The vinyl record collecting blog - with news about new vinyl record releases, vinyl record sales, new music releases, album cover art and weekly features
DEAR JERRY:According to one music website, Pavlov's Dog's “Pampered Menial” LP charted on two labels [ABC and Columbia] simultaneously on the charts, “a first and last for the music industry.”
Another site reports the same about Pavlov's Dog's single, “Julia.”
Yet another makes all the same claims regarding “Wild Thing,” by the Troggs.
They cannot all be right. Please separate the facts from fiction? —George Parsons, Madison, Wisc.
DEAR GEORGE: The Troggs story is factual and fascinating. The Dog sites are probably well-intentioned, but much in need of an overhaul.
Yes, both ABC and Columbia charted with individual versions of “Pampered Menial,” but not simultaneously.
In February 1975, ABC released “Pampered Menial,” Pavlov Dog's first album (ABCD-866). In March, they lifted two one-word tracks, “Julia” and “Episode,” from the LP for a single (ABC-12086).
On April 5th, “Pampered Menial” began six weeks of hovering in the lower 10% of the Top 200 LPs. “Julia,” their only single, did not chart at all.
Surprisingly, ABC dropped Pavlov's Dog, leaving them to be picked up by Columbia, who quickly repackaged “Pampered Menial” (PC-33552).
Five weeks after ABC's original dropped off the charts (June 14), Columbia's entry debuted.
Like the ABC entry, this version also remained near the bottom of the charts.
This means the first two sites you reference are wrong.
The third is right about “Wild Thing,” but they could have expanded their Troggs coverage to include six months of events that really are, to use the line you quote, “a first and last for the music industry.”
Here is the complex chronology of the key happenings, all in 1966:
Issued in the UK in April, “Wild Thing” debuted May 7th at No. 27 on Britain's New Musical Express (Fontana TF-689). New York's Atlantic obtained what they thought was the exclusive right to release Troggs recordings in the U.S. and Canada, on their Atco label.
To their surprise, “Wild Thing” 45s were also being distributed here by Fontana (1548) as well as Atco (6415).
The first week of June, furious over Fontana's release, Atlantic et al brought suit against Mercury et al (Fontana) in N.Y. Supreme Court, seeking an injunction against their North American's issue of “Wild Thing,” and any future Troggs music.
“Wild Thing” made its U.S. chart debut on Cash Box (No. 82), on June 18th, with both Atco and Fontana given equal credit as the label.
But the records were not identical.
Atco put “With a Girl Like You” on the B-side, and two months later, it made the Top 30 by itself. Fontana's B-side, “From Home,” never charted.
One week later “Wild Thing” entered Billboard's Hot 100 (No. 75), also crediting both Atco and Fontana.
For the remainder of 1966, every Troggs record, regardless of format, was promoted, distributed, sold, and charted simultaneously on two labels.
August 6, 1966: Unconcerned that “With a Girl Like You” was the B-side of the No. 1 hit, “Wild Thing” (Atco 6415), on sale for two months and already owned by hundreds of thousands, Fontana still issued it. Their 45 is backed with the non-charting “I Want You” (Fontana 1552).
Also in August, both labels rush-released a “Wild Thing” LP, with identical tracks but very different packaging and graphics (Atco 193 and Fontana 67556). Siamesed again, the twin releases shared a chart position each week for four months.
Each step seemed to perpetuate an already nutty situation, particularly evident come September.
The month began with “Wild Thing” (Atco flip side being “With a Girl Like You”) at No. 31 and falling, and “With a Girl Like You” as No. 32 and rising. Of course Atco and Fontana were cojoined on both.
Now that's something you don't see every day. It gave the Troggs two separate records containing “With a Girl Like You,” at consecutive chart positions, moving in opposite directions.
On October 15th, the two highest debuting singles were both “I Can't Control Myself.” Same Troggs song, but on Atco (6444) and Fontana (1557). Both have “Gonna Make You” on the B-side.
Following six months of legal wrangling, Atlantic and Mercury finally agreed to settle the pending litigation. As of early December, Fontana received exclusive rights to all new Troggs material. For an unspecified period, Atlantic would receive royalties on Troggs records made by Fontana. Atlantic would immediately cease manufacturing Troggs records, but their distributors could continue selling existing inventories until gone.
That put an end to one of the recording industry's more bizarre events: Trogglomania.
IZ ZAT SO? With Atco out of the picture, none of the four Troggs singles charted in 1967, though they did score a Top 10 hit in early '68 with “Love Is All Around” (Fontana 1607).
Also in 1968, the Troggs made their first visit to the U.S.
It appears that Atlantic gave up very little in the settlement, and came away pretty much unscathed.
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
Yep Roc Records are reissuing The Apples in Stereo's debut album, 'Fun Trick Noisemaker,' on vinyl this week. Originally released in 1995, the album has not been available on vinyl in more than 15 years. The reissue includes all of the original artwork, liner notes, rephotographed paintings by Steve Keene, and a four-color poster insert.
All Music Guide called The Apples in Stereo's debut "one of those records that marks a sea change in musical attitudes."
"It was a concept album about growing up, about summertime and the end of summer vacation, sunny but bittersweet," says Robert Schneider. "We spent our entire recording budget on microphones, compressors and an eight-track tape machine, with almost no idea how they worked, then we set out to create a perfect hybrid of Sixties psych-pop and the lo-fi scene we identified with, a fusion of Pet Sounds, Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain."
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Bright Eyes Albums Scheduled For Vinyl Reissues
With Conor Oberst returning to Bright Eyes, the band's early catalogue will be re-released on vinyl. There will be six reissues of these long out of press records, starting on March 6 with 'A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997' and 'Oh Holy Fools: The Music of Son, Ambulance & Bright Eyes'.
On April 3, 'Letting Off the Happiness' and 1999's 'Every Day and Every Night EP' will be released. May 1 will see the reissue of 'Fevers and Mirrors' and 'There Is No Beginning to the Story.'
Look for more on this in upcoming posts!
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interesting views on vinyl and the music industry:
Extended Play: Could Vinyl Save Music Retailers?
By Bob Hopkinson
The past fifteen years has seen a flood of stories predicting the demise of the music industry. To listen to "the Big Three" (formerly five) major labels tell it, MP3s and piracy are killing music. Musicians are going broke, record stores are closing, and the music we listen to has no value. Can the "value of music" really be measured in dollar signs? Strawberry Jam may cost $9.99 on iTunes, yet there are legions of Animal Collective fans to whom that record means much more than ten dollars.
And musicians have always been broke -- arguably creating some of their best work as a direct result of it. MP3s and piracy aren't stealing from musicians; they're taking revenue from major labels unwilling to modify an old business strategy. Historically, musicians actually generate most of their income from performing. There are obvious exceptions to this rule (the Beatles come to mind), but by and large, artists make a living from concert ticket sales. Albums are marketing conduits to drive fans to the shows. If musicians were making sustainable amounts of cash from record sales, groups like NOFX wouldn't tour incessantly.
The re-release of Svartsyn's debut album 'The True Legend' is scheduled for March 20th in Europe and April 10th in North America on Agonia Records. The label commented on the re-release:
"The True Legend album, the one from Svartsyn's discography that can boast with being sold out and not available for a dog's age, has been remastered in full at Clintworks Studio - a studio opened in Hamburg by Dennis Israel; an assistant engineer who previously worked with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studio (Amon Amarth, Opeth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia). The rerelease has been partly rerecorded and equipped with a new layout and cover drawn by US artist Chadwick St John.
