New Music Releases ~ February 22, 2011

An eclectic set of new releases this week, including lots of vinyl! As always, CVR Blog picks are in red and no wagering is allowed:

ALSO - Music Belongs In The Background
Adele - 21 (vinyl)
Afghan Whigs -  Gentlemen (reissue) (vinyl)
Afro Cuban All Stars - Absolutely Live (DVD/CD)
Albert Collins/Robert Cray/Johnny Copeland – Showdown (180g w/ Bonus Tracks) (vinyl)
Alex Harvey Band - Live
Alex Winston - Sister Wife EP
Alice Ripley - Daily Practice Volume 1 (vinyl)
Animal Prufrock - Congratulations (vinyl)
Arbouretum - The Gathering
Aretha Franklin - More Gospel Greats
Ava Inferi - Onyx
Balkans - Edita V
Banjo Or Freakout - Banjo Or Freakout
Bayside - Killing Time
Beach Fossils - What a Pleasure EP
Bee Gees - Bee Gees' 1st
Bee Gees - Horizontal
Bee Gees - Idea
Ben E. King - I Had a Love
Bloody Beetroots - Best Of: Remixes
Blues Magoos - Psychedelic Lollipop (vinyl) (reissue)
Bonnie Prince Billy & The Cairo Gang - Island Brothers/New Wonder (vinyl)
Books - The Lemon of Pink (vinyl)
Brad Mehldau - Live In Marciac
Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - Alone & Acoustic (vinyl)
Butcher Holler - Eilen Jewell/Tribute to Loretta Lynn (vinyl)
Carol Hall - If I Be Your Lady
Cauldron - Burning Fortune
Celtic Thunder - Heritage
Chain & The Gang - Music’s Not For Everyone (vinyl)
Christmas - "Namiot" 7"
Civet - Love & War
Clarence Frogman Henry - Is Alive & Well in New Orleans
Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2 (vinyl)
Connie Stevens - The Complete Warner Brothers Singles 2 CDs
Cotton Jones - Sit Beside Your Vegetables EP
Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron: The Very Best of The Crystals
Cult of Youth - Cult of Youth
Curtis Mayfield - Got to Find a Way
Cut Copy - Zonoscope (vinyl)
Danielson - The Best of Gloucester County (vinyl)
Darkest Hour - The Human Romance
Darwin Deez - Darwin Deez
David Dondero - A Pre-existing Condition
Depeche Mode - Depeche Mode - Rewind - 30 Years At The Edge (DVD)
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows - D.R.U.G.S.
DevilDriver - Beast
Diplo - Riddimentary
Dustin O'Halloran - Lumiere
Eagle and Talon - In Manila
Earth - Angels Of Darkness Demons Of Light 1
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at Nassau Coliseum ’78 (vinyl)
Esperanza Spalding - Chamber Music Society (2xLP) (vinyl)
Evergrey - Glorious Collision
Floating Action - Desert Etiquette
Florence + The Machine - Between Two Lungs
Flying Burrito Brothers - Authorized Bootleg: Fillmore East Ny Ny Late Show (vinyl)
G. Love - Fixin’ To Die (vinyl)
Gary Wilson - Electric Endicott (vinyl)
Gil Scott-Heron - We're New Here (vinyl)
Glen Campbell - It's Just a Matter of Time
Harry Connick Jr. - Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway
Holcombe Waller - Into the Dark Unknown
Hotels - On the Casino Floor
Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers (vinyl)
Howard Roberts - H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player (vinyl)
INXS - Original Sin
I See Stars - The End of The World Party
Iggy & The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog (reissue) (vinyl)
JJ Grey & Mofro – Georgia Warehouse (vinyl)
Jeff Beck - Rock and Roll Party: Honoring Les Paul
Jessica Lea Mayfield – Tell Me (180 gram w/bonus CD) (vinyl)
Jim Jones - Capo
Jimmy Castor Bunch - Butt of Course
Jimmy Castor Bunch - E-Man Groovin'
Jimmy Castor Bunch - Jimmy Castor Bunch
Joan Armatrading -Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Joanie Sommers - The Complete Warner Brothers Singles 2 CDs
John Waite -Rough & Tumble (vinyl)
Johnny Cash - Bootleg 1: Personal File 2 CDs
Johnny Cash - Bootleg 2: From Memphis to Hollywood 2 CDs
Johnny Cash - American 4: The Man Comes Around (reissue)
Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways (reissue)
Johnny Winter - Live Bootleg Series 7
Jonny Burke - Distance And Fortune
Josh Ritter - To the Yet Unknowing World
Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place
Lauren Pritchard - Wasted In Jackson (vinyl)
Loch Lomond - Little Me Will Start A Storm
Los Chicharrons - Roots of Life
Luyas - Too Beautiful to Work (vinyl)
Malachai - Return to the Ugly Side (vinyl)
Man Overboard - The Absolute Worst
Marcellus Hall - The First Line (vinyl)
Marsha Ambrosius - Late Nights, Early Mornings
Medication - Judgement Day EP (vinyl)
Monkees - Headquarters (reissue)
Monkees - More of the Monkees (reissue)
Monkees - Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones (reissue)
Monkees - The Monkees (reissue)
Mountain Man - Grief
Nick Jonah Davis - Of Time and Tides
Nirvana - Incesticide (180 Gram LP) (reissue) (vinyl)
PT Walkley - The Ghost of Chivalry EP
Pandit - Eternity Spin
Paolo Fresu - Mistico Mediterraneo (vinyl)
Phineas and the Lonely Leaves - The Kids We Used To Be
Phillip Walker - Big Blues From Texas (CD)
Pink Floyd - Pink Floyd - Whatever Happened To Pink Floyd? (DVD)
Pitbull - Planet Pit
Porcelain Raft - Gone Blind EP
powerdove - Be Mine
Puro Instinct - Headbangers in Ecstasy (vinyl)
Quarterfly - Do You Believe
Rachel Goodrich - Rachel Goodrich
Revolver - Parallel Lives
Robin Guthrie & Harold Budd - Bordeaux
Ronettes - Be My Baby: The Very Best of The Ronettes
Roxette - Charm School (vinyl)
Rye Rye - Go! Pop! Bang!
Sanford-Townsend Band - Nail Me to the Wall
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion - Bright Examples
Scissor Sisters - Night Work (vinyl)
Sean Rowe - Magic
Shelby Flint - The Complete Valliant Singles
Sirenia - The Enigma of Life
Sister Crayon - Bellow
Six Organs Of Admittance - Asleep On The Floodplain
Slug Guts - Howlin Gang (vinyl)
Sting and Gil Evans - Strange Fruit
Strong Arm Steady - Arms & Hammers (vinyl)
T.I. - No Mercy (vinyl)
Tahiti 80 - The Past, The Present & The Possible
Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows (vinyl)
Tera Melos - Zoo Weather (EP)
The Browning - Time Will Tell
The Builders & The Butchers - Dead Reckoning (Regular Vinyl & Limited Silver Vinyl {100 copies}) (vinyl)
The Caribbean - Discontinued Perfume
The Cave Singers - No Witch
The Defaced - Anomaly
The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh (LP)
The Psychic Paramount - II
The Swan King - Eyes Like Knive
The Whoridas - Whoridin’ (CD)
Thin Lizzy - Johnny the Fox (vinyl)
Tim Cohen (of The Fresh & Onlys) - Bad Blood
Tim Heidecker - Starting From Nowhere
Timo Tolkki - Saana - Warrior of Light Pt. 1
Toots & The Maytals - Pressure Drop: The Golden Tracks (reissue) (vinyl)
Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine (vinyl)
Tower of Power - 40th Anniversary (CD & DVD)
Trent Dabbs - Trent Dabbs
Twisted Sister - Reissues (vinyl)
Various Aritists - Alligator Records 40th Anniversary 2 CDs
Various Artists - Blue Valentine Soundtrack
Various Artists - Mallrats (soundtrack) (reissue) [vinyl]
Various Artists - No Strings Attached Soundtrack
Various Artists - Putumayo Presents Acoustic Dreamland
Various Artists - Rock & Roll Train: A Millenium Tribute to AC/DC
Various Artists - Spirit of the Cramps
Various Artists - That'll Flat Git It! Volume 27: Rockabilly & Rock 'N' Roll From the Vaults of Sage & Sand Records
Z-Ro & Mike D - 2 Da Hard Way (CD)

