The vinyl record collecting blog - with news about new vinyl record releases, vinyl record sales, new music releases, album cover art and weekly features
AU - Both Lights
Adam Cohen - Like a Man
Al Jardine - A Postcard From California
All The Young - Welcome Home
Amadou & Marian - Folia
Beak - Eyrie
Bear In Heaven - I Love You, It’s Cool
Ben Howard - Every Kingdom
Beyond Terror Beyond Grace - Nadir
Black Mountain - Year Zero: The Original Soundtrack
Bobby Conn - Macaroni
Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream
Boys Noize -The Remixes 2004-2011
Breton - Other People's Problems
Bright Eyes - Every Day and Every Night (EP) (reissue) (vinyl)
Bright Eyes - Letting Off the Happiness (reissue) (vinyl)
Burial - Kindred EP (vinyl)
Caltrop - Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes
Candlebox - Love Stories and other Musings
Ceu - Caravana Sereia Bloom
Cheryl Lynn - In the Night Expand
Chris Clark - Iradelphic
City And Colour - Europe Live (2011)
Clarence Bucaro - Walls of the World
Clark - Iradelphic
Céu - Caravana Sereia Bloom
David Sylvian - Victim of Stars 1982 - 2012 (2 CDs)
De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 - First Serve
Demi Lovato - Unbroken
Denison Witmer - The Ones Who Wait
Doris Day - With a Smile And A Song (2 CDs)
Dr. John - Locked Down
Dragonette - Let It Go
East 17 - Dark Light
Elvis Costello - The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Wheel
Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Rolant Rat”/Brain Storm
Evans The Death - Evans The Death
Eye - Center Of The Sun
Failsafe - Routines
fIREHOSE - lowFLOWs: The Columbia Anthology ('91 - '93)
First Aid Kit - Big Black and the Blue (vinyl)
Graham Coxon - A+E
Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere
Greenpot Bluepot - Ascend at the Dead End
Havenside - Nemesis
High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
Hollis Brown - Nothing and the Famous No One
Hour Of Penance - Sedition
Imperial Leisure - Death To The One Trick Pony
James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim (Gold CD)
Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson - Thick As A Brick 2
Joachim Cooder - Love on a Real Train
Johnny Cash - Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul of Truth (2 CDs)
Joshua McCormack - The Phantom King
Julia Holter - Tragedy
Killing Joke - 2012
King Tuff - Wild Desire (7")
LUFF - Maybe It’s Just Sleeping (EP)
Labrinth - Electronic Earth
Les Momies De Palerme - Brulez Ce Coeur
Lightships - Electric Cables
Linda Lewis - A Tear And A Smile
Lori Carson - Another Year
Lostprophets - Weapons
Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance
Love On A Real Train - Love On A Real Train
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real - Wasted
Lux - We Are Not The Same
Magic Bullets - Much Adu About (EP)
Marvin Sapp - I Win
Meli'sa Morgan - Do Me Baby
Midtown Dickens - Home
Mock Suns - Here Nor There
Morgan Page - In The Air
MxPx - Plans Within Plans
New Build - Yesterday Was Lived and Lost
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
O'Jays - We'll Never Forget You: Imperial Years 1963 - 1966
Obie Trice - Bottoms Up
Of Monsters & Men - My Head Is an Animal
Orbital - Wonky
Our Lady Peace - Curve
Outcast - Awaken the Reason
Over Kill - The Electric Age
Paul Van Dyk - Evolution
Photek - DJ-Kicks
Pointer Sisters - Energy
Quantic and Alice Russell - Look Around the Corner
Rachel Yamagata - Chesapeake
Rascal Flatts - Changed
Ravens and Chimes - Holiday Life
Rene & Angela - Rise
Ringo Starr - Ringo 2012
Robin Gibb & Royal Philharmonic - Gibb: The Titanic Requiem
Rocky Votolato - Television Of Saints
Roxette - Travelling
Roxy Music - Roxy Music: The Complete Studio Recordings 1972-1982 (box set)
Ryan Power - I Don't Want To Die
Screaming Females - Ugly
Serge Devant - Rewind
Seth Lakeman - Tales From The Barrelhouse
Simon Felice - Simon Felice
Sondre Lerche - Duper Sessions (reissue) (vinyl)
Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch (reissue) (vinyl)
Sondre Lerche - Two way Monologue (reissue) (vinyl)
Stephen Curtis Chapman - Number 1's Volume 1
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (Gold CD)
Swans - The Burning Wood
Tavares - Supercharged
The Futureheads - Rant
The Jealous Sound - Gentle Reminder (vinyl)
The Jezabels - Prisoner
The Lumineers - The Lumineers
The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow (reissue)
The Smiths - Louder Than Bombs (reissue)
The Smiths - Meat Is Murder (reissue)
The Smiths - Strangeways Here We Come (reissue)
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (reissue)
The Smiths - The Smiths (reissue)
The Smiths - The World Won't Listen (reissue)
The Vespers - The Fourth Wall
The Wave Pictures - Long Black Cars
Todd Rundgren & Utopia - Disco Jets
Tribal Tech - X
Turin Brakes - The Optimist Live
Tuxedomoon - Unearthed
Tycho - Dive (12")
UV Pop - No Songs Tomorrow
Venetian Snares - A Giant Alien Force More Violent and Sick Than Anything You Can Imagine
White Arrows - Fireworks of The Sea
White Fence - Family Perfume, Vol. 1
Whitejacket - Hollows and Rounds
Willis Earl Beal - Acousmatic Sourcery
Wilson Phillips - Dedicated
Wishbone Ash - Live Dates II
World Blanket - 2012
wzrd - wzrd (vinyl)
Yppah - Eighty One
Zammuto - Zammuto
They’re reinventing the wheel (the one for vinyl records)
Lexington High grads win grant for turntable design
By Lisa Kocian / Globe Staff
Brookline roommates Bob Hertig and Peter Maltzan were in the market for a new turntable for their extensive vinyl record collection, but couldn’t find what they were looking for.
So, the two Lexington High School graduates, along with a third alum, Ben Carter, decided to make it themselves.
Hertig, a mechanical engineering major at Northeastern University, and Maltzan, a bass guitarist studying at the Berklee College of Music, wanted a turntable that produced great sound for a reasonable price, and they were willing to forgo a lot of the bells and whistles included on the models now being produced.
Read the rest and how you can get involved at boston.com
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Legacy Recordings Rolls Out All-star Line-up of Historic Collectibles for Record Store Day 2012
Legacy's Limited Edition Record Store Day Exclusives Include Releases From Ozzy Osbourne, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Janis Joplin, Uncle Tupelo, 311, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, The Clash, Patti Smith, Shuggie Otis, Iggy & the Stooges, and Tedeschi Trucks Band
NEW YORK, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is proud to announce an all-star line-up of 7" and 12" vinyl releases created especially for Record Store Day 2012, celebrated at independent record stores worldwide on Saturday, April 21, 2012.
For RSD 2012, Legacy is offering a range of releases appealing to a variety of tastes from classic artists including Ozzy Osbourne, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Janis Joplin, Uncle Tupelo, 311, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, The Clash, Patti Smith, Shuggie Otis, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Iggy & the Stooges.
Now in its fifth year, Record Store Day is an annual day-long celebration of record store culture taking place on the third Saturday in April. In January, RSD announced the appointment of Iggy Pop to the post of Record Store Day 2012 Ambassador.
