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UnCovered Interview - Guster - Easy Wonderful - a 2010 release on Universal Records, with cover artwork by Jon Sarkin
During the 4-year break between releasing albums, the members of indie-pop band Guster took a break from their strenuous touring schedules to pursue other projects of great interest to them, including having children, contributing music to films, building home studios and, in the case of Adam Gardner, promoting the works of his environmentally-oriented not-for-profit organization (called Reverb, which is "dedicated to greening musicians' tours and engaging their fans to take action to protect the planet"). When they re-grouped in late 2008 to begin work on their next release, they'd hoped to be able to record some new songs rather quickly, but a variety of roadblocks - including having to fire their original producer and leaving their long-time record label (Warner Brothers) for a new one (Universal) - forced the band mates to do an in-depth appraisal of their future together.
A meeting in a Brooklyn bar made them realize that they all wanted to move ahead and, rather than focus on pressures from the record label and on "making hits", what they really wanted was just to pour their souls into making a record they could be proud of. The result was their well-received 2010 release titled Easy Wonderful.
Once the record was done, though, they were eager to get it out to the public and, with a shortened production schedule, it was time to find an artist and create the designs for the packaging. Guster drummer Brian Rosenworcel then showed his good sense of timing when he asked an artist whose work he'd recently added to his own art collection to produce something wonderful for the cover.
What Brian hadn't bargained for was that, once this particular artist gets started on a project, prodigious amounts of artwork would be created and that this effort would produce imagery that would be used in nearly every aspect of the band's visuals. What was it about this artist that so engrossed the band and would provide them with the inspiration to use his frenzied process and output as the bases for the record cover, their merchandise and the highly-praised music video for the record's first single? Read on - hope you can keep up... :-)
Interview with artist Jon Sarkin about his work for Guster's Easy Wonderful - conducted in March, 2011 by Mike Goldstein, RockPoP Gallery
"My wife's ex-step-mother has a niece who was Chad Carlberg's boyfriend. I met Chad at a family gathering and he told me that his sister went to med school with Brian Rosenworcel's wife and that the two of them became friends after that. Chad liked my work and asked me to work with him on a couple of projects. I did a TV commercial that I was the star of and also did some art that he animated for a music video.
About a year ago, Chad introduced me to Brian, who was a fan of my work, and they asked me to work on the album cover art for their new record. Since Brian was familiar with my work, he was able to sell me to the other band members. They all thought that my kind of art would go along well with the vibe of what they were doing musically. The band gave me an advanced copy of the CD, so I knew what their stuff was like. The music had a very "feel good" vibe - very "pop-py". I knew that this would be an ongoing collaboration, and so by listening to the songs on the album, I hoped to portray visually what each song and the whole album was about.” I decided to go with a circle because CDs are circular. Also, I like bright colors, and since Guster is a sunny, optimistic band, I designed my art to reflect this feeling.
I just listened to the music and riffed a lot on my own and, once the band saw my stuff, they gave me some feedback. I talked to Brian a lot while I was doing the art - I kept feeding him ideas and he kept giving me feedback. They didn't come up with ideas for specific images; I would show them something and they would let me know if it worked and then I'd give them others with the same feel. I kept giving them new things to look at and, eventually, they were happy. They were incredibly easy and fun to work with, so I never minded doing dozens of images and then re-working them to their satisfaction. It's a lot like advertising, really.
Most of my contact was with the band itself - that is, I didn't really hear anything from the label people. Everyone was pretty cool during the time I was given (the money was fine, too!), even Chad gave me some feedback (Editor's note - in a recorded interview in February, 2011 at New York's Metropolitan Museum on the subject - you'll find a link to this at the end of this article - the band members said that Jon basically works based on his own inspirations, so any suggestions are typically discarded quickly. 'John creates, then discards - he doesn't touch anything up'). Ryan Miller told me that I was the only artist that he knew of that just makes art and that he'd never seen a purer expression of art.
Anyway, the whole job probably took 3 months or so. I didn't use any special materials. I know that I submitted dozens of images and they were all scanned and given to the A.D. at the label. The artwork that I thought I had done originally for the CD label wound up as the main image on the cover. After the scanning, the A.D. then PhotoShopped together 3 or 4 images from different art pieces to arrive at the final image for the cover. I’m really happy with what he did. He really got my sense and didn’t have a heavy hand at all.
I also did all of the lettering and the lyric sheets, the inside illustrations, the back cover, the liner notes, and designs for the labels on the CD and vinyl LP. Many of the other images are used on their stage props and their merchandise. Other ones were used on their singles, T-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, scarves, knapsacks, Brian's bass drum head and then all of the painting during the music video for "Do You Love Me?"
The band told me that this was the first time that they used their album art beyond just the cover - it's on the video and their website and their merchandise, too. To sum it up is simple. The band and their management and the label were - I mean are - great. They were very communicative about what they wanted, and they created an environment in which I really wanted to satisfy them."
Guster hired film director Chad Carlberg to produce the music video for the album's first single, "Do You Love Me?" (in fact, the band produced music videos for every cut on the album). Knowing Jon and how he works, Chad decided that the best way to harness all of Sarkin's kinetic energy would be to feature it (and him) in the video. Using a technique where he recorded the band members playing as if they were doing it in slow motion, Jon then painted everything in eyeshot - the set, the band-members, I mean EVERYTHING - in real time, so when the edit was sped up to normal speed, it appears that the band is playing in regular time and that Jon is running around frenetically - a very cool and effective approach to representing both the players and the artist as you might imagine them.
To watch a short video created by director Chad Carlberg about his collaboration with Jon to produce the music video for the "Do You Love Me?" single, please visit - http://www.productionblue.com/guster
About the artist, Jon Sarkin (includes excerpts from his web site) -
As a youngster in New Jersey, Jon Sarkin liked to draw and enjoyed visits to the art museums in New York City where he could see works that inspired him. He particularly liked Pop art - Warhol, Rauchenberg - and the Dadaists as well. Later on, he discovered the wild and crazy art styles of R. Crumb and Ralph Steadman, with these inspirations highlighted in his sketches and in the posters he would create for the dances at his school.
While not all that athletically inclined, he did discover a liking for golf, a game which he'd take up again later on in life. A lover of the outdoors, the shy young chiropractor would often try to steal away from the office on a beautiful day to get in 9 holes of golf with his friends. It was during a round in 1988 that Jon suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage, followed by a post-surgery stroke that nearly killed him. While the stroke left him partially blind, deaf in one ear and with his sense of balance permanently affected, some unexplained force re-awakened his artistic talents. As author Amy Ellis Nutt states so elegantly in her article on Jon (see below), "the once-shy, ambitious chiropractor awoke with an effusive, unfocused need to create... He didn't approach the world anymore, the world absorbed him - overwhelming his senses, swamping the filters that protect the rest of us from the minor details of existence. Colors, sounds, smells, words and images produced a cacophony of sensations."
Today, he lives and works in Gloucester, Massachusetts - in a studio based in an old converted fish factory - with his wife and his two daughters . As he puts it, "I mean, after all, my life has not sucked totally, and the whole art thing is pretty cool, don’t you think? And my kids are great. And my wife Kim, well, she ROCKS!"
Sarkin has work in the private collections of Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Annie Leibovitz, Meryl Streep and Diane Von Furstenberg. He has shown at Diane von Furstenberg, The DeCordova and Revolving Museums in MA, The Museum of Modern Art in NY and others (please visit his web site at http://www.jsarkin.com for more information). Jon has been featured in three BBC documentary films, an episode of ABC's "Medical Mysteries" and in articles in GQ, Vanity Fair, and Readers Digest, etc.
As an actor, Sarkin has appeared in film and on stage ("I enjoy the work, but I really don't consider myself an actor"). Jon has also written many volumes of poetry and, in addition to a long list of art commissions, he is currently writing/illustrating both a novel and his own autobiography.
His artwork is in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in NY, the Decordova and Revolving Museums in MA, and private collectors including Tom Cruise, Annie Leibovitz, Diane Von Furstenburg/Barry Diller and many others.
The rights to Jon's life story have been purchased by United Artists for a film to be developed by Tom Cruise’s production company. A script has been written and a director has been chosen. More details will be available on his site as they are released.
To read author Amy Ellis Nutt's Pulitzer Prize-nominated article on Jon Sarkin titled "The Accidental Artist", please visit - http://www.nj.com/starledger/sarkin/
To watch a video on YouTube of a live interview/concert/spontaneous art performance featuring Jon, Guster and director Chad Carlberg recorded at a "Spectrum Presents" concert at NY's Metropolitan Museum, click on the following link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g837CY9xN4
At about 37:30 into the video, you can watch Jon produce a new version of the "color wheel" artwork while Guster plays cuts from the new record.
