Music News & Notes

Blink-182 to repress Buddha on vinyl

Just two weeks after their reissue of Enema of the State Blink 182 will release their debut, Buddha, on vinyl on December 15, 2009.

Originally recorded in 1993, but not released until 1998, it was recorded over three rainy nights on a 24 track recording system at Double Time Studios in San Diego, California, according to the CD's liner notes. The album was one of the few Blink-182 albums released with the band name as Blink.

The album was first released on cassette, but was later re-released on Kung Fu Records featuring a remix and remaster of the original album with different cover art and a different track listing. The remastered version was also available on cassette and vinyl, but is now out of print. According to the CD's liner notes on the reissue, the demo was originally released on a limited cassette tape with no title and a picture of Maitreya Buddha on the front.

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Them Crooked Vultures (Foo Fighters, QOTSA, Led Zeppelin) plan new single

Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame will release a new single from his new project, Them Crooked Vultures next Monday. The band also features Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. The new song is titled "New Fang."

The self-titled debut from the record will follow on November 17, 2009.

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Boss Single on iTunes

“Columbia Records has released Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ exclusively to the iTunes Store,” a news bulletin from Bruce’s site reads.

The bundle includes the audio single plus a music video of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band shot during their historic run at Giants Stadium; the video was edited by Chris Hilson and Emmy and GRAMMY Award winner Thom Zimny and is different from the footage that was previously streamed on brucespringsteen.net. The song was mixed by Bob Clearmountain.

The Rick Weeds Band Releases Soulful Classic Rock On New Album

LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Second Floor Recordings) - With a background deeply engrained in the Blues, Classic Rock, and Folk music - The Rick Weeds Band is reestablishing Classic Rock into the mainstream like no other on their debut album, It's True.

Lead singer/guitarist, Rick Weeds was born in Chicago in 1960 and was performing for family and friends at the age of 5 - he strummed his toy guitar while donning a Beatles wig and singing, "I love you, yeah, yeah, yeah."

Blues soon made an impression in Rick's life and his father's brandy-voiced version of "Old Man River", his first inspiration.

Growing up in Chicago in the 1970's and 80's, Rick witnesses an unsurpassed explosion of musical genres. From Folk to Classic Rock, and through an overwhelming, and sustaining force, The Blues - Rick found his passion.

Weeds didn't just sing and play the Blues, he also lived them. He almost lost his life in a boating accident in 2000. He was with his wife Liz and son Ryne fishing in Wisconsin when a powerboat came out of nowhere and slammed right into them. Weeds was able to shove Liz and Ryne out of harm's way before being thrown into the water suffering a broken spine and a crushed right arm. Rick spent 35 days in intensive care followed by numerous surgeries to rebuild his right arm and a spinal fusion for his broken spine. After a year of therapy Weeds was able to return to his first love - the guitar.

"The day he picked up the guitar, he was born again," said Liz with tears in her eyes. "Music was his life, and he was able to live again. Here breeds this restless soul, envisioned with heart and passion, pursuing the craft which makes him what he is today."

The Rick Weeds Band is a cross of Muddy Waters with a soulful Blues feel. Neil Young with a mellow acoustic Folk feel and "The Who" with the driving Rock edge!

Weeds on lead vocals, rhythm, and lead guitar. Miz Liz on backup vocals and hand percussion. Kevin Lewandowski on lead, and rhythm guitar. Krisstoffer Haase on bass guitar. Dennis Voges on drums, and Sam Bellino as percussionist.

The Rick Weeds Band's album It's True, released by Second Floor Recordings and distributed by KES Music and Video Distribution, is currently available digitally and will be in stores on November 24th, 2009. The Rick Weeds Band will be starting their Mid-Western tour later this month and a national college radio campaign starts October 19, 2009. For more information log on to http://www.rickweeds.com

WARNER BROS. RECORDS INC. BRINGS VINYL TO THE PEOPLE DURING THIS WEEKEND’S ANNUAL WFMU RECORD FAIR IN NYC

Burbank, CA – Warner Bros. Records [PR]— the No. 1 vinyl label in the country — will bring vinyl directly to the people this weekend by hosting a booth at the annual WFMU Record Fair in New York City. The event, known as a worldwide Mecca for music enthusiasts and vinyl fans, will be held October 23rd through the 25th at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th Street in Manhattan.

“There is no better place to sell music directly to fans than at the annual WMFU show,” says Warner Bros. Records General Manager Tom Biery, who oversees all of the company’s vinyl releases. “As a vinyl freak, I have been going to the show for years and have always thought that having a WBR/Reprise booth to sell our records would be a ton of fun as well as a great learning experience.”

This weekend also kicks off Warner Bros. Records’ relationship with vinyl-only indie label, Original Recording Group (ORG), which will be manning the WBR booth.

At the show, Reprise Records will unveil, for the first time, legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young’s first four catalog reissues, including the direct-to-fan 180-gram Limited Edition box set. Those titles, Neil Young, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, After The Gold Rush, and Harvest, have been meticulously cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from the original master tapes (under the direct supervision of Neil Young’s team) and manufactured at the world’s premiere record-pressing plant, Pallas MFG/Germany. This is the first-ever upgrade to these essential recordings on vinyl and is sure to delight both fans and audiophiles alike.

Warner Bros. Records will also reveal a “collector’s edition” vinyl version of the new album from The Flaming Lips, Embryonic (pressed in a limited edition of 200), as well as a three-disc vinyl version of R.E.M.’s Live At the Olympia in Dublin/39 Songs, which also includes the CD and DVD, in all its glorious sound and packaging.

To celebrate the company’s signing of a worldwide partnership with New Wave pioneers Devo, Warner Bros. Records will also be previewing vinyl reissues of two of the band’s classic albums: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Freedom Of Choice, newly mastered by Bernie Grundman on beautiful yellow and red wax.

And finally, Warner Bros. Records will present a series of stunning soul 45s from the famed Loma label. With each title highly collectible upon its original pressing, these reissues are intended to enable fans to enjoy this incredible music the way it was meant to be heard—at 45 rpm. Artists in this series include The Marvellos, The Soul Shakers, Carl Thomas, and others.

For those who can’t attend the WMFU Record Fair this weekend, these titles can be purchased at www.becausesoundmatters.com.

Photo of R.E.M. vinyl box set courtesy of Furnace MFG

Michael Fremer Review

I am very proud to continue our 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:
Jimi Hendrix (reissue)
Voodoo Child
Classic Records/Experience Hendrix 4 200g Quiex SV-P LPs

Produced by: Janie Hendrix and John McDermott
Engineered by: Eddie Kramer
Mixed by: Eddie Kramer
Mastered by: Bernie Grundman (LP cutting)


Review by: Michael Fremer




Compilations are an ugly concept on vinyl. Either analog copy tapes have been strung together to create a cutting master or digital copies of masters are electronically assembled to produce the same cutting master. Once in a black and blue moon, original masters are removed from their reels and strung together to produce cutting masters made from original master tapes, but those are few and few between and almost impossible to make. They’re rare because few companies allow precious masters to be cut up and because unless the tunes were recorded in the same studio on the same impeccably maintained recorder, it’s very difficult if not impossible to cut a lacquer where the record/playback head’s azimuth changes from track to track.

If an original master tape is used to make first generation copies to create an analog cutting master, the results can be outstanding because most of the great LPs from the “golden age” were cut using production, not original master tapes. So they’re a generation down to begin with. Therefore, a compilation assembled from orignal master tape copies is, for all intents and purposes, identical to a cutting master of a whole album. One reason why “greatest hits” albums on LP can sound particularly distant and foul is because the cutting master is assembled from a copy of the original cutting master, not the original tape, and is therefore third generation.

