Thursday, September 25, 2008

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales

Week Ending 08/23/2008

1) LP - Bruce Springsteen "Born To Run" Test Pressing Script jacket - $3050.00

2) LP - Bent Jaedig "Jazzman 67" Danish Debut - $2,901.00

3) LP - Elvis Presley "Christmas Album" Sealed LOC-1035 - $2,650.00

4) LP - Elvis Presley "Aloha" Chicken Of The Sea Promo - $2,639.00

5) 45rpm - The Nothing "Scream 'N' Cry" / "Uniformz" Wide Awak Musik - $2,503.00

SOURCE: http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com/

Less Than Jake Offer 7'' Box Set for Their Super Fans

Less Than Jake has decided to keep it old school with the release of a 7'' box set this fall that will include rare songs, a DVD and almost everything else a LTJ fan would want.

According to Absolute Punk, the box set will be out on November 11 and features 'live, acoustic or demo versions of album tracks as well as B-sides culled from the studio and stage.' And that's not all! You will also receive a LTJ poster, their latest album, GNV FLA, and a 'DVD of in-studio footage arranged and edited by LTJ trombonist Louis "Buddy" Schaub from the GNV FLA recording sessions and live performances from concerts and in-stores.'

Less Than Jake has become known throughout their 16-year career for releasing limited-edition vinyl recordings. The band has put out over 20 7'' records including "Muppets," "Pesto" and "Rock-n-Roll Pizzeria," in addition to seven full-lengths, two live records and a few EPs ... but good luck finding them all!

Album Cover Art

Here we go again- a look at Gigwise's list of controversial, weiredest, best and worst album cover art as complied by their crack staff.

Controversial


34. The Strokes: ‘Is This It’ This is controversial? Maybe it has something to do with the leather glove, buy I hardly think this ranks as a great cover. But, it did draw controversary and actually had to be replaced.

"Is This It," is the debut album by the American alternative rock band The Strokes, released in 2001. The Strokes were the first band to break into the mainstream as part of the turn-of-the-millennium garage rock trend. After signing with RCA, the band went on the opposite way of recording adopted by traditional rock bands. Instead of doing their full-length debut in a professional studio, the Strokes instead opted to record in a basement on Manhattan's Lower East Side, to which they put the name Transporter Raum Studio.

Hyped by the music press for their melodic pop-influenced garage rock sound on both sides of the Atlantic, The Strokes' auspicious debut garnered them critical and popular attention, as well as a backlash from listeners turned off by the hype. Nonetheless, Is This It's more famous songs "The Modern Age", "Last Nite", "Hard to Explain" and "Someday" won the band much respect and helped the album reach number two in the UK and number thirty-three in the US.

The track "New York City Cops" was pulled from the North American edition of Is This It following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and was replaced by "When It Started". This was because the band and their management thought the song might be considered insensitive, particularly the main chorus line "New York City Cops, they ain't too smart", which is repeated throughout. The band still plays "New York City Cops" live and the song is available on the international edition of the album, along with its original cover art. In 2002, Is This It was re-released with a DVD with music videos and out takes from a performance on MTV2.

alternate cover

"Is This It" is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 2000s. It was ranked 89th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 367 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In June 2005, the album was ranked number 100 on Spin's list of the "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005". In July 2006, the album was ranked 48 on The Observer's list of 'The 50 Albums That Changed Music.' In November 2007 Q magazine rated it at 21 in "21 albums that changed music" In addition to being ranked among the greatest albums of all time, the non-U.S. version of the album cover has been ranked as one of the greatest album covers of all time. The U.S. cover is different; it features a photo of particle collisions in the Big European Bubble Chamber.

Wow, quite a remarkable list of accomplishments but the cover is not that bad- c'mon people it's just a butt!

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Weird


34. Cerrone 3: 'Supernature' I guess this was some Disco music man, I won't even spend any time with this. Weird? How about worst and not even looking at it? What is with the guys with animal heads? Remember, coke was the drug of choice in the Disoc era, but this is more of an acid trip. Enough said.

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Worst


34. Village People – ‘Renaissance’ After the downfall of Disco, the group tried to transition into a New Wave group. The attempt failed commercially and critically as most were turned off by the harsh change in direction. The album peaked at #138 on The Billboard 200. However, the album did find a cult fanbase years later. Many fans thought of the album to be an abstract, intriguing work. The standout tracks are the two singles, "Do You Wanna Spend The Night" and "5 O'Clock In The Morning." This album was reissued to CD in 1999.