"The album will be available as a CD and - for the first time – on vinyl. There will be a standard 12-inch black vinyl edition and limited to 100 copies colored vinyl edition (the second one available via Agonia Records Webshop exclusively).
"Svartsyn is a black metal band that originates from Sweden. They have earned a cult status in the metal underground, releasing six albums to date. Their last full-length, Wrath upon the Earth, was out in 2011. The True Legend was originally out in December 1996 by German label Folter Records."
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NAPALM DEATH: New Album Track Listing Revealed
British/American grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH will release their 14th studio album (excluding the cover album "Leaders Not Followers"), "Utilitarian", on February 27 in Europe and February 28 in North America via the band's longtime partner, Century Media Records. The cover artwork (see below) perfectly fits the album's theme and was created by the Danish artist Frode Sylthe, who is also responsible for THE HAUNTED's "rEVOLVEr" artwork.
BEFORE THE DAWN To Release 'Rise Of The Phoenix' In April
Finnish melancholic melodic death metal outfit BEFORE THE DAWN returns after living through a phase of changes and uncertainty — cleansed, renewed and stronger than ever! Leaving pieces of both the musical and personal past behind, mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen, lead guitarist Juho Räihä and their new companions get ready for conquering your ears with the finest blend of northern gloom and harsh melodic death metal. Their seventh studio album and at the same time second release via Nuclear Blast Records is entitled "Rise Of The Phoenix" and will arise from the ashes on April 27.
Enthrallment Reveals Tracklist And Cover Art Of Upcoming Album
Bulgarian death metallers Enthrallment have unveiled the cover and track listing for their forthcoming album "People From the Lands of Vit." The album will be released soon by the American label United Guttural. The cover art of the album, entitled "Hell," is a creation by the Bulgarian artist Stefan Stefanov. While waiting for the new album, check out Enthrallment's material from "Immerse Into Bloody Bliss" over on MySpace or the band's last official video for "Cane the Messiah with the Crook" after the tracklisting and cover art.
Tracklist Chronicle of Sorrow Devoted to Delusion Psychological Storm A Full Land of Worms... From the River to the Void Chemical Romance Obsessed by Just Anger Walking Through the Thorns Fruits of Pain and Blue Sky Punishment for Baneful Unholy Diviners
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Beyond Conception Releases New Indie Rock Album, Flow
Indie rock band Beyond Conception released their fourth studio album, FLOW, with Grammy Award winning Producer Jack Douglas, who’s work includes the late John Lennon, The Who, and Aerosmith, to name a few. Producer Jim Wirt, whose credits include Incubus, Fiona Apple, and Jacks Mannequin, along with up-and-coming Producer/engineer Marlon Luna, have worked with front man Justin Abrams and musician Matt Abrams to release this international ground-breaking album.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 25, 2012 - Indie rock band Beyond Conception released their fourth studio album, Flow, with Grammy Award winning Producer Jack Douglas, who’s work includes the late John Lennon, The Who, and Aerosmith, to name a few. Producer Jim Wirt, whose credits include Incubus, Fiona Apple, and Jacks Mannequin, along with up-and-coming Producer/engineer Marlon Luna, have worked with front man Justin Abrams and musician Matt Abrams to release this international ground-breaking album.
“These songs are really great, the melodies draw you in and keep you listening” says Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean Deleo. The album has already been well-received by its fans through social media and has begun to draw a large following from Indie rock listeners worldwide. A soon-to-be-released music video for the album hit song “Flow” has been produced and is expected to draw enthusiastic worldwide attention. The band has also been nominated for “Best Indie Rock Artist” by The 2012 Artists in Music Awards.
“Beyond Conception is ready for the big time!” Orange County Register
"The band has good energy and good sound on this album. It seems that the do-it-yourself approach is working pretty well. If you want to support local music, and you like bands like The Fray, then Beyond Conception is a band you should get to know!" Examiner.com
“The new album is beautiful, raw, and elegant at the same time.” Jim Wirt
About Beyond Conception
Beyond Conception was born to assure simplification in the music process with a laid back flow. This feel-good thriving band roots itself from two brothers; Front man Justin Abrams and Musician Matt Abrams. Both share the ambition to inspire artistic visions across the world. Along with their recent Album release, over a dozen Film/TV placements in International TV Shows, Feature Films, and Commercials, the band recently wrote a stadium anthem song, “Let’s Go San Diego” for the NFL Football team San Diego Chargers which is now played at all their home games.
The highly anticipated album Flow has been made immediately available on iTunes for download, Visit: itunes.com
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this news out of the UK:
The Top 10 selling vinyl singles of 2011:
1. Beady Eye - 'The Roller'
2. Beady Eye - 'Millionaire'
3. Morrissey - 'Glamorous Glue'
4. Beady Eye - 'The Beat Goes On'
5. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 'The Death Of You And Me'
6. Arctic Monkeys - 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair'
7. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - '...A.K.A What A Life'
8. Beady Eye - 'Four Letter Word'
9. Miles Kane - 'Come Closer'
10. Manic Street Preachers - 'Postcards From A Young Man'
The Top 10 selling 12 inch vinyl singles of 2011:
1. Radiohead - 'The Butcher/Supercollider'
2. Paul Weller - 'Starlite'
3. Tuff Productions - 'Always Searching'
4. Radiohead - 'Morning Mr Magpie'
5. Kasabian - 'Days Are Forgotten'
6. Radiohead - 'Little By Little'
7. Arctic Monkeys - 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair'
8. Kasabian - 'Re-Wired'
9. Rhythm Robbers - 'Plastic Dreams'
10. Burial - ' Street Halo'
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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 1/16 - 1/22, 2012
Vinyl Top 25:
1. Jessie Baylin - Little Spark
2. The Black Keys - El Camino
3. Various - Matador: Intended Play
4. Mazzy Star - Common Burn 7"
5. Guided By Voices - Chocolate Boy 7"
6. Deerhoof / David Bazan - Deerbazan 7"
7. PUJOL - Nasty Brutish & Short 10"
8. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
9. Junior Kimbrough - You Better Run: The Best of Junior Kimbrough
10. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
11. The Head & The Heart - The Head & The Heart
12. M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
13. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
14. Brand New - Your Favorite Weapon
15. Beach House - Teen Dream
16. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
17. The Big Pink - Future This
18. Guided By Voices - Let's Go Eat The Factory
19. Alex Chilton - Free Again: The 1970 Sessions
20. Jellyfish - Bellybutton
21. Jellyfish - Spilt Milk
22. Fred McDowell - Alan Lomax Recordings
23. Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden
24. Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
25. LCD Soundsystem - London Sessions
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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Announce Tour
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band tour dates:
March 18 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
March 19 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
March 23 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum
March 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
March 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
March 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
April 1 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
April 3 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center
April 4 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center
April 6 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
April 9 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
April 12 – Detroit, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills
April 13 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center
April 16 – Albany, NY – Times Union Center
April 17 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
April 24 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion
April 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
April 29 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 2 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
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Record Show News
We're Celebrating 4 Years Strong! Sunday March 11th, 2012
Literally Tons of Records for Buy & Trade, Outdoor Vendor Village with Dozens of Artists & Designers + the brands they've created, B-boy Competition, Live Performances by Free Moral Agents and many others, Open Cut Session, Producer Invite Upstairs, Kids Arts & Crafts outside, Bar Available for the 21+ and sooo much more.
