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On August 30th the CVR blog ran a press release of RAZOR & TIE's re-issue of these classic Emerson Lake & Palmer LPs
The CVR blog has obtained advance copies straight from Razor and Tie Marketing Director Bob Hoch!!
These copies (one of each) will be given away to the fifth email (who gets the debut ELP set) and the seventh email (who gets the Tarkus set) to rbenson30@wi.rr.comwith the words "Razor &Tie ELP Re-Issue Contest" in the subject line (one email entry per email address please - US entrants only) Contest is time sensitive, so get your entry in today!
RAZOR & TIE RE-ISSUES OF LEGENDARY PROG ROCKERS EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER’S DEBUT ALBUM AND TARKUS.
BOTH ALBUMS AVAILABLE AS 3-DISC DELUXE SETS ON SEPTEMBER 25th
Both records will be available as 3-disc deluxe editions containing never before released 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo Mixes, including previously unheard out-takes. Three time Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Steven Wilson (who has also recently remixed classic albums by Jethro Tull and King Crimson for acclaimed 40th anniversary editions) worked from the original Greg Lake produced multi-track tapes to remix both albums.
Considered by many to be one of rock’s original first super-groups, Emerson Lake & Palmer formed in England in 1970 consisting of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (bass guitar, vocals, guitar) and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion). The band created a brand new world of music, combining classical and symphonic rock fused with beautiful vocals. Their penchant for appropriating themes from classical music and the group’s more nuanced, textured approach to symphonic arrangements set ELP apart from their more bombastic guitar-based contemporaries of the time. This subtler and more sublime approach carries on today in the expansive atmospherics of Radiohead and Muse and also in the prog-influenced sphere of band’s like Porcupine Tree, Dream Theatre, Opeth and many others, making ELP one of the more relevant torchbearers of the progressive rock sound. Along with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and Rush, Emerson Lake and Palmer ushered in the Prog era and as one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 1970’s having sold over 40 million albums.
Razor & Tie’s full catalogue re-issue campaign will continue with the release of newly expanded, re-mastered, editions of four additional ELP classic albums: Pictures At An Art Exhibition (1971- Live Album), Trilogy (1972- Studio Album), Brain Salad Surgery (1973- Studio Album), and Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends – Ladies & Gentlemen (1974- Live Album).
Fans can also purchase Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Tarkus deluxe editions at elp.merchnow.com where the albums will be bundled with a variety of ELP t-shirts perfect for any collector. Pre-orders are available now for the deluxe albums, vinyl re-presses and a selection of Emerson, Lake & Palmer t-shirts.
DEAR JERRY: Now that Blake Shelton, with "Over," and his wife Miranda Lambert, with "Fastest Girl in Town," are both on the Billboard singles chart, a new question has arisen.
How common is it to find both husband and wife on either the pop or country charts at the same time? I doubt Blake and Miranda are the first.
After an exhaustive online search, I can tell you this information does not exist. I think you're on your own.
Even less likely would be three different hits at the same time, one by each person and a third with them together. Has that ever happened?
—Pauline Huntington, Bloomington, Ind.
DEAR PAULINE: Once again, necessity proves to be the mother of invention. If it doesn't exist, we'll build it.
Beginning with the STC (Spousal Trifecta Challenge), a review of about a hundred years of popular music turned up five months during which the husband and the wife each had a solo hit, and another one as a duo.
Chronologically, they are:
Feb. 1939: Mildred Bailey ("Blame It on My Last Affair") - Red Norvo ("I Get Along Without You Very Well") - Mildred & Red ("I Go for That")
Aug. 1965: Sonny ("Laugh at Me") - Cher ("All I Really Want to Do") - Sonny & Cher ("Baby Don't Go")
Feb. 1972: George Jones ("We Can Make It") - Tammy Wynette ("Til I Get It Right") - George Jones & Tammy Wynette ("Take Me")
Sept. 1979: Louise Mandrell ("I Never Loved Anyone Like I Love You") - R.C. Bannon ("Winners and Losers") - Louise Mandrell & R.C. Bannon ("Reunited")
May 1998: Faith Hill ("This Kiss") - Tim McGraw ("One of These Days") - Faith Hill & Tim McGraw ("Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me")
Slightly more common are spouses with simultaneous solo hits, as in the Blake-Lambert example. Besides the above five, here are 16 more:
Feb. 1959: Carl Smith ("The Best Years of Your Life") - Goldie Hill ("Yankee, Go Home")
Oct. 1961: Skeeter Davis ("Optimistic") - Ralph Emery ("Hello Fool")
Jan. 1963: Steve Lawrence ("Go Away Little Girl") - Eydie Gorme ("Blame It on the Bossa Nova")
Aug. 1965: Johnny Wright ("Hello Vietnam") - Kitty Wells ("Meanwhile, Down at Joe's")
Sept. 1965: Merle Haggard ("I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can") - Bonnie Owens ("Number One Heel")
May 1967: Andy Williams ("Music to Watch Girls By") - Claudine Longet ("Hello Hello")
April 1971: Johnny Cash "Man in Black") - June Carter Cash ("A Good Man")
Dec. 1972: James Taylor ("Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight") - Carly Simon ("You're So Vain")
Nov. 1974: Barry White ("You're the First, the Last, My Everything") - Glodean James (of Love Unlimited) ("I Belong to You")
Sept. 1975: Waylon Jennings ("Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way") - Jessi Colter ("What's Happened to Blue Eyes")
Jan. 1981: John Lennon ("Woman") - Yoko Ono ("Walking on Thin Ice")
Oct. 1981: Rosanne Cash ("My Baby Thinks He's a Train") - Rodney Crowell ("Stars on the Water")
Dec. 1982: Ricky Skaggs ("I Wouldn't Change You if I Could") - Sharon White (of the Whites) ("Hangin' Around")
July 1994: Trisha Yearwood ("XXX's and OOO's [An American Girl])" - Robert Reynolds (of the Mavericks) ("O What a Thrill")
Sept. 2006: Jessica Simpson ("A Public Affair") - Nick Lachey ("I Can't Hate You Anymore")
If others are discovered, we will add them to the list for future music and marital scholars.
IZ ZAT SO? In only one of our spousal trifecta entries did all three records make the Top 10, but not at the same time:
No. 1: Faith Hill ("This Kiss") - No. 2: Tim McGraw ("One of These Days") - No. 3: Faith Hill & Tim McGraw ("Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me")
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
2012 PROVES BANNER YEAR FOR AMERICAN ROCK BAND HEART WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM & HARDCOVER MEMOIR ARRIVING THIS FALL
LEGACY RECORDINGS RELEASING FANATIC, THE HARD-ROCK SUCCESSOR TO 2010's TOP 10 DEBUT RED VELVET CAR, ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2
"Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul and Rock and Roll," The Revelatory Memoir by Ann & Nancy Wilson On Sale Tuesday, September 18
With Heart's Fanatic, a new studio album, and Kicking and Dreaming, an insiders' memoir, arriving this fall, 2012 is shaping up as a banner year for the iconic American band who--beginning with hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," and "Barracuda" in the mid-1970s running through 2010's Red Velvet Car--have created an enduring catalog of bona fide stadium rock classics and power ballads while establishing a lasting template for women in rock.
