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Rolling Stone published their top Christmas songs, read more here
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Happy X-Mas (War is Over) - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
All I Want For Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry
Chanukah Song - Adam Sandler
Frosty the Snowman - Ronettes
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
The Night Santa Went Crazy - Weird Al Yankovic
Christmastime For the Jews - Darlene Love
Christmas in Hollis - Run-D.M.C.
Christmas in Harlem - Kanye West
Merry Christmas from the CVR Blog. Everyone have a great day with family and friends! Birthdays:
Phil Spector - producer, 'The Spector Wall Of Sound.' Member of Teddy Bears, (1958 US #1 single "To Know Him Is To Love Him"). Produced many classic songs including; Ben E King, "Spanish Harlem," the Crystals, "Da Doo Ron Ron," the Ronettes, "Baby I Love You," the Righteous Brothers, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," Ike and Tina Turner, "River Deep, Mountain High." Also produced albums for the Ramones, John Lennon, George Harrison, the Beatles, Cher and Harry Nilsson (1940)
Pete Brown - lyricist, poet, singer, producer, Cream. Also worked with Jack Bruce, Graham Bond, Mick Jagger and Peter Green (1940)
John Edwards - Spinners (1944)
Jimmy Buffett (1946)
Barbara Mandrell (1948)
Annie Lennox - Tourists, Eurythmics, Solo (1954)
Robin Campbell - UB40 (1954)
Shane MacGowan - Pogues (1957)
Alannah Myles (1958)
Dido (1971)
Noel Hogan - Cranberries (1971)
Josh Freese - Nine Inch Nails (1972)
They Are Missed:
In 1954, Johnny Ace ("Pledging My Love") died while playing Russian roulette backstage at a Houston, TX concert.
Born today in 1937, O'Kelly Isley, The Isley Brothers. Died on March 31,1986.
Born on this day in 1943, Trevor Lucas, Fairport Convention, UK folk group. Also worked with Al Stewart and The Strawbs. Lucas died February 4, 1989.
In 1994 Eugene "Bird" Daughtry, vocalist for The Intruders, who scored a Billboard #6 hit in 1968 with "Cowboys To Girls," died of cancer at the age of 55.
Singer, actor and TV host Dean Martin died in 1995. Had the 1956 US #1 single "Memories Are Made Of This" plus other singles including "That's Amore," and "Everybody Loves Somebody." In 1965, Martin launched his weekly NBC comedy-variety series, The Dean Martin Show.
Born on this day in 1944, Henry Vestine, guitar, Canned Heat. Died on October 20, 1997.
Bryan MacLean, guitarist with Love, died of a heart attack in 1998 while having Christmas dinner with a young fan who was researching a book about the band (age 62).
Born today in 1945, Noel Redding, bass, Jimi Hendrix Experience. Died on May 11, 2003 (age 57).
In 2006, James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul,' died at the age of 73 after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Brown went to his dentist in Atlanta the previous day who told him something was wrong, and sent him to a doctor immediately. He recorded more than 50 albums and had well over 100 songs that hit the US charts, including "I Got You", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "Cold Sweat" and "Sex Machine."
In 2008, American actress, singer, and cabaret star Eartha Kitt died from colon cancer at her Weston, Connecticut home at the age of 81. Best known for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby."
History:
"Silent Night" was performed for the first time in 1818, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorff, Austria.
In 1954, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" entered the Billboard Pop chart for the eleventh time. Bing's rendition has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles. It was the largest selling single in music history until it was surpassed by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997."
In 1958, it was the first day of a 10-day residency in Alan Freeds Christmas rock n' roll spectacular in New York with Chuck Berry, Frankie Avalon, Dion, Jackie Wilson, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley and The Everly Brothers.
Richard Starkey, 18, who later would be known as Ringo Starr, received a drum set for Christmas in 1959.
In 1960, 17 year-old Mary Wells made her debut on the US charts with her first release, "Bye Bye Baby." The record will make the R&B Top Ten and the Pop Top Fifty. Over the next five years, she will provide Motown with eleven Top Forty hits.
Also in 1960, James Taylor received his first guitar, at the age of 12.
In 1964, Beatles fans attacked George Harrison's girlfriend Patti Boyd as they arrived at London's Hammersmith Odeon for tonight's Beatles concert.
The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, the Miracles, Stevie Wonder and the Marvelettes all appeared at The Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, New York in 1964.
Also in 1964, the Beatles, recorded six songs for the BBC radio program Saturday Club in London: "Rock and Roll Music," "I'm a Loser," "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby," "I Feel Fine," "Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey" and "She's a Woman."
Additionally more from 1964 - Murray The K's Big Holiday Show goes on as scheduled with the Zombies, the Nashville Teens and the Hullabaloos after the US Labor Department lifted a ban on granting British artists work visas. The Britain's Musicians Union had retaliated by canceling Fats Domino's upcoming Spring tour, before the whole matter was dropped.
Lou Christie's biggest song, "Lightning Strikes" entered Billboard's Hot 100 in 1965 for a 15 week stay . Although he would have many other hits, this would be Christie's only number one.
Having topped out at #45 in Great Britain, the Dave Clark Five's "Over and Over" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. It would prove to be their only chart topper, although they would place sixteen songs in the US Top 30 during their career. They became the 7th UK act of the year to score a US #1 single.
The Young Rascals entered the Hot 100 for the first time in 1965 with "I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore," which will peak at #52.
The Beatles 6th album 'Rubber Soul' started a nine-week run at #1 on the UK chart in 1965. It spent a total of 42 week's on the UK chart and was also a #1 in the US.
On Christmas Day in 1967, Paul McCartney became engaged to actress Jane Asher. She would end the relationship in early 1968 because of Paul's alleged infidelities.
Melanie started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart in 1971 with "Brand New Key," a song that she would later say took her only fifteen minutes to write It was the first release on her new label Neighbourhood Records.
The Eagles started a eight-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1976 with 'Hotel California.'
John Lydon's new group, Public Image Ltd, played their first live gig at the Rainbow Theatre, London in 1978.
Michael Jackson phoned Paul McCartney in 1981 and suggested they write and record together, the first result being "The Girl Is Mine." The song was a US #2 & UK #8 in 1982.
In 1981, the J. Geils Band played a Christmas concert for the inmates of Norfolk Correctional Center near Boston, the group's hometown. Following the show, lead singer Peter Wolf tells the audience, "We wanna be the first to buy you all a free drink on the outside."
In one of the most successful duets in Christmas music history, and surely the strangest, 30-year-old David Bowie and 73-year-old Bing Crosby achieved the number one song in the UK in 1982 with "Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy." The song had been recorded in September, 1977 when Crosby was in Great Britain to tape a TV special called Merrie Olde Christmas and having him share a number with Bowie was the brainchild of producers Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion. After the recording circulated as a bootleg for several years, RCA decided to issue it as a single. It has since become a holiday standard, but it is entirely possible that neither Crosby or Bowie were familiar with each other's work.
On Christmas Day in 1990, James Brown was given a 4 day furlough from prison, during which time he performed his first concert in two years. Brown played for an crowd of Ft. Jackson, South Carolina soldiers whose leave had been cancelled because of the impending Gulf War.