Legacy Recordings releases for Record Store Day 2012 include:
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Live - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LPs (two disc set) - A limited, numbered collector's edition recorded live on the 1981 Blizzard of Ozz tour with mythic guitarist Randy Rhoads
Ozzy Believer Live - 7" single - A limited, numbered collector's edition on polka-dot vinyl featuring "Believer" (Live) + "Goodbye to Romance" (2010 guitar and vocal mix)
Willie Nelson
Just Breathe - CD single - Features Willie's cover of Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe," a key track from Heroes, his upcoming new album on Legacy, as well as a non-album cut, "Can I Sleep In Your Arms" (a new recording of a Hank Cochran tune Willie first recorded for Red-Headed Stranger in 1975). CD single includes "Come On Back Jesus" (also from Heroes) and a $2 coupon redeemable on purchases of Heroes (available May 15).
Paul Simon
Graceland - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP - The original Grammy Award-winning long-playing album on 25th anniversary of first release. Includes a collectible Graceland poster PLUS card for downloadable MP3s of full album and three bonus songs.
Janis Joplin
Pearl - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP - Joplin's farewell studio recordings sourced from the original masters with cover art meticulously recreated from the original.
Highlights From The Pearl Sessions - 10" vinyl EPs (two disc set) - Created exclusively for Record Store Day, this collection includes rare and unreleased studio outtakes of classic songs specifically culled from the recently discovered studio recordings used to create The Pearl Sessions. Highlights From The Pearl Sessions comes packaged in a gatefold jacket with extensive liner notes and rare photographs.
Uncle Tupelo
The Seven Inch Singles Box - 7" vinyl singles (four 45rpm disc set) - Numbered sets including a 14"x7" poster plus three original replica singles and one previously unreleased 7" disc. Singles are: "I Got Drunk" b/w "Sin City"; "Gun" b/w "I Wanna Destroy You"; "Sauget Wind" b/w "Looking For A Way Out" (acoustic)/"Take My Word"; "That Year" (1988 demo) b/w "Pickle River" (1987 demo).
No Depression - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP - Long out of print on vinyl, litho-wrapped
still feel gone. - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP - Long out of print on vinyl, litho-wrapped
March 16-20, 1992 - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP - Long out of print on vinyl, litho-wrapped
311
Music - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP - Numbered edition in gatefold jacket, newly mastered by Joe Gastwirt, this marks the first time 311's Music has ever been available on vinyl.
Lou Reed
Rock N Roll Animal - 12" 120-gram vinyl LP - The classic 1974 live album including "Sweet Jane" and more in a gatefold sleeve.
Transformer - 12" 120-gram vinyl LP - The definitive glam-rock masterpiece from 1972, produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, featuring "Walk On The Wild Side," "Perfect Day," "Satellite of Love," "Vicious" and others.
Miles Davis
Forever Miles - 12" LP - This collection, created especially for Record Store Day, makes five quintessential Miles Davis performances available for the first time on commercial vinyl. A cross-section of tracks from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Forever Miles includes "Dear Old Stockholm," an alternate take from the Miles and John Coltrane box set; "Blues For Pablo," Take 1 from the Miles and Gil Evans box set; "Hand Jive," an alternate take from the Miles Quintet box set; "Early Minor," a new mix from the In A Silent Way box set; and "Directions," an unreleased version from Live at the Fillmore East 1970.
The Clash
London Calling 2012 - 7" single - "London Calling" (2012 mix) and "London Calling" (2012 instrumental), two previously unreleased new mixes by Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Bill Price (engineer on the original "London Calling"). This Record Store Day exclusive features artwork images from Pennie Smith.
Patti Smith
Horses - 12" 120-gram vinyl LP - A pillar of the punk rock pantheon, this 1975 album from Patti Smith, her major label debut, helped her find a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Shuggie Otis
Inspiration Information c/w Magic - 7" single - This limited numbered edition on purple vinyl premieres "Magic," an unreleased diamond from Shuggie's personal archive.
Iggy and the Stooges
Raw Power - 12" 120-gram vinyl LPs (two disc set) - One of the most influential albums of all time, the 1973 cornerstone of punk on two discs: the original 1973 David Bowie mix on one, the 1997 Iggy Pop mix on the other. The gatefold set includes a 16-page booklet featuring rare photos and liner notes. Iggy Pop is serving as 2012 Record Store Day Ambassador.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Revelator- LIVE EP - CD single - Contains outstanding live versions of songs from Grammy-winning Revelator album handpicked from the band's triumphant 2011 tour. A first taste of TTB's upcoming live album, Everybody's Talkin', the Revelator LIVE EP includes an exclusive non-album performance and a $2 coupon redeemable on purchases of the album, coming May 22.
SOURCE Legacy Recordings
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album cover art of the day:
Dawn Of Demise Reveals New Album Artwork
Dawn of Demise have recently revealed the Marco Hasmann created cover artwork for the band's new album 'Rejoice in Vengeance, which is due out on Unique Leader Records this summer.
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Drive Vinyl Available For Pre-Order Now
Invada Records have revealed plans to release the soundtrack to Drive on vinyl this May, with copies available to pre-order now via their official site.
The records will be available on black heavyweight vinyl, pink vinyl or as a picture disk.
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from our friends at VinylRecordTalk
Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales - Week Ending 03/31/2012
Ok, this is trippy. A Butcher cover, though sealed sells for over $5k, and a "Please Please Me" 1st sells for under $2.5k. I'll call it an anomaly. If I see it three or more times I'll think about it as maybe bad taste, five or more its a trend if I like it or not. The Sun Ra LP was the coolest thing on the list this week.
1. LP - The Beatles "Yesterday And Today" Mono 1st State Butcher Cover Sealed - $5,101.99
2. LP - Sun Ra "Supersonic Jazz" Saturn - $2,500.00
3. LP - The Beatles "Please Please Me" Parlophone UK Gold Black label 1st Mono - $2,476.44
4. 45 - Scorpio and his People "The Unforgiven" / "Theme From The Movietown sound" - $2,300.00
5. 45 - Hopeton Lewis "Come Live It Up" / "She Is Gone" - $2,025.00
Vinyl Record Talk is Live on Radio Dentata on Tuesdays at 9pm ET / 6pm PT at www.radiodentata.com
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and in music history for april 2nd:
In 1942, Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, featuring trumpeter Billy May, recorded "American Patrol," their swing band version of a march tune written in 1885. The Miller single peaked at #15 in the summer of '42.
In 1955, Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Slim Whitman, Johnny Horton and Floyd Cramer all appeared on the Louisiana Hayride.
In 1956, in Memphis, Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two recorded "I Walk The Line." The single remained on the record charts for over 43 weeks, and sold over 2 million copies.
In 1957, Elvis Presley played before a combined audience of 23,000 people in two concerts at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The second of the concerts, for 15,000 fans, was the largest audience Elvis had faced to date. His opening acts included an Irish tenor, a tap dancer and a comedian who imitated a woman taking off a girdle. Presley performed formally outside the US only four times in his career - the two concerts in Toronto, one the following night in Ottawa, and one in Vancouver later in 1957.
In 1960, Lonnie Donegan becomes the first British artist to enter the UK chart at number one when "My Old Man's A Dustman" debuts at the top. The only previous artist to achieve this feat was Elvis Presley.
In 1964, Brian Wilson produced the instrumental track for the Beach Boys' "I Get Around." It was during this session that Brian Wilson dismissed his father Murry as the group's manager. The vocals were recorded during a session eight days later on April 10. The lead vocal features Mike Love on the verses and Brian Wilson on the choruses with backing vocals from Brian, Carl & Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Alan Jardine (the soaring falsetto is Brian Wilson). It became the group's first #1 hit in the US.
In 1964, Elvis Presley released the "Kissin' Cousins" movie soundtrack album.