Fanatic, Heart's 14th studio album, arrives Tuesday, October 2. The group's second full-length studio album for Legacy, Fanatic premieres 10 new essential performances from sisters Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson on songs including "Fanatic," "Dear Old America," "Walkin' Good" (featuring Sarah McLachlan), "Skin and Bones," "Million Miles," "Pennsylvania," "Mashallah," "Rock Deep (Vancouver)," "59 Crunch," and "Corduroy Road."
The first album of new music from Ann and Nancy Wilson since 2010's Red Velvet Car had its Top 10 debut in 2010,Fanatic was recorded in hotel rooms and studios up and down the West Coast, with Grammy-winning producer Ben Mink back at the helm with the Wilson sisters drawing from their own lives and personal experiences as inspiration for their music. "Dear Old America" comes from memories of a military household and is written from the point of view of their father, a Marine Corps officer, returning from war ("When I get home, I'm going to own this town/Shine this medal/Wear that crown…."); "Rock Deep (Vancouver)" harkens back to the city where Dreamboat Annie was written; and "Walkin' Good" (a duet with Vancouver resident Sarah McLachlan) captures the joy of finding new life in a new love.
The title song is a celebration of the Wilson's life spirit: Ann and Nancy are fanatics about love, art, truth, and the belief that they can do anything together they set their minds to. Fans looking for a first taste of Fanatic can check out the title track on YouTube.
"What a crazy year we are having," said Ann Wilson. "Our box set, Strange Euphoria, and our book, Kicking and Dreaming, each tell the story of our lives so far, personally and musically. Our new album, Fanatic, tells our story as it is now and brings it all up-to-the-minute. What a thrill to have worked with both Charles Cross and Ben Mink respectively on these, and of course to touch the musical magic Nancy and I have always shared together. Anybody want to RAWK??"
Released in 2010, Fanatic's predecessor, Red Velvet Car (the first new studio album in six years from the groundbreaking Seattle-based band) entered the Billboard 200 best-selling album charts at #10, becoming the seventh Top 10 album of Heart's career. Heart's critically-acclaimed first album for Legacy Recordings marked the return of Heart to the Sony Music Entertainment family, reaching #1 in sales on Amazon.com on Sunday, September 5.
On June 5, Epic Records/Legacy Recordings released Strange Euphoria, the first definitive career-spanning, multi-label boxed set retrospective chronicling the seminal American rock band Heart, personally curated by Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson.
A carefully-considered anthology of biggest hits and best-loved songs set alongside deep catalog treasures, rarities, demos and live performances, Strange Euphoria includes three compact discs and one DVD in a deluxe box.
Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson, first showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the '70s with hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," "Barracuda," "Straight On," "Even It Up," "Kick It Out" and many more. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments, making them the first women in rock to do so. Heart continued topping the charts through the '80s and into the '90s with huge hits like "These Dreams," "Alone," "Never," and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters' enormous talents as both musicians and singers. Along the way, Heart sold more than 35 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and profoundly influenced the sound and direction of American rock music while inspiring women (and guys too!) around the world to rock out in bands of their own.
Heart were 2008 recipients of VH1 Rock Honors, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northwest Grammy Foundation, and received ASCAP's award for Excellence in Songwriting in 2009.
What's made Heart endure across four decades and 14 studio albums, from Dreamboat Annie (1976) through 2012's Strange Euphoria and Fanatic is simply the quality of the music and the Wilsons' deep connection to the emotions, psyches and experiences of their fans.
Heart will be touring throughout the summer and fall (June 29-November 17). Alejandro Escovedo and Shawn Colvin will be supporting in October and November respectively. This fall , Ann and Nancy Wilson will be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (followed by a live concert webcast).
Tuesday, September 18 marks the publication of the HarperCollins hardcover edition of Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul and Rock and Roll, the avidly-awaited insider's memoir penned by Ann & Nancy Wilson with noted Seattle-based author Charles R. Cross ("Room Full of Mirrors - A Biography of Jimi Hendrix"; "Heavier Than Heaven" - a biography of Kurt Cobain).
Since finding their love of music and performing as teenagers in Seattle, Washington, Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson have been an influential part of the rock music landscape. From 70s classics like "Magic Man" and "Barracuda" to chart- topping 80s ballads like "Alone" up to 2012's Fanatic, Heart continues as an ongoing force in pop culture, inspiring women and men alike with the power and beauty of their music.
Despite their massive success, Ann and Nancy have always faced a different kind of scrutiny than their male counterparts in hard-rock and metal band, and had to face questions that no male rock star ever would be asked. Kicking and Dreaming allows Ann and Nancy to communicate as directly with the reader as their songs do with fans. A first-hand chronicle of tumultuous inter-band relationships, thirty years of roller-coaster fame and continual reinvention, and, of course, the kind of excess that can comes from the surreal, and hyper-real demands of life on the road, Kicking and Dreaming is an intimate, honest, and a uniquely female take on rock and roll life.
TOUR DATES
Sept. 7, 2012 Blackfoot, ID Eastern Idaho State Fair
Sept. 9, 2012 Airway Heights (Spokane), Washington Northern Quest Resort and Casino
Sept. 10, 2012 Puyallup, WA Western Washington Fair
Sept. 11, 2012 Jacksonville, OR Britt Fest
Sept. 14, 2012 Hutchinson, KS Kansas State Fairgrounds - US Cellular Grandstand
Sept. 15, 2012 Catoosa (Tulsa) , OK The Joint @ Hard Rock
Sept. 16, 2012 Carterville, IL Walkers Bluff Winery
Oct. 3, 2012 New York City, NY Beacon Theater - with Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys
Oct. 5, 2012 Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Center - with Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys
Oct. 6, 2012 MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Mashantucket, CT
Oct. 7, 2012 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion - with Alejandro Escovedo
Oct. 9, 2012 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater with Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys
Oct. 10, 2012 Huntington, NY The Paramount - with Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys
Oct. 12, 2012 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theater ~ with Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys
Oct. 13, 2012 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center with Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys
Oct. 14, 2012 Cary, NC Koka Booth Amphitheater at Regency Park with Alejandro Escovedo
Nov. 2, 2012 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheater - with Shawn Colvin
Nov. 7, 2012 Atlanta, GA Fox Theater
Nov. 13, 2012 Washington DC Dar Constitution Hall with Shawn Colvin
For more information on the band Heart, please visit their official website at heart-music.com.
