Music News, Notes & Did You Know?

‘Money for Nothing’ too offensive for Canada

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has recently ruled that the Dire Straits’ 1980s hit "Money for Nothing" is too offensive for Canadian radio. The ruling, released last Wednesday, was in response to a complaint against St. John’s radio station CHOZ-FM. The listener complained that the word faggot – which appears three times in the song is “extremely offensive” to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

It ruled that “faggot,” when used to describe a homosexual, is “even if entirely or marginally acceptable in earlier days, is no longer so.”

Here are the offending lyrics from the song:

The little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah, buddy, that’s his own hair
That little faggot’s got his own jet airplane
That little faggot, he’s a millionaire

Get over it!

Read the full story here: Money For Nothing

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beehivecandy.com has a great post to read:

The Byrds - Bath Festival 1970.


The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music took place at the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet, England over the weekend of 27th and 28th June 1970. The line up included a good number of major American acts (inc Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Steppenwolf) and from the UK the likes of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

The festival suffered from some appalling weather at times and also from traffic jams getting to the venue which affected some acts. The original schedule of artists times for appearing went disastrously wrong and delays eventually meant acts appeared through both nights and into Monday morning.

The Byrds appeared on stage, in the early hours of Monday 29th June and the following from the festival archives site takes up the story - It was really late, something like 2 am

Read the rest at BeeHiveCandy.com

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Daggermouth's 'Stallone' Gets Vinyl Release

Animal Style Records has given the vinyl treatment to 'Stallone,' the 2006 full-length effort from Vancouver, BC's punk rockers Daggermouth. The first vinyl pressing is limited to 500 copies spread across three variants (100 red, 200 forest green and 200 clear pink).

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Soundgarden Announce Live Album

Soundgarden announced their first-ever live album titled, 'Live on 15.' The 17 track LP is scheduled for release on March 22nd and will include the crowd pleasing "Outshined," "Spoonman," and "Black Hole Sun," and some fantastic covers of The Beatles’ "Helter Skelter" and Iggy and The Stooges’ "Search and Destroy." The set was recorded at shows while touring North America in 1996 and feature two tracks recorded at Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland, CA.

In addition to the live album they may release an album of B-sides.

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Jack White Enlists Bob Dylan On New Wanda Jackson Album

Music and melody maker Jack White enlisted the help of Bob Dylan on his latest project, Wanda Jackson's new album 'The Party Ain't Over.' The album includes collaborations with Jack White's wife Karen Elson, The Dead Weather's Jack Lawrence, The Raconteur's Patrick Keeler, Ashley Monroe and Patti Smith's son Jackson Smith.

''I just happened to ask Bob Dylan what he thought, because I told him Wanda was coming to record with me,'' White told BBC 6 Music. "I asked if there were any songs of the top of his head, he sent a couple over and one of was Thunder on the Mountain."

Wanda Jackson is signed to White's Third Man records and they are offering – with the first 1,000 album preorders – an exclusive poster print from the legendary Hatch Show Print letterpress printers in Nashville in the limited edition Greeting Card Gatefold™ (a first for Third Man). Amongst the lucky people who pre-order the LP, 100 will have a chance at the fuchsia-colored vinyl discs that have been randomly inserted.

Nice collectible, I hope I get one!




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Steven Tyler Tells Howard Stern That Aerosmith Will Write and Play Again

New 'American Idol' judge Steven Tyler popped by Howard Stern's SiriusXM radio show this morning and dished about how things are going with his 'other' gig in Aerosmith Stern exalted Tyler, calling him the "American Mick Jagger," and then launched into the hardline questioning he's known for. There were no softballs here, with Stern flat out asking.........

Read the rest HERE

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Beatles Hit Five Million in iTunes Sales

Yes, I know, this is a blog about vinyl. However, other music mediums exist and The Beatles balked for years to join the downloading game. But they are introducing their music to a whole new generation of fans and that cannot be a bad thing.

In fact, in only two short months the Beatles have accomplished a feat that has taken many modern artists several months to accomplish – sell five million songs and one million albums; almost half of those in the first week the music was available in the middle of November 2010 on Apple iTunes.

According to Apple statistics, the most popular of the 13 Beatles’ albums is 'Abbey Road,' and amazingly (considering all their hit singles) the most popular song is the George Harrison penned “Here Comes the Sun”.

For us vinyl fans, the Beatles also topped 2010 sales for record sales. The iconic group from Liverpool sold 36,700 albums in 2010 with 35,000 copies of  'Abbey Road' being sold. In all nearly three million vinyl record albums were sold in 2010.

Nielsen SoundScan the top 10 selling artists vinyl albums for 2010:

The Beatles
The Black Keys
Radiohead
Arcade Fire
Jimi Hendrix
The National
Pavement
Vampire Weekend 
Metallica
Bob Dylan


The top 10 individual vinyl albums for 2010:

 Abbey Road  by The Beatles
”Suburbs” by Arcade Fire
”Brothers” by the Black Keys
”Contra” by Vampire Weekend
”Thriller” by Michael Jackson
”High Violet” by the National
”Teen Dream” by Beach House
Valleys Of Neptune (2 LP Vinyl) Jimi Hendrix Experience
”Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd
”XX” by the xx

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Did You Know?

Johnny Preston started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with "Running Bear." Written by J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), the tune originally entered the chart in October 1959, then quickly vanished, but re-entered in November and slowly climbed to the top. It was also a UK No.1.

In 1964, The Beatles had their first appearance on the US singles chart with "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The record entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #45, just ten days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history. Capitol had earlier turned down "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me to You" and "She Loves You", which were then released by Vee Jay Records. After a nasty lawsuit, Capitol Records was granted an injunction, restraining Vee Jay Records from further manufacturing, distributing, advertising or otherwise disposing of recordings by the Beatles. If you have any old Beatles records on Vee Jay, hang on to them, they are now collector's items.