About UnCovered -
Our ongoing series of interviews will give you, the music and art fan, a look at "The Making Of" the illustrations, photographs and designs of many of the most-recognized and influential images that have served to package and promote your all-time-favorite recordings.
In each UnCovered feature, we'll meet the artists, designers and photographers who produced these works of art and learn what motivated them, what processes they used, how they collaborated (or fought) with the musical acts, their management, their labels, etc. - all of the things that influenced the final product you saw then and still see today.
We hope that you enjoy these looks behind the scenes of the music-related art business and that you'll share your stories with us and fellow fans about what role these works of art - and the music they covered - played in your lives.
All images featured in this UnCovered story are Copyright 2010 Jon Sarkin and Guster - All rights reserved. Except as noted, all other text Copyright 2011 - Mike Goldstein & RockPoP Gallery (www.rockpopgallery.com) - All rights reserved.
DEAR JERRY:Who are the 10 artists of the past century with the greatest number of pop albums on the charts? How does that group compare to those folks with the most chart singles?
Lastly, how many acts reached No. 1 with a single, but then did not get the opportunity to make an LP?
—Matt Morrison, York, Pa.
DEAR MATT: The all-time Top 10, with their total number of charted albums, are: 1. Elvis Presley (105); 2. Frank Sinatra (78); 3. Johnny Mathis (72); 4. Ray Conniff (53); 5. James Brown (51); 6. Barbra Streisand (48); 7. Temptations (48); 8. Beach Boys (47); 9. Willie Nelson (46); 10. Beatles (45).
As for pop singles, only 40% of the names on the previous list are carried over: 1. Elvis Presley (163); 2. James Brown (107); 3. Ray Charles (91); 4. Aretha Franklin (88); 5. Fats Domino (77); 6. Beatles (75); 7. Frank Sinatra (75); 8. Elton John (69); 9. Connie Francis (67); 10. Nat King Cole (66).
James Brown once sang “It's a Man's Man's Man's World,” and so it goes with these two lists. Of the 16 total names, the only ladies are Barbra, Aretha, and Connie.
The vinyl long-play format debuted in 1948, but the album Nazi (“No LP for you!”) appeared only during four years. By 1959 this strange and short-lived predicament came to an end.
With each of their No. 1 singles noted, we know of no vinyl LPs for these five hit-makers:
1952: Johnny Standley (“It's in the Book”).
1955: Joan Weber (“Let Me Go Lover”).
1957: Charlie Gracie (“Butterfly”).
1958: Danny and the Juniors (“At the Hop”); Elegants (“Little Star”).
Two on this short list eventually had an LP of their own, but those came 20 or more years after their original success. Both 1958 groups, Danny and the Juniors and the Elegants, finally made it to long-play vinyl in the early 1980s.
Johnny Standley; Joan Weber; and Danny and the Juniors did at least have seven-inch, four-track, extended play 45s, which are sometimes described as mini-LPs.
DEAR JERRY:Until recently, I didn't know Patsy Cline's “Sweet Dreams (Of You)” was written by Don Gibson.
I see he is also the composer of “I Can't Stop Loving You,” recorded by Ray Charles, Elvis, Roy Orbison, and many others.
Did Mr. Gibson write these songs just for others, or did he release his own versions?
—Betsy Gibbs, Orem, Utah
DEAR BETSY: Yes, Don recorded his own versions of both of those tunes. However, in neither case did Gibson have the best selling record.
Don's and Faron Young's “Sweet Dreams (Of You)” both came out in the summer of 1956, but Faron's became a far bigger hit. It didn't hurt that Young was an established star with a dozen Top 10 records to his credit, and Gibson had yet to have his first hit as a singer.
Patsy Cline's classic version of “Sweet Dreams (Of You)” was her first posthumous hit, issued just a few weeks after the plane crash that took her life (March 5, 1963).
Don's second hit, “Oh Lonesome Me,” didn't come along until 1958. It would, however, be worth the wait. It became his biggest ever, a smash in both the C&W and Top 40 fields.
Not a lot of attention was paid to the B-side, a terrific ballad titled “I Can't Stop Lovin' You” (no 'g').
Roy Orbison took note of the tune and put it on the flip side of his 1960 hit, “I'm Hurtin'.”
Four years later, Ray Charles' “I Can't Stop Loving You,” backed with “Born to Lose,” sold over a million copies — elevating writer Don Gibson to a higher tax bracket. Elvis, Conway Twitty, and others who recorded “I Can't Stop Loving You,” kept him there.
IZ ZAT SO? Of all the versions of “Sweet Dreams (Of You),” the only one to reach No. 1 is by Emmylou Harris. That was on the C&W charts.
Her 1976 treatment of the Gibson classic remains one of the biggest hits of her 42-year career.
Two other significant waxings are by Tommy McLain, who had the biggest pop version (1966), and Reba McEntire (1979).
Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368 E-mail: jpo@olympus.net Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com
All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.
Copyright 2011 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission
FRANKLIN, TN - During the month of June, Naxos of America will launch distribution for three labels in the U.S. and Canada, with genres ranging from classical to audiophile recordings and UK roots and folk music. The labels included in this month's launch will be Navigator Records, Yarlung Records and K&K Verlagsanstalt.
Navigator Records (navigatorrecords.co.uk) is the home to many ground-breaking artists on the UK roots and folks scene today. Since the label's inception in 2008, Navigator releases have received awards and nominations from the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and the Irish Music Awards. The regular and glowing reviews in the majority of UK music press (Q, Mojo, fRoots, Word, The Guardian, The Independent and many more) have made it obvious why Navigator is one of the most acclaimed new labels in the UK. The Roster of artists includes Bellowhead, Jon Boden, Boo Hewerdine, Faustus, Bella Hardy, Spiers & Boden, Chris Wood and many others.
Grammy® Award-winning Yarlung Records (www.yarlungrecords.com) brings fresh musicians to the classical music world using minimalist audiophile recording techniques to deliver sound as close to live performance as possible. Rather than using recording studios, engineer Bob Attiyeh produces these albums in concert halls famous for their acoustics, including Walt Disney Concert Hall and Ambassador Hall in Los Angeles. Yarlung uses both analog tape and high resolutions digital media for CDs made with special alloys, high resolution digital downloads, and 180 Gram vinyl LPs, all mastered by Steve Hoffman. With repertoire ranging from the 11th century through the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 21st Century, Yarlung highlights performances of top soloists as well as superstar young musicians at the beginnings of their international careers.
K&K Verlagsanstalt (www.kuk-verlagsanstalt.com), founded in 1995, is the publishing house of the German producers and artists Josef-Stefan Kindler and Andreas Otto Grimminger. Specializing in acoustic music, concert recordings and visual art, the label records outstanding performances and concerts for posterity. Through its recordings, K&K creates an atmosphere where the performers, audience, opus and room enter into an intimate dialogue that in its form and expression is unique and unrepeatable. This goes hand-in-hand with the label's philosophy of enabling the listener to acutely experience every facet of this symbiosis, the intensity of the performance.
Grateful Dead's Shakedown Street and Blues for Allah Get Deluxe 180-Gram Pure Virgin Vinyl Treatment
Written by W3 Public Relations
In a move sure to delight audiophiles and collectors of classic pop music albums, the Audio Fidelity label will reissue of two classic Grateful Dead albums on 180-gram pure virgin vinyl, in limited numbered edition gatefold packages on June 7th, according to label president Marshall Blonstein.The band's 1975 BLUES FOR ALLAH and 1978's SHAKEDOWN STREET will be available from both online and brick-and-mortar retail outlets as the latest offerings in Audio Fidelity's continuing program of audiophile reissues.
Audio Fidelity, which Blonstein founded in 2002 after leaving the pioneering DCC Compact Classics label that he started in 1986, has become synonymous with high-quality album reissues geared toward the audiophile market. Since 2009, Audio Fidelity has reissued some of the best-known and most significant pop and rock titles in both 24Karat Gold CD and 180-gram virgin vinyl editions.Continuing the policy Blonstein established at DCC, all Audio Fidelity titles are produced from original sources and feature the original artwork. Among the imprint's growing catalog are key recordings by Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, Rod Stewart, the Doors, Cat Stevens, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.
The two Grateful Dead reissues occupy special places in the fabled San Francisco band's history. BLUES FOR ALLAH, originally released in September of 1975, was the third of only four albums issued on the group's Grateful Dead Records imprint.