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Neil Young and Crazy Horse Psychedelic Pill On Triple Vinyl!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse are set to release the CD version of their upcoming double album 'Psychedelic Pill' on October 30 via Reprise Records. The triple vinyl is due out November 23. The new record contains eight tracks, plus an alternate mix of the title track.
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album cover art of the day:
Forgotten Tomb Announces New Album
Italian metallars Forgotten Tomb 's new album will be released on the 30th of October in Europe and on the 6th of November in North America. Prior to release of the album, on the 25th of September, a new 7" EP will be available called "Deprived." The EP will be limited to 300 copies (100 green, 100 white, 100 red)
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album cover art of the day, part two:
Neron Kaisar Unveils New Album Artwork
Russian symphonic black metal band Neron Kaisar have announced the band's second album will be called 'Madness of the Tyrant,' and the group have revealed the cover artwork by Alexander Tartsus.
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this is certainly on my christmas list, due out on november 5th!
Jethro Tull 40th Anniversary ‘Thick as a Brick’ Reissue
Thick As A Brick (2012 Steven Wilson mix) and Thick As A Brick 2 combined in a double 180gm vinyl set with an accompanying 72 page book.
The book contains:
* the original TAAB 1 newspaper rebuilt for the 12 x 12 format on 16 pages of newspaper style paper * the 2012 TAAB 2 newspaper printed on gloss paper (originally pdf files on the DVD). * an article by Classic Rock's Dom Lawson about TAAB 1. * an Ian Anderson interview conducted by The Reverend George Pitcher covering both albums, and the 2012 TAAB tour. * many rare 1972/73 photos from photographers Didi Zill and Robert Ellis covering 'street' and live situations as well as the 2012 tour * photos by Martin Webb. * memories of the recording from engineer Robin Black. * recording and touring memories from Martin Barre, Ian Anderson and Jeffrey Hammond. * a Q & A with tour manager Eric Brooks with tour memorabilia and the full 1972 itinerary. * Italian and German lyric translations of the original album and German, Czech, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese lyric translations for TAAB 2.
Pre-order now for 5th November release at the BurningShed
Monumental 2xLP from LOSS overbearing masterpiece “Despond” comes in thick black vinyl, thick gatefold jacket, and a 12 page 11×11 booklet featuring the amazing artwork that graces this release. Gloriously mastered and mixed specifically for vinyl, only 500 copies were pressed and only the last copies remain.
for shits and giggles, check out the top ten richest singers, and if that isn't enough, head on over to celebritynetworth.com for the top 50!
The Top Ten Richest Lead Singers in the World:
1. Paul McCartney Net Worth – $800 Million (The Beatles)
2. Bono Net Worth – $600 Million (U2)
3. Jimmy Buffett Net Worth – $400 Million
4. Elton John Net Worth – $320 Million (Solo)
5. Mick Jagger Net Worth – $305 Million (The Rolling Stones)
6. Sting Net Worth – $290 Million (The Police, Solo)
7. Phil Collins Net Worth – $250 Million (Genesis, Solo)
8. Dave Matthews Net Worth – $250 Million (Dave Matthews Band)
9. Prince Net Worth – $250 Million
10. Dave Grohl Net Worth – $225 Million (Foo Fighters, Nirvana on drums)
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Beatles Record Player Sells For Over $1500 At Auction
A 1964 Beatles record player just sold on eBay for $1580.00 and it doesn’t even play records! That didn’t deter collectors in the slightest because the vintage turntable that listed for $9.99 found the high bidder spending the equivalent of what most folks might pay to own a high-definition sound system.
This Week's Bestselling Vinyl Records at SoundStageDirect
1. MFSL Original Master Record Sleeves (50)
2. Rolling Stones - Some Girls - Live In Texas '78
3. Rolling Stones & Muddy Waters - Live At The Checkerboard Lounge 1981
4. Bob Dylan - Tempest
5. Counting Crows - August And Everything After (Pre-Order)
6. Kiss - Monster (Pre-Order)
7. Steely Dan - Aja
8. Various Artists - FM Original Soundtrack (On Sale)
9. Record Jacket Sleeves
10. Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album) (Pre-Order)
1. Cat Power - Sun
2. Thenewno2 - Thefearofmissingout
3. Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't
4. Black Keys - Thickfreakness
5. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
6. Allen Stone - Self titiled
7. Sigur Ros - Varud
8. Walkmen - Heaven
9. Townes Van Zandt - Live At The Old Quarter
10. Black Keys - Rubber Factory
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1. Luella & The Sun - Luella & The Sun 10"
2. Cat Power - Sun
3. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
4. Ty Segall - The Hill 7"
5. Stars - The North
6. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
7. Rayland Baxter - Feathers & Fishhooks
8. Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't
9. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits
10. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
11. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Magpies On Fire 7"
13. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes
14. Bob Mould - Silver Age
15. Deerhoof - Breakup Song
16. Skyblazer - Album
17. Grimes - Visions
18. Yeasayer - Fragrant World
19. Shovels & Rope - O' Be Joyful
20. Father John Misty - Fear Fun
21. JD McPherson - Signs & Signifiers
22. Beach House - Bloom
23. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
24. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over The Sea
25. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
A$AP Rocky - LongLiveASAP
A.C. Newman - I'm Not Talking
Aaron Lewis - The Road
Agent Ribbons - Let Them Talk
Agitation Free - Malesch
Agruss - Morok
Akon - Stadium
Alameda - Procession
Alanis Morissette - Original Album Series
Alastor - Syndroms of the Cities
Alastor - The Destiny
Altar of Oblivion - Grand Gesture of Defiance
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestr - Theater Is Evil
Atlanta Rhythm Section - Are You Ready!
