Lucky Me", wrote the music for Bobby Vinton's hit, "Roses Are Red" in 3 minutes, just after seeing Al Byron's lyrics for the first time. After Vinton recorded it, the song went to #1 in the US and sold over 4 million copies.
Poor Ringo. In 1989, after becoming clean and sober, Starr sued to stop the release of an album that he had recorded during his drinking days, claiming he sounded too drunk. The court agreed and the album was never released.
Tommy James and the Shondells' "It's Only Love" album cover was the first professional photo shoot by Paul McCartney's wife, Linda Eastman.
Robert Todd Storz is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format. In the early 1950s, he noticed that people would play the same juke box selections over and over, and gradually converted his stable of radio stations from playing dramas and variety shows to an all-hits format. He dubbed the result "Top 40". Storz also pioneered the practice of surveying record stores to determine which singles were the most popular each week. Ironically, he died of a stroke in 1964, in his 40th year.
John Hall, co-founder of the Rock band Orleans, was elected to US Congress in November, 2006, representing New York's 19th congressional district. That's him you hear doing the slick guitar work on "Still The One" and "Dance With Me".
Before they formed The Lovin' Spoonful, John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky were in a group called The Mugwumps, whose other members included Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, who would rise to fame in The Mamas and The Papas.
Vinyl Collective Update
Here is the latest from my friend in vinyl, Virgil Dickerson. Head on over to the store and pick up some great collectibles!
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/vinylhome
Got in some great records including one that most of you should pick up, the Frank Turner/Jonah Matranga split 12?. We had a bunch of these ages ago and lost touch with the label that put it out. The 2 songs from Frank are great (1 is a cover) and I know some of you are into collecting his records. We got in 30, but those should move fast. We also got in some Loved Ones, Common Rider, Bouncing Souls, Dwarves, Mr T Experience, and more.
A WILHELM SCREAM “Career Suicide” LP blue vinyl
AS FRIENDS RUST “S/T” 8?
AUGUST BURNS RED “Messengers” LP white vinyl
BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE “Strictly Mixed And Mashed” dbl LP orange/yellow vinyl
BOUNCING SOULS “Maniacal Laughter” LP
BOUNCING SOULS/ ZERO ZERO “Tales of Doomed Romance” 7?
BRAID “Lucky To Be Alive” dbl LP grey vinyl
CHAMBERLAIN/ OLD PIKE split dbl 7?
COMMON RIDER “Last Wave Rocker” LP
DWARVES “Salt Lake City Go! /Kaotica 7?
DWARVES “That’s Rock n Roll” 7?
HEWHOCORRUPTS “Microeconomics” 7? yellow vinyl w/ pie chart
IN PIECES “Learning To Accept Silence” LP picture disc
J CHURCH/ THE PLUNGERS split 7?
JENA BERLIN “This Is Yours as Much as It Is Mine” 7? red vinyl
JONAH MATRANGA/ FRANK TURNER split LP gold vinyl
KEELHAUL “Subject To Change” LP yellow marble vinyl
LIMBECK “Hi, Everything’s Great” LP white vinyl
LOVED ONES “S/T” 10? clear w/ black and red splatter vinyl
MR. T EXPERIENCE “Love Is Dead” LP blue marble vinyl
MR. T EXPERIENCE “Making Things with Light” LP
SAMIAM “Don’t Break Me” LP 10? white vinyl
THE BRONX “Bats” LP
THE MIDDLE CLASS “Out of Vogue” 7?
THIS WILL DESTROY YOU “S/T” dbl LP 1 green 1 black vinyl
VIOLATION “Devoured” LP white vinyl
ANTI FLAG “A New Kind of Army” LP
ANTI FLAG “For Blood and Empire” picture disc LP
ANTI FLAG “Mobilize” LP
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE “Narrow Stairs” 180 gram LP
MAE SHI “Terrorbird” LP
MATES OF STATE “Re-arrange Us” LP
MEWITHOUTYOU “Brother, Sister” LP white vinyl
PINBACK “Blue Screen Life” dbl LP black vinyl
RA RA RIOT “The Rhumb Line” LP orange vinyl
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/vinylhome
Got in some great records including one that most of you should pick up, the Frank Turner/Jonah Matranga split 12?. We had a bunch of these ages ago and lost touch with the label that put it out. The 2 songs from Frank are great (1 is a cover) and I know some of you are into collecting his records. We got in 30, but those should move fast. We also got in some Loved Ones, Common Rider, Bouncing Souls, Dwarves, Mr T Experience, and more.
A WILHELM SCREAM “Career Suicide” LP blue vinyl
AS FRIENDS RUST “S/T” 8?
AUGUST BURNS RED “Messengers” LP white vinyl
BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE “Strictly Mixed And Mashed” dbl LP orange/yellow vinyl
BOUNCING SOULS “Maniacal Laughter” LP
BOUNCING SOULS/ ZERO ZERO “Tales of Doomed Romance” 7?
BRAID “Lucky To Be Alive” dbl LP grey vinyl
CHAMBERLAIN/ OLD PIKE split dbl 7?
COMMON RIDER “Last Wave Rocker” LP
DWARVES “Salt Lake City Go! /Kaotica 7?
DWARVES “That’s Rock n Roll” 7?
HEWHOCORRUPTS “Microeconomics” 7? yellow vinyl w/ pie chart
IN PIECES “Learning To Accept Silence” LP picture disc
J CHURCH/ THE PLUNGERS split 7?