In 1965, Freddie And The Dreamers recorded "Do The Freddie," a song that was put together quickly after American audiences wanted to know more about the swaying motion that lead singer Fred Garrity seemed to do on stage. Although it reached #18 in the US, it was dismissed as "silly" in the UK and never released.
Also in 1965, the UK music show Ready Steady Go! takes on a temporary name change to Ready Steady Goes Live!. Acts would now perform their songs live instead of miming to their records. The series ran until December 23rd, 1966, with the last show being titled Ready Steady Goes!.
In 1966, Jan & Dean, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas & the Papas, the Turtles, Otis Redding, Donovan and Bob Lind put on a charity concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
In 1966, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass became the first act to have four entries simultaneously in the Top 10 of the Billboard album chart.
In 1967, eighteen year old Steve Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group to join Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood in Traffic. Winwood had been with Spencer Davis since he was 15.
In 1967, at a Rolling Stones concert in Austria, a person threw a smoke bomb on the stage leading to a riot. 154 fans were arrested.
In 1968, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Paul Sauvé Arena in Montréal.
In 1969, Frank Sinatra's version of "My Way" entered the Billboard Hot 100 where it would rise to #27. In the UK, the song would spend an amazing 75 weeks in the Top 40, peaking at #5.
In 1969, the group Child, which included a young Bruce Springsteen, made their live debut in Wanamassa, NJ.
In 1970, Phil Spector completed final editing and mixing for the Beatles' 'Let It Be' album, 16 months after the "Get Back" project began.
In 1970, at Lyle Tuttle's shop on Seventh Street in San Francisco, Janis Joplin got two (and her only) tattoos – a Florentine bracelet on the outer part of her left wrist, and a little heart on one of her breasts. She explained, "See, the one on my wrist is for everybody, the one on my tit is for me and my friends, just a little treat for the boys, like icing on the cake."
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held a news conference in New York to discuss their appeal of the Immigration Department's decision to deport John.
On this day in 1973, "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence was the #1 song.
In 1974, the British pirate radio station Piccadilly Radio went on the air.
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumors' album went to #1 on the Billboard chart where it stayed for 31 weeks. Worldwide, the LP would sell over 25 million copies.
In 1987, U2 kicked off their 29-date North American Joshua Tree tour at the Arizona State Activity Centre. During the concert, Bono introduced a version of "Helter Skelter" by announcing "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We're stealing it back."
In 1987, jazz drummer Buddy Rich died of complications caused by a brain tumor at the age of 69.
In 1990, Eric Clapton was fined and lost his drivers license for three months after being clocked at 105 MPH.
In 1998, model/dancer/singer Rob Pilatus, one half of pop duo Milli Vanilli, was found dead in a Frankfurt Hotel room after apparently taking a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. He was 32.
In 1998, drummer (Venus) Cor van der Beek of the Shocking Blue died at the age of 49.
In 2001, Mariah Carey signed with Virgin for three albums in what was, at the time, the biggest recording deal in history.
In 2003, R&B singer Edwin Starr died following a heart attack at age 61.
In 2004, Paul Atkinson, guitarist for The Zombies, lost his battle with liver and kidney disease. He was 58. The band's biggest hits included "She's Not There", "Tell Her No" and "Time Of The Season."
In 2006, a John Lennon schoolbook containing the then-12-year-old's drawing of Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter" sold at auction for £126,500, ($239,733). The poem inspired Lennon to write the Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus." A ship's log book written by Lennon during a stormy trip to Bermuda in 1980 sold for £12,000, ($22,741). A letter from Paul McCartney to his bandmates Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr failed to get its £50,000, ($94,742) minimum required bid.
birthdays today include (among others): Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5) (33), Leon Russell (70), Emmylou Harris (65), David Robinson (Cars) (59) and Greg Camp (Smash Mouth) (45)
Happy Birthday to an old friend, the 45 rpm record officially turns 63 years old today!
The 45rpm record was initially introduced in 1949 by RCA Records as a smaller, more durable replacement for the heavy 78 shellac-based records of the time. The 45 was created by RCA as a competitive move against one their rival record companies, Columbia, which had just introduced the new microgroove 33 1/3 rpm LP. The number 45 came from taking 78 and subtracting Columbia's new 33 to equal the 45. Record companies and consumers alike faced an uncertain future as to which format would survive the 78rpm or the 45rpm; in what was known as the “War of the Speeds.” In 1949 Capitol and Decca started issuing the new LP format and RCA relented and issued its first LP in January 1950. But the 45 rpm was gaining in popularity and Columbia issued its first 45s in February 1951. Soon other record companies saw the mass consumer appeal the new format allowed and by 1954 more than 200 million 45s had been sold.
So On March 31, 1949, RCA Victor released "Texarkana Baby" b/w "Bouquet of Roses" by Eddy Arnold. The first 45 to hit the Billboard charts was "A -- You're Adorable" by Perry Como, listed on the charts on May 7, 1949. The next week, the year's biggest hit appeared on the Billboard charts -- "Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” by Vaughn Monroe. The first 45rpm records were monaural and as stereo sound became more prevalent and popular in the 1960s, almost all 45rpm records were manufactured in stereo.
The historical and commercial significance of the 45rpm record has varied over time, the technological developments in recorded music and according to the audience of the particular artists and musical genres. In general, 45 records were more important to the music acts who sold music to the younger audiences (mostly teenagers) who tend to have limited financial resources and shorter attention spans. That said, the golden age for the 45 was in the 1950s and 1960s in early development of rock music. They were affordable and allowed artists the freedom of releasing a single song as opposed to a whole LP. Conversely, some singles helped to launch the sales of the albums that the musicians were promoting.
The length of the songs also evolved. In the 1950s, it was common for songs to be anywhere from two to two and a half minutes long and in the 1960s; the three minute single became the norm. This length was very convenient and fit the AM radio format very well. Millions of demo records were sent out to radio stations with specific instructions as to which song was supposed to be the ‘hit single,’ although there were some DJs that played the ‘B’ sides and those songs became hits. Elvis Presley was one of the first artists to release the ‘double-sided single’, meaning that both songs would ultimately end up on the charts. The Beatles followed suit and were also one of the first recording artists to push the envelope, so to speak and commonly had songs over the three-minute norm. In fact, there are some singles that had to be edited by radio stations and shortened to fit their particular formats. Don McLean’s 1972 hit “American Pie” is an example, the single was split up into two parts on the 45. The Beatles broke new ground in 1968 with their over seven minute epic “Hey Jude.”
The sales of the 45s were recorded on the record charts in most countries in a Top 40 format and these charts were often published in magazines (Billboard), television shows (American Bandstand) and radio programs often had the Top 40 countdown shows (Casey Casem). However, the 45 rpm record can never duplicate the sales figures from when the format was in its heyday because when the 45 was at its peak, it was the way to get music to the music consumer. Today there are too many other formats competing for the music dollar.
Nowadays, they still manufacture 45 rpm records, but on a much smaller scale than decades ago. Indie bands, r&b artists and punk bands love the format; it makes the music affordable for their target audience and, after all these years, 45 rpm records are still highly sought after by record collectors. Happy Birthday to an old friend, here’s for many more!
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a few vinyl record reviews from our friends at audaud.com
Sarah Vaughan – Snowbound – Roulette R 52091/PurePleasure – vinyl
Sarah Vaughan matched with dreamy strings.