Barclay James Harvest - Live In Concert At Metropolis
Bedemon - Symphony of Shadows
Billy Talent - Dead Silence
Black Tears - Remix 2012
Bob Dylan - Tempest (vinyl)
Boyfrndz - All Day Pass
Bucky Covington - Good Guys
Buke & Gass - Function Falls (EP)
Calexico - Algiers
Castle - Blacklands
Chris Robinson Brotherhood - The Magic Door (vinyl)
Cloudscape - New Era
Crossfaith - Zion
Cryptopsy - Cryptopsy
Culture - From The Vault: Demos & Outtakes 1993-1998
DMX - Undisputed
Dark Forest - Aurora Borealis
Dark Forest - Land Of The Evening Star
Dark Tribe - Mysticeti Victoria
Dave Matthews Band - Away From The World (vinyl)
David Byrne & St. Vincent - Love This Giant (vinyl)
Deserters - The Slow Rhythms Of A Dead-Beat
Dio - Singles Box Set
Disharmonic - Carmini Mortis
Ehnahre - Old Earth
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake and Palmer (deluxe edition) (vinyl) (2 CDs/1 DVD)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus (deluxe edition) (vinyl) (2 CDs/1 DVD)
English Beat - Live at the Us Festival 82 & 83 (2 CDs)
Evans the Death - Catch Your Cold
Evocation - Dead Calm Chaos (reissue)
Evocation - Tales From The Tomb (reissue)
Evolution - Positively Possible
Ex Deo - Caligvla
Fabulous Diamonds - Commercial Music
Field Report - Field Report
Firewater - International Orange
Flotsam & Jetsam - Doomsday For The Deceiver
Flying Burrito Brothers - Close Up the Honky Tonks
Freddie Mercury - Barcelona: Special Edition
Funeral Mist - Devilry
Funeral Mist - Salvation
Gallon Drunk - The Road Gets Darker From Here
Gallows - Gallows
Good Time Boys - Every Landscape (EP)
Gorefest - The Demos
Grateful Dead - From the Mars Hotel (reissue) (vinyl)
Grave Digger - Clash of the Gods
Green Day - Static Age Live 2009
Gwilym Gold - Tender Metal
Hazel Dean - Evergreen: the Very Best of Hazell Dean (2 CDs)
Hello Echo - Coffee Cups (EP)
Helstar - 30 Years Of Helstar
Helvetia - Nothing in Rambling
Hoobastank - Fight or Flight
Hooded Menace - Effigies of Evil
Hooded Menace - Never Cross the Dead
Hot Chip - Made in the Dark (vinyl)
Hot Tuna - America's Choice
Hot Tuna - Burgers
Hot Tuna - Double Dose
Hot Tuna - First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
Hot Tuna - Hoppkorv
Hot Tuna - Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna - The Phosphorescent Rat
Hot Tuna - Yellow Fever
INXS - Kick (3 CDs/DVD) (reissue)
IO Echo - Ministry Of Love
Joe McElderry - Here's What I Believe
John Lee Hooker - Electric Blues
Johnny Winter - Johnny Winter
Jonny Greenwood - The Master (soundtrack)
Kathy Mattea - Calling Me Home
Khors - Wisdom of Centuries
King Cyst - Real Pussy
Kittie - Not So...Safe
Kix Brooks - New To This Town
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (reissue) (vinyl)
Lacuna - Celebrate the Summer
Lauren Wright - Kiss Me?
Lee "Scratch" Perry - Gold Collection
Legacy Of Disorder - Last Man Standing
Leo Kottke - Shout Toward Noon/Regards from Chuck Pink
Lifeforms - Multidimensional
Little Big Town - Tornado
Low - The Curtain Hits the Cast (reissue)
Ludacris - Ludaversal
Madonna - Original Album Series
Marco Benevento - TigerFace
Mark Knopfler - Privateering
Massive Attack - Protection (reissue) (vinyl)
Melody’s Echo Chamber - Melody’s Echo Chamber
Miggs - 15th & Hope
Mind Bomb - Mind Bomb
Mr. Gnome - Deliver This Creature
Mr. Gnome - Heave Yer Skeleton
Mr. Gnome - Madness in Miniature
Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones - Live at the Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981
Mumford & Sons - Babel
Museum - Traces Of
Music Tapes - Mary's Voice
NOFX - NOFX
Natural Child - Hard In Heaven
Neal Morse - Momentum
Neil Halstead - Palindrome Hunches
Nelly Furtado - The Spirit Indestructible
Onuinu - Mirror Gazer
Pantera - Original Album Series (5 CDs)
Paper Route - Peace of Wild Things
Parenthetical Girls - Portrait of a Reputation (12")
Patterson Hood - Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance
Pet Shop Boys - Elysium (vinyl)
Pete Seeger - Live At Mandel Hall 1957
Pineapple Thief - All the Wars
Quicksand - Slip (reissue) (vinyl)
Radiation Sickness - The Madness Begins 1987-1990
Ramones - Rockaway
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Magpies/Victorian Machinery (7")
Residents - Duck Stab (reissue)
Reverence - The Asthenic Ascension
Ride - Waves
Riot - Fire Down Under (reissue)
Robin Trower - Roots And Branches
Rolling Stones - Some Girls: Live in Texas '78 (vinyl)
Saigon - Bread And Circuses
Sea Wolf - Old World Romance
Seapony - Falling (vinyl)
Serpentine Path - Serpentine Path
Set Free - Set Free
Sic Alps - Sic Alps
Snowblink - Inner Classics
Solos - Beast of Both Worlds
Sonata Arctica - Shitload of Money
Stealing Sheep - Into the Diamond Sun
Steel Vengeance - Call Off the Dogs
Steel Vengeance - Second Offense
Steve Forbert - Over With You
Steven A. Clark - Fornication Under the Consent Of The King
Steve Vai - The Story Of Light
Texas In July - Bed Of Nails
The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter
The B-52's - Original Album Series (5-CD box set)
The Chocolate Watchband - Revolutions Reinvented
The Dead Goats - Path of the Goat
The English Beat - Live at the Us Festival 1982 and 1983
The Helio Sequence - Negotiations
The Knack - Rock & Roll Is Good for You
The Monkees - Original Album Series (5 CD box set)
The Outlaws - Anthology (Live & Rare) 1975-1981 (4 CDs)
The Presets - Pacifica
The Raveonettes - Observator (vinyl)
The Vaccines - Come of Age
The XX - Coexist
Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
The xx - Coexist
Threshold - March Of Progres
Time Jumpers - Time Jumpers
Tom Tom Club - Downtown Rockers
Toy - Toy
Trespassers William - Cast
Turbo Fruits - Butter
Various Artists - Fifty Shades of Grey: The Classical Album
Various Artists - Have A Crappy Summer
Various Artists - Rock 'n' Roll Explosion: 120 Hits That Rocked The World
Various Artists - Joan of Arc Presents: Don't Mind Control
Various Artists - Spirit of Talk Talk
White Ash Falls - By The River Bend
Will Johnson - Scorpion
Wind Rose - Shadows Over Lothadruin
Withering Night - Lies and Corruption
Wodensthrone - Curse
ZZ Top - La Futura (vinyl) (pre-order)
ZZ Top - Original Album Series (5-CD box set)
Ahhh, the sweet sound of a vinyl record playing your favorite music. Some say that there is no better way to listen to their music. Yes, vinyl records have made a triumphant return to the music arena, with sales over the last few years on a steady increase. However, opponents of the format may point to the delicate nature of vinyl, records do require due diligence and upkeep in order to keep them sounding their best. But if you maintain a vigilant ritual, vinyl records can last many decades, so the records that you own right now can conceivably be passed down through generations of music lovers. And the bonus for properly maintaining your records is enjoying a crisp, clear playback each time you spin your turntable. Let's explore some relatively easy ways to properly care and maintain vinyl records so they can be listened to and enjoyed and also to help preserve their resale value for years to come:
Never touch the grooves When handling records, treat them with loving care, hold them with two hands around the outer edges of the record; never allowing your fingers to touch the grooves. A simple method to alleviate this potential problem area would be to invest in some disposable plastic "deli" gloves, like the ones used in food preparation. Then, one can easily manipulate the record playing process and take the fear out of handling records. Know the enemies of vinyl The environment in which your records are stored is very important to a long shelf life. If you want a long shelf life for your prized recordings, keep the records away from dirt, dust, smoke, fingerprints, and oils from human skin as well as faulty phonograph needles. Never stack your records on top of each other, albums should be stored vertically. Avoid storing them too tight as it can lead to ring wear on the cover or sleeve and cause unnecessary stress to the record's materials, surface and label, often resulting in warps and contact damage. Additionally, the records should be stored in a low humidity setting with a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees if possible. Obviously, it is imperative to keep your treasured vinyl away form heat sources such as