RECORDS | AND EVERYTHING INSPIRED FROM IT
Over 45 Invited Collectors & Dealers, Selling Records from all over the world.
Blues, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Metal, Psych, Punk, Rap, Reggae, Rock, Soul, & World - 12" & 45 Records.
Resident DJ's share rare selections from they're record collections..
ABEL | AC THE PD | ANALOG | CHARLIE ROCK | CHIKARAMANGA CLENZ ROC | CURSE | DANNY HOLLOWAY | DWENZ | EARLY WORM FLOW | GABE REAL | GAZOO | JAWA | KIDRAGON | KID RIZ | KIWAMU OMAE LISTEN RECOVERY CREW | LORD RON | LU-MAN | RAICHOUS | VAL and 671
Special Guest DJ & 1st-time Record Vendor: DJ REVOLUTION (World Famous Wake Up Show)
FOR THE TRUE RECORD COLLECTORS: Vendors arrive as early as 9am for setup, we have Breakfast available & Coffee too, courtesy of Corazon de Jah, and local Chinatown cafes. Spend your Sunday under the California Sun.
Outdoor Vendor Village featuring Dozens of Artists & Designers + the Brands They've Created..
Live Performances by,
- LA's very own, 2MEX - Live Band, BUYEPONGO
Live Screen Printing by: HIT + RUN www.thehitandrun.com
BEAT CLUB CO-OP - EL MERKADO NEGRO - THE DEUCE FIRE FOXINESS - GOOD LIFE ROOTS - HIP HOP PHILOSOPHY HIT+RUN - ILL STREET BLUES - LISTEN - LIVING DEVINE VINTAGE MIND FUNK - NATIVE SOL - PEACE IMAGES - RAW KULTURE RED HAUTE BOX - STICKY RICKS - THE X LABEL TWO TREE DESIGNS - WOVEN CULTURE - X IS THE WEAPON (and many more TBA)
Artists paint live.. Spontaneous drum circles.. Children ciphering.. !?!?
Resident Chef (&DJ), MIGHTY JUNEBUGG, & her Rapper's Delight catering crew will be on hand with your favorite foods you can only find at Beat Swap Meet: Resident Barber (&MC/DJ/Producer), SNAGNETO, fixing wigs all day, go home looking fly. Get your broken Turntable or MPC fixed! That's right, we have onsite music-mechanics that will send your equipment home repaired.
Open Cut Session, Hosted by DJ Jawa & friends. B-boys & Girls get down to there favorite grooves. It's one thing to collect records, but can you dance to'em?: Beat Swap Meet's Official PRODUCER INVITE - Sponsored by Monster Energy
All Hardware, No Laptop's, No CD's. Hosted by L.SCATTER (Zulu Nation / Foundation / Project Blowed) Live Performance by FREE MORAL AGENTS
Also Featuring, - Q&A with IKEY OWENS (The Mars Volta, Free Moral Agents, Look Daggers) - RALPH M (Funkdoobiest) - RUFIO (Live At The Dojo, Sacramento) - STUCKINTHETREES (Rebels To The Grain) - and others TBA
Sponsors: www.MonsterEnergy.com
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and in music history for january 25th:
In 1958, Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to ever enter the UK pop chart at Number One.
In 1960, the original cast recording of The Sound of Music started a 16-week run at #1 on the U.S. album chart.
In 1960, the National Association of Broadcasters threatened disc jockeys over the Payola scandal, saying they would fine anyone who accepted money for playing records.
In 1961, Bob Dylan finds the family of Woody Guthrie in New York and teaches son Arlo Guthrie how to play harmonica.
In 1962, Sam Cooke released "Twistin' the Night Away."
In 1963, Janis Joplin performed in San Francisco for the first time.
In 1963, Vee Jay records signed a contract to distribute the Beatles records in the US.
In 1964, the Beatles scored their first number one best seller in the US when "I Want To Hold Your Hand" reached the top of the Cash Box Magazine music chart. The Fab Four would eventually rack up 25 number ones in America.
In 1967, the Beatles made a last-minute remix of “Penny Lane” before the pressing of their next double-A-sided single “Strawberry Fields Forever”/“Penny Lane.” Both songs were originally intended for forthcoming album 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.'
In 1969, at Apple Studios in London, the Beatles recorded "For You Blue," which at the time had the working title of "George's Blues (Because You're Sweet and Lovely)." Producer Phil Spector completed the track in January 1970 at Olympic Studios.
In 1975, the Carpenters went to #1 on the US singles chart with their version of The Marvelettes’ 1961 hit “Please Mr. Postman.” The Marvelettes version led the hit parade in January, 1961. Although the Beatles also recorded a popular version of the song, it didn't make the American Top 40.
In 1976, R&B singer/songwriter Chris Kenner died after a heart attack at the age of 46.
In 1978, Joy Division made their live debut when they played Pips in Manchester, England.
In 1980, Paul McCartney is released from a Tokyo prison after being arrested with a half-pound of marijuana.
In 1983, the Allman Brothers Band’s bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer at age 34. He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley.
In 1986, manager Albert Grossman died of a heart attack while flying on Concorde from New York to London. He managed Bob Dylan (between 1962 and 1970), Peter, Paul and Mary, The Band, Janis Joplin and Todd Rundgren. Grossman built the Bearsville Recording Studio near Woodstock in 1969, and in 1970 he founded Bearsville Records.
In 1988, George Harrison released the second single from his "Cloud Nine" album, "When We Was Fab," written by Harrison and Jeff Lynne about the days of Beatlemania.
In 1991, Paul McCartney recorded MTV Unplugged. One of the show's many memorable moments was his singing of "And I Love Her," which marked the first time he had performed the song anywhere outside of the Beatles.
In 2000, a 1930 aluminum record is found with Frank Sinatra singing Roses of Picardy. It's believed to be his earliest recording.
In 2005, Ray Peterson, the voice behind the June 1960, US number 7 hit, "Tell Laura I Love Her" passed away at the age of 65. After the hit records stopped coming in the early '70s, Peterson became a Baptist Church minister and occasionally played the oldies music circuit.
In 2011, Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy became the first person in the world to graduate with a Masters degree in the Beatles. The 53-year-old former Miss Canada finalist signed up for the course on the Beatles when it began at Liverpool Hope University in March 2009. The ground-breaking study program looked at the studio sound and composition of the Fab Four and examined the significance and impact of their music on Western culture.
