Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

press release

The Beach Boys Announce 50th Anniversary Reunion, New Album and Tour

Legendary Band's Golden Anniversary CELEBRATION to Include a New Capitol Album and Commemorative Catalog Releases, a Major International Tour and More!

PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The founding members of The Beach Boys, one of the world's most legendary bands in popular music history, will reunite for a global 50th Anniversary CELEBRATION in 2012. Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will come together for a new studio album and commemorative catalog releases with Capitol/EMI and a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ("Jazz Fest") as well as other exciting events to be announced.

Brian Wilson says, "This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again."

Mike Love says, "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded 'Do It Again.' Brian and I wrote that song which went to number 1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago. Brian paid me a compliment saying, 'How can a guy sound that great so many years later?' Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment. It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements. I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks. Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood. It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world. Wouldn't It Be Nice to Do It Again? Absolutely!"

Al Jardine says, "The Beach Boys were recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. From our humble beginnings as brothers, cousins and friends, we have been honored to sing the praises of California, and I'm really excited for our fans to be able to see us again in concert on the world stage, and to celebrate our 50th anniversary together with a new studio album."

Bruce Johnston says, "I will be looking forward to singing Brian Wilson's melodies and Mike Love's lyrics once again in concert with many of the original band members, but imagine what we all could come up with vocally in a recording studio atmosphere under Brian's musical direction."

David Marks says, "I'm really looking forward to celebrating this important milestone in The Beach Boys' history with the other guys, and with Capitol Records - where it all began 50 years ago. It means a lot to me that we can all reunite and pay tribute to the fans who have kept the music alive."

The Beach Boys have already recorded several songs for their new album, to be released in 2012 by Capitol/EMI, with more tracks to be recorded before its completion. The as-yet-untitled album, the first to feature all of the band's surviving original members in decades, is being produced by Brian Wilson and executive produced by Mike Love.

The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for a 50th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band's entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set.

Roger Faxon, CEO of EMI Group commented: "It's no exaggeration to say that The Beach Boys are one of the greatest and most loved bands that the world has ever produced, and true American icons. We are incredibly proud to take this next step with them as our partnership enters its fiftieth year, and I can't wait to see the band back together doing what they do better than anyone else."

Colin Finkelstein, COO of EMI Music North America said: "We're honored to continue Capitol/EMI's historic partnership with The Beach Boys as they celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. The Beach Boys bring the best of California's sun and surf culture to people all over the world with their music, and we're really looking forward to working with the band on the new album and commemorative catalog releases - a real CELEBRATION of fifty years!"

Quint Davis, producer/director, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival says, "It's an honor to present the original Beach Boys reunion at Jazz Fest 2012. Hosting the greatest artists of our era has always been the primary mission of Jazz Fest, and certainly The Beach Boys are unsurpassed as an iconic American musical and cultural institution. Every spring Jazz Fest is the number-one destination for good vibrations and fun, fun, fun; on April 27th, when The Beach Boys reunite on our biggest stage, it's going to feel like a thrilling homecoming for everyone lucky enough to be there. We're all looking forward to experiencing the magic and the joy."

Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine. In 1962, neighbor David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits on Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing records for the group. For five decades, America's first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world's favorite soundtrack to summer.

The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in July 1962 and released their first album, Surfin' Safari, that same year. The album spent 37 weeks on the Billboard chart, launching the young group known for its shimmering vocal harmonies and relaxed California style into international stardom. The Wilson/Love collaboration resulted in many huge international chart hits, and under Brian Wilson's musical leadership, the band's initial surf-rock focus was soon broadened to include other themes, making The Beach Boys America's preeminent band of the 1960s.

In 1966, The Beach Boys were one of the first bands to found its own record label with the launch of Brother Records, Inc. (BRI), with the band's members as its shareholders and Capitol Records as its distribution partner. BRI continues to manage The Beach Boys' intellectual property, including the band's catalog with Capitol/EMI and other label partners, as well as its name, logos, image and likeness.

The Beach Boys continue to hold Billboard / Nielsen SoundScan's record as the top-selling American band for albums and singles, and they are also the American group with the most Billboard Top 40 chart hits (36). 'Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys' is fast approaching triple-Platinum sales status, and 'The SMiLE Sessions,' released to worldwide critical acclaim in November, has been heralded as 2011's #1 Reissue of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are an American institution that is iconic around the world.

www.thebeachboys.com
www.facebook.com/thebeachboys
www.youtube.com/beachboys

SOURCE Capitol/EMI & Brother Records, Inc.

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with Tull being a topic of conversation in recent posts, there is a great review over at ultimateclassicrock.com

Jethro Tull, ‘Aqualung’ (40th Anniversary Edition) – Album Review

by: Nancy Dunham 

Jethro Tull fans often lament that the band and its founder, master and guiding light, Ian Anderson, are the Rodney “I don’t get no respect” Dangerfields of progressive rock.

Just look at how their record label wouldn’t fly the band to Los Angeles for the 1989 Grammy Awards because the execs thought Tull’s ‘Crest of a Knave’ had no chance of winning Best Metal/Hard Rock Performance over Metallica’s ‘…And Justice For All.’

Of course Tull’s win has set up a fan feud that’s lasted over two decades. Let’s not even get started on the band’s absence from the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.

Now that the 40th anniversary of the group’s seminal album ‘Aqualung’ is upon us, fans are ready to celebrate all things Tull.

Read the rest at ultimateclassicrock.com






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Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record - Sales Week Ending 12/10/2011

No doubt the Beatles stuff is hot right now. The "Love Me Do" 45 usually goes for $7k - 10k with the sleeve. But if a scrap of paper (see Lennon to-do list post) sells for $16k, what Beatles item isn't worth more than its weight in gold? The non-Beatle entries on this week's list are worth a look. The Maitrey Kali LP is the very rare double LP version, not the more typical single LP repress. And the "Love Buzz" 7" as a test pressing gets about double what one of the regular releases bring.

1. 45 - The Beatles "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love You" Parlophone Demo with sleeve - $17,338.20

2. LP - Maitreya Kali "Apache/Inca" Private Press - $10,101.00

3. LP - The Beatles "Please Please Me" Parlophone Stereo UK 2nd Pressing - $7,029.00

4. 45 - Nirvana "Love Buzz" / "Big Cheese" Test Pressing - $4,350.00

5. LP - The Beatles "Please Please Me" Parlophone Stereo UK 1st Pressing - $3.982.10


As always, a thank you to Norm & Jane over at Vinyl Record Talk for this enlightening data!

Radio Dentata is currently going through a server upgrade, with all new features planned for next year. So VRT Show is going on haitus. This space will still be active with the Top 5 and whatever other record collecting freaky stuff we find.

So, VRT will be back next year. We'll update here on the continuing saga. Listen HERE!



And a cry out from Norm & Jane (if you are looking for a specific record, if they don't have it, they can probably get it!)

Support Those Who Scour The Earth For Grooved Black Gold - Buy Some Stuff Damn It

Even Santa appreciates our shameless self-promotion via guilt trip that you aren't spending enough with Mom and Pop's this year.