CSS Announce Track List And Cover Art For New Album, La Liberacion
Fresh off their Coachella performance and recent co-headlining tour with Sleigh Bells, where they played sold out shows across the country, CSS are getting ready to unveil their third full-length. Titled 'La Liberacion,' the new album also features collaborations with Ratatat, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie, and Mike Garson (who played piano on David Bowie's "Aladdin Sane"). It will be released worldwide August 22 via V2/Cooperative Music/Downtown Records.
Track List:
I Love You
Hits me like A Rock
City Grrrl
Echo of love
You Could Have It All
La Liberacion
Partners In Crime
Ruby Eyes
Rhythm To The Rebels
Red Alert
Fuck Everything
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never heard of the man, however, i like his style
Israel Nash Gripka Releases Joplin, MO Tornado Relief Album
Ozark native Israel Nash Gripka has announced the release of Missouri, a collection of new and original songs written and inspired by the tragedy of May 22nd when a tornado destroyed 1/3 of Joplin, MO and killed more than 100 people.
"The emotional and physical destruction endured by those residents of Joplin, MO is nothing less than a tragedy," says Gripka. "My aim is to promote hope through the power of song and to raise money for the victims, the city of Joplin, and the continued efforts that must be done." Donate $5 and receive a link to download Missouri.
All proceeds from the EP will go to the "United for Joplin" campaign by Heart of Missouri United Way to benefit tornado victims in Joplin. "Having lived most of my life in the Ozarks, I have always recognized the spirit of generosity and community that people have there," says Gripka. "Living in New York and not being able to physically help has been tough. I wanted to get involved and thought the best thing that I could give would be my songs."
Cymbals Eat Guitars Have Announced New Album Title, Cover Art and Tracklist
In 2009, New York/New Jersey fuzz rockers Cymbals Eat Guitars released their debut album 'Why There Are Mountains.' Since then, aside from releasing a very faithful Elliott Smith cover, the band’s been pretty quiet; however, on September 14th, the band will back. Cymbals Eat Guitars has recently announce that their second album, 'Lenses Alien,' will be released on Barsuk Records at the end of this summer.
1 Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name)
2 Shore Points
3 Keep Me Waiting
4 Plainclothes
5 Definite Darkness
6 Another Tunguske
7 The Current
8 Wavelengths
9 Secret Family
10 Gary Condit
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great story behind the album cover for seasick steve:
Seasick Steve CD cover fame for abandoned Welsh dog TwmBy Carl Yapp
BBC Wales News website
A dog found abandoned on the M4 near Swansea has found unlikely fame on the front cover of a new album by American blues singer Seasick Steve.
A photograph of labrador-collie cross Twm standing in water on a beach in Portsmouth features on the album You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks.
Twm's owner Claire Sambrook admitted she did not know who Seasick Steve was when he phoned to ask to use it.
He spotted it on the internet and said it went well with his stage name.
Seasick Steve's popularity has soared since he performed on Jools Holland's annual hootenanny on the BBC in 2006, and he has now sold more than a million records.
The 69-year-old phoned Ms Sambrook, originally from Tonna, Neath, last November.
He left a message on her answer phone, but she was not sure who he was at first.
Read the rest of this fascinating story at bbc.co.uk
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Primus Return With First New Album in a Decade
Primus have set a September 13, 2011 release date for Green Naugahyde, their first studio album in 11 years.
The record was produced and engineered by Les Claypool in his personal studio, Rancho Relaxo, in Northern California, and features Claypool, long-time guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Lane was in an early lineup of the band, and was also in Sausage, a 1994 reunion of the 1988 Primus lineup. Green Naugahyde expands on Primus' incomparable sound and also sees them bringing it into the next millennium. It is a cerebral and complex album that, like all of the band's output, is teeming with the band's signature blend of whimsy and underlying darkness.
Morbus Chron Reveals New Album Track List And Artwork
Death metal veterans Morbus Chron are gearing up to release their upcoming new full-length album later this year via Pulverised Records. Titled "Sleepers In The Rift," the nine-track offering was recorded in November of 2010 and produced by the band with Entombed’s Nicke Andersson. "Sleepers In The Rift" features cover art by Spanish fantasy artist Raul Gonzalez (Deceased, Abraxas et al), which can be viewed below.
Track list:
1. Through The Gaping Gate / Coughing In A Coffin
2. Creepy Creeping Creep
3. Hymns To A Stiff
4. Red Hook Horror
5. The Hallucinating Dead
6. Ways Of Torture
7. Dead Body Pile Necrophile
8. Lidless Coffin
9. Deformation Of The Dark Matter
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the wall street journal blog has a fascinating story about a legend in soul music, well worth checking out
When Marvin Broke Pattern
By MARC MYERS
Dressed in a crisp white linen shirt, black slacks and black loafers, Berry Gordy Jr. settled into a plush sofa last week as Marvin Gaye's voice boomed through a recessed speaker system. The founder of Motown Records had invited me to his estate here high above Los Angeles to talk about "What's Going On," Gaye's monumental hit single and album released 40 years ago, to be reissued Tuesday as a remastered anniversary package. By the end of the title track, Mr. Gordy's eyes were watery.
Read the rest of this informative piece at online.wsj.com
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The Dear Hunter Confirms First US Headlining Tour Starting July 15 In Support Of 'The Color Spectrum,' Due Out June 14
THE DEAR HUNTER is gearing up for their first-ever headlining U.S. tour, which will launch July 15 in San Francisco, CA and conclude August 27 in Pomona, CA. As with their recently wrapped trek with dredg, fans will be treated to new music from the forthcoming nine-EP collection, THE COLOR SPECTRUM, which is due out June 14 on Triple Crown Records.
Early acclaim for THE COLOR SPECTRUM comes from Alternative Press, Consequence of Sound and SPIN, the latter of whom proclaims it "a sprawling, heady mix, merging some of the challenging piano work of latter day Ben Folds Five with a bit of Muse-y, glam rock melodrama."
Ticket pre-sales will begin Wednesday, June 8 at 10am local time here: thedearhunter . Fans will have the option to add on an early download of the Full Length THE COLOR SPECTRUM CD, as well as an exclusive T-shirt for an extra $15.
THE COLOR SPECTRUM consists of songs inspired by the colors of the spectrum, specifically RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO and VIOLET, with WHITE and BLACK being included as bookends. Casey Crescenzo, of The Dear Hunter, completed the EPs while traveling the US, documenting every step of the process. The collection features collaborations with several producers and musicians, including Manchester Orchestra, Brendan Brown from The Receiving End of Sirens, Mike Watts (who has worked with As Tall As Lions and he mixed the band's ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH), and Steve Haigler (Brand New, As Tall As Lions, Quicksand).
It will be available in the following formats:
# Full Length CD/Digital Download: Includes select music from each EP compiled on one full length compilation.
# Limited Edition Deluxe Vinyl Box Set: Nine 10" vinyl records available as a Box Set, which includes all music from THE COLOR SPECTRUM and a digital download of all the music. Available only through mail order via Triple Crown Records' website.
# Full Length Vinyl: Same as CD, but full length vinyl features songs from each EP of THE COLOR SPECTRUM.
# Individual digital versions of each song and EP from the entire collection of THE COLOR SPECTRUM.
Check out The Dear Hunter at any of the following stops:
DATE - CITY - VENUE
Fri 7/15 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
Sat 7/16 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
Sun 7/17 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Tue 7/19 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
Wed 7/20 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall/Front Room
Thu 7/21 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
Fri 7/22 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
Sat 7/23 - Dekalb, IL - The House Cafe
Sun 7/24 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
Tue 7/26 - St. Louis, MO - The Firebird
Wed 7/27 - Covington, KY - Mad Hatter Club
Thu 7/28 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme
Fri 7/29 - Cleveland Heights, OH - The Grog Shop
Sat 7/30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre
Tue 8/9 - Manchester, NH Rocko's
Wed 8/10 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
Thu 8/11 - Hamden, CT - The Space
Fri 8/12 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory
Sat 8/13 - Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
Sun 8/14 - Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java
Tue 8/16 - Atlanta, GA - The Drunken Unicorn
Wed 8/17 - Jacksonville, FL - The Pit
Thu 8/18 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
Fri 8/19 - Lake Worth, FL - Propaganda
Sat 8/20 - Orlando, FL - The Social
Mon 8/22 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio
Tue 8/23 - Dallas, TX - The Loft
Wed 8/24 - Austin, TX - Emo's (inside)
Fri 8/26 - Mesa, AZ - Sail Inn
Sat 8/27 - Pomona, CA - Glass House
not a real fan of digital, however, any time you can get some George Clinton action, however method you choose, is all right in my book
Hear Exclusive New Songs From George Clinton On The Big Ol'Nasty Getdown Volume 1
Funk up your weekend with an exclusive preview of the debut album from The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown and hear for the first time tracks featuring George Clinton recorded specifically for Volume 1. Go to www.bigolnastygetdown.com to access the player. The album will be available for streaming from Friday, June 3 to Sunday, June 5 at midnight. The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown Volume 1 will be available on iTunes on August 16.
