Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

Frank Zappa Reissues Coming Soon

Universal Music Enterprise and the Zappa Family Trust have partnered up to reissue the back catalog of Frank Zappa. To celebrate this, the estate has signed a global license and distribution deal with UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES to release 60 of the iconic composer’s recordings. The roll-out kicks off July 31 with 12 recordings, with another dozen recordings to be released monthly through the end of 2012.

“The ink is not yet dry on The Zappa Family Trust's worldwide deal with Universal Music Enterprises,” says Gail Zappa. “They made us the offer we couldn't refuse—for all the right reasons. It is a win-win for all of us, but mostly for Frank Zappa. Long may his baton wave. We are so ready to go.”

“The artist and composer, Frank Zappa, is one of the most important and influential artists in music history with his prolific body of work, including his breakthrough rock ‘n roll concept albums. We are honored that Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust have entrusted us with his legacy. We intend to honor him and bring high quality releases, digital and physical, for his new and longtime fans,” said Bruce Resnikoff, President/CEO, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

The first 12:

•Freak Out! (1966)
•Absolutely Free (1967)
•Lumpy Gravy (1968)
•We’re Only In It For The Money (1968)
•Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (1968)
•Uncle Meat (1969)
•Hot Rats (1969)
•Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970)
•Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970)
•Chunga’s Revenge (1970)
•Fillmore East, June 1971 (1971)
•Just Another Band From L.A. (1972)

=============

did an interview with Mighty John Marshall several years ago, quite an engaging gentleman and very friendly, he knows his records!!  check out his new and improved site at MoneyMusic.com  a great new feature is Record of the Day i love it!


Mighty John’s Top 10 Records Worth $1000

10. The Supremes: Meet The Supremes
•Mighty John tells us Motown is very collectable, and if you find The Supremes’ first album, Meet The Supremes, it can very easily be worth $1,000.

9. Jimi Hendrix: Axis: Bold As Love
 •If you find the mono copy of this album, it can be worth around $2,000.

8. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Michelle
•The very first 45 these Southern rockers put out was called “Michelle” and just the 45 without the picture sleeve currently goes up to $2,000.

7. The Beatles: Can’t Buy Me Love
 •You do need the picture sleeve for this one. The Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” goes up to $2,500.

6. The Byrds: Times They Are A Changin
 •Look for The Byrds’ 45 Times They Are A Changin’ with the picture sleeve that could score you up to $2,500.

5. Bruce Springsteen: Spirit In The Night
 •The Boss’ first 45 on Columbia Records titled “Spirit In The Night” goes for a whopping $5,000.

4. The Caine Mutiny soundtrack
 •Soundtracks are also prized finds, and if you have the RCA soundtrack from Humphrey Bogart’s 1954 WWII film The Caine Mutiny, it could be worth up to $10,000!

3. Elvis Presley: Elvis’ Christmas Album
 •The King’s very first of two Christmas albums released in 1957 features a specialty red vinyl record and can be worth up to $18,000.

2. The Rolling Stones: Street Fighting Man
 •The 45 with the picture sleeve for The Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man” can be worth up to $18,000.

1. Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
•If you have a copy of Bob Dylan’s 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, take a look at the tracks and see if yours has the song “Talkin John Birch Society Blues” then that record could be worth up to $20,000.

=============

lovely album cover art!

ICARUS WITCH To Release 'Rise' In July

On July 3, Cleopatra Records will release the fifth studio record from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based melodic metallers ICARUS WITCH. "Rise" is an epic twelve-track display of songwriting and musicianship from one of the most-watched heavy music bands of the decade. From the driving, anthemic "(We Are) The New Revolution" to the equally commanding title track, "Rise", ICARUS WITCH demonstrates impeccable harmonies, head-spinning dual guitar work, and hammering rhythm. Lyrically, the band is digging deep into themes of control (loss of, and taking it back), empowerment (within and without), and faith (and keeping it). The CD was produced by Dave Watson (MANTIC RITUAL, ARGUS) and mastered by Mark Richardson (BARONESS, THE BLACK KEYS).

Read the rest at Blabbermouth









=============

Pat Metheny's "Unity Band" Out Now

All About Jazz says Unity Band is "unequivocally one of Metheny's finest—an album that's sure to find its way to 'best of' lists for 2012."

For the first time since his 1980 release 80/81, guitarist Pat Metheny has recorded with a band that features tenor saxophone. Unity Band, due from Nonesuch on June 12, 2012, introduces a new Metheny ensemble with Chris Potter on sax and bass clarinet, longtime collaborator Antonio Sanchez on drums, and the up-and-coming Ben Williams on bass. The album features nine new Metheny compositions.

Metheny says of the three-decade gap since his last project to feature saxophonists (the late great Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker): “In many ways my bands were envisioned as an alternative to the more conventional kinds that I had come up playing in. The fact that it has taken another 30 years to get to it again is kind of a testament to how busy those ‘alternative’ ways of thinking have kept me.

“We all always talked about revisiting that band at some point, but with both Mike and Dewey gone now, that will never happen,” he continues. “But then Chris Potter came along. As a fan, I have watched as he has become one of the greatest musicians of our time, and when we were both invited to play on Antonio Sanchez’s debut record, I immediately saw that we had a natural way of playing and phrasing that suggested something more. I started thinking right then of somehow building a project around that.”

For the rhythm section, Metheny explains, “Antonio was kind of an obvious choice; he has been one of my closest associates over the past ten years and has also played a lot with Chris. He is such a special musician. There was a certain kind of power I knew that Chris and I would be getting to and I can’t think of anyone who could take us to that place better than Antonio.” He continues, “A few years ago, Christian McBride invited me to an event that he was leading with the jazz students at Juilliard. Ben Williams was featured on a few tunes and his playing spoke to me immediately. I used Ben a few times to sub for Christian with the trio and found him to be a great playing partner and a great person too. He and Antonio had an instantly effortless rapport.”

Once he had assembled this stellar band, Metheny wrote a considerable amount of new material for them. Through rehearsals, they winnowed the music down to the nine tunes on the Unity Band album. “It’s funny, I have heard so many guitar/tenor records that have been clearly influenced by that 80/81 sound, and yet I really wanted to try to take it to a different place this time, even though that record was certain to be a reference point along the way,” Metheny says. “One of Antonio’s specialties is this even eighth-note thing he does, and in a lot of ways that set a direction for the writing. But still, this is a group of musicians who can do just about anything.”

Over the course of more than three decades, guitarist Pat Metheny has set himself apart from the jazz mainstream, expanding and blurring boundaries and musical styles. His record-setting body of work includes 19 Grammy Awards in 12 separate categories; a series of influential trio recordings; award-winning solo albums; scores for hit Hollywood motion pictures; and collaborations and duets with major artists such as Ornette Coleman, Steve Reich, Charlie Haden, Brad Mehldau, and many others. His band the Pat Metheny Group, founded in 1977, is the only ensemble in history to win Grammys for seven consecutive releases.

Buy it at the Nonsuch Store

=============

album cover art of the day:

The Order Reveals New Album "1986" Artwork

Swiss rockers The Order has recently revealed the album cover artwork for the band's new album called '1986,' which is scheduled for release on July 27th, 2012.




















