Week Ending 02/14/2009
1. LP - Anniles Schmidt "Bach Complete Cello Suites" 6 Volumes Telefunken German Pressings - $3,250.00 - Start: $9.00 - Bids: 21
2. 45 rpm - The Crystals "Lets Dance The Screw, Part 1" / "Let's Dance The Screw, Part 2" Phillies - $2,999.99 - Start: $2,999.99 - Bids: BIN
3. 78 rpm - Tschaikowsky Melodie No 3 Victor Special Record - $2,750.00 - Start: $9.00 - Bids: 23
4. 78 rpm - Alabama Sheiks "The New Talking 'Bout You" / "Sittin' On Top Of The World" Victor - $2,716.66 - Start: 0.50 - Bids: 11
5. 45 rpm - Mary Jane Hooper "I Got What You Need, Part 1" / "I Got What You Need, Part 2" Power Pac - $2,663.00 - Start: $99.00 - Bids: 8
A rare Telefunken LP from the 1950's makes the top of the list this week with, as usual, a performance of Bach. The Cello Suites performed by Anniles Schmidt sells for halfway over $3.2k. This is the same price the 6LP collection sold for last year.
Next, Phil Spector's notice to his former partner, "Let's Dance The Screw", of which 5 copies were pressed, sells on a Buy-It-Now for a penny less than $3k.
In the #3 spot, a special pressing of a Victor 78 from 1920 bids up halway over $2.7k. Another 78 makes the #4 spot, also on Victor, The Alabama Sheiks record bids to a little over $2.7k.
A Northern Soul 45 takes the last spot, from Mary Jane Hooper, this Eddie Bo produced single sells for well over $2.6k
As always, I want to thank Norm over at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com/ for this great data.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Music News & Notes
Glassjaw first record to get pressed on vinyl
Roadrunner Records will be releasing Glassjaw's debut record 'Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence' for the first time on double vinyl.
The record is set to be released March 24th according to Interpunk.com.
===============================
New Simple Minds Album
Simple Minds are working hard on the release their new album, "Graffiti Soul and it should be ready on May 25th (Universal Music Records).
The group has been very active in the last year, touring the U.K. and Europe with their 30th Anniversary Tour. While on tour, they wrote the music and eventually went into Rockfield Studios, where they had recorded some of their best work.
"Graffiti Soul is a bold and energetic collection of songs," relates lead singer Jim Kerr. "And we could not be happier with the result. Stylistically, this is a truly vibrant rock’n’roll album that’s bursting at the seams with quite possibly the most ballsy pop songs we have written in years."
"It’s taken us a while, but over the last couple of years Charlie Burchill and I have put together a great team of individuals to work with, and that, as well as a revitalized and energetic new commitment has triggered an effect that has dramatically overhauled Simple Minds. Graffiti Soul is testament to that.”
===============================
Simon & Garfunkel Suprise Crowd
In a surprise reunion, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed for an estatic crowd last night (Feb. 13) at New York's Beacon Theatre, which is hosting its first event after a seven-month renovation by Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
The 60's troubadors performed "The Sound of Silence," "The Boxer" and "Old Friends" during the encore, marking what is believed to be just their third appearance together since concluding a 2004 reunion tour.
The event was attended by celebrities such as New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, Paul McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi and Jimmy Fallon, and also showcased the Beacon's refurbished interior and new sound system.
The set list included an eclectic array of Simon classic including: "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Slip Slidin' Away," "Graceland," "Duncan" and "Loves Me Like a Rock," among others.
===============================
Stevie Wonder To Peform at White House
Stevie Wonder is scheduled to perform at the White House for Barack Obama on February 25 as part of being honored with the Library of Congress Award. Obama used the Wonder classics "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and "Higher Ground" in his presidential campaign. The show will be broadcast the next night on PBS.
===============================
Spandau Ballet Reunion
It appears that a Spandau Ballet reunion may actually happen. "We're not making announcements yet, but yes, basically, the boys are back in town," explained manager Steve Dagger. "Not just a nostalgic re-run of the old but a fresh slant on what Spandau Ballet are about."
===============================
Yes Cancels Shows
Yes had to cancel a series of U. concerts when bassist Chris Squire was admitted to the hospital last Monday for an operation on his leg. No reason for the surgery has not been announced.
Roadrunner Records will be releasing Glassjaw's debut record 'Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence' for the first time on double vinyl.
The record is set to be released March 24th according to Interpunk.com.
===============================
New Simple Minds Album
Simple Minds are working hard on the release their new album, "Graffiti Soul and it should be ready on May 25th (Universal Music Records).
The group has been very active in the last year, touring the U.K. and Europe with their 30th Anniversary Tour. While on tour, they wrote the music and eventually went into Rockfield Studios, where they had recorded some of their best work.
"Graffiti Soul is a bold and energetic collection of songs," relates lead singer Jim Kerr. "And we could not be happier with the result. Stylistically, this is a truly vibrant rock’n’roll album that’s bursting at the seams with quite possibly the most ballsy pop songs we have written in years."
"It’s taken us a while, but over the last couple of years Charlie Burchill and I have put together a great team of individuals to work with, and that, as well as a revitalized and energetic new commitment has triggered an effect that has dramatically overhauled Simple Minds. Graffiti Soul is testament to that.”
===============================
Simon & Garfunkel Suprise Crowd
In a surprise reunion, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed for an estatic crowd last night (Feb. 13) at New York's Beacon Theatre, which is hosting its first event after a seven-month renovation by Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
The 60's troubadors performed "The Sound of Silence," "The Boxer" and "Old Friends" during the encore, marking what is believed to be just their third appearance together since concluding a 2004 reunion tour.
The event was attended by celebrities such as New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, Paul McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi and Jimmy Fallon, and also showcased the Beacon's refurbished interior and new sound system.
The set list included an eclectic array of Simon classic including: "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Slip Slidin' Away," "Graceland," "Duncan" and "Loves Me Like a Rock," among others.
===============================
Stevie Wonder To Peform at White House
Stevie Wonder is scheduled to perform at the White House for Barack Obama on February 25 as part of being honored with the Library of Congress Award. Obama used the Wonder classics "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and "Higher Ground" in his presidential campaign. The show will be broadcast the next night on PBS.
===============================
Spandau Ballet Reunion
It appears that a Spandau Ballet reunion may actually happen. "We're not making announcements yet, but yes, basically, the boys are back in town," explained manager Steve Dagger. "Not just a nostalgic re-run of the old but a fresh slant on what Spandau Ballet are about."
===============================
Yes Cancels Shows
Yes had to cancel a series of U. concerts when bassist Chris Squire was admitted to the hospital last Monday for an operation on his leg. No reason for the surgery has not been announced.
This Date In Music History-Febraury 16
Birthdays:
Andy Taylor- Duran Duran (1961)
Brad Walst- Three Days Grace (1977)
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has a birthday (1972)
Ice-T (1958)
James Ingram (1956)
They Are Missed:
The late Sonny Bono was born in 1935.
Walter (Brownie) McGhee, one of the most important figures in folk and blues revival, died of stomach cancer in 1996. He was best known for his popular acoustic blues act of the 1950s and 1960s with harmonicist Sonny Terry.
Bill Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996)
In 2004, R&B singer Doris Troy, best known for her 1963 hit "Just One Look", died in her sleep in Las Vegas. She was 64.
History:
Today in 1980, the song "Do That to Me One More Time" by Captain & Tennille topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
At the Brit Awards in 1998, Chumbawamba drummer Danbert Nobacon dumps a bucket of ice water on U.K. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
Jerry Lee Lewis surrendered to federal authorities to answer income tax evasion charges in 1984. He was later acquitted.