This Hendrix compilation was originally issued as a double CD set in 2001 on Experience Hendrix/MCA (088112603-2) and mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound. The booklet accompanying this four LP set from Classic still lists Marino as mastering engineer but with “BG” in the lead-out grooves, clearly the cutting was done by Bernie Grundman.

From what? Given that Marino apparently didn’t have a preview head on his R2R deck back in 2001 and transferred analog to digital before cutting the original “Experience Hendrix” series of LPs and CDs of the original individual albums, and of First Rays of the New Rising Sun the album Hendrix wanted to release instead of what came to be known as The Cry of Love, what are the chances that there was an analog tape of this compilation here for Bernie Grundman to work from? Not good!

Generating one would have required digging out the original tracks, transferring them and assembling them onto a reel for each of the eight sides. What are the odds that was done? Not great, even though it sounds that way when you compare the original CDs with the superbly smooth, rich, transparent and detailed sound of this four LP set.

Whatever was used for the transfer, this set of popular originals from the studio albums on one disc and live performances on the other, sounds much better than the already find sounding two CD set.

The compilation includes original studio classics like “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Fire,” and “Crosstown Traffic,” alternate takes of some familiar tunes, like “Spanish Castle Magic,” and “Stone Free,” and a second disc of live recordings culled from the enormous catalog.

Of course the LP packaging beats the double CD set, but the vinyl does likewise. Assuming you have a decent analog rig, the differences between the CD and analog sets will be immediately evident: the record sounds far more real, more transparent and far less “crunchy” than the CD, yet the EQ sounds very similar, if not identical.

Instrumental separation and physicality are far superior on LP, something that’s immediately noticeable if you pay attention to drums and cymbals. The LP sounds real, the CD does not. While I prefer LPs to be cut from analog master tapes, if possible, in the end I prefer which edition sounds better and in this case, the LPs sound more three dimensional, more detailed and more real. Whatever the source, it does not sound “digital,” as the terms has come to be used over the years.

Therefore, to readers who’ve asked me what I think of this set, all I can say is, I understand why the first pressing sold out: in many ways the tracks sound better than original UK Track and American Reprise editions.

It’s easy to recommend this box set to anyone needing a way into the Hendrix legacy. Personally, I’d go for the original LPs, since there were so few of them to begin with, but this compilation, containing many alternate takes not found on the originals (but found, in many cases, on the Jimi Hendrix box set of a few years ago, presents a fine introduction to the Henrix legacy.

If you buy this, you won’t be disappointed by the outstanding sonics, and you surely will appreciate the packaging, and of course the music.

SOURCE: http://www.musicangle.com Reprinted By Permission

Music News & Notes

The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band Confirm New Archival Releases

The next release from the guitarist’s solo canon, The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 2: Let It Rock, will collect highlights from Jerry Garcia Band shows that took place on November 17 and 18, 1975. The gigs were held at Keystone Berkeley in front of a hometown crowd, featuring the JGB lineup of Garcia, bassist John Kahn, drummer Ron Tutt and piano player Nicky Hopkins. Let it Rock includes covers of Chuck Berry (“Let It Rock”), Little Milton (“That’s What Love Will Make You Do”), Jimmy Cliff (“Sitting In Limbo”), Allen Toussaint (“I’ll Take A Melody”) and Hank Ballard (“Tore Up Over You”), as well as the Grateful Dead’s “Friend Of The Devil” and Garcia’s “Sugaree.” Three Hopkins originals are also featured: “Pig’s Boogie,” “Lady Sleeps” and the curiously titled “Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder” (the latter of which Hopkins first performed with Quicksilver Messenger Service).

The Grateful Dead will also release the next installment in the Road Trips series. Road Trips Vol. 3, No. 1 features a complete recording of December 28, 1979, the same New Year’s Run that is featured on Dick’s Picks: Vol. 5. Recorded at California’s Oakland Auditorium following the closure of the Winterland, the gigs took place early in keyboardist Brent Mydland’s tenure in the band. Highlights include “Sugaree,” a rare “High Time,” “The Music Never Stopped,” the then new “Alabama Getaway,” “Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Playing in the Band,” “Terrapin Station,” “Casey Jones” and “One More Saturday Night.”

A limited edition Bonus Disc will also feature material from December 30, 1979, including a run from “Scarlet Begonias” into “Fire on the Mountain” and “Let It Grow.” Longtime Relix photographer Jay Blakesberg and Dead scribe Steve Silberman contribute to the album’s liner notes.

PRE-ORDER BEGINS NOW at www.dead.net

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THE BEATLES CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE OF ABBEY ROAD

Record Store Day is proud to celebrate this connection with a special 40th Anniversary edition of Abbey Road that includes the vinyl album, and a t-shirt that featuring the original artwork for the “Come Together”/”Something” 7” single, along with a corresponding poster. This limited edition deluxe package will be release on Vinyl Saturday, November 7th in the United States and will be limited to 5000 in the world. Check with your local store for availability.

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R.E.M., NIN, Pearl Jam, Rage Join Effort to Close Guantanamo Prison

The U.S. military's alleged use of music, played at ear-bleeding volumes, as an "interrogation tool" has come under fire from some of the musicians whose work is involved in the practice. That "interrogation tool" was allegedly used quite a bit at the United States' prison for terrorist suspects located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Today, MTV reports that a number of artists have joined the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo, which supports President Obama's pledge to shutter the prison, even as it faces Republican opposition.

The coalition includes R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, and Billy Bragg. It also includes Nine Inch Nails, whose "March of the Pigs" is among the songs that have reportedly been used in interrogations, according to MTV. Other songs include Deicide's "Fuck Your God" and the Meow Mix jingle, which, yikes.

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Bon Jovi Hitting the Road for Two Years

At a press conference yesterday, Bon Jovi not only announced that they would be the opening act at the New Meadowlands Stadium, but would also be embarking on a two-year world tour.

The Circle World Tour starts on February 19 in Seattle, Washington and will include a residency at London's O2 Arena next June. The plans are to play 135 shows in 30 countries before wrapping up the tour in 2011.

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Motown Acts Hit Cruise Ships

Motown vets the Four Tops, the Dramatics and Freda Payne will be hitting the high seas this January as part of the label's 50th anniversary celebration. Hitsville Ventures, LLC is sponsoring the cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas and will be filming for a special documentary on the label.

"We will film the shipboard concerts, the parties and all the wonderful activities with the artists and the fans, and create a permanent historical record of this unique once-in-a-lifetime experience," says Herbert J, Strather, CEO of Hitsville Venture.

Other possible acts for the cruise who have not yet confirmed include the Miracles, the Original Vandellas and the Contours.

This Date In Music History-October 23

Birthdays:

Barbara Ann Hawkins - Dixie Cups (1943)

Michael Burston - Motorhead (1949)

Dwight Yoakam (1956)

"Weird Al" Yankovic (1959)

Roberto Trujillo - Suicidal Tendencies/Metallica (1964)

Brian Nevin - Big Head Todd and the Monsters (1966)


They Are Missed:

The late Charles Foxx (sang "Mockingbird" with his sister Inez) was born in 1939.

Tommy Edwards ("Morning Side Of The Mountain") died of a brain aneurism in 1969.

In 1978, Mother Maybelle Carter, guitarist and vocalist with the Carter Family trio, died in Nashville at age 69.