Mariah Carey started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1993 with "Hero." Also on this day, Mariah went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Music Box.'
Mariah Carey was at #1 on the US singles chart in 1995 with "Daydream."
In 2003, Michael Jackson recorded his first interview since news of the allegations of sexual abuse with a 12-year old boy. He told the CBS TV network he would 'slit his wrists' before he would hurt a child. He also claimed he suffered a dislocated shoulder after police 'manhandled' him and treated him 'very roughly' during his arrest.
In 2006, an in-concert version of Pink Floyd's "Arnold Layne" performed by Floyd's David Gilmour, with guest vocals by David Bowie, was released as a digital download. Recorded earlier in the year at London's Royal Albert Hall, the song is part of a limited-edition three-track EP dedicated to the memory of the song's composer, Syd Barrett. A 10-inch vinyl version of the EP is available the following day.
Here is the last installment of Rock & Roll Trivia, I hope you enjoyed these oddities and stories behind the music we love:
The set on which Rick Nelson appeared in the TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, was an exact copy of the Nelson's real Hollywood home.
Frank Sinatra once called Rock and Roll "The most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear."
The musicians who backed The Chiffons on their 1963 #1 hit "He's So Fine" were all members of The Tokens, who had scored their own chart topper with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961.
In the Fall of 1965, while the Four Seasons' "Let's Hang On" was a Billboard #3 smash, they also scored a #12 hit with "Don't Think Twice" under the name of The Wonder Who. At the same time, lead singer Franki Valli reached #39 with a solo release called "You're Gonna Hurt Yourself", giving him three Top 40 hits at the same time, all under different names.
While talking on the phone with his mother, Disc Jockey Murray The K mentioned that he and Bobby Darin were soaking their feet after playing a game of softball in Central Park. A few minutes later, she called back to say that she had an idea for a song - "Splish, Splash, take a bath..." Murray and Bobby began sorting out some lyrics while Murray's mother, Jean, who had been a vaudeville piano player, finished the melody. It became the first of Bobby's 22 US Top 40 hits when it reached #3 in the Summer of 1958.
The Beatles recorded two different versions of the song "Strawberry Fields Forever". One was a half-tone higher and slightly faster than the other. The group couldn't decide which rendition they liked better and finally asked producer George Martin if he could put them together somehow. When one was slowed down, it fit perfectly with the other, resulting in the song we know today.
Apparently, Little Richard was not a real smart child. As a lad, he wanted to give one of his neighbors a "creative gift." But his neighbor, Miz Ola screamed when she opened her present. It seems young Richard thought that defecating in a box and wrapping it up as a present for his elderly friend would be a good gift for her. Little Richard stated in his autobiography: "God bless Miz Ola, she's dead now." No word on if he selected other neighbors to receive his thoughtful gift.
When Malcolm Young and Angus Young named their band AC/DC, they apparently didn't realize that the electrical term was also slang for bisexual. But the ambiguous name helped them out in the beginning as the group was hired to play many gay-themed gigs. Work is work, I guess.
In the early days, the Bee Gees were so desperate to sell their records that they actually gave members of their fan club money to go out and buy their records. Thankfully, there were only six members in the fan club or the trio would be broke.
Ironically, only Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was the group's only surfer.
When Elvis Presley was inducted into the US Army on March 24th, 1958, Uncle Sam started losing an estimated $500,000 in lost taxes for each year that Private Presley served. Ship him off...makes sense to me...
In a tale of irony, Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead was brought in as a session musician to play steel guitar on Brewer and Shipley's March, 1971 hit, "One Toke Over The Line".
Jorma Kaukonen - Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna (1940)
Ron Bushy - Iron Butterfly (1941)
Ariel Bender - Mott The Hoople, Spooky Tooth (1949)
Dave Murray - Iron Maiden (1958)
Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam (1964)
Montsho Eshe - Arrested Development (1974)
They Are Missed:
Born today in 1939, Johnny Kidd - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, (1960 UK #1 single 'Shakin' All Over'). Killed in a car crash while on tour in Manchester, England on October 7, 1966.
Born on this day in 1946, Duster Bennett, singer, guitarist, harmonica player. Worked with Alexis Korner, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac and B.B. King. Killed in a car crash on 26th March 1976.
Born today in 1941, Tim Hardin, US singer, songwriter. Wrote "Reason To Believe" and "If I Were A Carpenter." Died of a heroin overdose on December 29, 1980.
Born on this day in 1935, Esther Phillips, US soul singer. She died on August 7, 1984.
In 1984, 48-year-old Dan Hamilton, of Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, suffered a stroke and died. The group is most often remembered for their 1971 hit, "Don't Pull Your Love."
Jackie Landry of The Chantels died of cancer in 1997 at the age of 56. The group placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1958 and 1961, including "Maybe" (#15) and "Look In My Eyes" (#14), as well as an answer to Ray Charles' "Hit The Road Jack" called "Well, I Told You" (#29).
Born today in 1940, Eugene Record, vocals, The Chi-lites, (1972 US #1 single "Oh Girl"). He died of cancer on July 22, 2005.
Clint Ballard Jr. died in 2008. He wrote "Game Of Love," a hit for Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders and Linda Ronstadt's, "You're No Good." His songs have been recorded by The Hollies, Frankie Avalon, Ricky Nelson, The Zombies and Jan And Dean.
History:
The Champs recorded their signature song "Tequila" in 1957.
In 1957, the title song to his movie 'April Love' becomes Pat Boone's fifth US number one hit.
The Drifters recorded "This Magic Moment" in 1959.
In 1959, Chuck Berry was arrested for transporting a minor across a state line for an immoral purpose. Berry claimed he was only giving a young lady a ride to her job as a hat-check girl at his St. Louis nightclub. Unbeknown to Berry, 14 year old Janice Norine was working as a prostitute. Although he will be convicted and given a five year sentence, the charges are eventually dropped after the judge allegedly made racist remarks.
During his first visit to the UK in 1962, Bob Dylan performed at the King and Queen pub in London’s West End, the singer songwriter’s third UK gig.
The Beatles appeared at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany in 1962.
In 1964, pirate station 'Radio London,' started broadcasting from the former US Minesweeper 'Mv Galaxy.'
Also in 1964, the Beach Boys make their debut appearance on Shindig, a nationally televised pop music program. Because it’s the holidays they perform “Little St. Nick.” Later that evening, the Beach Boys leader and creative force, Brian Wilson, suffers a nervous breakdown as the group flies from L.A. to Houston. This breakdown, plus another two over the next 18 months, forces Wilson to cease performing with the group. Glen Campbell replaced Wilson for the bands live shows.
BBC-TV broadcast Ready, Steady Go! for the last time in 1966 after the Musicians Union enforced a ban on miming. The weekly program was the UK's most popular Pop music television show, helping many of Britain's finest musical acts get their start. The special guests for the farewell show are Mick Jagger, The Who, Eric Burdon, The Spencer Davis Group, Donovan and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. Music shouldn't be 'mimed,' ever.....
The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Foxy Lady" was released in 1967.
In 1968, Apple Records hosted a party for employees' children with John Lennon and Yoko Ono acting as Santa and Mrs. Claus. No injuries were reported, as Yoko didn't sing....
