Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

Songwriting Legend Jerry Leiber Dies

Bryan Wawzenek

Jerry Leiber, one half of the famous songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller, has died. Rolling Stone reports that Leiber died of cardiopulmonary failure. He was 78.

Leiber and his partner Mike Stoller have their fingerprints on some of the most famous songs in pop and rock and roll history. Among the hits they penned: “Hound Dog,” “Stand By Me,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Yakety-Yak,” “On Broadway,” “Searchin’,” “Love Potion No. 9” and “Kansas City.”

Read more at Gibson







Leiber & Stoller's list of their many major compositions:

•There Goes My Baby
•Hound Dog
•Jailhouse Rock
•Kansas City
•Smokey Joe's Cafe
•Yakety Yak
•Poison Ivy
•Charlie Brown
•Ruby Baby
•Stand By Me
•Jailhouse Rock
•Love Potion No. 9
•Searchin'
•Young Blood
•Is That All There Is?
•I'm a Woman
•On Broadway
•Spanish Harlem
•Lucky Lips
•(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care
•Black Denim Trousers & Motorcycle Boots
•Don't
•I (Who Have Nothing)
•I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
•Love Me
•The Reverend Mr. Black
•Riot in Cell Block Number Nine
•Trouble
•Along Came Jones
•The Boy From New York City
•Stuck in the Middle With You

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billboard.com has an interesting story (and for those who follow the charts)

Can Katy Perry Pass Michael Jackson For Hot 100 History?

by Gary Trust

After joining the King of Pop in making Billboard Hot 100 history, can Katy Perry do him one better?

Perry last week became the first woman, and second artist overall after Michael Jackson, in the 53-year history of the chart to send five songs from one album to No. 1, as "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" became the fifth chart leader from her Capitol Records set "Teenage Dream." "Friday" followed "California Gurls" (featuring Snoop Dogg), the title cut; "Firework"; and, "E.T." (featuring Kanye West) to the summit.

Read the rest at billboard.com

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great write up from Indonesia

In Solo, 40,000 Wax Platters Waiting to Be Spun

Djoko Subinarto

Where can you find some of the country’s most heavenly sounds? Lokananta in Solo, Central Java.

Long before Indonesia had a vibrant recording industry, Lokananta was the biggest record label in the country and it was the first member of the Indonesian Association of Recording Studios.

Today, it is still home to at least 40,000 precious vinyl records of music from all over Indonesia including pop, folk, traditional keroncong, rock and jazz.

Read more at thejakartaglobe.com

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www.recordpressing.com  has a great write up of one of our vinyl friends!

Label Spotlight: Suburban Home Records

By Popcorn Playa

Vinyl releases are what Suburban Home Records are known for. (That and the Drunk Dial Hotline on their website: www.suburbanhomerecords.com)

We asked Owner Virgil Dickerson, why pressing vinyl is important to him.

“I love the sound of vinyl, I love that you must devote your entire attention to listening to a record, and I love that in this crazy, fast-paced world we live in, when you sit down to listen to a record, for me, it’s therapy. I love the convenience of digital music, but with vinyl, you get a completely different experience and for all those reasons and more, I love putting out records.”

Read the rest at recordpressing.com



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The Contortionist To Re-Release Debut Album On Vinyl

Indianapolis outfit The Contortionist has recently unveiled new images of their upcoming picture-disc vinyl release of the band's debut album 'Exoplanet.' The picture-disc is scheduled to be released by Good Fight Music on September 13th, 2011. The Contortionist released the CD version of 'Exoplanet' with Good Fight Music on August 31st, 2010.







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Born Again Vinyl to be Re-Released

A "special edition" of the Born Again album on double vinyl will be released shortly. It will be 180 gram vinyl, and will be culled from the recent remastering sessions for the Universal 2 CD Born Again Deluxe Edition CD package. More details coming very soon....!







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Majesty Reveals "Own The Crown" Cover Artwork

Majesty will be releasing the 'Own The Crown' 2-CD set on September 2nd, 2011 via Massacre Records. The set contains a series of classic Majesty tracks, along with rare songs and re-recorded material. Majesty has just revealed the cover artwork for 'Own the Crown,' which I find very cool!


















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thevinyldistrict.com has a new installment, what a great concept!

Queens of Vinyl: Stevie Nicks, at the Rosemont Theatre 8/23

By Eric Slager

Queens of Vinyl is a series where we will explore the sounds, styles, and impact of some of the most incredible and influential female artists ever pressed to vinyl.

This week: Stevie Nicks.

Rolling Stone once named her the “Queen of Rock and Roll.” She has sold over 140 million albums. She is Stevie Nicks. Joining up with Fleetwood Mac in 1974 she would go on to become one of the most iconic women in the music industry.

Read the rest at thevinyldistrict.com



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cooper rocks (for an old man!)

Alice Cooper admits Rolling Stones influence on new single 'I'll Bite Your Face Off' Alice Cooper Tickets

First single from new album 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' is a 'tip-of-the-hat' to Mick Jagger and co

Alice Cooper has admitted that his new single 'I'll Bite Your Face Off' is a tribute to the early work of The Rolling Stones.

The singer revealed that the track – which is released today (August 22) along with another new track, 'Caffeine', and is the first single to be taken from his new album 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare - was similar to Rolling Stones material from the mid 1960's, and insisted that he had no problem "showing people where I get my songs from".

He said:

This is my tip-of-the-hat to early Rolling Stones. Like in 1964/65 when their songs were very Chuck Berry-orientated. They just feel so good, in the pocket. This song was begging to be in the live show. We've done it in four different continents now and no one had ever heard it. By the second chorus, the whole audience is singing 'I'll Bite Your Face Off'. It's the perfect little three-minute hit single.

Read the rest at nme.com



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Nikolas Ashford (1942 - 2011)

Songwriter, producer and recording artist Nikolas Ashford passed away on Monday from throat cancer at the age of 70. Ashford, along with professional partner and wife Valerie Simpson, created some of the great R&B classics of the last forty years along with scoring a number of their own hits.

Ashford was born in Fairfield, SC and spent much of his youth in Michigan. After dropping out of college, he moved to Harlem where he worked as a busboy.

Read the rest at our friends at vintagevinylnews.com






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The Green Album had been released (today!) in advance of the new movie The Muppets, featuring covers of Muppet Show songs by everyone from Weezer to Andrew Bird. Here, just for shits and giggles, watch as OK Go and the Muppets cover the Muppet Show Theme Song




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USA

Albums:
1. Adele :21
2. Kidz Bop Kids :Kidz Bop 20
3. 3 Doors Down :Time Of My Life
4. Beyonce :4
5. DJ Khaled :We The Best Forever
6. Blake Shelton :Red River Blue
7. 311 :Universal Pulse
8. Jason Aldean :My Kinda Party
9. Amy Winehouse :Back To Black
10. Selena Gomez & The Scene :When The Sun Goes Down

Singles:
1. LMFAO :Party Rock Anthem
2. Katy Perry :Last Friday Night
3. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
4. Nicki Minaj :Super Bass
5. Adele :Rolling In The Deep
6. Lil Wayne :How To Love
7. Hot Chelle Rae :Tonight Tonight
8. Lady Gaga :The Edge Of Glory
9. One Republic :Good Life
10. Bad Meets Evil feat. Bruno Mars :Lighters


UK

Albums:
1. Amy Winehouse :Back To Black
2. Adele :21
3. Beyonce :4
4. Adele :19
5. Amy Winehouse :Frank
6. Caro Emerald :Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor
7. Lady Gaga :Born This Way
8. Bruno Mars :Doo Wops and Hooligans
9. Chase & Status :No More Idols
10. Amy Winehouse :Frank/Back To Black


Singles:
1. JLS :She Makes Me Wanna
2. The Wanted :Glad You Came
3. DJ Fresh :Louder
4. Ed Sheeran :The A Team
5. Beyonce :Best Thing I Never Had
6. Loick Essien :How We Roll
7. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
8. Amy Winehouse :Back To Black
9. Katy Perry :Last Friday Night
10. Nicki Minaj :Super Bass

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Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales - Week Ending 08/20/2011

One of those weeks when classical LP's dominate the list - which is no fun for me since I don't know much about classical music. I do know that the Michelle Auclair in the #1 spot sold for $1k than the last time it appeared on the Top 5. The same box set shows up in the #3 spot at about half the price - one of the LPs in the set has light scratches which produce crackling. Goes to show that condition is everything.