And you can't get much more Mom and Pop than Vinyl Record Talk's Store. Jane and Norm search the country for lost treasures of music history because, simply stated, people buy this stuff from them.

Vinyl Record Talk Show on Radio Dentata is Jane and Norm promoting vinyl, record collecting, and the huge cache of music that has yet to be transfered to digital media. Each week we play several pieces of vinyl history that are not available for commercial download. We cover news topics on collecting, auctioning and internet broadcasting.

And did you know, many of Jane's fans turn off the NFL Network just to hear her voice. So listen to us on Radio Dentata and click and go to our store. Buy stuff. It will atone for many corporate sins.

Vinyl Record Talk Store

Free World-Wide Shipping For 45's - Over 3000 45's Reduced 15% - 25%

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consequenceofsound.net has named their top 50 albums of the year:

Top 50 Albums of 2011


See the rest (i won't tell you is was at #1) at consequenceofsound.net



50. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire






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and in music history for december 16th:

Composer Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in 1770.

In 1907, Eugene Farrar became the first singer to broadcast on radio when he sang "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" from the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. Culture Club would take a different song with the same title to number one in 1982. .

In 1954, Bill Hayes recorded "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett," one of three versions to appear on the Billboard pop chart in 1955 owing to the popularity of Davy Crockett stories airing on TV's "Disneyland" series. Fess Parker, who played Crockett on TV, reached #6 on the record chart with his version of the song. Tennessee Ernie Ford's rendition peaked at #5. Bill Hayes' version went all the way to #1, where it stayed for five weeks.

In 1965, Peter & Gordon recorded "Woman," written by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym Bernard Webb.

In the UK in 1966, Jimi Hendrix released his first single, "Hey Joe."

Released on this date in 1966, Hendrix's version became a hit in the United Kingdom, entering the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart in January 1967 and peaking at #6. The single was released in the United States on May 1, 1967 with the B-side "51st Anniversary" but failed to chart. "Hey Joe", as recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, remains the best known version of the song and is listed as #198 on Rolling Stone magazine's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2009 it was named the 22nd greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. "Hey Joe" was the last song Jimi Hendrix performed at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and as such, it was also the final song of the whole festival. The song was performed after the crowd, comprising the 80,000 who hadn't yet left the festival, cheered for an encore

He followed with "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary", "All Along the Watchtower" and "Voodoo Chile", all of which made the British Top 10, but in America, only "All Along the Watchtower" reached the Top 40, peaking at number 20.

In 1967, the Rolling Stones announced that singer Marianne Faithfull was the first artist signed to their Mother Earth record label.

In 1967, the Lemon Pipers released the single "Green Tambourine." The song has often been credited as being the first bubblegum pop chart-topper. Released on this date in 1967, it peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week at the start of February, 1968 and earned the group a gold record for over a million copies sold. The record remained on the chart for three months. It was also the first US number-one hit for the Buddah label.

The song is the story of a street musician pleading for someone to give him money. In exchange, he would play his "green" tambourine, "green" referencing the color of United States currency. The song's instrumentation contains the title tambourine as well as an electric sitar, a frequent signature of the so-called "psychedelic sound". Another hook is the heavy, psychedelic tape echo applied to the word "play" in each chorus and at the end, fading into a drumroll ("Listen while I play play play play play play/my green tambourine"). The echo is noticeably different in the mono and stereo mixes. The mono version also starts fading out slightly earlier than in the stereo version.

On December 16, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono commissioned the placement of stark black-and-white billboards in eleven international cities proclaiming "WAR IS OVER!" and then, in smaller type, "If You Want It. Happy Christmas From John And Yoko." It was part of their new campaign against the war in Vietnam.

In 1970, five singles and five albums by Creedence Clearwater Revival were certified Gold. The singles were: "Down on the Corner", "Lookin' out My Back Door", "Travelin' Band", "Bad Moon Rising" and "Up around the Bend". The LPs were "Cosmo's Factory", "Willy and the Poor Boys", "Green River", "Bayou Country" and "Creedence Clearwater Revival". people knew good music when they heard it back then.....

200 Motels, the Frank Zappa film, opened in London in 1971.

In 1974, saying he felt that now was the time to move on and do something new, guitarist Mick Taylor announced he was leaving the Rolling Stones.

In 1974, John Lennon released the single "#9 Dream" in North America, six weeks before it was issued in the UK. The backing vocal on the song was provided by May Pang, Lennon's partner at the time. First issued on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. It was released as the second single from that album months later, on Apple Records catalogue Apple 1878 in the United States and Apple R6003 in the United Kingdom. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #23 on the British singles chart.

Lennon liked the string arrangement he wrote for Harry Nilsson's rendition of "Many Rivers to Cross" from the album Pussy Cats so much that he decided to incorporate it into the song.

According to Pang's website, two working titles for the song were "So Long Ago" and "Walls & Bridges". Pang also states that the phrase repeated in the chorus, "Ah! böwakawa poussé, poussé", came to Lennon in a dream and has no specific meaning. Lennon wrote and arranged the song around his dream, hence the title and atmospheric, dreamlike feel, including the use of cellos in the chorus



Mott the Hoople broke up in 1974.

The Who officially disbanded in 1983.

In 1991, Chubby Checker filed a lawsuit against McDonald's Restaurants of Canada seeking $14 million in damages because they allegedly used an imitation of his voice. The song "The Twist" had been used in a French fry commercial.

In 1993, KEZK in St. Louis became the first U.S. radio station to ban Michael Jackson records following recent allegations of Jackson's child sexual abuse.

In 1995, the Beatles' "Free As A Bird" peaks at number 2 on the UK charts and number 6 in the US. Written by John Lennon and performed by him on piano as a rough demo shortly before he was murdered, the track was completed by the remaining Beatles at Paul McCartney's home studio.

In 1997, pop singer Nicolette Larson, best known for her hit version of Neil Young's "Lotta Love" in 1978, passed away at the age of 45. She had been admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank with massive liver failure and was then transferred to UCLA Medical Center, where she died from an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain.

In 2004, the iTunes Music Store reached 200 million songs sold.

In 2005, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison sued EMI for royalties estimated at £30m ($45 million).

In 2006, Paul McCartney left EMI, his record label for 45 years, saying it had become "boring" and he "dreaded going to see" its executives. McCartney told The London Times that the company's handling of his music had become "symbolic of the treadmill." He later signed with Hear Music, the Starbucks label.

In 2007, 56 year old singer / songwriter Dan Fogelberg, whose hits "Longer", "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne", helped define the Soft Rock era of the '70s and '80s, died after a three year battle with prostate cancer.

In 2010, Paul McCartney paid tribute to his Beatles band mate John Lennon during an appearance on Saturday Night Live where he performed "A Day in the Life" and then thrilled viewers with a cover version of his late friend's anti-war anthem "Give Peace a Chance".

Also in 2010, a spokesman for the British Recorded Music Industry said that over 7.7 million people illegally downloaded 1.2 billion tracks this year. Calling for swift action to be taken, he went on to say "It is a parasite that threatens to deprive a generation of talented young people of their chance to make a career in music, and is holding back investment in the burgeoning digital entertainment sector."

birthdays today include (among others): Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon) (43), Tony Hicks (Hollies) (66), Benny Andersson (ABBA) (65) and the great Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) (62)

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

if you love vinyl, you'll love this well written story at nj.com - i am always amazed at the passion that we have for the hobby....