sunlight, heater vents and even lighting. Avoid dusty environments and if possible store the records in a relatively airtight container such as a cabinet with doors or sealable boxes or bins. Protecting your records and LP jackets There are different opinions on this, but it is recommended by most to remove the original wrapping from the manufacturer, the dreaded shrink wrap, as this may shrink over time; eventually warping the jacket or possibly the record. A note of caution, however, some of the stickers or promotional information on this shrink wrap may actually make the album more valuable if left on; so use discretion when removing the shrink wrap. It is recommended to replace this wrapping with a high density polyethylene outer protective sleeve. There are several vendors where one can buy these protective outer sleeves, but one that offers many different options for record collectors is a well-respected vendor www.bagsunlimited.com Bags Unlimited has been in the collection protection business since 1975 and are the #1 choice of collectors for storage, display and shipping products for their collectibles. BagsUnlimited.com stocks record bags made out of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester (Mylar). All three of these materials have passed the Photo Activity Test (P.A.T.) certifying that they are safe for long-term storage and protect them from dust, dirt, finger oils, and other airborne pollutants.
"We carry multiple types of poly sleeves, varying in thickness and record jacket sleeves that come with a re-sealable flap, depending on the collector's choice," explained David Street of BagsUmlimited.com. "We also stock 2 mil and 4 mil sleeves that are manufactured of archival polyester (Mylar), an inert material of the highest clarity. Mylar is extremely clear, inert, 100% acid-free and considered to be the most archival of all protective sleeves. Polyester will not discolor, damage or adhere to items placed inside it. This material has passed the Photo Activity Test and Polyester is used worldwide in museums, libraries and archives. Our polyester material has been approved by the Library of Congress for archival storage." It is also very important to have clean, acid free inner sleeves to protect your records with paper sleeves being the most practical. Some recordings were issued with inner sleeves that have acidity issues, which over time, could damage the vinyl records that they hold. Additionally, some sleeves may be viewed as collectible, so it's best to save them as part of the album package. "We are the manufacturers of our paper sleeves and therefore have control over the sizes and materials used. Being the manufacturers also insures that the sizes are true, the holes are centered, and the seams are well-glued," stressed Street. "Investing in quality sleeves for your records is one of the most important care tips for long lasting vinyl." Storing your records in boxes can also add to the preservation process in many ways according to Street: "Bags Unlimited boxes are the Standard of the Industry. Storing your records in our boxes keeps them in an environment that will protect the corners, edges, and flat surfaces. It also keeps them away from ultraviolet light, dust and other airborne pollutants that can destroy or damage them," Street stated. "Our boxes are super strong, properly sized and stackable. They come with 3" deep sturdy covers and die-cut handles that can be in the open position for carrying or closed position for storing." Cleaning and maintaining vinyl records The most important aspect of owning and playing vinyl records is to keep the records clean. Due to the chemical nature of vinyl, they attract dust and dirt. This is caused by vinyl's tendency to build up static electrical charges which attract small particles of dust which land in the grooves. These particles will cause "pops" and "clicks" as the record plays.
The cleaning of records should be performed before and after playing. This will ensure the best possible playback, and also prepares the record for "dust free" storage. It's highly recommended that a record collector have on hand some sort of carbon fiber brush (there are many varieties of brushes available). Carbon fibers are used to help disrupt static buildup while brushing relies on the vibration of the almost microscopic carbon fibers to clean the grooves and remove dust and dirt. It's recommended that the turntable be running while brushing rather than holding the record in your hands because this will result in a smoother, more consistent cleaning motion. Some people get so intensely careful about cleaning their vinyl records, they often forget about keeping the needle clean. Since the needle is constantly tracking in the groove of the records, it attracts large amounts of dirt and dust particles and must be cleaned. When not properly maintained, the needle may not vibrate fully and may not rest in the bottom of the record groove; resulting in decreased sound quality and other audio problems. Needle maintenance supplies are easily obtained, for instance, the aforementioned BagsUnlimited.com sells an inexpensive "Stylus Care System" which includes a special cleaning fluid and a dense nylon brush to maintain a clean needle. Obviously the turntable surface should be kept clean of dust and static. Most newer turntables come equipped with a rubber or antistatic felt surface. A great way to clean both the needle and the turntable area and also keep the carbon fiber brush clean is with condensed air in a can, which is available at any electronics retailer; just spray the area before and after playing your records for a continued dust free environment for your audio treasures. Taking this one step further, BagsUnlimited has in stock a unique antistatic solution, as Dave Street explains: "We carry a portable antistatic, ionizing air gun to use with the condensed air dust remover and it will significantly boost the ability of canned air to remove dust from static-prone areas. This ionizing gun effectively neutralizes static charges in vinyl, plastics, glass, films, Mylar and other items that hold static charges by creating a flow of ions that neutralizes static charges and releases clinging dust. The gun easily snaps onto any type of nonflammable canned air," explained Street. There are many cleaning solutions that can be used to 'wet' wash a record and it really is a matter of personal preference as to which one to employ. In the old days, when record were made of shellac, they could be cleaned with a mild solution of regular soap and water (always use distilled water as tap water often contains too many contaminants) and this was the preferred way to maintain the old 78 rpm records. Never usethe new cleaning solutions on 78's because they are alcohol-based and can dissolve shellac recordings and will ruin these types of records. Speaking with Dave Street again, they sell several kits of various sizes to help keep record clean. "We recommend the 'Groovy Record Cleaning Kit' and each kit comes with micro bristled cleaning brush; cotton cleaning cloth, various sized bottles of GROOVY Cleaning Fluid which is Bags Unlimited's own Record Cleaning Fluid, and is specially formulated for its deep cleaning, antistatic, residue-free properties." It's also recommend not storing the vinyl inside the record cover but instead slip the vinyl (protected by the inner sleeve) behind the cover with both protected by the outer sleeve, because storing the vinyl inside the cover may eventually create seam and/or spine splits. Over time the weight of the record could possibly cut through the binding. The reward
This article was not written to exemplify how hard it is to maintain vinyl records; on the contrary, these are very simple tasks and often become mundane and second nature after time. But the reward is so great-the preservation of your prized collection and the coupdeville- the best possible sound reproduction that is humanly possible. With proper care and diligence, these historic audio treasures will last a lifetime or two, giving vinyl record owners many hours of listening bliss. Copyright CollectingVinylRecords.Blogspot.com 2012 Robert Benson
Material may not be copied or redistributed without permission
Today, a documentary called Last Shop Standing will be released in the UK.