In 1974, former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US #1 album with their debut release.

And, another Barry Manilow reference, this is two days in a row (sorry) - In 1975, Barry Manilow launched his career with the number one smash "Mandy". Originally called "Brandy" when it was recorded in 1972 by Scott English, Manilow changed the title to avoid confusion with the hit of the same name by a group called Looking Glass.

In 1978, Johnny Paycheck's cover of David Allan Coe's ode to workplace frustrations, "Take This Job and Shove It", reached the top spot on the Billboard Country chart. Although the song failed to crack the Pop chart Top 40, it still seems to be one that we all know and can relate to!

DAVID ALLAN COE Take This Job And Shove It





Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson in 1996 after less then two years of being married. No one saw that coming.......

And in 2007, crazy rocker Ted Nugent caused a stir at the inaugural ball of Texas Governor Rick Perry when he appeared on stage wearing a T-shirt adorned with the Confederate flag and then embarking on an angry monologue about people who don't speak English. The 58-year-old Rocker also carried a fake machine gun on stage with him.

Happy Birthday to Jonathan Davis of Korn!

New Music Releases ~ January 18, 2010

Finally, getting back into the swing of things with lots of new music releases for mid January.  Look for new music from Blackmore's Night, Daniel Martin Moore, Gregg Allman, James Blunt and Twilight Hotel; among others.  And, this week has some great vinyl reissues including Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan together on vinyl, Booker T. & the MGs, Fela Kuti, Mudhoney, the Kinks, Sparklehorse, Mudhoney and Social Distortion, just to name a few.  As always, CVR Blog picks in red. 


New Music Releases ~ January 18, 2010

16 Horsepower - Yours Truly
Alan Parsons Project - X2 (I Robot/Eye In The Sky)
Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session (vinyl)
Aquabats - Hi-Five Soup!
Audio Bullys - Higher Than the Eiffel
Aurelio - Laru Beya
Beep - City of the Future
Benjy Davis Project: Sincerely
Blackmore's Night - Autumn Sky
Booker T. & the MGs - McLemore Avenue (vinyl)
Boris - Live in Japan (DVD)
Braids - Native Speaker
Brandon Heath - Leaving Eden
Bridge and Powerlines - Eve
Clarence Johnson - Low Down Papa
Cobra Skulls - Bringing the War Home
Daniel Martin Moore - In the Cool of the Day
Disappears - Guider
Distractions - Dark Green Sea
Dolorean - The Unfazed
Ducktails - Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics(vinyl)
Electric Wizard - Black Masses Rise
Elvis Presley - Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition
Eulogies - Tear the Fences Down
Farewell To Freeway - Filty Habits
Buy Fela Kuti Nusic Here
Fela Kuti - Army Arrangement (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Beasts of No Nation /O.D.O.O. (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Coffin For Head of State / Unknown Soldier (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Live in Amsterdam (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Original Suffer Head / I.T.T. (reissue)
Fergus & Geronimo - Unlearn
First Aid Kit - "Universal Soldier" b/w "It Hurts Me Too" 7''
Ghost - Opus Eponymous
Gilkyson-Gorka-Kaplansky - Red Horse (vinyl)
Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues (2 LPs) (vinyl)
Harry Belafonte - Sings The Blues (24k Gold Master)
Ian Axel - This Is The New Year
Ike & Tina Turner - Absolutely the Best: Live
James Blunt - Some Kind of Trouble
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - Je Taime Moi Non Plus (reissue) (vinyl)
Janis Ian - Between The Lines (Gold Disc)
Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall (Vinyl)
Jayhawks - Tomorrow The Green Grass (remastered with bonus CD)
Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop 19

Kinks - Kinda Kinks (vinyl)





Klaxons - Surfing the Void (deluxe edition reissue)

Import! 'The album kicks off with "Echoes," a challenging first single that sees fuzzy electric guitars form the basis for which the often breathy vocals can overlap. Instantly, something hits the listener: the album seems to be rather poorly mastered, either deliberately to create a lo-fi sound or unintentionally as a result of Klaxons disputes with their label. I'd like to think that it is a deliberate move; it doesn't hurt the album to be a little grittier, and even benefits some of the tracks. "Surfing the Void," is an apocalyptic, riff-heavy beast that seems to thrive on the loudness that mastering would partially remove. Vocals come quick and fast, taking the shouting of older tracks like "Atlantis to Interzone" to new levels in this murky atmosphere. Overall, Klaxons seem to have gone for a dark, brooding sound that largely plays to their strengths. "Valley of Calm Trees" offers softer vocals and a reluctant, saddening tone as well as one of the most memorable Klaxons choruses so far. Klaxons embrace being British throughout the record; Jamie Reynolds sounds similar to Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel during select parts of "Future Memories," which shows influences in vocals and guitar-work. Elsewhere, the tension is broken in softer, percussion-led tracks such as "Twin Flames," that places vocals further in the mix and allows the glitch-like guitars to remain in the background, creating a wonderful rhythm.' - Alex Phillimore / OneThirtyBPM.com

Lady Lazarus - Mantic
Ladytron - 604 (reissue with bonus tracks)
Ladytron - Light & Magic (reissue with bonus tracks)
Ladytron - Witching Hour (reissue with bonus tracks)
Les Jupes - Modern Myths
Lionheart - Built on Struggle
Madlib - Low Budget High Fi Music (3xCD)
Magic Sam - West Side Soul: Special Edition
Modern Skirts - Gramahawk
Mogwai - Rano Pano (vinyl)

Mudhoney - Head on the Curb (reissue) (vinyl)

This beautiful 180 gram vinyl-only release is mid-period Mudhoney at its rawest. Original bass player Matt Lukin is in top form, as is the rest of the classic lineup, blasting out songs and ideas, some of which went on to be studio-fied for their Warner Bros. debut Piece of Cake, while others got lost to the dark crevices of time until now. Besides the cover of SCTV classic "I Hate The Bloody Queen", these recordings have never been released, and represent a sonic assault that is pure Mudhoney. Raw, unabashed, and sometimes downright no-fi. Head On the Curb writes a new chapter into Mudhoney's legendary past.