birthdays today include (among others): Ronnie Brandon (McCoys) (66), Michael Cotten (Tubes) (62), Andy Cox (Beat, Fine Young Cannibals) (56) and Alicia Keys (31)
††† – (EP)
Abigail Williams - Becoming
Aborted - Global Flatline
Apples in Stereo - Funtrick Noisemaker (reissue) (vinyl)
Arctic Monkeys - Black Treacle
Bardo Pond and Tom Carter - 4/23/03
Beyond The Bridge - The Old Man & The Spirit
Big Deal - Lights Out
Bill Medley -100% Soft and Soulful
Biohazard - Reborn In Defiance
Blessed By A Broken Heart - Feel the Power
Boy & Bear - Moonfire
Brainiac - Smart Bunny Baby (reissue)
Can - Live 1971-1977 (reissue)
Cardinal - Hymns
Celtic Woman - Believe
Chairlift - Something
Charlie Wilson - Playlist: the Very Best of Charlie Wilson
Charlift - Something
Cheyenne Marie Mize - We Don't Need (vinyl)
Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
Craig Finn - Clear Heart, Full Eyes
Dana Falconberry - Though I Didn't Call It Came
Dead Icons - Condemned
Dion - Tank Full Of Blues
Dodecahedron - s/t
Doors - L.A. Woman: 40th Anniversary Edition (vinyl)
Elizaveta - Beatrix Runs
Evan Voytas - Feel Me (EP)
Evelyn Champagne King - Face to Face
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll
Gangrene - Vodka & Ayahuasca
Gauntlet Hair - My Christ (7") (vinyl)
Girlschool - Hit & Run Revisited
Glen Campbell - Live In Japan
Gonjasufi - MU.ZZ.LE
Grace Woodroofe - Always Want
Graffiti6 - Colours
Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol.32: Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI 8/7/82 (2 CDs)
Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol.33: Oakland Coliseum Stadium 10/9 & 10/10/76 (4 CDs)
Holiday Crowd - Over the Bluffs (EP)
Imaginary Cities - Imaginary Cities (EP)
Imbogodom: And They Turned Not When They Went (vinyl)
Ingrid Michaelson - Human Again
Jad Fair - Bird House
Jason Urick - I Love You
Jody Miller - Complete Epic Hits
Joe Cocker - Hard Knocks
John K. Samson - Provincial
John Lydon - Psycho's Path
Karen Dalton - 1966 Delmore Recordings
Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur (vinyl)
Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof
Koffin Kats - On Way and the Highway
Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline
Lamb of God - Resolution
Laura Gibson - La Grande
Laura J Martin - The Hangman Tree
Lazerbreak - Lava Bangers
Leila - U&I (2 LPs) (vinyl)
Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man (reissue) (vinyl)
MF Doom - Dime Box (vinyl)
Maccabees - Given to the Wild
Madi Diaz - Plastic Moon
Maggie & Terry Roche - Seductive Reasoning
Mantronix - King Of The Beats (Anthology 1985-1988) (2 CDs)
Mario Diaz de Leon - Hypnos
Matt Pryor - May Day
Meat Puppets - Up on the Sun (reissue with bonus tracks)
moe. - What Happened to the La Las
Mull Historical Society - City Awakenings
Mummified in Circuitry - Echoes of Morality
Nada Surf - The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy
Neal Morgan - In the Yard
Nekromantheon - Rise, Vulcan Spectre
Nothnegal - Decadence
Palisades - I'm Not Dying Today
Pop.1280 - The Horror
Porcelain Raft - Strang Weekend
Primal Fear - Unbreakable
Priscilla Ahn - A Good Day (reissue) (vinyl)
Public Image Ltd. - 9
Public Image Ltd. - Compact Disc
Public Image Ltd. - Flowers of Romance
Public Image Ltd. - Greatest Hits So Far
Public Image Ltd. - Happy
Public Image Ltd. - Live in Tokyo
Public Image Ltd. - Paris in the Spring: Live
Public Image Ltd. - Public Image
Public Image Ltd. - That What is Not
Public Image Ltd. - This Is What You Want This Is What You Get
Pulled Apart By Horses - Tough Love (vinyl)
Rhyton - Rhyton
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Area 52
Rumer - Seasons of My Soul
Scorpions - Comeblack
Shalamar - I Can Make You Feel Good: The Best of
Sham 69 - Hurry Up Harry: the Collection
Skrillex - Bangarang (EP)
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - Tears of a Clown: The Collection
Standard Fare - Out of Sight, Out of Town
Starving Weirdos - Land Lines
Teenager - Frights
The Darcys - AJA
The Jerry Garcia Band - Keystone Berkeley: September 1, 1974
The Jerry Garcia Band - Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978
The War on Drugs - Come to the City (7") (vinyl)
Tim McGraw - Emotional Traffic
Underworld - 1992 – 2012 Anthology
Various Artists - 2012 Grammy Nominees
Various Artists - Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Various Artists - Re-Edits & Remixes (2 CDs)
Wilco - iTunes Session
Wolf People - Tidings (reissue)
Woodpigeon - For Paolo (EP)
Xray Eyeballs - Splendor Squalor
Yuksek - Living on the Edge of Time
Zomes - Improvisations (vinyl)
AFP - In the brave new world of MP3 players, compact discs are dying, cassettes are Stone Age, and old-fashioned vinyl records... they're back!
It might seem that nothing short of a wind-up gramophone could be more out of place today than the nostalgia-laden, crackly-sounding 33 and 45 RPM disc.
Yet in his Brooklyn, New York, factory, 40-year-old Thomas Bernich churns them out by the tens of thousands, feeding a vinyl revival that has record decks -- and cash tills -- spinning.
"It's my baby," Bernich said in his spartan office at Brooklynphono. "It's growing."
The small plant in a blue collar neighborhood hums with the sound of machines and spaghetti-like rows of pipes delivering ground-up vinyl to presses where the material reemerges as shiny albums etched with near-invisible, music-filled spirals.
Bernich started on a shoestring 10 years ago. Now he has four full-time employees and two part-time, manufacturing a quarter of a million discs a year, with plans to double capacity.
SUNDAZED AND EXPERIENCE HENDRIX RECAPTURE THE JIMI HENDRIX VINYL EXPERIENCE!
ROCK’S GREATEST GUITAR LEGEND’S VINTAGE RECORDINGS RETURN TO THEIR VINYL ROOTS WITH HISTORIC 7” SINGLE SERIES
In an historic alliance, the renowned reissue label Sundazed Music has partnered with Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. to release a series of new 7" picture-sleeve vinyl singles featuring unique and hard-to-find vintage performances by Jimi Hendrix.
The ongoing series launches in April with an initial release that combines a pair of historically significant recordings from two different Hendrix 1967 BBC sessions. One is a raucous reading of Bob Dylan's "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?”. Hendrix recorded his version on October 17 for BBC Radio's Rhythm and Blues show. Dylan’s original version, one of history’s most notable and enduring musical enigmas, wasn’t released on a legitimate album for more than 10 years after its first issue. This Jimi Hendrix Experience version was a highlight of the BBC Sessions double album issued by Experience Hendrix/Sony Legacy in October 2010.
“Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?” is paired with a fascinating, newly discovered take of the Hendrix original "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp," as performed on August 24,1967 on BBC Television's Top of the Pops, just a week after the song's original studio version had been released as a single in Britain on Track Records. In keeping with strict Musician Union regulations, Jimi was to sing live atop the song's instrumental backing track. The Top Of The Pops presenter announced the Experience, but then ‘The House That Jack Built’ by the Alan Price Set began to play. A few seconds in, Jimi, ever polite, offered an apology, “I'm sorry man but I don't know the words...” As panic no doubt ensued within the studio's control room, the program's flustered presenter apologized and implored Jimi to try it once again.
Both sides feature the classic original Jimi Hendrix Experience lineup of Hendrix on guitar and vocals, Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, and capture the band just as it was beginning to emerge as a major force on both sides of the Atlantic.
As with every release in the series, it will feature a color picture sleeve incorporating rare vintage Hendrix photos that capture the legendary artist's distinctive persona and pioneering spirit.
Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix L.L.C. commented: "When the Jimi Hendrix Experience first burst into the world’s collective consciousness, it was through vinyl 45 rpm singles. Our vinyl single release program with Sundazed honors that brilliant history and, even expands on it in a very real way. It is traditional yet innovative, as Jimi certainly was."