Published on March 25, 2012
Sarah Vaughan – Snowbound – Roulette R 52091/ PurePleasure PPAN R52091 (1962) 180gm audiophile stereo vinyl ****:
(Sarah Vaughan, vocals; unknown string section, woodwinds, and rhythm section; Strings arranged and conducted by Don Costa; Originally produced by Teddy Reig; re-mastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studio)
PurePleasure Records, from England, should be commended for re-issuing relatively ignored jazz issues from the 1950s and 1960s, and giving them the benefit of remastering in upgraded sound on 180gm vinyl.
Snowbound was issued during Vaughan’s years with Roulette Records which lasted from approximately 1960 to 1964. Most of Roulette’s issues were produced by Teddy Reig, an inimitable character, who was known for giving his label artists free rein to work their magic. That worked particularly well with the Count Basie Band.
For Snowbound, Sarah was matched with Don Costa, who did the arrangements and conducted the strings and woodwinds. For the eleven tracks on the album, largely ballad standards were chosen, such as “Stella by Starlight,” “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” and “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.”
Sarah’s gorgeous alto and vibrato are put to good use and she does not coast, simply content to earn an easy paycheck. For this ballad collection, Vaughan’s only rival would have been Ella Fitzgerald. Both could have sung from a phone book as their voices were so glorious.
Sassy has her fun with the Gershwin’s “Blah, Blah, Blah,” one of the overlooked compositions of the two brothers. The strings and woodwinds are unobtrusive and give Vaughan the minimal support she needs. They are there for mood setting, and that they do.
On “I Remember You” Sarah shows her ability to bend a vocal or extend with vibrato, a vocal phrase. Her voice was in her prime, and it is a joy today to hear her make each song her own. The remastering by Sean Magee, done at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, is firstrate. The strings and woodwinds are mixed perfectly for listening as they are perfectly set on the sound stage leaving Vaughan upfront, but neither overwhelming, nor so distant as to be irrelevant.
For fans of Ms. Vaughan, Snowbound would be a welcome addition to their collection of this jazz vocalist supreme.
TrackList:
Side 1: Snowbound, I Hadn’t Anyone ‘til You; What’s Good about Goodbye; Stella By Starlight; Look to Your Heart; Oh, You Crazy Moon
Side 2: Blah, Blah, Blah; I Remember You; I Fall in Love Too Easily; Glad to be Unhappy; Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
Cassandra Wilson – Blue Light ‘Til Dawn – Blue Note/ PurePleasure (2 vinyl discs)
Cassandra Wilson’s Blue Note debut in stunning audiophile clarity.
Published on March 25, 2012
Cassandra Wilson – Blue Light ‘Til Dawn – Blue Note/ PurePleasure PPAN 81357 – 180gm (2 discs) vinyl (1993) ****½:
(Cassandra Wilson, vocals; Brandon Ross, guitars; Charlie Burnham, violin & mandocello; Kenny Davis, bass; Tony Cedras, accordion; Lance Carter, drums & percussion; Olu Dara, cornet; Kevin Johnson, percussion; Vinx, percussion; Don Byron, clarinet; Bill McClellan, drums & percussion; Jeff Haynes and Cyro Baptista, percussion; Gib Wharton, pedal steel guitar; Lonnie Plaxico, bass; Chris Whitley, National resophonic guitar)
Cassandra Wilson’s debut for Blue Note Records, Blue Light ‘Til Dawn, recorded in 1993, was the breakout recording for Ms. Wilson. She had recorded for Brooklyn’s experimental M-Base collective and was finding her voice as a jazz singer when Blue Light was released. It became a hit and Wilson’s career really took off.
Blue Light was blues-oriented and covered an eclectic range of material ranging from legendary bluesman, Robert Johnson to compositions from Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell, while also paying homage to Ann Peebles’ soul classic, “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”
The British audiophile label Pure Pleasure has given Wilson’s album the royal audiophile LP treatment with re-mastering by Blue Note’s Ron McMaster, done at Capitol Studios. The CD release has been languorously stretched out over two LPs with none of the sides exceeding fifteen minutes.
Right off with the Side A initial track, “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” you immediately hear the improvement in acoustics. Cassandra’s smoky, sultry phrasing matched to the steel string guitar’s tone, and Charlie Burnham’s violin set a mood that grabs your attention and tells you something special is happening here. Wilson’s delivery is impeccable and heartfelt. The soundstage is wide and crystal clear.
Percussion, accordion, and various guitars contribute to the down home Robert Johnson classic, “Come On in My Kitchen.” Hand drums and percussion over the trap set add to the intimate feel. Philly soul gets a different treatment on Thom Bell’s “Children of the Night,” as Brandon Ross’ classical guitar is mixed with three percussionists into a heady mix of voodoo rhythms that Wilson’s vocals dart in and out matching the mood being set. Robert Johnson reappears on “Hellhound On My Trail.” Ross’ steel string guitar is mated with Olu Dara’s cornet, and you can sense the escapee just one step ahead of the hounds hot on his trail. Joni Mitchell’s “Black Crow” has more scene-setting as all six percussionists stir the pot while Don Byron’s clarinet provides fills. Wilson’s sultry voice captivates.
“Sankofa,” with an African theme, is a solo for Wilson, and her vocal mix tracks are sublime. Cyro Baptista’s percussion laden, “Estrellas” is ear candy for fans of drum rhythms. Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” has additional lyrics from “Angel” by Jimi Hendrix. A personal favorite of mine, Cassandra does Van straight ahead. Her vocal range and warm phrasing is so inviting, and Charlie Burnham’s violin solo is a nice touch.
Side D is closed with the title track, and “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” The former benefits from more percussion and Wilson tells the story of a passionate meeting between lovers. The pedal steel guitar of Gib Wharton and violin of Charlie Burnham contribute to the relaxed and potentially memorable late night meeting. Chris Whitley’s National resophonic guitar is the sole instrument Cassandra uses to interpret the latter soul classic. It is given an acoustic deep South blues reading and you can sense it being played in a juke joint at 2 AM.
If you want the “definitive” version of Blue Night ‘Til Dawn, wait no longer. PurePleasure Records’ double-LP issue is sonic bliss.
[Another testament to the superiority of carefully remastered vinyl. Perhaps the highest-res stereo digital has the capability of being closer to the original recording—whatever it is—but the aural artifacts of the best vinyl remain the most pleasing to most ears...Ed.]
TrackList:
Side A: You Don’t Know What Love Is, Come On in to My Kitchen, Tell Me You’ll Wait for Me
Side B: Children of the Night, Hellhound on My Trail, Black Crow
Side C: Sankofa, Estrellas, Redbone, Tupelo Honey
Side D: Blue Light ‘Til Dawn, I Can’t Stand the Rain
Duster Bennett – Smiling Like I’m Happy – Blue Horizon/ Pure Pleasure Records (vinyl)
Duster possessed an uncanny ability to play harmonica, guitar and bass drum simultaneously.
Published on March 30, 2012
Duster Bennett – Smiling Like I’m Happy – Blue Horizon (1968)/ Pure Pleasure Records (2011) 7-63208 180-gram stereo audiophile vinyl, 40:35 ***:
(Duster Bennett – harmonica, guitar, bass drum, high-hat cymbal; Stella Sutton – vocals; Peter Green – guitar; John McVie – bass; Mick Fleetwood – drums; Ham Richmond – piano)
The British blues scene thrived in the sixties. Popular rock groups like The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Animals and Led Zeppelin rebranded American blues and in some ways reintroduced it to their American fan base. However, there was a more traditional blues scene with the likes of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Long John Baldry and Fleetwood Mac. These bands thrived on the more austere parameters of this genre, without the guarantee of commercial success.