Milltown man turns passion for vinyl into a booming record-dealing business

By Lisa Intrabartola/For the Star-Ledger

"So I was in some guy’s basement..."

Darren Revilla’s stories start with this phrase so often that the Milltown resident could be mistaken for a plumber.

But it’s the music-lover-turned-entrepreneur’s never-ending quest for rare records and audio equipment that leads him on regular descents into the bowels of strangers’ homes.

“One of the best parts of this whole thing is getting into people’s houses, seeing how they live and hearing the stories about the (record) collection and cool old stuff they have,” said Revilla, 39.

“The things they think are garbage, I can take home, clean up and give new life to.”

It was in one such basement — belonging to the widow of a like-minded vinyl fanatic with a 12,000-piece collection — where his online trading business, Revilla Grooves & Gear, came to fruition.

Read the rest of this fascinating look into record collecting at nj.com

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sadly, for every story like the one above, we have these sad stories, this from www.recordnet.com

Music merchant's passion won't end when store closes

By Tony Sauro

Willie Hines recalls the day with fondness and considerable nostalgia.

An elderly couple was quietly exploring the racks of vinyl records and CDs in his Stockton store.

Instead of blasting Frank Zappa, hip-hop or heavy metal at them on the sound system, Hines soothed the scene and mellowed the mood by playing Ludwig van Beethoven's "Eroica" symphony.

"The woman asked me, 'Who is this? I love that,' " said Hines, owner of Stockton's Replay Records. " 'That's one of my favorites.' Hey, I'm not about to bust out Slipknot there. More like (Gustav) Mahler's Fifth (Symphony)."

Thus, a sale was made.

Unfortunately, there haven't been enough of those purchases in recent months and years. So, Hines will be playing his last customer favorite - and making his final sale - some time Jan. 1. Not exactly an ideal way to start a new year. To him, it's more like a death in the family.

On that day, his small, independent store - a reassuring source of recorded music history and savvy with a personal touch and a hangout for vinyl "fanatics like me" - closes after 24 years.

Increased rental costs, steadily decreasing sales - and the mammoth Internet distribution system - have tuned and tapped him out. Independent record stores remain an endangered species. With no protection.

Read the rest at recordnet.com

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not sure about this album cover....

The Ting Tings Reveal New Cover Art

Well, here it is, the Ting Tings cover art for 'Sounds From Nowheresville,' their sophmore follow-up to their energetic debut 'We Started Nothing.' The cover art was created by Milan Abad, who submitted the piece under the band’s "Show Us Yours" campaign that asked young artists to submit photos, video and artwork for the album.

“He produced a piece of artwork that is just amazing, and we fell in love with it, and it became the front cover,” Jules de Martino told Spin. “It’s a totally cool piece, and it kind of transcends everywhere we are at the moment and what our album’s about.”

ummm, ok if you say so.....












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Southern Lord Reissuing Poison Idea Albums

Southern Lord Recordings has recently issued the following announcement about re-releasing albums from Poison Idea:

"Southern Lord Recordings are proud to be officially re-releasing several incredible, seminal titles from Portland, Oregon’s explosive punk/hardcore kings, POISON IDEA in 2012!

"Southern Lord will be releasing CD versions of several POISON IDEA reissues that TKO Records are currently re-releasing on vinyl. All of the material is being re-mastered by Jack Control (World Burns to Death) and each release includes new, extensive liner notes as well as never before seen photos and previously unreleased bonus material.

"This POISON IDEA reissue series kicks off January 31st, with the re-release of Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years. Boasting twenty-nine tracks from the band’s earliest days, the album includes the 100% previously unreleased Boner’s Kitchen demo from 1981, the complete Darby Crash Rides Again demo from 1982, the complete uncut live-on-the-air set from the 1983 KBOO radio benefit, and outtakes from the Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes recording session. Much of this material has either been out-of-print or never before officially released!

"All the recordings have been meticulously restored and mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door Mastering. The booklet contains liner notes, old flyers and tons of previously unpublished photos from the band’s beginnings. This is a complete no-brainer for POISON IDEA fans or any fan of the early days of American hardcore punk.

"Following Darby Crash Rides Again in January, Southern Lord will also re-release The Fatal Erection Years (Pick Your King/Record Collectors are Pretentious Assholes), War All The Time, Ian Mackaye, Feel The Darkness, We Must Burn and Last Will & Testament throughout 2012."

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not a huge fan of her music, however, i like her moxy, give credit where it is due.....

Madonna and Live Nation Entertainment Confirm Three Album Licensing Deal with Interscope Records

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Madonna will have a new album out in late March; it was officially confirmed today by Interscope Records. In one component of a very broad plan developed by long time manager Guy Oseary and Live Nation Entertainment, the Material Girl has signed a three album deal with Interscope Records. The new album, her first in five years, has been completed. "Gimme All Your Luvin," the first single from the album, will be released the last week in January prior to her upcoming Bridgestone Halftime Superbowl appearance on February 5th.

In 2007, Madonna signed a multi-faceted deal with Live Nation that includes new studio albums, touring, merchandising, fan club/website, DVDs, music-related television and film projects and associated sponsorship agreements. "We look forward to a great partnership," commented Live Nation Entertainment's Chairman of Global Music & CEO, Global Touring Arthur Fogel. Oseary was equally enthusiastic: "We couldn't be happier to work with Jimmy Iovine, Lucian Grainge (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group) and the entire Interscope team. We anticipate a very bright future at our new home," added Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M. "Very rarely does an opportunity like this come around. We would like to thank Madonna, Guy and Live Nation for their belief in us."

In other Madonna news, her upcoming film, "W.E." which she directed and co-wrote is scheduled for a wide release on February 3rd.

Over the course of her extraordinary three decade career, Madonna has sold over 300 million albums and holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. She is a nine time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, producer and is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last CD, "Hard Candy," debuted at No. 1 in 27 countries including US, UK, Canada, France and Australia.

SOURCE Live Nation Entertainment

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Legacy Recordings Celebrates Scorpions With Stateside Release of Two Essential New Titles: Comeblack, the New Studio Album of Covers & Classics From Germany's Seminal Metal Band, and Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D, a Mind-blowing State-of-the-art Blu-ray Disc Capturing the Group's On-going Goodbye Tour

Both Releases Available Tuesday, January 24

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the domestic release of two essential new titles from the seminal metal band Scorpions: Comeblack, a new album of classic rock covers and fresh performances of signature repertoire recorded earlier this year, and Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D, available on Blu-ray disc, an 11-camera 3-D concert film recorded in Saarbrucken, Germany on April 15, 2011 during Scorpions current farewell tour.

Launched by guitarist Rudolf Schenker in 1965, Scorpions forged metal, rock and pop into a sound that's come to signify an entire genre through hard rock anthems like "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and hits like "Send Me An Angel," "Wind of Change" and "Still Loving You," selling more than 100 million records in the process.