Neon Quartet - Catch Me
Night Ranger - Authorized Bootleg: Live Marquette, Michigan - 8/8/84
Norman Blake - Green Light On The Southern
Oh No Oh My - People Problems
Pearl Jam - Live On Ten Legs (vinyl)
Phish - Live Phish 6/27/10 Merriweather Post Pavilion
Phish - Live Phish 7/4/10 Verizon Wireless at Encore Park
Phish - Live Phish: 7/3/10 Verizon Wireless at Encore Park
Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival
Ringside - Lost Days
Robert Pollard -Space City Kicks (vinyl)
Roomful of Blues - Hook, Line & Sinker
Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour
Scars on 45 - Give Me Something (EP)
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - Je Taime Moi Non Plus (vinyl)
Serge Gainsbourg - Le Claqueur De Mots 1958-1959
Serge Gainsbourg - Initials B.B. (reissue) (vinyl)
Shalamar - Ultimate Best of (2 CDs)
Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers - Teenage and Torture
Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Folk Roots New Routes (vinyl)
Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2xLP) (Bonus Tracks)







Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider (reissue)(vinyl)

On 180 gram vinyl! This reissue comes with a bonus 7" containing "Waiting for Nothing" (ghost song in the original vinyl version) and "Happy Place," plus download card of the entire album. 'Sparklehorse's 1996 full-length debut, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, has even more sad, beautiful, weird moments of spacy, rural folk-rock than it does letters in its name. Primarily the project of singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Linkous, Sparklehorse's sound embraces impossibly frail, cobwebby ballads like the album opener "Homecoming Queen," "Most Beautiful Widow in Town," and "Heart of Darkness"; sun-drenched, noisy pop like "Rainmaker" and "Hammering the Cramps"; and noise blasts like "Ballad of a Cold Lost Marble" and "850 Double Pumper Holley." The album's most powerful moments borrow from folk and country traditions, alluding to their universally understood poignancy, while updating and personalizing them with spacy arrangements, distorted vocals, and slivers of feedback. "Heart of Darkness" and "Homecoming Queen" in particular have a woozy, late-night sweetness that conveys a touching, if unstable, honesty. The single "Someday I Will Treat You Good" molds this vulnerability into a radio song, with catchy and affecting results, but it's the shambling, understated songs like "Saturday" and "Sad & Beautiful World" that define the group's down-to-earth melancholy. Despite covering some expansive musical territory, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot doesn't sound scattered so much as spontaneous, reflecting the happy, sad, noisy, and quiet moments in life.' - Heather Phares / All Music Guide

Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (reissue)(vinyl)
Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies (reissue)(vinyl)
Spiritualized - Pure Phase (reissue)(vinyl)
Steve Lukather - All’s Well That Ends Well
Tennis - Cape Dory
The Brute Chorus - How The Caged Bird Sings
The Carrier - Blind To What Is Right

The Decemberists - The King is Dead (CD & DVD) (CD, DVD & book)

On 180 gram gatefold vinyl! 'The Decemberists release their sixth album The King Is Dead via Capitol Records. The critically acclaimed Portland, OR alt-pop outfit, led by frontman and songwriter Colin Meloy, are joined by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck on three of the album's ten tracks. Meloy has mentioned that R.E.M. is an inspiration for the album, a claim that is backed up by the album's more straightforward, driving folk/rock sound on the songs like "Down By the Water," "This Is Why We Fight" and "Calamity Sound." The King Is Dead follows up The Decemberists' March 2009 album Hazards of Love.' - Direct Current







The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace (Omnibus Edition)
The Frames - For the Birds (reissue) (vinyl)
The Script - Science & Faith
The Walkmen - You & Me (reissue) (vinyl)
Times of Grace - The Hymn Of A Broken Man (Special Edition)(CD/DVD)
Tokio Hotel - Best Of
Tony Bennet & Gene Krupa - Guard Sessions
Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death - Some of Are in This Together
Twilight Hotel - When the Wolves Go Blind
Various Artists - Disco Fever USA
Various Artists - Shots Of Blues Volume 1
Various Artists - Six Sessions (2 CDs)
Vusi Mahlasela - Say Africa (vinyl)
Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse EP (reissue)
White Fence - is growing faith (vinyl)
White Lies - Ritual (vinyl)
Young Prisms - Friends For Now (vinyl)


New Jazz Releases January 18, 2010

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.

Have new music for the list? Email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com 

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record - Sales Week Ending 01/15/2011

The first three entries this week look like they're off the covers of the Goldmine Record Guide. Those are followed up by two Northern Soul 45s. Ok, I'm calling it - the economy is improving, at least in the UK, Northern Soul records have been making the list every week.




1. LP - The Beatles "Introducing The Beatles" Vee Jay Rainbow Label Stereo - $4,162.00

2. 45 - The Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen" / "Did You No Wrong" South Africa Pic Sleeve - $3,716.00

3. LP - The Velvet Underground "The Velvet Underground & Nico" Yellow Label Promo Mono - $3,506.00

4. 45 - Charles Johnson & Orchestra "You Made A Mistake" / "I'll Keep Loving You" Rainbow - $3,383.33

5. 45 - John Harris & Soul Sayers "Hangin' In" / "What Can I Do" Kerston - $2,916.00


More on this week's top 5 on Vinyl Record Talk, Tuesday 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific on Radio Dentata.

Did You Know?