Born today in 1943, Greg Ridley, bass player, Spooky Tooth, Humble Pie (died on November 19, 2003).

Songwriter Ellie Greenwich was born in New York in 1940 (died August 26, 2009). Member of the Raindrops and writer of "Chapel Of Love", "Da Doo Ron Ron", Hanky Panky" and many others with then-husband Jeff BarryWith Jeff Barry.


History:

Dion started a two week run at #1 in 1961 "Runaround Sue."



In 1962, twelve-year old Steveland Morris Judkins, renamed Little Stevie Wonder, recorded his first single, "Thank you for Loving Me All the Way," for Motown Records. The record doesn't do anything but he is billed as the twelve year old genius.

In 1963, the Beatles completed the final session for their second album ‘With the Beatles’ recording "I Wanna Be Your Man." The group then drove to London airport for a flight to Stockholm, Sweden to start their first foreign tour. The Fab four were met at Stockholm airport by hundreds of girl fans that had taken the day of school.

Bob Dylan recorded the epic cut "The Times They Are A-Changin" at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City in 1963.

In 1964, all four members of band Buddy and the Kings were killed when they hired a Cesna Skyhawk to take them to a gig in Harris County. Piloted by the bands drummer Bill Daniles, the plane crashed nose first killing all on board. Singer with the group Harold Box had replaced Buddy Holly in The Crickets after his death in a plane crash. He sang lead vocals on "Peggy Sue Got Married."

The Byrds' "Turn! Turn! Turn!" was released in 1965.



In 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded its first two songs, "Hey Joe" and "Stone Free" at London's De Lane Lea Studios.

In 1969, Bob Dylan's "Great White Women" bootleg album sells like hotcakes in the U.S and Canada. Columbia Records, which has Dylan under contract, said it would pursue court action to stop the bootleg's sales. Dylan had no comment.

"Tommy," Pete Townshend's rock opera, spent its last week on the LP chart in 1971, two and a half years after its release. However, "Tommy" returns in 1972 for a one-night-only London stage performance and again in 1975 with the release of the movie "Tommy."

Chicago started a two week run at #1 in 1976 with the sappy cut "If You Leave Me Now." It was the group's 18th Top 40 and first US #1 (also a #1 in the UK). It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance.

Led Zeppelin made their US television debut on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1976, they performing "Black Dog" and "Dazed And Confused."

In 1978, CBS Records becomes the first U.S. label to announce a price hike to $8.98 list price for albums.

Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious attempted suicide while awaiting murder charges at New York's Rikers Island Detention Center in 1978. Vicious was charged with the killing of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

In 1980, Mark David Chapman quit his security job and signed out for the last time. Instead of the usual "Chappy" he wrote "John Lennon". Chapman would murder Lennon on December 8th of this year outside his New York City home.

John Lennon's first new single in more than five years,, "(Just Like) Starting Over," was released in 1980.

In 1982, The Damned released an album titled 'Strawberries' packaged with a Strawberry-smelling lyric sheet.

Nirvana played their first ever European show in 1989 when they appeared at Newcastle's Riverside Club in North East England. It was the first night of a 36 date European tour for the group who were sharing the bill with Tad.

In 1998, a federal district judge in St. Louis, MO denied a motion that would have permitted the Fort Zumwalt high school marching band the right to play a banned all-music segment of '60s songs that includes Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit." The school superintendent banned the song because he felt it promoted the drug culture.

The Rob Thomas/Carlos Santana collaboration, "Smooth," was #1 in the US in 1999. The track is recorded for Santana’s comeback album, "Supernatural." With lyrics by Thomas, the songs stays on top for an impressive 12 weeks.

In 2001, Dave Matthews Band released "Live in Chicago" 12-19-98 at the United Center.

In 2002, a federal judge in St. Louis dismissed a lawsuit against Chuck Berry by Johnnie Johnson, a piano player and former collaborator who wanted royalties for more than 30 songs written between 1955 and 1966. The songs in question included "No Particular Place To Go," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Sweet Little Sixteen." Johnson's lawsuit argued that he and Berry were co-writers on many of the songs, but because Berry copyrighted them in his name alone, Johnson got none of the royalties. The judge ruled that too many years had passed to bring about a royalties suit.

During Ashlee Simpson's performance on Saturday Night Live in 2004, the band play a song different to the vocals the audience heard coming out the speakers. Simpson abandoned the performance but denies charges of lip syncing. Uh, ok we believe you.

In 2007, Phil Spector's first murder trial (for the 2003 shooting of actress Lana Clarkson) ends in a hung jury (10-2 for guilty-- he is later found guilty).

"Raising Sand," a collaboration between ex-Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant and Country/Bluegrass singer Alison Krauss, was released in 2007. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, the 13-track set is largely covers, including "Please Read The Letter," a song Plant co-wrote with Jimmy Page. On singing harmony with Krauss, Plant says, "I'd always liked harmony singing but I'd never been a part of anything . . . that ever went anywhere near harmony work." Plant first sang with Krauss on an ’04 Leadbelly (Hudy William Ledbetter) tribute album.

Music News & Notes

R. Kelly's 'Untitled' Album Finally Gets a Release Date

After several delays, the long-anticipated new album from R. Kelly finally has a release date. 'Untitled' will be available December 1 and will include the singles 'Number One' featuring Keri Hilson, released in July, and 'Religious," which dropped about two weeks ago.

Initially, the R&B artist planned to release an album titled '12 Play, 4th Quarter' in 2008, but when the set leaked, he scrapped the project, re-recorded some of the songs and assembled his next release under a new and non-descriptive name.

Breaking away from his traditional routine, Chicago-based Kelly recorded some of the 'Untitled' material in Atlanta. He has traditionally recorded solely in the Windy City. He also joined forces with a group of rising producers that Infinity, Lil Ronnie and Chris Henderson.

'Untitled' will be Kelly's 10th studio album. It follows 2007's 'Double-Up,' which topped The Billboard 200 upon its release to become his fifth No. 1 set on the album chart.

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Susan Boyle beats U2, Coldplay to set Amazon record

There's a new record holder for the largest CD pre-order ever on Amazon.com's Music Store -- and she beat the likes of Norah Jones, U2, Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay.

It's Susan Boyle.

She's the woman who wowed the world on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent."

Her album, "I Dreamed A Dream," doesn't come out until November 23rd, but Amazon says the response for pre-orders is "unprecedented."

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Michael Buble beats out 'New Moon' soundtrack on The Billboard 200

Michael Buble's "Crazy Love" tops The Billboard 200 for a second week in a row, beating out the much-anticipated "Twilight Saga: New Moon" soundtrack, released Friday, 203,000 to 115,000. Granted, this was the jazz singer's first full week of sales, and "New Moon" (at No. 2) was only on shelves for three days -- with pre-sales included -- as it was released early on Friday.

Still, it's a triumph for Buble, as this marks his second-best sales week.

Jay-Z's "Blueprint 3" climbs up 5-3 despite a 15% sales slip to 55,000. Barbra Streisand's "Love Is the Answer" sits at No. 4 (49,000, -34%), Miley Cyrus' "The Time of Our Lives" ascends 8-5 (40,000, -15%) and Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D." bounds up 23-6 (40,000, +56%). After an appearance on "Oprah" and the release of a new music video ("Fifteen"), Taylor Swift and her "Fearless" zoom up 17-7 (33,000, +7%).

The Flaming Lips score their best chart position ever, though it's not their best sales week. "Embryonic" debuts at No. 8 with 32,000. Their last album, "At War with the Mystics," began at No. 11 but with 48,000 in 2006.