=============

GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 6/04 - 6/10, 2012

Vinyl Top 25:
1. The Walkmen - Heaven
2. PUJOL - United States Of Being
3. Langhorne Slim & The Law - The Way We Move
4. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
5. David Bowie & The Spiders From Mars - Ziggy Stardust
6. At The Drive-In - Vaya 10"
7. Liars - WIXIW
8. Sigur Ros - Valtari
9. Beach House - Bloom
10. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
11. King Tuff - King Tuff
12. The Hives - Lex Hives
13. Mount Eerie - Clear Moon
14. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Here
15. Brendan Benson - What Kind Of World
16. Jack White - Blunderbuss
17. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
18. Beck - I Just Started Hating People Today 7"
19. Best Coast - The Only Place
20. JD McPherson - Signs & Signifiers
21. The Mars Volta - Notourniquet
22. Paul Simon - Graceland
23. Dr. John - Locked Down
24. Ty Segall & White Fence - Hair
25. The Black Keys - El Camino

The Vinyl Pulse

The Vinyl Pulse, is a weekly snapshot of what is selling on the big vinyl machine called eBay. This is a great way to keep your eyes peeled for a specific record and what you might have to pay for it to obtain it.

CollectorsFrenzy lists the top 25 real time ended auctions and the selling price for the collectible vinyl and is updated daily.






Top 10 Items for 06/12/2012

1. BEATLES & DICK JAMES "PLEASE, PLEASE ME"
Sold Price:$3938.00 USD End Time:06/12/2012

2. MEGA RARE 999/NINE NINE NINE. "NASTY NASTY" 78 RPM PUNK PROMO!!!! 1 OF 50
Sold Price:$1389.79 USD End Time:06/12/2012

3. Rare Beatles LP "Beatles Vs The Four Seasons" VJ VeeJay Records Original STEREO
Sold Price:$1325.00 USD End Time:06/12/2012

4. Fraction Moonblood - Psych Monster ORIGINAL LP 1971 Angelus WR 5005 1 of 200
Sold Price:$1180.00 USD End Time:06/12/2012

5. Wurlitzer Jukebox
Sold Price:$1070.26 USD  End Time:06/12/2012

6. Full DJ Set up & Happy Hardcore Vinyl Collection worth over £1k **Price drop**
Sold Price:$1039.24 USD End Time:06/12/2012

7. SAINTE ANTHONY'S FYRE Original Pressing ZONK STEREO-001 LP Vinyl Record RARE!!!!
Sold Price:$928.55 USD End Time:06/12/2012

8. 45 Northern Soul GEORGE BLACKWELL Can't Lose My Head 1966 Smoke 200 Original!
Sold Price:$898.77 USD End Time:06/12/2012

9. KAK 1969 STILL SEALED RARE PSYCH LP(EPIC 26429 STEREO)
Sold Price:$835.28 USD End Time:06/12/2012

10. PINK FLOYD THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, SOLID BLUE TRIANGLE, ORIGINAL RELEASE Sold Price:$832.57 USD End Time:06/12/2012

Please visit  CollectorsFrenzy.com everyday for the top 25 daily sellers!!

New Vinyl Record and Music Releases - June 12, 2012

2econd Class Citizen - The Small Minority (vinyl)
3 Brave Souls - 3 Brave Souls
ABBA - Essential Collection (2 CDs)
Alice Cohen - Pink Keys
Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin Boxset (15-CD box set)
Anabot - Anabot EP
Architecture in Helsinki - Like It Or Not EP (reissue)
Atlas Genius - Through the Glass
Azealia Banks - 1991 (EP)
Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia - 1933-1944 (limited edition box set) (10 CDs)
BoDeans - American Made
Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man in the Universe
Bouncing Souls - Comet
Brendan Rivera - No Ocean In Ireland
Brian Culbertson - Dreams
Busdriver - Superhands' Mantra (Fuck Us All) (vinyl)
Byrds - Complete Columbia Albums Collection (limited edition box set) (13 CDs)
Casey Jones - Start To Finish
Charli XCX - You’re the One
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - One of My Kind (vinyl)
Cookie Duster - When Flying Was Easy
Crass - Ten Notes on a Summer's Day - Swansong (reissue with bonus tracks)
Dean Martin - Collected Cool  (3 CDs/1 DVD)
Dent May - Do Things
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Dexys (Midnight Runners) - One Day I'm Going to Soar
Diplo - Express Yourself (EP)
Drivin' n' Cryin' - Songs from the Laundromat
E.L.O. - Classic Albums Collection (11-CD box set)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Earth, Wind & Fire-The Columbia Masters (limited edition box set) (16 CDs)
Edens Edge - Edens Edge
Emily Jane White - Ode to Sentience
Emmanuelle De Héricourt - Yaviz
Empires - Garage Hymns
FAWN - Coastlines
Fallon Cush - April
Future of the Left - The Plot Against Common Sense
George Kamel - The Great Coward
Giant Sand - Tucson
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - The Lion The Beast The Beat (vinyl preorder)
Guided by Voices - Class Clown Spots a UFO
Hammer No More the Fingers - Pink Worm (EP)
Hill and the Sky Heroes - 11:11
Hive Dwellers - Hewn From the Wilderness
Hot Chip - In Our Heads
J. Dilla - Rebirth of Detroit
JBM - Stray Ashes (vinyl)
Jaill - Traps (vinyl)
Jimmy Fallon - Blow Your Pants Off
Joan of Arc - Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain
John Denver - The RCA Albums Collection (box set) (25 CDs)
Jonathan Boulet - We Keep the Beat, Found the Sound, See the Need, Start the Heart
Josh Turner - Punching Bag
Judas Priest - The Complete Albums Collection (limited edition box set) (19 CDs)
Jukebox the Ghost - Safe Travels
Kandodo - Kandodo
Laurel Halo - Quarantine
Madball - Rebellion
Magic Trick - Ruler of the Night
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Columbia Albums Collection (limited edition box set) (5 CDs)
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Ashes & Roses
Mates of State - Team Boo (reissue)
Maximo Park - The National Health
Men Without Hats - Love In The Age Of War
Metric - Synthetica
Mice Parade - Live: England Vs France
Michael The Blind - Are’s & Els
Mike Scheidt - Stay Awake
Miss May I - At Heart
Motion City Soundtrack - Go
Municipal Waste/Toxic Holocaust - Toxic Waste
Nada Surf - Karmic (EP) (reissue with bonus tracks)
New Monarchs - Stay Awake
Nouela - Chants
Oneohtrix Point Never - Dog In The Fog – Replica Collaborations & Remixes
Onra - Deep in the Night (EP)
Pariah – Rift (EP)
Pat Metheny - Unity Band
Paul Banks - Julian Plenti Lives… (EP)
Phoebe Jean & The Air Force - Heartbreakers
Piano Magic - Life Has Not Finished with Me Yet
Pop Etc. - Pop Etc.
Public Image Limited - This Is Pil : Deluxe Edition (CD and DVD)
Rainer Maria - Long Knives Drawn
Redgrave - National Act (EP)
Richard Hawley - Standing at the Sky's Edge
Rome - Dedication (EP)
Rush - Clockwork Angels (vinyl)
Ryan Humbert - Sometimes The Game Plays You
Scarlet & Black - Scarlett & Black
Sea of Bees - Orangefarben
Solstice - Pray For The Sentencing (2 CDs)
SpaceGhostPurrp - Chronicles Of SpaceGhostPurrp
Spoons - The Best
Stepdad - Wildlife Pop
Stereolab - Mars Audiac Quintet (reissue) (vinyl)
Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements (reissue) (vinyl)
Superchunk - This Summer (7")
The Constellations - Do It For Free
The Hairs - Old Flame Cassingle
The Hive Dwellers - Hewn From the Wilderness
The Hundred in the Hands - Red Night
The Inner Banks - Wild
The Invisible - Rispah
The Rest - Seesaw
The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now
The Young - Dub Egg
The dB's - Falling Off The Sky
These United States - These United States
Thom Janusz - Ron Forella Moves
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Trouble
Usher - Looking For Myself
Variety Lights - Central Flow
Various Artists - Songs of Townes Van Zandt
Volcano! - Piñata
Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life
Weather Report - The Columbia Albums 1976-1982 (limited edition box set) (6 CDs)
Welcome Wagon - Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices
Wintersleep - Hello Hum
Witch Mountain - Cauldron of the Wild
Wymond Miles - Under the Pale Moon


please help support the cvr blog!