Lennon’s Ferrari On The Auction Block

Lennon’s Azzuro 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 coupe was the first car the Beatle bought after passing his driving test in 1965 and this vintage auto will be among the lots at Bonhams Febuary 5, 2011, auction at the Grand Palais in Paris. The blue coupe carries a presale estimate $155,000 to $220,000. Guess I better warm up the jet......

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Did You Know?

Here is my first installment of a new Daily Feature called "Did You Know?" Just a few quick notes and oddities that everyone should know.....

Led Zeppelin's debut album was released this month in 1969

In 1974, Dino Martin, of Dino, Desi and Billy and son of crooner Dean Martin, is arrested for possession of eight machine-guns and a 14-foot antitank gun. He is arraigned and released the next day on $5,000 bail. Wonder what 'ole blue eyes' had to say about that.....

in 1976, Barry Manilow had the #1 record in the US with "I Write The Songs." Although he wrote many of his hits, he didn't write this one. In fact, Bruce Johnson of the Beach Boys did and Manilow has always been quick to point out that fact.

In 1994, Donny Osmond fought the Partridge Family's Danny Bonaduce in a charity boxing match in Chicago (Bonaduce wins a split decision). I actually have seen the fight, Donny got burned.....

And today is Chris Montez' birthday. He was born in 1943.

David Crosby and Graham Nash to Tour as Crosby/Nash This Spring

1971 LIVE SET 'ANOTHER STONEY EVENING' OUT IN MARCH ON THE DUO'S NEW LABEL BLUE CASTLE RECORDS

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Singer-songwriters David Crosby and Graham Nash will launch a spring tour in the U.S. with a March 25 show in Long Beach, CA. While Crosby and Nash's legendary vocal harmonies will be the centerpiece of the show, they will be accompanied on the road by an ace-backing band featuring James Raymond (keyboards), Dean Parks (guitar), Kevin McCormick (bass), and Steve DiStanislao (drums). The initial on-sale date for tickets is January 21.

The tour will mix acoustic and plugged-in performances. "Touring with a full band gives us the opportunity to do selections from our catalogue that Graham and I haven't performed live together before," says Crosby. "We will also be introducing some brand new songs we've written, that have never been heard onstage or on record."

Crosby and Nash are also launching their own record label, Blue Castle Records, with the first-ever digital and vinyl editions of the live album Another Stoney Evening, recorded forty years ago, in 1971 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The release date is set for March 22, and the album can be pre-ordered through their website http://www.crosbynash.com/ when tickets for the tour go on sale.

"This album represents the very beginning of our musical relationship as a duo," says Nash. "Whatever David and I do well together, it's wonderful that we're still doing it well. For the upcoming tour, with a rock 'n roll band, we've gotten fantastic advance response. It's exciting to be bringing this great new show to people."

David Crosby and Graham Nash have each been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - once with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and a second time with the Byrds and the Hollies, respectively.

For more information, log on to: http://www.crosbynash.com/

For special benefit seating, please visit http://www.guacfund.org/

CROSBY/NASH Tour Dates (additional dates to be added shortly):

March 25
Long Beach Terrace Theater
Long Beach, CA

March 27
Arlington Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA

March 28
Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, CA

March 30
WaMu Theatre
Seattle, WA

April 1
Van Duzer Theater/Humboldt State Univ.
Arcata, CA

April 2
Laxson Auditorium/Chico State Univ.
Chico, CA

April 4
Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

April 9
Swallow Hill Rootsfest/Paramount Theater
Denver, CO

SOURCE  http://www.crosbynash.com

Music News & Notes

Obscura - Reveal New Album Cover Art

'Omnivium,' the upcoming album of death metallers Obscura is set to be released on March 29th via Relapse Records.

According to a press release, Omnivium finds the band pushing the progressive edges of the genre's sounds to new heights while delivering the technical metal that has become their calling card. The band gracefully blends brutality and beauty with complex, commanding songs played at stunningly virtuosic levels. Ominivum very clearly raises the bar for extreme, technical metal and is Obscura's finest moment to date.








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Dalriada Reveals New Album Details

Hungarian folk metal band DALRIADA has announced that their new album, 'Ígéret, will be released on February 18th. The band has also revealed the cover art which I think is very unique for a metal band.....













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Supergrass Will Reform, Bassist Mick Quinn Says

Ex Supergrass bassist Mick Quinn has hinted that he expects the band will reform. Quinn stated he was on “good terms” with fellow members Danny Goffey and Gaz and Rob Coombes after they split in 2010.

"I'm still on good terms with the rest of them and I'm confident we would probably reform at some point,” he told BBC News.

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Dirty Beaches Release Limited Edition Vinyl

ZOO MUSIC will be releasing the limited edition Badlands 12" vinyl record on March 29 from Montreal minimalist Dirty Beaches.

Pressed in a limited edition of 500 vinyl records, Badlands features eight exclusive unreleased tracks coated in noise, echoed vocals and layered distortion. We highly recommend hitting up the pre-order shop as supplies are very limited.

Additionally, Dirty Beaches will also be embarking on a national tour with Dum Dum spring of 2011.

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This from B & I Records

B&I To Release Figure Four LP / Reunion Planned

Blood & Ink Records is extremely pleased to announce we have started working on a vinyl pressing of Figure Four’s seminal hardcore album Suffering The Loss! Details are still coming together, but we plan to have the LP out in time for their planned reunion at Rain Fest 2011 in May, if not earlier. That’s right! They’ve announced plans to play Rain Fest in Seattle the last weekend of May alongside Trial, Madball, Most Precious Blood









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Tommy Crain of the Charlie Daniels Band Passes Away

Tommy Crain, a former guitarist with the Charlie Daniels Band and one of the writers of The Devil Went Down to Georgia, passed away on Thursday in Franklin, TN. He was 59.