In 1969, Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin begin writing songs together. The pair have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.
In 1972, the former manager of Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight, showed up at a benefit concert staged by the group, along with two deputy sheriffs and a moving van. Knight has a court order that gives him the right to seize and hold $1 million in money or assets pending settlement of several lawsuits between the him and the band. However, since the show can't go on without the equipment, Knight is not allowed to touch the amps or drums until after the concert.
Also in 1972 - Little Jimmy Osmond started a five week run at the top of the UK singles chart with "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool." At nine years of age, he was the youngest person to have a UK #1 record.
John Lennon's film "Imagine" premiered on national TV in 1972.
George Harrison released a holiday single in 1974, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong."
Cat Stevens formally changed his name to Yusef Islam in 1977.
Rod Stewart gets in on the Disco craze in 1978 when the insipid cut "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" was released. It would rise to the top of the Billboard chart during an amazing 18 week run.
1979 New records making their first appearance on the US record charts in 1979 included: Rod Stewart's "I Don't Want to Talk About It," Anne Murray's "Daydream Believer," Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker" and Neil Diamond's "September Morn."
During a concert by LL Cool J at a Rollerrink in Baltimore in 1985, a fight broke out, one person was trampled underfoot and three people were shot. Not Cool J....
In 1985, Judas Priest fans Raymond Belknap and James Vance shot themselves after listening to the Judas Priest album ‘Stained Class.’ The two had drunk beer, smoked marijuana and then listened to hours of the album. Afterwards they took a shotgun to a nearby school playground where Belknap shot and killed himself. Vance then blew away his jaw, mouth and nose but lived for more than three years before dying of effects of the shooting.
Phil Collins started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1989 with "Another Day In Paradise," his 7th US solo #1 hit.
In 1991 - James Brown sued the producers of the movie "The Commitments." Brown claimed that one of the characters too closely resembled him. He lost the case.
In 1999, George Harrison's home in Maui was broken into by Cristin Keleher, who cooked a frozen pizza, drank beer from the fridge, started some laundry and phoned her mother in New Jersey. Keleher was arrested and charged with burglary and theft.
In 2002, Sir Paul McCartney was granted his own coat of arms by the College of Arms, the English heraldic body formed in 1484. The crest features a bird that appears to be holding a guitar in its claw. Four curved emblems resembling beetles' backs reflect his career with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The motto is "Ecce Cor Meum", Latin for "Behold My Heart", which is the title of an oratorio he composed. McCartney applied for the crest in 1997, the year he was knighted for his contribution to British music and society, but the death of his first wife Linda in 1998 delayed its design and approval.
In 2005, Geezer Butler, the bass player with Black Sabbath offered £5,000 ($7,700) for any information leading to the safe return of Toga, the three-month-old penguin that had been stolen from a zoo on the Isle of Wight a few days earlier.
Ciara was at #1 on the US album chart in 2006 with ‘Ciara : The Evolution’ the American singers second album.
In 2007, the Police were named as the highest earning touring group for the past year, bringing in nearly £66.5m, ($132m). The band's 54 date North American tour had generated almost double the total of the second-placed act, Country star Kenny Chesney.
In 2008, a spokesman for Michael Jackson denied reports the singer was suffering from a rare respiratory disease and was in need of a lung transplant. Dr Tohme Tohme said in a statement issued to Reuters that stories claiming the singer was unwell were not true. He added that author Ian Halperin had made the claims to promote his unauthorised biography of the 50-year-old singer.
Also in 2008 - A cassette tape of John Lennon performing Lloyd Price's "Just Because" sold at auction in Los Angeles for $30,000 (£20,200). The song was recorded 'live' with an unknown backing band in the autumn of 1973, during the 18-month period Lennon later called his "lost weekend," when he left his wife Yoko Ono and moved from New York to Los Angeles.
In 2009, Ozzy Osbourne, blasted the Christmas holiday saying the best Christmas he ever had was when he was unconscious after breaking his neck in an ’03 ATV accident. "I hate Christmas, I hate it," humbugs Ozzy. "Everything stops. When I used to drink it was a good excuse to get drunk for two weeks. Now I just hate it. I have to unravel all these presents. What a waste of paper!" I'm with you Ozzie - Bah Humbug!
DEAR JERRY:One of the Sirius satellite oldies channel dee jays played “The Chipmunk Song,” then followed it by saying it is the only Christmas record ever to be the nation's No. 1 hit on Christmas day.
If true, that is utterly amazing! With so many holiday million sellers, it's hard to imagine they either didn't make it to No. 1, or did but not on December 25th.
Please make some sense out of this for me. —Darlene Watson, Deming, N.M.
DEAR DARLENE: To be truly accurate, the announcer could have said: Since 1948, “The Chipmunk Song” is the only Christmas song to be No. 1 on Christmas day.
Although, I suppose it is reasonable to think listeners would appreciate an amazing Chipmunk factoid, one reflecting over 60 years of recordings. It obviously sparked your curiosity.
First came Spike Jones and His City Slickers, atop the chart December 25, 1948 with “All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth).”
The next time, and the last, is when David Seville and his Chipmunks (Alvin, Theodore, Simon) held the No. 1 position for four weeks, beginning December 22, 1958.
Between Jones and Seville are a couple of hits that came mighty close:
Gene Autry missed December 25th by a few days in 1949, but still reached No. 1 with “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Jimmy Boyd did the same with “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” in 1952.
Moreover, not since “The Chipmunk Song” has any real Christmas song even reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100.
One significant sidebar involves some arbitrary years, mostly from 1963 through '73, when, for four weeks (mid-December to mid-January) Billboard relegated Christmas singles and albums to a completely separate section. Over the years, the title of this feature changed four times: “Christmas Records”; “Top Christmas Sellers”; “Best Bets for Christmas”; and “Christmas Hits.”
Cash Box, meanwhile, continued to rank holiday hits among their regular Top 100.
Billboard's section for Christmas records was geared to retailers and coin machine operators, and most of the listings were “catalog” titles — perennial favorites of years past.
Recapping familiar Christmas product with some selected new releases added is fine, but this service could have been accomplished without completely eliminating holiday music from the esteemed Hot 100.
Were this ill-advised plan in effect in 1958, “The Chipmunk Song” would have sold millions of records without even being regarded as smash hit it was.
Nevertheless, I do not believe any of the singles denied a chart opportunity by the Christmas format would have reached No. 1 anyway.
I chose some examples of singles that, if they were eligible, would have probably made the Billboard Hot 100. As an analogous reference, the Cash Box Top 100 peak position of each is given:
1963: Brook Benton, “You're All I Want for Christmas” (59); Bing Crosby, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (66); Beach Boys, “Little Saint Nick” (69); Andy Williams, “White Christmas” (81); Alan Sherman, “The Twelve Gifts of Christmas” (93).
1965: Jim Reeves, “Snow Flake” (58).
1967: Royal Guardsmen, “Snoopy's Christmas” (10); Becky Lamb, “Little Becky's Christmas Wish” (59); Lou Rawls, “The Little Drummer Boy” (78).
1970: Carpenters, “Merry Christmas Darling” (41).