JENA BERLIN “This Is Yours as Much as It Is Mine” 7? red vinyl
JONAH MATRANGA/ FRANK TURNER split LP gold vinyl
KEELHAUL “Subject To Change” LP yellow marble vinyl
LIMBECK “Hi, Everything’s Great” LP white vinyl
LOVED ONES “S/T” 10? clear w/ black and red splatter vinyl
MR. T EXPERIENCE “Love Is Dead” LP blue marble vinyl
MR. T EXPERIENCE “Making Things with Light” LP
SAMIAM “Don’t Break Me” LP 10? white vinyl
THE BRONX “Bats” LP
THE MIDDLE CLASS “Out of Vogue” 7?
THIS WILL DESTROY YOU “S/T” dbl LP 1 green 1 black vinyl
VIOLATION “Devoured” LP white vinyl
ANTI FLAG “A New Kind of Army” LP
ANTI FLAG “For Blood and Empire” picture disc LP
ANTI FLAG “Mobilize” LP
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE “Narrow Stairs” 180 gram LP
MAE SHI “Terrorbird” LP
MATES OF STATE “Re-arrange Us” LP
MEWITHOUTYOU “Brother, Sister” LP white vinyl
PINBACK “Blue Screen Life” dbl LP black vinyl
RA RA RIOT “The Rhumb Line” LP orange vinyl
This Date In Music History-January 22
Birthdays:
Malcolm Mclaren, manager of the Sex Pistols and solo artist (1947)
Steve Perry- Journey (1953)
DJ Jazzy Jeff (1965)
Steven Adler- Guns N' Roses (1965)
Teddy Gentry- Alabama (1952)
Meat Loaf (1946)
They Are Missed:
Born in 1931, Sam Cooke, US soul singer (died December 11, 1964).
Addie Harris, vocals, The Shirelles was born in 1940 (died June 10, 1982).
Steel guitarist Jimmy Day, who was in such demand in Nashville that he became known as "Mr. Country Soul," died in 1999 (age 65).
Born on this day in 1962 the late, Michael Hutchence of INXS.
History:
In 1968, the Beatles' business venture Apple Corps. opened its first London headquarters.
In 1991, twenty-three years after it was released in America, the LP "Elvis' Gold Records" was made available in China on cassette only.
In 1966, the Beach Boys went into the studio to record 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', which would be the opening track on their forthcoming album 'Pet Sounds.'
In 1967, the Monkees performed live for the very first time at The Cow Palace, San Francisco to a sell-out crowd.
In 2001, Santana started a three-week run at #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart with "Supernatural.” The album spent a total of nine weeks at the top during this year.
Don McLean's album 'American Pie' started a seven-week run at #1 in the US album chart in 1972.
Wings went to #1 on the US album chart in 1977 with 'Wings Over America', Paul McCartney's sixth US #1 after The Beatles.
In 1959, Buddy Holly was in the recording studio for the last time. He laid down tracks for "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Wait 'Til the Sun Shines Nellie", "Love Is Strange", "Dearest" and "Smokey Joe's Café". Alone with an acoustic guitar and tape recorder in his New York City apartment, he would make his last recordings, including "Peggy Sue Got Married", "Crying, Waiting, Hoping", "That's What They Say", "What To Do", "Learning The Game" and "That Makes It Tough". The recordings would be overdubbed posthumously and released by Coral Records.
Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy entered the Hot 100 in 1966 for the second time with what will be her biggest hit, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". The song would later go to #1 for one week and spend three and a half months on the chart.
In 1973, a band called Climax had the #3 song in the US with "Precious And Few.” The group's lead singer, Sonny Geraci, was the former vocalist of The Outsiders, who scored a US chart topper in January, 1966 with "Time Won't Let Me".
Peter Green, who had earlier left Fleetwood Mac, was institutionalized in 1977 after firing a pistol in the general direction of a delivery boy who was attempting to deliver a $30,000 royalty check. Green had renounced Rock and Roll in 1970 and didn't want the money. He later worked as a hospital porter and a gravedigger, but came back in 1979 to record "In the Skies,” which did manage some moderate success.
Gene Chandler made his TV debut on "American Bandstand" in 1962.
The Drifters recorded "On Broadway" in 1963.
Elvis Presley recorded "Bossa Nova Baby" in 1963.
L.L. Cool J's album "Mama Said Knock You Out" was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1991.
In 1980, this week's US Top 5 singles: #5, Rupert Holmes, 'Escape, (The Pina Colada Song)', #4, Smokey Robinson, 'Crusin', #3, Kenny Rogers, 'Coward Of The County', #2, Captain and Tennille, 'Do That To Me One More Time', and #1, Michael Jackson, 'Rock With You.'
The Beatles appeared on three UK radio programs in 1963. First The Beatles recorded a session for the show Pop Inn at the BBC Paris studio, they then went to the Playhouse Theatre also in London, to tape a radio appearance on Saturday Club, recording five songs. Then the Beatles went back to the BBC Paris studio to record an appearance on The Talent Spot recording ‘Please Please Me’, ‘Ask Me Why’ and ‘Some Other Guy’ before a live audience.
Malcolm Mclaren, manager of the Sex Pistols and solo artist (1947)
Steve Perry- Journey (1953)
DJ Jazzy Jeff (1965)
Steven Adler- Guns N' Roses (1965)
Teddy Gentry- Alabama (1952)
Meat Loaf (1946)
They Are Missed:
Born in 1931, Sam Cooke, US soul singer (died December 11, 1964).
Addie Harris, vocals, The Shirelles was born in 1940 (died June 10, 1982).
Steel guitarist Jimmy Day, who was in such demand in Nashville that he became known as "Mr. Country Soul," died in 1999 (age 65).