Read more: VintageVinylNews.com

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Boy George sends fan album back after 10 years

Culture Club star Boy George made a North fan’s day after posting a signed album cover back . . . more than a decade after he sent it.

The singer, real name George O’Dowd, came across the Colour By Numbers cover in a cupboard while having a clear-out in his London pad.

And he gave Peter Anderson the surprise of his life when he finally got the album back through the post, together with an autographed photo and an apologetic letter.

Read the rest HERE

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LA Times critic talks about the evolving ways musicians get their music to the masses:

In pop music, a whole new way of doing business

By Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times Pop Music Critic

January has always been slump month when it comes to new pop music. Musicians tend to turn bearlike around this time, hibernating until conditions seem friendlier. Yet the resourceful pop lover will be anything but bored right now, with so much to reap from the eternally sunlit realm of the Internet.

Read the rest of the article HERE

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Queen Working On Multiple Projects to Celebrate 40th Anniversary

This year, Queen is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their formation and they are celebrating with a number of new products.

With over 170 million global album sales, 18 Number One Albums, 10 Number One DVD's, 700 concerts performed in every corner of the world including their historic appearance at Live Aid, Seven Ivor Novello Awards, inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Guinness Book of Records award for the most successful UK album chart artist ever, the Queen story is one of the most remarkable in modern British culture. 40 years after Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon formed Queen and the band became the epitome of rock n roll swagger and excess Queen continues to rule globally.

Read more: VintageVinylNews.com

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Some great cover art to look at!

LEAVES' EYES: New Album Title, Artwork Unveiled

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian has set "Meredead" as the title of its new album, due on April 22 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Release dates for other territories will be announced soon. Producer/co-vocalist Alexander Krull is currently overseeing the efforts final mix at Mastersound Studio. The album's artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann.

Commented Kristine: "As we began composing the first song ideas for our fourth full-length album, all of us were very eager to take another step in strengthening both the individual sound and concept of LEAVES' EYES, like we have done album by album. Along with the songwriting process, I made up my mind about the songs' themes, and drowned myself in different sources of literature. Some songs clearly needed lyrics rooted in northern history and culture, as well as having mystical themes.

Read more HERE

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Classic Rockers Coming Together For Mark Farner's Son

On July 3 of last year, Mark Farner's (Grand Funk Railroad) son Jesse was critically injured in a fall. This coming Monday night there will be a benefit for Jesse and the Farner family at B.B. King's in New York City.

Read more: HERE

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Interesting story

The Making of an Album Cover

Making of an album cover

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Very cool album cover art

Indie Album Covers

Indie Album Cover Art

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How much is my old vinyl Beatles record worth?

Beatles Record

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Vinyl Thrives at Ragged Records

Read HERE

Michael Fremer Album Review

Singles Collection '61-65
(collection)

Dick Dale and His Del-Tones

Deltone/Capitol/Sundazed LP 5248 2 180g mono LPs
Produced by: Dick Dale, Gary Usher, Voyle Gilmore, Jim Monsour, Jim Economides
Engineered by: Various engineers
Mixed by: Various mixers
Mastered by: Bob Irwin (LP cut by "Geo" at Nashville Record Productions)

MUSIC

SOUND






Dick Dale's Surfing Singles Assembled on Two Slabs of 180g Vinyl!
by Michael Fremer
December 01, 2010

Dick Dale is widely acknowledged as the inventor of “surf music.” Most observers consider his first single “Let’s Go Trippin’” recorded July 21st 1961to be the first surf record. Certainly those of us old enough to remember hearing it on the radio back then had never heard anything like it before, though that could be said about virtually everything that showed up on pop music radio back then.

Up North we heard Ernie K. Doe, Huey Piano Smith and Frankie Ford and we also heard something we’d never before heard, nor did we know it was from New Orleans, nor did we care. We just liked it.

But surf music was identified as such from the beginning when the sing hit around the same time as Life Magazine profiled the Southern California surfing craze. We saw the pictures in Life and heard the soundtrack on AM radio.

More singles followed including the incredible “Miserlou” cover that Quentin Tarantino used in “Pulp Fiction” that resurrected interest in surf music and Dick Dale, but surf music went “wide” when the Beach Boys hit.

Richard Anthony Monsour was born in Boston in 1937, the son of a Lebanese father and a Polish mother. The Monsour house was filled with music and Richard learned to play a variety of instruments. The family moved to Southern California in 1954 and look what happened to Mansour seven years later! Southern California can do that.

Dick Dale learned how to play guitar left handed on a right handed guitar that he played “upside down.” When he got a left handed guitar he strung it “backwards” with the bass “E” string on bottom and the high “E” string on top and that’s how he’s played it ever since!

Dale’s surf music had a rougher edge than the more commercial “warm California sun” version The Beach Boys popularized. Dale’s was more like Eddie Cochran than the Four Preps! That’s what makes this set so much hard rockin’ fun!

There’s a mix of genres adapted to surf, particularly on the later material, when Dale was kind of running out of news of doing surf music. There’s a gospel surf tune “Glory Wave” that could have been covered by Elvis, and “Grudge Run,” which could have been covered by The Coasters. Of course there are ethnic covers too, like “Hava Nagila” and “Never on Sunday,” that are less than stellar but even those are fun because Dale’s guitar work always shined.

The detailed credits give you all of the players on each session. So you’ll see Leon Russell, Hal Blaine, Glen Campbell, James Burton, the great sax player Steve Douglas, and even Lincoln Mayorga!

The excellent annotation points out that Dick Dale singles were the best way to hear these tunes as the album versions, particularly of the later stuff, were mixed differently.

This double LP set gives you the early Deltone material as well as the later Capitol recordings that got kind of lame towards the end. Still, it’s great to have all of these singled collected on double vinyl sounding as good as they’re going to sound, which isn’t always great, but never awful.