The Charlie Parker 78 in the #2 spot got a nice price. It usually sells for about $30. However, this one is a promo that was signed by Parker.

In the past several weeks I've commented here about the vinyl collectible market as prices in the Top 5 reflected some constriction in prices for high dollar items, but with some signals that collectors were willing to spend money. The Auclair box set selling for $1k more than its last sale and the Charlie Parker 78 getting close to $6k shows that as far as vinyl is concerned the heart knows how to reach around a tight scrotum and grab the wallet.

1. LP - Michelle Auclair "Bach Violin Sonatas" Discophiles 209/210 French Pressing - $7,500.00

2. 78 - Charlie Parker "Yardbird Suite" / "Moose The Mooche" Dial 1003 signed - $5,988.00

3. LP - Johanna Martzy "Bach: The unaccompanied Violin Sonatas" Columbia Box set UK - $5,129.00

4. LP - Michelle Auclair "Bach Violin Sonatas" Discophiles 209/210 French Pressing - $3,070.00

5. 45 - TY Karim "You Just Don't Know" / "All In Vain" Romark - $2,999.99



More on this week's Top 5 on Vinyl Record Talk, Tuesday 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific on Radio Dentata.



(shameless plug ahead):

Another 350+ 45's Added Today, Beatles, Soul, Psych, Many Near Mint

norm and jane have added a fresh new batch of collectible vinyl, check out their eBay store for rare finds!!!



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and in music history for August 23rd:

In 1962, John Lennon married his pregnant girlfriend, Cynthia Powell at the Mount Pleasant Registry Office in Liverpool. Paul and George are the only others in attendance. Efforts to keep the marriage quiet were dashed when they were spotted coming out of the registry office.

In 1963, the Beatles' single "She Loves You" with "I'll Get You" on the flip side is released in the UK. It will enter the British charts on August 31st and remain there for thirty-one consecutive weeks, eighteen of those in the top three.

In 1965, security guards at a Manchester TV studio hosed down 200 Rolling Stones fans after they broke down barriers while waiting for the band to arrive for a performance.

In 1968, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Soft Machine and Big Brother and the Holding Company play at the New York Rock Festival in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

In 1969, the Rolling Stones enjoy their fifth American chart topper with "Honky Tonk Women". The record also made #1 in the UK. It was the last hit that included original guitarist Brian Jones, who had drowned in his swimming pool on July 3rd.



Also in 1969, Johnny Cash started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with "Johnny Cash At San Quentin".

In 1970, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground performed together for the last time at the New York Club Max’s Kansas City. Reed worked as a typist for his father for the next two years, at $40 per week.

Also in 1970, the Wailers started recording with Lee "Scratch" Perry and the lineup of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Aston Barrett and Carlton Barrett.

In 1975, this week's number one song on Billboard's Pop singles chart, "Fallin' In Love", was credited to Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, although drummer Tommy Reynolds had actually left the group three years earlier. He was replaced by Alan Dennison, who would eventually have his name included in the band's moniker. In the UK, the record reached #33.

In 1978, comedian Steve Martin was awarded a Gold record for the novelty song "King Tut", which had reached #17 on the Billboard chart and sold over a million copies



In 1987, there was big trouble at a Grateful Dead concert, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Summer of Love, when police killed an escaped drug addict who had shot one of the officers. The band's "In the Dark" album was sitting at number 6 in the US and its single, "Touch of Grey", was still climbing toward the Top Ten.

In 1997, Oasis' "Be Here Now" sells 696,000 copies in its first two days of release in the UK, setting a record for the fastest selling album ever. It will top the chart the following week and reach #2 in the US in September.

In 2004, Queen became the first U.K. rock band to receive official approval in Iran, where Western music was strictly prohibited. Lead singer, Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, was of Iranian ancestry and bootlegged albums had been available for years.

birthddays today include (among others): Julian Casablancas (Strokes) (33), Rick Springfield (64), Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) (50) and Jimi Jamison (Survivor) (60)

New Vinyl Record and Music Releases - August 23, 2011

Coupon for August: summerheat10 (expires 9/1/2011)

buy it at insound!     

Insert the code during checkout for 10% off their entire order!