Last year, Scorpions announced that the group's Get Your Sting and Blackout tour, an epic ongoing worldwide rock 'n' roll odyssey in support of 2010's Sting in the Tail, would be the group's last before retirement. The tour is slated to run through 2012 with a string of historic farewell blowouts and festival performances scheduled Europe culminating with shows at the Wacken Open Air festival (August 4, 2012) and Munich's Olympiahalle (October 13, 2012).

Wanting to create a truly memorable concert film to do justice to power of the live show and the high energy emotional impact of the final tour, Scorpions chronicled the sold-out concert on April 15, 2011 in Saarbrucken, Germany with a state-of-the-art 3D production. Helmed by director Gerd F. Schultze (who's worked on 3D films with Michael Jackson, Bryan Adams, Joe Cocker, Carlos Santana and German superstar Peter Maffay), Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D puts the viewer into the VIP box at the ultimate Scorpions concert. In addition to 100 minutes of pure Scorpions music, Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D includes more than half-an-hour of behind-the-scenes bonus material.

"The preview audience was absolutely euphoric and stunned by the intensity and the never-before-witnessed power and intimacy in which they were able to experience the Scorpions' fantastic concert," said Gerd Schultze following a theatrical screening of the film. "The people left the screening with a completely new and never-before-seen concert experience and wanted to watch it all over straight away. Part of the reason is, that we have managed to create an unbelievable 3D depth with a specially developed method, which is very pleasant to watch. Using the new camera technology, we managed to translate 3D in the cut and montage technique in a style that will meet the expectations of a first class product even in ten years time. It makes you feel like you're sitting in the VIP lounge amidst the audience through this 11 camera 3D concert staging and its monstrous 5.1 surround and stereo sound. At the same time, The Scorpions perform their unbelievably powerful and visually unique show with all their hits live in your living room. This is pure dynamite ... fasten seat belts and take off... into the third dimension."

"Saarbrucken was a very good choice," wrote the band in a press statement, "our fans were simply sensational and gave us the chance to thank them for their many years of support."

Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D - Blu-ray
The Set List:
Intro
Sting In The Tail
Make It Real
Bad Boys Running Wild
The Zoo
Coast To Coast
Loving You Sunday Morning
The Best Is Yet To Come
Send Me An Angel
Holiday
Raised On Rock
Tease Me, Please Me
Dynamite
Kottak Attack
Blackout
Six String Sting
Big City Nights
Still Loving You
Wind Of Change
Rock You Like A Hurricane
When The Smoke Is Going Down

At some point during the Get Your Sting and Blackout tour ("We can't remember the day, the month or the hour"), Scorpions, enjoying the success of Sting in the Tail and the emotional rejuvenation of the farewell tour ("Screaming fans everywhere we went!") decided to record one last classic album. "The idea to go back to the studio was born out of pure excitement," said the band who cut an album mixing covers of rock 'n' roll standards that informed and inspired the Scorpions alongside new productions and performances of the songs in the band's core catalog that have proved the most meaningful to the members.

The result, Comeblack, is, according to the band, "an encore for our die-hard fans, to thank them for all the support for so many years. At the same time, this is a tribute to legendary bands from the sixties, like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, who have inspired us to follow our dreams. We hope you like it as much as we do... Rock on and ... Comeblack."

Scorpions - Comeblack - tracklisting
Rhythm of Love
No One Like You
The Zoo
Rock You Like A Hurricane
Blackout
Wind of Change
Tainted Love (Gloria Jones/Marc Almond)
Children of the Revolution (T. Rex)
Across the Universe (The Beatles)
Tin Soldier (Small Faces)
All Day and All of the Night (The Kinks)
Ruby Tuesday (The Rolling Stones)

www.the-scorpions.com
www.legacyrecordings.com

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

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Peter Gabriel Asks For Fan Input For Reissue

Mr. Gabrie is enlisting his fans help in putting together the 25th anniversary edition of his classic LP ‘So.’ Here is the statement from his website:

Share Your Memories of 'So'

We are in the 25th anniversary year of So and in 2012 will be celebrating one of the most important albums of Peter’s career with a special edition release. We want you to help us build the story of So with your own memories. We would love to see your memorabilia from back in 1986. Do you have any original So merchandise, posters and tickets for the So tour? Your photos relating to the album release or the concerts? Even a diary entry from 25 years ago which tells a special story about the album release or So tour?

We may ask to include your images in the new re-issue or on Peter’s website, but to start with please send us your photos and scans in a small file size (maximum of 2mb) plus your contact details.

Please send us your memories and souvenirs by the next Full Moon on January 9 2012.

Submit your memorabilia here

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CORROSION OF CONFORMITY: New Album Details Revealed

Candlelight Records has set a February 28, 2012 North American release date for the self-titled new album from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY. Recorded at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California, the CD was produced by the band in cooperation with longtime collaborator John Custer. It was mixed by John Lousteau (FOO FIGHTERS) and features artwork by Seldon Hunt (MELVINS, HIGH ON FIRE).

"Corrosion Of Conformity" will be available on standard CD, deluxe digipak, and two exclusive vinyl formats.

Read the rest at our friends at Blabbermouth

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album cover art of the day:

SKINEATER: Debut Album Artwork Unveiled

Swedish death metallers SKINEATER have revealed the cover artwork for their debut album, "Dermal Harvest". The CD is scheduled for an early 2012 release via Pulverised Records. The band states, "There are some guitars and bass left to record. Some vocals, too. No big deal! This will be a really brutal release!!"

Read the rest at our friends at Blabbermouth

















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and in music history for the day:

In 1943, keyboardist/blues singer/composer Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller died of pneumonia at the age of 39.

In 1944, a single-engine plane carrying bandleader U.S. Army Maj. Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris. The true fate of the plane and its passengers remains unknown.

In 1955, Johnny Cash released the Sun Records single "Folsom Prison Blues," which peaked at #4 on the Country chart but did not break into the Billboard top pop list. Cash included the song in his repertoire for decades. He performed it at Folsom Prison itself on January 13, 1968 and this "live" version was eventually released by Columbia on the "At Folsom Prison" album the same year, and as a single that reached #32 on the pop chart. It became one of Cash's signature songs.

Cash was inspired to write this song after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force. Cash recounted how he came up with the "Reno" line: "I sat with my pen in my hand, trying to think up the worst reason a person could have for killing another person, and that's what came to mind."

Cash borrowed the melody for the song and many of the lyrics from Gordon Jenkins's 1953 Seven Dreams concept album, specifically the song "Crescent City Blues." Jenkins was not credited on the original record, which was issued by Sun Records. In the early 1970s, after the song became popular, Cash paid Jenkins a settlement of approximately $75,000.

In 1956, Elvis Presley gave his final performance on the "Louisiana Hayride" after 50 appearances on the radio show, a weekly broadcast from KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana.

In 1957, columbia Records executive Mitch Miller and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. disparaged rock 'n' roll as "the comic books of music" during a radio talk show hosted by Davis. Another guest on the radio show, Arnold Maxim, president of the MGM record label, disagreed with them saying he saw no end to the fad in the near future.