Born on this day in 1962 the late, Michael Hutchence of INXS.
History:
In 1968, the Beatles' business venture Apple Corps. opened its first London headquarters.
In 1991, twenty-three years after it was released in America, the LP "Elvis' Gold Records" was made available in China on cassette only.
In 1966, the Beach Boys went into the studio to record 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', which would be the opening track on their forthcoming album 'Pet Sounds.'
In 1967, the Monkees performed live for the very first time at The Cow Palace, San Francisco to a sell-out crowd.
In 2001, Santana started a three-week run at #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart with "Supernatural.” The album spent a total of nine weeks at the top during this year.
Don McLean's album 'American Pie' started a seven-week run at #1 in the US album chart in 1972.
Wings went to #1 on the US album chart in 1977 with 'Wings Over America', Paul McCartney's sixth US #1 after The Beatles.
In 1959, Buddy Holly was in the recording studio for the last time. He laid down tracks for "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Wait 'Til the Sun Shines Nellie", "Love Is Strange", "Dearest" and "Smokey Joe's Café". Alone with an acoustic guitar and tape recorder in his New York City apartment, he would make his last recordings, including "Peggy Sue Got Married", "Crying, Waiting, Hoping", "That's What They Say", "What To Do", "Learning The Game" and "That Makes It Tough". The recordings would be overdubbed posthumously and released by Coral Records.
Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy entered the Hot 100 in 1966 for the second time with what will be her biggest hit, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". The song would later go to #1 for one week and spend three and a half months on the chart.
In 1973, a band called Climax had the #3 song in the US with "Precious And Few.” The group's lead singer, Sonny Geraci, was the former vocalist of The Outsiders, who scored a US chart topper in January, 1966 with "Time Won't Let Me".
Peter Green, who had earlier left Fleetwood Mac, was institutionalized in 1977 after firing a pistol in the general direction of a delivery boy who was attempting to deliver a $30,000 royalty check. Green had renounced Rock and Roll in 1970 and didn't want the money. He later worked as a hospital porter and a gravedigger, but came back in 1979 to record "In the Skies,” which did manage some moderate success.
Gene Chandler made his TV debut on "American Bandstand" in 1962.
The Drifters recorded "On Broadway" in 1963.
Elvis Presley recorded "Bossa Nova Baby" in 1963.
L.L. Cool J's album "Mama Said Knock You Out" was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1991.
In 1980, this week's US Top 5 singles: #5, Rupert Holmes, 'Escape, (The Pina Colada Song)', #4, Smokey Robinson, 'Crusin', #3, Kenny Rogers, 'Coward Of The County', #2, Captain and Tennille, 'Do That To Me One More Time', and #1, Michael Jackson, 'Rock With You.'
The Beatles appeared on three UK radio programs in 1963. First The Beatles recorded a session for the show Pop Inn at the BBC Paris studio, they then went to the Playhouse Theatre also in London, to tape a radio appearance on Saturday Club, recording five songs. Then the Beatles went back to the BBC Paris studio to record an appearance on The Talent Spot recording ‘Please Please Me’, ‘Ask Me Why’ and ‘Some Other Guy’ before a live audience.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It’s a Vinyl World, After All
I want to thank John over at http://www.audaud.com/index.php for the exclusive rights to reprint this great review!
AUDIOPHILE AUDITION focuses on recordings of interest to audiophiles and collectors, with an accent on surround sound for music, and on all hi-res disc formats. Over 100SACD, DVD Video/Audio and standard CD reviews are published during each month, and our archives go back to January 2001.
It’s a Vinyl World, After All (2009)
Any audiophile into vinyl should have this DVD.
Published on January 20, 2009
It’s a Vinyl World, After All (2009)
Michael Fremer’s Guide to Record Manufacturing, Cleaning, Storage, Handling, & Collecting in the 21st Century
Studio: Music Angle
Video: 16:9 color
Audio: English DD 2.0
Extras: Interviews with two pressing plant managers - Pallas & RTI, More on two other record cleaning machines, Vintage turntables at a hi-fi show, Stills of Pallas plant tour, pdf information files, 2 AES white papers on analog playback
Length: 179:45 incl. extras
Rating: ****(*)
Michael Fremer is a contributing editor to Stereophile magazine and editor of his own web magazine, www.musicangle.com, the only publication dedicated solely to the vinyl format. He previously published a DVD which was a guide to the complexities of turntable setup to properly play back vinyl. Fremer’s stimulus for the production of this DVD was the explosion of re-interest in the hoary long-play record, shown by major sales increases as more and more young people come to appreciate the better sound of vinyl vs. both MP3 downloads and standard compact discs. He has been a longtime proponent of the advantages of the vinyl format in spite of the ascendancy of the digital CD, but all the major labels ceased issuing LPs, and it looked for many years like the format was becoming as obsolete as 8-track or cassettes. In the last couple years that has all changed, with major labels returning to LP releases, reissues of some of the best rock, jazz and classical albums, and specialist audiophile reissue labels expanding their catalogs to include premium 180 and 200-gram pressings, 45 rpm pressings, and even pressing on only one side (to avoid problems caused by grooves on the reverse side). The majority of sales are in reissues of classic albums in the rock and blues genres.
Most audiophiles have read about the record pressing procedure or seen still photos of it, but Michael’s visits to the two pressing plants will be a treat since it shows exactly the many detailed steps involved in the process. The vinyl audiophile will be more understanding of the pricing of $30 to $50 for many of these discs when he sees what is involved and how many discs are immediately trashed because they have various flaws. It is of concern to hear that no new pressing equipment for LPs has been made for 20 years! He also looks in on a lacquer mastering session at AcousTech with Steve Hoffman, Joe Harley and others making aural decisions on how best to remaster a classic Van Gelder Blue Note 15 ips master tape for a 45 rpm vinyl reissue.