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Rogers Tires Of His Own Song

How many times can you listen to Kenny Rogers' The Gambler in a row? An even bigger question is, how many times can Kenny Rogers SING The Gambler in a row? The answer to the second question is evidently twelve because that's how many times he sang the song the other night at the request of hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam who paid $4 million for a private performance by the singer. Rajaratnam requested the song over and over until, after an even dozen performances, Rogers refused to do it again. For $4 million he should have sang it until the customer became ill.

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Rihanna's 'Russian Roulette' Arrives, New Album Is Called 'Rated R'


Rihanna's brand new single "Russian Roulette" which is written by Ne-Yo has arrived. The track is confirmed to be the first single from the Barbadian songstress' upcoming studio album "Rated R" which is due for November 23 U.S. release.

A music video in companion to the song has been filmed last week in New York City. It is directed by Anthony Mandler and is expected to be debuted on ABC during the network's primetime hours. Unfortunately, no specified premiere date is mentioned. Here is the R-Rated cover art that is gaining attention in the music circles.

A cover art for the single has also been put forward. The artwork features Rihanna being topless and tied up in barbed wires. Wearing an eye patch, she looks fiercely to the camera with slightly-opened mouth. Her right hand is holding a chain hanging from the ceiling. Cool....

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Eels Unveil New Album Cover Art


Eels have unveiled the cover art for their forthcoming album, ‘End Times‘.

The band also released the tracklisting for the album, due out January 19.

The album art was illustrated by Adrian Tomine.

Box Sets From A Very Special Christmas, Buddy Holly, Hendrix, Motown, Rolling Stones, U2, and Klaus Voormann Plus a Rarity From Nirvana Arrive for the

Box Sets From A Very Special Christmas, Buddy Holly, Hendrix, Motown, Rolling Stones, U2, and Klaus Voormann Plus a Rarity From Nirvana Arrive for the Holidays

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Historic Jimi Hendrix concerts... a legendary performance from Nirvana... U2's remastered The Unforgettable Fire... every recording by Buddy Holly... a new generation of talent on A Very Special Christmas, every Motown #1 hit... nearly every Rolling Stones album since 1971... and a collection from famed sideman Klaus Voormann. With new box sets and albums from UMe, holiday gift-giving has never sounded so good.


A Very Special Christmas:

Selling one million copies in its first year, the premier album, A Very Special Christmas, released in 1987, and the subsequent albums in the series, have generated more than $l00 million for Special Olympics, the most ever raised by a benefit recording series. Set for release on November 23, A Very Special Christmas - Volume 7 (A&M/UMe), incorporates a new generation of superstar talent; Colbie Caillat, Carter Twins, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Sean Kingston, Leighton Meester, Kellie Pickler, Ashley Tisdale, Carrie Underwood, as well as many others, add to the latest edition of the acclaimed album series featuring original recordings of new and traditional Christmas songs which each artist selected especially for this album.


Buddy Holly:

He had a brief three-year professional recording career, but Buddy Holly left the music world a vast recorded legacy of 203 tracks--all of them on the limited edition six-CD Hip-O Select box set Not Fade Away/The Complete Studio Recordings And More.

The tracks range from his earliest recordings to demos with Bob Montgomery; from his earliest recordings with The Crickets to his first studio recordings for Decca in Nashville; from the Coral and Brunswick recordings and hits that made him famous to his heralded apartment tapes. There are six previously unreleased tracks plus another 11 previously unreleased in the U.S. All of the original, locatable undubbed recordings and all 57 overdubbed versions recorded after the "day the music died" are here. Many are hard-to-find or make their CD debuts.


Jimi Hendrix:

Two box sets from Dagger Records (Experience Hendrix through Geffen/UMe), offered exclusively through Amazon.com, are each presented with exclusive reproductions of Hendrix memorabilia, including a poster, postcard set replicating classic Hendrix concert posters, set of badges reminiscent of the era, Hendrix iPod Skin, PikCARD with four guitar picks adorned with Hendrix artwork from the concert posters and more.

Jimi Hendrix Experience Live 1968 Paris/Ottawa encompasses a pair of concerts, highlighted by performances of "Purple Haze," "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Little Wing" from the L'Olympia Theater in Paris and a "Hendrixized" version of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" taped at Ottawa's Capitol Theater later that same year. Jimi Hendrix Experience Paris '67 is a custom-swirled, colored vinyl album documenting an earlier concert at L'Olympia and featuring performances of "Stone Free," "Hey Joe," "Wild Thing," etc.


Motown:

The 10-CD box set Motown: The Complete No. 1's (Motown/UMe) brings together every Motown No. 1 hit, from every U.S. and international chart and from every genre--a staggering 192 tracks--plus 10 bonus tracks whose cover versions were No. 1, for a otal of 202 No. 1 recordings.

Housed in a replica of the original Motown headquarters, "Hitsville U.S.A.," Motown: The Complete No. 1's spans generations of musical memories, beginning with 1961's R&B No. 1 "Shop Around" from The Miracles, and the label's first Pop No. 1, "Please Mr. Postman" from The Marvelettes. From The Supremes' five consecutive No. 1's, starting with "Where Did Our Love Go," to The Temptations' immortal "My Girl," this is the soundtrack to the sixties, seventies and beyond, concluding with 2000's "Bag Lady" from Erykah Badu. Heard too are Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, Martha & the Vandellas, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jackson 5, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Commodores, Rick James, Lionel Richie, Boyz II Men, and more.


Nirvana:

One of the most bootlegged concerts in the annals of rock-- Nirvana's August 30, 1992, headlining appearance at the U.K.'s Reading Festival--Nirvana Live At Reading (DGC/Geffen/UMe) will be issued in a limited edition DVD+CD Deluxe Edition in November. The footage and audio come in the original multi-track masters and are presented in 5.1 Surround Sound. Only two of the 25 performances on the DVD have ever been released before.

The concert ranked #1 in Kerrang's "100 Gigs That Shook The World" and "Nirvana's #1 Greatest Moment" by fans in an NME poll includes nearly the entire Nevermind tracklist, early performances of then-unrecorded songs ("All Apologies," "Dumb" and the first performance of "Tourette's") and live versions of songs later heard on Incesticide. The career-spanning set list also reaches back to the band's beginnings.


The Rolling Stones:

Thirteen of the 14 Rolling Stones albums since 1971 have been newly remastered and are available from UMe separately or in a limited edition collectible box set exclusively through Amazon.com (1972's Exile On Main St. will be remastered and released in early 2010). Included is a full-color poster of the band's Sticky Fingers classic promotional image re-created specially for this package.

The box brings together Sticky Fingers (1971, "Brown Sugar," "Wild Horses"); Goats Head Soup (1973, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)," "Angie"); It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1974, "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)"); Black And Blue (1976, "Hot Stuff," "Miss You"); Some Girls (1978, "Beast Of Burden," "Shattered"); Emotional Rescue (1980, "She's So Cold"); Tattoo You (1981, "Start Me Up"); Undercover (1983, "Undercover Of The Night"); Dirty Work (1986, "Harlem Shuffle"); and Steel Wheels (1989, "Rock And A Hard Place") plus Voodoo Lounge (1994), Bridges To Babylon (1997) and A Bigger Bang (2005).


U2:

U2's fourth album, The Unforgettable Fire, has been remastered for the first time with direction from U2 guitarist, The Edge, and will be released by Island/UMe on October 27, 2009. This special edition marks 25 years since the album's original release in October 1984. Recorded at Slane Castle, Ireland, The Unforgettable Fire was the first U2 album to be produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and spawned the US top 10 hit - "Pride (In The Name Of Love)."