Village People are a concept disco group formed in the late 1970s. The group is well known for their on-stage costumes as for their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics. Original members were: police officer (Victor Willis), American Indian chief (Felipe Rose), cowboy (Randy Jones), construction worker (David Hodo), leatherman (Glenn Hughes) and Military man (Alex Briley). For the release of "In the Navy", both Willis and Briley appeared temporarily as sailors. Originally created to target disco's primarily gay fan base by featuring stereotypical gay fantasy personas[1], the band's popularity quickly brought them into mainstream. The group is seen by some music critics as less serious for their camp style, appearance and musical choices.

Village People scored a number of disco and dance hits, including their trademark "Macho Man", "Go West", the classic club medley of "San Francisco (You've Got Me) / In Hollywood (Everybody is a Star)", "In the Navy", "Can't Stop the Music", "Sex Over the Phone" and their biggest hit, "Y.M.C.A.".

Collectively, the Village People have sold 85 million albums and singles. The group also recorded new materials under the name "The Amazing Veepers".

I liked them better as the Indian, cop, construction worker, cowboy, the leather guy and military man. But, honestly, not that much.

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Best


34. Peter Gabriel: ‘Melt’ Peter Gabriel (1980) is Peter Gabriel's third eponymous album. It was his first and only release for Mercury Records in the USA, and was re-issued in 1983 on Geffen Records. The album was met with wide critical acclaim and contains two of Gabriel's most famous songs, "Games Without Frontiers," which reached the U.S. Top 50, and the UK Top Ten, and the political song "Biko", about the late anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. The album was remastered, along with most of Gabriel's catalog, in 2002.

This album is often referred to as Melt, on account of the cover photograph. This was part of a session taken by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis, using a Polaroid SX-70 instant camera, subsequently modified by Thorgerson and Gabriel. Thorgerson does not recall whether the cover image was manipulated by Gabriel, or by himself. I guess you just spill some water and modify as needed, hmmm, simple, but effective.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Classic Rock Videos

Can't have a 'Classic Rock Video' series with the "Fat Man"

Music News-new vinyl releases

Snow Patrol will release their new album on CD, DVD and vinyl, with a Special Edition package also available.

Fans who were up early this morning had the chance to hear a special Snow Patrol gig live from the band's living room, broadcast on BBC Radio 1.

The band played the special living room acoustic set on Joe Whiley's show, featuring the new single 'Take Back The City', which is available for download from October 5, and on general release October 13.

The single is the first to be taken from the new Snow Patrol album A Hundred Million Suns, which is out here on October 24.

As well as the standard CD and DVD releases, the album will also be out in a Special Edition package with two behind-the-scenes docs following the band through rehearsals and into the studio, and on double gatefold vinyl.

http://www.hotpress.com/

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LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- British rocker David Gilmour recalls his 2006 concert in Gdansk, Poland, as "a great, great show," which is why he's preserved it on CD and DVD.

The Pink Floyd guitarist was planning "to make a live album out of the show tour" supporting his latest solo album, "On An Island." But the Gdansk show, staged at the city's historic shipyards and featuring an orchestra, changed his mind.

"It's slightly not representative of all the shows from the tour," Gilmour said, "but so many of the best (songs) for the album seemed to come from that night, anyway.

"So in the end we thought, 'Oh, we'll just do the whole (album) from Gdansk. That's the one we'll do. It'll be great."

"Live in Gdansk" is available in five different CD, DVD and vinyl album combinations.

The album also features one of the last recorded performances of Pink Floyd keyboardist and Gilmour band member Richard Wright, who died Sept. 15 of cancer at age 65.

http://www.upi.com

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UK's What Records is taking pre-orders for AC/DC's new album, "Black Ice", as a limited heavyweight vinyl, deluxe packaged (book) CD and CD album. The vinyl will come with an exclusive AC/DC badge. Anyone ordering the CD or limited CD before October 1 will also get a badge.

This Date In Music History- September 24

Birthdays:

Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers ("Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying") turns 66.

Barbara (1940) and Jiggs (1942) Allbut of the Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back") are born-- same day, different years.

History:

Jimi Hendrix and Chas Chandler, former bassist with the Animals, flew from New York to London in 1966. There, Hendrix will form a new band and Chandler will become the manager of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. En route, they decide to change the guitarist's name from Jimmy to Jimi.

The late Linda McCartney ("Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" with husband Paul) was born in 1942.

Alan Freed's "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll" movie, with appearances by Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, LaVern Baker, Little Richard and others, premiered in New York City in 1957.

John Lennon appeared as a guest on The Dick Cavett Show in 1971.

Memphis played host to the first Elvis Presley convention in 1977.

Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released in 1991.

Fleetwood Mac`s "Don`t Stop" peaked at #3 in 1977. However, an Arkansas fan, Bill Clinton, revives the song using as his presidential campaign theme song in '92.