Among this hardcore blues establishment was a modern day one-man-band named Duster Bennett (not a bad moniker at that). He possessed an uncanny ability to play harmonica, guitar (a 1952 Les Paul Goldtop given to him by Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green) and bass drum simultaneously. Green and Top Topham performed with him on mostly original “Jimmy Reed” inspired material. Additionally he was a session player, recording with John Peel (Top Gear) and received some notoriety as an opening act and band member of Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1970. His career stalled in the seventies, but he remained popular on the local blues club circuit. Unfortunately in 1976 after performing with Memphis Slim, he died in a tragic car accident.
Pure Pleasure Records has re-mastered his 1968 Blue Horizon debut, Smiling Like I’m Happy to state-of-the-art 180-gram audiophile vinyl. Twelve concise tracks (40 minutes) of predominately original material is performed by the solitary blues band that is Duster Bennett. He is an energetic harp player as indicated by the opening track, “Worried Mind” and is credible as a singer. The format of bass drum-guitar-harmonica shifts between up tempo and slower numbers. However, this concept is hit-or-miss, occasionally affected by repetition. However, “Trying To Paint It In The Sky” is more nuanced with its slower groove, and “Country Jam” reinvigorates the record with frenetic play, while “Got A Tongue In Your Head” is effective driving, electric blues. “Life Is A Dirty Deal” attempts a “down and dirty” statement, but falls short.
Occasional piano runs by Bennett (under the alias, Ham Richmond) add some coloration, but not enough. On “Times Like These” he elicits a two-part harmony from girlfriend Stella Sutton which adds a touch of rootsy charm. The indisputable highlight is the track with Fleetwood Mac, “My Love Is Your Love” Mick Fleetwood and John McVie have always been one of the tightest rhythm sections to ever play and this anchors the tune. Peter Green’s crashing, searing guitar licks are noteworthy. Bennett executes some rolling barrelhouse piano chords and there is significant chemistry. More of this dynamic would have elevated the project.
Though uneven, Smiling Like I’m Happy” is an interesting glimpse of a peripheral contributor to British blues. Pure Pleasure Records has reproduced this album with excellent stereo separation and instrument tone (especially on the harmonica). The liner notes (from 1968) include a humorous description of how to play this stereo record on mono “reproducers”. [That’s strange—since the stereodisc came out in 1958...Ed.]
TrackList:
Side One: Worried Mind; Life Is A Dirty Deal; Country Jam; Trying To Paint It In The Sky; Times Like These; My Lucky Day
Side Two: Got a Tongue In Your Head; Jumping At Shadows; 40 Minutes From Town; Shame, Shame, Shame; My Love Is Your Love; Shady Little Baby
Nina Simone – Nina Live At The Village Gate – Colpix (1962)/ Pure Pleasure Records (vinyl)
The legendary jazz performer’s 1961 Village Gate set is brilliant.
Published on March 29, 2012
Nina Simone – Nina Live At The Village Gate – Colpix (1962)/ Pure Pleasure Records (2011) PPAN SCP 421 180gr audiophile stereo vinyl, 39:45 ****1/2:
(Nina Simone – piano, vocals; Al Schackman – guitar; Chris White – bass; Bob Hamilton – drums)
Eunice Kathleen Waymon (a.k.a. Nina Simone) did not seem destined to be the next great jazz/blues vocalist. She was a classical piano student, who did not get into Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music (an incident which sparked her predilection toward civil rights), but ended up at Juilliard in New York. Her lifetime appreciation of classical composers like Bach, Chopin, Brahms, Beethoven and Schubert provided a formal background that made her comfortable with jazz, r&b, gospel and popular music of the day.
As the story goes, a demo led to a deal with Bethlehem Records. The stunning debut included a memorable version of “I Loves You Porgy” from the Gershwin musical. Later recordings of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”, “I Put A Spell On You” and “Wild Is The Wind” enhanced her reputation as a versatile and daring performer. Simone’s albums have been released continuously, long after her passage. She is revered among musicians in numerous genres.
Nina Live At The Village Gate is an unusual live set that showcases the vocal and instrumental talent of this performer. The opening track “Just In Time” (from the Broadway play, Bells Are Ringing) sets the tone for this unpredictable artist. With her vibrato-alto, Simone removes the song from its popular origins and reinvents it with an edgy interpretation. Unlike her peers, she is an adept musician, combining rhythmic chords and individual notation with forceful technique. Her timing is never interrupted by having to sing and play concurrently. The piano accompaniment of “He Was Good To Me” reflects the classical training as it complements the jazzy nuanced vocals. Simone expresses heartbreak with wistful agony. On the sole instrumental, “Bye Bye Blackbird”, the virtuosity is displayed with transitions from harmonic piano runs to syncopated Monk riffs. Her ability to blend with the rhythm section or lead the group is impressive. There is no doubt that the audience is enthralled by her.
More than stylized covers of standards, the album unleashes some unexpected gems. “House Of The Rising Sun” reverts to 3/4 time as a folk song. Guitarist Al Schackman offers a nimble solo that is contrasted by the ethereal arrangement. Subsequent renditions by Bob Dylan (who allegedly based his 1961 version on this one) and The Animals (with their organ-laden 1964 hit) followed her lead and brought the Appalachian standard into modern context. Known for her dedication to civil rights, a topical bluesy “Brown Baby” features gospel styling and “voice effects”.
Embracing the jazz culture’s awareness of African culture, “Zunga” is revelatory. A chant-based work song from West Africa, Simone pieces together a lighthearted piano intro before morphing into the steady pulse of the number. It is difficult to compare this singer with others. She is truly unique, like a “singing method actor”. Her spirituality is always on display, especially on tracks like “If He Changed My Name” and “Children Go Where I Send You”.
Nina Live At The Village Gate exudes a raw energy—partly due to the live, in-person vinyl sonics—that brings a definitive spotlight to a jazz pioneer.
TrackList:
Side 1: Just In Time; He Was Good To Me; House Of The Rising Sun; Bye Bye Blackbird
Side 2: Brown Baby; Zungo; If He Changed My Name; Children Go Where I Send You
Special thanks to John at http://www.audaud.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.
AUDIOPHILE AUDITION focuses on recordings of interest to audiophiles and collectors, with an accent on surround sound for music, and on all hi-res disc formats. Over 100 SACD, DVD Video/Audio and standard CD reviews are published during each month, and our archives go back to January 2001.
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and in music history for march 31st:
In 1949, after nine years of development, RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm record, a 7-inch wonder promising better sound and easier playability than the current standard, the 10" 78 rpm record. It was also designed to compete with the Long Playing record introduced by Columbia a year earlier.
In 1956, eleven-year-old Brenda Lee made her television debut on ABC's "Ozark Jamboree," singing the Hank Williams song, "Jambalaya."
In 1957, billed as "the nation's only atomic-powered singer," Elvis Presley played two shows at Olympia Stadium in Detroit.
Also in 1957, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sun labelmates Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins began their only tour together.
In 1958, Chuck Berry released the single "Johnny B. Goode." The original lyrics referred to Johnny as a "colored boy," but, as Berry later explained, he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play. Rolling Stone magazine placed it at #1 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time."
In 1960, Hank Ballard and The Midnighters recorded "Finger Poppin' Time."
In 1962, the Shirelles released the single "Soldier Boy." i found a 45 rpm record on youtube!
In 1964, the Beatles set a recording industry record that may never be equaled. They held the top 5 positions on the US singles chart with "Can't Buy Me Love" at number 1, "Twist and Shout" at number 2, "She Loves You" at number 3, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at number 4 and "Please Please Me" at number 5. In Canada, they had nine of the Top 10 singles, while the Australian charts saw them occupying the first six places.