The limited edition super deluxe box set features bonus audio material, including two previously unheard tracks from the Slane Castle sessions: "Yoshino Blossom" and "Disappearing Act" (a track which the band recently completed), and a DVD including music videos, a documentary and unreleased live footage from the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope Tour in 1986.


Klaus Voormann:

On A Sideman's Journey (UMe), famed musician Klaus Voormann, who played bass on solo albums for every Beatle as well as for Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Yoko Ono and others, is joined by musical friends in seven studio sessions in London, Memphis, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Munich. The limited edition two-disc box set, available exclusively through Amazon.com, includes three bonus audio tracks, a DVD documentary on the makin of the album, a hardbound book of photos (renowned graphic designer Voormann created the Beatles' Revolver cover) and more.

Featuring Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Yusuf (aka Cat Stevens), Dr. John, Bonnie Bramlett, Van Dyke Parks, Albert Lee, and others, A Sideman's Journey finds Voormann & Friends performing favorites such as "Blue Suede Shoes," "All Things Must Pass," "Mighty Quinn" and "Just Like A Woman."

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

I am continuing our new feature: Ask "Mr. Music." Now in its 23rd year of syndication (1986-2008), Jerry Osborne's weekly Q&A feature will be a regular post every Wednesday from now on. Be sure to stop by Jerry's site (www.jerryosborne.com) for more Mr. Music archives, record price guides, anything Elvis, buy & sell collectibles, record appraisals and much more. I thank Jerry for allowing the reprints.


FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2009


DEAR JERRY: I found a cassette tape hand-labeled “Doo-Wop Collectors Classics,” which provides no information about any of the songs or artists.

Surprisingly, all but one of the 20 or so tunes are ones I am completely unfamiliar with, by anyone. The one I do know is “Just One Look,” a hit in the '60s by Doris Troy, the Hollies, and Linda Ronstadt.

Any chance you know the name of the group singing “Just One Look”?
—Mario Cassell, Corpus Christi, Texas


DEAR MARIO: It is a certainty. This is in fact the original May 1963 release of “Just One Look,” by Andy and the Marglows (Liberty 55570). Their record preceded Doris Troy's version by about two weeks.

This group recorded only four songs (issued on two singles), all of which are on a 25-track CD album that you seem to have on tape: “Doo-Wop Collectors Classics, Volume 6.”

Having recently been in contact with Lamont Russell on another matter, he is the perfect person to enlighten us on the brief recording history of Andy and the Marglows:

“I sang with Andy and the Marglows in 1963, when we recorded for Liberty Records.

“Other members of our group were Andy Huff, his brother Terry, and Mickey Freeman. We all lived in Washington D.C. at the time.

“The first single was “Just One Look,” backed with “Symphony,” on which I sang the lead. Background vocals are by Doris Troy and two other ladies whose names I don't recall.

“Our manager drove us to Liberty Records in New York, a Los Angeles label with an office in N.Y. There, in the office of Ed Silver, our producer at Liberty, is where we first heard Doris Troy's “Just One Look” demo tape.

Though we begged Ed to let us record the song at the same tempo heard on Troy's demo, he kept saying that he needed it to be funky.

“Doris Troy, who also wrote “Just One Look,” wanted it recorded at Liberty the way it was on her demo, and not at the upbeat tempo that Ed had us using.

“Upon release in Detroit, one radio station selected our “funky” version as the Battle of Sounds best Rhythm and Blues Recording of the Month. Stations were playing our song like crazy, but only for about two weeks. That is when Doris Troy's version (Atlantic 2188) came out … and we were history.

“I think that if we had recorded “Just One Look” just as we heard it on the demo, there would have been no reason for Doris Troy to record the song herself. Her eventual release for Atlantic sounded just like her original demo.

“Though Doris Troy made the Top 10 with “Just One Look,” she never had another Top 100 hit.

“Our second and last single, “I'll Get By,” backed with “Superman Lover” (Liberty 55623), came out in October 1963.

“A dozen years later, the summer '75 chart hit, “The Lonely One” (Mainstream 5581) came out credited to Special Delivery Featuring Terry Huff. This outfit includes brothers Terry, Andy (half of Andy and the Marglows) and Jimmy Huff.”


DEAR JERRY: Like many teenage boys in the 1960s, I had a huge crush on Annette (Funicello).

Now, 45 years later, many have forgotten just how popular Annette was at the time.

This international superstar had hit records, popular TV shows, and major motion picture films, all going at the same time.

In one show I saw on television back then, Annette is cast as a dance hall girl in the old west. As such, she sings a song or two, much to the delight of a saloon full of rowdy cowboys.

Do you know these songs, and if they were on records. Also, what is the name of the movie?
—George E. Culley, Milwaukee


DEAR GEORGE: Let's begin with that made-for-television movie. It is “Golden Horseshoe Revue,” a Frontierland feature on Walt Disney's Sunday night series “Wonderful World of Color.” This episode aired on September 23, 1962.

At first Annette bores the local dudes with the Gay '90s-type ballad, “Hang a Lantern in Your Window.” As the cowboys get up to leave, Annette turns on the charm and sings the up-tempo “Mister Piano Man.” The men quickly return to their seats.

A single of “Mister Piano Man,” with a gorgeous photo sleeve picturing Annette festooned in her character's showgirl costume, (Buena Vista 405) came out in the summer of 1962.

I know of no issued recording of the 54-second “Hang a Lantern in Your Window.”


IZ ZAT SO? With a career that began in 1956, Annette became the Rock Era's first single-name star, years before Dion left the Belmonts, Cher sang apart from Sonny, and Donovan made every effort to “Catch the Wind.”


Copyright 2009 Osbourne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission

From Dublin to DC: Furnace MFG Completes Pressing of R.E.M.'s "Live at the Olympia" Vinyl Record Box Set

"Live at the Olympia" features 39 songs R.E.M recorded at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. In addition to the four LPs pressed by Furnace MFG, this limited-edition box set also includes two CDs and an hour-long DVD performance documentary of five nights of live rehearsals titled "This Is Not A Show."

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) October 21, 2009 -- For five nights in July 2007, R.E.M. performed and recorded a series of working rehearsals at the famed Olympia Theater in Dublin, Ireland in front of passionate, capacity crowds. New material was tested at these working concerts, some of which would eventually end up on their album "Accelerate." Thirty-nine songs were selected to form the tracks included of the box set "Live at the Olympia."

The live rehearsals were filmed by Vincent Moon and turned into an hour-long performance documentary featuring live concert footage from all five nights of the rehearsals. The documentary is also airing in select venues for a one-night-only sneak preview screening to coincide with the release of the box set.

With our exclusive partnerships with world-class vinyl pressing plants and our experience in exacting and difficult assembly and configuration, more and more customers are turning to Furnace MFG for one of a kind projects.

Warner Bros selected Furnace MFG for this special project, and the records were pressed at Furnace's German partner - Pallas Group Worldwide. Pallas has a long history of extremely high-quality vinyl pressing and is considered the plant of choice for many audiophile record labels throughout the world.

The limited edition box set includes 4 LP records in gatefold sleeves, 2 CDs, a DVD, a 24" x 36" tour poster as well essay notes from Peter Buck on each of the 39 songs. All of these components are housed in a sturdy slipcase to protect and display the collection.

"Furnace MFG has a strong reputation for special edition, multiple component vinyl packaging," says Manish Naik, Furnace MFG's COO. "With our exclusive partnerships with world-class vinyl pressing plants and our experience in exacting and difficult assembly and configuration, more and more customers are turning to Furnace MFG for one of a kind projects."