Jack White appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes in 2005. The White Stripes frontman claimed he almost gave up Rock & Roll to become a priest. He was accepted by a seminary but decided to go to public school instead. "I had just gotten a new amplifier… and I didn't think I was allowed to take it with me," said White.
In 2005, Jimi Hendrix memorabila went on the block with a 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar fetching nearly $190,000. The London auction also featured a poem written by Hendrix in 1967 and an autographed copy of the Experience's first single, "Hey Joe."
The Beatles flew to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968.
In 1963, "Please Please Me" becomes the Beatles' first U.K. No. 1.
In 1971, The Rolling Stones were sued by the Hell's Angel accused of stabbing Meredith Hunter at Altamont in 1969. Alan David Pasaro alleges that the Stones have invaded his privacy by including footage of the fatal attack in their documentary Gimme Shelter. Pasaro was tried and acquitted for the stabbing death.
In 1972, John Lennon performed with Chuck Berry on The Mike Douglas Show. Lennon and Yoko Ono were hosts of the afternoon talk show all this week.
In 2005, 3 Doors Down topped the charts with their third album, Seventeen Days.
In 1967, Petula Clark was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1967 with ‘This Is My Song’, the singers second UK #1.
Led Zeppelin made their Australian live debut in 1972 when they kicked off a six date tour at the Subiaco Oval, Perth.
In 1985, Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the UK album chart with "Born In The USA," his first UK #1 album.
The Beatles performed for the second time on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. They had made their first appearance on the show only a week before.
Ricky Nelson began his first British tour in 1972.
Britney Spears shaved her head in 2007. I know it's kind of worthless news, but it was a slow news day.
Andy Taylor- Duran Duran (1961)
Brad Walst- Three Days Grace (1977)
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has a birthday (1972)
Ice-T (1958)
James Ingram (1956)
They Are Missed:
The late Sonny Bono was born in 1935.
Walter (Brownie) McGhee, one of the most important figures in folk and blues revival, died of stomach cancer in 1996. He was best known for his popular acoustic blues act of the 1950s and 1960s with harmonicist Sonny Terry.
Bill Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996)
In 2004, R&B singer Doris Troy, best known for her 1963 hit "Just One Look", died in her sleep in Las Vegas. She was 64.
History:
Today in 1980, the song "Do That to Me One More Time" by Captain & Tennille topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
At the Brit Awards in 1998, Chumbawamba drummer Danbert Nobacon dumps a bucket of ice water on U.K. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
Jerry Lee Lewis surrendered to federal authorities to answer income tax evasion charges in 1984. He was later acquitted.
Jack White appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes in 2005. The White Stripes frontman claimed he almost gave up Rock & Roll to become a priest. He was accepted by a seminary but decided to go to public school instead. "I had just gotten a new amplifier… and I didn't think I was allowed to take it with me," said White.
In 2005, Jimi Hendrix memorabila went on the block with a 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar fetching nearly $190,000. The London auction also featured a poem written by Hendrix in 1967 and an autographed copy of the Experience's first single, "Hey Joe."
The Beatles flew to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968.
In 1963, "Please Please Me" becomes the Beatles' first U.K. No. 1.
In 1971, The Rolling Stones were sued by the Hell's Angel accused of stabbing Meredith Hunter at Altamont in 1969. Alan David Pasaro alleges that the Stones have invaded his privacy by including footage of the fatal attack in their documentary Gimme Shelter. Pasaro was tried and acquitted for the stabbing death.
In 1972, John Lennon performed with Chuck Berry on The Mike Douglas Show. Lennon and Yoko Ono were hosts of the afternoon talk show all this week.
In 2005, 3 Doors Down topped the charts with their third album, Seventeen Days.
In 1967, Petula Clark was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1967 with ‘This Is My Song’, the singers second UK #1.
Led Zeppelin made their Australian live debut in 1972 when they kicked off a six date tour at the Subiaco Oval, Perth.
In 1985, Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the UK album chart with "Born In The USA," his first UK #1 album.
The Beatles performed for the second time on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. They had made their first appearance on the show only a week before.
Ricky Nelson began his first British tour in 1972.
Britney Spears shaved her head in 2007. I know it's kind of worthless news, but it was a slow news day.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Will be back soon!!
For those who are regular followers of the blog, I certainly appreciate that you stop by and read my posts.
I will resume my regular schedule as soon as I can get the bug out of my computer, some sort of virus called "360" which prompts me to buy some software to remove the viruses from my computer.
This is a pop up window thing and I cannot seem to figure it out, so I have called in the professionals who will, hopefully, be able to fix my computer.
So, stay tuned, I wil be back with my regular features very soon and I appreciate that you stop by each day :O)
I will resume my regular schedule as soon as I can get the bug out of my computer, some sort of virus called "360" which prompts me to buy some software to remove the viruses from my computer.
This is a pop up window thing and I cannot seem to figure it out, so I have called in the professionals who will, hopefully, be able to fix my computer.
So, stay tuned, I wil be back with my regular features very soon and I appreciate that you stop by each day :O)
Bid to keep rarest record in Scotland
The Holy Grail of soul records will be sold on the internet on Motown's 50th anniversary
By Stuart MacDonald
It is regarded as the Holy Grail of soul records. Now the rarest single in the history of Motown will be auctioned by a Scots collector on the 50th anniversary of the iconic record label.
The internet auction of one of two surviving playable copies of Frank Wilson’s "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" is expected to spark a bidding frenzy.
Collectors believe the vinyl, which was bought 12 years ago by Kenny Burrell, a disc jockey from Fife, could fetch up to £75,000 when it goes on sale in April.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5733428.ece
By Stuart MacDonald
It is regarded as the Holy Grail of soul records. Now the rarest single in the history of Motown will be auctioned by a Scots collector on the 50th anniversary of the iconic record label.
The internet auction of one of two surviving playable copies of Frank Wilson’s "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" is expected to spark a bidding frenzy.
Collectors believe the vinyl, which was bought 12 years ago by Kenny Burrell, a disc jockey from Fife, could fetch up to £75,000 when it goes on sale in April.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5733428.ece
Brick-and-mortar record stores are trying to get their groove back
Tuesday used to be sacramental in the world of music. It was new-release day, the day faithful music fans stopped by their favorite record store to buy something they’d been waiting for weeks to hear or to discover something they hadn’t heard.
Back then, record stores were the best places to hear new music and mingle with other music fans.
“Record stores used to be neighborhood hangouts,” said Corky Carrel, who co-owns an online record store based in Johnson County. “They were like bars without liquor. You’d go in and browse and talk about music.”
Tuesdays aren’t the only days that aren’t what they used to be — for record stores or their customers.
Like so many industries caught between two seismic sea changes — the Internet revolution and the great recession — stores that sell new music are in a fight for their lives. The chains are dying, independent stores are closing, and the record labels that feed them merchandise are running out of ways to make money.
The stores that are surviving are performing balancing acts. Most rely heavily on the pre-owned — “used” — business: Buy it cheap, sell it cheap. Some have turned to niche marketing, selling new CDs to one or two refined segments of the music world. Others rely on a combination of the two: Sell CDs and vinyl, new and used, to a defined demographic. And others have been helped by the recent revival of what was once considered a relic, the vinyl record.
Steve Wilson remembers the good days, back when record stores offered surprises and mysteries and employed people who had strong opinions about most of them.
“When I started buying albums in earnest, I went to Kief’s on the Mall (in Lawrence),” he said. “I remember talking to the guys who worked there. They were there to educate you — as long as you were there to listen, not talk.”