1971: John & Yoko with the Plastic Ono Band, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (36).
1972: Singing Dogs, “Jingle Bells” (72); Leon Russell, “Slipping into Christmas” (94).
1973: Elton John, “Step into Christmas” (56).
Billboard's intent during the years of the separate Christmas listings was to not include holiday records among their Hot 100; however, a couple apparently slipped through the cracks.
In mid-December 1963, the “National Breakout” tune (i.e., highest debut of any new single), Roy Orbison's “Pretty Paper,” began a seven week chart ride eventually peaking at No. 15. It was the only Christmas song on the Pop chart that season, but was reassigned to the Christmas section in December '64.
The same thing happened in 1973 with Merle Haggard's “If We Make It Through December.” Even though Christmas is mentioned twice in the lyrics, this one is more about December, and getting through the winter.
Appropriately, it did well on all three regular charts (Country, Pop, and Easy Listening), plus is in the 1973 Christmas section.
“If We Make It Through December” is the only record ever to appear on all four of those surveys in the same year.
IZ ZAT SO? Today's Christmas singles topic is bound to inspire the same inquiry regarding albums, so let's meet it head-on.
On December 16, 1957, when “Elvis' Christmas Album” began a four week residency at No. 1, it marked the first time a Christmas LP (long play) topped the charts on Christmas day.
It would also be the last time for that rare amalgamation. It never happened again!
Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368 E-mail: jpo@olympus.net Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com
All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.
Copyright 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission
The studio group who helped Boz Scaggs record the bulk of his hits in the 1970s, including "Lido Shuffle" and "Lowdown" would go on to form the nucleus of the band Toto. Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate and David Paich scored four Top Ten hits of their own with "I Won't Hold Back" (#10), "Hold The Line" (#5), "Rosanna" (#2) and "Africa" (#1).
In 1984, former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page founded a new band called The Firm with ex Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers. Page said the group was to be a vehicle to show people that he was not a washed up drug user. In the fall of the same year, he was arrested for possession of cocaine.
Janis Ian got the inspiration for her hit "At Seventeen" while sitting at the kitchen table reading a New York Times article about a debutante. The opening line of the story was "I learned the truth at 18." Janis wrote the lyrics as "at seventeen" because it flowed better.
Five different record companies, including Decca, Roulette, Columbia, RCA and Atlantic turned down "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly. Finally, Bob Thiele at Coral / Brunswick Records heard the demo and signed Holly to a contract.
In order to give fans a "gold record", the first 100,000 copies of "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad were stamped out of gold colored vinyl.
Lesley Gore appeared in two episodes of the TV show Batman in 1966. She played the role of "Pussycat", one of Catwoman's henchwomen. She may have had a little help landing the role, as Howie Horwitz, one of the show's producers, was her uncle.
Even though they have such strange names as Moon Unit, Diva, Dweezil and Ahmet Rodan, Frank Zappa once said that he believed that his kids would always have more trouble because of their last name.
Years before scoring 1972's number one smash "I Can See Clearly Now", Johnny Nash entered a talent show in Houston Texas. He lost to a young Soul singer named Joe Tex, who would have a chart topping hit of his own in 1968 with "Skinny Legs and All".
Jimi Hendrix was hired as the Monkees opening act for their 1967 Summer tour. Unfortunately, US audiences had never seen anything like Hendrix before and booed him off of the stage. He quit the tour after two weeks.
According to BMI, the performing rights organization that represents, songwriters, composers and music publishers, Mason Williams' 1968 hit, "Classical Gas" has received more radio airplay than any other instrumental.
Before starting his run at the legendary Whisky A Go Go, Johnny Rivers hired a fill-in bass player named Sylvester Stewart. Things didn't go well the first night and Stewart was promptly fired. A few years later, he would re-appear on the music scene as the leader of his own band...Sly and The Family Stone.
According to guitarist Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan's backup band resisted all conformity, even naming their ensemble. After landing their own recording contract, record company executives pressed them for a group name, but had to settle for simply The Band.
In April, 1967, the Greyhound bus company began offering a guided tour of what they called "Hippyland" in San Francisco.
According to producer Mickie Most, The Animals went into a recording studio at 8 A.M. to cut "House Of The Rising Sun" and 15 minutes later, the track was complete. With studio time costing the equivalent of $20 an hour, the song cost $5 to record, but would go on to top both the US and UK charts. Amazing....
It is being reported that Green Day are readying a new two-disc set live album for release in early 2011. The album, 'Awesome As Fuck', is listed by online retailers as having a US release date of March 15.
The band first announced they were planning a new live album last August via their official Twitter page, Twitter.com/greenday. "We've been recording our live shows since the beginning of tour," they wrote. "Possible live album coming."
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The Worst Christmas Album Covers Ever
Gigwise gets in the festive spirit...
With Christmas less than a week away and Father Christmas's sleigh bells tinkling away in the distance, Gigwise has gone all festive this week.
Check out some really bad x-mas album cover art: Gigwise.com
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Yes, this does happen in real life, although my thoughts are that the man knew what he had and wanted to donate to the charity. Read for yourself and decide.....
Woodbridge: Rare Beatles albums found at charity shop
By Jonathan Barnes
A CHARITY shop received some early Christmas presents when it was donated rare, high-value records by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Staff at the British Red Cross shop, in Woodbridge, UK, were delighted to find many of the vinyl LPs were worth more than £50.
The most valuable is a first pressing of The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me, which has a rare gold and black label. Experts believe it is worth £230.
Early copies of Fab Four albums With The Beatles, Rubber Soul and Revolver have been valued at £50 each, while three Rolling Stones records – all first pressings – have also been individually priced at £50.
The rare vinyl records on sale also include albums by 60s legends The Hollies, The Monkees and Adam Faith.
The LPs, all in excellent condition, were among bags and boxes of records brought into the shop, in the Thoroughfare, by a man who was seemingly clearing out his record collection.
Staff do not know who the man was, but wish to thank him again for his donation.
Merriam Keeble, manager of the shop, said: “The records were brought in as a job lot – there were bags of them and a couple of boxes.
A zebra crossing in London that became a Mecca for Beatles fans after it featured on one of their album covers has been given "listed" status.
Thousands of people, including other bands, have recreated the photograph of the Fab Four walking across Abbey Road more than 40 years ago.
Now the site has been given Grade II status by the heritage minister John Penrose - a status normally given to buildings.
The crossing is outside the world-famous Abbey Road studios where Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr recorded much of their music.
Sir Paul welcomed the news, saying: "It's been a great year for me and a great year for The Beatles and hearing that the Abbey Road crossing is to be preserved is the icing on the cake."
Countless online and print music publications, as well as grassroots campaigns such as Record Story Day, have extolled ad infinium the virtues of supporting your local brick and mortar music store – a seemingly altruistic notion in the presence of free and cheap music online. However, when you buy music at the record shop, you’re not just supporting them, you’re helping yourself in the end (at least if you’re a music fan). Some people, as recently demonstrated here in Louisville, don’t see the value in an influential and active physical goods music destination, so The Decibel Tolls is adding another commentary to the fray before our holiday shopping season ends. This one’s for the haters.