400 Blows - Sickness & Health
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso - U.F.O. Live In Occident
Active Child - You Are All I See (vinyl)
Aerosmith - The Essential Aerosmith 3.0 (3 CDs)
Aidan Baker - Noise Of Silence
Airrace - Back To The Start
Ana Egge - Bad Blood
Atriarch - Forever the End
Austra - Sparkle  (vinyl)
Average White Band - Live At Montreux 1977
Balanescu Quartet - This Is The Balanescu Quartet
Banquets - Top Button, Bottom Shelf
Barbra Streisand - What Matters Most
Beequeen - Port Out Starboard Home
Big Business - Big Biz Quadruple Single (vinyl)
Black Tide - Post Mortem
Blue Highway - Sounds of Home
Buddy Guy X2 -  X2: Damn Right I've Got the Blues / Sweet Tea (2 CDs)
Budy Miller - Majestic Silver Strings (vinyl)
Byrds - Essential Byrds 3.0 (3 CDs)
CSS - La Liberacion
CS Vortex - Storm Seeker
Canned Heat - Canned Heat: Live at Montreux 1973 (DVD) 
Carole King - Essential Carole King 3.0 (3 CDs)
Chamberlain - The Moon My Saddle (Reissue)
Chaperone - Raised By Wolves
Charles "Packy" Axton - Late Late Party (vinyl)
Chelsea Wolfe - Apokalypsis
Connie Smith - Long List of Heartaches
Curtains For You - After Nights Without Sleep
Curtis Grimes - Doin’ My Time
Daniel Knox - Everyman For Himself (vinyl)
Darondo - Listen To My Song, The Music (vinyl)
Dave Stewart - The Blackbird Diaries
David Coverdale - North Winds
David Coverdale - Whitesnake
Dead Black Hearts - The Southern Front
Decemberadio - Southern Attic Sessions
Dee Dee Bridgewater - Midnight Sun
Electric Light Orchestra - X2: Eldorado / Face the Music (2 CDs)
Eric Church - Chief
Europe - Live at Shepherd's Bush (2 CDs)
Fionn Regan - 100 Acres Of Sycamore
Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony
Gabe Dixon - One Spark
Ganglians - Still Living (vinyl)
Gentle Giant - Edge of Twilight (2 CDs)
Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines
Goldie - Fabriclive 58
Hard-Fi - Killer Sounds
Hawthorne Heights - Hate (EP)
Heart - Greatest Hits (Gold CD)
I Break Horses - Hearts
ICS Vortex - Storm Seeker
Icon For Hire - Scripted
Indestructible Noise Command - Heaven sent...Hellbound
Isaac Carree - Uncommon Me
James Elkington/Nathan Salsburg - Avos (vinyl)
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James (Gold CD)
Jeff Bridges - Jeff Bridges (vinyl)
Jennette McCurdy - Jennette McCurdy
John Duffey - Rebel Years: 1962-77
Jorn - Live In Black
June & Jane Millington - Play Like a Girl
Junior Wells - Hoodoo Man Blues: Expanded Edition
Kanye West and Jay-Z - Watch the Throne (deluxe edition)
Key Losers - California Lite (vinyl)
Krum Bums - Cut The Noose
Lanie Lane – “Aint Hungry”/”My Man” (7" single)
Lenny Kravitz - Black and White America (2 LP)(limited vinyl release)
Leprous - Bilateral InsideOut Music
Lex Land - Were My Sweetheart To Go
Library Voices - Summer Of Lust
Little Gold - Weird Freedom
Magic Trick - The Glad Birth of Love
Michael Monroe - Sensory Overdrive
Mickey Newbury - An American Trilogy (remastered)
Minushuman - Bloodthrone
Mirror Mirror - Interiors
Moreland & Arbuckle - Just A Dream
Nazca Lines - Hyperventilation
Nig-Heist - Nig-Heist (vinyl) (reissue)
Omar - Sing (If You Want It)
P.G. Six - Starry Mind (vinyl)
Patti Smith - Outside Society (2 LPs) (remastered with bonus tracks) (reissue)
Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels
Pointer Sisters - Break Out: Deluxe Expanded Edition
Racebannon - Six Sik Sisters
Rainbow - Live in Germany 1976
Rainbow - Live in Europe 
Razika - Program 91
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Am I The Enemy
Retox - Ugly Animals
Rivulets - We're Fucked
Robert Earl Keen - Ready for Confetti (vinyl)
Rockpile - Live at Montreux 1980
Rodney Atkins - Take a Back Road
Ry Cooder - Pull Up Some Dust & Sit Down
Sam Cooke X2 - Night Beat / One Night Stand (2 CDs)
Sea Of Bees - Gnomes (EP)
Seawhores - Forest
Selah - Hope Of The Broken World
Shriekback - Oil and Gold (2 CDs)
Sic Alps - Breadhead 7"
Sonic Youth - Hits Are for Squares
Stephanie Mills - Feel the Fire: The 20th Century Collection (2 CDs)
Stephen Malkmus - Mirror Traffic (vinyl)
Stephin Merritt - Obscurities: Forever And A Day (vinyl)
Sun Araw - Ancient Romans (vinyl)
Sunny Sweeney - Concrete
Susan Howe & David Grubbs - Frolic Architecture
Tasseomancy - Ulalume
Tavares - In the City (remastered)
The Ettes - Wicked Will (vinyl)
The Game - The R.E.D. Album
The George-Edwards Group - Archives (reissue) (vinyl)
The Human League - Credo
The McClymonts - Wrapped Up Good
The Motels - Apocalypso (vinyl)
The Slot - Break The Code
The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient
Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down
Toddla T - Watch Me Dance
Trevor Hall - Everything Everytime
Various Artists - 12-Inch 80's Alternative (3 CDs)
Various Artists - Muppets: The Green Album
Various Artists - The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (soundtrack)
Various Artists - A Very Special Christmas 1 & 2 (reissue)
Various Artists - O Brother Where Art Thou (2-CD deluxe reissue)
Various Artists - Our Idiot Brother (soundtrack)
Various Artists - The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (soundtrack)
Various Artists - Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration: A Classic Bluegrass Tribute (2CDs)
Various Artists - Hard to Find: Classic & Rare Remixes" (2 CDs)
Various Artists - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (soundtrack)
Various Artists - Platinum Hit - The Winning Songs: Season One
WU LYF - Go Tell Fire on the Mountain
We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships
White Denim - Live at Third Man
Will Young - Echoes
Wretch 32 - Black And White
Wyatt Cenac - Comedy Person
Young Circles - Jungle Habits
Zee Avi - Ghostbird

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.

Have new music for the list? Email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com 

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

fantastic story of a young person getting into vinyl!

Vinyl is hot

By Tiffany Diorio, Record-Journal staff

Sean Blackall's room isn't what you'd expect the bedroom of a 20-year-old to look like. At first glance, there's nothing that unusual - a Revelation Records poster on his door and a bed post covered in promotional stickers for local bands. But to one side are black shelves that cover more than half the wall, housing his impressive collection of close to 800 vinyl records.

Yes, vinyl. The South Meriden resident said he's been buying the discs for about four years now and doesn't have any intention of stopping.

"I'll come home and at least once a week there'll be a package of vinyls he ordered," said his mother, Kathy Blackall.

Each of Sean Blackall's records is kept meticulously clean in its own clear, plastic package and they're stored neatly on shelves across from his pet gecko.

Please read the rest at myrecordjournal.com

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marvelous story, we've read them before, but they never get old!

New spin on a vintage business

SALISBURY -- Each weekend while many workers are still nestled in their beds, two friends with a passion for music rise early to travel the region in search of vinyl records.

Matt Gunby, a freelance photographer, and Dave Morris, a warehouse manager, get on the road by 6 a.m. stopping at yards sales and flea markets where they dig through boxes and stacks of LPs and 45s.

Even on rainy days where there are fewer vendors and garage sales, Gunby still wakes early and is on the hunt. He has to see what's out there.

Gunby and Morris dig through piles of records each week in search of new records to add to the inventory at their new retail location, U Dig Records, inside Seasons Best in downtown Salisbury.

"There's nothing worse than looking through hundreds of records you've already looked at," he said.

Read the rest of the story at delmarvanow.com

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65daysofstatic Announce Album Release

British electronic-infused post-rock outfit 65Daysofstatic recently announced the North American release of their latest album 'We Were Exploding Anyway' in a special deluxe edition that also features the recent 'Heavy Sky' EP. The expanded set will only be released in North America and hits stores on 2xCD, LP and digital download on October 25th on Monotreme Records.

The Cure founder and legendary songwriter Robert Smith lends his iconic vocals to the album track, “Come To Me”, while the band also experiments wildly with its sound throughout both critically praised releases.

The deluxe 2-CD edition includes bonus 7-track Heavy Sky CD EP.  Vinyl edition is heavyweight 180 gm vinyl (dark blue and white versions) and includes a free copy of the album CD, poster and digital download coupon for the Heavy Sky EP.

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Beatles Cartoon Supports Anti Piracy Cause

The Beatles are the latest band to support the anti-piracy movement led by the organization Why Music Matters, providing their music and animated likenesses to a video promoting the value of recorded music.

The Beatles’ animated short is very cleverly designed, using stick figured characters to share the story of a life told through Fab Four songs. It includes nippets from "Octopus’s Garden," "Something," "Strawberry Fields" and what is nmow a world wide sing along cut "Hey Jude" subtly but clearly get the message (music is worth paying for) across in less than two minutes.

This group aims to educate fans on how to consume music in an ethical way. Their goal is to open up conversation about music piracy. Part of how they do this is with short films that let the music do the talking.

Here's a quote from the website: (visit the site HERE)

Music Matters is a collective effort by artists and all those who work in and around music to remind listeners of its enduring value.

Look out for the Music Matters Trustmark.

As a music fan, the most important thing you can do is consume music in an ethical way.