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

Slipknot Announces 'Antennas To Hell' Album, Reveals Album Cover Art

For their millions of fans around the world, Slipknot are as much a culture and a way of life as they are a band. To completely engage with all of the perseverance, ingenuity, artistic integrity and holistic vision of Slipknot's creative output in all of its forms, is to fully embrace every facet, and to find community in counterculture and true strength in survival.
 
Slipknot is like no other band the rock scene has ever encountered and to celebrate two decades of game-changing existence, the band will release Antennas to Hell, a "best of" collection documenting its inimitable career, on July 24. The album is scheduled to be released via Roadrunner Records while the band is spending its summer as the main attraction of the 2012 edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, as well as curating and headlining the inaugural year of  their very own festival, Knotfest.
 
The time is right for a "best of" collection from the band, as it captures the first chapter of Slipknot – a chapter where they’ve gone from unknown to the one of the biggest rock bands in the world -- all on their own terms. 
 
This summer’s Mayhem and Knotfest outings celebrate the band and the life of late bassist Paul Gray, and will serve as ‘the end of the beginning’ for Slipknot – this summer’s performances will be the fan’s last chance to see them as they are now.  Of course the band will continue- but just as inevitable with Slipknot, is the fact that the band will evolve - and the future is unwritten.   Antennas to Hell serves as a companion to that celebration.  The two-disc version of Antennas to Hell includes a bonus live CD that captures the band’s 2009 performance at the legendary Download Festival in the U.K. The live disc showcases the band playing a set of career spanning classics in front of 80,000 rabid fans.  The journey from - “(sic)” - track 1 on their self-titled debut -  to “Snuff”  - the haunting No. 1 rock track from 2008’s All Hope Is Gone  - proves that.  The album features fan favorites, live classics and well-known radio hits. 
 
Furthering the immersion in the band’s culture, this summer will see the release of the band’s first ever mobile application, Wear the Mask. Part mask builder, part social connector for fans, and 100% Slipknot in its look and execution, the app brings the Slipknot mindset into previously uncharted territory –  the mobile devices of fans worldwide. Wear the Mask will be released simultaneously with Antennas to Hell.

Take a look at the numbers.  Globally, Slipknot have notched 11 Platinum albums and 38 Gold albums, as well as some multi-Platinum releases across albums and DVD releases.  The band's most recent studio album, All Hope Is Gone, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 chart.  The band has won a Grammy, and has also been nominated seven times.
 
Slipknot march on, 15 years since the first incarnation came together. Personalities may collide but their collective drive continues to keep them bonded as brothers. "We're banded together in hate," says Jordison. "Sometimes we hate each other, sometimes we hate the world. Sometimes we just hate our own lives. But when we get together, something monstrous happens and we pull this amazing sound out of all that energy. Plus, we believe in world domination. And this is the band that’s going to get us there.”

For the tracklist and more info, visit www.slipknot1.com

=============

this from our friends at burningshed.com

Vinyl Record Releases

Marillion - Fugazi (vinyl)


Fugazi, from 1984, saw Marillion fully realise its distinctive contemporary Prog Rock sound.

Perhaps the band's darkest and most lyrically dense album, this heavyweight vinyl reissue is presented in the original gatefold sleeve.


Buy at BurningShed

Marillion - Holidays In Eden (vinyl)

Marillion's 1991 release Holidays In Eden was its second with Steve Hogarth.

Featuring a streamlined production and a greater Rock and Pop influence, the album produced the infectious hit No One Can.


This heavyweight vinyl reissue is presented in a non-gatefold sleeve with a 12" x 12" art print.
Buy at BurningShed

Yes - Open Your Eyes (double vinyl preorder)

Something of an underrated entry in the extensive Yes catalogue, Open Your Eyes was the band's 17th studio release.


The album marked Billy Sherwood becoming an official member of Yes, following Rick Wakeman's departure from the band, and initially grew out of a Squire/Sherwood side project.

The production echoes the sound of 1980s Yes, while replacing 90125's Hard Rock approach with a more harmony vocal orientated Pop sensibility reminiscent of very early Yes and Chris Squire's solo material.

Side four of this very limited (2000 copies globally) heavyweight double vinyl edition contains the 15 minute Ambient hidden track from the cd version.


Pre-order now for July 9th release


this is freaking cool, send me one!

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King - The Mug

Buy at BurningShed











=============

from our friends at VintageVinylNews.com


Bob Welch's Death Came After Unsuccessful Spinal Operation; Tributes From Stevie Nicks & Mick Fleetwood


Soul/Blues Singer Lou Pride Passes Away at 62

=============

vinyl record reviews from our friends at www.audaud.com

Mary Black – Speaking With The Angel – 3 U Records/Pure Pleasure Records – vinyl


Irish singer soars on this re-mastered vinyl recording. 

Mary Black – Speaking With The Angel – 3 U Records (1999)/Pure Pleasure Records (2011) PPAN 014 180-gram audiophile stereo vinyl, 51:32 ****:


(Mary Black – bodhran, vocals; Donal Lunny – bouzouki, electric bouzouki, guitar, vocals; Bill Shanley – guitar, vocals; Rod Quinn – drums, percussion; James Blennerhasset – double bass; Pat Crowley – keyboards, accordion, piano, electric piano, Hammond, vocals; Brendan Power – harmonica; Alvin Sweeney – vocals; Frank Gallagher – fiddle, viola, low whistle; Ciaran Tourish – fiddle; Nollaig Casey – fiddle; Liam O  Flynn – whistle, Uileann pipes; Steve Cooney – guitar, double bass, didjeridu, percussion; Brian Dunning – flute, Paddy Cole – clarinet; Laoise Kelly – harp; Colin Dunne – dancing feet; Liam Bradley – tambourine, drums, vocals; Noel Bridgeman – percussion, vocals; Liam O Maonlai – vocals; Billy Robinson – bass; Martin Brunsden – vibes; Lloyd Byrne – percussion)


Born into an intense Irish musical family, Mary Black has been pursuing a career nearly her entire life. Though she played in groups around Ireland, her recognition peaked with her solo career. Early recordings, including the platinum-best seller (By The Time It Gets Dark) elevated her local status.  Her evocative vocal style resonated with the public. Comparisons with other singers including Sinead O’Connor, Enya and Maire Brennan (Clannad), foreshadowed a crossover to UK and American markets.

