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fantastic article/opinion about the vinyl revivial in the UK
Consumers are moving to the cloud…so why are people still buying vinyl records?
by Richard Preedy
Common opinion generally decrees that, in the future, the majority of consumers will be moving to the cloud to obtain broader access to music. While this is almost certainly true, in the fragmented world of consumer music consumption, a ‘collector’ mentality and desire for personal ownership continue to exist amongst many music fans. The music industry needs to ensure these different needs are addressed, rather than assuming a single model will satisfy all consumers.
Vinyl records not affected by the industry downturn?
Over the last few years a pleasing story has continued to appear like clockwork in the press. Amid general doom and gloom and tales of music industry collapse, we are told, somewhat counter-intuitively, that sales of vinyl records are continuing to increase.
One year ago, the Go-Go's were ready to hang it up after one last tour. Unfortunately, Jane Wiedlin injured her knee in a hiking accident and required surgery, causing the cancellation of the trek.
Jump ahead a year and the girls have done some thinking, deciding that it may not be time to say goodbye just yet. That's why they will be celebrating their 30th anniversary all summer with the Ladies Gone Wild Tour, starting May 29 in Hershey, PA and running through the end of August in Texas (with a break during July).
Willie Nelson May Get Off From Pot Possession Charges With a Song
Country icon Willie Nelson may have a deal he can't pass up from the man prosecuting his marijuana possession case. Hudspeth (TX) County District Attorney C.R. "Kit" Bramblett said he'd be willing to let Nelson go with a $100 fine and a performance of Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain in the courtroom.
THE GATES OF SLUMBER To Release New Album "THE WRETCH" On May 10, 2011
NEW SONG "COVEN OF CAIN" PREMIERES VIA DECIBEL
Doom lords THE GATES OF SLUMBER will unleash their hotly-anticipated fifth full-length album The Wretch on May 10, 2011 via Rise Above Records / Metal Blade. Featuring eight slabs of punishing metal, The Wretch boils doom down to its purest form, resulting in the Indianapolis trio's finest work to date.
i like the cover art, read the rest of the story at altsounds.com
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nice review of some great music!
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Produce Pure Pop
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart -- 'Belong' -- Slumberland -- 4 STARS
By Philip Y Gingerich, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
If their breathtaking second LP, “Belong,” is any indication, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are growing up rapidly. In 2009, the young band seared their image onto hipster consciousness with their self-titled debut, a record that sounded as classic as its own cover art looked. The album was a perfect cut of early 90’s indie—the band’s sound inspired by the twee fuzz of bands like Black Tambourine, and hearkening back to the darker, dreamy haze of shoe-gaze monolith My Bloody Valentine. On their new album, The Pains fulfill all the promise of their past work and reveal an inspired and expanded dimension in their sound and song-writing capacity.
On April 8, Nuclear Blast Records will release a limited-edition picture seven-inch version of "One More Time" from HAMMERFALL's upcoming album "Infected". The vinyl is limited on 500 copies and sold through the Nuclear Blast mailorder only. On the B-side of the single there will be a live version of "Hallowed Be My Name" recorded at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2009. The digital version of the single will contain an additional instrumental version of "One More Time".
and in music history for the day ( a shortened verison, which will still be here everyday!)
In 1958, Connie Francis enjoys her first chart success as "Who's Sorry Now?" reached Billboard's #4 spot. Over the next ten years she will place 55 more songs on the Billboard hit parade.
In 1973, Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show got their picture on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine after their hit, "The Cover of Rolling Stone" reached number 6 on the US singles chart. According to members of the group, they really did buy five copies for their mothers, just like the song said.
In 1975, Led Zeppelin had all of their six albums (to date) in the Billboard Top 100 chart in the same week with their latest album, Physical Graffiti, hit #1.
In 1980, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon spent its 303rd week on the U.S. album chart, beating the previous record set by Carole King’s Tapestry.
In 1985, Jeanine Deckers, a.k.a. The Singing Nun, died at age 52 after taking an overdose of sleeping pills in a suicide pact with a friend. Her 1963 U.S. #1 (U.K. #7) single “Dominique” sold over 1.5 million copies, winning a Grammy Award for the year’s Best Gospel Song. Deckers wrote about her financial plight in a suicide note. With great irony, on the very day of her death, unbeknownst to her, the Belgian association that collects royalties for songwriters awarded her $300,000
Amazingly in 1986, Beatles records officially went on sale in Russia.
In 2001, Brian Wilson was honored in a three hour tribute at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Guest performances included Billy Joel singing "Don't Worry Baby", while Paul Simon sang an acoustic version of "Surfer Girl". Wilson - Phillips made a rare appearance, as did The Go-Gos and the trio of Carly Simon, David Crosby and Jimmy Webb. Also singing Beach Boy songs were Ann and Nancy Wilson, Elton John and Aimee Mann. Brian Wilson himself joined the fun when he took the stage for the final three songs, "Barbara Ann", "Surfin' U.S.A." and "Fun, Fun, Fun".
found this interesting, but i think there should be one standard that everyone goes by. i still get confused at eBay when someone rates a record vg++ or m- , just what is the difference? I like a numbering system myself, any other thoughts?
The goldmine standard, who, why and what are we going to do about it?
Ages ago someone decided to invent a standard for grading records, this was called the goldmine standard. The issue is the standard is quite frankly rubbish, let me explain why. Say for example you want to buy a nice quality vinyl record you might pick “good” as the quality, usually in like if something is good quality then its good, oh no, the goldmine standard decided that Good meant rubbish! look:
"Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white). A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. If it's a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade. "
Now does that sound good to you ? no. I think not..so lets go up the scale past Good and Very Good to Very Good Plus, surely this must be a nice quality record that you would happily purchase:
"Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. "
Now this sounds a bit better, and yes generally its ok to buy a very good plus. The point is what is a standard if its completely out of date. Why cant people just agree that Good is Rubbish, now VinylSearcher.com has taken a better approach, they have the goldmine standard but they also added there own version so people know what will pop through there mailbox.
So whats does the GoldMine Standard actually mean?
We have written this based on our own vinyl busying experiences, this is only our oppinion. In simple terms if you like records by VG Plus or Mint....then you will be happy!