New Jazz Releases

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  

Vinyl Record News & Notes, Did You Know?

Lots of Record Store Day info today:

OZZY OSBOURNE Named 'Record Store Day' Ambassador

Record Store Day is proud to announce the appointment of Ozzy Osbourne as the Record Store Day Ambassador 2011. He says, "I now have the power to command you to attend Record Store Day, April 16th. Be there!”

Go to http://www.recordstoreday.com/  right now for a special message from the Ambassador himself.

Read more at Blabbermouth.com









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AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix Rarities Commemorate Record Store Day

Bryan Wawzenek

Rare releases by Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Derek and the Dominos, Franz Ferdinand, Pearl Jam and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are among the albums, EPs and singles that will be available on Record Store Day, April 16. Record Store Day’s U.K. site has announced some of the items that will be available exclusively at independent music retailers on that day.

Read more at Gibson.com

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METALLICA: More 'Garage Inc.' Vinyl Reissue Details Revealed 

METALLICA's collection of covers, "Garage Inc." will be reissued on vinyl on March 1 via Warner Bros.. The album will be available in the official METALLICA store this Thursday, February 24. It hits the streets one month later, on March 28, throughout the rest of the world, but you can pre-order it now here:

* "Garage Inc." 3-LP Set

* "Garage Inc." 6-LP Set

Because "Garage Inc." was originally released as a double CD, the vinyl sets will include a three-disc gatefold package for the 33.3 version and a box set with six discs for the 180-gram, 45 rpm deluxe edition. All the music was half speed mastered from the original analog tapes at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, California to bring you audiophile quality.

A limited-edition pressing of 100 copies of a white vinyl version of the deluxe box set will be available for MetClub.com members and on BecauseSoundMatters.com on February 24 at 1 p.m. PST.

Read more details at Blabbermouth

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Capitol/EMI to Release Limited Edition Vinyl Titles for The Beach Boys and Syd Barrett Exclusively for Record Store Day: April 16

The Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations' 78RPM Double Vinyl Single Set and 'An Introduction To Syd Barrett' 180-gram Double Vinyl LP Exclusively Available at Participating Indie Music Retailers

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To support Record Store Day on April 16, Capitol/EMI will release limited edition vinyl titles for The Beach Boys and Syd Barrett, to be sold exclusively by participating independent music retailers across the US.