Bob Irwin, President and CEO of Sundazed Music, Inc. commented: "We are thrilled and highly honored to be partnering with Experience Hendrix on this wonderful series. I’m positively elated that my most favorite musician of all time will now be a part of Sundazed."
In a recording career that spanned only three and a half years prior to his tragic death in 1970 at the age of 27, Jimi Hendrix revolutionized the role of the electric guitar, and radically altered the face of contemporary music. He became rock's first guitar superstar, with an effortless charisma that matched his visionary talent and intense performing style. His overwhelming influence continues to live on in virtually every electric guitarist who has followed him, yet none have ever equaled Hendrix's talent and imagination.
Chocolate Watch BandVinyl Release
No Way Out LP
LP | $18.98 LP 5306
No Way Out, the thrilling debut album by the Chocolate Watch Band, immediately finds that cosmic sweet-spot of perfect garage-rock traction: where the rubber meets the road and the train keeps a-rollin.'
Nobody ever did Mick Jagger any better (even Mick, himself) than the Watch Band's frighteningly superb frontman Dave Aguilar. "Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In)" and "Let's Talk About Girls" are on everyone's list of Top 20 garage rock anthems of all time. And that's just the tip of the vermillion iceberg for this essential longplayer. "Come On," an early Stones single, gets the perfect Watch Band overhaul, "Hot Dusty Roads" ventures down back alleys that Buffalo Springfield never dreamed about and "No Way Out" dances rings around the outskirts of your nearest Human Be-In.
A San Jose, Calif. band whose reputation has grown exponentially over the decades, the Chocolate Watch Band are now revered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World of garage rock. Spotlighting the classic lineup—the inflammatory vocals of Dave Aguilar and the roof-rattling guitars of Mark Loomis and Sean Tolby, fronting the rock-solid bass of Bill Flores and the letter-perfect drums of Gary Andrijasevich—the Watch Band's first two albums have it all. Stones swagger snake-hips its way through cosmic significance with just a dusting of eye-opening psychedelic legerdemain to make your neck snap backwards in pure joy.
Also available on CD
TRACK LIST: 1. Let’s Talk About Girls 2. Midnight Hour 3. Come On 4. Dark Side of the Mushroom 5. Hot Dusty Road 6. Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love-In) 7. Gone and Passes By 8. No Way Out 9. Expo 2000 10. Gossamer Wings
EXUMER: 'Fire & Damnation' Cover Artwork Unveiled; Trailer Available
A trailer for "Fire & Damnation", the first album in 24 years from German thrash metal veterans EXUMER, can be seen below. Due in April via Metal Blade Records, the 10-track CD, which was recorded with renowned producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., THERION, SODOM, MOONSPELL), "combines a punishing production with aggressive songwriting," according to a press release. "EXUMER manages to capture the intensity and feel of the 1980s thrash metal gems and yet sound up to date on their latest output."
David Lynch Releases Collectors Edition of 'Crazy Clown Time'
Lynch has teamed up with the legendary Vaughan Oliver to release a Super Deluxe Collectors Edition of “Crazy Clown Time”, which is limited to 1000 copies worldwide and released today. Housed in a red “leatherette” book with silver spine, this lavish package includes the album on CD, two heavyweight vinyl LP’s and a 24 page art and lyrics book, cased in a rigid black Suedelle slipcase. In Oliver’s own words:
“The design of the Super Deluxe was inspired by the original photograph of the hand with red die that David sent for use on the front cover. Red, black and silvery grey in colour it also has a low culture feel about it which I developed in a tactile way with special materials. I was aiming for a sexy, kitsch quality with the black suede slipcase and red foil-blocked type. The book that slides out enhances this concept with a red leatherette finish and silver clothed spine whilst adding an “art book” touch with the “tipped in” image of the red die set into a debossed square centred on the book cover. The overall effect exhudes, sex, sleaze and “roulette wheel” ambience. Central to the content is a lavish 12”x12” booklet which allows David’s “forensic” photographs to dominate over a very simple, reserved approach to the lyrics layout”.
TRACKLIST: 1. Pinky’s Dream 2. Good Day Today 3. So Glad 4. Noah’s Ark 5. Football Game 6. I Know 7. Strange and Unproductive Thinking 8. The Night Bell With Lightning 9. Stone’s Gone Up 10. These Are My Friends 11. Speed Roadster 12. Movin’ On 13. She Rise Up
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OVERKILL: New Album Title, Cover Artwork Unveiled
New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL will release their new album, "The Electric Age", in North America on March 27 via eOne Music. The CD will be made available in Europe on March 30 through Nuclear Blast Records.
"The Electric Age" was recorded and mixed at Gain Studios in New Jersey, owned and operated by OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni.
Here are the Top 10 Albums sold at Shop Radio Cast for the week of January 17 – January 23, 2012:
1. V/A – Fat Music For Fat People LP 2. Blink 182 – Neighborhoods LP (Blue/White) 3. The Black Keys – The Moan / Have Love Will Travel 7″ 4. The Horrible Crowes – Elsie LP 5. The Methadones – Not Economically Viable LP 6. Fun. – Aim and Ignite 2XLP 7. Fun. – Some Nights LP 8. Brand New – Your Favorite Weapon LP 9. Silverstein – Short Songs For Short People 10″ 10. Hit The Lights – Invicta LP
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Neil Young Bashes Music Quality
Neil Young has lashed out at the sound quality of 21st century recorded music, recently revealing that listening to it makes him "angry."
He told MTV News: "I'm finding that I have a little bit of trouble with the quality of the sound of music today. I don't like it. It just makes me angry. Not the quality of the music, but we're in the 21st century and we have the worst sound that we've ever had. It's worse than a 78 [rpm record]. Where are our geniuses? What happened?"
Young went on to say that he believed people had changed their listening habits to cope with the worsening quality of recorded music, adding: "I like to point that out to artists. That's why people listen to music differently today. It's all about the bottom and the beat driving everything, and that's because in the resolution of the music, there's nothing else you can really hear. The warmth and the depth at the high end is gone."
Young made sure to say that though he hated the way modern music was recorded, he did not hate the new bands who made it, and talked up Mumford and Sons and My Morning Jacket as two of his favorite new bands. He said: "Mumford and Sons and My Morning Jacket are great bands. I love them both and I know them well. I feel good about saying that."
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and in music history for today janaury 23rd:
In 1943, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra played for a black-tie audience at New York City's Carnegie Hall for the first time. A recording of the concert was released on CD in 1977 as "The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943," highlighted by Ellington's monumental suite "Black, Brown and Beige," in the only full-length version ever recorded by his orchestra.
Born on this day in 1950, Danny Federici, organ and keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Died of cancer on April 17th 2008 at the age of 58. Federici had worked with Springsteen for over 40 years, including early bands Steel Mill and Child.
In 1956, rock 'n' roll fans in Cleveland, Ohio who were under 18 were banned from dancing in public unless accompanied by an adult after Ohio Police started enforcing a law dating back to 1931.
Also in 1956, James Brown and the Famous Flames sign a recording contract with King Records. As a signing bonus, they receive $200. Their first effort, "Please, Please, Please", would become a million
seller later in the year, but their next nine releases failed to live up to the success of their debut.
In 1957, the movie 'Don't Knock the Rock' premiers.
In 1959, Buddy Holly kicked off the twenty-four date Winter Dance Party at the Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee, backed by Tommy Allsup on guitar, Waylon Jennings on bass and Carl Bunch on drums.