With so many different ways to stream and download music, it can be confusing to work out which ones will support the musicians you love. That's why we've developed the Music Matters Trustmark.

Remember to look out for the Music Matters Trustmark whenever you are choosing new music.

Spread the word

Do your friends and family value music and know about the hard work that goes into making each song?

Help us build a strong movement supporting musicians everywhere, by inviting everyone you know to join the campaign.

I say, amen, buy your music, don't steal it!



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Metallica and Lou Reed Announced Title Of Upcoming Collaborative Album 'Lulu'

"Lulu" was inspired by German expressionist writer Frank Wededkind's plays "Earth Spirit" and "Pandora's Box," which tell a story of a young abused dancer's life and relationships and are now collectively known as the "Lulu Plays." Since their publication in the early 1900's, the plays have been the inspiration for a silent film ("Pandora's Box," 1929), an opera, and countless other creative endeavors. Originally the lyrics and musical landscape were sketched out by Lou for a theatrical production in Berlin, but after coming together with the 'Tallica boys for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts in New York in 2009 all guilty parties knew they wanted to make more music together. Lou was inspired enough by that performance to recently ask the band to join him in taking his theatrical "Lulu" piece to the next level and so starting in early May of this year we were all camped out recording at HQ studios in Northern California, bringing us to today and ten complete songs.

An official website has been established for the project at loureedmetallica.com. The album will be released worldwide on October 31 and in North America on November 1st.

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and in music history for today, August 22nd:

In 1906 The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, New Jersey began to manufacture the Victrola (record player). The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, retailed for $200. Records were purchased separately, usually in the appliance stores that sold the machines, at a cost of between $1 and $7. Famed conductor John Philip Sousa predicted "a marked deterioration in American music" and said that generations of amateur musicians would give way to "canned music."

In 1956, Elvis Presley began working on his first movie, Love Me Tender. In the drama that was set during and just after the Civil War, Elvis played Clint Reno, the youngest of four brothers. The original title for the movie was The Reno Brothers, but was changed to take advantage of the “Love Me Tender” song recorded for the film.

Also in 1956, the Five Satins make their debut on the Billboard R&B chart with a song they recorded in a New Haven, Connecticut church basement, "In The Still of the Night". Originally issued as a "B" side on the tiny Standord label, the song was re-released by Ember Records after some strong local sales. The 45 would rise to #3 on the R&B chart and #24 on the Pop chart, selling over a million copies.

In 1962, the first TV appearance of the Beatles was recorded by Manchester based Granada TV, who filmed a lunchtime session at The Cavern Club Liverpool, (it was shown on 17th October 1962).

Martha & The Vandellas' "Dancing In The Streets" was released in 1964.

In 1964, after releasing a half dozen singles that either stalled in the upper reaches of Billboard's Hot 100 or failed to chart at all, The Supremes scored their first hit record when "Where Did Our Love Go" went to number one in the US for the first of two weeks. It made it to #3 in the UK. The song was first offered to The Marvelettes, who disliked the tune and refused to record it.

In 1964, Liberty Records reported the album "The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles" was selling 25,000 copies a day.

In 1968, Ringo Starr quit The Beatles during the “White Album” sessions when the constant bickering and tension became too much for him. The news of Ringo's departure was kept secret, and he rejoined the sessions on September 3. After Ringo walked out, the remaining Beatles recorded “Back In the USSR,” with Paul on drums and John playing bass.

In 1969, the Beatles filmed a film short for "The Long and Winding Road."

In 1970, Elvis Presley announced his first tour since 1958.

In 1970, four former session musicians who called themselves Bread, topped the Hot 100 with "Make It With You", a song written by their lead singer, David Gates. It made #5 in the UK.

Also in 1970, Anne Murray's "Snowbird" entered Billboard's Hot 100 on its way to a million seller, marking the first time in history that an American Gold record was awarded to a solo Canadian female.

After leaving the Animals the year before, Eric Burdon made a return to the charts when his new band, War, scored a number 3 hit in 1970 with "Spill The Wine". Although Burdon would split from War in 1971, the rest of the group would have many more hits without him, including "The World is a Ghetto", "The Cisco Kid", "Gypsy Man", "Slippin' Into Darkness" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?".



In 1978, Sid Vicious performed for the last time at a London club. He played with Rat Scabies of the Damned, Glen Matlock and Nancy Spungen.

In 1979, Led Zeppelin released their last album together, "In Through The Out Door." The LP entered the charts at number one in both America and England and featured the Top 40 single, "Fool in the Rain". The album remained on the US top spot for seven weeks and sold over six million copies.

In 1998 - Mark David Chapman said that he did not want any of the money that would be made from the sale of the signed "Double Fantasy" album that John Lennon signed for him the same day he was killed. Chapman was currently serving sentence for the December 8, 1980 murder.

In 2003, Kjell Henning Bjoernestad a Norwegian Elvis Presley impersonator set a world record by singing the rock 'n' roll legend's hits non-stop for over 26 hours. The previous record was set by British Elvis fan Gary Jay who sang for 25 hours 33 minutes and 30 seconds. one question...why?

In 2004, 81 year old Al Dvorin, the announcer who uttered the phrase "Elvis has left the building" was killed in a car crash on the way home from an Elvis convention in California. He had been asked to announce his now famous words by Col. Tom Parker, who wanted to inform concert goers that Elvis would not return for an encore.

In 2006, Bruce Gary, drummer for The Knack on their multi-million selling hit" My Sharona" passed away at the age of 54.

In 2008, disgraced pop star Gary Glitter (real name: Paul Francis Gadd) arrived back in Britain after being thrown out of Vietnam after serving two years and three months for abusing two girls aged 10 and 11. In an attempt to escape repatriation, Glitter flew 2,661 miles from Vietnam to Bangkok, then to Hong Kong, then back to Bangkok. Each country denied him entry. He spent three days in Asian airports desperately searching for another country willing to take him after at least 19 turned him down, but was left with no option but to return to Britain. Glitter had to sign the sex offenders' register and his movements in Britain will be restricted to keep him from approaching children.

In 2009, John Carter, a member of both The Dells and The Flamingos, died of lung cancer at the age of 75. He is one of the few artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two different acts.

birthdays today include (among others) Paul Doucette (Matchbox 20) (39), Gary 'Mutha' Withem (Gary Puckett & the Union Gap) (65), Donna Jean Godchaux (Grateful Dead) (64), Vernon Reed (Living Colour) (53), Tori Amos (48) and session singer Ron Dante (66) (The Archies and Cuff Links)

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

this is a well known story..... for several years now. the collection is worth what somebody is willing to pay for it.......it would be nice to see a university or some rich ecentric buy the collection and preserve the records for decades to come:

When the price is not right: Why is a $50m record collection unable to sell for even a fraction of its value?

Sometimes unique items aren't worth what we think, discovers Phil Boucher

It's the summer of 1951 and 12-year-old Paul Mawhinney is walking out of the National Record Mart on 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, clutching a 79 cent copy of "Jezebel" by Frankie Laine. It is his first record – a purchase that very few of us ever forget.

Fast forward 60 years and Mawhinney is still proud of his "Jezebel". But it has gained a few friends: around two million singles and one million albums to be more precise, plus an array of posters, books and other music memorabilia in a vinyl heap that's widely regarded as the largest record collection in the world. An appraisal from Andersen Consulting in 1999 estimated it to be worth $50.5m (£31.2m).