He and Carrel became career guys in the record-store industry. Wilson has been with Kief’s since December 1973. That was about the time Carrel started working at a local electronics store that sold recorded music. From there he went to Caper’s Corner, a fabled record store at 47th Street and Mission Road. In 1987 he opened his own store, Corky’s Records.
Both men are still in the business. Carrel and his partner, Bill Lavery, run VillageRecords.com. Wilson works at Kief’s Downtown, one of two record stores on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence and the satellite outlet to Kief’s, the electronics/music retailer south of downtown.
Some store owners are optimistic about what lies ahead, but none is willing to say for certain where they or their store will be in five or 10 years.
“The game has changed,” Wilson said. “Now it’s all about survival.”
The long, slow fade
The music business is in a free fall. Sales of new albums have dropped more than 45 percent the last eight years. In 2000 consumers in the United States bought 785 million albums. In 2008 they bought 428 million.
In 2000 the 10 best-selling albums comprised 60 million albums. In 2008 that figure was 18.8 million.
The decline in sales coincided with the explosion of home computers, the Internet and the sharing of music files via Web sites such as Napster.
But long before online retailers, digital music and file-sharing entities started eroding sales at brick-and-mortar stores, the small retailers were fighting other forces.
Carrel said the decline began in earnest when a store like Caper’s had to compete with large chains like Peaches in the late 1970s.
SOURCE: http://www.kansascity.com/
Back then, record stores were the best places to hear new music and mingle with other music fans.
“Record stores used to be neighborhood hangouts,” said Corky Carrel, who co-owns an online record store based in Johnson County. “They were like bars without liquor. You’d go in and browse and talk about music.”
Tuesdays aren’t the only days that aren’t what they used to be — for record stores or their customers.
Like so many industries caught between two seismic sea changes — the Internet revolution and the great recession — stores that sell new music are in a fight for their lives. The chains are dying, independent stores are closing, and the record labels that feed them merchandise are running out of ways to make money.
The stores that are surviving are performing balancing acts. Most rely heavily on the pre-owned — “used” — business: Buy it cheap, sell it cheap. Some have turned to niche marketing, selling new CDs to one or two refined segments of the music world. Others rely on a combination of the two: Sell CDs and vinyl, new and used, to a defined demographic. And others have been helped by the recent revival of what was once considered a relic, the vinyl record.
Steve Wilson remembers the good days, back when record stores offered surprises and mysteries and employed people who had strong opinions about most of them.
“When I started buying albums in earnest, I went to Kief’s on the Mall (in Lawrence),” he said. “I remember talking to the guys who worked there. They were there to educate you — as long as you were there to listen, not talk.”
He and Carrel became career guys in the record-store industry. Wilson has been with Kief’s since December 1973. That was about the time Carrel started working at a local electronics store that sold recorded music. From there he went to Caper’s Corner, a fabled record store at 47th Street and Mission Road. In 1987 he opened his own store, Corky’s Records.
Both men are still in the business. Carrel and his partner, Bill Lavery, run VillageRecords.com. Wilson works at Kief’s Downtown, one of two record stores on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence and the satellite outlet to Kief’s, the electronics/music retailer south of downtown.
Some store owners are optimistic about what lies ahead, but none is willing to say for certain where they or their store will be in five or 10 years.
“The game has changed,” Wilson said. “Now it’s all about survival.”
The long, slow fade
The music business is in a free fall. Sales of new albums have dropped more than 45 percent the last eight years. In 2000 consumers in the United States bought 785 million albums. In 2008 they bought 428 million.
In 2000 the 10 best-selling albums comprised 60 million albums. In 2008 that figure was 18.8 million.
The decline in sales coincided with the explosion of home computers, the Internet and the sharing of music files via Web sites such as Napster.
But long before online retailers, digital music and file-sharing entities started eroding sales at brick-and-mortar stores, the small retailers were fighting other forces.
Carrel said the decline began in earnest when a store like Caper’s had to compete with large chains like Peaches in the late 1970s.
SOURCE: http://www.kansascity.com/
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Music News & Notes
Iron and Wine Vinyl Release
This May, Iron and Wine will release a 2CD/3LP collection of rare tracks, entitled "Around the Well." Coming from their label Sub Pop, the collection ranges from songs that are out-of-print to those that have never been released. The title of this compilation comes from the band's single, "The Trapeze Swinger."
The first disc is mainly quiet, rough home recordings, while the second is mostly formal studio recordings. The re-released tracks come from songs recorded on 2002's The Creek Drank the Cradle all through 2007's The Shepherd's Dog.
The band will support the weighty release with a small, five-city tour of intimate venues, where it will turn the set list of each show over to fans, making each performance completely unique. From March 6-30, fans can vote by city and night on the songs they'd like to hear at IronAndWine.com.
Iron and Wine has also begun work on a sequel to The Shephard's Dog, to be released in the spring of next year.
==============================
Japandroids Vinyl
Japandroids' first full-length vinyl will be released soon. Record label Unfamiliar will release it in North America on April 28, only on vinyl and digital download. The Vancouver duo Japandroids play shouty, jangled-up anthemic fuzz-rock the way their compatriots in the Constantines do. And that's a good thing.
Coming up over the next couple of months, the duo will play a few shows in Vancouver and Toronto.
Post-Nothing track list:
01 The Boys Are Leaving Town
02 Young Hearts Spark Fire
03 Wet Hair
04 Rockers East Vancouver
05 Heart Sweats
06 Crazy/Forever
07 Sovereignty
08 I Quit Girls
==============================
Jimmy Eat World Vinyl
Jimmy Eat World has announced the details for their vinyl reissue of "Clarity." The vinyl will be available on the band's Clarity tour, and via their online store. The disc will be pressed on 180 gram vinyl and artwork is being produced as a gatefold. The disc will include the bonus tracks “Christmas Card” and “Sweetness (demo)” and online orders will include a Clarity t-shirt.
The band is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their fan favorite album, Clarity, by performing the album in its entirety at ten shows beginning this month. The shows kick off on the 23rd in New York City and wrap up March 7th in Arizona.
"Clarity" was the band's second major label album, released on Capitol Records. Despite lasting critical acclaim, the record did not perform to the label's expectations and the band was dropped. Their next album, "Bleed American" was self-recorded by the band and actually became their breakthrough release.
==============================
Fat Cat Reissues
Fat Cat records is about to reissue two Sigur Rós albums on 180-gram DMM vinyl in the UK. On March 9, the label will release big, luxurious vinyl remasters of 1999's Ágætis Bryjun and 2002's ( ).
The Fat Cat people did the Direct Metal Mastering at Abbey Road Studios, and they're pulling out all the packaging stops for these joints: silver ink on heavyweight uncoated blue card for Ágætis Bryjun, heavyweight outer sleeve with die cut ( ) shape showing through to four interchangeable inner sleeves for ( ).
Those reissues will only be available in the UK or from the Fat Cat UK web page. But American listeners aren't entirely out of luck. Fat Cat is planning similarly deluxe American vinyl reissues of a couple of their other recent classics. No release date on these yet, but Animal Collective's 2004 album "Sung Tongs" and Max Richter's 2004 album "The Blue Notebooks" will soon get the full 180-gram DMM treatment. Fat Cat tells us to expect spring 2009 release dates for both.
==============================
Mangione's Band Members Die in Plane Crash
Two members of Chuck Mangione's group were killed in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 last night outside Buffalo, New York. Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett were traveling to Buffalo for a performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic when the plane fell onto a suburban home.