In 1959, the Everly Brothers recorded "Let It Be Me" in New York City. It was the first time they recorded outside of Nashville and the first time they recorded with strings.

In 1964, for the crime of performing in front of a multiracial audience at a show near Cape Town, singer Dusty Springfield was deported from South Africa.

In 1964, the Beatles released the album 'Beatles '65.' It was the band's fifth Capitol release, but seventh American album. It was released in mono and stereo versions. The album was also issued in Germany on the Odeon label. Beatles '65 includes eight of the fourteen songs from Beatles for Sale (omitting "Eight Days a Week", "Words of Love", "Every Little Thing", "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party", "What You're Doing", and the "Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey" medley, all of which showed up later in Beatles VI). It picked up "I'll Be Back" from A Hard Day's Night and includes the single "I Feel Fine"/"She's a Woman". These latter two songs were remixed into "duophonic" [fake] stereo and drenched in reverb by Capitol Records' executive Dave Dexter, Jr to cover up the use of the mono mixes sent from England.

The mono versions of both "I Feel Fine" and "She's A Woman" were also remixed with added echo and reverb for the single and mono album release. The stereo version of "Mr. Moonlight" has a longer fadeout than the UK versions.

In the US the album was a blockbuster hit, and jumped from number 98 straight to number one, making the biggest jump to the top position in the history of the Billboard Album Charts up to that time. It remained at number one for nine straight weeks, starting on 9 January 1965.

All tracks written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney (Lennon–McCartney), except where noted.

Side one

1."No Reply" – 2:15
2."I'm a Loser" – 2:31
3."Baby's in Black" – 2:02
4."Rock and Roll Music" (Chuck Berry) – 2:32
5."I'll Follow the Sun" – 1:46
6."Mr. Moonlight" (Roy Lee Johnson) – 2:35

Side two

7."Honey Don't" (Carl Perkins) – 2:56
8."I'll Be Back" – 2:22
9."She's a Woman" – 2:57
10."I Feel Fine" – 2:20
11."Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" (Perkins) – 2:24

In 1967, the Who released 'The Who Sell Out," a concept album formatted as a collection of unrelated songs interspersed with faux commercials and public service announcements.

The cover is divided into panels featuring a photograph by David Montgomery of each of the band members, two on the front and two on the back. On the front is Pete Townshend applying Odorono brand deodorant from an oversized stick, and Roger Daltrey sitting in a bathtub full of Heinz baked beans (holding an oversized tin can of the same). Daltrey claims to have caught pneumonia after sitting for a prolonged period in the bathtub, as the beans had been frozen. On the back is Keith Moon applying Medac from an oversized tube, and John Entwistle in a leopard-skin Tarzan suit, squeezing a blonde woman in a leopard-skin bikini with one arm and a teddy bear with the other (an ad for the Charles Atlas course mentioned in one of the album's faux commercials).

The LP also contains the top ten hit "I Can See for Miles," which was released as a single and peaked at #10 in the UK and #9 in the US. Original vinyl copies of Sell Out end with an audio oddity that repeats into a locked groove. The music in the locked groove is an instrumental version of what was originally intended to be a vocal jingle for The Who's UK label Track Records. The opening "Radio London" (Days of the Week) jingle makes use of a device called the Sonovox.

When the LP was released on Track Records in the UK in 1967 (Track 612 002 Mono & Track 613 002 Stereo), a poster was included inside the first 1000 copies (500 stereo and 500 mono). They came with sticker on the front cover stating 'Psychedelic Poster Inside'. Due to its rarity, first pressings with poster and sticker have sold for more than £600, and have been known to sell for much more.

A single LP was re-issued on 140 Gram Clear blue vinyl as a Special Edition in 2008, by Lilth Records LTD Manufactured in the EU. A two-disc Deluxe Edition of the album was released on 16 March 2009 in the UK and 2 June 2009 in the US. In 2003, the album was ranked number 113 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.



In 1967, the Beach Boys met Maharishi Yogi in Paris and learned transcendental meditation. ohmmmmmmm

In 1968, after performing "Crown of Creation" on CBS-TV's "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick, already in partial blackface, brought controversy to the show by giving the "black power salute." The gesture had been made infamous when two African-American athletes at that year's Olympics raised their fists instead of putting their hands over their hearts during the U.S. National Anthem.

In 1969, UNICEF held a "Peace For Christmas" charity concert at the Lyceum Ballroom in London that featured the live performance debut of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band (featuring George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Keith Moon, and Delaney & Bonnie, among others). It turned out to be Lennon's last stage appearance in Britain. The Rascals and Desmond Dekker & the Aces also performed.

In 1973, Aerosmith lip-synced "Dream On" on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."

In 1977, two days before they are due to appear on NBC'S Saturday Night Live and start their first US tour, The Sex Pistols are denied visas to enter the country. Johnny Rotten was refused because of a drug conviction, Paul Cook and Sid Vicious because of 'moral turpitude' and Steve Jones because of his criminal record.

In 1984, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" entered the UK chart at #1, where it will stay for five weeks. The Bob Geldof produced song, specifically written to raise money for relief of famine in Ethiopia, was recorded by leading Irish and British musicians, including Phil Collins, Bono, George Michael, Sting, David Bowie, Boy George and Paul McCartney. The record would sell more than three million copies in Britain alone and enjoy similar success around the world.

In 1988, James Brown was sentenced to a six-year jail term for leading police on a late-night, two-state car chase. He was released on February 27, 1991.

In 1997, the surviving members INXS released a tape of an interview in which they talk about the life and death of the group's late vocalist Michael Hutchence. The band members had been reluctant to give interviews until this release.

In 2001, R&B singer/songwriter (Walking The Dog) Rufus Thomas, who had been a popular Memphis disc jockey from 1953 to 1974, died following a heart attack at age 84.

In 2006, the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang tour re-captured the title of top-grossing tour ever from U2's Vertigo and was the top grossing tour of the year, according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore. The Stones took in about $437 million since the previous November.

In 2008, as part of the settlement in their divorce that was finalized three weeks earlier, Madonna paid former husband Guy Ritchie around £50 million (about $78.6 million US).

In 2008, a modest, one-story, red-brick house in St. Louis where Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Chuck Berry lived for eight years in the 1950s was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Berry, who now lives in Wentzville, Mo., about 40 miles west of St. Louis said "Many of my favorite songs came about while in that house. It's good to know that my music and now that house will always be a part of St. Louis' history."

In 2008, singer/guitarist (Psychotic Reaction) John "Sean" Byrne, lead vocalist of the Count Five, died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 61.

In 2009, with U2 leading the way by making over 311 million dollars, several classic rockers were among the top earning touring acts of the year, including Madonna ($222 million), Bruce Springsteen ($156 million), AC/DC ($135 million), Billy Joel and Elton John ($90 million) and Tina Turner ($86 million).

birthdays today include (among others): Ken Knox (Chairman of the Board) (60), Paul Simonon (Clash) (56), Cindy Birdsong (Supremes) (72), Carmine Appice (Vanila Fudge, Beck, Bogert & Appice) (65), Doug Phelps (Kentucky Headhunters) (71) and Dave Clark (Dave Clark Five) (69)

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 2011


DEAR JERRY: A friend stunned me recently by saying that before 1964, and the first U.S. Beatles album, no rock group had a No. 1 album.