But here's the rub: Mawhinney turns 72 in September and is legally blind. While he continues to catalogue his vast collection on a daily basis, it is proving increasingly difficult (he still has 750,000 records to add to his database). So he's looking for a buyer. Any buyer. In fact, Mawhinney's been looking to offload his collection for the best part of 12 years. "I have shown it to potential owners many times, but the minute they see the size of my collection, they say 'I'd love to have it, but how the hell could I take on all this work?'" he explains.

Read the rest at independent.co.uk




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great story, in fact, these types of stories never get old!

Vinyl records make comeback in digital age

By ALYSE BACKUS for the Missoulian

An employee at Rockin Rudy's Record Heaven flips over a record. As soon as he places the needle on the worn black disc, blues music pops and crackles as nostalgia fills the air.

Vinyl records remind some of growing up in a time when real nitty-gritty rock 'n' roll reigned in the music industry. For others, records are the things that collect dust in their parents' garages as memories of yesteryear.

Vinyl is also a reminder that in a world of iPods and iTunes, music has lost its hands-on feeling.

Album artwork has become a lost art. Music doesn't sound the same anymore. Gone are the days of analog music in which the third cello in a symphony comes to life over the warm sounds of a record on a scratchy turntable.

There's a longing for old school, it's clear: Vintage-style concert T-shirts flood malls and retro sneakers have become go-to kicks for hipsters.

Records are no exception to this trend: What's old is new again.

In fact, vinyl has made its comeback

Read more at missoulian.com

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Brian Wilson Moves From Gershwin to Disney

Brian Wilson will followup his album of music written by George Gershwin with one that covers songs from Disney films. In the Key of Disney has been confirmed for a October 25 release as his second
record for the Disney Pearl label.

Wilson has worked with co-arranger Paul Von Mertens to give a Beach Boys-style spin to a number of Disney classics including Baby Mine (from Dumbo), I Just Can't Wait to Be King (The Lion King) and an instrumental take on Heigh-Ho and Whistle While You Work (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves).

Read more at our friends at vintagevinylnews.com



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generation x yoko wannabe gets creative with new album cover art:

Björk reveals Biophilia album cover

Avant-garde pop singer Björk took to Twitter and revealed the cover art for her upcoming album, 'Biophilia.' The album is scheduled for release on September 27, 2011.

























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colorful cover art!

Zechs Marquise Unveil New Album

Zechs Marquise have announced their sophomore full-length, ‘Getting Paid.’ The new record is set to feature keyboardist and trumpeter Rikardo Rodriguez-Lopez’s first recorded appearance with the band, and guest performances by Sonny Baker and RX Bandits’ Matt Embree.

“We started off recording percussion to sequencers and loops,” drummer Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez explained about the new album’s recording process. “I chopped those sounds up and arranged them. From there, were wrote the album with each of us coming in and playing on top of it. Kind of like a hip-hop song.”

Speaking of the album’s artwork, bassist Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez said, “The album cover is a play on Blacksploitation soundtrack art and stuff like [Miles Davis'] ‘Bitches Brew’ cover. We wanted our own weird take on it.”

Tracklist:
1. Getting Paid
2. Lock Jaw Night Vision
3. Static Lovers
4. The Heat, The Drought, The Thirst, and The Insanity
5. Time Masters
6. Guajira
7. Everlasting Beacon of Light
8. Crushin’ It!
9. Mega Slap

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Sacred Oath Announced Vinyl Re-Release

Sacred Oath has announced the details for their an upcoming vinyl re-release of the band's 'Darkness Visible' album:

"Metalizer Records in Germany will release the second Sacred Oath album 'Darkness Visible' on vinyl along with a bonus 7" of Revolution/Burn Away (Loki's Song) on September 10th 2011. Metalizer released 'World On Fire' on deluxe double gatefold vinyl this past April."








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Metallica And Lou Reed Reveal New Album Release Date

Heavy metal vets Metallica and the legendary Lou Reed have recently announced that their upcoming collaboration album will be released on November 1st in North America, while it will hit the shelves in the rest of the world a day earlier on October 31st.

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www.audiofidelity.net  have just announced the re-release of two seminal albums James Taylor's Sweet Baby James and Heart'sGreatest Hits. Both will be available on August 30. Both were mastered by Steve Hoffman, so they will have the best sound possible!

Audio Fidelity 24K Gold CDs and 180g Vinyl LPs

James Taylor : Sweet Baby James
24 Karat Gold CD

James Taylor's second album, Sweet Baby James, released in early 1970, is the album that secured his spot among the most important songwriters of the 70s. The sweet, bluesy acoustic guitar and vocals on this album are authentic and interesting - this is a record that has everything from a blues inspired jam, packed with a big band horn section ("Steamroller Blues"); to a gospel revival-like track ("Lo And Behold"); to a traditional nursery rhyme made into a folk ballad ("Oh, Susannah"). And, of course, the album featured "Fire and Rain," which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Country Road" was another Top 40 hit that struck a chord with music fans, especially because of its attractive mixture of folk, country, gospel, and blues elements, all of them carefully understated and distanced.

While Taylor gets help from some friends such as Carole King (piano) and future Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, its his stellar songwriting and heartfelt vocals that shot this album to #3 on the Billboard Album Charts and earned a 1971 Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. This recording launched not only Taylor's career - he's won more than 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards as well as five GRAMMY® Awards and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame - but also propelled the entire singer/songwriter movement of the early '70s that included Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, and others.

1 Sweet Baby James
2 Lo And Behold
3 Sunny Skies
4 Steamroller
5 Country Road
6 Oh, Susannah
7 Fire And Rain
8 Blossom
9 Anywhere Like Heaven
10 Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me
11 Suite For 20G

Mastered by Steve Hoffman




Heart : Greatest Hits
24 Karat Gold CD

"...all of the essential songs from the band's most fruitful period - a must for every real hard rock collector ."

Greatest Hits is a retrospective of Heart's career from 1976-1983. The album features seventeen tracks mostly culled, chronologically, from the Dreamboat Annie, Little Queen, Dog & Butterfly, and Bebe Le Strange albums plus "Strong, Strong Wind," an all-new studio cut recorded in 1998 and a live cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" from 1980 are included as bonus tracks.

"Crazy On You," "Magic Man," Barracuda,"Straight On,” “Even It Up,” “Kick It Out” are among a string of other chart-topping hits that showcase the sisters’ enormous talents as both musicians and singers.

Ann Wilson is undoubtedly THE powerhouse femme fatale vocalist of her generation and in the '70s along with her younger sister, Nancy Wilson showed the world that women can rock.

Heart was the first major hard rock band to be led by women. Their success helped open the door for future female artists who held up Ann and Nancy Wilson as influential role models. Along the way, Heart sold more than 30 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and had a profound influence on rock music.

1. Strong, Strong Wind
2. Magic Man
3. Crazy on You
4. Dreamboat Annie
5. Barracuda
6. Little Queen
7. Kick It Out
8. Love Alive
9. Heartless
10. Straight On
11. Dog and Butterfly
12. Even It Up
13. Bebe le Strange
14. Tell It Like It Is
15. This Man Is Mine
16. How Can I Refuse
17. Rock and Roll

Mastered by Steve Hoffman

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lovely cover....

GRAVEWORM New Album Details

Italian dark metal outfit GRAVEWORM new album will be called 'Fragments Of Death' and is set for release on October 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded in July at the Dream Sound Studios in Munich, Germany and was mastered by Jan Vacik.

"The songs are about the death in its thousand faces, which is also reflected in the album title and cover art. Musically, the album can be seen as a mixture of the best of the last four records, with some old-school roots and definitive darker than its predecessors."