Listeners will finally get a chance to hear "The Beauty of Pretty," a collaboration between George Clinton and Sidney Barnes, a song 30 years in the making and finally completed at the sessions for Volume 1. This soon-to-be-classic recording also features some of the last tracks recorded by the late Garry Shider. Belita Woods, Michael "Clip" Payne, members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Robert Mercurio (Galactic); JP Miller (Yo Mamas Big Fat Booty Band), Lee Boys guitarist Roosevelt Collier, Danny Bedrosian (P-Funk); Ian Neville (The Meters / Dumpstaphunk), are just a few of the 60+ musicians who participated in the project.
The record was recorded in New Orleans and in Tallahassee at George Clinton's home studio and produced by John Heintz, JP Miller, and Frank Mapstone. The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown will debut songs for the album at the Long Beach Funk Festival on August 20th.
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i have a few albums, check them out if you can, some of their early work is awe inspiring
The Zombies To Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Album, Tour
The Zombies, helmed by founding members Rod Argent and singer Colin Blunstone, are marking the group's half century with a new album - "Breathe Out, Breathe In" - and a tour, with US dates this Fall. The tour kicks off on the east coast, with several dates already confirmed.
"Breathe Out, Breath In," is from the group who back in the 1960s provided such signature works as the singles "She's Not There," "Tell Her No" and "Time Of The Season."
"There was a clear brief," says Rod Argent. "We wanted to use as many two and three part harmonies as possible and lots of Hammond organ, Mellotron and Memotron. We didn't want to recreate the past, but we wanted to capture The Zombies' essence and meaning. Our energy and enthusiasm for making music is the same as it was when we first started and the magic and mystery of the whole music making process, we are still thrilled by it all. So we thought it would be great to celebrate when that all began. I first met Colin outside the Pioneer Club in St Albans for The Zombies' first rehearsal. We didn't know each other but Colin turned up with a broken nose and two black eyes. I thought, oh no, what have we got here? But he was a keen rugby player and was injured during a game."
Read the rest of this indepth interview at our friends at pluginmusic.com
The Zombies 50th Anniversary Tour with special guests Acoustic Strawbs
Execration Announces New LP "Odes Of The Occult" Physical Release
Norway's Execration has announced the LP "Odes of the Occult" will be released through Duplicate Records on June 27th, 2011.
Track list
1 - Ode To Obscurity
2 - Unction
3 - Entheogen
4 - Intermezzo I
5 - A Crutch For Consolation
6 - Soul Maggot
7 - Grains
8 - Obsession
9 - Intermezzo II
10 - Left In Scorn
11 - High Priest
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lovely story about a record store in la
Permanent Records: Powered by Demand for "Shit That You Can't Find Anywhere Else"
By LA Weekly STORY BY SAM BLOCH
Britt and Amanda Brown (above) of Eagle Rock's psychedelic record label Not Not Fun spun Dadawah and Indeep records they bought "for fifty cents" at Poo-Bah in Pasadena. "Nothing too crazy," said Amanda of her set Saturday during Permanent Records' opening. "It's daytime, and the walls are yellow."
After five successful years in Chicago, Lance Barresi and Liz Tooley just opened their second Permanent Records franchise in Eagle Rock. Powered by the consumer demand for "the shit that you can't find anywhere else," as Barresi says, the two decided to move to Los Angeles after visiting the neighborhood.
Paul McCartney Releases “The Making of ‘Coming Up’” Video
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New Orleans R&B Legend Benny Spellman Passes Away
One of the enduring legends of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, Benny Spellman, passed away on Friday from respiratory failure at the age of 79.
Spellman ended up moving from Florida to New Orleans when Huey "Piano" Smith wrecked his truck and Benny offered to drive him and his band, the Clowns, back to the Big Easy. He ended up joining the band and becoming popular as a studio musician in the area, working regularly with Allen Toussaint.
not a fan of all this digital mumbo jumbo (i don't own a cell phone or ipad or blueberry or whatever all these people are hooked up to), but to call it real is really a stretch. but if you can have people listening to zeppelin, the world will be a better place (i worked out the garage yesterday and had Zep 1 blarring!)
LED ZEPPELIN App Makes 'Live Dreams' A Reality
One of rock's most seminal live bands can now be seen in a completely new way, anywhere, anytime on the iPhone. Based on the award-winning photography book, Led Zeppelin: Live Dreams is now an app with interactive features and additional materials that could only be presented in an app. It is currently made available by Strategic Marketing and Management, LLC, exclusively through iTunes.
In 1993, critically acclaimed rock photographer Laurance Ratner released his lavish work, "Led Zeppelin Live Dreams". Based on his personal experiences at 22 LED ZEPPELIN concerts, this museum-quality coffee table book was itself a work of art, with a hand-made slipcase and silver sculpture on the cover. It was released in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the formation of LED ZEPPELIN in 1968. Unfortunately, the limited availability and high price tag kept it out of reach for the majority of LED ZEPPELIN fans worldwide. Now, almost two decades later, thanks to technology, Live Dreams is back and available to LED ZEPPELIN fans as an iPhone app.
The multi-media aspects of Live Dreams take the viewer/listener inside the experience of being at LED ZEPPELIN's legendary performances.
Read the rest and learn more about this 'app' at Blabbermouth
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and in music history for the day:
In 1954, with Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" riding high on the Billboard R&B chart, Bill Haley and His Comets enter Decca Records' New York studio to record the same number. Haley's version will enter the Pop chart next August for an amazing 27 week run and rise to #7, becoming the first Rock and Roll tune to sell a million copies.
In 1963, Decca Records releases "Come On", The Rolling Stones' first single. It would go on to peak at #21 in the UK. That same night, the group makes their TV debut on the BBC's Thank Your Lucky Stars. After the show, its producer is reported to have told Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham to get rid of "that vile looking singer with the tire-tread lips."
In 1966, Roy Orbison's wife, 25 year old Claudette, was killed when her motorcycle collided with a truck in Gallatin, Texas. Orbison witnessed the accident. She and Roy had recently reconciled after a short split. The Everly Brothers' 1958 hit, "Claudette" had been written for her by Roy.
In 1969, one of rock's first super groups, Blind Faith played their only live performance in Hyde Park, London in front of an estimated 120,000 people. Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Rick Gretch produced just one album together, which included the songs, "Can't Find My Way Home" and "Presence of the Lord".
In 1971, Carole King's album "Tapestry" is awarded a Gold record. The album was number one in the US for fifteen straight weeks and would remain on the charts for three years, producing her biggest selling single, "It's Too Late". On July 17, 1995 the LP was certified Diamond in the United States by the RIAA for 10 million copies sold in the US and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.
In 1975, Elton John saw his album, "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" go straight to number 1 in the US in its first week of release. It was the first time any artist had achieved this feat. Elton would do it again later in the year with "Rock of the Westies".
In 1976, Capitol Records re-issues some of The Beatles' hits in a package called, "Rock 'N' Roll Music". Even though Ringo Starr speaks out against it, the album would reach #2 in the US.
In 1980, Rocky Burnette's "Tired of Toeing the Line" peaks at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rocky bills himself as The Son Of Rock and Roll as his father, Johnny Burnette had scored a 1960 number one hit with "You're Sixteen". The feat of father and child both scoring a Top Ten hit has also been accomplished by Ozzie and Rick Nelson, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Nat and Natalie Cole as well as Pat and Debbie Boone. i found this clip on youtube (i used to like this song) now, watching the video makes me laugh, someone actually produced this shit?)
In 1987, among the acts featured at the fifth annual Prince's Trust Rock Gala at Wembley Arena in London are George Harrison and Eric Clapton performing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Jeff Lynne backing Ringo Starr on "A Little Help From My Friends". Elton John and Ben E. King also appear.
In 1993, the Who's Pete Townshend and Chuck Berry are among those present for the ground breaking ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, seven years after the city won the right to host the building. Guests stood on a guitar shaped stage at the construction site on the shore of Lake Erie.
2008, The funeral of guitarist and singer Bo Diddley took place in Gainesville, Florida. Many in attendance chanted “Hey Bo Diddley” shortly after family members had passed by his coffin as a gospel band played Bo Diddley’s music. At the service, they presented a floral tribute in form of his trademark square guitar.