Is this accurate? If so, then how close did the Beach Boys and 4 Seasons come?

How many solo artists, either male, female, or mixed, did so during the pre-Beatles years?
—Howard Newton, Honolulu

DEAR HOWARD: Your friend is telling it like it is, making album sales by groups just one more example of how the Beatles changed everything.

Before “Meet the Beatles” zoomed to the top of the LP charts, the only vocal groups to accomplish that were either folk music or adult-oriented pop acts; five by the Kingston Trio; two by Peter, Paul and Mary; and three by Mitch Miller and the Gang.

As for the Beach Boys, “Surfin' U.S.A.” (1963) reached No. 2, and “Sherry & 11 Others,” by the 4 Seasons (1962) peaked at No. 6.

Then came the British Invasion, bringing instant and remarkable consequences.

Of the 53 No. 1 albums between “Meet the Beatles” and the end of the decade, only these nine are by solo singers:

1964: “Hello Dolly” (Louis Armstrong); “People” (Barbra Streisand)
1965: “Roustabout” (Elvis Presley)
1966: “Ballads of the Green Berets” (SSgt Barry Sadler); “Strangers in the Night” (Frank Sinatra)
1967: “Ode to Billie Joe” (Bobby Gentry)
1968: “Electric Ladyland” (Jimi Hendrix Experience); “Wichita Lineman” (Glen Campbell)
1969: “Johnny Cash at San Quentin” (Johnny Cash)

The remaining 44 are by something other than a solo singer, comprising soundtracks (4), original casts (2), and vocal (32) or instrumental (6) groups.

We have written before about Elvis (7); Ricky Nelson (1); Ray Charles (1); and Little Stevie Wonder (1), being the only rock or soul artists — regardless of gender makeup — with No. 1 LPs before “Meet the Beatles.”

Perhaps even more mind-boggling is that the first solo rock female in history to top the album charts is Janis Joplin, which did not happen until February 1971, with “Pearl.”

Before going solo, Joplin sang lead for Big Brother and the Holding Company, and their “Cheap Thrills” hit No. 1 in October 1968.

Wondering about the two top first generation rock and roll gals? The highest LP chart position for Connie Francis and Brenda Lee is No. 4, and both of them reached it in the same year, 1960.

Before “Pearl,” four non-rock females peaked at No. 1: Doris Day (1955); Judy Garland (1961); the Singing Nun (1963); and Bobbie Gentry (1967).

Not until the end of 1976 were there two consecutive No. 1 albums by females: “Living in the USA” (Linda Ronstadt) and “Live and More” (Donna Summer).


DEAR JERRY: Most popular recordings are eventually forgotten and rarely heard in years ahead.

Not so with Christmas songs.

Once one becomes a hit, it can be played and sold every year around this time, seemingly forever. It's hard to know exactly how old some of them are.

Here are five I have heard every year for all of my life, but would like to know when they were first issued, and which is the original version:

“Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree”: Many versions of this, but my favorites are by Brenda Lee, and the duet by Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love.

“Blue Christmas”: Obviously Elvis owns this tune, but Brian Wilson has a really beautiful ballad version.

“Jingle Bell Rock”: Dozens exist, but Bobby Helms seems to be the main one. A duet by Bobby Rydell and Chubby Checker also gets played a lot.

“Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town”: I first heard it by the 4 Seasons, then years later by Bruce Springsteen.

“Sleigh Ride”: Issued in every conceivable style, from the Boston Pops to the fabulous version by the Ronettes.
—Thelma Hawkins, Jefferson, Wisc.


DEAR THELMA: Here is the year and original single release for each:

“Blue Christmas”: 1948 by Doye O'Dell (Exclusive 65, mistakenly titled “Blues Christmas”)
“Jingle Bell Rock”: 1957 by Bobby Helms (Decca 30513)
“Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree”: 1958 by Brenda Lee (Decca 30776)
“Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town”: 1934 by Harry Reser and His Orchestra (Decca 264)
“Sleigh Ride”: 1949 by the Boston Pops (RCA Victor 10-1484)


IZ ZAT SO? Leroy Anderson composed the music for “Sleigh Ride” in 1948, though his instrumental arrangement didn't come out on record until late '49 (Boston Pops).

In 1950, Mitchell Parish wrote the now-familiar lyrics to go with Anderson's work, making for a magnum opus.

Each year, “Sleigh Ride” is either at or near the top of America's most-played Holiday songs.

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

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

Tull Alive And Well

a short follow up from yesterday's post about 70's rockers Jethro Tull, vinyl buddy DJ Shawn weighed in:

They're still gigging! They're doing THICK AS A BRICK in concert in it's entirety. The last recorded studio album was THE JETRO TULL CHRISTMAS ALBUM. The songs are a mix of new material, re-recordings of Tull's own suitably themed material and arrangements of traditional Christmas music. In 2009, the live album Christmas at St Bride's 2008 was included with the original album on CD.

Shawn Foxx
On-air Personality
COOL 105.7 KOKZ-FM
Waterloo, IA
www.cool1057.com

(thanks DJ!)

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not a big fan of digital music, however, others may be interested in the 'new' metallica music:

Metallica Release New EP

Yesterday, Metallica released an EP (exclusively to iTunes) of previously unreleased songs. 'Beyond Magnetic' consists of four songs that are 'leftovers' from their 'Death Magnetic' sessions and were recorded between 2007 and 2008. Metallica stated: 

"We kept them in the vault and decided to pull them just for this special celebration, so here are the four leftover tracks from the Death Magnetic sessions. They are ROUGH mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March '08. These four songs were released as gift to our closest fans, the members of our Fan Club, to enjoy. Now they're being made available to you,"

Additionally, the cuts, "Hate Train," "Just A Bullet Away," "Hell and Back" and "Rebel of Babylon" were all performed live for the first time last week, during Metallica's four-night stand at the Fillmore in San Francisco in celebration of their 30th anniversary. And to top this all off, Lars Ulrich told fans "to listen for news to come in mid-January 2012 about something very special coming in June."

cool....

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Shins Reveal New Album Details

The Shins have just revealed the album cover art and a tentative release date for their fourth album called 'Port Of Morrow.' Thier first album since 2007′s Wincing the Night Away, is scheduled for release sometime in March 2012 via Aural Apothecary label and Columbia Records. The effort was was recorded in Los Angeles and Portland and was produced by Greg Kurstin and mixed by Rich Costey.

An exact release date and upcoming tour dates will be announced in the near future.

Tracklist
1. The Rifle’s Spiral
2. Simple Song
3. It’s Only Life
4. No Way Down
5. September
6. Bait and Switch
7. Fall of ’82
8. For A Fool
9. 40 Mark Strasse
10. Port of Morrow



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Reunited TRIXTER To Release New Studio Album

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of TRIXTER for the worldwide release of the band's reunion album in the spring of 2012.