This isn’t for everyone but those for whom it is meant know who they are! Quentin’s buying I’m sure.

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.

Copyright © 2008 MusicAngle.com & Michael Fremer - All rights reserved Reprinted by Permission

Music News & Notes

this from of all places the Wall Street Journal

The Grateful Dead Get A Videogame

The Grateful Dead is getting a videogame. Through a new deal with an independent games developer, the band hopes to turn young folks on to the music and culture of the late Jerry Garcia and company.

The surviving band members gave the project their blessing, but the agreement was brokered by Rhino Entertainment.......

Read the rest  Dead Video Game







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Meat Puppets To Release New Album 'Lollipop'

The legendary rock outfit the Meat Puppets announced their return with the release of their new album 'Lollipop out April 12, 2011 on Megaforce Records.

Produced by band leader Curt Kirwood, the album features the indelible Kirkwood brothers back at work and back at play on 12 new original cuts, reinforcing the band's hypnotic power recognized by SPIN for "the interplay of Curt's drowsy vocals and freaky guitar can still induce vertiginous spells."

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Occult Detective Club To Release Sophomore Album 'CRIMES'

Occult Detective Club is happy to announce the release of their sophomore album 'Crimes,' which will be released on February 15th through Alive Records on CD, Digital and LTD. Edition Vinyl formats (The first vinyl pressing of 500 copies comes with free MP3 download).

Occult Detective Club is formed by Alx Anguiano on vocals/guitars, Andrew Messer on guitars, Chris Reeves on drums and Tyler Shults on bass.

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Resist Records Launches Auction For Australian Flood Relief

There is some great vinyl to be had and all proceeds will be going to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal assisting those effected by the flooding in Queensland Austrailia.

Up for grabs will be rare and limited vinyl releases including coloured vinyl and test press's from Mindsnare, Within Blood, A Death In the Family, Blkout, I Exist / Phantoms, The Dead Walk, Extortion, Carpathian and a coloured copy of Resist's very first release Found My Direction's Before Their Time.

Australian Flood Relief

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“Clear” sound from Greensound Technology's glass speakers

Here's an oddity, wonder how they work and if the sound is as good as they claim it is (hint to company - Send me a couple and I can review them!)
















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This from vintagevinylnews.com

Rock Hall of Fame Responds to Lack of Progressive Rock Groups


Back on December 29, author John Covach wrote a guest column in the Cleveland Plain Dealer asking why Yes and other progressive rock groups (Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Moody Blues, Procol Harum) had not been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His conclusion is that the voters for the Hall may be very knowledgeable about music, but don't have a good background in the music's history.

Read more: Vintagevinylnews.com





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useless stuff to know

The Artists With the Most U.S. Top 40 Singles

Number Name Total
1  Elvis Presley 114
2  Elton John 59
3  The Beatles 52
4  Madonna 49
5  Stevie Wonder 46
6  Aretha Franklin 45
7  James Brown 44
8  Rolling Stones 41
9  Marvin Gaye 41
10  Pat Boone 38
11  Temptations 38
12  Michael Jackson 38
13  Neil Diamond 38
14  Paul McCartney 37
15  Fats Domino 37
16  Janet Jackson 37
17  Rick Nelson 36
18  Beach Boys 36
19  Connie Francis 35
20  Bee Gees 35
21 Chicago 35
22 Rod Stewart 34
23 Billy Joel 33
24 Paul Anka 33
25 Ray Charles 33
26 Supremes 33
27 Whitney Houston 32
28 Prince 32
29 Four Seasons 31
30 Bobby Vinton 31
31 Perry Como 31
32 Mariah Carey 31
33 Dionne Warwick 31
34 Miracles 29
35 Nat King Cole 29
36 Sam Cooke 29
37 Hall and Oates 29
38 Olivia Newton-John 29
39 Brenda Lee 29
40 Kenny Rogers 28
41 Frank Sinatra 28
42 Everly Brothers 27
43 Diana Ross 27
44 Andy Williams 27
45 Gladys Knight 27
46 Puff Daddy 27
47 R. Kelly 26
48 Barry Manilow 25
49 Jackie Wilson 24
50 Chubby Checker 23

Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition Revisits Groundbreaking Albums of 1960 & '61

POST-ARMY ALBUMS FROM ELVIS PRESLEY NOW IN DELUXE DOUBLE-CD SET, PLUS 12 HIT SINGLES RECORDED IN NASHVILLE

Available at both physical and digital retail outlets starting March 1, 2011, through RCA/Legacy

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Legacy Recordings -- Two words exploded worldwide on December 19, 1957 – "Elvis Drafted!" – but three words resounded across the universe even more explosively on March 3, 1960: "Elvis Is Back!" The album that Elvis Presley began recording in Nashville on March 20th, and finished in the legendary overnight session of April 3-4th, is widely regarded as possibly the best album he ever made.

A half-century later, Elvis Is Back is now coupled with 1961's Something For Everybody, an album he recorded back in Nashville one year later. Along with one dozen hit single sides recorded (also in Nashville) and charted over roughly the same period of time, the deluxe Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting March 1, 2011, through RCA/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition follows the template of the recent RCA/Legacy releases, From Elvis In Memphis: Legacy Edition and On Stage: Legacy Edition. With each title, the definitive version of one of Elvis' most essential albums has been expanded to include another historically significant album from the same time period, along with the hit singles associated with both albums.

Adding wit and nuance to Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition is a new essay by New York-based journalist Stuart Colman, former member of '60s UK pop group the Flying Machine ("Smile A Little Smile For Me"), and former BBC radio host, recording studio owner, and Nashville-based record producer. Colman, a liner notes writer specializing in early roots-rock, R&B and rockabilly, sets the stage for that landmark evening in Nashville, the third Sunday in March 1960, two months after Elvis' 25th birthday. "Right up until the point where cars were being parked and instruments unpacked," Colman writes, "the assembled musicians were under the impression they'd been booked to record with Jim Reeves. This was a half-hearted attempt to thwart the fans gathered outside who knew full well who was coming in."