The great Dean Martin (Dino Paul Crocetti) was born in 1917 (died December 25, 1995)
celebrating birthdays today are Tom Jones 1940, Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson) 1958), rocker David Navarro (1967) and Gordon Gano of The Violent Femmes (1963), just to name a few.....
One of the best week's for new music releases in some time, including lots of CVR Blog picks including:
A hardcore and metal releases bonanza this week with Barn Burner Bangers II: Scum of the Earth, Morbid Angel's Illud Divinum Insanus, Job For A Cowboy with Gloom, Tombs with Path Of Totality and Black September's The Forbidden Gates Beyond, just to name a few.
Or go the indie music way with the Cults' self-titled album, The Rosebuds' Loud Planes Fly Low, Coathangers' Larceny & Old Lace or the Wooden Birds' Two Matchsticks.
Neil Young's 'A Treasure' includes live performances from his 1984-1985 US tours and also five previously unreleased songs. Additionally, he hits a home run with vinyl reissues of After the Gold Rush and the killer Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. Also look for vinyl remastered editions of two Grateful Dead albums (Blues for Allah and Shakedown Street)
Other vinyl releases include The Airborne Toxic Event - The Vinyl Collection (4-LP box set), two Radio Dept reissues (Clinging to a Scheme and Pet Grief), Okkervil River with Rider, Friendly Fires with Pala and Abigail Washburn's City of Refuge, just to name a few.
Please support the CVR Blog by purchasing your vinyl at SoundStageDirect.com, in fact, if you add the code CVR at checkout, you get 5% off!
31 Knots - Trump Harm (vinyl)
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock (dvd)
Abigail Washburn - City of Refuge (vinyl)
Above & Beyond - Group Therapy
All Time Low - Dirty Work
Amorphis - The Beginning Of Times
Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions
Arctic Monkeys - Suck It & See
BB&C - Veil
Barn Burner - Bangers II: Scum of the Earth
Battles - Gloss Drop
Bear Hands - Burning Bush Supper Club (vinyl)
Behemoth - Abyssus Abyssum Invocat
Bikini - RIP JDS EP (reissue)(vinyl)
Black Lips - Arabia Mountain
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum (deluxe reissue)
Black Sabbath - Born Again: Deluxe Edition (2 CDs)
Black September - The Forbidden Gates Beyond
Blindside - With Shivering Hearts We Wait
Bob Marley - The Lowdown (2 CDs)
Bole 2 Harlem - Bole 2 Harlem Volume 1
Brian Olive - Two of Everything
Brute Heart - Lonely Hunter
Candi Staton - Evidence: The Complete Fame Records Masters (2 CDs)
Caravan - In the Land of Grey & Pink (3 CDs)
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Heritage (reissue)
Cerebral Bore - Maniacal Miscreation
Chick Corea - Forever
Chris Difford - Cashmere If You Can
Chris Mills - Heavy Years 2000-2010
City & Colour - Little Hell
Cliff Richard - Anthology (3 CDs)
Coathangers - Larceny & Old Lace
Country Mice - Twister
Cults - Cults
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - It’s A Corporate World
Daniel Isaiah - High Twilight
David Bowie - Golden Years (EP)
David Bowie - Little Wonder + Remixes EP
Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
Dean Martin - Classic Dino: Best of Dean Martin
Dean Martin - Cool Then, Cool Now (2 CDs, Book)
Dean Martin - Dino: The Essential Dean Martin (2 CDs)
Def Leppard - Mirrorball: Live & More (CD/DVD)
Depeche Mode - Remixes 2: 81-11: Deluxe Edition (3 CDs)
Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus 2011
Duncan Sheik - Covers 80's
Dustin O'Halloran - Vorlben
Engineer - Crooked Voices
Esmerine - La Lechuza
F**ked Up - David Comes to Life
Falconer - Armod
Fats Domino - The Imperial Singles Volume 4: 1959-1961
Ford & Lopatin - Channel Pressure
Frank Sinatra - Ring-A-Ding Ding
Frank Turner - England Keeps My Bones
Friendly Fires - Pala (vinyl)
Fucked Up - David Comes To Life
Gary Brooker - Lead Me to the Water
Gavin Friday - Catholic
Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent - Your Money & My Good Looks
George Jones - Great Country Hits of the 60s
Gigan - Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes
Givers - In Light
Grateful Dead - Blues for Allah (vinyl)
Grateful Dead - Shakedown Street (vinyl)
Grayson Capps - The Lost Cause Minstrels
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Gonna Eat That?
Hammerfall - Infected
Hiromi - Voice
Holy Other - With U
Hooray For Earth - True Loves
Hospital Ships - Lonely Twin
Idiot Glee - Paddywhack
Ikebe Shakedown - Ikebe Shakedown
Infantree - Would Work (Deluxe Edition)
Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010 (2 CDs)
Jawbone - Loss Of Innocence 7"
Jessica 6 - See The Light
Jill Andrews - The Mirror
Job For A Cowboy - Gloom (EP)
Joe Ely - Satisfied at Last
Joe Jackson - Live Music
Johan Johannsson - The Miners' Hymns
Jonsi - Go Out EP
Karma to Burn - V
Kate Voegele - Gravity Happens
Kendl Winter - At the Same Time (vinyl)
Khann - Erode
Kylie Minogue - Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)(EP)
Lady Gaga - Born This Way (vinyl)
Ladybug Transistor - Clutching Stems
Larry Carlton & Robben Ford - Live In Tokyo
Looking For An Answer - Eterno Treblinka
Madlib - Medicine Show No. 9: Channel 85 Presents Nittyvill (vinyl)
Marty Balin - The Witcher
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On: 40th Anniversary (2-CD & LP box set)
Mastodon - Fiend Without a Face & West End Motel (reissue)
Matt Bauer - The Jessemine County Book of the Living
Mike Bloom - King of Circles
Montrose - Montrose (remastered)
Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus
Mott the Hoople - Live In Sweden 1971
Neil Young - A Treasure
Neil Young - After the Gold Rush (reissue) (vinyl)
Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (reissue) (vinyl)
New York Dolls - Dancing Backward In High Heels
Nick 13 - Nick 13
Nik Freitas - Saturday Night Underwater
Okkervil River - Rider (vinyl)
Oneida - Absolute II (vinyl)
Origin - Entity
Patrice Holloway - Love & Desire: The Patrice Holloway Anthology
Patrolled By Radar - Be Happy
Paul Simon - Paul Simon (remastered with bonus tracks)
Paul Simon - Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin' (remastered with bonus tracks)
Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years (reissue)
Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin' Simon (remastered with bonus tracks)
Peter Murphy - Ninth
Poco - Head Over Heels / Rose of Cimarron
ROB - Funky Rob Way
Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme (reissue) (vinyl)
Radio Dept. - Pet Grief (reissue) (vinyl)
Randy Travis - Anniversary Celebration
Rick Danko & Friends - Iron Horse Northhampton 1995
Rick Danko & Richard Manuel - Live at Uncle Willys 1989
Robert Pollard - Lord Of The Birdcage
Roger Waters - Roger Waters Collection (8-disc box set)
Ronnie Dunn - Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie James Dio - Dio: Anthology (2 CDs)
Rosebuds - Loud Planes Fly Low
Rubblebucket - Omega La La
Ryan Driver - Who’s Breathing?
Sammy Hagar - Street Machine
Santah - White Noise Bed
Seasick Steve - You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
Shadowside - Inner Monster Out
Simply Red - Farewell: Live in Concert (CD/DVD)
Sister - Hated
Sondre Lerche - Sondre Lerche
Status Quo - Quid Pro Quo: Bonus Live Disc (2 CDs)
Suede - Coming Up (reissue)
Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks - Revelator
Tangerine Dream - Zeit (2 CDs)
Tea Leaf Green - Radio Tragedy!
Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator
The Airborne Toxic Event - The Vinyl Collection (4-LP box set)(vinyl)
The Appleseed Cast - Middle States EP
The Loose Salute - Getting Over Being Under
The Poison Control Center - Stranger Ballet
The Postelles - The Postelles
The Residents - Lonely Teenager
The Wooden Birds - Two Matchsticks
Tom Vek - Leisure Seizure
Tombs - Path Of Totality
Trentemoller - Late Night Tales
Tyr - The Lay of Thrym
Various Artists - A Prayer Cycle: Path To Zero
Various Artists - Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney
Various Artists - Transformers: Dark Of The Moon Soundtrack
Various Artists - 2011 Warped Tour Compilation
Various Artists - Electric Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers Volumes 6-10 (5-CD box set)
Various Artists - Music From & Inspired By The Big C
Various Artists - Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou: The First Album
Various Artists - Sympathy For Delicious (soundtrack)
Various Artists - The Book of Mormon (cast recording)
Verah Falls - All Our Yesterdays
Vetiver - The Errant Charm
Vin Blanc - Chroma Key
Vladislave Delay Quartet - Vadislave Delay Quartet
Warped 45's - Matador Sunset
Watermelon Slim & Super Chikan - Okiesippi Blues
Whitesnake - Live at Donington 1990 (2 CDs)
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.