The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations"/"Heroes and Villains" will be released as a limited edition double 78RPM vinyl single set with the songs' original single release mixes on one disc and alternate versions of both songs on the other disc.

An Introduction To Syd Barrett will be released as a limited edition, 180-gram double vinyl LP package with gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeves. The collection, executive produced by David Gilmour, was released on CD and digitally in November 2010, bringing the tracks of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett together for the first time on one compilation.

http://www.recordstoreday.com/

The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations/Heroes and Villains [ltd. edition 78RPM single set]

Disc 1
Side A
Good Vibrations
Side A
Good Vibrations (Early Take)

Disc 2
Side B
Heroes and Villains
Side B
Heroes and Villains (Alternate Take)


An Introduction To Syd Barrett [ltd. edition 180g 2LP with gatefold jacket]Disc 1
Disc 2

Side 1
Side 1

1. ARNOLD LAYNE Pink Floyd
1. HERE I GO Syd Barrett (2010 Remix)

2. SEE EMILY PLAY Pink Floyd
2. OCTOPUS Syd Barrett (2010 Mix)

3. APPLES AND ORANGES (Stereo) Pink Floyd
3. SHE TOOK A LONG COOL LOOK Syd Barrett (2010 Mix)

4. MATILDA MOTHER (2010 Mix) Pink Floyd
4. IF IT'S IN YOU Syd Barrett

Side 2
5. BABY LEMONADE Syd Barrett

1. CHAPTER 24 Pink Floyd
Side 2

2. BIKE Pink Floyd
1. DOMINOES Syd Barrett (2010 Mix)

3. TERRAPIN Syd Barrett
2. GIGOLO AUNT Syd Barrett

4. LOVE YOU Syd Barrett
3. EFFERVESCING ELEPHANT Syd Barrett

5. DARK GLOBE Syd Barrett
4. BOB DYLAN BLUES Syd Barrett

Produced by (1) Joe Boyd, (2-6) Norman Smith, (7, 8, 10) Malcolm Jones, (9, 12, 13) David Gilmour & Roger Waters, (11) Syd Barrett & David Gilmour, (14-17) David Gilmour.

SOURCE Capitol/EMI

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Morrissey Releases ‘80s Unheard Tracks

Two unheard songs recorded around the time of the Morrissey 1988 solo debut, 'Viva Hate' will be released April 18. 

“Safe, Warm Lancashire Home” and “Treat Me Like A Human Being,” will feature as B-sides for the re-release of Morrissey’s 1992 single “Glamorous Glue.”

On April 25 EMI are releasing 'The Very Best Of Morrissey', an eighteen-track compilation that includes a bonus DVD containing 11 music videos.

The album will be available on CD and vinyl formats.

Tracklisting:

1. “The Last of the Famous International Playboys”
2. “You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side”
3. “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get”
4. “Glamorous Glue”
5. “Girl Least Likely To”
6. “Suedehead”
7. “Tomorrow” (US remix radio edit)
8. “Boxers”
9. “My Love Life” (US mix)
10. “Break Up the Family”
11. “I've Changed My Plea to Guilty”
12. “Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference”
13. “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
14. “Interesting Drug”
15. “November Spawned a Monster”
16. “Everyday us Like Sunday”
17. “Interlude” (Morrissey solo version)*
18. “Moonriver” (extended. 9:39 version)

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Eagles Back On The Road For 2011

The Eagles are back at work, kicking off the 2011 ‘Last Road Out Of Eden’ tour in Bangkok, Thailand a couple of days ago. On this tour, the Eagles will perform for the very first time in both China and Korea.

The band will also perform in Shanghai on March 9 and Beijing on March 12 and then head to South Korea for two shows in Seoul on March 15 and 16.  The Asian leg of the current Eagles tour will conclude in Hong Kong and March 18 and recommence in Norway in June.

In the meantime we can expect solo albums from Joe Walsh and Don Henley during the break.  Joe will be releasing his first studio album in 18 years and Henley is working on an album of country songs with special guests.

Eagles Asian tour dates are:

February 20, Bangkok, Impact Arena
February 23, Singapore, Indoor Stadium
February 26 and 27, Taipeo, Linco Hall
March 1, Osaka, Osaka Dome
March 3, Nagoya, Nagoya
March 5 and 6, Tokyo, Tokyo Dome
March 9, Shanghai, Mercedes Benz Arena
March 15 and 16, Seoul, Olypmic Gym
March 18, Hong Kong, Exhibition Centre Hall

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TV On The Radio Plan New Album

Indie rockers TV On The Radio have announced plans their fourth album 'Nine Types Of Light' and is slated for a release in this spring.  Guitarist Dave Sitek has been most active: producing, releasing a solo collaborative album under the name of Maximum Balloon and is filling on bass for Jane’s Addiction.

They will also play Radio City Music Hall on April 13, which is supposedly before the release of the album.

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Did You Know?

more stuff everybody should know...

Roosters can't crow if they can't fully extend their necks.

Non-dairy creamer is flammable.

Oak trees do not have acorns until they are fifty years old or older.

On 15 April 1912 the SS Titanic sunk on her maiden voyage and over 1,500 people died. Fourteen years earlier a novel was published by Morgan Robertson which seemed to foretell the disaster. The book described a ship the same size as the Titanic which crashes into an iceberg on its maiden voyage on a misty April night. The name of Robertson's fictional ship was the Titan.