Among her musical peers, Black is held in esteem. Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez and Mary Chapin Carpenter have recorded and performed live with her. Subsequent releases of The Holy Ground (1993), Circus (1995) and Shine (1997) enhanced her commercial viability. Black attempted to expand the folk roots contexts of her previous work, with varying results. One aspect that never wavered was the purity of her voice, which has been utilized by English magazine What Hi-Fi?  in ascertaining the sound quality of hi-fidelity systems.  At the core of her music was the tonal connection to Irish aesthetics. Twenty-five years into a memorable career, her legacy was captured in a documentary Still Believing, and the critically acclaimed CD (Full Tide) which included songs by some of her favorite composers including Bob Dylan. Additionally, she contributed original material, consisting of more personalized songs

One of the key, transformative projects was Speaking With The Angel, first recorded in 1999. Merging some of the modern electric instruments with the traditional music that emanated on earlier projects, the songs are sophisticated and share a worldly perspective. Side One opens with an emotional rumination, “Turning Away”. After a slow groove on keyboards (Pat Crowley), the rhythm is altered to a steadier beat, accented by Donal Lunny on bouzouki. The aesthetic core is represented in the gossamer, clear vocals of Black. She is able to sustain the emotional feel, and is helped by a blended vocal chorus. “Cut By Wire” has a folk resonance with harmonica (Brendan Power) and whistle accent (Frank Gallagher). There is an up tempo country rocker (“Don’t Say Okay”) that adds fiddles (Gallagher, Ciarin Tourish) and accordion. But Black seems most comfortable on introspective numbers. On “Bless The Road” (a hymn) and “Broken Wings” her voice soars with pathos and graceful eloquence. The latter features nimble double bass work (Steve Cooney) and elegiac, indigenous pipe and whistle coloring by Liam O’Flynn.

Side Two offers a change in the album dynamics. “Message Of Love” is a freewheeling pop arrangement with a broader, almost orchestral structure. Black’s singing is playful.  But the low key sound emphasizes the singer’s formidable range. The title cut is a simple acoustic ballad with earnest vocals and discreet guitar (Cooney). In the same mode, “I Live Not Where I Love” is an inspirational Celtic ode that underlines the haunting quality of her voice. Her clear, vibrato-less phrasing is reminiscent of Joan Baez. A simple accordion accent (Crowley) and acoustic guitar (Cooney) is all that is needed. Generally, bonus material can be hit or miss, but not here. Black’s mournful cover of Sting’s “Fields Of Gold” is superb. With a slower pace and graceful elocution, the song reflects Black’s persona.

Speaking With The Angel is ideally suited for audiophile vinyl. The re-mastering by Pure Pleasure Records is superior. Black’s voice has exceptional warmth, but with prominent clarity. The acoustic (guitars, bouzouki) and Irish instrumentation (whistles, pipes) is captured with subtlety and precision. The separation is excellent, especially on layered mixes.   

TrackList: Side 1: Turning Away; Cut By Wire; Don’t Say Okay; Bless The Road; Broken Wings; Fall At Your Feet
 Side 2: Message Of Love; Moments; Speaking With The Angel’ Big Trip To Portland; I Live Where I Love; Bonus Track: Fields Of Gold

—Robbie Gerson
Buy It Now

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis – Consummation – Blue Note/ Pure Pleasure Records – vinyl


Iconic jazz orchestra ushers in a new era for big band music.

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis – Consummation – Blue Note (1970)/ Pure Pleasure Records (2012) PPAN BST 84346 180-gram audiophile stereo vinyl, 46:04 *****:


(Thad Jones – Flugelhorn; Mel Lewis – drums; Snooky Young – trumpet; Danny Moore – trumpet; Al Porcino – trumpet; Marvin Stamm – trumpet; Eddie Bert – trombone; Benny Powell – trombone; Jimmy Knepper – trombone; Cliff Heather – trombone; Jerome Richardson – alto & soprano saxophone, flute; Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute, clarinet; Eddie Daniels – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, flute; Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone, clarinet; Roland Hanna – piano, electric piano; Richard Davis – bass, electric bass; David Spinozza – guitar; Jimmy Buffington – French horn; Earl Chapin – French horn; Dick Berg – French horn; Julius Watkins – French horn; Howard Johnson – tuba; with Richie Kamuca & Joe Farrell)


By the mid-sixties, big band jazz was all but extinct. In New York, a band was formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis. Comprised of an all-star cadre of studio musicians in New York, The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra made their debut at the Village Vanguard in 1966. Their arrangements (by Jones who previously wrote and toured with Count Basie) drew on big band, swing, bebop and hard bop influences. Drummer extraordinaire Jones brought a smaller “combo” dynamic to the rhythm section that would be a benchmark for future big band drummers. Decades after their inception, the band remains as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, playing the legendary namesake venue regularly since the early nineties.

The re-mastered audiophile vinyl of Consummation (recorded in 1970) by Pure Pleasure Records captures the artistry of this progressive big band. With seven original compositions (written and arranged by Thad Jones), forty-six minutes of intricate textured large ensemble jazz unfolds with unpretentious skill and creativity. Side One opens with a presumed ballad, “Dedication”.  Jones’ flugelhorn is lyrical and melodic, backed by tinkling piano, bass and drum cymbal. Adding a soothing reed backdrop, horn accents chime in, only to segue into an explosive swing/dance jam.” It Only Happens Every Time” is laid out in a bossa nova tempo, with muted trumpet (Marvin Stamm) and flute (Jerome Richardson) shading. Roland Hanna contributes an elegant piano solo. Switching to a breezier cadence, “Tiptoe” is a layered arrangement, with graduated, sweeping movements There is an interlude with brush drums (Lewis) and horns that is rousing. Lewis’ band-leading talents are impressive. Roland Hanna’s sensitivity returns on “A Child Is Born”.  Jones also contributes to the emotional landscape with another memorable Flugelhorn lead. Using different approaches, “Us” is a funky brassy number that combines bass (Richard Davis) and guitar (David Spinoza) in a 60s-style rock mode.

Side Two turns up the heat on ”Amunk Amunk”. This opus percolates with soulful horns (especially a muscular tenor saxophone run by Eddie Daniels) and an electric piano. Within this framework, many subtle combinations of instruments are propelled by the driving pulse of Lewis. Fans of bop will be delighted with “Fingers”.  At ten and a half minutes (the longest cut on the album) the uptempo fury energizes the impromptu skills of the players, including a wild solo on trombone by Benny Powell.  Lewis’ driving rhythm (and ending flourish) matches the intensity of Art Blakey. The title cut (another ballad) brings in French horns and tuba (Howard Johnson), to combine with the muted trumpet of Snooky Young. After a nuanced crescendo, the album comes to a harmonious close.

The sound quality of this vinyl recording is dazzling. All of the instruments (even in a heavily blended configuration) are vibrant, and possess a warm resonance (especially the reeds). Delicate touches like a drum brush or flute emerge from the mix unfettered. The incisive liner notes from Jones and Lewis are tantamount to being in the studio during the recording. Even the illustrations by Leo Meirsdorff (color and black & white) are amazing. Consummation is a tremendous accomplishment, especially on hi-res vinyl.

TrackList: Side One: Dedication; It Only Happens Every Time; Tiptoe; A Child Is Born; Us
 Side Two: Ahunk Ahunk; Fingers; Consummation
—Robbie Gerson


Buy It Now

Special thanks to John at www.audaud.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.