Commented vocalist Stefano Fiori: "We are very excited about our new album. It was a really hard work we have done but now we are happy with the result, and we cannot wait to play the songs live for our fans."











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love this cover for some reason....

Russian Circles Reveal New LP Details

Chicago-based trio Russian Circles have revealed the title, album cover art, the tracklist as well as the release date for their new album. It's titled 'Empros' and will be available worldwide via Sargent House on October 25th. Empros is Russian Circles' first full-length to be released worldwide exclusively via Sargent House, the band's longtime management company and record label that had previously released only the vinyl editions of its three prior albums. It will be available everywhere on vinyl, CD and Digital Download on October 25th, 2011.














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Sympathy For The Record Industry Releases Limited Edition Vinyl of The Ettes’ New Album Wicked Will After a 4-Year Retirement

Praise for The Ettes

“…equal parts bristling and sexy.” – SPIN

"Lead singer Coco channels some of the best bouffanted singers of the '60s while adding a sleek punk edge." – NPR

“…dirty garage rock with just as much howl and bite as anyone.” – TimeMagazine.com

“Bluesy vocals, swinging drums, and electric guitar topped with punk gal chants—exactly our idea of killer tunes…an impossibly cool explosion of rockabilly retro punk style, done just right…” Lucky Magazine

“…an impressively cool sounding record…” – Paste Magazine

“…it’s hard to deny the Nashville charm of The Ettes…as they drive you down a back road with their blues-tinged rock, gliding as smoothly as Southern moonlight.” – Under The Radar

“…heavy, foreboding, cinematic…Hames sings like she’s got a heart wrapped in leather and a switchblade hidden in her beehive.” – Cowbell

With their short, simple fuzz-poppy attack, the Ettes play music that sounds like garage rock with an undeniably catchy immediacy that's primal and eternal. The Ettes can't help being groovy… - LA Weekly

The legendary label Sympathy For The Record Industry has come out of a four-year retirement this week to release the limited edition collector’s vinyl of The Ettes’ brand new fourth studio album Wicked Will.

Additionally, there are three limited edition 7” singles for the album’s closing track “The Worst There Is.” Each of the three 7” features cover art of each band member, with their b-side of choice. Sassy frontwoman Coco Hames’ b-side is “Randy Scouse Git,” a Monkees cover. Poni Silver chose “Eat The Night,” the first song that The Ettes ever wrote and recorded, and Jem Cohen’s b-side is “Colours” by Donovan.

On August 2nd, the physical and digital version of Wicked Will was released to critical acclaim via Krian Music Group/Fond Object. Listen to lead single “Excuse” here. Go to www.TheEttes.com  for The Ettes’ current tour dates – catch them now in a city near you!

The beautiful and defiant new album Wicked Will reunites The Ettes with producer Liam Watson (The Kills, White Stripes), who helmed their debut Shake the Dust. The Ettes put their fuzzy bass runs, 60s girl group haze, primal drums beats and searing guitars front and center for their most varied album to date. Coco, along with Ettes co-founder Poni Silver and Jem Cohen, have created an album oozing with vulnerability and attitude – all adding to the one-and-only mystique that makes The Ettes one of today’s most exciting rock bands.

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Karmacoda Release New Album 'Eternal'

San Francisco Electronic Pop group releases their fourth studio album to critical acclaim.

San Francisco’s electronica, pop/rock hybrid band Karmacoda announces the release of their new album Eternal on Sola Musa Music. The album features 12 new songs that span the emotional range from upbeat summer sing-alongs (“If You Give it To Me – Our Summer of Love”) to powerful emotional ballads (“I Am Just Not Listening Any Longer”).

The album will also be made available as a limited edition, audiophile grade 192g, blue vinyl LP on August 9th.

MORE ON KARMACODA

As a total DIY band that self-produces all of their music, Karmacoda has created a sound where the production and recording are just as important as the writing and performing. Lead male vocalist, pianist and guitarist B. (Brett Crockett) also acts as the band’s engineer, producer, arranger and mixer. “We all have strong jazz backgrounds and the use of improvisation is key to how we write, record and perform music. In many cases all of the parts that you hear are written but performed in an improvisational manner. Then I take the best parts of those performances and create the final song,” says B. “Most people don’t think that electronically oriented bands would write, record and perform with that mindset but it’s key to our vibe.”

Eternal follows Karmacoda’s successful 2007 release Illuminate and marks the band’s seventh release. It was recorded in San Francisco at both “The Briefing Room,” the band’s large personal rehearsal space and recording studio located on Treasure Island where they recorded drums, bass, guitar and other louder parts, and at “The Amsterdam Room,” B.’s home studio where they did overdubs, tracked vocals and all mixing. In addition to B., Eric Matsuno, and Karmacoda’s lead vocalist Heather Pierce, Eternal features additional musicians including some of the West Coast’s best like Paul Johnson (guitar), Andy Korn (drums), Paul Dorr (jazz piano), Anji Bee (vocals), Beth Hirsch (vocals), Eamonn Flynn (piano), Ryan Lum (guitar), Neil Smith (guitar), Bill Schupp (drums) and Cheri Chuang (piano). The album was mastered by Andy VanDette (Metric, David Bowie) at Masterdisk in New York City.

TOUR DATES
08.26 San Francisco, CA @ Hotel Utah

**more dates TBA soon

www.karmacoda.com

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great story from the UK, a new vinyl record store!!!

New record shop is treasure trove for fans

DEREK Brown isn’t the first person to start a vinyl record shop in Swindon, but he’s the only one currently operating and he’s planning to stick around.

We live in an era when vast libraries of scratch-free, jump-free and snap-crackle-and-pop-free music can be carried in a device smaller than a packet of cigarettes – and that’s 10 cigarettes, not 20.

A run-of-the mill iPod can hold enough tracks to fill a van with CDs, a truck with vinyl singles and albums or a fleet of barges with antique 78s, and it’ll still have enough memory left over for a few dozen photos of your cat.

Read the rest at swindonadvertiser.co.uk

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Good News For Old Bands?

by Frank Serafine

Let’s go back to 1978: Black Sabbath released “Never Say Die!” in September of that year. There’s another thing that happened in the world that wasn't nearly as unconventionally cool, but that Black Sabbath might find really cool 35 years later. In the United States, a massive piece of government legislation went into effect called the Copyright Act of 1976. Before I tell you why that has any meaning at all to the godfathers of heavy metal and other bands from 1978 on, I’ll give you a rundown of what copyrights are.

Read the rest at metalunderground.com

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this from our friends at www.vinylcollective.com

Top 10 Albums – August 15, 2011

Here are the Top 10 Albums sold at Shop Radio Cast for the week of August 8 – August 15, 2011:

1. Thrice – Major/Minor
2. Transit – Listen and Forgive
3. Gregory Alan Isakov – That Sea, The Gambler LP
4. Minus The Bear – This Is What I know About Being Gigantic LP
5. Minus The Bear – Highly Refind Pirates LP
6. Yellowcard – Ocean Avenue LP
7. The Horrible Crowes – Elsie
8. Andrew Jackson Jihad – Knife Man
9. Chuck Ragan – Covering Ground LP (w/ Free Coozie & Coasters)
10. Devil Wears Prada – Plagues LP

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Vinyl records making a comeback



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and in music history for today, August 20th:

In 1920, America's first commercial radio station began operations in Detroit, Michigan. They were assigned the call letters 8MK by the United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Navigation. In 1922, the call letters were changed to WWJ and today the station's listenership ranks as one of the highest in its market.

In 1965, the Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham and his partner Tony Calder launched Immediate records. Their first release was The McCoy’s “Hang On Sloopy,” and Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Nico (later to join Velvet Underground), all attended the launch party. The label became the home of Small Faces, Nice, Amen Corner and Chris Farlowe and a young producer - guitarist Jimmy Page.

In 1966, the Beatles, touring America for the last time, were forced to cancel and reschedule their performance in Cincinnati's open-air stadium, Crosley Field. Heavy rain (and no cover provided) made electrocution a virtual certainty if The Beatles had attempted to perform.

Also in 1966, 14,000 fans crowded into the Forest Hills Music Festival in Queens, New York to hear The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and The Temptations.

In 1967, the New York Times reported about a noise reduction system for album and tape recording developed by technicians R. and D.W. Dolby. Elektra Record's subsidiary, Checkmate Records became the first label to use the new Dolby process in its recordings.

In 1968, the director of the University of Tennessee's audio lab, Dr. David M. Lipscomb, reported that a guinea pig subjected over a three month period to 88 hours of Rock music recorded at a Knoxville disco at 120 decibels suffered acute damage to the inner ears. they should have known, guinea pigs prefer classical stuff......

In 1969, the Beatles recorded "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," which was their final studio session. how freaking sad......

Also in 1969, Frank Zappa disbanded the Mothers of Invention right after an eight-day tour in Canada. Zappa said that he was "tired of playing for people who clap for all the wrong reasons."

In 1970, Creedence Clearwater Revival's album "Cosmo's Factory" reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 200, a position it would hold for 9 weeks.

In 1973, the Rolling Stones release "Angie", a Mick Jagger composition that is rumored to be written about David Bowie's wife, Angela Barnett.   not the biggest fan of the stones (i love their early work), but this is about as close as you can get to a classic rock song if there ever was one.....



In 1980, John Lennon begins recording his final album, 'Double Fantasy.' It would be released on November 17th by the newly-formed Geffen Records and would win the 1982 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

In 1991, the movie 'Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man' debuted in US theatres. The film featured a song called "The Bigger They Come," by Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott, which was their first work together since their days in Humble Pie, 20 years earlier.

In 2000, the last show was played in London's original Wembley Stadium by Bon Jovi.

In 2003, in Rhode Island, OSHA fined Derco LLC, which operated The Station club, $85,200 for one "willful" violation and six serious violations related to the February 20 fire that killed 100 and injured almost 200. Great White was fined $7,000 for failing to protect employees from fire hazards.

Also in 2003, Madame Tussauds in London opened an interactive Pop Idol display with a speaking waxwork of judge Simon Cowell. The waxwork made comments such as: “That was extraordinary. Unfortunately extraordinarily bad.” “Do you really think that you could become a Pop Idol? Well then you're deaf.” “Thank you. Goodbye and That was the worst performance I've ever seen.”

birthdays today (among others) include Ralf Hütter (Kraftwerk) (65), James Pankow (Chicago) (64), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) (41), and the peerless Robert Plant (63)

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

Revival Of Vinyl Records A Worldwide Event

3.6 million LPs were sold in the first half of this year according to Nielsen SoundScan, 39% above last year’s level (see chart).

Sales of LPs were up in both Britain and Germany last year. In Spain sales have risen from 16,000 in 2005 to 104,000 in 2010.

In fact, vinyl record sales in the UK have jumped 55 per cent rise from January to June this year (compared to sales during the same period in 2010). Vinyl record sales reached a total of 168,296 units for the first half of 2011, with Radiohead’s King of Limbs album proving the most popular release, shifting 20,771 copies.

Chris Muratore of Nielsen, a research firm, says a little over half the top-selling vinyl albums in America this year have been releases by indie bands such as Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. Last year’s bestselling new vinyl album was “The Suburbs” by Arcade Fire. Most of the other records sold are reissues of classic albums.

Oliver Goss of Record Pressing, a San Francisco vinyl factory, says it is a mixture of convenience and beauty. Many vinyl records come with codes for downloading the album from the internet, making them more convenient than CDs.

“Whether it is the 'warmer' sound many music fans appreciate, the large-scale artwork of a 12-inch sleeve or its sheer retro appeal, vinyl seems to be capturing the imagination of buyers despite the fact it typically costs twice as much as a CD containing exactly the same music," according to Kim Bayley, Director General of Entertainment Retailers Association.

So whether it is the sound, the tactile experience or just plain fun, vinyl records still thrive in our music landscape!

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Independent Record Labels Detail Fire Recovery Plans

Sony DADC's warehouse in Enfield, north London The UK's largest distributor of independent music PIAS has announced its plans to resume getting its stock to retailers.

It's after a warehouse fire destroyed 3.5 million CDs, vinyl releases and box sets affecting "thousands" of artists.

Sony DADC, who own the premises, will now begin operating from a base in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

PIAS have also partnered with company Proper Music Distribution in order to help get CDs to retailers.

Read the rest at bbc.co.uk

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for the love of vinyl, what will they think of next?

Local bar puts DJ-ing in the hands of its customers

By WIL PETTY

Musical conversation and booze are a perfect mix.

So, during a slow shift at Blue Sky Bar, bartender Andy Whitehead decided to combine the two.

“I had just got a new record player,” Whitehead said. “I had been toying with the idea of people bringing their iPods, just some way for people to bring their own music and have some ownership of the soundtrack of the bar.”

Originally it started out with Whitehead bringing in 10 to 20 albums that he owned. But now it has turned into a weekly event, dubbed Vinyl Wednesday, with people bringing their own vinyl records and letting the bar listen to it as they converse

Read more at redandblack.com

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in southern florida, in a benefit for ALS research , an artist also supports the cause, what a wonderful event!

'A FUN RIDE': South Walton artist ready for reunion after years of creating artwork for the stars

For Mike McCarty, this weekend is going to be a blast from his past when he reunites with the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Billy Joe Royal, and Chips Moman on stage in Dothan, Ala.

The occasion is Dothan's second-annual Downtown Music Fest to benefit ALS research.

McCarty's most recent claim to fame is being named Walton County's Artist of the Year for 2009.

However, his fame in the music and art world goes back decades.

McCarty built a name for himself in the 1970s and 1980s through his original artwork that graced album covers, posters and T-shirts for some of the biggest names in music while working in Atlanta.

The list of recording artists for whom McCarty has created artwork and logos reads like a "Who's Who" list from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — names such as Little Richard, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Billy Joe Royal, Patti Smith, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Outlaws, Peabo Bryson, and others.

Read the rest at waltonsun.com

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Bright Eyes Release Vinyl Deluxe LP

Curious as to how vinyl records are made? Yeah, I know, we have all seen the youtube clips, however, the people at Saddle Creek have posted a look at the making of Bright Eyes' upcoming studio album, 'The People's Key,' which is due out on February 15th. (wow, we talking feb already, it's still summer!)

The first 10,000 copies of ' The People's Key' LP will come in limited-edition packaging:

6-panel tri-fold die-cut old style Stoughton tip-on LP jacket printed on iridescent foil.

Full color LP inner sleeve

180-gram HQ RTI Vinyl

Also available as a CD in a printed sleeve.



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Thrice To Release Vinyl Version Of New LP Major/Minor

In a different way of most major music releases, Vagrant Records are doing something a bit out of the norm for the new LP (Major/Minor) from Thrice. The album will be released first on vinyl on September 6th and those who are looking for the digital or physical editions will have to wait until September 20th. Hmmm. the way of the future?

Here is a video for the cut "Promises"



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they love the crue!