In 1962, at Columbia Records' East 30th Street studios in New York City, Tony Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." CBS released it as the b-side of "Once Upon A Time." The A-side received no attention, and DJs began flipping the record over and playing "San Francisco." It became a hit on the pop singles chart in 1962 and spent close to a year on various other charts, achieving gold record status. It then won the top prize of Grammy Award for Record of the Year, as well as for Best Male Solo Vocal Performance. In 2001 it was ranked 23rd on an RIAA/NEA list of the most historically significant Songs of the 20th Century.
CVR Blog 45rpm Singles Spotlight:
In 1964, the Temptations released "The Way You Do the Things You Do."Falsetto Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the record, composed by Robinson and Rogers while on the road with The Miracles as part of the Motortown Revue tour. Its plethora of pick-up lines ("You got a smile so bright/you know you coulda been a candle/I'm holding you so tight/You know you coulda been a handle") began as a light-hearted joke between Robinson and Rogers to pass time on the long bus rides. Realizing they had something they could work with, the Miracles kept the lyrics in mind and prepared the song for the Temptations, who by this time had only one single that had ever made it onto a Billboard chart (1962's "Dream Come True" made it to #22 on the R&B singles chart) and six flopped singles. This version of the song actually appears on two of their early 60's albums; 1964's Meet The Temptations, and 1965's The Temptations Sing Smokey.
The recording was done on January 8, 1964, a mere two weeks after founding Temptation Elbridge Bryant had been fired, and Jimmy Ruffin's younger brother David Ruffin had taken Bryant's place. While Ruffin would sing lead on stage he would remain a background singer on the singles for most of 1964, but after Smokey Robinson heard him sing lead during the Temptations' Motortown Revue performance, Ruffin was assigned to sing lead on what would become the Temptations' first number-one hit, "My Girl".
The Temptations learned about the success of "The Way You Do the Things You Do" after returning home to Detroit, Michigan and hearing nonchalantly from a Motown executive that "oh, you guys got a hit."
After reading the number 76 ("with a bullet") listing in Billboard magazine, Temptations members Otis Williams and David Ruffin immediately began crying with joy. During this period the group's baritone Paul Williams was still considered the main lead singer; but due to the success of this single, Kendricks would be given the lead on the next two following singles.
In 1965, North America finally caught on to Petula Clark when her hit "Downtown" made her the first British female to have a number one hit on this side of the Atlantic in the Rock era. She would go on to rack up many more smashes, including "I Know a Place", "My Love", "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love", "This is My Song" and "Don't Sleep in the Subway". Clark had already been very successful in the UK, chalking up hits since 1954.
In 1969, in Memphis, between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m., Elvis Presley recorded eight takes of "Suspicious Minds," with future Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux singing backup. Producer Felton Jarvis decided on a premature fade-out and fade back in near the end of the track to reflect the way Elvis performed the song in his live Las Vegas stage act. It became Presley's 17th and last #1 single in the US. Rolling Stone later ranked it #91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
In 1969, at the Apple Studios in London, the Beatles, with Billy Preston playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano, recorded ten takes of "Get Back." None were used for the released single. On January 27 they recorded 14 more takes of the song, eventually selecting Take 11 which was then spliced together with the best take of the coda ending recorded on January 28. A footnote: The stereo single version of "Get Back" was the first Beatles recording to feature Ringo Starr's drum kit in true stereo.
In 1971, Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band.
In 1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a #1 when "My Sweet Lord" went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his 'All Things Must Pass' album stayed at #1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.
In 1971, as a follow-up to their US number 3 hit "Candida", Tony Orlando and Dawn topped the charts with "Knock Three Times". It was the trio's second straight million seller, but it would take two more years and a series of minor chart makers before they would return to the top with "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree".
In 1973, after reading a note that says 'an accord has been reached for peace in Vietnam', Neil Young announces to a Madison Square Garden crowd, "Peace has come."
In 1975, Supertramp kick off a 13 date British tour to promote their third album "Crime Of The Century". The LP will spawn the single "Dreamer", which will reach #13 in the UK and #15 in the US.
In 1977, during her concert in Tampa, singer Patti Smith danced off the stage and fell 15 feet into a concrete orchestra pit, breaking several neck vertebrae.
In 1977, Carole King's landmark LP, 'Tapestry' became the longest-running album of all time on the Billboard chart, as it reached its 302nd week on the list.
In 1978, Chicago's guitarist, 32 year old Terry Kath, accidentally shot and killed himself while playing with a gun at a party, telling others around him that the gun was unloaded. His spot in the band would be filled by Donny Dacus, who previously played guitar with Stephen Stills.
Also in 1978, singer Vic Ames of the Ames Brothers vocal group died in an auto accident at the age of 51.
In 1986, Buddy Holly was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at it's inaugural ceremony. Other first inductees included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard and Fats Domino.
In 1988, Michael Jackson went to #1 on the US singles chart with "The Way You Make Me Feel."
In 1988, Tiffany started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Tiffany.'
Also in 1988, Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop records boss Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single.
In 1989, James Brown was sentenced in Georgia to six years in jail in connection with a police chase through two states last September 24th. He would be granted parole three years later.
In 1990, Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band's songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
In 1991, John Sebastian, owner and general manager of KLSK FM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, played Led Zeppelins 'Stairway To Heaven' for twenty-four solid hours to inaugurate a format change to Classic Rock. Police showed up with guns drawn: once after a listener reported that the DJ had apparently suffered a heart attack, and later because of suspicion that, this being eight days into the Gulf War, the radio station had been taken hostage by terrorists dispatched by Zeppelin freak Saddam Hussein.
In 1995, William Horton of the Philadelphia vocal group, The Silhouettes, died at the age of 65. The group topped the Billboard chart in 1958 with "Get A Job".
In 1996, White Zombie was not allowed to play a Johnson City, TN show after the city council rejected the show saying they were devil worshipers.
In 1997, 63 year old Richard Berry, who wrote The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie", died from an aneurysm while sleeping at his home in South Central Los Angeles.
In 1998, Johnny Funches, who wrote and sang lead on The Dells' 1956 million seller, "Oh What A Night", passed away at the age of 62.
In 2000, Santana started a three week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Supernatural', the album spent a total of nine weeks at #1 during this year.
In 2001, an English coroner criticised the rap singer Eminem's lyrics as depressing during an inquest into the death of a schoolboy who threw himself in front of a train. The 17-year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Eminem's track 'Rock Bottom' before his death.
In 2005, one of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised $2 million for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.
In 2002, EMI announced that it would pay Mariah Carey $28 million to end their association which was planned to last for several albums estimated at $100 million.
In 2011, former Beatles drummer Richard Starkey filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to register the name "Ringo".
birthdays today include (among others): Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie) (37), Anita Pointer (Pointer Sisters) (64), Bill Cunningham (Box Tops) (62) and Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) (60)
Produced by: Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger
Engineered by: Geoff Sanoff
Mixed by: John Holbrook
Mastered by: George Marino at Sterling Sound
Vinyl Cut by: A. Nonymous
MUSIC
SOUND
Store Gone, Fountains Still Spew by Michael Fremer December 01, 2011
Named for a now defunct Northern New Jersey, Route 23 lawn furniture emporium (bought my chaise lounges there!), Fountains of Wayne has been making consistently tuneful and erudite observations about just plain folks since 1996 when they released their eponymous first album on Atlantic Records. The core was then and is now, the delightfully bratty-voiced Chris Collingwood and his multi-instrumental partner Adam Schlesinger.