The demonstration portions of the lengthy DVD have Michael explaining how to properly store, handle and clean your records. He demonstrates the whole cleaning process using the two most popular record cleaning machines, with many different cleaning and preservation fluids and brushes, and stresses that even brand new LPs should be cleaned to remove artifacts from the pressing process. I’ve had just as lengthy an experience with vinyl as Michael, yet I picked up a couple pointers from the DVD - such as the importance of having a clean plastic or paper cover on the record cleaning machine platter so that you are not putting the LP surface you just cleaned down against a dirty platter. And also to frequently vacuum the platter (as well as your turntable platter).
Michael also demonstrates some of his other vinyl gadgets, including a horrendously expensive demagnetizer which works due to the subtle iron content in the lampblack used to color the clear vinyl. However, he doesn’t mention the effort to press premium audiophile LPs out of clear vinyl without the addition of the lampblack, which is said to result in the same enhancement of the sonics. He tends to ad lib his spiels, and I get a kick out of the occasional text corrections with illustrations that are superimposed on the screen to correct errors he made. The sampling of his LP collection and the stories associated with each album were fun viewing. There were also a few navigational errors on this initial DVD pressings - such as the soundtrack being muted for several seconds as each chapter begins - but Michael tells me that will be corrected on the following release. Any audiophile into vinyl should have this DVD.
- John Sunier
On a side note, included in the DVD package is my own ebook PDF file, "The Fascinating Hobby of Vinyl Record Collecting." Michael contacted me and we both agreed it would make a great addition to his already fantastic DVD. I am honored to be part of his project and thank Michael for the inclusion of the my ebook.
AUDIOPHILE AUDITION focuses on recordings of interest to audiophiles and collectors, with an accent on surround sound for music, and on all hi-res disc formats. Over 100SACD, DVD Video/Audio and standard CD reviews are published during each month, and our archives go back to January 2001.
It’s a Vinyl World, After All (2009)
Any audiophile into vinyl should have this DVD.
Published on January 20, 2009
It’s a Vinyl World, After All (2009)
Michael Fremer’s Guide to Record Manufacturing, Cleaning, Storage, Handling, & Collecting in the 21st Century
Studio: Music Angle
Video: 16:9 color
Audio: English DD 2.0
Extras: Interviews with two pressing plant managers - Pallas & RTI, More on two other record cleaning machines, Vintage turntables at a hi-fi show, Stills of Pallas plant tour, pdf information files, 2 AES white papers on analog playback
Length: 179:45 incl. extras
Rating: ****(*)
Michael Fremer is a contributing editor to Stereophile magazine and editor of his own web magazine, www.musicangle.com, the only publication dedicated solely to the vinyl format. He previously published a DVD which was a guide to the complexities of turntable setup to properly play back vinyl. Fremer’s stimulus for the production of this DVD was the explosion of re-interest in the hoary long-play record, shown by major sales increases as more and more young people come to appreciate the better sound of vinyl vs. both MP3 downloads and standard compact discs. He has been a longtime proponent of the advantages of the vinyl format in spite of the ascendancy of the digital CD, but all the major labels ceased issuing LPs, and it looked for many years like the format was becoming as obsolete as 8-track or cassettes. In the last couple years that has all changed, with major labels returning to LP releases, reissues of some of the best rock, jazz and classical albums, and specialist audiophile reissue labels expanding their catalogs to include premium 180 and 200-gram pressings, 45 rpm pressings, and even pressing on only one side (to avoid problems caused by grooves on the reverse side). The majority of sales are in reissues of classic albums in the rock and blues genres.
Most audiophiles have read about the record pressing procedure or seen still photos of it, but Michael’s visits to the two pressing plants will be a treat since it shows exactly the many detailed steps involved in the process. The vinyl audiophile will be more understanding of the pricing of $30 to $50 for many of these discs when he sees what is involved and how many discs are immediately trashed because they have various flaws. It is of concern to hear that no new pressing equipment for LPs has been made for 20 years! He also looks in on a lacquer mastering session at AcousTech with Steve Hoffman, Joe Harley and others making aural decisions on how best to remaster a classic Van Gelder Blue Note 15 ips master tape for a 45 rpm vinyl reissue.
The demonstration portions of the lengthy DVD have Michael explaining how to properly store, handle and clean your records. He demonstrates the whole cleaning process using the two most popular record cleaning machines, with many different cleaning and preservation fluids and brushes, and stresses that even brand new LPs should be cleaned to remove artifacts from the pressing process. I’ve had just as lengthy an experience with vinyl as Michael, yet I picked up a couple pointers from the DVD - such as the importance of having a clean plastic or paper cover on the record cleaning machine platter so that you are not putting the LP surface you just cleaned down against a dirty platter. And also to frequently vacuum the platter (as well as your turntable platter).
Michael also demonstrates some of his other vinyl gadgets, including a horrendously expensive demagnetizer which works due to the subtle iron content in the lampblack used to color the clear vinyl. However, he doesn’t mention the effort to press premium audiophile LPs out of clear vinyl without the addition of the lampblack, which is said to result in the same enhancement of the sonics. He tends to ad lib his spiels, and I get a kick out of the occasional text corrections with illustrations that are superimposed on the screen to correct errors he made. The sampling of his LP collection and the stories associated with each album were fun viewing. There were also a few navigational errors on this initial DVD pressings - such as the soundtrack being muted for several seconds as each chapter begins - but Michael tells me that will be corrected on the following release. Any audiophile into vinyl should have this DVD.