On an American one-dollar bill, there is an owl in the upper left-hand corner of the "1" encased in the "shield" and a spider hidden in the front upper right-hand corner.

On the new one hundred dollar bill the time on the clock tower of Independence Hall is 4:10.

Of the six men who made up the Three Stooges, three of them were real brothers (Moe, Curly and Shemp.)

and in music history today:

In 1956, Elvis Presley entered the music charts for the first time with "Heartbreak Hotel."

Elvis Presley was at #1 on the U.K. singles chart in 1962 with “Rock-A- Hula Baby” / “Cant Help Falling In Love.” The tracks were from his latest film Blue Hawaii and became the singer’s tenth U.K. #1.

The Beatles formed their Northern Music Publishing Company in 1963. Michael Jackson eventually purchased it.

In 1968, Genesis released its first single, "The Silent Sun."

Tyrannosaurus Rex appeared at The Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England in 1969. The support act was David Bowie performing a one-man mime act.

In 1986 - MTV aired 22 hours of the Monkees TV episodes in celebration of their 20th anniversary as a group.

In 1987, Andy Warhol, pop artist and producer died after a gall bladder operation. The founder of the Pop Art movement, produced and managed The Velvet Underground, designed the 1967 Velvet Underground And Nico banana album cover and The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers album cover.

No Doubt went to #1 on the U.K. singles chart in 1997 with “Don't Speak.’” The third single from the band's second album Tragic Kingdom was written by Eric Stefani and his sister Gwen Stefani.



Winners at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001 included U2, record of the year and song of the year with “Beautiful Day.” Steely Dan won album of the year for Two Against Nature, Sting won Male pop vocal for “She Walks This Earth,” Johnny Cash won Best Male country performance for “Solitary Man," and Shelby Lynne won best new artist.

In 2004, The Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK was named the most influential record of the 1970s in poll compiled by Q magazine. Queen's “Bohemian Rhapsody” was voted into second place and Donna Summer's “I Feel Love” was third. T Rex's “Get It On" was fourth and Special AKA's “Gangsters” came fifth.

Birthday wishes to Scott Phillips of Creed (1973) and English singer James Blunt (1977)

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Records Sales - Week Ending 02/19/2011

Here's the latest from Norm and Jane at Vinyl Record Talk:

Two Warhol covers make the list this week, the Spanish instruction record that made the list two weeks ago. The other is Ultra Violet's undistributed LP (it was pressed but never sent to stores). Tied with the Madrigal LP at #1 is an unreleased prototype picture disc 12" from The Police. A similar second prototype get the #2 spot. Both had been owned by a former A&M executive.




1. LP - Margarita Madrigal "Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish" Warhol Cover - $7,100.00

1. 12" - The Police "Don't Stand So Close To Me" / "De Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da" Unreleased Picture Disc Prototype - $7,100.00

2. 12" - The Police "Don't Stand So Close To Me" / "De Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da" Unreleased Picture Disc Prototype - $7,050.92

3. LP - Elvis Presley "Speedway" LPM-3989 Mono Sealed - $5,500.09

4. LP - Ultra Violet "self titled" LP Warhol Cover - $5,100.00

5. 45 - The Precisions "My Sense Of Direction" / "Take A Good Look" Hen-Mar 4501 - $4,383.00


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

And by the way, they are having a President's Day vinyl sale, I'll let them tell you:

All the cool stuff in our store is 50% off, that includes the Soul (Northern, Modern, Detroit, Philly, Chicago, Southern, 80's), Psych, Garage, Bubblegum, Rockabilly 45's and more . . .

Stop By Vinyl Record Talk Store and get your vinyl!

Vinyl Record News & Notes, Did You Know?

Ra Ra Riot Return With New Album 'The Orchard'

Press Release:

It's been two years but this Spring sees the band's triumphant arrival on the UK's shores. With them they bring their own brand of sun-spattered orchestral pop and new album 'The Orchard', which showcases this resplendent new dawn.

'Boy' is the first single from the new record, released on the 28th March, with album 'The Orchard' following later on 16th May. Both releases will be through the band's UK label, independent newcomer Brine and Barnacles Records.

'The Orchard' is the band's sophomore record and as its title suggests, was recorded at a peach orchard farmhouse in upstate New York. On this album, the band seem to have found an assurance and joie de vivre that came from the closure obtained by laying their debut, 'The Rhumb Line' to rest. All framed within the context of discovering the pleasure and benefits obtained from country living. This is more than evident in the songs that Ra Ra Riot will proudly lay before us.

The story of the 2008 debut and its release had more than its fair share of light and shade cast across it; from the sad demise of the band's dear friend and drummer John Pike to label shakeups. Throughout, however, the band remained stalwart knowing their album was a classic. 'The Rhumb Line' emerged to critical acclaim selling over 70,000 copies in the US.

MORE INFORMATION:  www.rarariot.com

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Great vinyl story!

Record keeping: Vinyl still what it's all about at Natick music shop

By Chris Bergeron/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News

NATICK — Poking through bins and boxes in her Natick shop, Eleni Vlahou-Dimeo pulled out the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" in its psychedelic jacket, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" and a boxed set of Richard Wagner's epic opera "Ring of the Nibelung."