Just before Thanksgiving, ear X-tacy – a record store that publications like Rolling Stone, SPIN, and Paste have ranked as one of the best in the country – created a FaCeBoO!k event with this video message from owner John Timmons asking for the city’s continued support.
Per norm, few releases this holiday week, although some major stars are releasing and reissuing some fantastic music. As always, CVR Blog picks are in red:
ABBA -The Vinyl Collection Box Set(9-LP box set) (vinyl)
Adele - Rolling the Deep
Alexanre Desplat-Harry Potter & Deathly Hallows-Pt 1: Limited Edition Collector's Box Set (soundrack)
Asking Alexandria - Life Gone Wild
Avant - The Letter
Bill Haley & the Comets - Bill Haley & the Comets (Hits) Boston -Boston (vinyl) Buzzcocks - Trade Test Transmissions
Carter Burwell - True Grit (soundtrack)
Chicken Shack - Unlucky Boy
Dave Van Ronk - Sings
Dock Boggs - Dock Boggs
Dock Boggs - Volume 2
Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now
Frank Sinatra - A Swingin' Affair
Frank Sinatra - Close to You
Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me / Come Dance With Me
Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra - Look to Your Heart
Frank Sinatra - No One Cares
Frank Sinatra - Only the Lonely
Frank Sinatra - Swing Easy / Songs for Young Lovers
Frank Sinatra - This Is Sinatra
Frank Sinatra - This Is Sinatra 2
Frank Sinatra - Where Are You Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies (Vinyl)
Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids
Hex Hector - Allura
Jamie Foxx - Best Night of My Life John Lee Hooker - Original Texas Slim
John Lee Hooker - Sings Blues Jonathan Richman - O Moon, Queen of Night on Earth (vinyl)
June Carter Cash - Press On (reissue) (vinyl)
Keri Hilson - No Boys Allowed
Keyshia Cole - Calling All Hearts
Kinks - Introspective (vinyl)
Little Johnny Taylor & Bobby Patterson - Volume 3: Soul Jewels
Loreena McKennitt - Wind That Shakes the Barley (vinyl) Marc Bolan & T-Rex - Thunderwing
Mike Bloomfield - Live Adventures (vinyl)
Motley Crue - Afraid (2 Remixes)
Mott the Hoople - London to Memphis
New Lost City Ramblers - With Cousin Emmy
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday (vinyl) Otis Rush - I Cant Quit You Baby
Perry Como - Dream Along with Mr. C
R Kelly - Love Letter
Ride - Nowhere (reissue) (vinyl)
Royal Thunder - Royal Thunder
Scott Miller - Are You With Me?
Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light & Trees
Thunderhead - Classic Killers Live
Tom Waits - Closing Time (reissue) (vinyl)
Tom Waits - Heart of Saturday Night (reissue) (vinyl)
Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner (reissue) (vinyl)
Tom Waits - Small Change (reissue) (vinyl)
Tony Bennett - Golden Songs
Remember, if you are a record company and have new releases or know of any I missed (especially vinyl), please email me and I will add your music to the list. I also do reviews of new vinyl, email me for more information.
New Music Releases are put together from a variety of sources by blog owner Robert Benson
John Hall, co-founder of the Rock band Orleans, was elected to US Congress in November, 2006, representing New York's 19th congressional district. That's him you hear doing the slick guitar work on "Still The One" and "Dance With Me".
Before they formed The Lovin' Spoonful, John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky were in a group called The Mugwumps, whose other members included Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, who would rise to fame in The Mamas and The Papas.
The Barry Manilow hit "I Write The Songs," was actually written by the Beach Boys' Bruce Johnson, has been recorded by over two hundred artists, and has a cumulative, worldwide sales figure of twenty-five million copies.
Seven-foot drag queen RuPaul appeared with comedy legend Milton Berle at the MTV awards. Uncle Milte said, "You know RuPaul, thirty years ago when I was on television, I used to wear dresses too." "That's interesting," the giant cross-dresser snapped. "You used to wear dresses, now you wear diapers."
During the last years that Elvis Presley performed live, he opened his shows with "The Theme From 2001". When asked about it, Presley said that he felt the number 2001 had a special significance in his life that he couldn't explain. Elvis died August, 16, 1977, which numerically is 8-16-1977. When these numbers are added up, they equal 2001.
The day after Elvis died, Florists Transworld Delivery (FTD) reported that in one day, the number of orders for flowers to be delivered to Graceland had surpassed the number for any other event in the company's history.
Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" for Julian Lennon after John's divorce from his first wife, Cynthia. The song's original name was "Hey Julian", then changed to "Hey Jules" before settling on the final title.
The members of Exile, who scored a US number one hit in 1978 with "Kiss You All Over", toured with the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars in 1965 as back-up band for artists including Brian Hyland and Tommy Roe.
Billboard Magazine printed the first Hot 100 singles chart in August, 1958. Their first number 1 hit was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson.
When he was a boy, David Bowie took art lessons from Peter Frampton's father, Owen.
In 1963, artists managed by Brian Epstein placed 85 songs in the Top Ten of the British record charts.
In 1966, songwriter Tommy Boyce asked Del Shannon to record the theme for Dick Clark's upcoming TV show Where The Action Is. Shannon didn't like the song and turned it down. It was then offered to Freddy Cannon, who had a #3 US hit with it.
Mary McGregor recorded her 1977, number one hit, "Torn Between Two Lovers" while standing in a bathroom, to take advantage of the room's natural echo.
The Notorious B.I.G. married his flame, Faith Evans, only eight days after he met her. Responding to a reporter's question on how it was working out, Biggie replied, "She ain't speaking to me right now."
Marilyn Manson has always denied rumors that he was a child actor who had appeared on the popular television show "Mr. Belvedere." "I've masturbated during the show when it was on TV," he explained. "But, I have never been on it."
At the same time as "Love Will Keep Us Together" was starting to fade from the Billboard Hot 100, The Captain and Tennille had a Spanish version of the same song ("Por Amor Viviremos") enter the chart. It was the only time in Rock history that an act had two versions of the same song in different languages and on different singles, appear simultaneously on the Hot 100.
While Ernie K-Doe's hit "Mother-In-Law" was at the top of the US charts in 1961, Dick Clark decided he would not have K-Doe on American Bandstand because he felt the song was disrespectful towards his Mother-in-Law.
The line from Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode, "That little country boy could play" was originally written as, "That little colored boy can play." Berry knew that in order to get the song played on the radio, he would have to change that lyric.
The world's most expensive record has an estimated value of $180,000 and is in the possession of Paul McCartney. The disc is the first pressing of "That'll Be The Day", recorded in 1958 by the Quarry Men, made up of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Colin Hanton and John Duff Lowe.
It was Paul Simon who actually wrote The Cyrkle's 1966 hit "Red Rubber Ball" under the assumed name of Jerry Landis.