AUDIOPHILE AUDITION focuses on recordings of interest to audiophiles and collectors, with an accent on surround sound for music, and on all hi-res disc formats.  Over 100 SACD, DVD Video/Audio and standard CD reviews are published during each month, and our archives go back to January 2001.

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

this week's best selling vinyl records from our friends at SoundStageDirect

Sound Stage Direct Top Ten Best Selling Vinyl Week Ending 06/08/2012

1. Grateful Dead - Skull & Roses

Numbered Limited Edition 180g 2LP Set

1971 Double Live Album Presents Legendary Bands Expansion Into Country Rock, Traditional Rock and Roll, and Roots Folk


Half-Speed Mastered from the Original Master Tapes: Ultra-Quiet Pressing Features Spacious, Transparent, Illuminating, and Organic Sound

Prototype Document of the Deads Second-Era Sound and Lineup: More Accessible, Concise, and Stripped-Down Performances

Includes Many Longtime Staples of the Bands Live Repertoire: Playing in the Band, The Other One, Me and My Uncle, Bertha, Wharf Rat, and More


Part of Mobile Fidelitys Amazing Grateful Dead Reissue Series: Live/Dead, From the Mars Hotel, Wake of the Flood, and In the Dark Also Available on 180g LP

The Grateful Dead took to the start of the 1970s as a different albeit equally thrilling and eminently broader-reaching band than the ensemble that revolutionized psychedelia in the late 1960s. Made evident in the back-to-back studio releases Workingmans Dead and American Beauty, the group increased its mastery of harmony-driven roots songs distinguished by catchy signatures, more concise arrangements, and impossibly organic textures. Captured live in spring 1971 and featuring not a single repeated song from Live/Dead, the expressive performances on Skull & Roses document this stylistic expansion in unsurpassed fashion. The double-LP constitutes the no-limits sound of an iconic band coming in to its own.

Half-speed mastered from the original master tapes with the utmost care, and part of the labels unprecedented Grateful Dead reissue series, Mobile Fidelitys numbered limited edition 180g 2LP version of Skull and Roses presents the downsized Dead lineups most memorable songs in previously unimaginable fidelity. From the moment Jerry Garcias guitar pick touches a string at the outset of the scampering Bertha, the improvements are palpable: Life-size images, airy vocals, subterranean bass lines, incredibly spacious separation, tube-amp warmth, faithful tones, and balanced dynamics lead a crystal clear path to the music and the Deads extraordinary collective spark.

Originally captured on a 16-track recorder, the songs brim with rarified levels of you-are-there realism and reach-out-and-touch immediacy. Notorious for its exacting sound demands, the Dead achieves the kind of instrumental and frequency-range transparency that many dedicated audiophiles spend their entire lives dreaming about. Skull and Roses is a kernel of sonic truth. Such is the pressings degree of detail and insight that listeners will be able to debate what gauge guitar strings the members are using as they savor every last breath, riff, and snare hit.

Thankfully, the bands perfectionist attitude toward sound doesnt literally transfer over to its music approach. Loose, lively, playful yet earthy, focused, and committed, the Dead crackles with boogie-based moxie, greasy soulfulness, and swaggering bravado, each note seemingly exploding like tiny pieces of magic that hover in the air and cast hypnotic spells. The groups embrace of leaner, tighter, more melodically incisive songs and the swaying rhythms that accompany the approach directly relate to two key lineup changes: the temporary departure of drummer Mickey Hart and permanent leave of keyboardist Tom Constanten. As a result, the Dead toured as a quintet, with Bill Kreutzmann the sole percussionist and Garcia, bassist Phil Lesh, guitarist/singer Bob Weir, and keyboardist/vocalist Ron Pigpen McKernan rounding out the barer-bone cast.

Not only do Garcia, Lesh, and Weir show tremendous growth as singers, the Dead as a whole further invest in folk, country, R&B, rock, and blues traditionsvia Garcias sweeter tones and Bakersfield picking, Weirs cowboy twang and increasingly confident counterpoints, Kreutzmanns hang-fire beats and scurrying grooves, Leshs weighty sway, McKernans foreshadowing spiritual timbres. Inspired covers of tunes by Merle Haggard (a frisky and defiant Mama Tried), Willie Dixon (the comfortably rumbling, boozy honky tonk Big Boss Man), Kris Kristofferson (the dusty, peaceable tale Me and Bobby McGee), Chuck Berry (a supercharged romping Johnny B. Goode), and Buddy Holly (Not Fade Away, segued into Goin Down the Road Feeling Bad) announce the Deads intent to make practically every style of contemporary American music their own, and in the processto paraphrase the great Bill Grahambe the only ones that did what they did.

A similar attitude informed the records genesis. The group originally lobbied to call the album Skullfuck before the record label, at an allegedly chaotic meeting at the infamous Hyatt Hotel, dissuaded the humorous ploy. While technically named Grateful Dead, the album is commonly known as Skull and Roses due to Alton Kelly and Stanley Mouses now-iconic cover art. Trivia buffs might know the latter is based on an illustration for an antique edition of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

The 1971 effort also has another huge claim to fame: It included the message DEAD FREAKS UNITE. Who are you? Where are you? How are you? Those simple lines, and the invitation to respond, created of the Deadhead subculture and biggest fan list in history, utterly pioneering the industry overnight.
 
Track Listing: 
Side 1
1. Bertha
2. Mama Tried
3. Big Railroad Blues
4. Playing in the Band

Side 2
 1. The Other One

Side 3
1. Me and My Uncle
2. Big Boss Man
3. Me and Bobby McGee
4. Johnny B. Goode

Side 41. Wharf Rat
2. Not Fade Away/Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad

Get it allthe dazzling graphics, dizzying performances, deft sonicsby ordering your prized collectable edition of Skull and Roses today! 

Buy it at SoundStageDirect

the rest of the top ten:

2. The Band - Music From Big Pink
3. David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust
4. Various Artists - The Big Lebowski
5. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
6. MFSL Original Master Record Sleeves (50)
7. Ten Years After - A Space In Time
8. White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 (Pre-Order Shipping Approx. June 25th)
9. Bob Dylan and the Band - The Basement Tapes
10. Beck - I Just Started Hating Some People Today

=============

this from polyvinylrecords

Pre-Order Sonny & The Sunsets Longtime Companion CD/LP

Sonny & The Sunsets' new album Longtime Companion is a country record. It's a break up record. Love and Heartache. Every song was written during and is about his break up with his girlfriend of ten years.

The songs came fast and naturally so Smith let the next record be something different, he embellished his Sunsets with members of his country band The Fuckaroos. Recorded to tape in a musty beer stained basement, what transpired was a classic country record.

Smith grew up listening to old time music, his dad is a banjo player and his parents and friends played old time music. "It was around the house, but I didn't like it!" recalls Sonny. "My dad played banjo and his friends would come over and play fiddle and mandolin. But I would go watch tv or listen to AC/DC."

However, some kind of country strain sank in. Gene Clark, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Townes Van Zandt, a little Johnny Cash, even the countrier side of the Kinks – there are hints of all of these in the new record and yet ultimately it still remains a Sonny & the Sunsets sound through and through.

Pre-orders ship June 15. All orders receive an INSTANT MP3 download at checkout.

  Buy Sonny & The Sunsets Longtime Companion LP

=============

Robert Cray - New studio album hits August 28th!

5x Grammy winner & legendary guitar icon gives fans Nothin But Love


(New York, NY, June 6, 2012) Legendary guitar icon, 5x Grammy winner and 15-time Grammy nominee Robert Cray releases Nothin But Love- his much anticipated sixteenth studio album August 28, 2012 on the Provogue label.

Produced by famed rocker Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin) Nothin But Love captures Cray at his finest with material from all four Robert Cray Band members; Cray (vocals/guitar), Jim Pugh
(keyboards), Richard Cousins (bass) and Tony Braunagel (drums) that blends blues, rock, soul and jazz. 

Recorded at Revolver Studios in LA, the ten song CD features the soaring breakup blues of “Won’t Be Coming Home”, the jazz chops of “I’ll Always Remember You”, the soul-drenched ode to repossession “Great Big Old House” and the frantic ’50s-flavoured rocker “Side Dish.”.

Recently inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (at 57 years, the youngest living inductee) Cray is considered “one of the greatest guitarists of his generation.”  Rolling Stone Magazine (April 2011) credits Cray’s Strong Persuader with reinventing the blues with his “distinct razor sharp guitar playing” that “introduced a new generation of mainstream rock fans to the language and form of the blues.”

Cray has recorded fifteen Billboard charting studio albums, performed thousands of sold out shows, and has written or played with everyone from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, from Bonnie Raitt to John Lee Hooker.  

With over 12 million records sold and his own line of Fender guitars, Cray has established himself as a genre defining artist- breaking through the pop ceiling with his gate crashing/blues-edged trademark sound and distinct style that has become a signature blend of r&b, pop, rock, soul and traditional blues.  The New York Times says, “his voice, alternately smooth and craggy, is often richer and more emotive than Mr. Clapton’s, and he knows the best ways to use it,” while Guitar Player Magazine noted, “Robert Cray is not only making great music he’s making history…”

Never one to rest on his laurels, Robert Cray is once again laying down his cards, testing his talent, fusing that dazzling voice to some of his most powerful material in three-decades and offering his fans Nothin But Love.

Pre-Order Nothin But Love today

=============

always love what willie has to say....wisdom, my friends, wisdom.....

Willie Nelson Discusses New Album, Old Friends and Thoughts on a Long Career

He Touches on Plight of Farmers, Need for Drug Reform During Session at Billboard Country Music Summit

Read the article at cmt.com

=============

Former Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Bob Welch Dead at 65

by: Billy Dukes

Early Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch was found dead Thursday afternoon (June 7) from what police are describing as a self-inflicted gun shot wound. According to the Associated Press, the 65-year-old Welch shot himself in the chest inside his Nashville-area home.

Read the rest at ultimateclassicrock.com


=============

album cover art of the day:

Galadriel - Reveal New Album Artwork



Slovak doom metal band Galadriel have jsut released the album cover art for their new LP. Five years after the release of 'Renascence Of Ancient Spirit,' the band is in the recording studio again. The new album is called 'The 7th Queen Enthroned' and it will be released in September via Gothoom Productions. judging by the picture (you can do that, right?) it would seem to me to be a haunting effort.

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

this from our friends at nonesuch.com

Ry Cooder’s "Election Special" Due Out August 21 on Nonesuch/Perro Verde Records

Ry Cooder’s new album, Election Special, is due out on CD and vinyl from Nonesuch / Perro Verde Records on August 21, 2012; an exclusive pre-order offer will be available soon in the Nonesuch Store.

The record is a wake-up call as the United States heads into the fall election season.

“Howdy there neighbor—let me ask you something. Do you really think Charlie and Davy sit around on the couch with family and friends watching re-runs of Dancing with the Stars?," asks Cooder. "See, 'Wasting Away in Margaritaville' was a good song in its day, but we need a different kind of a song now if we’re going to make headway against the likes of Charlie and Dave. Those type of guys are plenty swift, they’re all deacons in the High Church of the Next Dollar. We need to get smarter, fast. The world is full of C and D students in high places and there’s more coming up all the time. Don’t be one.”

Cooder produced the album and wrote all of the songs. (“Take Your Hands off It” was co-written with Joachim Cooder). He sings and plays mandolin, guitar, and bass on the album, with Joachim on drums. Arnold McCuller sings harmony vocals on “Take Your Hands off It.”

An exclusive Nonesuch Store pre-order offer will be available soon.  Look for more details from the CVR Blog!!

=============

Yoko Ono, Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon Set To Release 10" Vinyl Record

Yoko Ono, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon scheduled to release a limited edition, beautifully pressed on one-sided 10" vinyl called  "Early in the Morning" with an etching by Yoko on the flip side.  The one-off record will be available in stores in US June 19th and in Europe on July 3rd.  Profits will be donated to Ashinaga Rainbow House, which is building a Rainbow House in Tohoku to aid orphans of the 3.11 tsunami.

Available for pre-order now at www.sonicyouth.com








=============

for your information, not sure if i wrote about this (old age creepin' in!)

Official Record Store Shop Chart

UK Top 10 vinyl album sales of 2011

1. The King Of Limbs – Radiohead
2. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
3. 21 – Adele
4. Let England Shake – PJ Harvey
5. Suck It And See – Arctic Monkeys
6. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
7. Different Gear Still Speeding – Beady Eye
8. 50 Words For Snow – Kate Bush
9. Submarine (Original Soundtrack) – Alex Turner
10. The Dark Side Of The Moon – Pink Floyd

=============

in the land down under, a great article about the virtues and messiness of producing our beloved vinyl!

Just for the record, it's dirty work but someone has to do it

Glenn Mulcaster.

THE man who runs the last operating vinyl record factory in Australia is not sentimental or nostalgic about preserving old recordings in the face of the digital onslaught wiping out CD sales.

Zenith Records owner Chris Moss simply reproduces new music the old way - in the gatehouse and workshop of an abandoned flour mill in Sunshine. He said there was nothing romantic about it. ''It is filthy, dirty, disgusting, oily, messy and noisy,'' he said. ''It's a factory with stinking chemicals and petroleum products.''

Please read the rest of the article at smh.com.au

=============

fantastic write up from philly, read and enjoy!

Sound Trends: How Philadelphia-Area Independent Record Labels Remain Viable

Elliott Sharp

After a decade of radically declining revenues, Nielsen SoundScan reported a 1.3 percent increase in album sales in 2011. While the rise of the mp3 as the most popular mode of music consumption has cut into record label and artist profits -- namely due to the proliferation of illegal downloading -- last year showed a 19.5 percent increase in digital album sales. 

What this means for record labels, particularly independent labels, isn't quite clear. What is for certain, though, is that labels must constantly adapt to a wildly unpredictable economic landscape in order to remain viable. 

Siltbreeze and Relapse are two of Philadelphia's longest-running independent labels.

Read the rest at keystoneedge.com

=============

album cover art of the day:

King Of Asgard Reveals New Album Artwork

Swedish Viking metal act King of Asgard are set to release their new album ' ...to North' in Europe on July 27th/30th via Metal Blade Records.

Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. The Nine Worlds Burn
3. The Dispossessed
4. Gap of Ginnungs
5. Bound to Reunite
6. Nordvegr
7. Up on the Mountain
8. Plague-ridden Rebirth
9. Harvest (The End)
10. ...to North
11. Vinterskugge (Digi-CD bonus only!)