- John Sunier
On a side note, included in the DVD package is my own ebook PDF file, "The Fascinating Hobby of Vinyl Record Collecting." Michael contacted me and we both agreed it would make a great addition to his already fantastic DVD. I am honored to be part of his project and thank Michael for the inclusion of the my ebook.
Music News & Notes
New Ian Tyson Music
Canada's Ian Tyson is working on a new album, his 14th for Stony Plains records, titled "Yellowhead to Yellowstone." The singer/songwriter (Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon) wrote eight of the albums ten cuts, reflecting his life as an Alberta rancher and on growing older (he is now 75). It also shows off a distinct change to his voice.
“A couple of years ago,” says Tyson, “I played a big outdoor show in Ontario. I fought the sound system — and I lost. I knew I’d hurt my voice, and it was recovering slowly when I was hit with a bad virus, which seemed to last forever. My old voice isn’t coming back, the doctors told me, so I’ve had to get used to this new one. Audiences seem to pay more attention, now, to the lyrics and the stories in the songs. And while I’ve lost some of the bottom end of my voice, the top range, oddly enough, is still there.”
----------------------------------------------
Swinging Hips for Lofgren
Nils Lofgren is celebrating more than a half-time performance with the E-Street Band at the Super Bowl. He's also performing for the first time with his new hips which he received back in October.
"I'm coming along. I've lost the cane. I've lost the limp. I'm doing rehab. I'm just trying to be a good rehab patient. I've never had to be this cautious, 24-7 with my body, so it's a new adventure for me, But I've been assured that if I do the rehab right, in 10 to 12 months my body'll grow in, around and through these (hips) like roots and vines and lock 'em in as good as they're gonna get."
He's also assembling the new album Tough Stuff: The Best of the All-Madden Team Band which will be comprised of music he composed over the last ten years for the All-Madden Team announcement broadcasts.
----------------------------------------------
Taj Mahal, Healey Win Awards
Taj Mahal was named International Artist of the Year at Canada's Maple Music awards while guitarist Amos Garrett received the lifetime Blues with a Feeling Award. The big winner of the night, though, was the late Jeff Healey who received seven awards.
----------------------------------------------
Donovan's Dream Come True
Donovan spoke to reporters at the MIDEM International Music Conference in Cannes, France on Monday, telling them that the Internet is what he and his contemporaries dreamed about in the 60's.
"The dream of the '60s, of me and John Lennon and the others, was how do we speak to everybody on the planet at the same time? The first answer was via satellite, but that didn't connect to everyone. Then John would say, 'How about telepathy?'
"Then we forgot about it until now we realize that the Internet fulfills that dream of communicating with everyone. I'm not afraid of the Internet because it's that the dream we had. The Internet is the new '60s as far as I'm concerned."
----------------------------------------------
Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton Guest On New Yusef LP
Yusuf, formerly known as Cat Stevens, will follow up 2006's "An Other Cup," his first secular album in 28 years, with a set that recalls his straightforward troubadour days.
The as-yet-untitled set is due in late spring from Universal.
"This one was really a result of me writing a lot of songs and being kind of inspired again," Yusuf -- who adopted the Muslim name Yusuf Islam in 1978 and now prefers the shorter version -- told Billboard. "After I recorded ('Cup') people just wanted to hear me do a lot of simple stuff, just with the guitar."
The single "Boots & Sand" features Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton -- with a video shot by Jesse Dylan, son of Bob -- while Michelle Branch and Gunnar Nelson assist on the track "To Be What You Must."
----------------------------------------------
All Aboard- Flight 666
The first full-length documentary on Iron Maiden will debut in theaters throughout the world on April 21. Iron Maiden: Flight 666 documents the group's Somewhere Back in Time tour through Asia, Australia and the Americas.
The film is being made by the Canadian firm Banger Productions, who also made the film Metal, A Headbangers Journey. The crew was given full access to the band throughout the February and March 2008 leg of the tour which saw Maiden play 23 shows in 45 days. Footage not only includes live performances but also behind the scene stories, including the groups custom Boeing 757 which was piloted by lead singer Bruce Dickinson.
Canada's Ian Tyson is working on a new album, his 14th for Stony Plains records, titled "Yellowhead to Yellowstone." The singer/songwriter (Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon) wrote eight of the albums ten cuts, reflecting his life as an Alberta rancher and on growing older (he is now 75). It also shows off a distinct change to his voice.
“A couple of years ago,” says Tyson, “I played a big outdoor show in Ontario. I fought the sound system — and I lost. I knew I’d hurt my voice, and it was recovering slowly when I was hit with a bad virus, which seemed to last forever. My old voice isn’t coming back, the doctors told me, so I’ve had to get used to this new one. Audiences seem to pay more attention, now, to the lyrics and the stories in the songs. And while I’ve lost some of the bottom end of my voice, the top range, oddly enough, is still there.”
----------------------------------------------
Swinging Hips for Lofgren
Nils Lofgren is celebrating more than a half-time performance with the E-Street Band at the Super Bowl. He's also performing for the first time with his new hips which he received back in October.
"I'm coming along. I've lost the cane. I've lost the limp. I'm doing rehab. I'm just trying to be a good rehab patient. I've never had to be this cautious, 24-7 with my body, so it's a new adventure for me, But I've been assured that if I do the rehab right, in 10 to 12 months my body'll grow in, around and through these (hips) like roots and vines and lock 'em in as good as they're gonna get."