Stamps designed by John Lennon to support a strike by postal workers were sold for $2,000 in 2003, double the pre-sale estimate, according to auctioneers at Sotheby's.

London`s Wembley Arena was the site of the 50th birthday party for the Fender Stratocaster guitar in 2004. Paul Rodgers, Joe Walsh and David Gilmour are among those who attended. Proceeds from the event went to the Nordiff-Robbins Music Therapy charity.

In 1962, Elvis Presley received an invitation to appear at the Royal Variety Performance, a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom which was attended by senior members of the British Royal Family. Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker graciously declined, citing motion picture commitments. The real reason was that Parker was an illegal Dutch immigrant living in the United States who feared he may not be allowed to return if he left the country.

The Association had their first number one single with "Cherish" in 1966. The song had been released in August and within two months would be a million seller, remaining at the top of the US Pop charts for nearly a month. Oddly, it did not do well overseas, perhaps because of poor distribution. Only when the song was re-recorded by David Cassidy in 1971, did "Cherish" become an international hit.

In 1988, Bobby McFerrin's a cappella tune, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" hit the top of the record charts, not only in the US but in almost every country in the world. The song would go on to win Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It made #2 in the UK. During his career, McFerrin has become a ten-time Grammy Award winner.

Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

Judy Garland made her TV debut on the "Ford Star Jubilee" on CBS in 1955.

After suing for wrongful dismissal, Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler collects a $2.5 million settlement from the band in 1993. He alleged that his bandmates threw him out of the group for his heroin habit, after encouraging him to take the drug in the first place. That'll teach 'em.

Album Cover Art

Let's continue our look at album cover art, a list compiled by Gigwise.com:

Controversial

35. Serge Gainsbourg: ‘Histoire De Melodie Nelson’ Who? What? And an image of a underage girl with no top? Yeah, that will sell your music.

Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by controversial French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his 26-horsepower 1910 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost into teenage nymphet Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues. Histoire de Melody Nelson is considered by many critics and fans to be Gainsbourg's most influential and accomplished album.

At just under twenty-eight minutes, the short running time and the stylistic consistency and similarity throughout the album gives it qualities more in line with an EP or an extended musical piece with a number of movements. Histoire de Melody Nelson‘s mix of freewheeling guitar, funk style bass guitar, near spoken word vocal delivery, and lush, deep orchestrated string and choral arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier have proven to be highly influential amongst later francophone and anglophone musical performers including the French band Air, David Holmes, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, Portishead, and Beck, whose 2002 track "Paper Tiger" from Sea Change is extremely close to the distinctive Histoire de Melody Nelson sound.

Oh, now that explains it all, the guy was a perv.

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Weird


35. Gerhard Polt: 'Leberkas Hawaii' Gerhard Polt (born May 7, 1942 in Munich) is a Bavarian writer, filmmaker, actor and satirical cabaret artist. Gerhard Polt often performs using Bavarian dialect. His main topics are Bavarian people, culture and politics. His performances in Munich theaters, which he started in 1976, are very popular. 1979 he became known to a wider audience in Germany by his TV-comedy-series “Fast wia im richtigen Leben” (Almost like in real life). In the following years, he was writer and actor in the movies “Kehraus” (1983), “Man spricht deutsh” (1987), “Germanikus” (2004), and writer and director of “Herr Ober!” (1992).

I'll have his head on a platter- errrr...wait there it is....obviously album cover design was not one of his strong suits.

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Worst


35. Butthole Surfers – ‘Brown Reason To Live’- Love the band name and I would think that is more of a controversial cover than worst (I have seen worse) Nonetheless, here it is at #35 on Gigwise's list. Hmmm I wonder if Gibby posed for the cover.

Butthole Surfers is the debut studio EP by American punk band Butthole Surfers, released in July 1983. It is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor (see "Title controversy"). All songs were written and produced by the Butthole Surfers. The album was originally released on Alternative Tentacles. Butthole Surfers and 1984's Live PCPPEP were reissued as the Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP CD on Latino Buggerveil in 2003. The 12-inch vinyl version is still available from Alternative Tentacles, and is listed as Brown Reason to Live.

The Surfers introduced themselves to the world with seven songs full of throbbing bass, crashing drums, and heavily distorted guitar topped off with largely nonsensical, barely intelligible lyrics, alternately sung by lead vocalist Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary. Haynes also plays saxophone on some tracks. Unlike later Surfers albums, no electronic instrumentation is present.

Though this EP is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor, Butthole Surfers is its official title. First, "Butthole Surfers" were the only words to appear on the front cover of its original release. Furthermore, Latino Buggerveil's 2003 reissue of the EP, together with 1984's Live PCPPEP on a single CD, is titled Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP. Perhaps most importantly, it is listed as Butthole Surfers in the "Discography" section of the band's official website.