Last Shop Standing inspired by the book of the same name by Graham Jones takes you behind the counter to discover why nearly 2000 record shops have already disappeared across the UK. The film charts the rapid rise of record shops in the 1960's, 70's and 80's, the influence of the chart, the underhand deals, the demise of vinyl and rise of the CD as well as new technologies. Where did it all go wrong? Why were 3 shops a week closing?Will we be left with no record shops with the continuing rise of downloading? Hear from over 20 record shop owners and music industry leaders as well as musicians including Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, Norman Cook, Billy Bragg, Nerina Pallot, Richard Hawley and Clint Boon as they all tell us how the shops became and still are a part of their own musical education, a place to cherish and discover new bands and new music.
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Green Day Announce Tour Dates
The pop/punkers will hit the road for 28 shows in late 2012 and early 2013, look and see if they are coming to a city near you!
Seattle Paramount Theater (November 26)
Kennewick Toyota Center (November 27)
Salem Armory Auditorium (November 29)
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium (December 1)
Reno Grand Sierra Resort Grand Theatre (December 2)
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium (December 4)
Tempe Marquee Theatre (December 10)
Green Bay Resch Arena (January 7)
Rosemont Allstate Arena (January 8)
Wilkes Barre Mohegan Sun Arena (January 10)
Penn State College PA Bryce Jordan Center (January 11)
Rochester Blue Cross Arena (January 13)
Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center (January 14)
Brooklyn Barclays Center (January 16)
Manchester Verizon Wireless Arena (January 18)
Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena (January 19)
Fairfax Patriot Center (January 21)
Philadelphia Liacourias Center (January 22)
Providence Dunkin Donuts Center (January 24)
Portland Cumberland Civic Center (January 25)
Quebec City Colisee Pepsi Arena (January 27)
Toronto Air Canada Centre (January 29)
Cleveland Wolstein Center (January 30)
Moline Wireless Center (February 1)
Madison Alliant Energy Center (February 2)
Omaha CenturyLink Arena (February 4)
Broomfield 1STBANK Center (February 6)
Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena (February 8)
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from our friends at polyvinyl records:
Joan of Arc Presents: Don't Mind Control 2xLP -- Final Pressing!
Conceived by Joan of Arc frontman Tim Kinsella as a way to bring together many of the musicians who have recorded with his band over the years, Joan of Arc Presents: Don't Mind Control is back in print for the last time!
Featuring exclusives tracks from Owen, Birthmark, Cale Parks, Ghosts and Vodka, along with many more, Don't Mind Control is now available on yellow vinyl (after selling out on orange, green, and blue).
This final pressing won't be around for long -- it's limited to just 300 copies -- so grab one while you can!
French power metallars Galderia have revealed the new album cover art for the band's debut LP, 'The Universality.' The album is slated for a late November 2012 release. The artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco from Final Frontiers.
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Dropkick Murphys Reveal Album Cover Art
Celtic punk outfit the Dropkick Murphys have revealed the album cover art for their upcoming album called 'Signed and Sealed In Blood,' which is expected to be released sometime in early 2013.
The album is their second with producer Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Old Crow Medicine Show), which was recorded at Boston's Q Division studios and mixed by Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes).
"We had such a great time writing our last album, Going Out In Style, we were excited to get back into the studio right away," says bassist and co-lead singer Ken Casey. "Where Going Out in Style was a concept album-kind of intricate and difficult-this one is catchy, fun, and as sing-along as can be."
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Stuka Squadron Reveal New Album Art
U.K. metal vampires Stuka Squadron issued a statement that the band's sophomore LP will be called 'New Sound of War.' The album will be released on November 19, 2012 via Metalbox Recordings.
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Bison B.C. Reveals New Album "Lovelessness" Details
Vancouver based Bison B.C. have completed work on their new album 'Lovelessness.' The album will be available on October 22nd.
The band worked with producer Sanford Parker at Soma and Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago.
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THE SWORD New Album Cover Art, Limited Bundle Revealed
Austin, Texas metallarsTHE SWORD are set to release their fourth album called, 'Apocryphon' on October 22 via Razor & Tie. The effort was produced and engineered by J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios and will feature cover art by famed comic book artist J.H. Williams III.
THE SWORD is also offering a limited-time-offer bundle including:
The winner is Dave K. from Philadelphia, PA and we thank www.MusicRecordShop.com for the chance to give a limited edition Bob Dylan album to one of our loyal readers!
New CVR Blog Sponsor Music Record Shopis helping us along by offering a two album limited edition Bob Dylan 'Life and Life Only' vinyl release to be given away.
The rules are simple, be the 8th email to this email address rbenson30@wi.rr.com with the words "Music Record Shop Bob Dylan Contest" and you can win the copy. Limited to one entry per email address. Time sensitive, so get your email in early!
Good luck to all!
Here is the information about the release
Bob Dylan - Life and Life Only (2-LP) Import 2012
Product Details
A SELECTION OF PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON VINYL BROADCAST PERFORMANCES OF EARLY DYLAN CLASSICS AND RARITIES This 80-minute collection represents Dylan at his most fertile via radio and television broadcasts made throughout this astonishing era. The collection features songs and interviews from the 1961 folk Hootenanny at the Riverside Church, New York, just six months after Bobs arrival in NYC and before he had even signed a record deal. His appearance on Oscar Brands Folk Song Festival broadcast in October 1961, aired on WNYC radio, is then featured, followed by a second Oscar Brand radio show broadcast on WNBC in the spring of 1963. Two television appearances from The Steve Allen Show in February 1964 and the Les Crane Show in February 1965 - barely a month before the release of Bringing It All Back Home - complete this superb set Featuring an eclectic selection of Bobs take on otherwise unreleased traditional, plus a number of Dylan classics This LP will surely remain the default collection of live Dylan during his greatest era.