Mangione posted the following message on his official website.
"I'm in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy of the crash of Flight 3407 which took the lives of my dear friends and band members Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett. I am grieving and praying with their families and friends. That's all I can say for now."
Chuck Mangione
This May, Iron and Wine will release a 2CD/3LP collection of rare tracks, entitled "Around the Well." Coming from their label Sub Pop, the collection ranges from songs that are out-of-print to those that have never been released. The title of this compilation comes from the band's single, "The Trapeze Swinger."
The first disc is mainly quiet, rough home recordings, while the second is mostly formal studio recordings. The re-released tracks come from songs recorded on 2002's The Creek Drank the Cradle all through 2007's The Shepherd's Dog.
The band will support the weighty release with a small, five-city tour of intimate venues, where it will turn the set list of each show over to fans, making each performance completely unique. From March 6-30, fans can vote by city and night on the songs they'd like to hear at IronAndWine.com.
Iron and Wine has also begun work on a sequel to The Shephard's Dog, to be released in the spring of next year.
==============================
Japandroids Vinyl
Japandroids' first full-length vinyl will be released soon. Record label Unfamiliar will release it in North America on April 28, only on vinyl and digital download. The Vancouver duo Japandroids play shouty, jangled-up anthemic fuzz-rock the way their compatriots in the Constantines do. And that's a good thing.
Coming up over the next couple of months, the duo will play a few shows in Vancouver and Toronto.
Post-Nothing track list:
01 The Boys Are Leaving Town
02 Young Hearts Spark Fire
03 Wet Hair
04 Rockers East Vancouver
05 Heart Sweats
06 Crazy/Forever
07 Sovereignty
08 I Quit Girls
==============================
Jimmy Eat World Vinyl
Jimmy Eat World has announced the details for their vinyl reissue of "Clarity." The vinyl will be available on the band's Clarity tour, and via their online store. The disc will be pressed on 180 gram vinyl and artwork is being produced as a gatefold. The disc will include the bonus tracks “Christmas Card” and “Sweetness (demo)” and online orders will include a Clarity t-shirt.
The band is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their fan favorite album, Clarity, by performing the album in its entirety at ten shows beginning this month. The shows kick off on the 23rd in New York City and wrap up March 7th in Arizona.
"Clarity" was the band's second major label album, released on Capitol Records. Despite lasting critical acclaim, the record did not perform to the label's expectations and the band was dropped. Their next album, "Bleed American" was self-recorded by the band and actually became their breakthrough release.
==============================
Fat Cat Reissues
Fat Cat records is about to reissue two Sigur Rós albums on 180-gram DMM vinyl in the UK. On March 9, the label will release big, luxurious vinyl remasters of 1999's Ágætis Bryjun and 2002's ( ).
The Fat Cat people did the Direct Metal Mastering at Abbey Road Studios, and they're pulling out all the packaging stops for these joints: silver ink on heavyweight uncoated blue card for Ágætis Bryjun, heavyweight outer sleeve with die cut ( ) shape showing through to four interchangeable inner sleeves for ( ).
Those reissues will only be available in the UK or from the Fat Cat UK web page. But American listeners aren't entirely out of luck. Fat Cat is planning similarly deluxe American vinyl reissues of a couple of their other recent classics. No release date on these yet, but Animal Collective's 2004 album "Sung Tongs" and Max Richter's 2004 album "The Blue Notebooks" will soon get the full 180-gram DMM treatment. Fat Cat tells us to expect spring 2009 release dates for both.
==============================
Mangione's Band Members Die in Plane Crash
Two members of Chuck Mangione's group were killed in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 last night outside Buffalo, New York. Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett were traveling to Buffalo for a performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic when the plane fell onto a suburban home.
Mangione posted the following message on his official website.
"I'm in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy of the crash of Flight 3407 which took the lives of my dear friends and band members Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett. I am grieving and praying with their families and friends. That's all I can say for now."
Chuck Mangione
Ronettes Singer Estelle Bennett Dies At 67
Estelle Bennett, one of the Ronettes, died at her home in Englewood, N.J. on February 11, 2009 (cause of death is unknown at this time- she was 67). Her trio, working with producer Phil Spector, helped epitomize the famed "wall of sound" production that has become part of pop music history.
The Ronettes were formed in 1959 in the Washington Heights area of New York City by sisters Veronica (Ronnie) and Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley. Originally billed as the Darling Sisters, they won an amateur talent contest at the Apollo Theater.
The group originally signed to Colpix and recorded a number of uneventful singles, finally getting their big break when they met producer Phil Spector and were signed to his Philles Records label in 1963. Their now legendary recording of "Be My Baby" hit #2 on Billboard's pop music chart that year. The song was written by Phil Spector (with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich) with Estelle singing backing vocals. The cut is considered by many (including the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson), to be one the greatest pop songs ever recorded. Among their other hits were "Walkin' in the Rain" and "Baby I Love You." Additionally, they did a memorable version of "Sleigh Ride" that appeared on Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You" album. Their last Philles single was " I Can Hear Music" in 1966.
"They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound," Keith Richards of the Stones said as the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. "They didn't need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still."After the group's breakup, Bennett rarely made public appearances.
For nearly 15 years, the Ronettes waged a lengthy, and ultimately unsuccessful, court battle with Spector over royalties. They sued Spector in the late 1980s, saying that he had cheated them out of royalties by using their music in ways not authorized in their recording contract. A trial was held in 1998, and in 2000, the judge ordered Spector to pay $2.6 million in past royalties and interest for the use of Ronettes songs as background music in movies, videocassette recordings, and advertising.
The judgement was overturned by New York's Supreme Court in 2002, saying that their contract did not specify any payment for secondary rights.
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 over the objections of Spector who said that he was the reason for the group's success.
Ronettes - Be My Baby
This Date In Music History-February 14
Welcome to a special Valentines edition of This Date In Music History!
They Got Hitched:
In 2008, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher married his long-term partner, the ex-All Saints singer Nicole Appleton at a civil ceremony in London.
In 1996, Prince (or a symbol of him) married Mayte Garcia in a Minneapolis church, he also composed a special song for his wife, “Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother, Wife,” which she heard for the first time when they had their first wedding dance. The couple split in 1998.
In 1980, Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott married Caroline Crowther.
Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia married moviemaker Deborah Koons in 1994.
Jon Farriss (INXS) married actress Leslie Bega in 1992.
In 1984, Elton John married recording engineer Renate Blauer (a female) in Sydney, Australia. The couple divorced three years later. Ya Think?
Mike Barson (Madness) married his girlfriend Sandra in 1981.
Lou Reed married Sylvia Morales in 1980.
In 1974, Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille (Captain And Tennille) married in Virginia City.
Awwwww- In 1977, US singer songwriter Janis Ian received 461 Valentine's day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her song “At Seventeen,” she had never received any.
Awwww-2- In 1998, T.G. Sheppard was best man for 35 different bridegrooms at a hotel in Las Vegas. The event was held for the winners of a national radio promotion for Sheppard's song "She's Gettin' the Rock."
Birthdays:
Phyllis McGuire- McGuire Sisters is 78.
Saxophonist Maceo Parker, one of James Brown's most acclaimed sidemen, was born in 1943.
Rob Thomas- Matchbox 20 (1972)
Ice- T (1959)
They Are Missed:
In 1989, Vincent Crane, former keyboardist for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, died of an overdose of painkillers. His work can be heard on Brown's biggest hit, "Fire.”
Buddy Knox, who scored a #1 hit in 1957 with "Party Doll,” died in 1999 (age 65).