Formed in Paramus, New Jersey in 1984, TRIXTER's self-titled debut album attained gold status (reaching #28 on The Billboard 200 in 1990), and spawned three minor hit singles: "Surrender" (#72), "One In A Million" (#75), and "Give It To Me Good" (#65). Despite the fact that none of the singles made the Top 40 or garnered much radio airplay, the videos for all three tunes were in heavy rotation on MTV (especially "Give It To Me Good", which was #1 on the channel for several weeks).

Read more at our friends at Blabbermouth

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Great White Singer Jack Russell To Form New Version Of The Band

Great White vocalist Jack Russell, who has been absent from the band since last year for numerous reasons including substance abuse and a perforated bowel, recently announced that he will be forming his own version of the band, which will include past Great White members. A statement from Russell reads:

"Just wanted to announce that I will be coming back with my band Great White and a brand new lineup. My new bandmates are some of the most incredible musicians I have ever had the privilege to play with: Matthew Johnson - former guitarist for Great White, Derrick Pontier - former drummer for Great White, Dario Seixas - former bassist for Firehouse and the Stephen Pearcy band, and Robby Lochner - former guitarist for Rob Halford's band and Cherie Currie."

Read more at metalunderground.com

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Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Announce 2012 Tour

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers have recently announced some of their 2012 North American tour dates. The tour will start April 19th in Broomfield, Colorado and also includes the band’s first ever show at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; where they will headline act the first weekend on Saturday, April 28. The band will also be touring in Europe for the first time in 20 years, heading there on June 3rd.

Tour Dates

April 19 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO
April 21 Verizon Arena, Little Rock, AR
April 24 Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM
April 26 INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
April 28 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
April 29 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA
May 1 Germain Arena, Estero, FL
May 3 Amway Center, Orlando, FL
May 5 Frank Irwin Center, Austin, TX
June 3 Mile One Centre, St. John’s, NL
June 7 02 Arena, Dublin, IR
June 8 The Marquee, Cork, IR
June 10 02 World, Hamburg, GER
June 12 Open Air, Horsens, DK
June 14 The Globe, Stockholm, SWE
June 15 Norwegian Wood Festival, Oslo, NO
June 22 Isle of Wight Festival, UK
June 24 Hallenstadion, Zurich, SWI
June 25 Lanxess Arena, Cologne, GER
June 27 Grand Rex, Paris, FR
June 29 Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, IT
June 30 SAP Arena, Mannheim, GER

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Tool Reveal 2012 Tour Dates

Ticketmaster recently posted a slew of Tool tour dates, commencing on January 14 in Reno, Nevada at the approprietly named Reno Events Center. Here's what we know so far:

Tool tour dates:

Jan. 14 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
Jan. 15 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Center
Jan. 17 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Arena
Jan. 18 - Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum
Jan. 20 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre
Jan. 24 - Toledo, OH - Huntington Center
Jan. 25 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
Jan. 26 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre
Jan. 28 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
Jan. 29 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
Jan. 31 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
Feb. 08 - Duluth, GA - Gwinnett Arena

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don't usually get political, but this caught my eyes and ears:

Graham Nash and James Raymond Release a New Song in Support of Whistleblower Bradley Manning

INTERNET VIDEO SPOTLIGHTS MANNING'S HEARING ON DEC. 16 AND INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY ON DEC. 17

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A companion video for "Almost Gone" – a new song by legendary singer-songwriter Graham Nash and musician James Raymond (son of David Crosby) – is being released today in support of accused U.S. Army whistleblower Bradley Manning. The free download is available on Nash's website (www.grahamnash.com) and the Bradley Manning Support Network site www.bradleymanning.org.

The release is timed to Manning's first judicial hearing scheduled for December 16th, following more than 17-months in custody, including a year in solitary confinement that Amnesty International has
characterized as "harsh and punitive."

Visually, the Almost Gone video is punctuated with bold graphics, disturbing images and harsh facts. Its release is scheduled to precede Manning's pre-trial hearing on December 16, which is the day before his 24th birthday. The Bradley Manning Support Network has named the following day, December 17, its International Day of Solidarity (http://events.bradleymanning.org/). PFC Manning, an Army intelligence analyst who had been stationed near Baghdad, was arrested in May 2010 under suspicion of leaking classified information, including a video showing the killing of civilians, to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

Nash and Raymond composed the song "Almost Gone (The Ballad of Bradley Manning)" during this spring's US tour of Crosby-Nash, and the new recording serves as the music bed for the video; it features an impassioned lead vocal by Nash, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (Crosby, Stills & Nash, and The Hollies). "Bradley Manning is a hero to me," he sings, acknowledging Manning's role in making public videos and documents that shed light on such issues as the true number and cause of civilian casualties in Iraq, human rights abuses by U.S.-funded contractors and foreign militaries, and the role that spying and bribes play in international diplomacy.

For more information: www.grahamnash.com  

SOURCE Graham Nash



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this from our friends at vinylcollective.com

The Lemonheads – Hotel Sessions Vinyl LP

The Lemonheads are set to release, “Hotel Sessions” a recording documenting a Sunday night that Evan Dando spent recording with just an acoustic guitarin a hotel room in Bondi Beach, Australia. The

album include some that never made it to an official Lemonheads album. Dando also stated, “the “Into Your Arms” I did here is better than the one on the album (I like it anyway).”

Tracklist:

Big Gay Heart
The Great Big No
Paid To Smile
It's About Time
Style
I'll Do It Anyway
Rest Assured
You Can Take It With You (prt.2)
Down About It
Into Your Arms
Superhero
And So The Story Goes
Being Around
You Can Take It With You (prt.1)

Buy it at ShopRadioCast

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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 12/05 - 12/11, 2011

Vinyl Top 25:

1. The Black Keys - El Camino
2. She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas
3. Guided By Voices - Doughnut For A Snowman 7"
4. The White Stripes - Merry Christmas From The White Stripes 7"
5. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
6. M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
7. The Civil Wars - Tracks In The Snow 10"
8. Gorillaz - Singles Collection 2001-2011
9. Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden (LP reissue)
10. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
11. The Black Keys - Brothers
12. The White Stripes - Hello Operator 7"
13. Becky & John (C. Reilly) - I'll Be There If You Ever Want 7"
14. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Soul Time!
15. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
16. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
17. The Beach Boys - The SMiLE Sessions
18. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
19. War On Drugs - Slave Ambient
20. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
21. St Vincent - Strange Mercy
22. The Postal Service - Give Up
23. Radiohead - In Rainbows
24. The Black Keys - Attack & Release
25. Amos Lee - Live At Grimey's 7"

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interesting reviews of vinyl from hometheaterhifi.com

A Collection of New Vinyl Releases for the Audiophile - December, 2011

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and the lists keep coming, for shits and giggle check out Justin Korkidis's from complex.com and his:

The 11 Worst Christmas Album Covers of All time

11 Worst Christmas Album Covers












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and in music history for the day:

In 1953, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", recorded earlier in the year by 10 year old Gayla Peevey, inspired an Oklahoma City fund-raising effort to buy a hippopotamus for the Oklahoma City Zoo. Oklahomans raised $4,000 for the cause, with much of the money coming from children. The zoo bought a 3-year-old hippo named Matilda who had eight offspring and died in 1998.