=============

Odd Jobs: Turning Your Ashes Into a Vinyl Record

By Eric Spitznagel

Jason Leach is just 41 and in good health, but he’s already made arrangements for his cremains. Part of it has to do with his family history. “I’ve heard stories about my father trying to scatter his
grandfather’s ashes from a boat,” Leach says. “It went terribly wrong, and they ended up sweeping him off the deck.” Things didn’t turn out much better at his own grandfather’s memorial service.

“There was a strong breeze,” he remembers, grimacing. “And the ashes blew right into my face.” When his time comes, Leach, who lives in Scarborough, on the northeast coast of England, wants a more dignified ending. So he’s having his ashes pressed into a vinyl record.

Read the rest of this crazy article at businessweek.com

=============

from our friends at mute.com

RICHARD HAWLEY - Standing At The Sky’s Edge THE NEW ALBUM  DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE JUNE 12th  CD & LP AVAILABLE AUGUST 28th

“A churning, glowering, tumultuous noise…Hawley makes a masterpiece.."5/5 -The Guardian 

“…a beautiful storm of brimstone."  8/10” -NME

“Hawley’s most compelling work.” 4/5  -The Fly

Following the success of his award-winning, critically acclaimed 2009 album Truelove’s Gutter, Richard Hawley will release his seventh studio album, Standing At The Sky’s Edge digitally in the US on June 12th, 2012 with physical release to follow on August 28th.

Recorded in his beloved Sheffield at Yellow Arch Studio in 2011, Standing At The Sky’s Edge marks a seismic shift in direction for Richard. Mirroring the blasted industrial sunsets of Sheffield, Hawley partners his distinctive fluid snarl with blazing electric guitar, spray-painting his audiences senses with a new sound, embracing the ever-changing landscape around him. The overall effect is hypnotic and psychedelic, casting a euphoric stage for Hawley to unleash some of his most tender moments to date.

Exploring lyrical themes of love, loss, redemption and darker areas of the human condition, it is an album of ominous storytelling and cosmic exploration.

Standing At The Sky's Edge sets the stage to establish Hawley as one of the greatest contemporary guitarists to hail from the UK. Recently he appeared on Jools Holland performing a few tracks including “Leave Your Body Behind You.” Mourning the passing of friends and contemplating his place in the universe, Hawley urges us to accept how tiny we are and embrace the time we are given. Hawley says of the song, “If we could just allow ourselves to be liberated by the fact that this is our only time here, we could just get on with what really matters.”

Soundcloud link to download “Leave Your Body Behind You”

Recorded in Sheffield, with inspired involvement from Alan Moulder, Standing At The Sky’s Edge is simultaneously an embrace and a release. Holding you closer than he ever has before, Hawley is bare and unburdened, sharing what is deepest in his heart while electrifying you with a record that conquers the cosmos and takes you on a lavish and exotic ride.

Hawley says of the album, “I wanted to get away from the orchestration of my previous records and make a live album with two guitars, bass, drums and rocket noises!”

Tracklist
She Brings The Sunlight
Standing At The Sky’s Edge
Time Will Bring You Winter
Down In The Woods
Seek It
Don’t Stare At The Sun
The Wood Collier’s Grave
Leave Your Body Behind You
Before

Visit the richard hawley forum richardhawleyforum.co.uk

=============

our friends at VintageVinylNews have this great review of a stellar work!

Review: Ram - Paul and Linda McCartney

Let's give Ram its due.

The second solo album from Paul McCartney (and the only one attributed to Paul and Linda McCartney) is really much, much better than what was portrayed during its original release and the new remastered version is really a joy to behold. The sound is far superior to any prior version, allowing the brilliance of the album to shine through.

Read the rest of the review at VintageVinylNews






=============

Roger Waters Plans New Solo Album, Live DVD from ‘Wall’ Tour

by: Matt Wardlaw

While he might be currently looking in the rear view mirror, celebrating the legacy of Pink Floyd’s classic ‘The Wall’ album, the experience has put Roger Waters in the planning mode for a new solo album, which would be his first proper solo release since 1990’s ‘Amused to Death.’

Read the rest at ultimateclassicrock.com

=============

Herb Reed, founder of the Platters, dies at 83

Los Angeles Times

Herb Reed was in his 20s when he founded the Platters in Los Angeles in 1953, naming his vocal group after the term used by radio DJs for the vinyl records of the day

Read the rest at heraldnet.com

We have a Winner in the "Win A Vinyl Copy Of George Harrison's 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World & Early Takes Volume 1' contest from Sneak Attack Media"

Special thanks to Elliot Fox from Sneak Attack Media  for the copy and hopefully we can do some more giveaways very soon!

The lucky winner is Jim from Batavia IL 

I want to thank everyone who entered!!

Win A Vinyl Copy Of George Harrison's 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World & Early Takes Volume 1'

Elliot Fox from Sneak Attack Media has given me a vinyl copy of the George Harrison's epic release George Harrison: Living in the Material World & Early Takes Volume 1 and the 10th person to email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com with the words "Early Takes Volume 1" in the subject line will win a free vinyl copy!   Good luck to all!



Music From The Martin Scorsese Picture Living In The Material World

George Harrison: Living in the Material World & Early Takes Volume 1 

Universal Music Enterprises is excited for the release of Martin Scorecese's documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World on DVD and Blu-Ray as well as Early Takes Vol. 1, the companioin music collection of unreleased George Harrison on CD, LP and Box Set.

The Martin Scorcese directed documentary takes viewers on the musical and spiritual voyage that was Harrison’s life, much of it told in his own words. The result is deeply moving and touches each viewer in unique and individual ways.

Early Takes Volume 1 features previously unreleased material like demo versions of  "All Things Must Pass," "My Sweet Lord" and more. The album is a pivotal companion piece to the documentary and is a must have for any fan.

EARLY TAKES Volume 1 will also be released independent of the Deluxe Edition in CD, digital and 180-gram vinyl formats. EARLY TAKES is a pivotal companion piece to this critically acclaimed documentary and features previously unreleased recordings from Harrison. Included are rare, early takes of “I’d Have You Anytime” and “Awaiting On You All,” plus unheard demo versions of “Behind That Locked Door,” “All Things Must Pass,” “Run of the Mill” and “My Sweet Lord,” all later featured on Harrison’s 1970 chart-topping album All Things Must Pass. Other unreleased tracks include demos of “The Light That Has Lighted the World,” “Let It Be Me,” Bob Dylan’s “Mama You’ve Been on My Mind,” and an early take of “Woman Don’t You Cry For Me.”

Tracklist:

1. My Sweet Lord (demo) 3:33
2. Run Of The Mill (demo) 1:56
3. I'd Have You Any Time (early take) 3:06
4. Mama You've Been On My Mind (demo) 3:04
5. Let It Be Me (demo) 2:56
6. Woman Don't You Cry For Me (early take) 2:44
7. Awaiting On You All (early take) 2:40
8. Behind That Locked Door (demo) 3:29
9. All Things Must Pass (demo) 4:38
10. The Light That Has Lighted The World (demo) 2:23

Harrison was bold, an iconoclast. His platinum-selling solo record All Things Must Pass was released as a triple album and featured the hit single “My Sweet Lord.” He organized the landmark benefit Concert for Bangladesh—the first major rock concert to address a world crisis. He launched HandMade Films, a key factor in the revival of the British film industry in the 1980s.  He spent 30 years restoring one of the great estates and gardens in England, Friar Park. In every aspect of his professional, personal and spiritual life, until his final hours, Harrison blazed his own path.