Blues guitarist "Magic" Sam Maghett was born in 1937 (died Dec. 1969). His delirious guitar playing helped define the modern Chicago blues sound in the mid-60s.
Multi-octaved singer Tim Buckley was born in 1947. Before his tragic overdose in 1975, he fathered Jeff Buckley, who went on to develop a devoted following of his own before drowning at the age of 30.
Mick Ticker, drummer with glam rockers the Sweet ("Fox on the Run") died in 2002 (age 52).
History:
In 1992, Wayne's World, the motion picture starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, with a brief cameo appearance from Meat Loaf, opened in movie theaters across the US. The soundtrack included cuts from Queen, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.
Neil Diamond recorded "Cherry Cherry" in 1966.
The Who recorded their "Live At Leeds" album in Yorkshire, England in 1970.
In 1958, CBS television anchor Walter Cronkite reported that the Iranian government had banned rock & roll because it is against the concepts of Islam and also a hazard to health.
In 1961, the Beatles played at Liverpool, England's Casanova Club and were captured on film for the first time. Apparently they just invented film that day.
In 1967, at the Atlantic Studios in New York, Aretha Franklin recorded her cover of Otis Redding's "Respect."
The B-52's played their first gig in Athens, Georgia in 1977.
In 2000, Kiss announced their farewell tour. The reunited foursome will don the makeup one last time, then sell off the stage props from a 30-year career in an auction. Uh, it’s reported (2009) that they are working on a new album.
In 2003, Australian police uncovered Beatles album art and reel-to-reel tapes in a raid. All the material appeared to be from the White Album and Abbey Road sessions, which were stolen from the band's London studio in 1969.
Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album was released in 1985. The LP produced four giant Billboard hits, "You Give Good Love" (#3), "Saving All My Love For You" (#1), "How Will I Know" (#1), and "Greatest Love Of All" (#1).
In 1970, The Jaggerz, a six-piece group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, entered the Billboard chart with a song called "The Rapper.” Although the tune would rise to #2 during an eleven week run, it would be the band's only chart appearance.
In 1931, Ted Lewis' version of "Just A Gigolo" was the most popular tune in America. David Lee Roth would score a #12 hit with the same song in 1985.
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began a week long stint as guest hosts on US TV's Mike Douglas Show. For the next five days the pair welcomed the likes of Chuck Berry, The Chambers Brothers, activist Ralph Nader, comedian Louis Nye and the US Surgeon General.
Dire Straits began recording their first album in 1978.
They Got Hitched:
In 2008, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher married his long-term partner, the ex-All Saints singer Nicole Appleton at a civil ceremony in London.
In 1996, Prince (or a symbol of him) married Mayte Garcia in a Minneapolis church, he also composed a special song for his wife, “Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother, Wife,” which she heard for the first time when they had their first wedding dance. The couple split in 1998.
In 1980, Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott married Caroline Crowther.
Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia married moviemaker Deborah Koons in 1994.
Jon Farriss (INXS) married actress Leslie Bega in 1992.
In 1984, Elton John married recording engineer Renate Blauer (a female) in Sydney, Australia. The couple divorced three years later. Ya Think?
Mike Barson (Madness) married his girlfriend Sandra in 1981.
Lou Reed married Sylvia Morales in 1980.
In 1974, Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille (Captain And Tennille) married in Virginia City.
Awwwww- In 1977, US singer songwriter Janis Ian received 461 Valentine's day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her song “At Seventeen,” she had never received any.
Awwww-2- In 1998, T.G. Sheppard was best man for 35 different bridegrooms at a hotel in Las Vegas. The event was held for the winners of a national radio promotion for Sheppard's song "She's Gettin' the Rock."
Birthdays:
Phyllis McGuire- McGuire Sisters is 78.
Saxophonist Maceo Parker, one of James Brown's most acclaimed sidemen, was born in 1943.
Rob Thomas- Matchbox 20 (1972)
Ice- T (1959)
They Are Missed:
In 1989, Vincent Crane, former keyboardist for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, died of an overdose of painkillers. His work can be heard on Brown's biggest hit, "Fire.”
Buddy Knox, who scored a #1 hit in 1957 with "Party Doll,” died in 1999 (age 65).
Blues guitarist "Magic" Sam Maghett was born in 1937 (died Dec. 1969). His delirious guitar playing helped define the modern Chicago blues sound in the mid-60s.
Multi-octaved singer Tim Buckley was born in 1947. Before his tragic overdose in 1975, he fathered Jeff Buckley, who went on to develop a devoted following of his own before drowning at the age of 30.
Mick Ticker, drummer with glam rockers the Sweet ("Fox on the Run") died in 2002 (age 52).
History:
In 1992, Wayne's World, the motion picture starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, with a brief cameo appearance from Meat Loaf, opened in movie theaters across the US. The soundtrack included cuts from Queen, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.
Neil Diamond recorded "Cherry Cherry" in 1966.
The Who recorded their "Live At Leeds" album in Yorkshire, England in 1970.
In 1958, CBS television anchor Walter Cronkite reported that the Iranian government had banned rock & roll because it is against the concepts of Islam and also a hazard to health.
In 1961, the Beatles played at Liverpool, England's Casanova Club and were captured on film for the first time. Apparently they just invented film that day.
In 1967, at the Atlantic Studios in New York, Aretha Franklin recorded her cover of Otis Redding's "Respect."
The B-52's played their first gig in Athens, Georgia in 1977.
In 2000, Kiss announced their farewell tour. The reunited foursome will don the makeup one last time, then sell off the stage props from a 30-year career in an auction. Uh, it’s reported (2009) that they are working on a new album.
In 2003, Australian police uncovered Beatles album art and reel-to-reel tapes in a raid. All the material appeared to be from the White Album and Abbey Road sessions, which were stolen from the band's London studio in 1969.
Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album was released in 1985. The LP produced four giant Billboard hits, "You Give Good Love" (#3), "Saving All My Love For You" (#1), "How Will I Know" (#1), and "Greatest Love Of All" (#1).
In 1970, The Jaggerz, a six-piece group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, entered the Billboard chart with a song called "The Rapper.” Although the tune would rise to #2 during an eleven week run, it would be the band's only chart appearance.
In 1931, Ted Lewis' version of "Just A Gigolo" was the most popular tune in America. David Lee Roth would score a #12 hit with the same song in 1985.
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began a week long stint as guest hosts on US TV's Mike Douglas Show. For the next five days the pair welcomed the likes of Chuck Berry, The Chambers Brothers, activist Ralph Nader, comedian Louis Nye and the US Surgeon General.
Dire Straits began recording their first album in 1978.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Album Cover Art
Molly Hatchet - Kingdom of XII
Named after a famous 17th century axe murderess, Hatchet Molly, who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous. Molly Hatchet was formed in 1971 by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland. Danny Joe Brown joined in 1974, Duane Roland, Banner Thomas, Bruce Crump in 1975. When they finally got their recording contract with Epic they got some help and advice from Ronnie Van Zant, who was originally suppose to produce the album, but was unable to due to the tragic plane crash in '77. Because of this the band's debut was not released until late 1978. Fortunately for the band, this late delivery did little to deter their popularity. By the time their second record was released, the band had became enormously popular and stayed that way for many years despite the departure of vocalist/frontman Danny Joe Brown. Brown left the band in 1980 due to health problems stemming from diabetes. Others have stated that the band worked hard on the road, and drank just as hard, which was the reason that Brown had to go. Brown returned to the band in '83 for a successful tour and the release of "No Guts No Glory". The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since the mid 80's and as of the mid 1990's was touring without any original members, although many members had been with the band for many years including Bobby Ingram and John Galvin. (Both had played on Danny Joe Brown's 1981 solo disc.) Eventually founding member Dave Hlubeck returned to Molly Hatchet.