A self pressed and distributed 45 from David Gilmour's band before Pink Floyd sells for over $4k and gets the #1 spot this week. Several more 45's make the list, a soul 45 and a withdrawn single from Status Quo. Pink Floyd makes the list themselves with the yellow vinyl of The Wall, and a rare Sun 78 gets the #5 spot.
1. 45 - Joker's Wild (David Gilmour) "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" / "Don't Ask Me" Private Press - $4,164.00
2. 45 - Jimmy Lane and The Incredible 5 "Deal With It" / "What Kind OF Man" Little - $3,418.00
3. 45 - Status Quo "Fakin' The Blues" / "Heavy Daze" Vertigo (withdrawn) - $3,225.15
4. LP - Pink Floyd "The Wall" Yellow Vinyl Italian Pressing - $2,999.99
5. 78 - Hot Shot Love "Wolf Call Boogie" / "Harmonica Jam" Sun 196 - $2,850.11
More on this week's top 5 on Vinyl Record Talk, Tuesday 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific on Radio Dentata.
Pat Metheny Covers Beatles and Other Legends on New CD
Michael Wright
Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny will release a new album of covers on June 14. The album, titled What’s It All About, comprises the jazz great’s personal interpretations of 10 classic songs, including tracks by The Beatles, Burt Bacharach, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters and more.
Guitar fans will find special interest in Metheny’s sonic choices. He recorded most of the record using an acoustic baritone guitar, with a few notable exceptions. The surf classic, “Pipeline,” is played on an acoustic six-string, and The Beatles’ “And I Love Her” was recorded with a nylon six-string.
Go-Go's Prove They've Still Got the Beat, Cover the Stones in New York
by Kenneth Partridge
The Go-Go's are as quintessentially Californian as the Beach Boys and X, fellow L.A. bands they reference in equal measure, but the pioneering female rockers also have some personal history in New York City, where they performed Friday night.
"Thirty years ago, five ragamuffin punk-rock girls came to your city and made 'Beauty and the Beat,'" guitarist Charlotte Caffey told fans at a packed Irving Plaza, referring to the 1981 debut album the group is celebrating with this latest tour.
Radiohead to release a series of limited 12" vinyl records
Radiohead are scheduled to release a collection of limited edition 12" vinyl records as of next month. It will include remixes of tracks from their current album ‘The King Of Limbs’, this summer on XL/Ticker Tape.
The first release will be a remix of Little By Little by Caribou, and Lotus Flower by Jacques Greene (releases July 4th).
The 12” will be available at selected independent record stores, and from www.radiohead.com
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Osbournes keep rewriting history, says original bassist
Daisley reveals he has stacks of unheard Randy Rhoads material, but won’t let Ozzy and Sharon cheat him over it
Original Ozzy Osbourne bassist Bob Daisley has a hoard of unheard recordings featuring tragic guitarist Randy Rhoads – but he refuses to allow the Osbournes to badger him into a cut-price deal for releasing them.
Daisley accuses the celebrity couple of “rewriting history” and cites the example of his own removal from re-releases of the first two Ozzy solo albums.
Eddie Vedder said that Pearl Jam are hard at work on their new studio album, which will be the band’s tenth. The sessions come in the midst of Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary year as a group, which is being commemorated in re-issues, a Wisconsin festival this summer and an upcoming Cameron Crowe-directed documentary. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Vedder talked about his band and his new ukulele album.
“I just wanted it to be the one sound,” the singer said about his new album, Ukulele Songs.
burningshed.com has this news, i'm grabbing my copy!
Autopsy - Acts of the Unspeakable (Vinyl preorder)
Californian gore metallers Autopsy burst onto the scene in 1988 with almost immediate infamy. Frontman Chris Reifert was already a well known force on the underground through his time as drummer with Florida's highly respected metal combo, Death. After playing drums on the band's debut album, the much acclaimed 'Scream Bloody Gore', Chris moved back west to the more open climate of San Francisco and together with Danny Coralles & Eric Cutler formed Autopsy. The partnership kicked off in April 1989 with their debut album 'Severed Survival', a brutal explosion of heavy riffs, tight drumming and a screaming vocal, rounded off with concepts of death, disease and diabolica. A successful European tour with label mates and rising stars 'Paradise Lost' saw the band solidify their ever-growing army of devotees.
Their third album, the highly controversial 'Acts Of The Unspeakable' surfaced in Oct '92 to widespread delight and fury. The press and fans adored the album, with artwork & lyrics loosely mirroring concepts similar to Hieronymous Bosch. The authorities didn't quite see things in the same way as copies of the album & T-Shirts (based on album artwork) were seized the world over. This only added to the reputation of the band with 'Acts' being lauded as the definitive Autopsy album.
The classic third album of death metal from Autopsy on limited yellow vinyl with gatefold sleeve. Numbered to 2000 copies.
Darkthrone began in the late 80’s as a more thrash/death metal inspired act & progressed through technical death/doom metal experimentation to become legends of the black metal world & one of the original leading bands of the Norwegian scene.
‘Goatlord’ is the title of what was to originally be Darkthrone’s second album. The style followed very much in the vein of the debut, ‘Soulside Journey’, with a mid-paced melodic, yet technical death metal style. After the recording of the tracks in their completed demo form in 1991, however, Darkthrone’s focus shifted towards black metal & so the album was shelved, while work commenced on what was to be the Norwegian black metal milestone, ‘A Blaze in the Northern Sky’, which did actually incorporate some parts from the ‘Goatlord’ tracks.
‘Goatlord’ was only ever recorded instrumentally, & so it wasn’t until 1994 that Fenriz added vocals to the songs, with the album eventually seeing a release on the band’s then label, Moonfog Productions in 1996.
This edition of Goatlord features new artwork as selected by the band, & it is presented on limited heavyweight black vinyl.
This title will ship to arrive to you on our street date of June 28th.
Long-awaited reissue of 1967 debut by baroque rock legends!
The work of the Left Banke has long been an elusive holy grail for vintage pop fanatics. The legendary “baroque rock” combo’s work ranks with the greatest American music of the 1960s, and remains beloved by discerning pop connoisseurs around the world. Out of print for decades and despite its longstanding unavailability, the Left Banke’s music has attained an ever-increasing level of prestige over the years, and continues to exercise a powerful mystique amongst the group’s legion of admirers.
The long-awaited reissue of this classic debut on CD and 180 gram vinyl LP has been sourced from the original stereo master tapes and includes the album’s original track listing. CD features unseen photos and new liner notes including illuminating interviews with band members.
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my friend, Gary Freiberg posted this, it's all about the preservation of our beloved vinyl!
Vinyl lasts
Save history, save your records
BY GARY J. FREIBERG
Did you ever groove to the Haydn Quartet singing “The Owl and the Pussycat” from 1901? Or how about the Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s 1917 recording of “Livery Stable Blues,” considered the first jazz recording ever released? Most likely you haven’t, but thanks to collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and its Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Records with the Library of Congress and Sony Music Entertainment, you now can hear these—and 10,000 other recordings from 1901 to 1950—on the National Jukebox created by the Library of Congress.
Launched on May 10, the National Jukebox has turn-of-the-20th-century music, speeches, instrumentals, vaudeville acts—all of them historical recordings long ago forgotten as formats and society changed. As Gene DeAnna, the head of the Library of Congress Recorded Sound Section, said, “The National Jukebox represents a strong step to return out-of-circulation recordings to public access.” These initial 10,000 historical recordings were provided from Sony Music Entertainment, who has, through acquisition and mergers, managed to get control of all the Victor Records rights. UC Santa Barbara is working with the Library of Congress by creating a searchable database for every recording in the National Jukebox.
According to UCSB’s David Seubert, curator, Performing Arts Collection at UCSB, the Library of Congress was essential to the National Jukebox becoming a reality as “they have the muscle” to get Sony to license this stream of audio history, gratis, no licensing fee. The recordings can be listened to, but can not be downloaded. Sony controls the commercial rights.
Even politicians relied on records to spread their message. The National Jukebox includes 1913 speeches by Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt, who used Victor Records to disseminate his campaign message about the farmer and American business.