He's also assembling the new album Tough Stuff: The Best of the All-Madden Team Band which will be comprised of music he composed over the last ten years for the All-Madden Team announcement broadcasts.
----------------------------------------------
Taj Mahal, Healey Win Awards
Taj Mahal was named International Artist of the Year at Canada's Maple Music awards while guitarist Amos Garrett received the lifetime Blues with a Feeling Award. The big winner of the night, though, was the late Jeff Healey who received seven awards.
----------------------------------------------
Donovan's Dream Come True
Donovan spoke to reporters at the MIDEM International Music Conference in Cannes, France on Monday, telling them that the Internet is what he and his contemporaries dreamed about in the 60's.
"The dream of the '60s, of me and John Lennon and the others, was how do we speak to everybody on the planet at the same time? The first answer was via satellite, but that didn't connect to everyone. Then John would say, 'How about telepathy?'
"Then we forgot about it until now we realize that the Internet fulfills that dream of communicating with everyone. I'm not afraid of the Internet because it's that the dream we had. The Internet is the new '60s as far as I'm concerned."
----------------------------------------------
Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton Guest On New Yusef LP
Yusuf, formerly known as Cat Stevens, will follow up 2006's "An Other Cup," his first secular album in 28 years, with a set that recalls his straightforward troubadour days.
The as-yet-untitled set is due in late spring from Universal.
"This one was really a result of me writing a lot of songs and being kind of inspired again," Yusuf -- who adopted the Muslim name Yusuf Islam in 1978 and now prefers the shorter version -- told Billboard. "After I recorded ('Cup') people just wanted to hear me do a lot of simple stuff, just with the guitar."
The single "Boots & Sand" features Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton -- with a video shot by Jesse Dylan, son of Bob -- while Michelle Branch and Gunnar Nelson assist on the track "To Be What You Must."
----------------------------------------------
All Aboard- Flight 666
The first full-length documentary on Iron Maiden will debut in theaters throughout the world on April 21. Iron Maiden: Flight 666 documents the group's Somewhere Back in Time tour through Asia, Australia and the Americas.
The film is being made by the Canadian firm Banger Productions, who also made the film Metal, A Headbangers Journey. The crew was given full access to the band throughout the February and March 2008 leg of the tour which saw Maiden play 23 shows in 45 days. Footage not only includes live performances but also behind the scene stories, including the groups custom Boeing 757 which was piloted by lead singer Bruce Dickinson.
Top 20 Most Outrageous Heavy Metal Album Covers
Last week we looked at Gigwise.com's list of best & worst album covers for 2008. Switching gears a bit, let's look at www.spike.com's look at The Top 20 Most Outrageous Heavy Metal Album Covers. Actually, I think some of these are classic album covers, I love heavy metal covers! We will look at five a day, sometimes that's all a person can handle. Longtime readers of the blog will certainly recognize some of these classic album covers.
Heavy metal bands have always relied on their album covers. Most metal bands wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for their ridiculously awesome album art. But how did it go so wrong? When did bands start thinking it was okay to take their shirts off and pose as medieval warriors? Let's explore #10-6 on the list:
10. Pantera: Metal Magic
9. Metallica: Metal Up Your Ass
8. Danzig: Thrall Demonsweatlive
7. Scorpions: Lovedrive
6. Metallica: Load
Heavy metal bands have always relied on their album covers. Most metal bands wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for their ridiculously awesome album art. But how did it go so wrong? When did bands start thinking it was okay to take their shirts off and pose as medieval warriors? Let's explore #10-6 on the list:
10. Pantera: Metal Magic
9. Metallica: Metal Up Your Ass
8. Danzig: Thrall Demonsweatlive
7. Scorpions: Lovedrive
6. Metallica: Load
Rock & Roll Tidbits
On The Beatles 1970, #1 hit, "The Long and Winding Road", Paul McCartney played the piano, and John Lennon played bass. George and Ringo do not appear on the track at all.
Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around The Clock" as a "B" side for their first Decca Records recording session. The "A" side was a song called "Thirteen Women And Only One Man In Town".
It’s ironic that of the members of ZZ Top, Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard-Beard is the only member of the classic trio not to sport a beard.
Boy George once admitted that he wanted to be reincarnated as Matt Dillon’s underwear. No comment from Dillon.
Elvis' girlfriend, Ginger Alden, found him dead, lying on the floor of his bathroom. He had been seated on the toilet reading The Scientific Search For Jesus.
Twenty years after his death, a report showed that Elvis Presley was the world's best selling posthumous entertainer, with world-wide sales of over 1 billion dollars and 480 active fan clubs. He died owing $3 million.
The Association were turned down by every major label who heard their first album, which included the future number one smash, "Cherish".
Antoine "Fats" Domino and his wife Rosemary have eight children, all of whom have names that start with "A".
The same studio musicians who had just helped Bob Dylan record "Like A Rolling Stone" were asked by producer Tom Wilson to stay in the studio for one more song. He then recorded the electric guitar, bass and drums that were to be added to Paul Simon's voice and acoustic guitar. The result was the 1966 number one hit, "Sounds Of Silence".
Stevie Wonder wrote "Isn't She Lovely" for his daughter Aisha Zakia. The names mean "strength" and "intelligence" in an African language.
Brenda Lee graduated from high school in Hollywood, having already earned 12 top ten records.
Paul Revere and The Raiders' first chart entry, "Like Long Hair" was based on Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C-Sharp Minor", written in 1897.