But you probably already know that, having consumed with great pleasure the rest of the group's witty, melodic, easily digestible musical output. And if not, why not?
Having grown up a short Q44 bus ride away from Utopia Parkway, the group's second album and also having lived in "Hackensack," a song from the group's third album Welcome Interstate Managers I feel somehow oddly connected to these guys. I certainly share their sense of humor. But enough about me.
1999's Utopia Parkway concerned itself generally with teenaged angst, but more specifically, the awkward period of time between physically and mentally moving out of one's childhood home and establishing one's adulthood. Catchy couplets, hummable melodies and enthusiastic reviews didn't translate into huge sales and Atlantic dropped them.
They carried on with 2003's Welcome Interstate Managers containing another collection of irresistiblly tuneful tales mining with even greater precision the same subject matter, including the MILF anthem "Stacey's Mom," the inside the quarterback's head "All Kinds of Time" and the played against type sincerity of the Paul Simon-ish "Valley Winter Song." Another great album with zero filler.
It takes these guys a college education's worth of time to produce a new album, which brought about 2007's very fine but somewhat less memorable Traffic and Weather and now 2011's Sky Full of Holes.
This one finds the duo diving, not just dipping into the Difford/Tilbrook playbook, with a more acoustic flavor than usual, backed by guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young. The connection between Fountains and Squeeze's mid-tempo tunefulness has always been there, just more understated than here. Here it's upfront on the opening hilarity and chaos of "The Summer Place," a song about the comings and goings on an island vacation home and a women who "ran away (from home) back in '78," meaning the songwriting duo has trained its eyes on a forty-something instead of a twenty-something.
"Richie and Ruben" (rhymes with a partnership that don't know what its doin') concerns a duo, friends since the seventh grade, that doesn't do well in business, first with a restaurant and then a boutique. "Acela" breezily observes people on the Amtrak to Boston, while "Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart" is in the wistful, end of summer melodic mode Fountains does so well.
"Action Hero" looks at a middle-aged guy living a banal but stressed-out suburban family life who gets by imagining himself a leaper of tall buildings. In other words, the subjects have now made the jump from in-between adolescent time to full fledged adulthood. The side ends with a nostalgic look back at a couple's 1998 Caribbean vacation. No country mentioned, but sounds like Jamaica.
There's a wonderfully resigned "road song" that dips into "Valley Winter Song" territory written to the one who stayed home in which Collingwood self-deprecatingly sings "And I know that I'm no Steve Perry." As side two rolls along, the brattiness gives way to the sincerity of "Workingman's Hands" that could end up in a Home Depot commercial, followed by the equally sincere, Springsteen-ish "pick yourself up" song "Hate to See You LIke This." "Radio Bar" picks up the pace but the lyrical and musical mood is '70s nostalgic.
The "Firefight Waltz" gets downright soft and cuddly, while the album's closer, "Cemetery Guns," which contains the album title within its lyrics, indicates a profound seriousness signaling either the end of the road or a turn onto a new one for Fountains of Wayne. Either way, the album ends with a weighty sputter not a frothy flash. Fans won't want to miss this latest tuneful installment whatever it signals for the future.
The recording and mix are serviceable and well organized digital, probably Pro-Tools. Its quite listenable by today's standards but that's about it. While George Marino mastered the files, the label wouldn't pay Sterling's lacquer cutting rate and I have no idea who did the honors. The 180g pressing was excellent and the record was in a nice paper and rice paper sleeve within a well-presented jacket. A glossy one sheet presents the lyrics. The free MP3 download includes bonus material not on the album as well as a free Yep Roc musical sampler.
Thanks to Michael over at www.musicangle.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material. Stop by MusicAngle.com for more reviews and features.
great article about some lost treasures being reissued!
Homespun vinyl
by CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER , Star Tribune
Bringing rare albums to collectors worldwide, Secret Stash Records truly is a secret in its hometown - except to its faithful volunteers
On a recent Monday night, when most men were at home watching football, a dozen male music geeks crowded into an Uptown Minneapolis office for a three-hour volunteer work shift. Their mission: Hand-package 1,000 vinyl copies of a record that came out 41 years ago and was largely forgotten.
Welcome to the cult of Secret Stash Records.
A two-year-old Minneapolis label with an especially strong following in Europe, Secret Stash finds old, long-out-of-print albums that it reissues to rare-vinyl-seeking record nerds around the globe. Its releases have ranged from Peruvian funk to Ghanaian R&B to '70s porn-movie soundtracks.
The Nielsen Company and Billboard released their 2011 Music Industry Report in January 2012. The report included some positive news: total album sales were up for the first time since 2004. One obvious reason was the still-rising popularity of digital music. Digital album sales broke the 100 million mark for the first time, up nearly 20% from 2010. Three genres, Jazz, New Age, and Electronic, doubled their digital album sales. A second, indisputable reason for the increase in sales was Adele's blockbuster album, 21, which became the first record since Usher's Confessions in 2004 to sell more than 5 million copies in one year. A third and less obvious reason was, for the fourth consecutive year, vinyl album sales increased. In fact, more vinyl albums were purchased in 2011 than any other year since Nielsen SoundScan started keeping score.
Vinyl in a Digital Age
In 2011, vinyl album sales reached 3.9 million, up 36% from 2010. Of all those vinyl records sold, 67% were purchased at independent music stores like Chicago's Reckless Records. Having worked at Reckless since 2008, Rebecca Crawford has seen a rise in vinyl sales. When asked why she thinks vinyl sales have increased, she said, "It is primarily due to the 'digital age' of downloading music causing CDs to dramatically decrease in value. Many people will buy CDs, burn it, and then sell them back."
Crawford also said the renewed interest in vinyl was due to a younger generation discovering it for the first time.
Deerhoof/David Bazan Split 7"+Instant MP3 Out Now!
DeerBazan is the latest in a series of collaborative 7"s featuring guest vocalists singing self composed lyrics and vocal melodies over a Deerhoof instrumental.
Side A features David Bazan (Pedro the Lion, Headphones) on Deerhoof's "No One Asked to Dance" (from Deerhoof vs. Evil).
Side B features Bazan's re-working of the Headphones classic "Gas and Matches."
Limited edition of 2000 on clear blue vinyl.
All orders receive an INSTANT MP3 download at checkout.
Reveille, Deerhoof's fourth full-length, is the first to feature guitarist John Dieterich (Gorge Trio, SWAPS) -- joining Satomi Matsuzaki and Greg Saunier.
Now available for the first time on 180-gram light blue vinyl.
All orders receive an INSTANT full-album MP3 download at checkout.
Born on this day in 1939, DJ Wolfman Jack. Master of ceremonies for the rock 'n' roll generation of the '60s on radio, and later on television during the '70s. Died of a heart attack 1/7/95.
In 1957, at Universal Recording Studios in Chicago, Chuck Berry recorded "School Day," backed by guitarist Hubert Sumlin, bassist Willie Dixon, and drummer Fred Below. The session(s) were produced by the Chess brothers – Leonard and Phil. It is one of his best known songs and is often considered a rock and roll anthem. It was first released as a single and later appeared as the lead track on Berry's first album, After School Session.
In 1957, Elvis Presley began filming his second movie, his first in color, "Loving You," co-starring Lizabeth Scott, Wendell Corey, Dolores Hart, and James Gleason.