Named after a famous 17th century axe murderess, Hatchet Molly, who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous. Molly Hatchet was formed in 1971 by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland. Danny Joe Brown joined in 1974, Duane Roland, Banner Thomas, Bruce Crump in 1975. When they finally got their recording contract with Epic they got some help and advice from Ronnie Van Zant, who was originally suppose to produce the album, but was unable to due to the tragic plane crash in '77. Because of this the band's debut was not released until late 1978. Fortunately for the band, this late delivery did little to deter their popularity. By the time their second record was released, the band had became enormously popular and stayed that way for many years despite the departure of vocalist/frontman Danny Joe Brown. Brown left the band in 1980 due to health problems stemming from diabetes. Others have stated that the band worked hard on the road, and drank just as hard, which was the reason that Brown had to go. Brown returned to the band in '83 for a successful tour and the release of "No Guts No Glory". The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since the mid 80's and as of the mid 1990's was touring without any original members, although many members had been with the band for many years including Bobby Ingram and John Galvin. (Both had played on Danny Joe Brown's 1981 solo disc.) Eventually founding member Dave Hlubeck returned to Molly Hatchet.
Michael Fremer Vinyl Review
I am very proud to continue our new feature (look for this every Friday), music reviews that are written by the senior contributing editor of Stereophile magazine- Michael Fremer. It has been a pleasure to speak with Michael and learn more about audio sound and equipment. In fact, his new DVD, "It's A Vinyl World, After All" has hit the shelves and is selling out very quickly. This is a must have for anybody who loves vinyl, it is a true masterpiece.
Additionally, make sure to stop by his site, www.musicangle.com and bookmark it for further exploration. I certainly want to thank Michael for the exclusive rights to reprint his fantastic material.
ALBUM REVIEW:
The Beach Boys (reissue)
Pet Sounds
Capitol T 2458 180g mono LP
Produced by: Brian Wilson
Engineered by: Chuck Britz
Mixed by: Brian Wilson
Mastered by: N/A
Review by: Michael Fremer
2009-02-01
This is neither the time nor the place to extol the virtues of this classic album that has more than stood the test of time. You already know about it and perhaps own a copy or two. If you don't, then you can buy this new Capitol 180g reissue and be sure you have a competently produced, reasonably priced reissue, though clearly cut using a digital source that produces a record that's a thin, pale imitation when compared to earlier reissues.
The Brian Wilson classic, originally mixed in mono and issued in stereo on both CD (in a box set) and vinyl (separate LP), was meant to be heard in mono and that's the version Capitol wisely chose to reissue here.
Capitol doesn't say whether an analog or digital source was used as a mastering source but what really counts is the final sound, heretic as that might sound to some.
To find out how good this reissue was, I compared it to a pristine original Capitol issue, the 1971 Brother Records reissue produced for Warner Brothers, the Carl and The Passions twofer and Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray's 1995 DCC Compact Classics Edition as well as to the version included in the CD box set.
All of the vinyl reissues sounded superior to the original pressing, though pressing variability was far greater back then so it's difficult to know whether the copy I have is representative of what originally was issued. However, others with whom I spoke, who have original pressings, corroborated my findings: the original pressing is somewhat dark, closed in, a bit muffled and dynamically compressed compared to all of the reissues.
The Brothers/Warner Brothers reissue as well as the version on the Carl and the Passions twofer, are by far, the best sounding reissues in my opinion. They are the most open, exuberant and analogue-y. Of course they were cut when the master tape was but five years old, which gives them a major advantage over what came later.
There's more depth and space between instruments, which are presented with greater texture, transparency and dimensionality. For instance on 'God Only Knows,' the wood block that's passed through an echoplex or some other sort of delay unit available at the time has a sticky, round, three dimensional immediacy. You can hear the dimensionality and spaciousness provided by Western Studio's echo chamber. The mono image on 'I Know There's An Answer' is enormous and within that image the tambourines jump out and ring, the reedy sounding bass harmonica bellows with a visceral texture. You can hear the mix as well as the separate elements standing out as if they are literally irrepressible. But most of all what stands out is the speed of the attack and the length of the sustain and decay as Wilson adds elements to the mix.
There is a spectacular messiness about the whole thing, probably due, in part to the multitude of tracks and the sheer madness of the energy Wilson attempted to cram into the mix.
The new reissue is a far more pristine and orderly affair that's also dry, flat and boring. For instance on 'God Only Knows' the wood blocks are pretty good but not nearly as woody. All of the elements that assume individual spaces on the WB issue are packed into a flatter plane. On ' I Know There's An Answer' the tambourine doesn't have nearly the same texture, the bass harmonica doesn't vibrate your gut the same way, the tympani loses some of its majesty, the banjo loses the appropriate timber and what's especially noticeable is the flatness of the spatial plane and the lack of reverb 'hang time.'
It's easy to conclude that the record was cut using a digital source yet when I compared it to the box set's CD issue, the record sounded far more convincing. However, for some reason that's what I usually find when comparing LPs cut from digital sources with CDs probably made using that same source. 'Euphonic colorations?' Who cares?
Switching to the DCC Compact Classic Edition, you get a superb combination of clarity, spectacular detail, a big sonic space, great reverb 'hang time,' depth, visceral instrumental textures and depth-charge bass that's not overdone and extremely well-controlled but perhaps a bit rounder and fuller than Wilson originally intended but that's pure speculation.
So while I'd bet Capitol's new LP issue was sourced from digital, it does sound very good and better than the CD version. Perhaps it was sourced from high resolution digital or perhaps the LP cutting process adds just the right amount of 'coloration' to make it sound richer, fuller and more sonically satisfying, which it is. Still, it's a pale, thin and flat edition compared to the ones that are definitely analog.
If it was cut from digital do I wish it had been cut from analog? Of course. If it was cut from analog and I'm just wanking, well, if I find that out after the fact, I'll let you know! So since the DCC Compact Classic version is OOP and probably expensive if you can locate a copy and since the Carl and the Passions—So Tough/Pet Sounds twofer and the WB single edition from 1972 is rare, this new Capitol issue is a good choice, particularly since the 180 gram pressing is absolutely perfect. My copy was dead quiet, flat perfection. My source at Capitol says Rainbo in L.A. pressed it. I hope all of their current 180 gram output is this good in terms of pressing quality.
I just wish Capitol had used an analog master tape because this "clean, pristine" reissue will most likely bore the shit out of you the way CDs usually do.
Yes, it's better sounding than the CD version but it shares all of CD's worst qualities: flat, dimensionless, tinny, textureless and emotionally stunted.
Anyone who's bought this and thinks it sounds good can only think so because they haven't heard one of the good reissues.
Capitol had an opportunity to produce sonic greatness and instead insults one of Brian Wilson's greatest recordings.
SOURCE: http://www.musicangle.com Reprinted By Permission
Pick up Michael's DVD's Here:
Additionally, make sure to stop by his site, www.musicangle.com and bookmark it for further exploration. I certainly want to thank Michael for the exclusive rights to reprint his fantastic material.
ALBUM REVIEW:
The Beach Boys (reissue)
Pet Sounds
Capitol T 2458 180g mono LP
Produced by: Brian Wilson
Engineered by: Chuck Britz
Mixed by: Brian Wilson
Mastered by: N/A
Review by: Michael Fremer
2009-02-01
This is neither the time nor the place to extol the virtues of this classic album that has more than stood the test of time. You already know about it and perhaps own a copy or two. If you don't, then you can buy this new Capitol 180g reissue and be sure you have a competently produced, reasonably priced reissue, though clearly cut using a digital source that produces a record that's a thin, pale imitation when compared to earlier reissues.