All vinyl - just like the other 50,000 or so 33, 45 and 78 rpm platters in Deja Vu Records at 154 East Central St.

Since 1998, the Natick resident has sold thousands of hard-to-find records to customers across the region and around the world who are convinced music sounds better on vinyl.

Read more at metrowestdailynews.com

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Krypteria - Album Cover Art Revealed

German symphonic gothic metal band Krypteria will release their new album All Beauty Must Die on April 22nd through Roadrunner Records.

The band has now revealed the cover artwork for their fourth full-length album.

Cool cover art!








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a rather lengthy post, but the album cover art they talk about is priceless:

Common Design Styles Used in Album Artwork

Whether we’re on iTunes or Spotify, browsing stores (both online and off) or watching advertisements on TV or in magazines, it’s safe to say that admiring album cover art is a part of daily life for many of us.t

As long as music exists, the album design industry will tthrive, regardless of how we listen to music.

In this post, we will look at over 70 examples of excellent album artwork.

Read the rest HERE






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Glide Magazine has a fantastic interview with (and I am agreeing with them) the unappreciated Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steve Hackett

Steve Hackett - Prog Rock Pioneer

By Ryan Reed

Prog rock legend/guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett needs no introduction.

OK, maybe he does. While Mr. Hackett, long one of rock's most innovative, versatile (if underrated) guitarists, played an integral role in the early/middle years of the legendary prog/art/pop band Genesis, providing a beautiful array of guitar parts (of both electric and classical nature)—subtle, nuanced, always under control....

Read the rest at glidemagazine.com

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Soundgarden Announce New Live Album 'Live On I5'

The band, who reunited early last year after a thirteen year break, return with a new live album.  'Live on I5', released March 21, is a collection of live songs from 1996 and includes fan favourites "Spoonman," "Rusty Cage," "'Burden In My Hand" and of course their big hit "Black Hole Sun."

It's also reported that Soundgarden are heading back into the studio to record a new album.

The tracklisting:

'Spoonman'
'Searching With My Good Eye Closed'
'Let Me Drown
'Head Down'
'Outshined'
'Rusty Cage'
'Burden In My Hand'
'Helter Skelter'
'Boot Camp'
'Nothing To Say'
'Slaves And Bulldozers'
'Dusty'
'Fell On Black Days'
'Search And Destroy'
'Ty Cobb'
'Black Hole Sun'
'Jesus Christ Pose'

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One man's perspective about the music and how we obtain it

The sound of change

Modern technology is improving the way we listen to music as well as the manner in which it is made.

By John Grimley

On the bus, at the Recreation Center and in class: Most people are plugged into iPods whenever possible. Today students carry hundreds of their favorite albums everywhere they go.

Technology completely changed the music landscape. It’s affected how we buy, hear and even make music. Today’s artist has more tools and opportunities than ever before. Technology is also forcing musicians to try new ways to reach fans and sell their product.

Musicians today explore more and more avenues in order to reach fans. Even better, big record companies no longer dominate the industry, which is good for musicians and even better for fans.

Read the rest of this insghtfull article and opinion www.mndaily.com

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Immortal lyricist to release solo album

Demonaz Doom Occulta, current lyricist and former vocalist for the iconic Norwegian black-metal outfit Immortal is gearing up to release his debut solo album.

The Scandinavian musician (real name: Harald Naevdal) is putting the finishing touches on his first solo offering, 'March of the Norse', which is due out April 1 on Nuclear Blast Records.

Immortal posted the following message on their MySpace blog recently:

"Demonaz’ debut album “March Of The Norse” will be released April 1 (Europe) and May 17 (US). The album will be available as a limited edition digipak, limited picture disc and regular black vinyl. There will also be a limited mail order vinyl edition and a mail order box edition."

In my opinion, heavy metal has always had the best album cover art and it continues today!

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Nikki Sixx From Motley Crue Has New Album and Book Ready For Release

Motley Crue's Vince Neil might be serving his prison sentence for DUI, but that doesn't mean the rest of the group can't keep busy.

Rock Icon and Syndicated Radio Show Host Nikki Sixx will release This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx, a follow up to his New York Times bestseller, The Heroin Diaries in April.

Read more:VintageVinylNews.com





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Spinner.com has a great write up about one of my favorite retro groups (although it really isn't the whole band without Nesmith):

The Monkees to Reunite for Anniversary

by Chris Mugan

The Monkees are to reform for a tour celebrating the group's 45th anniversary.

Three members of the original made-for-TV band -- Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Mikey Dolenz -- are set to play their first UK tour in 12 years. The other founder member, Michael Nesmith, continues to keep his distance.

Read the rest at Spinner.com









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Ronnie Wood Talks Elvis, Stones and Being Chased by Janis Joplin

Michael Wright

Ronnie Wood has his own hit radio show in England — and he’s dropping names left and right. Talking to the U.K. Press Association, Wood told tales from the old days, rubbing shoulders with and dodging advances from the biggest names in rock.