Mint At VinylSearcher.com we do not classify any 2nd hand records as mint, mint is new, sealed, perfect - Nice if you can find them. -
Near Mint A nearly perfect record. This is the sort of quality we would recommend you buying - "Nice Record". -
Very Good Plus Slight warps, scuffs, sleeve damage, noticeable but only just. Very Good Plus record is highly acceptable - Sounds okayWorth 50% Max of Original value
Very Good Surface noise will be evident upon playing! - If you really want that tune get this one!Worth 25% Max of Original value
Good or Good Plus Significant Surface noise! This is not "good" when buying a tune - Don't Bother!Worth 10% Max of Original value
Poor or Fair "Rubbish record", it's warped, cracked and does'nt play without skipping - Don't Bother unless you need a scratch tool!Worth 5% Max of Original value
A Flock of Seagulls - A Flock of Seagulls (reissue)
AWOLNATION - Megalithic Symphony
Aiden - Disguises
Alcoholic Faith Mission - And The Running With Insanity EP
All Tiny Creatures - Harbors (vinyl)
Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising (vinyl)
Amy Speace - Land Like a Bird
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Tao of the Dead (vinyl)
Apache Dropout - Apache Dropout (vinyl)
Arrington De Dionyso’s Malaikat - Suara Naga (vinyl)
Ashford & Simpson - Street Opera
Aztec Camera - Walk Out to Winter: The Best of
Band of Heathens - Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster's Son
Becoming The Archetype - Celestial Completion
Ben Hall - Ben Hall
Benighted - Asylum Cave
Beth Ditto - Beth Ditto EP
Between The Buried And Me - Best Of
Bibio - Mind Bokeh (2xLP)(vinyl)
Big Sean - Finally Famous: The Album
Billy Squire - Essential Billy Squier
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Live in London (vinyl)
Blackguard - Firefight
Bloodiest - Descent
Boney James - Contact
Bosco Delrey - Everybody Wah
Brian Eno - Music for Airports: Live
Britney Spears - Femme Fatale
Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields EP
Buck 65 - 20 Odd Years
Burial - Street Halo
Burt Bacharach & Ronan Keating - When Ronan Met Burt
Buzzoven - Revelation: Sick Again
Chalk Circle - Reflection
Chris Forsyth - Paranoid Cat (vinyl)
Circle Pit - Slave b/w Honey 7″ (vinyl)
Colin Hay - Gathering Mercury: Limited Edition
Craft Spells - Idle Labor
Deadmau5 – 4X4=12 (vinyl)
Derek & the Dominoes - Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (2 LPs)(vinyl)
Dirty Beaches - Badlands
Dow Jones and the Industrials - Can't Stand the Midwest (reissue)(vinyl)
Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now: UK Deluxe
Emery - We Do What We Want
Erland & The Carnival - Nightingale
Five Eight - Your God Is Dead To Me Now
Florence + The Machine - Between Two Lungs
Fredrik - FLORA
Funeral Party - The Golden Age of Knowhere
GDP - Useless Eaters
Gangpol & Mit - The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club
Generationals - Actor-Caster
George Jones - Mr. Country & Western Music (reissue)
George Michael - True Faith (Single)
Goes Cube - In Tides & Drifts
Great White - Absolute Hits
Gridlink - Orphan/Amber Grey (vinyl)
Grooms - Grooms
Havok - Time Is Up
Heidi Spencer & The Rare Birds - Under Streetlight Glow
Hezekiah Jones - Have You Seen Our New Fort?
Holly Golightly - The Good Things (reissue)(vinyl)
Human League - Credo
Hunx and His Punx – Too Young to be In Love (vinyl)
Infinitirock - Library Catalog Music Series: Music for Primordial Recollection (vinyl)
Innerpartysystem - Never Be Content
Ironwill - Unturned
Joe Turner - Rocks
Josh T. Pearson - Last of the Country Gentlemen (vinyl)
Karl Blau - Golden Chariot b/w Dub Chariot 7″
Ladytron - Best of Ladytron: 00-10
Laura Nyro - First Songs (vinyl)
Leb Laze - Library Catalog Music Series: Music for Troubled Machinery (vinyl)
Lecherous Gaze – Lecherous Gaze (vinyl)
Los Lonely - Boys Rockpango
L’Altra - Telepathic
Marcia Ball - Roadside Attraction
Marillion - Live From Cadogan Hall (2 CDs)
Mars Classroom - The New Theory of Everything
Mary Mary - Something Big
Matt Duke - One Day Die
Melba Moore - Never Say Never
Melba Moore - Read My Lips
Mercenary - Metamorphosis
Michael Hurley - Have Moicy! (reissue)(vinyl)
Moon Duo - Mazes (vinyl)
Morning Teleportation - Expanding Anyway (vinyl)
My Cousin, The Emperor - The Subway EPs, Vol. 1: Prospect Park West
My Cousin, The Emperor - The Subway EPs, Vol. 2: Broadway-Lafayette
Naked on the Vague - Twelve Dark Noons (vinyl)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Let Love In (CD/DVD)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (CD/DVD)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - No More Shall We Part (CD/DVD)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
Obits - Moody, Standard and Poor (vinyl)
Obscura - Omnivium (vinyl)
Of Legends - Stranded
Okkervil River - Wake and Be Fine b/w Weave Room 7″ (vinyl)
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Cotonou Club
Pearl Jam - vs. (Deluxe Edition) (remastered with bonus tracks)
Pete Yorn - Music For the Morning After (vinyl)
Peter, Bjorn & John - Gimme Some (vinyl)
Primal Scream - Screamadelica (2 CDs)
Queens of the Stone Age - Queens of the Stone Age (vinyl)
Radiohead - The King of Limbs (vinyl)
Roger Waters - The Wall: Live in Berlin (dvd)
Rory Block - Shake 'em On Down: A Tribute to Mississippi
Royal Bangs - Flux Outside
SFV Acid - New West Coast (limited 500 copies)(vinyl)
Sarandon - Age of Reason
Secret Cities - Strange Hearts (vinyl)
Snoop Dogg - Doggumentary
Southeast Engine - Canary
Spectre Folk - Blackest Medicine Vol. 2 (vinyl)
Steve Earle - Live at Montreux 2005 (reissue)
Sum 41 - Screaming Bloody Murder
Supercluster - Paris Effect b/w Neat in the Street 7″ (vinyl)
TRUST - Candy Walls 7" (vinyl)
Ten After Two - Truth Is…
The Books - Lost and Safe (vinyl)
The Boxer Rebellion - The Cold Still
The Echocentrics - Esclavo y Amo 7″ (vinyl)
The Feelies - Here Before
The Haunted - Unseen
The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck (vinyl)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong (vinyl) The Books - Lost and Safe Lost and Safe is repackaged with dazzling new artwork and expanded to include lyrics for every song. Carefully and thoughtfully remastered from the original mixes by Zammuto at his new studio outside his home in Vermont, Lost and Safe now boasts an increased warmth and clarity that reveals new details with repeated listens. THE FIRST 300 ORDERS WILL RECEIVE LIMITED EDITION COLORED VINYL: GREEN W/ BLACK SPLATTER.
The Vaccines - If You Wanna
Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose
Toro y Moi/Cloud Nothings - I Will Talk To You b/w For No One 7″ (vinyl)
True Widow - As High As the Highest Heavens (vinyl)
UV Race - Homo
Unwritten Law - Swan
Uriah Heep - Official Bootleg, Volume 3: Live in Kawasaki, Japan
Useless Eaters - Cheap Talk: The Singles
Various Artists - Fania Records 1964-1980: Original Sound (2 CDs)
Various Artists - Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology (6 CDs)
Various Artists - R&B Hipshakers Vol. 2: Scratch That Itch
Various Artists - Sin-Atra
Various Artists - Mad Men: A Musical Companion
Various Artists - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II, The Metal Years (remastered)
Various Artists - Take Me Home Tonight (soundtrack)
Various Artists - The Music Never Stopped - Music From The Motion Picture
Wagon Christ - Toomorrow (2xLP)(vinyl)
We Are Defiance - Trust In Few
Whitesnake - Forevermore (vinyl)
Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones - Tribute to Ray Charles
Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
Wiz Khalifa - Rolling Papers
Yelle - Safari Disco Club
Zoobombs - La Vie En Jupon
Remember, if you are a record company and have new releases or know of any I missed (especially vinyl), please email me and I will add your music to the list. I also do reviews of new vinyl, email me for more information.