In 1966, the Elvis Presley film "Frankie and Johnny," co-starring Donna Douglas, Harry Morgan, Sue Ane Langdon, and Nancy Kovack, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.
Inj 1967, at the Finsbury Park Astoria Theatre in North London, Jimi Hendrix played his first UK concert on a bill with the Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens, and Englebert Humperdinck. It was also the first time Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage. He had to be taken to the hospital because of resulting burns to his hands.
In 1967, the final installment of "Where the Action Is," a weekday spin-off of "American Bandstand," aired on ABC-TV.
In 1969, John Lennon and his new wife Yoko Ono left their "bed-in" at the Amsterdam Hilton to make a quick trip to Vienna for the premiere of Yoko's new film "Rape," a trip detailed in the next Beatles single, "The Ballad Of John And Yoko."
In 1972, the official Beatles Fan Club disbanded. The Beatles Monthly magazine had ceased three years previously.
Television appeared at CBGB’s in New York City in 1974.
In 1977, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the intermission of Elvis Presley's concert, he became too ill to return to the stage. The show was cancelled and Elvis was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Memphis the following day, suffering from fatigue and intestinal flu.
In 1978, Wings released their 'London Town' album.
In 1982, the Doobie Brothers announced their break-up after 12 years of performing together.
In 1984, Kenny Loggins started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Footloose” – the theme from the film with the same name, a #6 hit in the UK.
In 1986, O'Kelly Isley of The Isley Brothers died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 48. As a trio, the Isleys started as a Gospel group in the early 1950s, switching to R&B in the latter half of the decade. Their first big hit was "Shout" in 1959, followed in 1962 by the original version of "Twist and Shout", later covered by the Beatles. The Isley Brothers' biggest hit came in 1969 with the million-selling "It's Your Thing."
In 1987, Prince released his "Sign O' The Times" album.
In 1989, the World's Largest Twist Party took place when 2,248 twisters joined singer Chubby Checker at Disneyland as part of their "Blast to the Past" celebration.
In 1990, at the Starplex Amphitheater in Dallas, Cher began her 55-date Heart of Stone World Tour, which grossed more than $70 million.
In 1992, Def Leppard released 'Adrenalize,' their fifth studio album and the first since the 1991 death of guitarist Steve Clark.
In 1994, Madonna made a memorable visit to "The Late Show With David Letterman" on CBS-TV. The network had to delete 13 offending words from the audio track before the show aired. She also handed Letterman a pair of her panties. Robin Williams later described the segment as a "battle of wits with an unarmed woman."
In 1995, the singer Selena was killed at age 23 by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar. In 1997, Warner Brothers made a film based on Selena's life starring Jennifer Lopez.
In 1995, a member of the audience rushed the stage at a Jimmy Page/Robert Plant concert at the Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Detroit, with intent to stab guitarist Page "to end his Satanic music." Two security guards who apprehended the would-be assassin were stabbed instead, but they recovered from their injuries.
In 2006, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry announced that digital music sales almost tripled around the world in 2005, reaching $1.1 billion in value.
In 2007, a new world record for the longest non-stop concert was set by hundreds of musicians in Japan. The performance began on the evening of March 23 in the city of Omi, with musicians between the ages of six and 96 taking turns with more than 2,000 tunes being performed over 182 hours. Organizers praised the musicians, one of whom carried on despite a major earthquake during her piano piece. The previous world record was set in Canada in 2001 with 181 hours. why?....
birthdays today include: Mick Ralphs, guitar, Mott the Hoople, Bad Company (1944), trumpeter Herb Alpert (1935) and Angus Young of AC/DC (1955)
yeah, yeah, i know, way off topic for our little blog, but......someday......i actually spent $2, did I increase my chances? (plus i like to daydream about how i could spend the money....)
Mega Millions jackpot increases to $640 million
MARGERY A. BECK, Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Lottery ticket lines swelled Friday as players drawn by a record $640 million Mega Millions jackpot cast aside concerns about odds to take a chance at becoming an overnight millionaire.
From Arizona, where a café worker reported selling $2,600 worth of tickets to one buyer, to Wisconsin, where a retired soldier doubled his regular weekly ticket spending to $55, people have been willing to test their luck for a shot at instantaneous wealth.
"I feel like a fool throwing that kind of money away," said Jesse Carter, whose two tickets purchased Friday at a Milwaukee grocery store brought his spending to $55 for the drawing. "But it's a chance you take in life, with anything you do."
ran into this story about a man and a record label:
Four Men With Beards: Rescuing Classic Out-of-Print Releases From the Archives
By Sam Lefebvre
Categories: Label Sampler
Filippo Salvadori of 4 Men With Beards
Many local labels are offering obscure reissues and innovative new releases on all conceivable formats. Label Sampler will profile a different Bay Area record company every other week.
Name: 4 Men With Beards
Owner: Filippo Salvadori
Founded: 2001
Headquarters: San Rafael
Creation story: 4 Men With Beards is a vinyl-only reissue imprint under the banner of Runt Distribution, which Salvadori founded in Italy in the mid-90's. Runt -- named not for its size nor Salvadori's ambitions, but rather the Todd Rundgren LP of the same title -- is the parent company of DBK Works and Water and Plain Recordings, amongst others. But we chose to focus on 4 Men With Beards, which Salvadori established in 2001 with the sole intent of reissuing of favorite LPs that were often stagnating intolerably in the archives of major labels.
Banda de la Muerte Album Cover Art & Limited Edition Vinyl
Banda de la Muerte has recently released its second album called 'Pulso de una Mente Maldita.' The record will also be released as a limited edition of 500 12” black vinyl copies and will be available for fans in Europe and North America via Clear Spot on April 20th and in South America via Zonda Records in May.
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i never liked clowns......
U.D.O.: 'Celebrator' Cover Artwork Unveiled
U.D.O., the German metal band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, will release a "rare-tracks" album with some very special gems for the fans. Entitled "Celebrator", the effort will be made available on May 4 via AFM Records. The full track listing will be announced next week.
FEAR FACTORY today reveals cover and package details for their forthcoming new album, The Industrialist. Set for North American release on June 5, The Industrialist is a conceptual record based around a story written by vocalist Burton C. Bell. Lyrics to the album’s ten songs divulge the narrative as discussed recently by Bell with Decibel Magazine. The album’s artwork was created by American designer Anthony Clarkson with additional direction from the band. The album will be available on three formats – standard CD, a limited edition deluxe digi-book (featuring two additional songs), and 180-gram double vinyl.
Bell notes, “the protagonist (The Industrialist) is the incarnation of all industries in the form of an automaton. The mechanical, technological, and scientific advances through the industrial age led to the creation of The Industrialist. In the story, the automaton becomes sentient as it collects memories with each passing day. Through observation and learning, it gains the will to exist. What was meant to help man, will eventually be man’s demise.”
Derek Riggs: Iron Maiden Album Cover Artist Interviewed
gbarton
“I never got very much feedback from Iron Maiden about what was going on. I just spent my time at home painting pictures.” Come inside for an interview with the legendary Derek Riggs, the artist behind Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast album cover artwork – and a whole lot more besides.
Generally when it came to artwork for Iron Maiden, were you given free reign to do what you wanted, or did the band give you any sort of steer?
I have ideas that work the way I see them; they have a song. Usually I just got the song title and some idea of what it was about, I very seldom got any lyrics, usually lyrics are not very helpful anyway. The pictures and the songs have to come together in some way, so the pictures have to be slanted so that they fit in with the song title. Sometimes that means changing it a lot, sometimes surprisingly little.