That said, Brown Reason to Live has a strong claim to title rights, and many fans refer to it by that name. The 12-inch vinyl edition was, and still is, sold as Brown Reason to Live through original label Alternative Tentacles, but it is unclear if it was initially released as such. Also, though the words "Brown Reason to Live" did not appear on the original album's packaging, they were included below the band's name on later Alternative Tentacles printings (see image).[3] Finally, Latino Buggerveil's reissue of this album is listed as Brown Reason to Live (together with Live PCPPEP) on iTunes.

(alternate cover)
As for Pee Pee the Sailor, the album has never been officially released or marketed under that name. That title is derived from Alternative Tentacles' vinyl editions, which include a cartoon of a Popeye-esque character with buttocks for a face printed on the record's center label, and the words "Pee Pee the Sailor" written next to it. This cartoon is in addition to the label's humorous suggestion that listeners play the record at 69 RPM.

Gotta love the names, whatever it may be called.

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Best


35. David Bowie: ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ - Finally, a cover I can relate to and have in my collection. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a 1972 concept album by English rock musician David Bowie. It peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 75 in the United States on the Billboard Music Charts. A concert film of the same name directed by D.A. Pennebaker was released in 1973. The location of the cover has since taken on legendary status with Bowie fans (similar to that of Abbey Road for Beatles’ followers).

The album presents the story, albeit vaguely, of "Ziggy Stardust," the human representative of an alien being who is hoping to present humanity with a message of hope in the last five years of its existence. Ziggy Stardust is the definitive rock star: sexually promiscuous, wild in drug intake and with a message, ultimately, of peace and love; but he is destroyed both by his own excesses of drugs and sex, and by the fans he inspired. The real-life inspiration for Ziggy was chiefly Vince Taylor. Bowie claimed that the name came from a tailor's shop in London called Ziggy's.

Bowie later told Rolling Stone it was "one of the few Christian names I could find beginning with the letter 'Z'." "Stardust" comes from one of Bowie's labelmates, a country singer named Norman Carl Odam, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Bowie covered a Legendary Stardust Cowboy song, "I Took a Trip (On a Gemini Spaceship)" thirty years later on Heathen.

A great addition to any LP collection, this, to me, was Bowie's crowning acheivement.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Classic Rock Videos

And one the songs that may have just started it all:

Album Cover Art

Continuing our look at controversial, best, worst and the weirdest album cover art as compiled by the staff at Gigwise.com, let's look at #36:

Controversial


36. Jimi Hendrix: ‘Electric Ladyland’ This one is a mystery to me. Naked vinyl cover art was a staple in the early 50's and sold many an album- regardless of how bad the music was. But God forbid a black man be pictured with naked white women. It sure caused a controversary, enough so, that the cover had to be changed.

Electric Ladyland is the third and final album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on October 16, 1968 on Reprise Records. Written and produced by Jimi Hendrix, the album is seen as the peak of Hendrix's mastery of the electric guitar, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It is not only the last of his albums released as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but also the last of Hendrix's studio albums to be professionally produced under his own supervision. After Electric Ladyland, Hendrix spent the remaining two years of his life attempting to organize a new band and recording a breadth of new songs.

Released as a double album, Electric Ladyland is a cross-section of Hendrix's wide range of musical talent. It includes samples of several genres and styles of music, including the psychedelia of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" (previously a UK single in the summer of 1967), the bluesy guitar jam "Voodoo Chile", the New Orleans-style rock and roll of "Come On", the epic studio production of "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)", and the political commentary of "House Burning Down". The album also features a cover version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" that was widely praised by many, including Dylan himself, as well as "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", a staple of both radio and guitar repertoire.


alternate cover art
Electric Ladyland was first released in the U.S. in October 1968 and became a massive hit; it was Hendrix's only #1 album. The UK edition reached #5 upon its release amid considerable controversy. A letter Hendrix wrote to Reprise described exactly what he wanted for the cover, but it was mostly ignored. He expressly asked for a colour photo by Linda Eastman of the group sitting with children on a sculpture from Alice in Wonderland in Central Park, NY, even drawing a picture of it for reference. The company instead used a blurred red & yellow photo of his head, taken by Karl Ferris. Track Records had its own art department, which produced a cover depicting of several nude women lounging in front of a black background. The original UK & German CD release from the 1980s features the UK artwork cover, while Allan Douglas' re-master CD issue from 1993 features the front half of it. The U.S. version by Ferris, however, has since become the official cover of Electric Ladyland outside the UK. The company Experience Hendrix, which owns the rights to the album and most of Hendrix's catalogue, has stated that the original UK nudes cover will not be used any longer, since Hendrix himself did not like it; nonetheless Hendrix's own choice, the Eastman photo, is still ignored. A dispute nearly happened with the album's title. In the final stages of production, a studio technician renamed the album "Electric Landlady." The album was almost released under this official title until Hendrix noticed the error, which upset him considerably. Kirsty MacColl later used this alternate title for an album of her own.

In 2005 Q magazine readers voted Electric Ladyland the 38th greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 72. In 2003, Rolling Stone declared it the 54th greatest album of all time. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

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Weird


36. Cloud Cult: 'Advice From The Baby Hippopotamus' Don't know much about the band, in fact, I never heard of them. But they make Gigwise's list at #36. Interesting cover- though not overly weird for me, I have seen much odder images. And with his own two-year old son passing away, my guess is that it may even be his picture that is being used, and that does not qualify as weird for me.

Cloud Cult is the creative brainchild of Craig Minowa and to understand his band's epic ambitions and sound, you have to understand him. Hoping to enlighten people about environmental issues, Minowa began writing and performing songs in the early '90s. During breaks at gigs, he would hand audience members fact sheets about the environment, and, as could be expected in dives, he was often met by a less-than-passionate response. Though a singer concerned about the environment sounds a bit cliché, Minowa's concern was genuine -- he was simultaneously pursuing a degree in environmental science -- and this zeal foreshadowed the intense love for life Minowa would express in future recordings. Obsessed with making an album, he spent a year recording at home, substituting household items for actual instruments because of financial limitations. To Minowa's surprise, the album, titled The Shade Project, drew enough attention to attract several label offers.

This unexpected and modest success led to the formation of Cloud Cult, a band that describes itself as a "not-for-profit, music-centered environmental and philosophical movement". Yes, this all sounds a bit over the top and pretentious, but like U2, Cloud Cult's sound is as vast as its aspirations. This is not only because Minowa has epic visions, but also because his band, which is more of a collective, combines the basic rock lineup with cello, viola, flute, and an assortment of unidentifiable sounds. Adding to this broad palette of instruments is Minowa's life experience, which has recently included unthinkable tragedy. In February of 2002, his two-year-old son passed away in his sleep, and the ensuing grief led to the end of Minowa's marriage. Rather than crumbling he turned to music, and the eventual appreciation for life that comes out of death and demise is beautifully articulated in Cloud Cult's music. Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus is Minowa's song of himself, a poetic expression of solace and glee among the ruins of unexpected suffering.

As far as its sound is concerned, Cloud Cult combines indie pop, jazzy improvisation, chamber pop, folk, and classic pop. These elements do not surface in every song, but drift in and out of the album, adding to Hippopotamus's celebratory yet elegiac sound. Minowa's voice falls in the tradition of high-pitched screamer/crooners such as Wayne Coyne, Isaac Brock, and Doug Martsch, and like these singers, Minowa emphasizes sincerity over technicality. Lyrically, Minowa deals with the weighty issues, such as the meaning of life, the reality of death, and what happens afterwards. In "What Happens at the End", for example, Minowa warbles, "I am just wondering comes at the end / I hope I meet you again / You'll be a hummingbird / And I'll be your bumblebee / And we'll fall in love in our new skin". Such playful yet profound musings reflect Cloud Cult's two main passions: nature and life. Indeed, even when the topic matter veers towards the somber, the lyrics always include an element of hope. by Michael Franco (found at popmatter.com)

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Worst


36. Kaiser Chiefs – ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ Yours Truly, Angry Mob is the second album by English rock band Kaiser Chiefs. It was released on 23 February 2007 in Belgium and the Netherlands, on 26 February 2007 in the rest of the world and in late March in North America. The album was preceded by the release of lead single "Ruby" on 19 February. It became the band's first (and to date, only) number one album in the British album charts.

Once again produced by Stephen Street, producer of the band's debut album Employment, Yours Truly, Angry Mob is lyrically darker and more socially aware than its predecessor, with tracks dealing with street crime, violence, fame, and the inaccuracy of tabloid articles.

I certainly have seen worse, but I think it made the list just because of the guy who just had to wink at the camera...silly.

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Best


36. Pulp: ‘Different Class’ - When I first saw this, I really questioned the inclusion to even make a 'best of' album cover art list. But when I found that you can find with a different cover, I guess I can accept it (although it would not make my list)

Different Class is an album by English Britpop band Pulp. It was released in 1995 at the height of Britpop, and led to the band being regarded as part of that movement. Two of the singles on the album – "Common People" (which reached number two in the UK singles chart) and "Disco 2000" (which reached number seven) – were especially notable, and helped propel Pulp to nationwide fame. A "deluxe edition" of Different Class was released on 11 September 2006. It contains a second disc of B-sides, demos and rarities.

The album was the winner of the 1996 Mercury Music Prize. In 1998 Q readers voted Different Class the 37th greatest album of all time; a repeat poll in 2006 put it at number 85. In 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 46 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2004 it was voted number 70 of Channel 4's 100 greatest albums. The album is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Some versions of the album came with 12 different options for cover art.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Collector's Report

Collector's Report reviews the top selling 45's, LP's, 78's and CD's each week on eBay. The following are the top sellers for the week of September 14 to September 20, 2008.

LP's

1) Cool Struttin' - Sonny Clark - Blue Note 1588 - Mono 1st Printing (M/NM) - $3,750.00

2) Let It Be - Beatles - Canadian Box (Still Sealed) - $3,000.00

3) Cressida - Cressida - Vertigo (NM/M) - $2,200.00

4) Introducing - Brief Encounter - Seventy-Seven Records 77-102 (Still Sealed) - $1,975.00

5) Introducing - Brief Encounter - Seventy-Seven Records 77-102 (NM/NM) - $1,975.00


45's

1) Make a Change/Soul Food - Johnny Rodgers with the Nu Tones - Amon 4619 (M-) - $2,900.00

2) New Years Day (Dia de ano Nuevo)/Two Hearts Beat As One (Dos Corazones Palpitan Como Uno) - U2 - Guatamalan issue promo - Discos de Centroamerica S.A. I-236 (E) - $2,069.59

3) Please Please Me/Ask Me Why - Beatles - Beatles spelled with two T's - VeeJay 498 (VG) - $2,026.00

4) Love Buzz/Big Cheese - Nirvana - Sub Pop - Unnumbered (E/E) - $2,000.00

5) Love Buzz/Big Cheese - Nirvana - Sub Pop (M/M) - 645/1000 - $1,958.00


78's

1) That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley - Sun 209 (M-) - $999.95

2) Kill It Kid/Broke Down Engine Blues - Blind Willie McTell Performing as Barrelhouse Sammy - Atlantic 891 (E+) - $987.77

3)That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley - Sun 209 (E) - $890.00

4) Baby Let's Play House/I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone - Elvis Presley - Sun 217 (VG) - $750.00

5) Junk-Bucket Blues/Harlem's Araby - Get Happy Band - Columbia 14091(M-) - $653.00

SOURCE: Winkscollectibles.com

New Vinyl Releases

As always, a special thank you to my vinyl friend DJ Spyder (http://dj-spyder.blogspot.com) for his usual 'heads up' on new vinyl releases:

9/30/08 RELEASE DATE

Anberlin - New Surrender [2LP]

Ben Folds - Way To Normal [2LP 180 Gram Vinyl Gatefold jacket w/digital download card]

Ben Folds - Way To Normal [Super Deluxe Box Set] [2LP 180 Gram Vinyl includes 2 CD + 1 DVD + Poster in Foil-Stamped Box]

Big Brother & The Holding Company (Janis Joplin) - Big Brother & The Holding Company [LP] (Mono Edition)

Boz Scaggs - Speak Low [2LP]

Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall [2 LP] [180 Gram Vinyl w/ 2 Bonus CDs]

Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty [2LP] Double Gatefold

Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball [2LP] w/ Download Card

Delbert McClinton - Live [LP] 180 Gram Vinyl

Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown [LP] (w/bonus download)

Earth Wind & Fire - Gratitude [2LP]

Innerpartysystem - Innerpartysystem [2 LP]

Jack's Mannequin - Glass Passenger [2 LP]

Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys [LP] (180 Gram RED-Colored Vinyl) (LIMITED EDITION)

John Lennon - Imagine [LP] (180 Gram Vinyl plus poster and postcard) (LIMITED EDITION)

Michael Jackson - Thriller [LP] [Picture Disc]

Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition [LP] (180 Gram BLUE Vinyl plus 2 CD's / 1 DVD / Book / Poster in custom Gatefold Media Jacket)

Murs - Murs For President [2 LP] [Red & White Colored Vinyl]

Nikka Costa - Pebble To A Pearl [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl in Gatefold Jacket)

Nina Simone - Remixed & Reimagined [LP]

Paul Kantner / Jefferson Starship - Blows Against The Empire [LP]

Sam Cooke - One Night Stand - Live At The Harlem Square Club [LP] 180 Gram

Sublime - Sublime [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl)

T.I. - Paper Trail [2 LP] (VERY LIMITED)

Trio Of Doom - Trio Of Doom [LP] 180 Gram

We The People - Too Much Noise [LP]

Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger [LP]

Polly Scattergood - Nitrogen Pink [10 inch vinyl]

Jack White & Alicia Keys - Another Way To Die (7 Inch) (LIMITED EDITION - Gold Vinyl in special sleeve) (theme to James Bond movie 'Quantum Of Solace')

Madlib - Go! (feat. Guilty Simpson) b/w Gamble On Ya Boy (feat. Defari) (LIMITED EDITION 7'')

Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It [7 Inch Box Set]

Classic Rock Videos

Again, I just couldn't help myself- yes, it's another Chuck Berry classic, covered by many a band and still being played in bars and nightclubs all around the world.

Album Cover Art

Continuing our look at album cover art, let's look at number 37 of the top 50 most controversial, weirdest, best and worst covers as compiled by Gigwise:

Controversial


37. Black Sabbath: 'Born Again' - Born Again is Black Sabbath's eleventh studio album, released in 1983. The album cover, which featured the image of an infant with horns and vampire fangs, with a purple background, was designed by Steve Joule. He also handwrote the lyrics that appear on the inner bag. The deliberately lurid design was submitted by Joule in a vain attempt to be rejected from this design commission, as he was also retained on a lucrative contract by Ozzy Osbourne's organisation for his sleeve designs. To Joule's horror and surprise, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler approved the image for the album. Gillan and Ward were not present when the decision was made, though they later noted that they hated the finished cover. Gillan reportedly hated the cover so much, that he threw a box of 50 records out a window. Joule reports that he was drunk and high on speed when he drew the finalized designs for the album. The cover is hated by many fans, but also has a cult following (much as the album itself), most notably with Max Cavalera and Glen Benton both stating that it is their favorite album over. Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under also said he likes the artwork, stating; "It's really the birth of the Antichrist in a Pop Art way which is scary of sorts on a few different levels for me."

It was panned by critics at the time of its release, but reached #4 in the UK charts as well as the top 40 in the U.S. and has gained a strong cult following among a number of fans.

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Weird


37. J-Zone: 'Music For Tu Madre' J-Zone is a rapper, producer, and CEO of Old Maid Entertainment. He lives in Queens, New York. J-Zone has enjoyed a large following of underground hip hop aficionados and a sizable European fan base, which continues to grow.

At a young age, he developed and honed his musical abilities by listening to records and playing bass guitar. He later learned the basics of production under the tutelage of DJ Vance Wright (Slick Rick's DJ) in 1994. In 1999, he released Music for Tu Madre, garnering critical acclaim in the hip hop underground, but it was not enough to propel him into the mainstream spotlight. He has since worked with and produced beats for artists such as Biz Markie, Cage, Diversion Tactics, DM & Jemini, High and Mighty, Jehst, Redman, R.A. the Rugged Man, Tame 1, MF Grimm, and Tha Liks.

Usually accompanied by fellow Old Maid Billionaires Huggy, Al-Shid, and Captain Back$lap (J-Zone's more crass, arrogant alter ego), J-Zone's music could be described as somewhat unconventional. He typically uses lots of offbeat samples, which often function as a sort of Greek Chorus. While generally praised for his comedic storytelling, clever punch lines, acerbic wit, and stellar production work, some critics have claimed that his music is crude, juvenile, and misogynistic.

Apparently, this image is the best that they could do for an LP cover. Weird? To me, this belongs in the 'worst' cover section, and probably in the top ten.

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Worst

37. Crosby, Stills & Nash – ‘Live It Up’ Someone was waaayyy too drugged up for this cover. A weinnie roast, but where is the fire? And wouldn't the men on the sticks get toasted too?

1990's LIVE IT UP fully embraces the era's slick production ethos--right from the bombastic opening title track, the album is timely take on CSN's timeless sound. Graham Nash performs the big power rock epics, from the singalong "If Anybody ... . Full Description Had A Heart" to the tender ballad "House Of Broken Dreams." Stephen Stills indulges his Latin-tinged shuffle muse on "Tomboy" and slows things down for the gritty, acoustic 'Haven't We Lost Enough?" Crosby brings his sweet, melodic gift to bear on some of the album's lighter numbers--from the philosophic "Yours and Mine" to the chiming, synth-driven "Arrows." The album's powerful social statement, "After The Dolphin" unites all three, in a vocal blend which instantly harkens back to the group's early classic works, combining masterful musicianship with a stirring message. Producers: Joe Vitale, Stan Johnston, David Crosby, Steven Stills, Graham Nash. The boys also brought in a number of amjor players to help out including: Mike Landau, Roger McGuinn, Peter Frampton (guitar); Bruce Hornsby (accordion, piano); Branford Marsalis (soprano saxophone); Joe Vitale (keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Craig Doerge (keyboards); Leland Sklar, Bob Glaub (bass); Mike Fisher, Michito Sanchez (percussion); Tony Beard (programming); The Williams Family, J.D. Souther (backgound vocals). Too bad they didn't splurge for a top-notch album cover designer.