The Brian Wilson classic, originally mixed in mono and issued in stereo on both CD (in a box set) and vinyl (separate LP), was meant to be heard in mono and that's the version Capitol wisely chose to reissue here.
Capitol doesn't say whether an analog or digital source was used as a mastering source but what really counts is the final sound, heretic as that might sound to some.
To find out how good this reissue was, I compared it to a pristine original Capitol issue, the 1971 Brother Records reissue produced for Warner Brothers, the Carl and The Passions twofer and Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray's 1995 DCC Compact Classics Edition as well as to the version included in the CD box set.
All of the vinyl reissues sounded superior to the original pressing, though pressing variability was far greater back then so it's difficult to know whether the copy I have is representative of what originally was issued. However, others with whom I spoke, who have original pressings, corroborated my findings: the original pressing is somewhat dark, closed in, a bit muffled and dynamically compressed compared to all of the reissues.
The Brothers/Warner Brothers reissue as well as the version on the Carl and the Passions twofer, are by far, the best sounding reissues in my opinion. They are the most open, exuberant and analogue-y. Of course they were cut when the master tape was but five years old, which gives them a major advantage over what came later.
There's more depth and space between instruments, which are presented with greater texture, transparency and dimensionality. For instance on 'God Only Knows,' the wood block that's passed through an echoplex or some other sort of delay unit available at the time has a sticky, round, three dimensional immediacy. You can hear the dimensionality and spaciousness provided by Western Studio's echo chamber. The mono image on 'I Know There's An Answer' is enormous and within that image the tambourines jump out and ring, the reedy sounding bass harmonica bellows with a visceral texture. You can hear the mix as well as the separate elements standing out as if they are literally irrepressible. But most of all what stands out is the speed of the attack and the length of the sustain and decay as Wilson adds elements to the mix.
There is a spectacular messiness about the whole thing, probably due, in part to the multitude of tracks and the sheer madness of the energy Wilson attempted to cram into the mix.
The new reissue is a far more pristine and orderly affair that's also dry, flat and boring. For instance on 'God Only Knows' the wood blocks are pretty good but not nearly as woody. All of the elements that assume individual spaces on the WB issue are packed into a flatter plane. On ' I Know There's An Answer' the tambourine doesn't have nearly the same texture, the bass harmonica doesn't vibrate your gut the same way, the tympani loses some of its majesty, the banjo loses the appropriate timber and what's especially noticeable is the flatness of the spatial plane and the lack of reverb 'hang time.'
It's easy to conclude that the record was cut using a digital source yet when I compared it to the box set's CD issue, the record sounded far more convincing. However, for some reason that's what I usually find when comparing LPs cut from digital sources with CDs probably made using that same source. 'Euphonic colorations?' Who cares?
Switching to the DCC Compact Classic Edition, you get a superb combination of clarity, spectacular detail, a big sonic space, great reverb 'hang time,' depth, visceral instrumental textures and depth-charge bass that's not overdone and extremely well-controlled but perhaps a bit rounder and fuller than Wilson originally intended but that's pure speculation.
So while I'd bet Capitol's new LP issue was sourced from digital, it does sound very good and better than the CD version. Perhaps it was sourced from high resolution digital or perhaps the LP cutting process adds just the right amount of 'coloration' to make it sound richer, fuller and more sonically satisfying, which it is. Still, it's a pale, thin and flat edition compared to the ones that are definitely analog.
If it was cut from digital do I wish it had been cut from analog? Of course. If it was cut from analog and I'm just wanking, well, if I find that out after the fact, I'll let you know! So since the DCC Compact Classic version is OOP and probably expensive if you can locate a copy and since the Carl and the Passions—So Tough/Pet Sounds twofer and the WB single edition from 1972 is rare, this new Capitol issue is a good choice, particularly since the 180 gram pressing is absolutely perfect. My copy was dead quiet, flat perfection. My source at Capitol says Rainbo in L.A. pressed it. I hope all of their current 180 gram output is this good in terms of pressing quality.
I just wish Capitol had used an analog master tape because this "clean, pristine" reissue will most likely bore the shit out of you the way CDs usually do.
Yes, it's better sounding than the CD version but it shares all of CD's worst qualities: flat, dimensionless, tinny, textureless and emotionally stunted.
Anyone who's bought this and thinks it sounds good can only think so because they haven't heard one of the good reissues.
Capitol had an opportunity to produce sonic greatness and instead insults one of Brian Wilson's greatest recordings.
SOURCE: http://www.musicangle.com Reprinted By Permission
Pick up Michael's DVD's Here:
Music News & Notes
Nada Surf Re-Issue Three LP's For Vinyl Release
The group are re-releasing three of their albums The Proximity Effect, Let Go and The Weight Is A Gift on vinyl this April 14th as all three have been out of print and for sometime (available on CD but no longer on vinyl).
The bands latest album Lucky was released last year to critical acclaim . If you're a long time Nada Surf fan then this will no doubt tickle your fancy as well so make sure you pick them up when they get their release this April.
=============================
Sonic Youth LP
Sonic Youth’s 16th album, The Eternal, will be released on vinyl, compact disc, and digital album by Matador Records on June 9 and was produced by John Agnello and the band.
Recorded through November and December of last year at the band’s Echo Canyon West studio in Hoboken, NJ, The Eternal features many firsts for a Sonic Youth album, including a number of shared vocals between Kim, Thurston, and Lee, and the studio debut of former Pavement/Dustdevils bassist Mark Ibold, a member of Sonic Youth’s touring band for the past few years.
Matador will shortly announce a Buy Early Get Now opportunity for the album with some very interesting bonus material.
Track listing:
1. Sacred Trickster
2. Anti-Orgasm
3. Leaky Lifeboat(for Gregory Corso)
4. Antenna
5. What We Know
6. Calming The Snake
7. Poison Arrow
8. Malibu Gas Station
9. Thunderclap For Bobby Pyn
10. No Way
11. Walkin Blue
=============================
Yeah Yeah Yeah LP
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' third studio album "It’s Blitz!" is set for an April 10 release in Australia, but for the fanatics among us, the cover art and tracklist have been revealed today.
The new LP features 10-tracks and was recorded in numerous rural locations across the US countryside. From El Paso's 1,700 acre Sonic Ranch studio to a dairy farm in Massachusetts. The trio worked with two producers on It’s Blitz!: long-term producer TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek (who did the production of the last two LP’s) and Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Talking Heads, INXS) who record their Is Is EP.
Producers aside, the band didn't do everything the same in the recording process. For one thing the band has taken a much more experimental approach, with guitarist Nick Zinner playing a swag of vintage synths on the new release. The band took inspiration from Italian producer Giorgio Moroder's work with R&B songstress Donna Summer as well as Joy Division.
The album also features a few special guests including Bird and the Bee maestro producer Greg Kurtsin, TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone, and saxophonist Stuart Bogie (Antibalas) among others
=============================
Paper + Plastick Records
Vinnie Fiorello has announced the launch of his new endeavor, Paper + Plastick Records, based out of Gainesville, FL. Fiorello is a founding member of legendary ska/punk band Less Than Jake, and founder/former owner of the successful label Fueled By Ramen (Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco).