Louis Armstrong's Final Recorded Trumpet Performance To Be Released to Public for First Time
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What if your favorite musician could return from the great beyond and play one last set that would, for a moment, make his music live again? And what if the music were new – something you have never heard before? It would be a moment to savor.
Well for those of you who are waiting for Elvis or John Lennon to return, you might have to keep waiting. But for those of you who long to hear the music of the greatest trumpeter of all time, Louis Armstrong, just one more time your dreams may be answered. And you should come to the National Press Club on April 27 for what is sure to be a memorable and historic occasion. On that day there will be a news conference followed by a panel discussion followed by a reception. Details will be released as the date gets closer.
Officials from the National Press Club, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and the Louis Armstrong Foundation will announce their agreement to release a recording made on January 29, 1971 in the Ballroom of the National Press Club. The live recording is one of the last times Armstrong played his trumpet in public and is believed to be his last recorded trumpet performance. The recording was made into a limited edition record with only 300 copies most of which have vanished into attics. For several years a determined group of Press Club members have been working with their partners at Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to bring the music to the public. Now, with the help of the Louis Armstrong Foundation, the moment has arrived.
On April 24, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the national museum, will release "Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours" on CD and digital download via www.folkways.si.edu and retailers including iTunes and Amazon as well as the streaming services. The album release is part of the Smithsonian Institution's celebration of the 11th annual Jazz Appreciation Month.
Armstrong agreed to perform at the 1971 inaugural party of incoming National Press Club President Vernon Louviere who was a Washington correspondent but a native of Louisiana. At the time he was booked, Mr. Armstrong's health was poor. He had not played trumpet for much of 1970 and his shows were mostly 10 minutes of singing. So the Press Club crowd expected to hear Louis sing a couple of songs. But Armstrong packed his horn when he traveled to Washington. He was feeling better and ready to play.
January 29, 1971 was a gala evening at the Press Club. The master of ceremonies for the event was the British Journalist David Frost. The crowd of journalists, dressed in black tie, had a real sense that they were about to witness history. Louis responded to the crowd's enthusiasm with more than 30 minutes of spirited singing, scat and to everyone's great surprise, trumpet. His trumpet was only to be recorded two other times: during a taped television show with David Frost; and on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson before a studio audience. It is believed that neither was turned into a recording offered to the public.
SOURCE National Press Club
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CINDERELLA Announce Tour Dates
Philadelphia-based rockers CINDERELLA have announced a few live dates for this summer:
June 21 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH 22 - River Roar - Bay City, MI 26 - Bergen PAC - Englewood, NJ 27 - Turning Stone - Verona, NY 29 - Hampton Beach Casino - Hampton, NH
July 1 - Penns Peak - Jim Thorpe, PA
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Alice Cooper Archive Burglary
Alice Cooper is asking his fans to help find priceless items of memorabilia which were stolen from his this past Tuesday.
Thieves broke into the storage facility in Los Angeles which houses the Alice Cooper Archives and made off with a number of original vinyl records and a sculpture featured on the cover of the star's 1991 album 'Hey Stoopid.' The idiots also took a jacket worn by Cooper during an appearance in 1992 movie 'Wayne's World.' A message posted on Cooper's official website is asking fans to keep an eye out for anyone trying to sell the unique piece.
"The storage facility in Los Angeles which houses the Alice Cooper Archives was broken into on March 27, along with three other storage units. A police report has been filed... With multiple units broken into, we don't believe Alice's Archives was specifically targeted."
"If anyone sees anything suspicious or hears anything about these stolen items - especially on the internet or in Los Angeles - please let us know...
"The jacket in question is in fact the John Richmond jacket, better known as the one worn in Wayne's World. It's one of a kind, and is unmistakable. If you see anyone selling it, please write to us immediately!"
Second Nature will be reissuing Isis “The Red Sea” on limited colored vinyl April 21, 2012. This pressing will include the original 4 tracks from The Red Sea EP and will also include 4 demos from 1998 on the b side.
Comes complete with the 1999 RED SEA ep tracks on side one and 4 tracks from a 1998 demo as the B-side. LIMITED Record Store Day REPRESS ON translucent RED or White/Black VINYL!
A recording taken from a WMMS radio broadcast of a Rush performance in Cleveland in 1974.
Recorded during the first ever Rush tour of the US in 1974, the tour was also the first with the band's enigmatic drummer/lyricist, Neal Peart.
ABC 1974 is a 180gm double black vinyl release, with gatefold packaging, featuring tracks from the band's debut and the then unreleased Fly By Night, as well as three previously unavailable pieces (Fancy Dancer, Garden Road and a cover of Larry Williams' Bad Boy).
A fascinating glimpse into the early work of a Progressive institution.
Pre-order now for 16th April release date
Side 1: 1. Finding My Way 2. The Best I Can 3. Need Some Love 4. In The End
Side 2: 5. Fancy Dancer 6. In The Mood 7. Bad Boy 8. Here Again
Side 3: 9. Working Man 10. Drum Solo 11. What Youre Doing
Side 4: 12. Garden Road 13. Anthem 14. Beneath, Between & Behind 15. Fly By Night
In 1957, Buddy Knox became the first artist in the Rock 'n' Roll era to write his own number one hit when "Party Doll" topped the Billboard chart. Buddy would go on to place four more songs in the Top 40 between 1957 and 1961.
In 1958, Little Richard had his final US Top 10 hit with "Good Golly Miss Molly". The song was from his last recording sessions for Specialty Records, after which he recorded a series of Gospel songs.
In 1962, the Russian newspaper Pravda warns communist youths about the dangers of dancing the Twist.
In 1963, 16 year-old Lesley Gore records her breakthrough hit, "It's My Party". Producer Quincy Jones hurried Gore into the studio when he found out that Phil Spector was going to cut the song with The Crystals. The single would reach #1 in the US and #9 in the UK.
Also in 1963, the Chiffons enjoy the first of their five Billboard Top 40 hits when "He's So Fine" climbs to #1. In the UK, it reached #16.
In 1967, during an appearance by Jimi Hendrix on 'Top Of The Pops', a technician put on the backing track of Alan Price's 'Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear', to which Hendrix responded 'I don't know the words to this one man.'
In 1967, Cindy Birdsong, formerly of Patti LaBelle's Bluebelles, was asked to fill in for Florence Ballard of The Supremes after Ballard missed a number of shows in New Orleans, Los Angeles and Montreal. Birdsong became a permanent member a few months later.
In 1967, the photo session took place at Chelsea Manor studios in London with Michael Cooper for the cover of The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper's' album. After the shoot The Beatles resumed work at Abbey Road studios on ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ adding guitars, bass, tambourine, and backing vocals. The session began at 11:00 pm and ends at 7:30 am.
In 1969, after having two giant hits with "The Letter" (#1) and "Cry Like A Baby" (#2), The Box Tops' "Sweet Cream Ladies" tops out at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. They would reach #18 later in the year with "Soul Deep", their final Top 40 entry.
In 1970, Led Zeppelin stoped a show in Pittsburgh, saying they won't continue until the police stop harassing the audience.
In 1971, six months after his death, Jimi Hendrix's album, 'The Cry of Love' is certified Gold.
In 1974, nine weeks after entering the Hot 100, John Denver's "Sunshine On My Shoulders" goes to #1. John would later say that he wrote the song on a day that it was pouring rain.
In 1985, Phil Collins started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "One More Night", his second US chart topper. The song reached #4 in the UK.
In 1989, Gladys Knight performs without the Pips for the first time since grammar school at a show at Bally's in Las Vegas.