R.E.M.'s "Live at the Olympia" limited edition box set will be released on October 27, 2009 and is available for pre-order at http://www.remdublin.com

About Furnace MFG:
In business since 1996, Furnace MFG (www.furnacemfg.com/vinyl) is a recognized leader in CD and DVD duplication, replication, and vinyl record manufacturing and packaging.

About R.E.M.
www.remhq.com

Contact:
Manish Naik, COO
Furnace MFG
703-205-0007
www.furnacemfg.com
www.facebook.com/furnacemfg

###

Music News & Notes

Cover art for new Dark Funeral album revealed

Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL have unveiled the artwork for their new album, Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus.

The album will be released on November 18th via Regain Records.

According to a band update: "The album will be released in a couple of different formats. One of the first officially confirmed information is that the very first editions will be a 2 Disc Limited Edition (containing 1 CD + 1 Live DVD). The bonus live DVD offers approx. 55 minutes of all previously unreleased material. Professionally filmed with six cameras during the band’s highly acclaimed 15th anniversary special show, which has been commended as a 'firestorm' during the P&L Festival in Sweden 2008, cannot be missed! The album will also include the brand new video for 'My Funeral'."

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The Mighty Mighty Bosstones


The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have revealed the cover art for their upcoming new album Pin Points and Gin Joints. You can get a new track, "Graffiti Worth Reading", for free through their store.

The album currently has no release date, but is expected out sometime later this year. The genre-defining band released Medium Rare in 2007 after a brief hiatus.

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Country Music Honored

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution honoring country music for its contributions to America. Representative Cliff Sterns (R-FL) said:

"Country music traces its roots to the folk tradition of the British Isles and the Celts of central and western Europe; however, here in the United States, early immigrants, as well as African slaves, contributed to a new, distinct style of music that continued to develop through the 18th and 19th centuries. The history of country music is the history of our country.

"Subgenres such as bluegrass, folk and gospel have combined the unique instrumentation of country with powerful vocals to create one-of-a-kind sounds. Today, the influence of American country music is worldwide, with large fan bases in Canada and Australia, as well."

Um, OK, but what about health care reform?

This Date In Music History-October 21

Birthdays:

Norman Wright - Dell-Vikings ("Come Go With Me") (1937)

Jimmy Beaumont - Skyliners (1940)

Manfred Mann (1941)

Steve Cropper - Booker T and the MG's (1941)

Elvin Bishop (1942)

Ron Elliott - Beau Brummels (1943)

Kathy Young ("A Thousand Stars") (1945)

Lee Loughnane - Chicago (1946)

Tetsu Yamauchi - Faces (1947)

John 'Rabbit' Bundrick - Free (1948)

Charlotte Caffey - Go-Go's (1953)

Eric Faulkner - Bay City Rollers (1954)

Steve Lukather - Toto (1957)

Julian Cope (1957)


They Are Missed:

Jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie was born today in Cheraw, SC in 1917 (died January 6, 1993).

Born today in 1946, Lux Interior (Erick Lee Purkhiser), singer and founding member of The Cramps. Died in Glendale, California on February 4, 2009.

Born on this day in 1952, Brent Mydland, The Grateful Dead. He was found dead on the floor of his home on July 26, 1990 (age 38) from a drug overdose.

Bill Black, Elvis Presley's bass player, (1954-57), died in 1965, four months after receiving surgery to remove a brain tumor (age 39). With guitarist Scotty Moore, and Elvis Presley on rhythm guitar, Black played on a number of the King's hits. After leaving Presley Black formed Bill Black's Combo.

Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon died in 1995 of a cocaine/heroin overdose in New Orleans. He was 28.



In 2003, singer-songwriter Elliott Smith (real name Steven Paul Smith) was found dead of a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. Smith was 34.

In 2006, singer, songwriter, and drummer Sandy West died. Founding member (with Joan Jett) of all girl group The Runaways, hailed by fans and critics alike to be one of the most groundbreaking drummers in rock and roll history.


History:

Today in 1957, the song "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

In 1958, in what will be his last studio session, Buddy Holly recorded, "True Love Ways," "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," "Moondreams" and "Raining in my Heart" with the Crickets in New York.

Bob Dylan recorded his first album, "Bob Dylan," for Columbia Records in 1961. The album presents the 20-year old singer accompanied by his guitar and harmonica. The recording was done in a day and productions costs run $400. Filling out his income-tax form, Dylan gave his name as Blind Boy Grunt.

The Kingsmen appeared on "Shindig!" in 1965, performing "Louie Louie."

In 1965, wanting to improve on a previous recording session The Beatles started from scratch on a new song called "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," finishing recordings in three takes. They also began working on a new John Lennon song "Nowhere Man."

The Who, done up in pop-art costumes and equipped with smoke bombs, flash powder and other stage devices, appeared on British television's Ready Steady Go! in 1966. They played music from their rush released EP, "Ready Steady Who!" This included the "Batman Theme," "Barabara Ann," "Bucket T," "Circles" and "Disguises."

Today in 1967, the song "To Sir with Love" by Lulu topped the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.

Nashville's top Country Music Awards in 1968 went to Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A." for best song and to "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" for best album.

In 1972, seventeen years after writing and recording the first of his many rock & roll classics, Chuck Berry gets his first US #1 pop hit with "My Ding-a-Ling." It's a singalong novelty song derived from grade-school level private parts jokes. It is Chuck Berry’s most commercially successful single, bigger than “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Johnny B. Goode” or “Rock and Roll Music.” Amazing.

Also in 1972, Curtis Mayfield started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with soundtrack to "Superfly."

John Lennon began producing his "Rock 'n' Roll" album himself at the Record Plant Studios in 1974.

In 1976, Keith Moon played his last North American show with the Who as he and the band wrap-up an extensive year of touring at Toronto's Maple Leaf Garden.

Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same" movie debuts in New York in 1976.

"Road to Ruin," the Ramones’ fourth album, was released in 1978. It contains such anthems as “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “I Just Want to Have Something to Do.”

In 1997, Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind 97' was declared by the Guinness Book Of Records as the biggest selling single record of all time, with 31.8 million sales in less than 40 days and raising more than £20 million for charity.

In 2001, Concerts at Madison Square Garden and the RFK stadium in Washington were expected to raise millions in funds for the victims of the Sept 11th attacks. Stars who appeared included Michael Jackson, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, *NSYNC, P Diddy, James Brown, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, The Who and Elton John.

In 2003, Elton John signed a three-year, $50 million deal to perform 75 shows at Caesar`s Palace.

Neil Young's 20th annual Bridge School Benefit Concert gets underway in 2006. The two day event at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA, featured Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznor, who gave a rare acoustic set. Young joined Pearl Jam onstage and sits in on pump organ to play "Good Vibrations" with Brian Wilson. When the Dave Matthews Band covers Young’s "Cortez The Killer," Neil adds acoustic guitar. Proceeds go to the nonprofit learning organization for physically or verbally impaired children that Young's wife co-founded. This was the fifth year Pearl Jam performs at the Bridge School concerts.

In 2006, Alice In Chains are among more than 20 bands that perform in different cities across North America as part of MySpace.com's Rock For Darfur initiative to help the battle-torn region of Sudan. AIC play in Winston-Salem, NC, and a portion of profits benefit the Oxfam humanitarian organization.

New Music Releases - October 20, 2009

Lots of new music this week including Michael Jackson’s This Is It, Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 is out on vinyl, some new Wolfmother, a 4-CD box set form Dolly Parton, two remastered Get Up Kids and Lou Reed releases, new music from Sufjan Stevens, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Gov't Mule and an interesting band I saw on Jooles Holland called Cage the Elephant, kind of the Hold Steady meet the Clash, I like the band for some reason. Also, everything you ever wanted to hear from Yo-Yo Ma: 30 Years Outside the Box (90-CD box set), and yes, I checked that, 90 CD's and many other great music releases.

Buy New Music Here!


1990s - Cookies (reissue)
60 Watt Kid - We Come From the Bright Side
7 Worlds Collide - The Sun Came Out (vinyl)
Akron/Family - River (vinyl)
Alasdair Roberts - The Wyrd Meme EP (vinyl)
Alec Ounsworth - Mo Beauty
Andrew Bird - The Swimming Hour (2-LP vinyl reissue)
Atlas Sound - Logos (vinyl)
Audra Mae - Haunt
Bats - Don’t You Rise
Bauhaus - In the Flat Field (remastered with bonus CD)
Bauhaus - Mask (remastered with bonus CD)
Beak> - Beak>
Bear in Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth
Black Heart Procession - Six (vinyl)
Bloody Beetroots - “Awesome [ft. Cool Kids]” 12?
Bomshel - Fight Like a Girl
Cage the Elephant - Cage the Elephant
Cartel - Cycles
Chad Price - Smile Sweet Face
Chll Pll - Aggressively Humble (vinyl)
Clare & the Reasons - Arrow
Cococoma - Things Are Not All Right
Converge - Axe to Fall
Dark Meat - Truce Opium (vinyl)
Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones (vinyl)
Del Lords - Lovers Who Wander (remastered with bonus tracks)
DJ Tiësto - Kaleidoscope
Do Make Say Think - Other Truths (vinyl)
Dolly Parton - Dolly (4-CD box set)
Doveman - The Conformist
Editors - In This Light & On This Evening
Efterklang - Performing Parades CD/DVD
El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop (vinyl)
Electric Six - Kill
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - The Doomsday EP (vinyl)
Espers - III
Excepter - Black Beach (vinyl)
Failures' Union - In What Way
Fall - Vol. 2 - Rebellious Jukebox
Falty DL - Bravery EP
Fela Kuti - The Best of the Black President (2-CDs & DVD)
Finn Riggins - Vs. Wilderness
Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky (vinyl)
Florence and the Machine - Lungs
Former Ghosts - Fleurs
Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
Garage A Trois - Power Patriot
Get Back Guinozzi! - Carpet Madness
Get Up Kids - Four Minute Mile (remastered)
Get Up Kids - Red Letter Day/Woodson (remastered)
Glass Ghost - Idol Omen
Gov't Mule - By A Thread
Heavy Trash - Midnight Soul Serenade (vinyl)
Hem - Twelfth Night (soundtrack)
Irmin Schmidt - Filmmusik Anthology
Islands - Vapours (vinyl)
Jane Wiedlin - Jane Wiedlin (reissue)
Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard - One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Music from Kerouac’s Big Sur
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 (vinyl)
Jello Biafra - The Audacity of Hype
Jesu - Opiate Sun (vinyl)
Jon & Roy - Another Noon
Jonsi & Alex - Riceboy Sleeps (2-LP vinyl)
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
Kate Baldwin - Let's See What Happens
King Crimson - Red (remastered with bonus DVD)
Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependance (vinyl)
Kris Kristofferson - Closer To The Bone (vinyl)
Kutless - It Is Well
Leonard Cohen - Live At The Isle of Wight (CD & DVD) (Blu-ray DVD) (2-LP vinyl)
Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner (vinyl)
Little Dragon - Machine Dreams (vinyl)
Loreena McKennitt - A Mediterranean Odyssey
Lou Reed - Legendary Hearts (remastered)
Lou Reed - New Sensations (remastered)
Lyle Lovett - Natural Forces
Madonna - Celebration (remixes) (vinyl)
Majeure - Timespan 2xLP
Maps - Turning the Mind
Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson: The Remix Suite (vinyl)
Michael Jackson - This Is It
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer of Fear
Mother Hips - Pacific Dust (vinyl)
Mountains - Etching
Naam - Naam
Nancy Elizabeth - Wrought Iron
Nouvelle Vague - 3 (vinyl)
Old Canes - Feral Harmonic (vinyl)
Old Lights - Every Night Begins the Same
OOIOO - Armonico Hewa (vinyl)
Parenthetical Girls - The Scottish Play
Parlour Steps - The Hidden Names
Paul Bowles - Baptism Of Solitude (reissue)
Pelican - What We All Come to Need
Peter Bradley Adams - Traces
Pixies - Minotaur (Limited Edition) (5xCD/5xLP/6xDVD/6xBlu-ray/2xBK box set)
Placebo - Ashtray Heart
Pontiak - Sea Voids EP
Pylon - Chomp (remastered with bonus tracks)
Radio Slave - Fabric 48
Rain Machine - Rain Machine (vinyl)
Rammstein - Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da
Reaganomics - Get Lost, Stay Lost
Richard Youngs - Under Stellar Stream
Richmond Fontaine - Winnemucca
RJD2 - 2002-2010 (4-LP vinyl box set)
Robert Francis - Before Nightfall
Roots - How I Got Over
Rosanne Cash - The List (vinyl)
Russian Circles - Geneva
Sam Bush - Circles Around Me
Shackleton - Three EPs
Shrinebuilder - Shrinebuilder (vinyl)
Silver Starling - Silver Starling
Slits - Trapped Animal
Snow Patrol - Late Night Tales
Soil - Picture Perfect
Spiral Stairs - The Real Free
Star F**king Hipsters - Never Rest in Peace (vinyl)
String Cheese Incident - Trick or Treat: Best of the String Cheese Incident
Sufjan Stevens - The BQE (vinyl)
System And Station - I'm Here To Kill [EP]
Terri Clark - The Long Way Home
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Fruit
Themselves - CrownsDown
This Time Next Year - Road Maps & Heart Attacks
Tickley Feather - Hors d'Oeuvres (vinyl)
Tim McGraw - Southern Voice
Train - Save Me San Francisco
Tropa Macaca - Sensação do Princípio
U.S.E - Loveworld
Various Artists - 5 - 5 Years of Hyperdub
Various Artists - A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (reissue)
Various Artists - A Tribute to The Mississippi Sheiks - Things About Comin' My Way
Various Artists - Black Dynamite OST
Various Artists - Dillanthology, Vol. 3
Various Artists - Gastonia Gallop: Cotton Mill Songs & Hillbilly Blues - Piedmont Textile Workers On Record: Gaston County, North Carolina, 1927-1931
Various Artists - Saw 6 (soundtrack)
Various Artists - Three Score & Ten - A Voice To The People (7-CD box set)
Various Artists - Twilight - New Moon Soundtrack
Various Artists - Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Is Awesome
Veils - Nux Vomica (reissue)
Via Tania - Moon Sweet Moon
Weird Al Yankovic - The Essential Weird Al Yankovic
White Denim - Fits (vinyl)
White Mice - Ganjahovahdose
White Rainbow - New Clouds
Wolfmother - New Moon Rising: The Remixes
Young Marble Giants - Live At The Hurrah (vinyl)
Yo-Yo Ma - Yo-Yo Ma: 30 Years Outside the Box (90-CD box set)