The longest title of a US number one record belongs to a Dutch studio group called Stars On 45. Although their medley was simply known as "Stars On 45" in most parts of the world, the US single had a 41 word title: "Intro Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want To Know A Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going To Lose That Girl / Stars On 45".
Performance contracts for the band Van Halen stipulated that they be provided with a supply of M&Ms at every show, but all of the brown ones had to be removed.
In 1964, an acoustics expert from New South Wales University measured the noise level during a Beatles' concert at 112 decibels. That's between 10 and 20 decibels higher than a Boeing 707 jet flying at 2,000 feet.
Doors guitarist Robby Krieger once said about lead singer Jim Morrison: "I loved the guy when he was straight. I disliked him immensely when he was drunk."
In 1956, a Protestant minister in Greenwich Village, New York said about Elvis Presley's music; "I don't think youth wants this sort of thing. It is the result of the letdown that follows every war."
Darlene Love, who sang lead vocals on The Crystals hits "He's A Rebel" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love", played Danny Glover’s wife in all four Lethal Weapon movies.
Harry Elston, co-founder of The Friends Of Distinction, used to work as a limousine driver for The Temptations.
Mercury Records released The Platters' "Twilight Time" on both 78 RPM and 45 RPM discs. The song went to number one in the U.S. in April, 1958 and sold one and a half million copies, of which 98.2 percent were 45s. By that June, Mercury became the first major record label to announce that it would stop producing 78s, effective immediately.
After Gene Simmons of KISS graduated form Richmond College, he became a school teacher. This career move was short-lived however, as he quit to form KISS. Why? “I wanted to kill those little pricks,” he said.
Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around The Clock" as a "B" side for their first Decca Records recording session. The "A" side was a song called "Thirteen Women And Only One Man In Town".
It’s ironic that of the members of ZZ Top, Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard-Beard is the only member of the classic trio not to sport a beard.
Boy George once admitted that he wanted to be reincarnated as Matt Dillon’s underwear. No comment from Dillon.
Elvis' girlfriend, Ginger Alden, found him dead, lying on the floor of his bathroom. He had been seated on the toilet reading The Scientific Search For Jesus.
Twenty years after his death, a report showed that Elvis Presley was the world's best selling posthumous entertainer, with world-wide sales of over 1 billion dollars and 480 active fan clubs. He died owing $3 million.
The Association were turned down by every major label who heard their first album, which included the future number one smash, "Cherish".
Antoine "Fats" Domino and his wife Rosemary have eight children, all of whom have names that start with "A".
The same studio musicians who had just helped Bob Dylan record "Like A Rolling Stone" were asked by producer Tom Wilson to stay in the studio for one more song. He then recorded the electric guitar, bass and drums that were to be added to Paul Simon's voice and acoustic guitar. The result was the 1966 number one hit, "Sounds Of Silence".
Stevie Wonder wrote "Isn't She Lovely" for his daughter Aisha Zakia. The names mean "strength" and "intelligence" in an African language.
Brenda Lee graduated from high school in Hollywood, having already earned 12 top ten records.
Paul Revere and The Raiders' first chart entry, "Like Long Hair" was based on Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C-Sharp Minor", written in 1897.
The longest title of a US number one record belongs to a Dutch studio group called Stars On 45. Although their medley was simply known as "Stars On 45" in most parts of the world, the US single had a 41 word title: "Intro Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want To Know A Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going To Lose That Girl / Stars On 45".
Performance contracts for the band Van Halen stipulated that they be provided with a supply of M&Ms at every show, but all of the brown ones had to be removed.
In 1964, an acoustics expert from New South Wales University measured the noise level during a Beatles' concert at 112 decibels. That's between 10 and 20 decibels higher than a Boeing 707 jet flying at 2,000 feet.
Doors guitarist Robby Krieger once said about lead singer Jim Morrison: "I loved the guy when he was straight. I disliked him immensely when he was drunk."
In 1956, a Protestant minister in Greenwich Village, New York said about Elvis Presley's music; "I don't think youth wants this sort of thing. It is the result of the letdown that follows every war."
Darlene Love, who sang lead vocals on The Crystals hits "He's A Rebel" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love", played Danny Glover’s wife in all four Lethal Weapon movies.
Harry Elston, co-founder of The Friends Of Distinction, used to work as a limousine driver for The Temptations.
Mercury Records released The Platters' "Twilight Time" on both 78 RPM and 45 RPM discs. The song went to number one in the U.S. in April, 1958 and sold one and a half million copies, of which 98.2 percent were 45s. By that June, Mercury became the first major record label to announce that it would stop producing 78s, effective immediately.
After Gene Simmons of KISS graduated form Richmond College, he became a school teacher. This career move was short-lived however, as he quit to form KISS. Why? “I wanted to kill those little pricks,” he said.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Spiral Scratch Records
I love independent record stores and their respective stories. This one caught my eye because I was born and raised in the Buffalo, NY area for the first 15 years of my life and it is where I bought my first 45 rpm record; which by the way was Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" (I fell in love with the flip side "Birds" as well)
written by Chao Li
Spiral Scratch is a Buffalo record sanctuary, with an amazingly broad selection of vinyl.
Even though Spiral Scratch has a small collection of CDs, this fairly new shop is the king of vinyl. "I just love music," says owner Dave 'Anchovies'. Dave is a soft-spoken guy, oozing with passion for music, especially the big-black-disc kind.
"I've always thought it was a shame that Buffalo, a city with such a great music scene, didn't still have the type of non-intimidating record store that I feel we need."
This is exactly what Dave built. His inspiration comes from music stores that he'd visited and loved spending time in, and Spiral Scratch has all the comforts of a small-city record store.