In 1992, the soundtrack to 'Wayne's World' was the number 1 album in the US. It featured the return to the charts of Queen's, "Bohemian Rhapsody", actually making the song a bigger hit the second time around. Tracks by Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, as well as a new version of "Dream Weaver" from Gary Wright, were also included on the LP.
In 1991, Gloria Estefan started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Coming Out Of The Dark," a #25 hit in the UK.
Also in 1991, the Eurythmics started a nine-week run at #1 on the UK album chart with their 'Greatest Hits' LP.
In 1992, R.E.M. started recording sessions for their 'Automatic For The People' album at Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York.
In 1994, Pink Floyd played their first concert in more than five years, opening a North American tour before more than 55,000 fans in Miami.
In 1996, The Beatles had the #1 album on the UK chart with "Anthology 2".
In 1999, Kiss cancels three shows in Russia due to growing anti-American sentiments due to the bombing of Yugoslavia.
In 2000, Castle music was sold to the Sanctuary Music group for £40 million. Castle owned the rights to all The Kinks back catalogue.
In 2004, Timi Yuro passed away at the age of 62. She began singing in her family's restaurant when she was a child and signed with Liberty Records when she turned 18. During the next five years, Timi reached the US charts nine times, including "Hurt", which climbed to #4 in the US in 1961, as well as "Make The World Go Away" and "What's A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)". She was troubled by throat problems throughout her career and retired from performing in the 1970s. In 1981, "Hurt" resurfaced in the Netherlands and went to #1, prompting Timi to return to the stage where she played to sold out audiences across Europe. In 2002 she was diagnosed with throat cancer and an inoperable brain tumor. She died in her sleep at her Las Vegas home.
Vinyl Art by Daniel Edlen
In 2004, at a restaurant near Lake Tahoe, the jazz trio house band was shocked when Paul McCartney stepped onstage to join them for a rendition of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."
In 2007, a man was arrested after trying to force his way into Paul McCartney's mansion, screaming: "I must get to him." The man, driving at high speeds, burst through security patrols and drove across fields and gardens until he was finally halted by trees and a fence just yards from Sir Paul's six-bedroom home at Peasmarsh. The man fled as teams of police arrived, but gave himself up after a three-mile chase. He was later detained under the Mental Health Act and did not face any criminal charges.
In 2010, sixteen-year-old Justin Bieber's "My World 2.0" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, making him the youngest solo male artist to reach the top of the chart since 1963 when 13-year-old Stevie Wonder was at #1 with his album, "Little Stevie Wonder/The 12 Year Old Genius."
In 2011, the Australian band Men at Work lost a Federal Court appeal of a ruling which found their 1983 hit single "Down Under" was partly copied from a Folk song called "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree". The decision cleared the way for copyright owners Larrikin Music to claim millions of dollars in unpaid royalties from "Down Under" writers Colin Hay and Ron Strykert.
birthdays today include (among others): Graeme Edge (Moody Blues) (71), Eric Clapton (67), James "Jim Dandy" Mangrum (Black Oak Arkansas) (64), Dave Ball (Procol Harum) (62), David Ball (Soft Cell) (53), MC Hammer (born Stanley Burrell) (50), Tracy Chapman (48), Joey Castillo (Queens of the Stone Age) (46), Celine Dion (44), Mark McClelland (Snow Patrol) (36) and Norah Jones (33)
DEAR JERRY:Last year, in your detailed history of the first 101 long-playing records, I noticed not a one of them was a various artists compilation.
How long after this introductory batch, from Columbia in 1948, did it take for someone to come up with an LP of hits by several different artists?
My first exposure to this format came in 1959, when a high school classmate brought “Oldies But Goodies” to school and was showing it around.
I was instantly hooked. You got 12 great songs for the price of three singles.
Also, what was the first rock or R&B compilation? —Ronald Gersdorf, Terre Haute, Ind.
DEAR RONALD: Once Columbia introduced the long-play format, the task was not coming up with records featuring more than just one performer. The labels had been doing that since the mid-'40s, creating multi-disc sets of 78 rpms.
Rather, all they had to do was select which of their previously-issued shellac sets they wanted to reissue on 10-inch vinyl records. Columbia also opened this door in 1948, with “Theme Songs,” their 16th “Long-Playing Microgroove” (CL-6016) album. In what could be dubbed the first ever concept LP, this is a collection of the theme songs of eight of Columbia's big band leaders: Frankie Carle (“Sunrise Serenade”); Claude Thornhill (“Snowfall”); Xavier Cugat (“My Shawl”); Elliot Lawrence (“Heart to Heart”); Gene Krupa (“Starburst”); Les Brown (“Leap Frog”); Dick Jurgens (“Day Dreams Come True at Night”); and Ray Noble (“The Very Thought of You”). And of course it is one of the first 101.
In 1949, Columbia issued their first compilation to include pop vocalists, “Popular Favorites” (CL-6057). Here the featured performers are: Frank Sinatra; Dinah Shore; Doris Day; Arthur Godfrey; Dorothy Shay; and Les Brown.
Columbia must have been quite pleased with this entry's sales, because over the next five years they cranked out nine more volumes in the “Popular Favorites” series. Having 10 volumes (80 tracks) gave Columbia the chance to include most of the big name acts in their stable at the time.
Not one of the “Popular Favorites” series, but also from Columbia in 1949, is “Everybody Polka” (CL-6116), on which everybody does exactly that.
Meanwhile, over at Mercury Records, the first of 15 volumes of Norman Granz' “Jazz at the Philharmonic” went on sale. Newer volumes were later added, but in the 12-inch format.
In 1950, both Capitol (“History of Jazz”) and Decca (“Gems of Jazz”) jumped in with four-volume jazz comps. Two years later, Capitol put together a 10-volume series, “Today's Top Hits by Today's Top Artists,” as did RCA Victor in 1954, “Honor Roll of Hits (1926-1945).”
Among other labels with early 10-inch various artists compilations, and the year of their first, are: (1949) Folkways; Stinson; (1950) Brunswick; MGM; (1951) Modern; Savoy; (1952) Jazztone (1953); Blue Note; Blue Ribbon; Dial; Elektra; and Norgran.
The first 10-inch vinyl R&B comp is a 1951 release, appropriately titled “Rhythm and Blues” (Savoy 15008), and features Paul Williams; Big Jay McNeeley; Bill Moore; Hal Singer; and Milton Buckner.
Unlike most of the others referenced above, generally valued at less than $100, “Rhythm and Blues” can fetch over $200.
The earliest R&R and R&B compilation is “Rock 'n Roll with Rhythm and Blues” (Aladdin LP-710). This 1955 collection, Aladdin's first long-play in the 12-inch format, includes: Charles Brown; Gene & Eunice; Lynn Hope; Helen Humes; Richard Lewis; Amos Milburn; Peppermint Harris; Shirley & Lee; and the Five Keys.
Obviously collectible for multiple reasons, this legendary LP can sell for $600 to $800.
IZ ZAT SO? Art Laboe's first five “Oldies But Goodies” albums all made the Top 20, further ensuring that “oldies but goodies” could signify any memorable tune of the past.
The first various artists compilation to reach No. 1, where it remained for nine weeks in 1961, is in fact a catalog sampler.
Titled “Stars for a Summer Night” (Columbia PM-1), its original intent was to drive non-rock music lovers to record retailers to purchase any of 26 recent Columbia LPs, 13 pop or easy listening, and 13 classical.
Fueled by a low price — $1.98 for two discs in mono, $2.98 in stereo — sales went through the roof. After only 10 weeks, Columbia reported sales of over 500,000 units.
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 2012 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission