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Best


37. Motorhead: ‘Ace of Spades’ Ace of Spades is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. Released on November 8, 1980, it peaked at #4 on the UK album charts. It was preceded by the release of the title track "Ace of Spades" as a single on October 27, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #15 in early November.

The album was produced by Vic Maile at his Jackson's Studio in Rickmansworth. This is the first of what would be a series of projects with Maile, and members of the band commented at the time about finding the right producer. Whereas the band had previously had an input at the mixing stage, Maile took sole responsibility here, Clarke explaining that the result was that "you can finally hear everything that's going on". Of the performances, Lemmy claimed that "Vic got me singing instead of just shouting all the time", while Taylor added "and he got me playing more solid".

It was the first of the band's albums to feature a photograph of them on the cover, dressed as cowboys. The 'Arizona desert-style' pictures used on the album sleeve and tour programme were taken during a photosession at a sandpit in Barnet. They were not in a desert and there were no horses. Great cover anyway!

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces Nominees

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced their nine nominees for 2009 induction. Included in the list are first time nominees Metallica, who are in their second year of eligibility, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Jeff Beck, Run-DMC, War and Bobby Womack.

Disco group Chic has been nominated for the fifth time and the Stooges for the seventh, but they're nowhere near the record. Solomon Burke was nominated eleven times before finally being elected.

The announcement of the five acts being inducted will be made in early December and the ceremony will be held April 4, 2009 in Cleveland.

The nominees and the number of times they've been nominated (five will be elected):


Jeff Beck (1)
Chic (5)
Wanda Jackson (2)
Little Anthony & the Imperials (1)
Metallica (1)
Run-DMC (1)
Stooges (7)
War (1)
Bobby Womack (1)

There are some glaring omissions (Neil Sedaka) from the Hall and I am not sure of exactly how they 'vote' but the process should be and needs to be fixed.

This Date In Music History- September 22

Birthdays:

Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life") is 52.

Joni James ("Why Don't You Believe Me") turns 78.

Vocalist David Coverdale was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, in 1952.

Birthdays wishes to Joan Jett, born in 1960.

History:

In 1956, Billboard Magazine printed an article which said, "with new experiences to their credit, such as calling in riot squads and with scars such as damaged seats, some arena and stadium officials have turned their thumbs down to Rock and Roll."

The untitled first album by Funkadelic, including the defining track "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic...?," was released in 1969.

In 1958, after receiving special permission from the US Army, Elvis Presley gives one last press conference at the Military Ocean Terminal in Brooklyn. He then joins the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on the USS General Randall for a voyage to the seaport town of Bremerhaven, Germany.

Ten years after parting ways, the Everly Brothers reunited onstage for two concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1983. The event is taped and released as Reunion Concert, an album and home video.

Joe Walsh announced his bid for the U.S. presidency in 1979 (he obviously doesn't win).

The first "Farm Aid" concert was held in 1985 (which raised $10 million for beleaguered farmers and becomes an annual event), in Champaign, Illinois with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, John Fogerty and others.

Grace Slick made her singing debut with San Francisco's Great Society in North Beach, California in 1965.

John Lennon signed a new record deal with Geffen Records in 1980, as he prepared to release Double Fantasy, his first album of new material in six years. David Geffen promised to release the album without even hearing any of the songs.

In 1981, the great songwriter Irving Berlin died in New York at age of 101. His "White Christmas" became one of the most successful singles ever when Bing Crosby recorded it.

In 1999, Bono met the pope at the Vatican. The pope offers his support for Bono's Third World-debt-ending initiative Jubilee 2000. He also steals the U2 singer's sunglasses.

In 2004, the CBS broadcasting network was fined $550,000 by the FCC for airing Janet Jackson's bare nipple during the Super Bowl telecast. Oops.

"Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway in 1964. It was the beginning of a run of 3,242 performances.

"MTV Unplugged" renamed one episode "MTV Plugged," when Bruce Springsteen played an electric set on the show in 1992.

David Bowie began his first U.S. tour with the Spiders From Mars in Cleveland in 1972.

In 1966, the Lovin' Spoonful were awarded a gold record for their fifth US top ten single and first number one hit, "Summer in the City".

Cat Stevens, who now goes by the name of Yusuf Islam, was escorted from a diverted transatlantic flight and refused entry into America by FBI agent in 2004. His name showed up on a US watch list after United Airlines Flight 919 had taken off from London. The flight landed in Maine where Islam, who was traveling with his 21-year-old daughter, was detained and questioned.