The work of UC Santa Barbara and the National Jukebox are a major step toward preserving our audio history but institutions cannot do it all. The primary source for the preservation of the audio history captured on the vinyl (or the earlier shellac) record is for people who own records to realize they are the custodians of their particular record archive. There are no two record collections that are the same. Every record collection contains recordings that have been out of print for years. If these recordings are to survive, they must be cared for by their owners: Preservation of audio history cannot be left to institutions. The public is the custodian of the world’s audio history; there is not a government agency that houses all recordings. The Library of Congress comes close, but they don’t have everything in their collection that you may have in yours.
Recently, there has been a lot of media attention to the resurgence of sales and popularity of the vinyl record. Record companies, who need more help than AIG ever got, see a renewed source of income as artists want to be hip, cutting edge, by releasing their newest recordings on vinyl. Surprisingly, it’s a younger generation, not Baby Boomers, who are driving sales. The vinyl record was dismissed as outdated by the generation that grew up with it, only to return a generation or so later to become the “newest” listening format.
But the issue of preserving our audio history is deeper than renewed popularity. There are still many people who look at a record collection and see only “old records” that should be dumped. The danger is we lose history, connections with voices from the past.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, only five percent of analog recordings have been transferred to digital format. As reflected by UC Santa Barbara’s cataloging the 50 years of Victor Records, there are countless peripheral recordings, historical speeches, news broadcast of significant world events, fringe artists, and music available only on the non-digital format. To trash or not take care of an “old record” is destroying the audio history of generations past.
Is it important for future generations to hear the voices that record companies didn’t see profit in converting to a digital commercial product? If it is not, what’s next? Do we turn the books that have not been digitized for Kindle into fireplace logs? Do we toss old magazines, professional manuals, and any other printed materials because of the digital age? No, we do not. Destroying the audio history on vinyl records as a consequence of the iPod and computers makes as much sense as ridding ourselves of books because of Kindle.
So take care of your record collection. How else will future generations hear “Yummy, Yummy, I’ve Got Love in my Tummy” if you don’t?
Gary J. Freiberg is the founder of Vinyl Record Day and author of the accepted Vinyl Record Stamp proposal. Vote for the Vinyl Record Stamp proposal HERE
6. Emerson Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake And Palmer
7. Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman (200g)
Track List:
1. Where Do The Children Play?
2. Hard Headed Woman
3. Wild World
4. Sad Lisa
5. Miles From Nowhere
6. But I Might Die Tonight
7. Longer Boats
8. Into White
9. On The Road To Find Out
10. Father And Son
11. Tea For The Tillerman
About Tea For The Tillerman (200g) by Cat Stevens:
When word got out that we were beginning a pressing plant, customers began to call with questions. And the most common and full-of-anticipation question was inevitably: What will be the first title that you press? Well, we couldn't possibly imagine hitting a bigger home run than to open Quality Record Pressings (QRP) with one of the all-time most classic audiophile records, Cat Stevens' Tea for the Tillerman from 1970.
There are so many things perfect about this release. First and foremost, it's a masterpiece of a record. It's that rare record that couples breathtaking sound with hit after hit after hit. In fact, to list the hits would be to list the entire song list. We couldn't pick a better vehicle for which to show off what we're so confident will be the highest quality records ever pressed.
But here's something else that's cool: We scored the absolute original analog masters, and the tapes were in impeccable condition. It took an unbelievable amount of digging and research - and luck - to get this project done to the standards of Analogue Productions. But, wow, was it ever worth it! The tapes were last used in December 1999 when Ted Jensen at Sterling, along with producer Paul Samwell-Smith, remastered the Cat Stevens catalog for CD.
In 1970, Lee Hulko at Sterling Sound cut Tea For The Tillerman for A&M Records in the U.S. and Island Records in the UK using a Telefunken M10 tape machine and a Neumann VMS 66 lathe with a Neumann SX68 cutterhead. Hulko started Sterling in 1968 and was its original mastering engineer. He's considered among the first engineers to advance mastering from just transferring music from tape to lacquer to an art where attention is paid to all the details that result in better sound. We actually found Hulko's original mastering notes from more than 40 years ago. It's incredible, but Sterling still has all of their notes filed away.
So, it was originally cut at Sterling - as were all of the early original Cat Stevens albums - and the tapes were last used at Sterling. How appropriate then that we should go back to Sterling for this monumental reissue. Using the original tapes, George Marino handled the mastering this time. He used an Ampex ATR-102 tape machine, another significant point of interest. While Ampex has long been revered for their sound, they had never made a preview version so that a mastering engineer could cut a lacquer from an Ampex machine. Mike Spitz at ATR Services made a unique preview modification for Sterling so that they could cut this record using an Ampex. Marino then used a Neumann VMS 80 lathe with a Neumann SX 74 cutterhead.
"I think we've gotten something quite a bit better than what was originally issued," Marino says. "I think this version is much more representative of what was on the tape. And that's not a criticism of what was originally done."
Marino points out that since the original issue, there have been advancements in cutting lathe technology that make the improvements of this reissue possible.
"You didn't have the same number of options that you have in the new Neumann electronics," Marino says. "With the new one, they give you more variations to work with. Let's say there's a nice kind of present sounding acoustic guitar on the left channel and then all of the sudden there's a drum peak with cymbal crashes and stuff and that stuff happens to be on the left channel. Being the vocal is down the center, you can drive the high frequency limiter from the right channel. So you can set a threshold on the right channel and grab the vocal without wiping out some of the musical peaks on the left channel. This is what I talk about when I say that we have technical advantages that they didn't have."
Marino also chose to use a wide-track stereo head for this project, which he said allows for better signal-to-noise than the normal stereo head.
And he also decided against using tube electronics, as would have been used originally, because he says that while the tubes allowed for more warmth, they also made the sound duller.
"You wind up wanting to put a little top-end EQ or something to get a little something back (when using tubes)," Marino explains of his decision.
Marino says that he is very pleased with the results.
"A great record. A classic," he says. "And those tapes were in excellent, excellent condition. Musically, I think we've got something that sounds richer and more natural. It sounds more correct. I had to do very, very little to the tape regarding EQ processing or anything."
To package this reissue, we've decided to do a facsimile of the original British Island gatefold jacket rather than the non-gatefold U.S. version. This British jacket also has a textured paper stock on the inside and is glossy on the outside. Additionally, we're using the original pink Island label.
So there you have it. Quality Record Pressings is off and pressing in a big, big way! Finally, we're ready to unveil the innovations in record pressing that we've been working on for more than a year. Among those innovations are the installations of microprocessors on the presses so that all of the presses functions are performed with absolute precision. For example, we've developed a dye with an imbedded temperature sensor that we can use to cycle the presses. Rather than having the presses close and open based on time - as it's been to date - these presses will close and open based on temperature, the far more accurate indicator of when the record is ready. We also have a plating department in Quality Record Pressings, run by the best plating man in the business, Gary Salstrom.
Still to come from Analogue Productions pressed at Quality Record Pressings will be the Cat Stevens classics Teaser and the Firecat and Catch Bull at Four.
Tea For The Tillerman is one of Cat Stevens' finest albums and a gem in the crown of early 1970s singer/songwriterdom. Stevens manages to have his cake and eat it too, simultaneously achieving pop accessibility and artistic relevance. The feel is decidedly gentle and spare. Apart from the occasional string section, Stevens is accompanied only by a three-piece band as he sings his introspective lyrics with appreciable favor.
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Medieval marketing: a winner for Kaiser Chiefs' return
By Stephen Jones
B-Unique/Fiction Records has torn up the rule book with the release of Kaiser Chiefs’ new album The Future Is Medieval, which combines a DIY element and rewards buyers.
Twenty new tracks have gone on sale on the band’s website which allows fans to compile their own bespoke album. It has also engineered a social networking mechanism that will allow fans to make money through distributing tracks online.
Fans are able to listen to 60 second clips of each song and choose 10 tracks for £7.50, select artwork from a choice of 20 covers and list tracks in whatever order they wish to create their own album.
Purchasers are then able to post links to the album online through their social media and if their friends buy it they will be reimbursed £1. A traditional 13-track release will follow in the coming weeks.
Fiction Records managing director Jim Chancellor claimed this was the world’s first viral release.
Puddle Of Mudd to release covers album this August
Kansas City alt rockers Puddle of Mudd are to release their 15 track covers album this August 2nd. The band have been working on the record at The Bomb Shelter, which is a studio owned by Stone Temple Pilots drummer Eric Kretz.
The new covers album, entitled 're:(disc)overed' will feature The Rolling Stones 'Gimme Shelter' plus versions of Free's 'All Right Now', Bad Company's 'Shooting Star', Neil Youngs 'Old Man', Led Zeppelin's 'D'yer M'ker' and Elton John's 'Rocket Man.'