In 1956, disc jockey Alan Freed's second film, "Don't Knock The Rock," starring Freed, Alan Dale and Patricia Hardy, with performances by Little Richard, Bill Haley and His Comets, Dave Appell and the Applejacks, and the Treniers, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.

In 1959, Billboard Magazine reported that in the wake of the government's payola investigations, the pay-for-play phenomenon has all but ceased. One Philadelphia record distributor complained, "You can't even buy the disc jockeys lunch."

In 1959, the Ohio State University Research Center finds that although Rock 'n' Roll is the overwhelming favorite of kids aged 14 to 18, adults aged 19 to 70 list it as their least favorite form of music.

Also in 1959, "First Name Initial" by seventeen year old Annette Funicello entered the Billboard chart, where it eventually reached #20.

And one more for 1959, the Kingston Trio started an eight-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Here We Go Again!'

In 1962, Bob Dylan's first single, "Mixed Up Confusion" b/w "Corrina, Corrina," was released. According to legend, Dylan wrote "Mixed Up Confusion" in a cab on the way to the Columbia Studios for the recording session.

In 1962, Bill Wyman made his live debut with The Rollin’ Stones at the Ricky Tick Club, Star and Garter Hotel in Windsor, England. The group were known as The Rollin' Stones during this period.

In 1963, blues and jazz singer Dinah Washington died at age 39. Known as the Queen of the Blues, she scored the 1959 U.S. #8 Grammy Award-winning single “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes” and the 1961 hit “September in the Rain.”

The Elvis Presley film "Spinout" premiered in 1966.

In 1968, Iron Butterfly's classic album, 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' was certified Gold. Today it is a multi-platinum album with sales of over 25 million copies.

Also in 1968, Marvin Gaye scored his first US #1 single when “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” started a five-week run at the top. It was Gaye’s 15th solo hit and also his first UK #1 single in March 1969.

In 1968, Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover" entered the charts in the US, where it stayed for 16 weeks on Billboard Hot 100 and 15 weeks on Cash Box Top 100. Following a

performance of the song on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 26, it became number one on February 1, 1969, a position held for one week on Cash Box Top 100 and two weeks on both Billboard Hot 100 and Record World 100 Top Pops. Internationally, the song reached number one in Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Switzerland. It also charted in Austria, Brazil, France, Holland, Italy, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines and Puerto Rico. Despite this, the song did not chart in the United Kingdom. In mid-1969, Billboard reported that the single had sold 2.5 million copies in the United States. By 1971, Roulette Records claimed that sales stood at 5.5 million, the group's best-seller.

I met James in Chicago around 1979, very cordial and easy to talk to.  He was appearing at the new indoor theme park (i forgot the name) and did a number of his old hits and some new material. 



In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono demonstrated "Bagism" by arriving at London's Hyde Park inside a white bag located in a white Rolls Royce, and then giving a protest speech from inside the bag. The intent of bagism was to satirize prejudice and stereotyping. Bagism involved literally wearing a bag over one's entire body. According to John and Yoko, by living in a bag, a person could not be judged by others on the basis of skin color, gender, hair length, attire, age, or any other such attributes. It was presented as a form of total communication. Instead of focusing on outward appearance, the listener would hear only the bagist's message. ummm i'll have what their smoking

In 1972, in New York City, Alexander's department store stayed open late so that Alice Cooper, who was wearing silver pants and a "Paul Lives" button, could do his Christmas shopping.

In 1974, Styx' "Lady" was released. The single was first released on Styx II and was a local hit in the band's native Chicago, but initially failed to chart nationally. The song gained success shortly after Styx left Wooden Nickel Records to move to A&M Records in 1974 as it began picking up airplay nationwide, eventually peaking at #6 on the Billboard Top 40. The track was later re-recorded for the 1995 Styx compilation Styx Greatest Hits due to a contractual dispute between A&M and Wooden Nickel.

"Lady" was written by then-Styx keyboardist and founding member Dennis DeYoung for his wife, Suzanne Feusi, the first song he ever wrote for her. DeYoung recounted to Contemporary Keyboard magazine for the January 1981 issue that the first time he ever played acoustic piano was when the band arrived at the recording studio to record "Lady" and saw the piano in the studio; DeYoung had written the song on synthesizer, but decided to try it out on the piano instead, and liked the sound so much that he switched to the piano for the recorded version.



In 1969, the Jackson Five made their first network television appearance in the U.S. when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1973, Bruce Springsteen appeared at the Pinecrest Country Club, Shelton, Connecticut. Only 200 tickets were sold for the show.

In 1977, the movie, Saturday Night Fever premieres in New York City and is instrumental in spreading the Disco craze throughout the country. The soundtrack will go on to be one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, racking up over 15 million in sales. and music has never been the same since.....

In 1980, Yoko Ono called for a 10-minute silent vigil around the world for John Lennon, her husband, who was shot to death six days earlier. Over 100,000 people went to Central Park in New York to honor the request.

In 1991, Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' debuts at #1 on Billboard's pop albums chart.

In 1995, classified documents from the White House were released that revealed the FBI had spied on John Lennon and his anti-war activities during the early '70s in a possible attempt to have Lennon deported.

In 1995, "Frank Sinatra: 80 Years My Way" aired on ABC-TV. Little Richard, along with Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen were among those who performed.

In 1997, Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind 1997", was at its ninth week at number 1 on the Billboard chart. The record would eventually pass Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" to become the largest selling single of all time.

In 1997, guitarist/songwriter Kurt Winter, a former member (1970-1974) of the Guess Who, died of kidney failure at 51.

In 1999, Paul McCartney played The New Cavern Club in Liverpool, 35 years after his last appearance at the original venue. The concert is broadcast live over the Internet and attracts 50 million visits. A young fan, who changed his name to John Lennon, won a ticket to the show. The original Cavern Club closed in 1973 and was demolished to enable an underground railway to be constructed. In 1984 the present building, known as Cavern Walks, was opened on the site and contains a rebuilding of the original Cavern Club in the basement, as well as shops, offices and an internal nine-storey atrium. The edifice also includes statues of The Fab Four on the outside walls.

In 2003, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne went to #1 on the UK singles chart with “Changes,” a remake of a track first sung by Ozzy on the Black Sabbath album Volume IV in 1972. It was the first father-and-daughter chart topper since Frank and Nancy Sinatra in 1967.

In 2004, the funeral took place in Arlington, Texas, for Damageplan and Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Eddie Van Halen placed Darrell’s original black and yellow striped guitar into the KISS Kasket he was buried in. Several thousand fans and friends gathered at the Arlington Convention Center to mourn the guitarist’s death. Darrell was shot five times in the back of the head during a gig at the Alrosa Villa Club in Columbus on December 8 by a mentally ill former U.S. Marine. Damageplan's drum technician, John Brooks, and tour manager, Chris Paluska, were both injured in the incident.

In 2006, co-founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun died after a fall at age 83.

birthdays today include (among others): Jackie McCauley (Them) 1946, Joyce Vincent-Wilson (Tony Orlando, Dawn) 1946, Mike Scott (The Waterboys) 1958, Peter "Spider" Stacy (The Pogues) 1958 and Cliff Williams (AC/DC) 1949