Joining Elvis for his sessions at RCA's Studio B in Nashville were his long-time guitarist Scotty Moore, drummer D.J. Fontana, Floyd Cramer on piano, guitarist Hank Garland (also on bass), bassist Bob Moore, and drummer Buddy Harman, plus the Jordanaires on harmony vocals. Among the six masters they cut that night were Elvis' first post-Army #1 million-selling single "Stuck On You," and three tracks that would be chosen for the new album. They reconvened two Sunday nights later on April 3rd (adding saxophonist Boots Randolph to the lineup) and finished an astounding 12 tracks. The unprecedented results included Elvis' next two #1 million-selling singles, "It's Now Or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" plus the nine tunes needed to complete the LP. Elvis Is Back was rush-released days later on April 8th. Any concerns about Elvis' ability in the studio after more than two years away were set aside forever.

"Elvis Is Back was a triumph on every level," wrote Jorgensen in his essential research guide, Elvis Presley: A Life In Music (St. Martin's Press, 1998). "Elvis had never been heard like this before, except perhaps by himself in his own head. There was new depth to his voice; his interpretations were increasingly sophisticated; the group was probably the best studio band in the business; the song selection was imaginative and varied, the technical quality excellent. Most surprisingly of all, the new album pointed in no one musical direction… It was as if Elvis had invented his own brand of music, broken down the barriers of genre and prejudice to express everything he heard in all the kinds of music he loved."

After spending the rest of 1960 in Hollywood filming and recording the soundtracks for G.I. Blues, Flaming Star, and Wild In the Country, Elvis returned to Studio B on Sunday night, March 12, 1961. With the exception of "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell" (imported from the Wild In the Country tapes), the other 11 tracks on Something For Everybody were all finished on that equally legendary overnight session. Among them were Elvis' takes on "I Feel So Bad" (from Chuck Willis) and "I'm Comin' Home" (from Charlie Rich). Elvis' next batch of hit singles were recorded at Studio B in June ("(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" b/w "Little Sister," both sides penned by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman); and October ("Good Luck Charm" b/w "Anything That's Part Of You").

"Something For Everybody and its accompanying singles hit the market at a time when Elvis Presley was right at the top of his game," Colman concludes. "The man could do no wrong in the eyes of the public and he was rightly thought of across the globe as the arbiter of popular music. He was most definitely the right man for the job."

ELVIS IS BACK: LEGACY EDITION by ELVIS PRESLEY (RCA/Legacy 88697 76233 2) CD One – Selections: 1. Make Me Know It • 2. Fever • 3. The Girl Of My Best Friend • 4. I Will Be Home Again • 5. Dirty, Dirty Feeling (Hot 100 #70, 1965) • 6. Thrill Of Your Love • 7. Soldier Boy • 8. Such A Night (Hot 100 #16, 1964)• 9. It Feels So Right (Hot 100 #55, 1965) • 10. Girl Next Door Went A'Walking • 11. Like A Baby • 12. Reconsider Baby (Tracks 1-12 from Elvis Is Back, RCA Victor 2231, released April 8, 1960) • THE HIT SINGLES: 13. Stuck On You (Hot 100 #1, 1960) • 14. Fame And Fortune (Hot 100 #17, 1960) • 15. It's Now Or Never (Hot 100 #1, 1960) • 16. A Mess Of Blues (Hot 100 #32, 1960) • 17. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Hot 100 #1, 1960) • 18. I Gotta Know (Hot 100 #20, 1960) • 19. Surrender (Hot 100 #1, 1961).

CD Two – Selections: 1. There's Always Me (Hot 100 #56, 1967) • 2. Give Me The Right • 3. It's A Sin • 4. Sentimental Me • 5. Starting Today • 6. Gently • 7. I'm Comin' Home • 8. In Your Arms • 9. Put The Blame On Me (Hot 100 #70, 1965) • 10. Judy • 11. I Want You With Me • 12. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell (Tracks 1-12 from Something For Everybody, RCA Victor 2370, released June 1961) • THE HIT SINGLES: 13. I Feel So Bad (Hot 100 #5, 1961) • 14. (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame (Hot 100 #4, 1961) • 15. Little Sister (Hot 100 #5, 1961) • 16. Good Luck Charm (Hot 100 #1, 1962) • 17. Anything That's Part Of You (Hot 100 #31, 1962).

http://www.elvisthemusic.com/

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

Music News & Notes

T-Model Ford Releases New Album

T-Model Ford's new album 'Taledragger' hit stores on Tuesday via Alive Records on color vinyl (limited to 900 copies), 180 gram vinyl (limited to 100 copies and available exclusively by mailorder through Alive Records), as well as CD and digital formats.

Despite a mild stroke in April 2010, T-Model still plays with an intensity and consistency that belies his age. Now 90-years old, the self proclaimed "Boss of the Blues" continues to show his strengths. Playing the blues is his life, he knows no other way

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Crosby, Stills and Nash Split With Label and Rubin

Even after getting about a third of the way through a comeback album, Crosby, Stills and Nash have split with Columbia Records and producer Rick Rubin. Despite the many months spent working on a covers record, the rock legends were reportedly tired of delays and of Rubin's obsession with Kid Rock.

"We have amicably parted ways with both Rick Rubin and Columbia," the trio said in a statement.

The problem was not musical vision, according to the Daily Express, but the slow pace of recording. Rubin, who is co-president of Columbia, had a panoply of production projects, including new albums by Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gogol Bordello. His work on Kid Rock's new LP, 'Born Free,' was reportedly particularly galling to David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.