1000 ONLY - LIMITED EDITION
Label: Let Them Eat Vinyl
SIDE A
1. Introduction
2. Handsome Molly
3. Omie Wise
4. Po Lazarus
5. Mean Old Southern Railroad
6. Acne
SIDE B
7. Sally Gal
8. Girl I Left Behind
9. Oscar Brand Introduction
10. Girl From The North Country
11. Only A Hobo
12. Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
SIDE C
1. Les Crane Introduction
2. It's All Over Now Baby Blue
3. Les Crane Interview Pt.1
SIDE D
4. Les Crane Interview Pt.2
5. It's Alright Ma
Eagle Rock Releasing Muddy Waters And Rolling Stones 'Live At The Checkerboard Lounge' and the Rolling Stones 'Some Girls: Live In Texas '78' On Double Vinyl
Eagle Rock scheduled a September 11 release date for a special edition 2LP/DVD/CD of Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones 'Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981' and the the Rolling Stones 'Some Girls: Live In Texas '78.' Each set contains an 180g vinyl in a three-panel gatefold sleeve. With audio presented in DTS Dolby 5.1, these sets truly allow fans to fully experience and enjoy these brilliant artists and moments in music. Let's learn more about these fantastic vinyl releases:
Muddy Waters And Rolling Stones 'Live At The Checkerboard Lounge'
On 22 November 1981, in the middle of their mammoth American tour, the Rolling Stones arrived in Chicago prior to playing 3 nights at the Rosemont Horizon. It didn’t take long before Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Ian Stewart were joining in on stage and later Buddy Guy and Lefty Dizz also played their part. It was a unique occasion that was fortunately captured on camera. The result is one of those magical nights caught on tape and recorded for posterity. Muddy, clearly in charge, invites the Stones one-by-one to join the party. Buddy tears off some jagged lightning riffs. Junior Wells blows some mean blues harmonica. The warmth of the vinyl sound is perfect for such classic soul as this. The songs fly by in a world of honest, unpretentious love-of-the-music. Mixed and mastered by Bob Clearmountain, this concert is a rare gem of rock 'n' roll and blues history.
Live At The Checkboard Lounge Chicago 1981:
Side A: 1) Sweet Little Angel 2) Flip Flop And Fly 3) Introduction 4) You Don't Have To Go 5) Country Boy
Side B: 1) Baby Please Don't Go 2) Hoochie Coochie Man 3) Long Distance Call
Side C: 1) Mannish Boy 2) Got My Mojo Workin' 3) Next Time You See Me
Side D: 1) One Eyed Woman 2) Baby Please Don't Go (instrumental) 3) Clouds In My Heart 4) Champagne And Reefer
The Rolling Stones Some Girls: Live In Texas '78 Vinyl Special Edition 2LP/DVD/CD.
The Rolling Stones 1978 tour of the USA in support of that year’s “Some Girls” album is considered by fans to be one of their very best. The tour followed immediately on the release of the “Some Girls” album and by the time the band arrived in Texas in mid-July the album had hit the No.1 spot on the US charts. The tour took a “back to basics” approach, with the band and their music very much at the forefront and little or no elaborate staging. Filmed at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on 18 July 1978, this concert is typical of the tour with the Rolling Stones delivering a raw, energetic performance in front of a crowd who are clearly loving the show. The end result steams right off the vinyl. Years later, Wood summed it up by saying, "it was straight-ahead garage rock, hardly a stage-set, no smoke, no big lights, like the Stones going punk."
Many of the tracks from “Some Girls” are included in the live set with a sprinkling of Stones classics from earlier albums. Originally shot on 16mm film, the footage has been carefully restored and the sound remixed and remastered by Bob Clearmountain from the original multitrack tapes.
Some Girls: Live In Texas '78:
Side A: 1) Let It Rock 2) All Down The Line 3) Honky Tonk Women 4) Star Star 5) When The Whip Comes Down
Side B: 1) Beast Of Burden 2) Miss You 3) Imagination 4) Shattered
Side C: 1) Respectable 2) Far Away Eyes 3) Love In Vain 4) Tumbling Dice
Side D: 1) Happy 2) Sweet Little Sixteen 3) Brown Sugar 4) Jumpin' Jack Flash
Sum 41 - “All Killer No Filler” Restock On Blue Vinyl
Heads up, casualties of society: Sum 41‘s 2001 breakthrough full-length All Killer, No Filler is being restocked in our store on limited blue vinyl. Only 557 pieces will be available. Asbestos Records is handling the pressing and it’ll be back in our store early next week.
It would be a mistake to view Sum 41 as just another second-rate band cashing in on the early-'00s punk-pop boom, even if it did recruit Jerry Finn to produce All Killer No Filler. Just as Finn had done for both blink-182 and Green Day, he charges Sum 41's punk-pop with a razor-sharp edge, the sort of dynamic in-your-face sound that helps this music cross over to MTV and radio so well. Besides the notable production, a lot of credit should go to the band as well. Its songwriting is obviously more diverse here than it was a year earlier on its debut album, Half Hour of Power; for example, the group's rap and '80s metal influences rise to the surface more frequently here than on that first album and instill a fun sense of camp. "Fatlip" is perhaps the best example of how Sum 41 has made an effort to diversify the music with more than just power chords and melodic punk vocals.
Available for the first time ever on vinyl in North America, and contains the hit singles "Fat Lip" and "In Too Deep"
RAINDANCE “New Blood” To Be Released on Vinyl as Limited Edition 1-Sided 12”
LA-based indie Animal Style Records has recently welcomed New England hardcore outfit RAINDANCE to the roster. The label has announced plans to release the band's 'New Blood' digitally, and on vinyl as a 1-sided 12" limited to 500 copies (100 red, 200 pink, 200 purple) on October 30. The pre-order will launch shortly.
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i like this album cover for some reason...
THE GATHERING: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
"Disclosure", the tenth studio album from Dutch/Norwegian rockers THE GATHERING, is available for streaming in its entirety below. The CD will be released on September 12 via the band's own Psychonaut Records.
No Bragging Rights Reveals Cover For New Album "Cycles"
With a new record right around the corner, No Bragging Rights has released the album cover and track listing "Cycles," due out October 16th, 2012. Lead singer, Mike Perez comments:
best vinyl record article of the day, this one is by Ken Shimamoto (Dallas Observer) and about a day in the life of a record store employee....got to love it!
i am excited to see another great innovation from Spin-Clean® These machines work, are affordable and durable, and they get a CVR plug and recommendation!