Pre-Order Goes Live on December 21st at CircaSurvive.com; Co-Headlining Tour With Anberlin Begins January 14th; "BLUE SKY NOISE" Deluxe Vinyl Arrives on January 18th
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - December 20, 2010) - Atlantic recording group Circa Survive has unveiled plans to release an audiophile-grade vinyl edition of their critically acclaimed, third full length album "BLUE SKY NOISE." The deluxe vinyl edition of "BLUE SKY NOISE" will be available beginning January 18th. Fans can preorder the special release through CircaSurvive.com starting Tuesday, December 21st. For more details, please visit the band's official website http://www.circasurvive.com/
Produced by multiple Grammy winner David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, King Crimson) and mixed by Rich Costey (Interpol, The Mars Volta, Rage Against The Machine), "BLUE SKY NOISE" entered the Billboard 200 chart at #11 upon its release earlier this year, with the standard vinyl edition of the album taking the #1 spot on the Soundscan Vinyl chart. Pressed onto audiophile grade, 180-gram vinyl, the deluxe vinyl edition of "BLUE SKY NOISE" comes as a double-disc album complete with vintage styling and brand new gatefold artwork by renowned artist Esao Andrews. Digital downloads of both "BLUE SKY NOISE" and the band's recently released, 5-song "APPENDAGE" EP are also included.
Circa Survive recently completed their highly successful headlining U.S. tour, selling out in nearly every market across the country including the tour's finale -- a two night stand at New York City's Irving Plaza. The Doylestown, PA-based group is already preparing for a busy touring schedule in 2011, teaming up with Anberlin for a co-headlining run that kicks off on January 14th at The National in Richmond, VA (see itinerary below). Foxy Shazam will be supporting on all dates. Circa Survive is also one of the mainstage performers at this year's Bamboozle Festival which features an artistically rich and varied lineup that includes Lil Wayne, The Gaslight Anthem, Bruno Mars, Wiz Khalifa, Dashboard Confessional and more.
Circa Survive is: Nick Beard (bass), Steve Clifford (drum), Brendan Ekstrom (guitar), Colin Frangicetto (guitar), Anthony Green (vocals).
John Spence, singer, original member of No Doubt in the late 80's, committed suicide in 1987.
Born on this day in 1940, Frank Zappa, multi' instrumentalist, producer and composer. Recorded with The Mothers Of Invention and solo, 1969 album 'Hot Rats,' 1974 album 'Apostrophe,' featuring "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow." First band was The Blackouts, recorded one of the first concept albums 'Freak Out'. Zappa died of prostrate cancer on December 4,1993.
Born on this day in 1946, Carl Wilson, guitar, vocals, The Beach Boys. Died February 6, 1998 after a long battle with lung cancer.
History:
LaVern Baker recorded "Jim Dandy" in 1955.
In 1966, the Beach Boys received three Gold Record citations for the single "Good Vibrations" and the albums 'Little Deuce Coupe' and 'Shut Down, Vol. 2.'
The Beatles held a party at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London in 1967 to preview their new movie ‘Magical Mystery Tour.'
Just in time for Christmas in 1967, the Rolling Stones released the stoned-out 'Their Satanic Majesties Request.' The album was recorded while Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones endured their drug arrests and trials.
In 1969, the Rolling Stones played the first for four shows at the Lyceum Ballroom in London as a sort of Christmas gift to fans.
Crosby, Stills and Nash performed together in public for the first time in 1968.
Janis Joplin gave her first solo performance in Memphis, TN in 1968.
Glen Campbell topped the US album chart in 1968 with ‘Wichita Lineman.' Although the LP would stay on the chart for 46 weeks, it would be Campbell's only #1 album.
In 1969, the Supremes made their last TV appearance together with Diana Ross on 'The Ed Sullivan show,' singing their last #1 "Someday We'll Be Together."
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Canned Heat appeared at the Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California in 1969.
In 1970, a stretch limousine carrying Elvis Presley pulled up outside the White House in Washington, D.C. The driver handed over a letter from Elvis addressed to President Nixon requesting a meeting to discuss how the King of Rock and Roll could help Nixon fight drugs. The President agreed to give Presley a Narcotics Bureau badge - but only after learning that the chief of the narcotics bureau had turned down the same request earlier that day and told Presley the only person who could overrule his decision was the President. At Elvis' request, the meeting remained secret for more than a year, until the Washington Post broke the story on January 27th, 1972.
Following Blind Faith, Steve Winwood reformed Traffic as a trio in 1970 with original members Jim Capaldi (drums) and Chris Wood (woodwinds). Their 'John Barleycorn Must Die' featuring the rousing instrumental “Glad” goes gold.
In 1974, Harry Chapin enjoyed his only number one single with "Cat's In The Cradle." The song's theme about a distant father and son relationship was suggested to Harry by his wife, after he expressed disappointment about being on tour instead of attending his son's birth.
During a North American tour in 1977, Queen appeared at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, California.
The Eagles, Chicago and Linda Ronstadt performed at a benefit show in 1979 for the presidential campaign for California governor Jerry Brown, who also happens to be Ronstadt's boyfriend.
Heart went to #1 on the US album chart in 1985 with their self- titled album.
Lionel Richie had a number one record for the seventh time in 1985, when "Say You, Say Me" reached the top of the Billboard Pop chart. He started his string with "Three Times A Lady" and "Still" while he was with The Commodores, before having hits with "Endless Love", "Truly", "All Night Long" and "Hello."
In 1985, Bruce Springsteen's album, ‘Born in the USA’ passed Michael Jackson's ‘Thriller’ to become the second longest-lasting LP on the Billboard US Top 10. It stayed there for 79 weeks. Only ‘The Sound of Music’ with Julie Andrews lasted longer at 109 weeks.
To help promote Aerosmith’s “Love In An Elevator,” in 1989, a couple got married in an actual elevator at the Scope Arena in Norfolk (VA) during the group’s show.
A concert in memory of John Lennon was held at Japan's Tokyo Dome in 1990, featuring Sean Lennon, Hall and Oates, Natalie Cole and Linda Ronstadt.
Believe it or not, in 1993, Shaquille O'Neal's "I Know I Got Skillz" single was certified Gold by the RIAA.
The charity record "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" went to #1 on the UK singles chart in 1996. With the consent of Bob Dylan, musician Ted Christopher of Dunblane, Scotland wrote a new verse for the song in memory of the schoolchildren and teacher killed in the Dunblane massacre. The cover version of the song included brothers and sisters of the victims singing the chorus and Mark Knopfler on guitar.
In 2001, police launched an investigation into why Olivia Harrison listed a non-existent Beverly Hills address as the place of George Harrison's death.
Keane appeared at the 12 Bar Club, London in 2002 and were spotted by Simon Williams of Fierce Panda records who asked them to put a single out on his label.
Money making figures for 2002's top grossing Rock artists were as follows:
Paul McCartney - $126.1 million
The Rolling Stones - $90 million
Cher - $67.6 million
Neil Diamond - $52.2 million
Britney Spears - $43.7 million
Aerosmith - $36.3 million
Eagles - $34.9 million
'N Sync - $33 million
The top grossing country artist was Kenny Chesney at $22.7 million
In 2003, Eminem's ex-wife Kimberley Mathers pleaded guilty to a drug and driving offences. Mathers had been pulled by traffic police in June and was charged with possession of cocaine, two other charges driving with a suspended license and maintaining a drug house in which police discovered marijuana and Ecstasy were dropped. The 28 year-old mother appeared in a Michigan court after turning herself in, having previously failed to attend a November 1 hearing and removed an electronic tagging device used to monitor her movements.