Another "Please Please Me" tops the list this week, followed by rare issues from Nirvana, an Australian tour record, and U2, their first self-produced 3 track 12". Two Blue Note classics round out the list.
1. LP - The Beatles "Please Please Me" Parlophone UK Bold Black labet 1st Stereo - $13,351.38
2. LP - Nirvana "Hormoaning" Clear Marbled Blue Red Purple Press - $6000.00
3. 12" - U2 "Out of Control" numbered #287/1000 - $5,100.00
fark.com has a rundown on the silliest and most inane album cover art, i think we have seen them all before, but's it's always good for a quick laugh! and, i actually saw a few that i have never seen before, what a cool thread!
None of these album covers should have ever seen the light of day
See more of the silly album cover art at www.fark.com
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Permanent Records and the new vinyl store
By David Wicik
Talking to the duo who've set down roots in a hostile music sales world.
Making a brick and mortar record store work in a time of virtually unfettered digital file-sharing and generally declining revenues in the music industry takes a special kind of brilliance. It’s been five years since giants Coconuts and Tower Records shuttered their doors. One imagines that even Nick Hornby’s fictional Championship Vinyl would be facing deep profit gashes in this market.
Co-owners of Chicago vinyl hotspot and indie label Permanent Records Lance Barresi and Liz Tooley could probably teach a course in the current landscape of music commerce. Their own physical store opened in 2006 in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood, and instead of eking out a narrow margin, it has actually managed to flourish. So much so, in fact, that Permanent will be opening a new store this summer in Los Angeles.
DESTRUCTOR's 'Forever In Leather' Album Reissued On Vinyl
Auburn Records and Germany's High Roller Records have collaborated on a license deal to reissue DESTRUCTOR's "Forever In Leather" album on vinyl. The effort was originally released on CD in 2007 by Auburn Records.
The High Roller Records vinyl reissue is limited to 666 copies — 316 black vinyl, 250 clear/black splatter vinyl and 100 ultra-clear vinyl — and includes a four-page lyric insert.
Neil Young Takes Artist of the Year at Canada's Junos
The final eight awards were given out on Sunday night for this years Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys. Thirty-two other awards were given during a Saturday night gala.
The big winner on the night was Arcade Fire. They had already won Alternative Album for The Suburbs and, on Sunday night, added Album of the Year, Group and Songwriter awards. Justin Bieber took two with Pop Album and the Juno Fan Choice Award.
1. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Scandalous
2. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
3. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
4. D. Watusi - Summer Nights 7"
5. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo
6. Adele - 21
7. J Mascis - Several Shades Of Why
8. The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness 7"
9. The Black Keys - Brothers
10. Dodos - No Color
11. Brave Irene - Brave Irene
12. Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
13. The National - High Violet
14. PUJOL - Bonedaddy 7"
15. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong 7"
16. Mike Watt - Hyphenated Man
17. Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers - Rare Bird Alert
18. The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh
19. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will
20. Davila 666 - Tan Bajo
21. The Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope
22. Those Darlins - Be Your Bro 7"
23. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
24. Radiohead - OK Computer
25. U2 - Joshua Tree
Here are the Top 10 Records For the Week of March 21 to March 28, 2011:
1.) Portugal The Man – Waiter: You Vultures! LP
2.) OFF – Compared to What / Rotten Apple 7″
3.) The Menzingers – Chamberlain Waits LP
4.) Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes LP (Exclusive)
5.) Portugal The Man – Church Mouth LP
6.) Glassjaw – Worship And Tribute LP
7.) Silverstein – Rescue LP (Exclusive)
8.) Frank Turner – Rock & Roll EP 10″
9.) Green Day – Awesome As F**k 2XLP
10.) Fake Problems – Songs For Teenagers 7″
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USA Albums:
1.Adele : 21
2.Marsha Ambrosius : Late Nights & Early Mornings
3.Mumford and Sons : Sigh No More
4.Justin Bieber : Never Say Never The Remixes EP
5.Various : Now 37
6.Dropkick Murphys : Going Out In Style
7.Aaron Lewis : Twon Line (EP)
8.Justin Bieber : My World 2.0
9.Bruno Mars : Doo-Wops & Holligans
10.Pink : Greatest Hits ... So Far
Singles:
1.Lady Gaga : Born This Way
2.Cee Lo Green : Fuck You
3.Rihanna : S&M
4.Pink : Fucking Perfect
5.Jennifer Lopez : On The Floor
6.Bruno Mars : Grenade
7.Ke$ha : Blow
8.Katy Perry feat. Kanye West : E.T.
9.Enrique Eglesias : Tonight (I've Lovin' You)
10.Katy Perry : Firework
UK
Albums:
1.Adele : 21
2.Jessie J. : Who You Are
3.Beady Eye : Different Gear, Still Speeding
4.Adele : 19
5.Rihanna : Loud
6.Bruno Mars : Doo Wops & Hooligans
7.Clare Maguire : Light After Dark
8.Mumford and Sons : Sigh No More
9.Alexis Jordan : Alexis Jordan
10.Cee Lo Green : The Lady Killer
Singles:
1.Adele : Someone Like You
2.Jessie J feat. B.o.B. : Price Tag
3.Rihanna : S&M
4.Lady Gaga : Born This Way
5.Adele : Rolling In the Deep
6.Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown : Champion
7.Alexis Jordan : Good Girl
8.Chris Brown : Yeah 3X
9.Bruno Mars : Grenade
10.Jessie J : Do It Like A Dude
Europe Albums:
1.Take That : Progress
2.Rihanna : Loud
3.Bruce Springsteen : The Promise
4.Shakira : Sale El Sol
5.Pink : Greatest Hits ... So Far
6.Bon Jovi : Greatest Hits
7.James Blunt : Some Kind Of Trouble
8.Susan Boyle : The Gift
9.Kings Of Leon : Come Around Sundown
10.JLS : Outta This World
Singles:
1.Bruno Mars : Grenade
2.Adele : Rolling In the Deep
3.Rihanna : What's My Name
4.Katy Perry : Firework
5.Martin Solveig : Hello
6.Black Eyed Peas : The Time
7.David Guetta feat. Rihanna : Who's That Chick
8.Taio Cruz : Higher
9.Bruno Mars : Just The Way You Are
10.Duck Sauce : Barbra Streisand
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and in music history for the day:
In 1958, Buddy Holly kicked off the first night of a 43-date tour at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, New York. Alan Freed’s Big Beat Show also featured Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, The Diamonds, Billy Ford, Danny & The Juniors, The Chantels, Larry Williams, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, The Pastels, Jo-Ann Campbell and Ed Townsend. On most days, the acts played two shows.
In 1964, Jan and Dean's double sided hit, "Dead Man's Curve" / "New Girl in School" enters the US chart where it will rise to #8.
In 1967, Van Morrison recorded "Brown Eyed Girl", which will enter the Billboard chart next August and rise to #10. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
Also in 1967, the Beatles worked on the Sgt. Pepper track, “Good Morning, Good Morning,” at EMI Studios, London. John Lennon, who was inspired to write the song from a Kellogg’s Cornflake TV commercial, decided he wanted to end the song with animal sound effects.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Woodstock" was released in 1970.
In 1974, Delta blues singer and guitarist Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, who wrote “That’s All Right, Mama” (covered by Elvis Presley) and “My Baby Left Me,” died of a stroke at the age of 68.
In 1982, David Crosby of the Byrds and CSNY is arrested in San Diego for possession of drugs and a gun. When asked why he carried the gun, his reply was two words: "John Lennon."
In 1985, 6000 radio stations in the US and Canada simultaneously played "We Are the World", the fundraising song for African famine relief recorded by 45 superstar performers. Sales of the single, album, video and related merchandise initially raised more than $38 million US.
In 1998, Kiss played the first of five sold-out nights on their ‘Alive II’ World Tour at the Tokyo Budokan, Japan.
In 2001, the artist formerly known as both Puffy and Puff Daddy said in an MTV interview that he now wanted to be known as “P. Diddy.” In August 2005, he changed his stage name again to simply “Diddy.” and in the same year, i changed my name to an indescribable symbol, then to bobbo, but now, just call me bob.....
birthdays today include Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta)(1986) and Reba McEntire (1955) among others.
NPR Music's "First Listen" Begins Today; Robertson Guests On "Rockline" April 6th
SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbie Robertson will perform his Top 10 single "He Don't Live Here No More" on "Late Show with David Letterman" on April 5th, coinciding with the release of his new album, How To Become Clairvoyant (Macro-Biotic Records/429 Records). He'll also appear on "The View" on April 6th. The shows will mark the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's first television appearances in more than 10 years.
NPR Music is giving fans an exclusive "First Listen" to How To Become Clairvoyant, streaming the album in its entirety for a week, beginning today. This Saturday, April 2nd, Robertson will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF). In June, Canada Post will issue a stamp with Robertson's likeness as part of its Canadian Recording Artists stamp series. He will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" on April 6th and tape "World Cafe with David Dye" in May while at WXPN's Non-COMMvention.
How To Become Clairvoyant features Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello and Robert Randolph along with vocalists Angela McCluskey, Rocco Deluca, Dana Glover and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes). The collection was co-produced by Robertson and long-time collaborator Marius de Vries (Massive Attack, Bjork, Rufus Wainwright).
"This soulful record is Robertson's best yet," observed Goldmine. "For all of the now-legendary songs that Robertson penned, he tended to shy away from writing about himself, which makes the revealing nature of his first album in more than ten years such a wonderful surprise," said Relix. "How To Become Clairvoyant finds Robertson tackling personal topics such as his breakup with The Band ('This Is Where I Get Off'), the guitarists who inspired his innovative sound ('Axman') and his early days backing Ronnie Hawkins ('When the Night Was Young')."
In addition to the CD, three special editions of How To Become Clairvoyant will be available. The deluxe edition, available exclusively at Best Buy for a month beginning April 5th, will include a second CD with demos of five of the album's tracks – "The Right Mistake," "He Don't Live Here No More," "Fear of Falling," "This Is Where I Get Off" and "Madame X" – and an outtake of "Houdini," a song that does not appear on the album. Starting April 5th, fans can pre-order a two-disc, gatefold edition of How To Become Clairvoyant on 180-gram vinyl and a limited edition collector's set at http://www.robbie-robertson.com/ . The collector's set includes the vinyl and CD editions of the album plus 10 bonus tracks, provided in both CD and vinyl formats, a DVD with three multi-track mixes, a 70-page, full-color book with album artwork, lithographs and additional art, and other cool extras such as a set of tarot cards designed especially for the collection.
For more information on ROBBIE ROBERTSON, please visit:
under the heading 'i did not know that,' one of my favorite sites (and one i have often referred my visitors to ) www.vintagevinylnews.com just celebrated their 5th anniversary, well, i'll let them tell you! My sincere wishes to continued success and i hope that there are many, many more!
We're Five Years (and Two Days) Old
Tonight, I looked at the calendar and realized that Friday had been the fifth anniversary of VVN Music. My wife replied "you forgot your anniversary...just like a typical husband."
Napster Founder In Talks to Purchase Metallica's Record Label
by Amy Sciarretto
Now that's what we call irony. Crawdaddy has reported a rumor that Napster founder Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake in 'The Social Network' movie, is engaging in discussions with investors to purchase Warner Music Group, the parent company of Metallica's record label.
another cooper story, but i like what he is saying, check it out at noisecreep.com
Alice Cooper Talks 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' Album and Lady Gaga
by Nicole Pajer
When the original Alice Cooper Group dismantled in 1974, Alice Cooper stepped out as a solo artist to shock the world with his debut, 'Welcome To My Nightmare.' The album has gone on to become one of the biggest sellers in his catalog. Naturally, doing a sequel is something that has been in the back of Cooper's mind for quite some time.
After much anticipation, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare,' the follow up to Cooper's first solo masterpiece, has been completed. "[It's] done, and I am so proud of this album," Cooper recently told Noisecreep.
Read the rest at noisecreep.com and what cooper thought of 'the egg'
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this is one cover that should win some sort of album cover art award, I love it!
AUTOPSY: 'Macabre Eternal' Cover Artwork Unveiled
"Macabre Eternal", the first full-length album from the legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act AUTOPSY since 1995's "Shitfun", will be released on May 31 via Peaceville Records. A special vinyl edition of the effort will precede the digital versions exclusively through the Peaceville web store on May 16.
"Macabre Eternal" was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California and includes AUTOPSY's first 10-plus minute song "Sadistic Gratification". "It's 11 minutes and 33 seconds of pure fucking sickness," guitarist Eric Cutler told Invisible Oranges
i found this quite engaging, wonder if i should try some of the old lps and see (oops, hear) the difference:
Vinyl Cave: Mono vs. stereo with Butterfield Blues Band, The Beatles, The Tokens, The Blues Project
Bob Koch
Stereophonic LPs started to become generally available in 1958, and it took about a decade after that for most record labels to stop producing both stereo and monophonic versions of their new releases. During that time, the availability of both formats created many, often inadvertent variations in the musical content on the vinyl, due to anything from the specific requirements of the format to simply careless mixing of one version or the other.
This was particularly the case in the early days of stereo.....
great story about a small vinyl record store in northern wisconsin!
Nostalgia lives in Vinyl Cave
The Vinyl Cave sells memories — music from the past, wrapped in vinyl, waiting to be discovered.
By: Maria Lockwood, Superior Telegram
The Vinyl Cave sells memories — music from the past, wrapped in vinyl, waiting to be discovered.
The store opened two and a half years ago in Superior, offering a huge collection of LPs and 45s. Co-owners Tom Unterberger and Tom Johnson have an inventory of 400,000 discs. Many can be purchased for $1. For the music enthusiasts, the shop is an opportunity to share their passion.
In 1952, Sun Records of Memphis, Tennessee began releasing records. The label would later become the home of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others.
In 1958, CBS Laboratories announced the invention of stereophonic records. Although the new format would be playable on ordinary phonographs, when used on the proper equipment, a new rich and fuller sound would be heard. cool!
In 1960, two anti-payola bills are introduced in US Congress by Representative Emanuel Celler of New York. He blames payola for "the cacophonous music called Rock and Roll" and says that Rock and Roll would never have gained popularity, "especially among teenagers," if not for the result of payola.
The very first record ever released by Del Shannon, "Runaway" entered the Billboard chart in 1961 on its way to becoming a million selling, number one hit. In 2004, Rolling Stone rated the song as #466 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The Who released their first US chart entry, "I Can't Explain" in 1965. Although the song could only climb as high as #93 on the Billboard Hot 100, the band still gained a large following thanks to their exciting live performances.
The Young Rascals recorded "Groovin'" in 1967.
In 1971, Three Dog Night's version of Hoyt Axton's "Joy To The World" enters the Billboard Hot 100 on its way to becoming the biggest selling single of the year.
Elvis Presley recorded "Burning Love" in 1972. It would turn out to be his last major hit.
Bruce Springsteen's first video, "Rosalita," premiered on BBC-TV in 1979.
In 1981, AC/DC released "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" in the U.S. It had been released in Australia in 1976.
Cyndi Lauper released "Time After Time" in 1984.
U2 filmed their video "Where the Streets Have No Name" on a rooftop in L.A in 1987.
In 1997, Ian Dury, the English rocker who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s as founder and lead singer of the British band, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, died of colorectal cancer a few weeks short of his 58th birthday.
celebrating birthdays today include Mariah Carey (1970), Fergie from Black Eyed Peas & Tony Banks of Genesis (1950)
Produced by: Bones Howe Engineered by: Bones Howe Mixed by: Bones Howe Mastered by: Gavin Lurssen Lacquer Cut by: Ron McMaster at Capitol Mastering
MUSIC
SOUND
"Cut From the Analog Master Tapes"? Not Exactly
by Michael Fremer February 01, 2011
Reissuing the Tom Waits Asylum catalog on vinyl was a good idea.
I've got most of the originals but since Rhino's current management can't even be bothered to send me email publicity blurbs, never mind promo copies to review, I choose to spend most of my money on new releases and my time reviewing records I buy and that some labels are kind enough to send me—and that doesn't guaranty a good review as I'm sure you know.
So I didn't order any of these reissues, but judging by Rhino's past track record, particularly when Warner Brothers vinyl maven Tom "Grover" Biery was involved, the results were uniformly excellent. But no good deed goes unpunished, and Mr. Biery involuntarily parted ways with Warner Brothers.
When the emails began to arrive complaining about these Tom Waits reissues, I had to hear what was going on.
"Sounds like wet socks," one reader wrote. "What's going on with the Tom Waits reissues, they sound dull and dead," wrote another.
I got emails from around the world complaining about this series.
Another reader was so upset he contacted Rhino to ask what could possibly have gone wrong.
What he found out was pretty shocking considering that the sticker on the plastic sealer read "Cut from the original analog tapes."
Not exactly.
The customer service person at Rhino told the reader that mastering engineer Gavin Lurssen had taken the 1/4" analog masters and using analog EQ, had equalized the tapes (essentially the same as mastering for all intents and purposes) and then created 96/24 bit files that were sent to Ron McMaster at Capitol where the lacquers were cut and then sent to RTI for plating and pressing.
No doubt the production was directed by someone at Rhino, not by Lurssen, who was doing his job as contracted by Rhino.
Something went terribly wrong somewhere in the chain because this Small Change does indeed sound thick, congealed, terribly rolled off and utterly airless. It's unfortunate that this review posts immediately following similar comments made about Mobile-Fidelity's equally dull and airless Dixie Chicken, but trust me: it's not my system. The original of Small Change sounds superb—and I used to play my copy often on the radio back in the '70s, so it's been played.
Yet despite its age and use it sounds bright, airy, open, three-dimensional and basically spectacular as one would expect from a Bones Howe production recorded live to two-track analog tape at Wally Heider's.
Yes, the trio of Shelly Manne, bassist Jim Hughart and saxophonist Lew Tabackin are playing live behind Waits and his piano as is the sumptuous sixteen piece string section. It's a spectacularly natural-sounding three dimensional recording of one of Waits' most colorful albums.
There's not a weak tune in the set and many classics like the greatest alcoholic in denial song "The Piano Has Been Drinking" and the Ron Popiel tribute "Step Right Up." Now "Step Right Up" is a simple quartet recording: the jazz trio and Waits. It should be spacious, open, three dimensional and just about every audio fan's idea of a sonic wet dream. At one point one of the players lets out a spontaneous yelp. It should knock you out of your seat. It's barely audible as are the finger snaps that should "pop" will realism.
What a shame.
What happened? First of all, why the hell wouldn't you just cut the fucking record from the master tape as long as you have it and you're in Hollywood—especially if you're advertising it as having been "cut from the original analog tapes?" Why digitize it? Why cut it at Capitol? Why Ron McMaster? He's known as a competent cutter in my opinion, but he's certainly not in the audiophile loop, nor am I sure Capitol's mastering room is up there with Kevin Gray's or Stan Ricker's, or Doug Sax's.
Who made such a choice? I can't imagine Gavin Lurssen equalized this record to have no top end. Something else must be going on here.
Who evaluated lacquer cuts before approving the project? I bet no one.
Who evaluated test pressings before approving the project? I bet no one.
And if it was someone, it was someone who doesn't know what he's doing.
This is a wonderful opportunity wasted.
Don't buy this and if you have bought it, you're entitled to your money back. You bought a record advertised as having been "cut from the analog master tape" and it wasn't.
Look, the Band on the Run reissue was cut from 96/24 bit files made from the master tapes and its arguably better than the U.S., British and German originals (review coming), so it's not the "digital" that ruined this. It's something else.
I'm trying to get answers.
Thanks to Michael over at www.musicangle.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material. Stop by MusicAngle.com for more reviews and features.
lots of great reading today, a new us stamp, some vinyl history, a q & a with the record guys, a vinyl record party from the folks at Penn State:
Local music store to promote vinyl culture with event
By Hannah Rishel Collegian Staff Writer
Fans of “High Fidelity” will have a chance to experience a similar atmosphere this weekend, sans John Cusack.
The Music Underground, 224 W. College Ave., will present a “Stax of Trax” record show from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The event will feature hundreds of LPs, 45s and records from various genres. Josh Ferko, DJ “Tapes” and DJ Sassmouth will provide the soundtrack to the event
Music Underground owner Jesse Ruegg said the store has records for sale every day, but he wanted to do something as a specific event and make it fun.
Legendary Jersey rockers The Feelies to release first new album in 20 years
By Jim Testa/For The Jersey Journal
“Is it too late to do it again?”
Those are the opening words of the first new Feelies recording to be heard in 20 years, from the track “Nobody Knows” that kicks off the legendary New Jersey group’s soon-to-be-released Here Before, its first album since 1991’s Time For A Witness.
Read the rest of this interesting article at nj.com
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U.S. Postal Service Is 'Stampin' at the Savoy
NEW ORLEANS, March 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate America's musical gift to the world, the U.S. Postal Service today issued the Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp.
Inspired by vintage jazz record-album covers, Pasadena, Calif., artist Paul Rogers captured the eclectic nature of jazz music and the spontaneity and improvisation of jazz artists in creating art for the Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp.
"With this evocative Jazz stamp, we celebrate the music and the musicians who play it in studios, clubs and concert halls and on festival stages," said Thurgood Marshall Jr., vice chairman, Postal Service Board of Governors. "I can't think of a more perfect place to dedicate this new stamp than here in New Orleans, the birthplace of so many legendary jazz performers… and where jazz first flowered near the dawn of the 20th century.
"Jazz is a pastime that brings people together, regardless of race, ethnicity or background," said Marshall. "It's a lot like the Postal Service, which has been bringing people together for over 235 years, through the power of the mail."
Forever Stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate. The Jazz Appreciation stamps go on sale today nationwide at Post Offices and online at usps.com/shop.
Joining Marshall to dedicate the Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp were Guy Cottrell, chief postal inspector; Nancy Marinovic, president, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation; Shamarr Allen, leader of the funk band Underdawgs; Jeffery Taylor, manager, Louisiana District, Postal Service; and Paul Rogers.
‘Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology’ highlights genre’s history
One of the most unlikely hit records in history came out in 1973, when a critic and historian at the Smithsonian Institution named Martin Williams released an anthology called the Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz.
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It consisted of six vinyl LPs that explored and summarized the history of jazz and was later released on compact disc. It was the first comprehensive collection of its kind and immediately became part of the jazz curriculum at colleges throughout the country. Music lovers bought it to introduce others to jazz. Over time it sold so many copies that it went double platinum.
Record dealers and organizers of 10th annual Toronto Downtown Record Show
Ages: 39 and 46, respectively
You know those super-knowledgeable guys behind the counter of the local indie record store, the kind that could have come straight out of the Nick Hornby novel High Fidelity? That’s Mr. Keele and Mr. Boldireff.
Mr. Keele grew up in his father’s Toronto record store, Don’s Discs, which specialized in 1940s and 1950s blues and doo-wop.
1) Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall
2) Radiohead - King Of Limbs (pre-order)
3) Chicago - Chicago VI
4) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
5) Eagles - Greatest Hits 1971-1975
6) Genesis - 1970-1975 Box Set
7) Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority
8) English Beat - Special Beat Service
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and in music history for today:
In 1957, Ricky Nelson recorded his first tunes for the Verve label, "A Teenager's Romance", which will climb to #2 on the
Billboard chart and "I'm Walkin'", which will reach #4. Over his fifteen year recording career, Rick will place 36 songs in the US Top 40.
In 1958, Eddie Cochran recorded his only US Top Ten hit, "Summertime Blues", which will rise to #8 in the US next Fall.
In 1968, blues artist Little Willie John died in prison under mysterious circumstances after being convicted of manslaughter two years earlier. He had fourteen hits on the US R&B charts and the same number on the Pop charts, including "Fever", "Sleep", and "Talk To Me, Talk To Me".
In 1977, Hall & Oates started a three-week run at #1 on the Billboard singles chart with “Rich Girl,” the duo’s first U.S. chart-topper.
In 1980, Jon Paulos, drummer for The Buckinghams on their string of 1967 hits, including "Kind Of A Drag" and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", died of a drug overdose. He was 32.
In 1985, radio stations in South Africa banned all of Stevie Wonder’s records after he dedicated the Academy Award he had won the night before to Nelson Mandela.
In 1988, Michael Jackson started a two-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Man in the Mirror.”
In 2004, Jan Berry of Jan & Dean died at the age of 62 after being in poor health from injuries sustained in a 1966 car crash. The duo’s biggest hit was the 1963 #1 single “Surf City” (#26 in the U.K.), which was co-written by Beach Boy Brian Wilson.
In 2005, Australian drummer Paul Hester, formerly of Split Enz, Crowded House and Largest Living Things, committed suicide by hanging himself in a park in Melbourne. He was 46. After leaving Crowded House in 1994, Hester appeared on many TV and radio shows in Australia.
In 2006, British readers of Total Guitar magazine voted Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” solo the “greatest guitar solo of all time”. It edged out entries from Van Halen, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and The Eagles. certainly up for debate in my book....
In 2009, a jumpsuit that Elvis Presley wore at a concert at New York's Madison Square Garden sold at an auction for $212,588.
birthday wishes to Diana Ross (1944) and Steven Tyler from Aerosmith (1948), among others.
Sorry folks, the soundstagedirect.com contest is over. Thanks to all you emailed and congrats to the winners, Lawrence, Bret and Dennis!
Special thanks to Seth over at soundstagedirect.com for helping us all experience music as it was meant to be - via the vinyl record. Stop by the site for a gander, they have what you are looking for or can most likely find it!
I hope to have something else to run very soon, so stayed with CVR Blog for all your vinyl record information!
still need one more winner get a $10 Gift certificates at SoundStageDirect! Just email me (rbenson30@wi.rr.com) and add 'Radiohead' to the subject line!
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thrill jockey sent this to me, I'd thought I'd pass it along:
Thrill Jockey Limited Vinyl Releases For Record Store Day
Glenn Jones Split LP with The Black Twig Pickers & Charlie Parr - Even to Win Is to Fail b/w EastMont Syrup - thrilljockey.com/catalog
Glenn Jones is known to many as a 30+ year devotee of the so-called "American Primitive" school of acoustic steel string guitar playing. Jones started playing guitar at the age of 14 and formed the Boston psych rock band, Cul de Sac, in 1989. Twenty years and nine albums in its wake, including collaborations with guitarist John Fahey and Can's Damo Suzuki, Jones finds himself now fully immersed in the guitar playing traditions laid out by Fahey and Robbie Basho.
Even to Win Is to Fail, the Glenn Jones side of this split 12", is his Thrill Jockey debut recorded specifically for this release. Jones released This Is The Wind That Blows It Out, his first album of acoustic six and twelve-string guitar instrumentals in 2004, and followed it with Against Which The Sea Continually Beats (2007) and Barbecue Bob In Fishtown (2009). A forthcoming Thrill Jockey full-length is slated for an August release.
Charlie Parr, country bluesman, songwriter and reso guitar and banjo king of the Upper Midwest, and the Black Twig Pickers, scrappy stringband of the Virginia/West Virginia state line, are long time friends who met at a house party many years ago. EastMont Syrup, is part reunion, part hoot, part lament for times and pals gone by, and part sampler for what's to come in the future. This release includes an insert with notes, lyrics, and manifold stew cooking recipes courtesy of Charlie Parr!
Norcal Values is a sonic collaboration between Phil Manley (Trans Am, The Fucking Champs, Jonas Reinhardt) and Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless). Comprised almost exclusively of a single continuous guitar solo, the recording was made live with no overdubs, and was completely improvised. Manley recently ventured out into the world of kosmiche kraut with his solo debut Life Coach while Mitchell's Earthless recently finished up their debut tour of Australia.
This split release features two of Thrill Jockey's musical extremities, recent signing Liturgy, and electronic pioneer Oval. Not a random pairing, but in fact born out of each band's mutual appreciation of the other, this split will feature one new track from Liturgy and four new ones from Oval. The Liturgy track also marks the first time that the band has explored writing music together. Composition duties are shared, details are not overthought, and improvisation is employed. Liturgy's new album Aesthethica comes out on May 10th, while Oval's groundbreaking releases O and Oh were met with critical acclaim throughout the greater part of 2010.
Treetop Flyers have announced details of a brand new 4-track 10" single, which will be released via Communion Records on the 23rd May 2011, and a full UK tour to support the release.
Released on 10" vinyl, the Communion single features Things Will Change - "a love song, about wanting things to change for the better"; Long Cold Winter, a reflection of the typical seasonal British malaise backed with two acoustic recordings Rose Is In The Yard and Disappearing Kind lamenting the passing of "good people and places."
Even in 1994, at the height of Pearl Jam’s popularity, singer Eddie Vedder must have known some listeners would never be swayed by the band’s music.
“Taste, you’ve got taste,” he told the audience at a Boston show. “Wouldn’t have known that from meeting you at a Pearl Jam show.”
The Seattle band rode the same wave of grunge popularity as groups like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains but always had its detractors. Not that it worried Pearl Jam. They responded to their overwhelming early success by attempting to eschew the trappings of fame and celebrity, instead catering to the fans they already had.
a great insight to an underappreciated singer/songwriter....
Music: For 'late bloomer' Sexsmith, music is still all about the LP
By JONATHAN TAKIFF Philadelphia Daily News
THAT RON SEXSMITH is one sly sort - and better for it.
Time and again on his new (11th) "Long Player Late Bloomer" album, this seasoned but chronically underappreciated songcrafter will lure you in, get you humming along with his sunny-sounding, hook-happy tunes, this time polished to a bright sheen by noted producer Bob Rock.
wow, 50 years, look forward to giving it a listen!
The Zombies Celebrate 50th Anniversary With New Album, U.K. Tour
Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Tom Toomey, Steve Rodford and Jim Rodford, collectively known as The Zombies, are celebrating their 50th anniversary as a group with a new album and a U.K. tour.
The album, Breathe Out, Breathe In, is scheduled for release in the U.K. on May 9 via Red House Records (Amazon shows it will be available as an import in the U.S. on May 17).
Restorations have released their new self-titled album digitally through Itunes and bandcamp.
The album will be receiving a vinyl release on April 19 through Tiny Engines Records. The band recorded the record with Algernon Cadwallader‘s Joe Reinhart (My Heart To Joy, Monument, Snowing) and was mixed by Jonathan Low (Dr. Dog, Danielson, mewithoutYou), the LP will be limited to a pressing of 500 and feature gatefold jackets with art and design by Bruno Guerreiro.
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Symphony X Reveals New Album, "Iconoclast" Artwork And Tracklisting
American progressive metal outfit Symphony X has revealed the front cover artwork for their forthcoming new studio album, "Iconoclast." You can check it out below. The album will be released through Nuclear Blast Records on June 17th in Europe and June 21st in North America and will be the band's ninth studio album.
Illustrator and film concept artist Warren Flanagan (Watchmen, The Incredible Hulk, 2012) is the talent behind the album artwork. Here, he shares his creative process on the new album’s artwork:
like their music and i like their style, give them a try!
Hawthorne Heights frontman yearns for return of vinyl records
By Dan Kane CantonRep.com staff writer
The music of the Hawthorne Heights has been categorized as hard rock, indie rock, emo, screamo, alternative, pop-punk and post-hardcore.
When I asked the band’s frontman, J.T. Woodruff, about this in a phone interview Monday, I could almost feel him rolling his eyes.
“It has loud guitars and loud drums. It’s rock ’n’ roll. Can everybody just call it that?” he said, with amused exasperation. “Let’s spend more time listening to the music instead of categorizing it.”
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd Announce Rebels & Bandoleros Tour
Russell Hall
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd are teaming up for a tour this spring. Dubbed the Rebels & Bandoleros Tour, the trek kicks off on May 12 in Wichita, Kansas, and wraps up three weeks later in Orange Beach, Alabama.
The two bands last mounted a combined tour 11 years ago, when they hit the road together for nearly a year.
Mercury Records, the U.K. label home to U2, The Killers, Metallica, Arcade Fire and many more, is to halt the regular production of physical singles with immediate effect. Whether on CD or (recently popular) retro-vinyl, none of its bands’ singles will be planned for physical release.
The label admits it “lost money” on singles released in 2010. It will now only create physical singles when, according according to a Mercury spokeswoman, “it is guaranteed to make a profit. With physical formats now accounting for just over one percent of the overall singles market we are being more cautious.”
Heavy Metal Film Festival to Host KISS, AC/DC Flicks
Bryan Wawzenek
The Heavy Metal Film Fest – the first event devoted strictly to metal movies – has announced its schedule, which will include movies about KISS, AC/DC, Meshuggah, Anvil and G.G. Allin, among many others. The festival is taking place March 31 through April 3 at the Downtown Independent Cinema in Los Angeles.
On the short films lineup, Faces of Budokan deals with KISS’ three-night stand at Tokyo’s legendary Budokan venue in 2003.
if you are in the area, the new orleans record raid sounds like a good place to be!
Ring the Alarm: Spring Record Raid at Tulane Saturday
by Ben Berman
With the addition of the Euclid Records store in the Bywater this past fall, the vinyl record market in New Orleans is at its strongest post-K, with other stores Louisiana Music Factory, Domino Sound Record Shack, Skully’z, Jim Russell Records, the Mushroom, and Peaches still going strong, and artists from Galactic and Preservation Hall to Sun Hotel and Maddie Ruthless releasing their latest recordings on vinyl.
The New Orleans Record Raid, now in its fourth incarnation, has added greatly to this dusty landscape, with sellers both from the stores above as well as private collectors and dealers coming together to peddle their wares under a single roof or tree. Saturday, March 26, the WTUL-sponsored Record Raid returns to Tulane University’s Zimple Quad—the site of its first appearance—at the corner of Broadway and Zimple Street.
More than 20 vendors will be on hand at the fair, including representatives from Euclid Records, Skully’z and Domino Sound, and well-known local dealers Mr. Tyrone, DJ Brice Nice, and WWOZ show host Jivin’ Gene. A special appearance is being made by the Iron Rail Book Collective, forced just after Mardi Gras to shut down the storefront where they had sold punk and experimental LPs and 45s.
The fair is free to attend, but individual record prices will range from $1 to more than your monthly rent. Almost all genres will be represented across the various sellers’ tables, from soul to indie rock to hip-hop to reggae to jazz to punk to indie-Christian-jazz-funk-rap and anything and everything in between. LPs, 45s, 10″s, 78s, cassettes, and even CDs will all be available.
The boxes and crates open at 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m
In 1965, Jeff Beck joined the Yardbirds and would later help record the hits, "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shapes of Things" before leaving in the fall of 1966. Jimmy Page had also joined the band, but the Yardbirds would split up in 1968. Page then re-shaped the group to form the New Yardbirds, later renaming them Led Zeppelin.
In 1966, at a photo session in Bob Whitaker’s studio in London, The Beatles posed in white coats using sides of meat with mutilated and butchered dolls for a publicity photo that is used by Capitol in America for the cover of the Beatles’ next American album, Yesterday And Today. After a public outcry, the LP was pulled from stores and re-issued with a new cover, making the original an instant collector’s item.
In 1967, the Who and Cream made their U.S. concert debuts at the RKO 58th Street Theatre, New York City as part of a multi-artist extravaganza promoted by DJ Murray the K.
Also in 1967, the Doors debut album, featuring "Light My Fire", enters the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The LP had been released during the first week of January and would end up leading Billboard for three weeks and Cashbox for a week.
The 58th and final episode of The Monkees TV series was broadcast on NBC in 1968.
In 1969, John and Yoko invited the world’s press into their hotel suite at the start of a week long “Bed-In” at the Amsterdam Hilton.
In 1971, New York radio station WNBC banned the song "One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer and Shipley because of its alleged drug references. Other stations around the country follow suit, but the record still makes it to Billboard's #10.
In 1972, The trio of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek, collectively known as America, reached the top spot on The Hot 100 and The Cashbox Best Sellers chart with "A Horse With No Name". The tune, which reached #3 in the UK, was originally titled "Desert Song".
Van Halen released the album 'Van Halen II' in 1979.
In 1983, Motown Records celebrated its 25 anniversary with a concert in Pasadena, featuring The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Jr. Walker, The Commodores, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and The Jackson 5.
In 2005, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were forced to flee their Buckinghamshire mansion after a blaze broke out while they were sleeping. The couple were roused by a fire alarm and ran to safety in the garden, rescuing their pets as they escaped.
In 2009, Dan Seals, of the 1970s duo England Dan And John Ford Coley, died of cancer at the age of 61. After scoring several Billboard Pop chart hits, including "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", "Nights are Forever" and "Love Is The Answer", Seals went on to have a solid career in Country music during the 1980s and early '90s.
birthday wishes to Aretha Franklin (1942) and Elton John (1947) among others.
I ran a contest and only have one winner so far, so if you are interested, just email me!
the first two who email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com will get a $10 Gift certificates at SoundStageDirect! Just add 'Radiohead' to the subject line!
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well. murphy's law got me again. after spending hours yesterday compiling a list of the record store day releases for 2011, the folks at record store day have posted the list today, it is in PDF format, and you can find it here RecordStore Day Releases
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i have just updated the 'upcoming record collectors shows' on the left margin, look and see if there is one by you!
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Concerts on Both Coasts to Celebrate the 75th Birthday of Wavy Gravy
Wavy Gravy (real name Hugh Romney) will forever be one of the most remembered faces from the Woodstock Festival and has gone on to be a major peace activist along with a benefactor to the blind with the Seva Foundation and the clown prince of his Camp Winnarainbow.
On May 15, Wavy will turn 75 and, to celebrate, a bunch of friends and admirers are getting together for two concerts in his honor.
bloomberg.com has a great story, who doesn't love deep purple?
Russian President Tells Deep Purple of His Years as Rock DJ
President Dmitry Medvedev, an avid fan of Deep Purple, met the U.K. hard-rock group for tea at his residence outside Moscow yesterday on the eve of their concert in the Russian capital, Russian news wires said.
Metallica to Unveil New Metallica.com Site on March 28th
On March 28th, Metallica are completely overhauling and relaunching their online presence, Metallica.com. The new version of the website will encompass other Metallica web properties like the fanclub-driven MetClub.com and MetOnTour.com, which will be combined into one big site to ensure easy access to all things Metallica.
The new site will also include fun facts and details about every album, video, song, tour date, band member, and event in Metallica's history. cool.....
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Jethro Tull to Perform 'Aqualung' Album in Its Entirety on Summer Tour
Amy Sciarretto
In the eyes of metal fans, Jethro Tull may never live down beating Metallica's '...And Justice For All' for the Best Metal/Hard Rock Performance Grammy in 1989 with 'Crest of a Knave.' Twenty-one-year-old Grammy drama aside, the Tull will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their essential 'Aqualung' album by performing it in its entirety on their upcoming summer tour. The band will also play other classics from its 30-album catalog to round out each night's set.
The touring line-up features longtime members Ian Anderson (flute, vocals, acoustic guitar) and Martin Barre (guitars), Doane Perry (drums), as well as David Goodier (bass) and pianist John O'Hara. Goodier and O'Hara joined in 2006 after working with Anderson on some of his solo projects.
so these are they guys who write those ad jingles! interesting story, read on...
Folk veterans to play Good Folk
By MIKE HORYCZUN
You can call David Buskin and Robin Batteau media-friendly types -- both old media and new. Early in their careers they signed with major record companies that released their music on vinyl albums. You remember those, the 33-rpm type that warped easily and required turntables and needles. And they're responsible for writing Clio Award-winning jingles like Batteau's "Heartbeat of America" for Chevrolet and Buskin's "We're NBC, Just Watch Us Now" in the '80s.
These days, Buskin & Batteau, as they're known in contemporary folk circles, stream some of their performances live on the internet. They also host a radio show on WPKN that's streamed on the Web.
Leslieville resident spins Toronto Downtown Record Show this weekend
"Some people said mp3s would cause the end of records, but they didn't." - Aaron Keele After 25 years in the record business, Leslieville resident Aaron Keele knows his way around vinyl.
Growing up in the hip-hop era with a father who ran the venerable record shop Don's Discs, he fell in love with the musical medium and has parlayed that passion into a career.
Keele and longtime friend Akim Boldireff are known as the Record Guys (www.therecordguys.com) and have carved out a niche as two of the country's leading experts on vinyl records and music ephemera.
In 1945, Billboard Magazine published their first album chart with Nat King Cole's "A Collection of Favorites" named as #1.
In 1958, Elvis Presley reported to the Memphis draft board. From there he and 12 other recruits were taken by bus to Kennedy Veterans Memorial Hospital where the singer was assigned army serial number 53310761.
In 1963, the Beatles were the opening act for American Pop stars Chris Montez and Tommy Roe in the quartet's hometown of Liverpool, England.
Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious by an electrical shock from a microphone stand in 1965. It was the first date of the Rolling Stones anniversary tour.
In 1966, the New York State Assembly passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to sell unauthorized copies of records or tapes, commonly known as bootlegs.
Iron Maiden released the album 'The Number of the Beast' in 1980
In 1991, the Black Crowes were dropped as the opening act on ZZ Top's tour for repeatedly criticizing Miller Beer. Miller Beer was sponsoring the tour.
In 1997, 57 year old Harold Melvin, leader of the Philadelphia Soul group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died of heart related problems. The group is remembered for their 1972, US #3 hit, "If You Don't Know Me By Now".
In 2005, Rod Price, a founding member of Foghat, died after falling down a stairway at his home. The 57 year old guitarist was with the band for three Platinum and eight Gold records, including their highest charting US single "Slow Ride" in 1976.
and in 2010, Johnny Maestro, the lead singer for The Crests on their seven US Top 40 records, including the 1959, #2 hit "Sixteen Candles" as well as The Brooklyn Bridge on "The Worst That Could Happen" in 1969, died of cancer at the age of 70.
birthdays today include Shannon Corr (1970) and Nick Lowe (1949), among others.