He lamented chickening out on a visit to Elvis Presley in the hospital:

Read the rest at Gibson.com

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a rare look into the early lives of our beloved Fab Four:

Inside Recording The Beatles’ First Album

By Clive Young

Recording veteran Richard Langham recently spoke publicly for the first time about his experiences as the Second Engineer on many of the Beatles’ earliest recordings, including their first album. The event was held at Connecticut’s BeatExpo—a Beatle fan convention dating back to the 1980s—and was emceed by author Jude Southland Kessler. While the discussion occasionally plowed into mind-boggling minutia, the upside was to gain a glimpse of life inside Studio Number 2 at Abbey Road. While the affable Langham had plenty of fascinating stories and observations, here’s just a handful of his remarks, slightly edited for continuity:

Richard Langham, circa September, 1963, with the Beatles in Abbey Road's Studio Number 2.

Read the rest of this fascinating interview at ProSoundNews.com

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Anthony Kiedis Discusses Chili Peppers’ New Album

Bryan Wawzenek

In a new interview, Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis is sharing details about the work that’s going into the band’s new album, which will be their 10th. But the Rick Rubin-produced release will not feature long-term guitarist John Frusciante, who departed (amicably) in 2008.

Read the rest at Gibson.com










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Did You Know?

more stuff everybody should know...

Lincoln Logs were invented by Frank Lloyd Wright's son.

It's rumored that sucking on a copper penny will cause a breath-alyzer to read 0.

Jean-Claude Van Damme was the alien in the original "PREDATOR" in almost all the jumping and climbing scenes.

King Kong is the only movie to have its sequel (Son of Kong) released the same year (1933).  

Liquid paper was invented by Mike Nesmith's (of the Monkees) mother, Bette Nesmith Graham, in 1951.

Lizzie Borden was acquitted.

More people are killed each year from bees than from snakes.

Most Americans' car horns beep in the key of F.

Lynyrd Skynard was the name of the gym teacher of the boys who went on to form that band. He once told them, "You boys ain't never gonna amount to nothin'."

Lorne Greene had one of his nipples bitten off by an alligator while he was host of "Lorne Greene's Wild Kingdom."

and on that note, a little music history for today:

In 1958, the first Flying V, by Gibson, was shipped from a factory in Kalamazoo, MI.

In 1964, the Rolling Stones' "Not Fade Away," the Hollies' "Just One Look" and Billy J. Kramer's "Little Children" were all released.

In 1964, a New York band called The Echoes recruited a young piano player named Billy Joel. The quartet would play cover songs under the names The Lost Souls, The Commandos and The Emerald Lords before Billy split two years later to join The Hassles. He would make his breakthrough in 1973 with "Piano Man".

In 1970 - Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" entered the UK album chart at number 1, where it would stay for 12 consecutive weeks. It would return to the top seven times, spending a total of 41 weeks there over the next two years. In the US, the LP spent 10 weeks at number 1 on the strength of three top 10 singles and was the number 7 album of the decade in America.

Also in 1970, the Jackson 5 made their TV debut on American Bandstand.

Florence Ballard of the Supremes died of cardiac arrest at the age of 32 in 1976.

Fleetwood Mac released Rumors in 1977.

In 1982, Disc jockey, Murray "The K" Kaufman, died of cancer at the age of 60. Kaufman's influence on Rock and Roll and its audience led the Beatles to seek him out when they first came to America in 1964. Kaufman's friendship with the group earned him the nickname "The Fifth Beatle".




Ooops...In 1990, Milli Vanilli were awarded the 'Best New Artist' Grammy. It would take until the following November for producer Frank Farian to confess that the duo of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus never actually sang a single note on their recordings, causing the award to be withdrawn.

And in 2008, a US music aficionado sold his collection of more than three million vinyl albums, singles and compact discs to an eBay buyer from Ireland for just over $3 million. An eBay spokeswoman said the sale is one of the highest ever for the online auction site.

Finally, celebrating birthdays today are Paul Newton of Uriah Heep (66) Mary Chapin Carpenter and Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) (62)

Michael Fremer Album Review

A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night
(Reissue)

Harry Nilsson

RCA/Audio Fidelity AFZLP 083
Produced by: Derek Taylor
Engineered by: Phillip McDonald
Mixed by: Phillip McDonald
Mastered by: Kevin Gray at AcousTech

MUSIC

SOUND





Audio Fidelity Reissues Nilsson's "Standards" Album
by Michael Fremer
February 01, 2011

The iconoclastic singer Harry Nilsson lived hard and mostly sang softly. His Los Angeles debauchery with his pal John Lennon and the resulting outcast behavior including being tossed with Lennon from The Troubadour for heckling The Smothers Brothers is well known, as are many of the songs he wrote, including "One" covered by Three Dog Night and "Cuddly Toy" covered by The Monkees.

Nilsson scored hits with songs written by others like Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'" that was key to the film "Midnight Cowboy," and Badfinger's "Without You" written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans. He also scored with novelty hits he wrote "Coconut" and "Jump Into the Fire."

Nilsson was friends with all of The Beatles and more importantly, they respected his musical abilities, particularly his singing. Beatles publicist Derek Taylor was a champion and thus his producer credit on this album recorded in a week long session at CTS Studio in Wembley, London late winter/early spring of 1973.

At the time Nilsson went in to record this album he'd had considerable success with 1971's Nilsson Schmilsson followed quickly by the more blunt forced Son of Schmilsson, which infamously contained the "hit" single "You're Breaking My Heart (you're tearing it apart so fuck you)." Actually I used to play on my late night FM radio show in Boston an edited version. The songs was a rocker featuring George Harrison (billed as "George Harrysong"), Peter Frampton, Klaus Voorman, Jim Price and Bobby Keys.