Spin-Clean® International, manufacturer of the largest selling vinyl record-cleaning device in the world, has produced and begun shipping a new, limited-edition “clear unit,” whereby owners of the device can watch the cleaning process occur through the translucent basin. The new unit, unlike its yellow standard counterpart, is skeletonized in order allow one to witness what occurs below the top of the basin, where the solution meets the vinyl record.
Made from the same durable ABS properties as Spin-Clean’s conventional units, the “clear unit” also offers clear rollers, plus clear pods that surround the cleaning brushes, offering a virtually complete translucent record-cleaning experience.
Not available as a stand-alone device, the Limited-Edition “clear unit” is currently sold only as part of the Spin-Clean® Record Washer Package, which includes extra brushes, cleaning fluid, and drying cloths.
According to Mark Mawhinney, owner of Spin-Clean® International, “We’re excited to bring the new see-through unit to the market. Over the years, many of our customers have asked us about a limited-edition style that would be a departure from our standard Spin-Clean “yellow.” They’ve suggested various other colors and styles but, in the end, we thought the translucent idea would be the coolest.”
Spin-Clean® International has become a household name in the vinyl record industry since 1975, providing affordable record-washer / record-cleaning units, such as the Spin-Clean® Record Washer MKII, to the marketplace. Well-respected reviews followed, including recent ones from enjoythemusic.com, the New York Times, and being named “Accessory Product Of The Year” by Stereophile and The Absolute Sound. Now many who are looking for an effective record-cleaning device at or around the $100 price point turn to the Spin-Clean® Record Washer MKII as an effective, inexpensive way to remove dust and dirt from LPs and 45s, unlocking the full dynamic range of vinyl recordings.
With the “clear unit,” Mawhinney believes it will be a popular seller because of its ability to showcase the cleaning process.
“By its contrasting color, the yellow Spin-Clean® MKII already lets you see the grime and dirt at the bottom of the basin after your record has been cleaned,” remarks Mawhinney. “Obviously with the see-through unit, you’ll witness even further on how the dust and dirt are detached from your record grooves. That’s very exciting!”
Those interested in learning more about the Spin-Clean® line of vinyl products can call Spin-Clean® directly at 1-800-931-5850 or visit www.spincleanrecordwasher.com
You can actually witness the process of your Spin-Clean® Record Washer removing the dirt and dust from your vinyl records!
As with any Spin-Clean® MKII Package, you receive an extra pair of brushes, triple the amount of drying cloths, and eight times more cleaning fluid.
DEAR JERRY: On a night out of dining and dancing, in the early 1970s, my late husband took me to a club in Waukesha to hear a band he loved. An excellent group that I saw just that one night.
Now, 40 years later, I am stuck trying to remember their name. It may have been Dick or Dave and the somebodys. Who were these guys?
I can't recall ever having their records, so it is possible they never made any.
What really stands out in my memory is how versatile and talented they were. Every member sang, and each man on the stage played practically every instrument a band could have. It was like musical chairs, but with instruments.
Since that is not very common, it might be the best clue I can provide.
—Evelyn Wallace, Greenfield, Wis.
DEAR EVELYN: That is a mighty good clue, and mention of Dick and Dave was also helpful.
I know of only one band whose members, usually five, routinely switched positions and instruments on stage during their songs, all without missing a beat.
Even more impressive is that each member not only played every instrument on stage, but at least a dozen others from the 40 or so pieces on hand.
Named Dave Major and the Minors, this Illinois-based lounge band was very popular in the upper Midwest, especially in the 1970s.
Along the way, the boys cranked out three LPs: "Someone New" (BC 310); "Dave Major and Minors Second Album" (BC 311); and " Dave Major and Minors Third Album" (BC 312).
Fronting the band were brothers Dave Perry ("Dave Major") and Dick Perry.
Not widely known until February 2nd, 2000 was the dark and troubled side of Dave Perry.
That is when Dave broke into the Kingston, Ill (pop. 980) home of Scott Grochowski, and his wife Melodye, with whom Perry previously produced a son and daughter. Reports vary as to whether Dave and Melodye were legally married when the children were born.
Once inside, Perry shot and killed Mr. Grochowski, then turned the gun on Melodye's mother, Janie Sue Harrison, killing her instantly.
Melodye and their 12-year-old son quickly escaped to a neighbor's house and called 911. Their daughter, 11, was not in the house at the time of the carnage.
In what seems suicidal, when the DeKalb County Sheriff's deputies arrived, Dave Perry greeted them in front of the house with a spray of bullets, to which they returned fire and killed him.
A subsequent investigation pointed to a years-long custody battle between Dave and Melodye as the reason three lives were lost. Had Melodye remained in the house, it is likely she too would have died.
DEAR JERRY: Got a kick out of the recent reference to your "How Could This Not Have Been a Hit?" list.
I've never actually created a list, but have often said those words about a song with everything going for it, yet still flopped.
Taking the list idea to an even higher level, my latest one is "How Could They Have Never Had a Hit?"
This applies only to artists with a significant number of good releases, none of which made it.
For me, No. 1 on that list is the Harptones.
What do you think?
—Evan Harris, Eugene, Ore.
DEAR EVAN: I think you made a perfect choice.
What separates the Harptones from most other groups is Willie Winfield, their stupendous lead singer. His incredibly distinctive vocals put him alongside Tony Williams, of the Platters, as the preeminent R&B front men. Unlike the Platters, the No. 1 group of the 1950s, what the Harptones accomplished in the New York area could not thrust them into the national spotlight.
Of their two dozen singles, many of which are considered doo-wop classics, only one registered a blip on Billboard's Hot 100. "What Will I Tell My Heart" (Companion 103) debuted at No. 98 on May 8, 1961, moved up two slots the next week, then vanished for good.
The Harptones definitely rank high on the "How Could They have Never Had a Hit?" list.
Among their timeless tunes that should have been big hits are:
"Cry Like I Cried" (Alphabetically first, and also first on my Harptones list)
"Forever Mine" (Alphabetically second, and my second favorite)
"I Almost Lost My Mind"
"Masquerade Is Over, The"
"My Memories of You"
"No Greater Miracle"
"On Sunday Afternoon"
"Shrine of St. Cecelia, The"
"Since I Fell for You"
"Sunday Kind of Love, A"
"That's the Way It Goes"
"What Is Your Decision"
"Why Should I Love You"
IZ ZAT SO? The sensational 45 rpm Extended Play by the Harptones, aptly titled "The Sensational Harptones" (Bruce BEP-201), is one of the most valuable EPs ever.
If auctioned to the appropriate buyers, this seven-inch, four-track EP might bring close to $10,000.
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