The independent label will take a new and alternative approach to music retail by selling the highest digital quality music files available, along with deluxe digital packaging. The label will also only release physical music on exclusive, multi-colored and oddly shaped vinyl, making all Paper + Plastick releases a must have for recording buffs, vinyl collectors and music fans alike.
“I think that brick and mortar stores are a dying breed,” comments Fiorello. “Chain stores are folding and the stores that remain want you to buy a TV instead of showcasing new music. I choose not to worry about the CD. That’s also dying, so why try to keep it alive now? I would much rather support independent record stores by putting out independent music in the format that I love, the format that kept and keeps the underground vibrant – vinyl.”
Fiorello also plans to release music digitally via the Paper + Plastick website, www.paperandplastick.com, weeks before the music will be available on digital retail outlets such as iTunes, Amazon.com and Emusic.com. Music downloaded from retail outlets loose their integrity and bitrate, but music from PaperandPlastick.com will be high quality digital recordings. Two versions of each album will be available for purchase through the website with varying prices.
SOURCE: http://www.drivenfaroff.com
=============================
Leonard Cohen To Release First Album Since 2004
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen is scheduled to release "Live in London," his first new album in five years, on March 31. The set was recorded from his July 17, 2008, performance at London's 02 Arena during his world tour last year.
The 26-track "Live in London," which will be available both as a double-disc CD and DVD, includes Cohen classics like "If It Be Your Will," "I'm Your Man" and "Hallelujah." It is the Canadian singer/songwriter's first release since 2004's "Dear Heather" and his first live album in eight years.
=============================
U2 On Letterman
U2 has signed on to perform five consecutive nights for the Late Show With David Letterman from March 2 through 6. It's part of the massive publicity push for the album No Line on the Horizon, which will be released on the Tuesday of that week.
=============================
AMORPHIS' New Cover Art Idea Borrowed From A STATIC LULLABY?
It has been brought to our attention that the cover artwork for "Skyforger", the forthcoming album from Finnish dark metallers AMORPHIS, bears more than a passing resemblance to that of "Faso Latido", the 2005 CD released by the Chino Hills, California post-hardcore band A STATIC LULLABY.
You can see both covers below.
"Faso Latido" is the second album by A STATIC LULLABY. Released in 2005 on Columbia Records, it was the group's last CD with all five original members. The LP was originally supposed to be called "Watch The Sunlight Burn", but has its title changed prior to its release.
"Skyforger" is scheduled for release on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.
The group are re-releasing three of their albums The Proximity Effect, Let Go and The Weight Is A Gift on vinyl this April 14th as all three have been out of print and for sometime (available on CD but no longer on vinyl).
The bands latest album Lucky was released last year to critical acclaim . If you're a long time Nada Surf fan then this will no doubt tickle your fancy as well so make sure you pick them up when they get their release this April.
=============================
Sonic Youth LP
Sonic Youth’s 16th album, The Eternal, will be released on vinyl, compact disc, and digital album by Matador Records on June 9 and was produced by John Agnello and the band.
Recorded through November and December of last year at the band’s Echo Canyon West studio in Hoboken, NJ, The Eternal features many firsts for a Sonic Youth album, including a number of shared vocals between Kim, Thurston, and Lee, and the studio debut of former Pavement/Dustdevils bassist Mark Ibold, a member of Sonic Youth’s touring band for the past few years.
Matador will shortly announce a Buy Early Get Now opportunity for the album with some very interesting bonus material.
Track listing:
1. Sacred Trickster
2. Anti-Orgasm
3. Leaky Lifeboat(for Gregory Corso)
4. Antenna
5. What We Know
6. Calming The Snake
7. Poison Arrow
8. Malibu Gas Station
9. Thunderclap For Bobby Pyn
10. No Way
11. Walkin Blue
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Yeah Yeah Yeah LP
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' third studio album "It’s Blitz!" is set for an April 10 release in Australia, but for the fanatics among us, the cover art and tracklist have been revealed today.
The new LP features 10-tracks and was recorded in numerous rural locations across the US countryside. From El Paso's 1,700 acre Sonic Ranch studio to a dairy farm in Massachusetts. The trio worked with two producers on It’s Blitz!: long-term producer TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek (who did the production of the last two LP’s) and Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Talking Heads, INXS) who record their Is Is EP.
Producers aside, the band didn't do everything the same in the recording process. For one thing the band has taken a much more experimental approach, with guitarist Nick Zinner playing a swag of vintage synths on the new release. The band took inspiration from Italian producer Giorgio Moroder's work with R&B songstress Donna Summer as well as Joy Division.
The album also features a few special guests including Bird and the Bee maestro producer Greg Kurtsin, TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone, and saxophonist Stuart Bogie (Antibalas) among others
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Paper + Plastick Records
Vinnie Fiorello has announced the launch of his new endeavor, Paper + Plastick Records, based out of Gainesville, FL. Fiorello is a founding member of legendary ska/punk band Less Than Jake, and founder/former owner of the successful label Fueled By Ramen (Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco).
The independent label will take a new and alternative approach to music retail by selling the highest digital quality music files available, along with deluxe digital packaging. The label will also only release physical music on exclusive, multi-colored and oddly shaped vinyl, making all Paper + Plastick releases a must have for recording buffs, vinyl collectors and music fans alike.
“I think that brick and mortar stores are a dying breed,” comments Fiorello. “Chain stores are folding and the stores that remain want you to buy a TV instead of showcasing new music. I choose not to worry about the CD. That’s also dying, so why try to keep it alive now? I would much rather support independent record stores by putting out independent music in the format that I love, the format that kept and keeps the underground vibrant – vinyl.”
Fiorello also plans to release music digitally via the Paper + Plastick website, www.paperandplastick.com, weeks before the music will be available on digital retail outlets such as iTunes, Amazon.com and Emusic.com. Music downloaded from retail outlets loose their integrity and bitrate, but music from PaperandPlastick.com will be high quality digital recordings. Two versions of each album will be available for purchase through the website with varying prices.
SOURCE: http://www.drivenfaroff.com
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Leonard Cohen To Release First Album Since 2004
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen is scheduled to release "Live in London," his first new album in five years, on March 31. The set was recorded from his July 17, 2008, performance at London's 02 Arena during his world tour last year.
The 26-track "Live in London," which will be available both as a double-disc CD and DVD, includes Cohen classics like "If It Be Your Will," "I'm Your Man" and "Hallelujah." It is the Canadian singer/songwriter's first release since 2004's "Dear Heather" and his first live album in eight years.
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U2 On Letterman
U2 has signed on to perform five consecutive nights for the Late Show With David Letterman from March 2 through 6. It's part of the massive publicity push for the album No Line on the Horizon, which will be released on the Tuesday of that week.
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AMORPHIS' New Cover Art Idea Borrowed From A STATIC LULLABY?
It has been brought to our attention that the cover artwork for "Skyforger", the forthcoming album from Finnish dark metallers AMORPHIS, bears more than a passing resemblance to that of "Faso Latido", the 2005 CD released by the Chino Hills, California post-hardcore band A STATIC LULLABY.
You can see both covers below.
"Faso Latido" is the second album by A STATIC LULLABY. Released in 2005 on Columbia Records, it was the group's last CD with all five original members. The LP was originally supposed to be called "Watch The Sunlight Burn", but has its title changed prior to its release.
"Skyforger" is scheduled for release on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Album Cover Art
Molly Hatchet - Locked and Loaded 2003
"Locked and Loaded" is an spectacular showcase of one of Southern Rock's longest running bands and features a good variety of material from both the early and later years of the band.
"Locked and Loaded" is an spectacular showcase of one of Southern Rock's longest running bands and features a good variety of material from both the early and later years of the band.
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