Let's hope the folk rock vets get someone to take them in a different direction and get the LP finished soon......

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Kanye West wanted new album cover 'to be banned'

I hate to even cover this at all, I don't think album cover art should be used (although let's be real, it is) to sell records and create hype. So it's not really news that Kanye West wanted new album cover 'to be banned.'

The artist who designed the cover art for Kanye West's ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ album has said that West asked him to create "something that will be banned."

In a profile written about artist George Condo in The New Yorker, journalist Calvin Tomkins explained how the rapper briefed Condo to make something controversial.

"Kanye West asked him to do a painting for the cover of his new album," he wrote. "West said that he had seen paintings by Condo, and wanted to collaborate with him. According to Condo, he also said that he was looking for 'something that will be banned'."

Enough said........

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Cover Art For New Green Day LP

The cover artwork for Green Day's upcoming live album, 'Awesome as Fuck,' has been released on GreenDay.com. The live CD/DVD is due out on March 15th and follows their 2009 album, '21st Century Breakdown' along with their last live release 'Bullet In A Bible.'

Lovely cover and title.....










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Anna Waronker EP/companion vinyl w/CD release

Los Angeles based singer, songwriter, and composer Anna Waronker is delivering an EP to coincide with her new album, California Fade, on Five-Foot-Two Records. The personal tone and stripped down instrumentation of the four-track EP are the perfect compliments to California Fade’s lush arrangements and detailed production. “I wanted to show an even more different side of myself on the EP,” says Waronker, “believe it or not, the lyrics feel even more personal than ever before.”

The Anna Waronker EP will be exclusively available on vinyl as a bonus record to the deluxe and limited vinyl version of California Fade. This premium, expanded, double LP package is available for pre-order at annawaronker.com and will be released on February 8, 2011.

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Dead Milkmen Plan First New Material In 15 Years

According to recent reports, the legendary pop-punk band The Dead Milkmen just finished recording a new album scheduled for release later this year. The record, tentatively titled 'The King In Yellow,' is the band’s first set of new material since 1995′s 'Stoney’s Extra Stout (Pig).'

The band recorded a total of 17 songs during two two-day marathon sessions at Buddha Sounds and at Miner Street Studio. They will be finishing up the final mixes in February and, hopefully, releasing the effort in either March or April.

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Less Than Jake Re-Releases Hello Rockview & Losing Streak

After re-releasing a handful of older material (Goodbye Blue And White, Pezcore, Losers, Kings And Things We Don’t Understand, Peoples History Of Less Than Jake) on their own label, Sleep It Off Records, Gainesville, Florida’s Less Than Jake have recently announced plans to continue re-releasing their back catalog. On March 1st, 2011, the band will be re-releasing their classic albums from the mid to late nineties – 1996′s Losing Streak along with 1998′s Hello Rockview.

The physical release of both albums will include the original album along with a bonus DVD of live video recorded at various shows Florida (the digital release will consist of the recorded audio from these shows only). The re-releases will feature all new artwork and expanded packaging been created by longtime Less Than Jake artist Horsebites.

Looking forward to it!

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Gwar Picture Discs Coming Soon!

Metal Blade Records has announced the release dates for the vinyl versions of both GWAR's 'Lust and Space' and 'Bloody Pit of Horror.' 'Lust in Space is being released on January 18 and it is a picture disc with a gatefold sleeve. 'Bloody Pit of Horror is set for release on February 15 and it is also picture disc with a die cut gatefold sleeve.

GWAR's new album, "Bloody Pit Of Horror", sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The band's previous CD, "Lust In Space", opened with 5,000 units to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart.

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WORMROT: New Album Artwork

Their new album, 'Dirge' is scheduled for release in North America on May 3 via Earache Records. The 'Dirge' cover art was created by Andrei Bouzikov (MUNICIPAL WASTE, SKELETONWITCH, CANNABIS CORPSE). Lovely......











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VOLTURYON 'Coordinated Mutilation' Cover Art

The cover artwork for 'Coordinated Mutilation,' the second album from Swedish death metalers VOLTURYON, has been released. A gruesome masterpiece by Polish artist Lukasz Jaszak, the cover depicts a psychotic blood covered maniac butchering a cadaver with a chainsaw.

Jaszak is known for his previous works which include the "Lords Of Chaos" book cover and album covers from artists like BLOOD RED THRONE and WITCHMASTER.

Lovely again.......






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10 Sexually Suggestive, Food-Related Album Covers

Here's an interesting take on some sexy, food album covers.
Look at the rest of the covers and the story HERE










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Birdland Records revels in its history

GoldMine Magazine has an nice article about Birdland Records, a music store in Virginia Beach VA. Check it out HERE

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Music Pleasure A Chemical Connection In The Brain

Read a very interesting study that claims that listening to one's favorite music can actually make you feel better. The reason according to a recent study is the release of dopamine in the brain. The study helps explain why music is so popular across many cultures.

Howver, the study only includued music with no lyrical content or voices, so I can only imagine that the results for the continuing testing with these elements present will be just as good or even better; as the chills and good feeling that lyrics and singing only adds to the effect.

So, this is why we love our music so much...makes sense to me....

Read the interesting results HERE

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Sign of the digital times: Sony shutting plant that used to make 18M CDs a month

Sony shuttering 50 year-old media plant in Pitman, NJ

Sony this week said it was shuttering one of its largest CD manufacturing plants - citing the impact of digital downloads and other economic issues.

The plant, which is in Pitman, NJ and has been in operation for some 50 years, first producing vinyl records, will close on March 31 and about 300 people will lose their jobs. The 500,000-square-foot warehouse began producing vinyl LPs in 1960 and moved to CD manufacturing in 1988.

I have symphathy for the job losses, but none for the dreaded CD....

Read the rest of the article HERE