While that album didn't do as well, it did well enough. So following it up with this album of really old standards backed by a thirty nine piece orchestra lushly arranged by the great Gordon Jenkins was an odd choice to say the least—unless you were Harry Nilsson! A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night was not a commercial success but it surely was an artistic success and all these years later both showcases Nilsson's superb pipes and interpretive abilities and presages where Rod Stewart would later take his career, not because he wanted to as much as because it was the logical place for it to go. Nilsson paid the price for his move, Rod was paid a handsome price for his! Such is life.

The tunes include "For Me and My Gal," "It Had to Be You" (Woody Allen used it effectively in "Annie Hall"), Irving Berlin's "Always," "You Made Me Love You," "What'll I Do," and even an obscure "Lazy Moon" supposedly never recorded but sung by comedian Oliver Hardy in a 1930s movie. The set ends with "As Time Goes By."

The arrangements are sublime and despite Nilsson's cutting up on his previous release and grossing out some of his growing fan base, he takes everything here seriously and the results are soothing and stunning, aided by a superb orchestra and recording. Nilsson's soaring vocals, his crisp phrasing and well controlled vibrato contribute to a stellar performance that's a fitting testament to his talent.

Nilsson's later life was filled with tragedy: his flat in London was the scene of two famous deaths: that of "Mama" Cass Eliot in the midst of her triumphant Palladium solo stand and later Keith Moon's of an overdose of an anti-alcohol prescription medication.

A few years later his dear friend John Lennon was shot and at the beginning of the 1990s he found himself almost penniless when it was discovered that his "financial advisor" had embezzled virtually all of his royalties. Since he never toured, preferring the studio, he never made the kind of money touring provided. He died of heart failure at the age of 52 in 1994.

Take into account a short but adventurous life well-lived as you listen to this nicely produced reissue mastered by Kevin Gray. The original was pressed on RCA's thin Dynaflex vinyl, yet the copy I have at least is remarkably quiet and smooth-sounding.

This reissue is not as warm, nor does it possess the original's stage depth, but it is more dynamic and detailed and the bottom end is more extended. The slight edge to Nilsson's voice and to the massed strings could be a result of more honest mastering that gives you what's on the recording, even if that means delivering the microphones' rising high frequency response.

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.

©2010 MusicAngle.com & Michael Fremer - - All rights reserved

Reprinted by Permission


Here is one of my favorite Nilsson cuts, he was truly a genious!

Vinyl Record News & Notes, Did You Know?

Spinner.com has this interesting piece of music trivia:

Smashing Pumpkins' New Bassist Was 'Siamese Dream' Cover Kid

by Sam Parker

It's a story that somehow feels like it belongs on an awful daytime chat show -- 'My New Bandmate Was My Album Artwork Child' -- yet here apparently that's just what's happened to one of the grunge era's biggest bands.

Read the rest at Spinner.com











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and even more great news from our friends at Spinner.com:

The Smithereens Talk Facebook, Vinyl and Playing in Fans' Living Rooms

by Ronnie Koenig

With recognizable hits like 'Blood and Roses,' 'A Girl Like You,' and 'Too Much Passion,' the Smithereens are one of those bands whose records blasted from college dorms during the '80s.

And thanks to their 1960s power-pop-influenced tunes, the New Jersey rockers -- founded by singer-songwriter Pat DiNizio, guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken and bassist Mike Mesaros -- haven't lost their appeal.

Read the rest of the interview at Spinner.com

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Arcade Fire Announce Entire U.S. Spring Tour

Arcade Fire have just confirmed what they claim will be all the remaining dates of their upcoming U.S. tour. Special guest openers for the run will vary by city and include Local Natives, the National, Okkervil River and Explosions in the Sky, respectively.

For the rest of the story and tour dates visit Spinner.com













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great to see our friends in the UK celebrate Record Store day!

EMI To Release DEEP PURPLE Retro Single To Celebrate U.K.'s 'Record Store Day'

According to the Darker Than Blue web site, EMI will celebrate the U.K.'s "Record Store Day" in April by releasing a retro DEEP PURPLE single containing "Hush" — recorded for Chris Grant's "Tasty Pop Sundae" in early 1969 — and "Speed King", recorded for Stuart Henry's "Noise At Nine" in October that same year. Both are from the upcoming "BBC Sessions" project. The picture sleeve is based on the original Harvest art and will be unveiled next week. The single will only be distributed to the participating indie shops in the U.K. and the pressing run is low at around 1400 copies.

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Shawn over at bloody-disgusting.com/  has his take on some great new metal coming, and I couldn't agree with him more!

Original: Most Anticipated Metal Albums Of 2011

With the recent release of Nola sludge legends Crowbar's much anticipated new album, Sever The Wicked Hand, I started to think about what other huge albums 2011 has to offer the metalheads among us. With new albums from genre heavyweights like Atheist, Fear Factory, and Agalloch turning last year into a seriously stellar year for metal, 2010 is going to be hard to top, but here are 10 (+2) albums that I think will give 2011 more than just a fighting chance.

Children Of Bodom – Relentless Reckless Forever (March 8)

With their unique brand of power metal infused melodic death metal, Children Of Bodom has quickly become one of the biggest names in extreme metal........