Also in 1957, country music singer Patsy Cline was the winning contestant on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" program on CBS-TV with her performance of "Walkin' After Midnight."
In 1959, the Kingston Trio, one of the foremost groups behind the folk music craze, receive their first Gold record for "Tom Dooley", a folk song based on the 1866 murder of a woman named Laura Foster in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
In 1964, Peter and Gordon record the Lennon / McCartney tune "A World Without Love."
It was released as their first single in February 1964, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart in April. The song was written by Paul McCartney and attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The B-side was "If I Were You" written by Peter and Gordon. In June 1964, "A World Without Love" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was included on the duo's debut album in the UK, and in the US on an album of the same name. It is one of two songs written by Lennon–McCartney to reach number one in the US by an artist other than the Beatles. The other is "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by Elton John.
"A World Without Love" is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
McCartney did not think the song was good enough for The Beatles. Prior to giving the song to Peter and Gordon, he offered it to Billy J. Kramer, who rejected it.
McCartney described John Lennon's reaction to the song: "The funny first line always used to please John. 'Please lock me away –' 'Yes, okay.' End of song." Lennon said of the song that "I think that was resurrected from the past....I think he had that whole song before the Beatles....That has the line 'Please lock me away' that we always used to crack up at."
This song was never released by the Beatles and the only known recording of the song by any member of the Beatles is the original demo of the song performed by McCartney which is now in the possession of Peter Asher.
In 1965, over 3,000 screaming fans met the Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison at Sydney Airport when they arrived for a 16 date of tour in Australia and New Zealand.
In 1966, Beatle George Harrison married his long-time girlfriend, fashion model Patti Boyd, whom he met on the set of the Beatles' first movie, A Hard Day's Night. She would leave an unfaithful Harrison in the mid-'70s and hooked up with Eric Clapton, who would write the song "Layla" about her. Those two would marry in May 1979, but split in 1988.
In 1967, Davy Jones began recording Neil Diamond's "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" with studio musicians and Diamond's producer Jeff Barry. Although Jones was the only Monkee involved in the recording, it was released six weeks later as the next Monkees single and earned them their third Gold Record.
European single cover
In 1968, Jimi Hendrix recorded his version of the Bob Dylan song "All Along the Watchtower" at Olympic Studios in London.Rolling Stone Brian Jones and Dave Mason from Traffic both played on the session. The Hendrix version, released six months after Dylan's original recording, became a Top 20 single in 1968.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience began to record their cover version of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" on January 21, 1968, at Olympic Studios in London. According to engineer Andy Johns, Jimi Hendrix had been given a tape of Dylan’s recording by publicist Michael Goldstein, who worked for Dylan’s manager Albert Grossman. "(Hendrix) came in with these Dylan tapes and we all heard them for the first time in the studio”, recalled Johns. According to Hendrix’s regular engineer Eddie Kramer, the guitarist cut a large number of takes on the first day, shouting chord changes at Dave Mason who had appeared at the session and played guitar. Halfway through the session, bass player Noel Redding became dissatisfied with the proceedings and left. Mason then took over on bass. According to Kramer, the final bass part was played by Hendrix himself. Kramer and Chas Chandler mixed the first version of "All Along The Watchtower" on January 26, but Hendrix was quickly dissatisfied with the result and went on re-recording and overdubbing guitar parts during June, July, and August at the Record Plant studio in New York. Engineer Tony Bongiovi has described Hendrix becoming increasingly dissatisfied as the song progressed, overdubbing more and more guitar parts, moving the master tape from a four-track to a twelve-track to a sixteen-track machine. Bongiovi recalled, "Recording these new ideas meant he would have to erase something. In the weeks prior to the mixing, we had already recorded a number of overdubs, wiping track after track. [Hendrix] kept saying, ‘I think I hear it a little bit differently.’” The finished version was released on the album Electric Ladyland in September 1968. The single reached number five in the British charts, and number 20 on the Billboard chart, Hendrix's only top 20 / top 40 entry there.
Dylan has described his reaction to hearing Hendrix's version: "It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn't think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day." In the booklet accompanying his Biograph album, Dylan said: "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way... Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."
This version of the song appears at number 48 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and in 2000, British magazine Total Guitar named it top of the list of the greatest cover versions of all time. The song also had the #5 spot on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
In 1970, the Elvis Presley film 'Change of Habit' was released. It would be his last movie except for documentaries and concert films.
In 1978, the soundtrack album 'Saturday Night Fever' started a 24 week run at No.1 on the US album charts, it went on to sell over 30 million copies world wide, making it the best selling soundtrack album of all time.
In 1982, B.B. King donated his entire record collection of over 20,000 discs to Mississippi University's centre for the Study of Southern Culture.
In 1983, bassist (Ramblin' Man) Lamar Williams, of the Allman Brothers Band and Sea Level, died of lung cancer at 34.
In 1984, soul singer Jackie Wilson died aged 49. Wilson suffered a massive heart attack while playing a Dick Clark show at the Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29, 1975, falling head-first to the stage while singing "Lonely Teardrops," and had remained in a coma until his death 8 years later.
In 1984, Yes hits number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with their only Top Ten hit, "Owner Of A Lonely Heart". It reached #28 hit in the UK.
In 1987, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts the Coasters, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Bill Haley, B.B. King, Clyde McPhatter, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Smokey Robinson, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams and Jackie Wilson. Bruce Springsteen inducted Roy Orbison into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1989, Bobby Brown went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Don't Be Cruel.'
In 1989, Phil Collins scored his seventh US #1 single with "Two Hearts."
In 1989, six weeks after his death Roy Orbison started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Legendary Roy Orbison' collection.
In 1989, Steve Wahrer, drummer and vocalist for the Trashmen on their 1964 hit "Surfin' Bird," died of throat cancer at the age of 47.
In 1996, Cannibal and the Headhunters lead singer Francisco Garcia died at the age of 49. The group's biggest hit was "Land Of A Thousand Dances", which reached number 30 in 1965.
In 1997, 'Colonel' Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager and agent died of a stroke in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 87. Born Andreas van Kuijk, a Dutch immigrant who changed his name as soon as he arrived in the US, Parker never applied for a green card and feared deportation his entire life. He briefly managed country singers Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow.
Also in 1997, songwriter Jesse Levine died of kidney failure aged 58. Co-wrote, "Knock Three Times" and "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" both US & UK #1's for Dawn in the early 70's.
In 1999, blues singer/songwriter/Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Charles Brown died of congestive heart failure at age 76.
In 2002, 81 year old Peggy Lee, best known in the Rock era for her 1958 version of "Fever", passed away after suffering a heart attack at her Bel Air, California home. Lee worked with Benny Goodman, Randy Newman, Quincy Jones and was nominated for 12 Grammy Awards, winning Best Contemporary Vocal Performance for her 1969 hit "Is That All There Is?" and had charted 46 times from 1945 to 1969, ten times in the Top Ten. She had suffered a stroke in 1998 and had been battling heart disease and diabetes.
In 2010, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry issued a statement that said global government legislation is essential to the survival of recorded music. The IFPI said that "Copyright holders cannot hope to micro-manage the behavior of every consumer" and "there is a growing threat to local artists posed by piracy."
Some of the musicians celebrating birthdays today include: Richie Havens (1941), Mac Davis (1942), Billy Ocean (1950), Chris Kilmore (Incubus) (1973) and Benjamin Moody (Evanescence) (1980)