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales-Week Ending 10/17/2009

1. LP - Minor Threat "Out Of Step" test pressing silkscreened - $5,899.99

2. LP - Leonid Kogan "Beethoven Violin Concerto" Columbia SAX 2386 UK Pressing - $4,610.00

3. LP - David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust" Acetate - $4,001.00

4. LP - Georges Enesco Bach Sonatas Continental - $3,300.00

5. LP - Devy Erlih "Bach Sonatas and Partitas for solo Violin" ADES France - $3,281.56

As always, a special thank you to Norm at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com for this great data. Stop in and listen to their unique radio show Accidental Nostalgia with Norm & Jane On Radio Dentata - 60 minutes of rare records and nugatory narration. Every Tuesday 4PM PT/7PM ET, Sunday 9AM PT/12PM ET & Monday 12AM PT/3AM ET

Music News & Notes

Abigail Williams deluxe reissue set for release

Candlelight Records today confirms two limited edition versions of Abigail Williams' popular debut album, "In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns." Set for release January 12, the special formats will kick off the band's first tour of 2010, their fifth in support of the album. The deluxe edition will feature a bonus disc containing five previously unavailable tracks plus the band's video for the song "Into the Ashes." Limited to 1000 copies, the vinyl pressing has been a request of fans since the album's late-2008 release.

Discussing the deluxe edition, vocalist/guitarist Sorceron reveals, "the first song, 'I Am (God)' is a new song that signifies the first collaboration between new keyboard player Alana and myself. 'In Death Comes the Great Silence' reveals a new direction that the band has been working towards over the last year while 'Infernal Divide' is another new song that once again redefines that Abigail Williams sound. This track was recorded quite raw and has a strong black metal influence. 'Waiting for the Rain' is a somber interlude we have been using a bit during live shows and the last track is the demo version of 'Floods.' I felt it was important to include this track because it captures the vibe of the song better than the album track; perhaps due to the work of original drummer Zack Gibson."

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Official Cover Art for John Mayer's 'Battle Studies'


John Mayer posts the cover art of his November 17 release 'Battle Studies' on Twitter.

An artwork which is set to be featured on the front cover of John Mayer's upcoming fourth studio album "Battle Studies" has been put forward on the singer's Twitter account. The picture shows a close-up look at him wearing dark-colored coat.

Previously, John stated about his interest to shoot the cover art while the album is still on the recording process. "I'd even like to have album artwork concepts while we're still recording. Why wait? Why not blow the album cover up to 8'x8' and record with it hung up on the wall?," he said.

"Battle Studies" is slated to come out across United States on November 17. Led by single "Who Says", the effort is described as "observations and a little bit of advice on relationships ... kind of like a heartbreak handbook". The album's release day will be marked by John's performance at Beacon Theatre in New York City.

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a-ha Call It Quits, Announcing Final World Tour

Reuniting in 1998 after 4 years in hiatus, a-ha confirm that they will split after finishing one last world tour in 2010. "As a consequence, a-ha will not be releasing any further albums in the future," it was announced on the band's official website.

"We've literally lived the ultimate boy's adventure tale, through a longer, more rewarding career than anyone could hope for," they said in a statement. "Doing this now will give us a chance to get more involved in other meaningful aspects of life, be it humanitarian work, politics, or whatever else - and of course through new constellations in the field of art and music."

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CAKE Goes Solar for New Album

CAKE, already regarded as one of the most principled, enduring, self-reliant and best-selling artists in post-alternative rock, are currently working on recording their sixth studio album, with an eco-twist: the new project is being written, rehearsed and recorded entirely with solar power. During the recording process, CAKE is sharing the results with their fans via a set of free ring tones--each based on a song from the upcoming album--released via the band’s mailing list.

CAKE teamed with Borrego Solar to convert their entire Sacramento recording studio into solar power. Their decision to record the new album entirely with solar power was made for both artistic and environmental reasons:

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” says McCREA. “I believe in science, and science is telling us that we need to make adjustments. Living in California, it seemed like a waste not to take advantage of all the free electricity.” DIFIORE added; “We work in the spirit of cooperation, and when there is something like solar energy above your head, there is a little bit more levity added.”

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NEW YORK DOLLS' Steve Conte Releases New Solo Effort

New York Dolls' guitarist, Steve Conte, will be releasing a solo album timed with the New York Dolls' upcoming UK tour, which kicks off on December 2nd at the Cambridge Junction. The new album's "Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth" will be out on the Varese Sarabande label October 20 (November 30th in the UK) and features a guest appearance from Dolls' vocalist David Johansen on harmonica. Also on board, Catherine Russell (David Bowie), Nicki Richards (Madonna) on backing vocals, plus Danny Ray (Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny Thunder), Kiku Collins (Beyonce), Tom Timko (Stevie Wonder) on horns.

Says producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Rolling Stones), "There is very little genuine rock and roll out there at the moment, but Steve Conte has hit the nail on the head with this one."

Steve Conte joined the New York Dolls when Morrissey reunited the band at Meltdown Festival back in 2004 and Steve's continued play guitar on the New York Dolls' studio albums, "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (2006) and the Todd Rundgren recently produced "'Cause I Sez So" (2009).

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Elvis Presley's hair sells for $15,000

Elvis Presley's trimmed hair has sold for $15,000 at an auction of items related to the star.

The clump of hair, believed to have been shorn when the singer entered the US army in 1958, went under the hammer in Chicago.

Other items sold included a set of handkerchiefs used in live shows by Presley, which sold for $732 and one of his shirts, which went for $52,000, according to BBC News.

Also among the 200 lots, all of which were originally collected by late fan Gary Pepper, were wedding photos of Presley's marriage – these were auctioned for $6,000.

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Billy Corgan to give away new Smashing Pumpkings songs for free

The 44 tracks which make up 'Teargarden By Kaleidyscope' will released one by one

Billy Corgan has announced that he will be releasing the next Smashing Pumpkins LP, 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope', a track at a time.

The collection of 44 songs will be given away for free, with the first song being made available around the end of October.

The songs will eventually be physically released but this will not be in album form, but in the shape of 11 EPs of four songs each.

"I want no limitations on what I can, and will do," said Corgan by way of explanation. "I think the size and shape of the traditional album is just morphing into something much more in the moment. Four songs at a time will mean I can give my heart over to the music fully without giving away my now happy life."

Corgan has not revealed the titles of any of the tracks on the album, but has revealed that "the first four songs are speaking a new language to me, rooted in the psychedelic music I love but still sounding quite modern and like the Pumpkins I long to hear".

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Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings And More

Release Date: October 30, 2009 (Through Hip-O site only)

Hip-O Select has done it again. They have assembled 203 tracks from the career of Buddy Holly into their new 6-CD set, providing every one of the tracks he recorded in the studio and a few extras. The music ranges from the earliest tracks he recorded between the ages of 12 and 15 through his work on Decca, Coral and Brunswick and his apartment tapes. Six of the tracks are from an August 1955 session and have never been released. An additional eleven have never been on any album in the U.S.

Also in the package is a yearbook size 80-page book with rare recording, session-by-session recording information and liner notes by Billy Altman and Bill Dahl.

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The Prodigy To Release Three-Disc Version Of 'Invaders Must Die'

The Prodigy have announced full details of a three-disc special-edition version of their latest album 'Invaders Must Die'.

Released on November 9th, the two CDs feature the original album plus live tracks, rarities and a plethora of remixes from the likes of Josh Homme, Benga, Chase & Status, Herve and Bang Gang.

The accompanying DVD is a mix of official promo videos and live footage from the Braintree outfit's sprawling world tour. As well as all this you get a 48-page booklet.