Read the rest of Shawn's list at Bloody-Disgusting.com

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Pitchfork.com has this news, I hope to catch Costello in Chicago in May:

Elvis Costello Announces Spinning Wheel Tour

In May, Elvis Costello and his band the Imposters will head out on "The Revolver Tour", where they'll pick their set list via spinning wheel. Members of the audience will spin the Spectacular Spinning Songbook wheel, which will feature 40 songs, "including hits, rarities, and covers," according to a press release. When the wheel lands on a song, Costello and his band will play it, and the audience member who spun the wheel will be invited to dance in an onstage go-go cage or to sit and be served refreshments in an onstage lounge. (Costello pulled this trick before, on a 1986 tour.)

Get the rest of the story and the tour dates at Pitchfork.com





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and this from the UK caught my eye:

REGGAE FOR A REVIVAL

MIKE Darby is a man on a mission. An unusual one, perhaps, for a 50-something who declares himself to be a "white, middle-class boy from Frampton Cotterell".

It comes to fruition on Monday with the release of a very special album compilation of homegrown Bristol reggae music.

The Bristol Reggae Explosion covers the years from 1978 until 1983 when bands playing the hypnotically rhythmic music of Jamaica took centre stage night after night at gigs in the city and further afield.

Mark runs Bristol Archive Records, a label which, basically, sets out to celebrate the hits of Bristol and its music scene from 1977 onwards.

"It's designed to remember and acknowledge the people, the bands, the faces, players, clubs, and the era, so it never gets forgotten, because it is an integral part of social history," he explains.


● Bristol Reggae Explosion 1978-1983 is released on Monday, February 21, in CD and limited edition vinyl. It's available from http://www.bristolarchiverecords.com/, Rise Records, Clifton, or Plastic Wax, Gloucester Road.

Read the rest at thisisbristol.co.uk

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and a quick look at what's selling at Grimey's, the world famous record store:

Grimey’s Top 10 Vinyl Best Sellers 02/07-02/13/2011

Spin magazine has ranked Grimey’s as one of the top indie record shops in the nation, calling it “A stalwart of indie cool in a town that’s known for a very different kind of music scene.”

1. Jeff The Brotherhood / Best Coast – split 7″

2. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

3. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

4. PUJOL – How High 7″

5. Drew Holcomb – Chasing Someday

6. Yann Tiersen – Dust Lane

7. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

8. Akron/Family – A/F II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT

9. Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean

10. Destroyer – Kaputt

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Did You Know?

more stuff everybody should know...

A glorious event for all of us, in 1878, Thomas Edison was granted the patent for the phonograph.

Crocodiles swallow stones to help them dive deeper

Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly overhead.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

Gerald Ford pardoned Robert E. Lee posthumously of all crimes of treason.

If a surgeon in Ancient Egypt lost a patient while performing an operation, his hands were cut off.

In Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart never said "Play it again, Sam." Sherlock Holmes never said "Elementary, my dear Watson." Captain Kirk never said "Beam me up, Scotty," but he did say, "Beam me up, Mr. Scott."

It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shake and the 46th word from the last word is spear.

It is illegal to be a prostitute in Siena, Italy, if your name is Mary.

Lady Astor once told Winston Churchill 'if you were my husband, I would poison your coffee'. His reply ' if you were my wife, I would drink it!'

and in music history today:

In 1964, a British company shipped a half ton of Beatle wigs to the US. An American reporter later asked John Lennon, "How do you feel about teenagers imitating you with Beatle wigs?" John replied "They're not imitating us because we don't wear Beatle wigs."

In 1966, Lou Christie enjoyed his only US number one record with "Lightnin' Strikes," a song that his record company, MGM, hated so much, they initially refused to release. Label head Lenny Shear actually threw the tape in the wastebasket and said it was a piece of crap. After Christie's management team promoted the record themselves, it started to gain attention and three months later, Billboard magazine featured a picture of Shear presenting Christie with a Gold record.

In 1972, Paul McCartney released "Give Ireland Back to the Irish", his commentary about the Britain-Ireland conflict. The song was immediately banned by the BBC, but the notoriety the song received from the banning only increased its popularity and the record soared into the UK Top 20.

Although he had written songs that were recorded by The Turtles, Rick Nelson, Blood Sweat and Tears, Lulu, The Monkees and Three Dog Night, Harry Nilsson had his only US number one hit in 1972 with "Without You," a tune written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger.

In 1974, KISS made their TV debut on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert."

In 1980, Bon Scott, vocalist for AC/DC, died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 33. What a shame.....



In 1981, Judge Richard Owen of New York State Supreme Court ruled that George Harrison 'subconsciously plagiarized' The Chiffons song "He's So Fine" in his hit "My Sweet Lord." Harrison was ordered to pay ABKCO Music $587,000.

In 1982, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in San Antonio, Texas for urinating on a statue in front of the Alamo. Osbourne was wearing a dress at the time of his arrest. After he made bail, the Black Sabbath singer skipped town. Where was Sharon when he needed her?

In 1997, a very smart New York judge dismissed a $7 million lawsuit filed against Motley Crue for hearing loss of a fan that was suffered at one of their concerts. Duh!

Tragically, in 2003, 99 people were killed in a fire at the West Warwick, RI nightclub The Station. Sparks from a pyrotechnics display by Great White caused the fire. The group's guitarist, Ty Longley, was one of the victims.

Birthday wishes to Toni Iommi from Black Sabbath who turns 63 today.