As his friend John Lennon once said, “George himself is no mystery. But the mystery inside George is immense. It’s watching him uncover it all little by little that’s so damn interesting.”

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 4, 2012

DEAR JERRY: When I read recently that digital books are now out-selling printed ones, at least according to Amazon.com, it got me wondering if the same is true in the music field.

It seems all we hear now is "go online and download" this or that, but no one ever says go out and pick up our new CD or LP album.

What is the latest in this regard?
—Victor Francisco, Muncie, Ind.



DEAR VICTOR: The lines on the sales graph for physical media — CDs, LPs, and DVDs — and their digital counterparts, are clearly moving in opposite directions. It is no different than with books.

By the end of this year, if not sooner, digital revenues will have surpassed those of physical media in all categories.

I doubt CDs, LPs, and DVDs will be occupying plots next to cylinders, 8-tracks, and cassettes any time soon, but, over the next few years, they may be moved to the ICU.

Convenience and price are the driving forces behind the digital takeover. For a buck or less, one can download an album or watch a movie, all without leaving home, or even getting dressed.

Digital technology also satisfies the appetite for instant gratification. Minutes after a performance airs live on TV, for example, you'll be given a site where you can download it, a far more effective sales tool than saying pick up a copy the next time you go shopping.



DEAR JERRY: Donna Summer has been in the news a lot since her death (May 17), but little has been said about her place among the top female singers, some of whom you have written about recently (Streisand; Norah; Adele; Shania; Madonna; etc.).

How do the Disco Queen's album sales compare to the aforementioned leaders of the pack?
—Denice Marlowe, Baton Rouge, La.



DEAR DENICE: Donna is not among the superstar frontrunners (see list below), but neither is she bringing up the rear.

Sources vary, depending on endless variables, but Summer always seems to rank somewhere in the Top 20 when it comes to the most successful female recording artists.

Donna will ultimately be pushed down on the list as the 21st century divas, mainly Adele and Norah, jump ahead of her.

There is one eccentric little claim that Donna Summer is assured of keeping all to herself. She is the only artist ever with three consecutive No. 1 double-LPs in the USA, those being: "Live and More" (1978); "Bad Girls" (1979); and "On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II" (1979).



IZ ZAT SO? When worldwide sales of an album cross the 20-million mark, it joins a very exclusive club of all-time best-sellers.

For now, this society's sorority wing has only 14 members, some with multiple entries.

Our list is alphabetical by artist, with album (chronologically if more than one), year issued, and sales to date (rounded to nearest million). Does not include multi-artist compilations or soundtracks:

*Adele "21" (2011) 21m
*Mariah Carey "Music Box" (1993) 32m
*Mariah Carey "Daydream" (1995) 25m
Cher "Believe" (1998) 20m
Celine Dion "The Colour of My Love" (1993) 20m
*Celine Dion "Falling Into You" (1996) 32m
*Celine Dion "Let's Talk About Love" (1997) 31m
Whitney Houston "Whitney" (1987) 20m
*Whitney Houston "Whitney Houston" (1985) 25m
Janet Jackson "Janet" (1993) 20m
*Norah Jones "Come Away with Me" (2002) 20m
*Carole King "Tapestry" (1971) 25m
*Madonna "Like a Virgin" (1984) 21m
Madonna "True Blue" (1986) 25m
*Madonna "The Immaculate Collection" (1990) 30m
Madonna "Ray of Light" (1998) 20m
*Alanis Morissette "Jagged Little Pill" (1995) 33m
*Britney Spears "Baby One More Time" (1999) 26m
*Britney Spears "Oops! ... I Did It Again" (2000) 20m
Barbra Streisand "Guilty" (1980) 20m
Tina Turner "Private Dancer" (1984) 20m
*Shania Twain "The Woman in Me" (1995) 20m
*Shania Twain "Come on Over" (1997) 40m
*Shania Twain "Up!" (2002) 20m

*Indicates at least 10-million units sold in the U.S. alone.

Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368 E-mail: jpo@olympus.net   Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com

All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.

Copyright 2012 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

to start your day, some lovely album cover art:

Splattered Mermaids Reveal New Album Artwork

Splattered Mermaids have recently issued the following announcement about revealing the cover artwork for the band's new album:

 "We just uploaded the artwork for our upcoming second full-length 'Reforged in Gore.' We're about to finish the mix and then we'll post a brand-new song for you!

can't wait.....














=============

more cover art:

KRAMPUS: Debut Album Details Revealed

Udine, Italy-based modern folk metal band KRAMPUS will release its first full-length album called 'Survival Of The Fittest' on August 24 via NoiseArt Records. The effort was produced by KRAMPUS frontman Filippo Gianotti at Udine's Blackmirror Studios. 


















=============

album cover art of the day:

BLACK MAJESTY: New Album Cover Artwork

Australian melodic power metallers BLACK MAJESTY are set to release their new album, 'Stargazer' on July 20 via Limb Music. Dirk Illing (SCORPIONS, WIZARD) once again handled the album's artwork, which continues the theme of the band's past works.


















=============

GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 5/28 - 6/03, 2012

Vinyl Top 25:


1. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Here
2. Sigur Ros - Valtari
3. Beck - I Just Started Hating People Today 7"
4. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
5. Beach House - Bloom
6. Jack White - Blunderbuss
7. Natural Child - For The Love Of The Game
8. King Tuff - King Tuff
9. Father John Misty - Fear Fun
10. Various - Never To Be Forgotten: The Flip Side of Stax 1968-74
11. Reigning Sound - Abdication
12. Heavy Cream - Super Treatment
13. Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts
14. Dr. John - Locked Down
15. Jack White - Love Interruption 7"
16. Chris Robinson - Blue Suede Shoes 7"
17. The Beatles - Abbey Road
18. The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
19. Best Coast - The Only Place
20. Gaslight Anthem - 45 7"
21. Alabama Shakes - Live At Third Man 7"
22. Mynahbirds - It's My Time 7"
23. Joey Ramone - Ya Know
24. Jerry Lee Lewis - Live At Third Man
25. Jack White - Sixteen Saltines 12" (w/ playable etching)  

=============

50 Worst Album Covers Ever By: Patrick Bateman

took a quick look at this, there are the usual suspects, however, there are some that have not made other lists, for shits and giggles, check it out at thefw.com














=============

interesting read from the ny times:

The Secrets of a High-Quality Vinyl Record By ROY FURCHGOTT

=============

this from the great vinyl state of tennessee

Fresh spin Vinyl record albums making comeback

=============

LOS ANGELES and beyond: It's the 18th installment of one of LA's most appreciated events.

B  E  A  T  -  S  W  A  P  -  M  E  E  T   Sunday after-noon June 10th, 2012

Literally TONS OF RECORDS for Buy & Trade. Outdoor Vendor Village with Dozens of Artists & Designers + the brands they've created. B-Girl & B-Kids Battle, Live Bands, Open Cut Session & Thud Rumble's Dirt Style Challenge, Producer Invite, Kids Arts & Crafts, and sooo much more.

Over 45 Invited Collectors & Dealers, Selling Records from all over the world.  Blues, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Metal, Psych, Punk, Rap, Reggae, Rock, Soul, & World - 12", LP's, & 45's on VINYL.

Location:

Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N Broadway
Los Angeles CA 90012

Time:  12noon-6pm

Entrance:  Free w/ Canned Good; Canned goods are donated to the local homeless communities of Los Angeles County.