MÖTLEY CRÜE: 30th-Anniversary Box Set Edition Of 'Too Fast For Love' To Be Released In Japan

Japanese original release. Thirtieth anniversary edition of Motley Crue's 1st album features cardboard sleeve jacket (Leather Records version). Comes with the T-shirt created by collaboration between the Japanese clothing brand NEIGHBORHOOD and the band. Packaged in a LP-sized box.

Track listing:

1. Live Wire
2. Public Enemy #1
3. Take Me To The Top
4. Merry - Go - Round
5. Piece Of Your Action
6. Starry Eyes
7. Stick To Your Guns
8. Come On And Dance
9. Too Fast For Love
10. On With The Show
11. Stick To Your Gun (single mix)
12. Toast Of The Town
13. Tonight

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Peter Gabriel Releasing New Music On October 11th

On the heels of a limited sold-out U.S. summer tour that earned Peter Gabriel some of the best reviews of his career, he will release a full-length CD New Blood on October 11, 2011 distributed by EMI. A continuum to his recent Scratch My Back release, the New Blood album will feature some of Gabriel’s biggest hits from his prodigious career, reconstructed and re-imagined with orchestral arrangements and recorded live with the New Blood Orchestra. Gabriel hand-selected the songs and enlisted the help of longtime collaborator John Metcalfe for the arrangements and Ben Foster as conductor of the 46-piece New Blood Orchestra.

This treatment is applied with painstaking attention to detail and stunning effect on songs such as ‘Mercy Street’, ‘Digging In The Dirt’, ‘Don’t Give Up’, ‘San Jacinto’ and Gabriel’s all-time classic ‘Solsbury Hill’. The intention was not to simply rework Gabriel’s biggest songs, but rather, find songs that were enhanced by the massed strings, brass, woodwind and percussion. Don’t Give Up – now with Norwegian singer Ane Brun’s vulnerable, cracking vocals replacing those of Kate Bush – rides a stirring, uplifting coda. Where the twinkle of San Jacinto was originally supplied by loops from a Fairlight sampler, piano and bows now provide the otherworldly magic. But probably the most extraordinary reinterpretation is that of Rhythm Of The Heat where Metcalf has recast the original’s extended African drum jam into a dizzying, swirling orchestral maelstrom.

And in front of orchestra, taking centre stage when necessary, retreating into the shadows when not, is Peter’s rich voice. Retaining its trademark emotive power, it returns to lyrics written 20 or 30 years ago, reinvesting them with new meaning and heightened poignancy.

“The orchestra provides different dimensions to the music that weren’t there initially,” confirms Peter. “Rock artists work slowly in studios, building up layer by layer, and one of the great, powerful advantages of an orchestra is all these musicians playing at one moment with all sorts of colors and personalities.”

The album will be available as a standard single-disc and digital download. A special 2-CD version will include the standard album plus an added disc of instrument versions. There will additionally be a heavyweight vinyl version available November 8th that is released with a bonus 7” featuring “A Quiet Moment” and “Solsbury Hill. The filmed concert New Blood – Live in London, recorded October 23rd, 2010 at the Hammersmith Apollo will be available in 3D, blu-ray and standard DVD on October 25th.

TRACKLIST:

1. Rhythm of the Heat
2. Downside Up (featuring Melanie Gabriel)
3. San Jacinto
4. Intruder
5. Wallflower
6. In Your Eyes
7. Mercy Street
8. Red Rain
9. Darkness
10. Don’t Give Up (featuring Ane Brun)
11. Digging in the Dirt
12. The Nest That Sailed the Sky
13. A Quiet Moment
14. Solsbury Hill (bonus track)

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ALICE COOPER To Premiere New Single On His Radio Show

According to ALICE COOPER fan site SickThingsUK, the legendary rocker will talk about, and preview songs (including first single, "I'll Bite Your Face Off") from his upcoming album, 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare,' on tomorrow's (Friday, August 19) edition of his radio show, "Nights With Alice Cooper". i'll be listening!












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only a few covers, but the lengths people go to to change album covers around is funny (sometimes)

Star Wars re-imagined as classic Beatles album covers

See more at lostateminor.com





















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Cover Art for Bon Scott-era AC/DC book DIRTY DEEDS unveiled

BAZILLION POINTS Books will present the North American release of DIRTY DEEDS: My Life Inside/Outside AC/DC by former bassist Mark Evans. The first book to be penned by a Bon Scott-era member of AC/DC will hit retail in November just in time for the holidays.











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and in music history for today, August 18th:

The original version of "Hound Dog," by Big Mama Thornton, was released in 1956. (i like her version better, more conviction in her singing.....)



In 1958, Italy's leading male vocalist, Domenico Modugno hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with "Volare" (Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu). The song would become the year's best selling record and win three Grammy Awards.

In 1962, Ringo Starr made his debut with The Beatles at the horticultural society Dance, Birkenhead, England, having had a two-hour rehearsal in preparation. This was the first appearance of The Beatles as the world would come to know them: John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Peter, Paul & Mary's "If I Had A Hammer" was released in 1962.

In 1964, the Beatles arrived in San Francisco in preparation for their first U.S. tour. 6,000 met them at the airport.

In 1971, John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is certified as a million seller in the US. At the time, despite singing that West Virginia was "almost heaven", neither Denver or the song's writers, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert had ever been there.

In 1973, the Doobie Brothers' "China Grove" was released. A month later it will crack the Hot 100 and eventually reach #15. The song is based on a real town in Texas with the same name, however, the mention of "samurai" is inaccurate, as they were in fact Japanese, not Chinese

The number one album in the US in 1973 was 'A Passion Play' by Jethro Tull (in my opinion, one of their best, although i think it is underappreciated....)

In1977, funeral services for Elvis Presley are held at Graceland. Inside are 150 mourners, outside are 75,000 more. Presley was entombed in a white marble mausoleum at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis near the grave of his mother, Gladys, but would be re-buried at Graceland the following November at his father's request.



In 1977, the Police made their live debut as a three-piece band when they played at Rebecca's Birmingham, England.

In 1982, the City of Liverpool named four Streets after the fab four: John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, George Harrison Close and Ringo Starr Drive.

Bon Jovi released their "Slippery When Wet" album in 1986.

In 1991, Rick Griffith, died after being forced off the road by a van he was attempting to pass on his Harley Heritage Softail motorbike. He designed album sleeves for Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane and designed countless Rock posters.

In 2003, Tony Jackson, bass player with The Searchers, died from cirrhosis of the liver. The band had a 1964 UK #1 and US #13 single with "Needles And Pins".

In 2006, US film-maker Adam Muskiewicz set up elviswanted.com as part of a documentary exploring the myth that the singer was still alive and offered a $3m (£1.59m) reward for anybody who found Elvis Presley alive. The film was due for release in August 2007, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Presley's death.

In 2008, Pervis Jackson, bass vocalist and original member of the Motown group The Spinners, died of cancer at the age of 70. The band had a series of hits in the 1970s, including "Rubber Band Man", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" and "I'll Be Around".

In 2010, Kenny Edwards, an original member of the Stone Poneys, died of cancer at the age of 64. The group, lead by vocalist Linda Ronstadt, reached #13 in late 1967 with "Different Drum".

birthdays today include (among others): Jim Ayoub (Mahogany Rush) (58), Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (Weird Al Yankovic) (55), Everlast (born Erik Schrody) (42), Dan Peters (Mudhoney) (44), Blas Gomez (Slaughter) (44) and Régine Chassagne (Arcade Fire) (34)