Madonna was forced to cancel a romantic holiday at Skibo Castle in Scotland in 2005, after her private jet broke down with technical difficulties at London Airport. She should have called me, my jet was working....
The Beatles' "Love" sat at #1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart in 2006. The album was produced by George Martin and his son Giles Martin and features music compiled and remixed for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name. The disc would quickly be certified Platinum and won Grammys in two categories - Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Surround Sound Album at the 50th annual Grammy awards on February 10th, 2008.
A trashed guitar once owned by the late Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, was sold to an unidentified private collector for $100,000 in 2008. "It's a really cool-looking guitar because it's smashed and held together with duct tape and Kurt Cobain wrote on it," says Jacob McMurray, senior curator at the Experience Music Project in Seattle. The EMP had displayed the Fender Mustang.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), released its listing of 2009's most played holiday songs, tracked by radio airplay monitoring service, Mediaguide, from over 2,500 radio stations nationwide.
The top 10 most-played holiday songs in the ASCAP repertory this holiday season are:
Produced by: Free Man in Paris? Engineered by: Henry Lewy Mixed by: Henry Lewy Mastered by: Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
MUSIC
SOUND
Court and Spark Revisited by Michael Fremer November 01, 2010
Joni Mitchell’s move to jazz on this 1974 game changer upset her hippie contingent, who wished she’d remained a “lady of the canyon,” and it didn’t exactly thrill fans who considered themselves jazz aficionados either—not with the likes of “jazz-lite” guys like Tom Scott, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder and Larry Carlton involved.
Yet in retrospect, they were the right talent for the job and their work here was superb, helping to move Mitchell in a new direction without taking her too far from familiar musical territory. Helping the firm footing were friends Graham Nash, David Crosby (who had produced here debut album) and Robbie Robertson among others.
Mitchell’s mature subject matter—the tensions between yearning for traditional domesticity and having a successful career (in her case “stoking the star maker machinery behind the popular song”) demanded a more intense musical dynamic that the rhythmic freedom of the “smooth jazz” arrangements provided.
All of these elements on this pivotal album, not to mention a string of memorable and mostly very personal songs help explain its enduring value and modernity 36 years after it was first released. It sounds as fresh today as it did all those years ago.
Mitchell was moving fast in her life, and in circles filled with people moving at an equally fast clip. The title tune and “Help Me” both defined Mitchell’s dilemma, while “Free Man in Paris” chronicles her exhilarating escape from a pressure-filled life most of us couldn’t imagine produced any kind of trap from which one might need extrication. Is the “he” referenced at the beginning of the song David Geffen? That’s been surmised by many since 1974.
“People’s Parties” eye-witnesses a dread everyone has felt being eyed by others but Mitchell’s willingness to express it and admitting to “…living on nerves and feelings with a weak and a lazy mind” is both surprising and daring given her exalted position in pop stardom at the time when her fans imagined nothing else but that she was riding high and the life of the party.
The vulnerability expressed and the sense of being examined and judged ratchets up considerably in “The Same Situation” as Mitchell wishes release “caught in my struggle for higher achievement and my search for love…”
Side two opens with more exasperation and insecurity with “Car on a Hill” as the singer waits anxiously for her boyfriend who is three hours late. “He’s a real good talker…and makes friends easily.”
Who hasn’t been there? Or looking back at a regrettable one night stand as Mitchell does in “Down to You.” “Just Like This Train” produces liberation in the thought that “jealous lovin’ll make you crazy” so “…with no one to give your love to,” perhaps it’s best to just settle back and dream of a committed relationship.
The album shifts musical and lyrical gears for the exuberant and mischievous “Raised on Robbery” before returning to a repressed “Trouble Child” “breaking like the waves at Malibu.” If you have the DCC Compact Classics Reissue, have you ever noticed the typo “Still you know how yourneed it?”
The album ends with Mitchell’s cover of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross’s “Twisted,” with hipster lyrics by the great Annie Ross. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s little interlude adds to the cheekiness. Mitchell’s playful performance and her crisp phrasing hint that she’s going to head this way again.
So how does Rhino’s new reissue cut from the master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering compare to what’s come before? I compared it to an original white label promo Asylum, the Nautilus half-speed mastered version cut by Jack Hunt at the JVC Cutting center and the DCC Compact Classics edition mastered by Steve Hoffman, probably cut by Kevin Gray.
The original, cut by Bernie Grundman at A&M Mastering, which he ran for Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss on the A&M lot that once was Charlie Chaplin studios and where I visited often when I Iived in L.A. (not work related-a girlfriend worked there) is clearly the standard against which to measure the others.
The tape was fresh, Bernie ran a meticulous shop and probably was being directed by his friend Henry Lewy who engineered the album, probably at A&M studios. By the way, there is tape over-saturation on “Car on a Hill” and it can be heard on every pressing at a peak in one of Mitchell’s multi-voiced interludes so it’s not your cartridge mistracking!
The original is open and spacious with a slightly strident vocal sound that must driven early digital converters crazy. I bet the original CD would have scorched your eardrums. I never heard it. Overall, the original sounds really fine. The instrumental textures are well-captured, not surprising given Grundman’s background in jazz. The only criticism I have of the original is that it’s bass-light.
The vinyl and pressing quality at that point were not great so the residual background noise is relatively high compared to what we get now on well-pressed reissues.
The Nautilus is even brighter than the original and has a hollowness about it that’s not exactly pleasant. Surprisingly, the sibilants aren’t as clean as on the original. Clean high frequencies are supposed to be one of the advantages of cutting at half speed, so I don’t know what happened there.
The DCC Compact Classics is really interesting in retrospect. Hoffman’s version is a definite revision. At the risk of upsetting the fanbase, it’s clear the Steve did some major EQ to warm up the lower midbass and give the production some bass weight. At the same time he appears to have pushed the presence region up just a tad to give it some sheen. The result is rich instrumental timbres, a coherent and clean bass line and a very pleasant overall tonal picture, though I think Mitchell’s voice sounds a bit muffled compared to the original and to Chris Bellman’s recent cut.
I did these comparisons using a very revealing and extended Soundsmith Strain Gauge cartridge as well as the Ortofon A90 using a variety of phono preamps, both tubed and solid state. There were very different presentations of course, but the variables did not shift the ultimate sonic conclusion.
I think the new Rhino pressed at RTI is by far the best version of this album yet. If it sounds too bright for you, don’t blame the record. The bottom end is strong without creeping up into the midbass, the transient details are spectacular, with clean and natural percussion and when you hear the rim hits on “Twisted” you’ll recognize reality. Bellman delivers the picture with a vital three-dimensionality none of the others come close to providing.
If you love this record you will not regret investing in this superb reissue, which is packaged with equal care and is faithful to the original, complete with the embossed lettering and well-reproduced cover art, though the paper stock is a paler yellow.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why no one has done a reissue of Mitchell's For the Roses, which I think is an even better album and on the original white label Asylum release, sonic masterpiece. That was when the label was distributed by Atlantic so the record was probably cut by George Piros.
Thanks to Michael over at www.musicangle.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material. Stop by MusicAngle.com for more reviews and features.