Spiral Scratch, occupying the space that used to be Sit and Spin Records, is not the first record store in Buffalo, but it's different. One of the most noticeable differences is that all the records are a couple dollars less than the prices one normally finds. Because Dave uses a handful of independent distributors or buys directly from the music labels themselves, the record price can be kept low.
Spiral Scratch is open to special orders. "It may take me a little longer to get the record, but I can sell them for really cheap," Dave says.
The store also buys back old records, and it also has a modest used CD collection. In addition, Dave is involved in promoting local shows and selling tickets for shows. Recently, Dave was moving tickets to the Boris show at Soundlab. Even though Spiral Scratch supports local music, you will not find a segregated section in this store.
"Local music shouldn't be separated into its own thing. Great music is great music, that's why I mix them all in together," Dave explains.
More of a fan than a businessman, Dave's establishment is driven by his passion for music and the rest seems to follow, making Spiral Scratch nearly unique in Buffalo. Dave did not show off the rare items he had on the shelves, neither did he mark up the price to a ridiculous level. They are just there, waiting silently for someone who'll recognize them as treasure--for the love of the music--not the fact that they may be a first pressing.
Introduced to music by his late father, back in the day, Dave believes that vinyl records and the vinyl scene is due for a comeback. "CDs are compact, but they fail after you use them for a couple years," Dave says. "If you take care of your records, they last forever." Vinyl records have large, visually appealing cover art and some come with posters and other fold-outs. Today, in the age of digital music, many vinyl records are released with a code so that people can also download the songs in mp3 formats to put on their digital music player.
"I still don't see myself as a collector. I just have a lot of records," Dave states. "If a record was released with two different album covers, a collector needs to have both. If I just have one--it's probably the cheaper one."
Even though it is still early on in the game, Dave's aim is clear. "I want this store to be broader than any of the other record stores," he says. With the help of his family and close friends, Spiral Scratch imports and sells records from a wide variety of artists. The collection ranges from Sigur Ros, to Sleep, to Nico; anyone can find something to take home. Dave backs that thought up by saying, "I don't want to just sell music I like, I want to have something for everyone that comes into the store."
Spiral Scratch Records
2531 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14216
716.873.1484
SOURCE: http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/01/spiral-scratch-records.html#SlideFrame_1
Vinyl's still vital
I love vinyl related articles and found a beauty at lancasteronline.com
Store owners see a rise in LP sales despite digital options
By LINDA ESPENSHADE, Staff Writer
Kenny Cotich loves placing a vinyl record on his record player, finding the song he wants by counting the lines, positioning the stylus or needle on the record and relishing the little pop as the electronic connection is made.
Cotich, of Manor Township, is only 19, and he is not alone in his love of records. Young and old are returning to vinyl as the music format of choice.
Forget the MP3 players, compact discs and computer downloads. Records have the best sound and the best aesthetic experience, fans say.
Nationwide, Nielsen SoundScan, reported 1.88 million records sold in 2008, almost twice as many as 2007. The numbers are still small, compared to the total 428.4 million albums that were sold, nevertheless the statistics reflect the growing interest that local independent record stores have been seeing over the past five years.
Local record store owners are seeing more interest in vintage records and in records made by many modern alternative bands, especially variations of indie, punk, electronic and folk music.
To read the rest of this interesting story:
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/232814
Store owners see a rise in LP sales despite digital options
By LINDA ESPENSHADE, Staff Writer
Kenny Cotich loves placing a vinyl record on his record player, finding the song he wants by counting the lines, positioning the stylus or needle on the record and relishing the little pop as the electronic connection is made.
Cotich, of Manor Township, is only 19, and he is not alone in his love of records. Young and old are returning to vinyl as the music format of choice.
Forget the MP3 players, compact discs and computer downloads. Records have the best sound and the best aesthetic experience, fans say.
Nationwide, Nielsen SoundScan, reported 1.88 million records sold in 2008, almost twice as many as 2007. The numbers are still small, compared to the total 428.4 million albums that were sold, nevertheless the statistics reflect the growing interest that local independent record stores have been seeing over the past five years.
Local record store owners are seeing more interest in vintage records and in records made by many modern alternative bands, especially variations of indie, punk, electronic and folk music.
To read the rest of this interesting story:
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/232814
Outrageous Heavy Metal Album Covers.
Last week we looked at Gigwise.com's list of best & worst album covers for 2008. Switching gears a bit, let's look at www.spike.com's look at The Top 20 Most Outrageous Heavy Metal Album Covers. Actually, I think some of these are classic album covers, I love heavy metal covers! We will look at five a day, sometimes that's all a person can handle. Longtime readers of the blog will certainly recognize some of these classic album covers.
Heavy metal bands have always relied on their album covers. Most metal bands wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for their ridiculously awesome album art. But how did it go so wrong? When did bands start thinking it was okay to take their shirts off and pose as medieval warriors? Let's explore #15-11 on the list:
15. Whitesnake: Lovehunter
14. Ozzy Osbourne: Speak of the Devil
13. Morbid Angel: Covenant
12. Exodus: Bonded by Blood
11. Anthrax: Fistful of Metal
Heavy metal bands have always relied on their album covers. Most metal bands wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for their ridiculously awesome album art. But how did it go so wrong? When did bands start thinking it was okay to take their shirts off and pose as medieval warriors? Let's explore #15-11 on the list:
15. Whitesnake: Lovehunter
14. Ozzy Osbourne: Speak of the Devil
13. Morbid Angel: Covenant
12. Exodus: Bonded by Blood
11. Anthrax: Fistful of Metal
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