Lead guitarist Paul Phillips has explained to Billboard the reasoning behind the track selection:
"We chose a lot of things that were challenging," Phillip explains. "People hear Puddle's gonna do a covers album and they think it'll be Nirvana and the Ramones and Metallica and stuff like that. And that's something we wanted to do, but we wanted to stretch our legs, and it was a very challenging thing to have songs that have piano and these big, crazy arrangements and stuff. I mean, doing an Elton John song with piano and backup singers and stuff is not easy. It's easier to record a Puddle of Mudd song, but to tackle an arrangement like that is a lot more difficult to do, and that's what we wanted."
're:(disc)overed' is scheduled for an August 2nd release date
The track list:
"Gimme Shelter" (Rolling Stones)
"Old Man" (Neil Young)
"TNT" (AC/DC)
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
"The Joker" (Steve Miller Band)
"Everybody Wants You" (Billy Squier)
"Rocket Man" (Elton John)
"All Right Now" (Free)
"Shooting Star" (Bad Company)
"Funk 49" (James Gang)
"D'yer M'ker" (Led Zeppelin)
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Christ Agony Announces New Album "NocturN" Details
Christ Agony has posted the cover artwork online for the band's new album "NocturN," which can be viewed below. The art was handled by by Michal Grabowski of BlackTeamMedia. The track listing for the album is as follows:
1. Opus Sacrum / Reign Of Chaos
2. Frozen Path Unholy Fire
3. The Stigma Of Hell
4. Silent Gods Of Darkness
5. Demonicon Illuminati
6. Black Star Falling
7. Flames Of Several Suns
8. Opus Profanum / Fields Of Inferno
The premiere of the new album "NocturN" is currently set for Autumn 2011 through Mystic Production.
Here are the Top 10 albums sold at ShopRadioCast for the week of May 31 – June 6, 2011:
1. Ruiner / Attica Attica Under the Influence Volume 14 7″
2. Big D and The Kids Table – For The Damned, The Dumb and The Delirious 2XLP (Exclusive)
3. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – Introducing
4. White Wives – Happeners
5. The Menzingers – A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology LP
6. Against Me! – Russian Spies 7″
7. Alkaline Trio – Damnesia
8. Portugal The Man – Waiter: You Vultures! LP
9. Ramones – Leave Home LP
10. Fireworks – Gospel
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USA
Albums:
1. Lady Gaga :Born This Way
2. Brad Paisley :The Is Country Music
3. Adele :21
4. Soundtrack :Glee The Music Season Two
5. Various :Maybach Music Group Presents
6. Various :Now 38
7. NKOTBSB :NKOTBSB
8. Foster The People :Torches
9. Jason Aldean :My Kinda Party
10. Mumford and Sons :Sigh No More
Singles:
1. Adele :Rolling In The Deep
2. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
3. Katy Perry feat. Kanye West :E.T.
4. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull :On The Floor
5. Black Eyed Peas :Just Can't Get Enough
6. Bruno Mars :The Lazy Song
7. Britney Spears :Till The World Ends
8. Lady Gaga :The Edge Of Glory
9. LMFAO :Party Rock Anthem
10. DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Riss Ross & Lil Wayne :I'm On One
UK
Albums:
1. Adele :21
2. Kate Bush :Director's Cut
3. Adele :19
4. Hugh Laurie :Let Them Talk
5. Bruno Mars :Doo-Wops & Holligans
6. Friendly Fires :Pala
7. Chase & Status :No More Idols
8. Jessie J. :Who You Are
9. Foo Fighters :Wasting Light
10. Caro Emerald :Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor
Singles:
1. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
2. Bruno Mars :The Lazy Song
3. Aloe Blacc :I Need A Dollar
4. LMFAO :Party Rock Anthem
5. Alexandra Stan :Mr Saxobeat
6. Chris Brown feat. Benny Benassi :Beautiful People
7. Snoop Dogg Vs. David Guetta :Sweat
8. The Saturdays :Notorious
9. Lady Gaga :Judas
10. Swedish House Mafia :Save The World
Europe
Albums:
1. Take That :Progress
2. Rihanna :Loud
3. Bruce Springsteen :The Promise
4. Shakira :Sale El Sol
5. Pink :Greatest Hits ... So Far
6. Bon Jovi :Greatest Hits
7. James Blunt :Some Kind Of Trouble
8. Susan Boyle :The Gift
9. Kings Of Leon :Come Around Sundown
10. JLS :Outta This World
Singles:
1. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull :On The Floor
2. Rihanna :S&M
3. Adele :Rolling In the Deep
4. Lady Gaga :Born This Way
5. Black Eyed Peas :Just Can't Get Enough
6. Jessie J. feat. B.o.B. :Price Tag
7. Katy Perry :E.T.
8. Snoop Dogg Vs. David Guetta :Sweat
9. LMFAO :Party Rock Anthem
10. Bruno Mars :Grenade
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and in music history for today:
In 1960, Bing Crosby was presented with a Platinum disc to commemorate his 200 millionth record sold. The sales figures were a combined total of 2,600 recorded singles and 125 albums. Crosby's global lifetime sales on 179 labels in 28 countries totaled 400 million records.
In 1960, the Silver Beetles and Gerry and the Pacemakers appear together at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard, Wallasey, England. They are billed as "jive and rock specialists."
Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely" was released in the US in 1960.
In 1962, after an unsuccessful audition for Decca Records, The Beatles perform for producer George Martin at EMI Records in London. Martin was later quoted as saying "they were pretty awful. I understand why other record companies turned them down", but signed them to a contract the following month. John, Paul, George and Pete Best were each paid £7.10 ($12.07) for the session.
In 1964, the Dixie Cups became the first American group to top the Billboard chart in 1964 when "Chapel of Love" went to number one. Up until then, the year had been dominated by The Beatles and US solo performers. The song reached #22 in the UK.
In 1968, the Rolling Stones added new words to Sympathy for the Devil about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
CSN&Y's "Teach Your Children" was released in 1970.
In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared on stage for the first time since 1969 when they join Frank Zappa for a show at the Fillmore East.
David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" was released in 1972.
In 1973, Barry White was awarded a Gold record for "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby". It was the first of his five, US number one, million-sellers.
In 1982, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg and Crosby, Stills and Nash perform at the We Have A Dream anti-nuclear concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
In 1987, Kim Wilde took the Holland-Dozier-Holland classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On" to the top of the Billboard Pop chart. It was the third time that the song made it into the Top Ten, following the original version by The Supremes in 1966 and a remake by Vanilla Fudge in 1968.
In 1990, Jim Hodder, drummer with Steely Dan on their hits "Do It Again" and "Reelin in the Years", drowned in his swimming pool at his Point Arena, California home. He was 42.
Pink Floyd released its two-CD live album, 'Pulse' in 1995.
In 2000, Alice Cooper caused a stir when a song from his album, "Brutal Planet" contained a tune called "Wicked Young Man". The track describes an adolescent with "a pocket full of bullets and a blueprint of the school", clearly a reference to the April 29, 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
In 2001, twenty of Elton John's automobiles sold at auction for $2.75 million. Elton said he, 'doesn't have time to drive them anymore'. The most expensive was a '93 Jaguar that sold for over $330,000.
In 2002, Robbin Crosby, guitarist for the L.A. group Ratt, who reached the Top 40 twice with "Round And Round" (#12 in 1984) and "Lay It Down" (#40 in 1985), died after a long illness, two months prior to his 43rd birthday.
In 2003, Dave Rowberry, the keyboardist who joined The Animals in May of 1965 and played on several major hits, including "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place", "It's My Life" and "Don't Bring Me Down", passed away of an apparent heart attack, one month shy of his 63rd birthday.
Also in 2003, a judge in London, England ruled that Rap lyrics should be treated as a foreign language after admitting that he was unsure of the meaning of 'shizzle my nizzle' and 'mish mish man'. The court battle was over a copyright issue between the Ant'ill Mob and the Heartless Crew, who had used the lyrics on a remix.
In 2006, Billy Preston, the keyboardist who had a series of hit singles in the 1970s, including "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing", passed away at the age of 59. Billy was the only backing musician to ever be credited on a Beatles single when his name appeared on "Get Back".
In 2010, Marvin Isley, bass player for the legendary funk band The Isley Brothers, died of undisclosed causes at the age of 56. After he joined the group in 1973, the band continued to chart throughout the '70s with hit songs like "Who's That Lady", "Fight the Power" and "Between the Sheets".
birthdays today include Gary "U.S." Bonds (72), James Shaffer, guitarist, Korn (1970), Matthew “Uncle Kracker” Shafer (1974) and Carl Barat, vocalist, The Libertines (1978), just to name a few