Space thrashers Gwar have announced that it will be re-issuing its past two albums, 2009's "Lust In Space" and 2010's "Bloody Pit Of Horror" on limited edition vinyl in early January. 'Lust In Space' will be first, reaching store shelves on January 18th, 2011 followed by the release of 'Bloody Pit Of Horro'" on February 15th, 2011 both through Metal Blade Records.
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Captain Beefheart Dies Aged 69
The avant-garde musician Captain Beefheart, the musical alias of Don Van Vliet, has died at the age of 69 from complications from multiple sclerosis at a hospital in Northern California on Friday, December 17.
Born in California in 1941, Van Vliet achieved notoriety with his rotating ensemble of musicians, The Magic Band and released twelve albums with the group, most notably 1969’s ‘Trout Mask Replica,' which achieved widespread critical acclaim. Most of 'Trout Mask Replica' was recorded in March 1969 at Whitney Studios in Los Angeles, California. The lineup of The Magic Band at this time consisted of Bill Harkleroad and Jeff Cotton on guitar, Mark Boston on bass guitar, Victor Hayden on bass clarinet, and John French on drums and percussion. Beefheart played several brass and woodwind instruments (including saxophone, musette, and hunting horn) and contributed most of the vocal parts, with Zappa and various members of the band providing occasional vocals and narration. The well-rehearsed Magic Band recorded all instrumental tracks for 'Trout Mask Replica' in a single six-hour recording session; Van Vliet's vocal and horn tracks were laid down over the next few days. Upon release in the US, Trout Mask Replica sold poorly and failed to chart. It was more successful in the UK, where it spent a week on the charts, at #21.
A widely recognized and acclaimed composition, Trout Mask Replica was ranked #58 on Rolling Stone's 2003 list The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Allmusic's Steve Huey wrote that "its inspiring reimagining of what was possible in a rock context laid the groundwork for countless future experiments in rock surrealism, especially during the punk/new wave era."
As well as being known for his powerful singing voice, he was also a multi-instrumentalist, playing the saxophone and harmonica.
George Pickow, Artist Who Chronicled Musical Life, Is Dead at 88
By MARGALIT FOX NY Times
George Pickow, a photographer best known for the thousands of album covers in which he captured the titans of folk, jazz and pop music — including Theodore Bikel, Louis Armstrong and Lena Horne — in their midcentury prime, died on Dec. 10 in Roslyn, N.Y. He was 88 and lived in Port Washington, on Long Island.
The cause was respiratory failure, his son Jon said. Mr. Pickow also had a home in Viper, Ky., the birthplace of his wife, the folk singer Jean Ritchie.
Working quietly behind the scenes, Mr. Pickow (pronounced PEEK-oh) documented the bubbling cultural ferment of New York City, and in particular Greenwich Village, where he and Ms. Ritchie lived after their marriage in 1950.
For Elektra Records and other labels, he photographed folk singers like Josh White, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins and, of course, Ms. Ritchie, as well as jazz and pop artists like Little Richard, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Nina Simone and Louis Jordan.
David Rose, who led his orchestra to Billboard's number one position with "The Stripper" in July, 1962, was a prolific composer of television theme songs in the 1950s. At one point, there were 22 TV shows on the air using his music. He later went on to win Emmy Awards for the theme for "Bonanza", and "An Evening With Fred Astaire", as well as writing music for "Little House On The Prarie" and "Highway To Heaven".
Mr. Aker Bilk, who took "Stranger On The Shore" to Billboard's number one spot in May, 1962, learned to play the clarinet while he was in prison. He had been sentenced to three months in jail after falling asleep while on guard duty for the British Army in Egypt.
Elvis Presley was number 1 in record sales in the US in the 1950s. In the 1960s he was number 2 and in the 70s he was number 13.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were always on the look-out for interesting titles to write a song around. They did just that when a tired Ringo uttered "God, it's been a hard days night" and again when a chauffer told Paul, "I'm very busy at the moment. I've been working eight days a week."
Ellas Bates was still in grammar school when classmates started calling him "Bo Diddley". He says he doesn't know why. A bo diddley is actually a one-string, African guitar.
Songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant wrote "All I Have To Do Is Dream" in 15 minutes, but the tune would reach the US charts in four straight decades. The Everly Brothers took it to number one in 1958, Richard Chamberlain's version went to number 14 in 1963, Glen Campbell and Bobby Gentry reached number 27 with it in 1970, and Andy Gibb and Victoria Principal peaked at number 51 in 1981.
Dan Whitney, the comedian known as "Larry The Cable Guy" has been influenced by show business all his life. His father used to played guitar with the Everly Brothers.
Herman's Hermits recorded "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" as an album filler, never intending it for release as a single. After an American DJ started giving it airplay, MGM issued it as a 45 and it became the group's third Billboard number one hit in a row.
The first time that Del Shannon and his keyboard player, Max Crook, ever played "Runaway" on stage, Crook improvised the organ solo as he went along. When it came time to record the song and in all future performances, he never changed a single note.
John Fred and his Playboy Band hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in January, 1968 with "Judy In Disguise". At one time, John's father, Fred Gourrier was a professional baseball player.
Before Pete Townshend of the Who began working on the rock opera "Tommy," he had planned to write an opera about a big white rabbit that ruled the world.
After The Tokens achieved a number one record with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961, follow up recordings failed to sell. The group however continued to perform and sang back up vocals for Connie Francis, Del Shannon and Bob Dylan, as well as recording commercials for Pan Am, Ban Deodorant, Wendys and Sunkist.
In the 1960s, during the height of Beatlemania, there were about 90 records released every week in the UK. Only 2 or 3 ever made the charts.
The Shirelles 1962, US Top 10 hit, "Baby, It's You" was actually recorded with only Shirley Alston Reeves' voice over the instrumental demo. The other members of the group don't appear on the record at all, as the original backup vocals, provided by male singers, were left in place.
It took Elvis Presley 31 takes of "Hound Dog" to get the final version that we hear today. In 1988, the song was named the most played record of all time on American juke boxes.
'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' by Wham! was inspired by a note that group member Andrew Ridgeley left lying in his bedroom.
Paul Evans, who sang the US Top Ten hits "Seven Little Girls" and "Happy-Go-Lucky Me", wrote the music for Bobby Vinton's hit, "Roses Are Red" in 3 minutes, just after seeing Al Byron's lyrics for the first time. After Vinton recorded it, the song went to #1 in the US and sold over 4 million copies.
Poor Ringo. In 1989, after becoming clean and sober, Starr sued to stop the release of an album that he had recorded during his drinking days, claiming he sounded too drunk. The court agreed and the album was never released.
Antoine "Fats" Domino came by his nickname because he stood 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 225 lb. Could have been worse, the name Butterball was available....
Tommy James and the Shondells' "It's Only Love" album cover was the first professional photo shoot by Paul McCartney's wife, Linda Eastman.
Robert Todd Storz is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format. In the early 1950s, he noticed that people would play the same juke box selections over and over, and gradually converted his stable of radio stations from playing dramas and variety shows to an all-hits format. He dubbed the result "Top 40". Storz also pioneered the practice of surveying record stores to determine which singles were the most popular each week. Ironically, he died of a stroke in 1964, in his 40th year.
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