Can't have a 'Classic Rock Video' series with the "Fat Man"
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Music News-new vinyl releases
Snow Patrol will release their new album on CD, DVD and vinyl, with a Special Edition package also available.
Fans who were up early this morning had the chance to hear a special Snow Patrol gig live from the band's living room, broadcast on BBC Radio 1.
The band played the special living room acoustic set on Joe Whiley's show, featuring the new single 'Take Back The City', which is available for download from October 5, and on general release October 13.
The single is the first to be taken from the new Snow Patrol album A Hundred Million Suns, which is out here on October 24.
As well as the standard CD and DVD releases, the album will also be out in a Special Edition package with two behind-the-scenes docs following the band through rehearsals and into the studio, and on double gatefold vinyl.
http://www.hotpress.com/
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LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- British rocker David Gilmour recalls his 2006 concert in Gdansk, Poland, as "a great, great show," which is why he's preserved it on CD and DVD.
The Pink Floyd guitarist was planning "to make a live album out of the show tour" supporting his latest solo album, "On An Island." But the Gdansk show, staged at the city's historic shipyards and featuring an orchestra, changed his mind.
"It's slightly not representative of all the shows from the tour," Gilmour said, "but so many of the best (songs) for the album seemed to come from that night, anyway.
"So in the end we thought, 'Oh, we'll just do the whole (album) from Gdansk. That's the one we'll do. It'll be great."
"Live in Gdansk" is available in five different CD, DVD and vinyl album combinations.
The album also features one of the last recorded performances of Pink Floyd keyboardist and Gilmour band member Richard Wright, who died Sept. 15 of cancer at age 65.
http://www.upi.com
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UK's What Records is taking pre-orders for AC/DC's new album, "Black Ice", as a limited heavyweight vinyl, deluxe packaged (book) CD and CD album. The vinyl will come with an exclusive AC/DC badge. Anyone ordering the CD or limited CD before October 1 will also get a badge.
Fans who were up early this morning had the chance to hear a special Snow Patrol gig live from the band's living room, broadcast on BBC Radio 1.
The band played the special living room acoustic set on Joe Whiley's show, featuring the new single 'Take Back The City', which is available for download from October 5, and on general release October 13.
The single is the first to be taken from the new Snow Patrol album A Hundred Million Suns, which is out here on October 24.
As well as the standard CD and DVD releases, the album will also be out in a Special Edition package with two behind-the-scenes docs following the band through rehearsals and into the studio, and on double gatefold vinyl.
http://www.hotpress.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- British rocker David Gilmour recalls his 2006 concert in Gdansk, Poland, as "a great, great show," which is why he's preserved it on CD and DVD.
The Pink Floyd guitarist was planning "to make a live album out of the show tour" supporting his latest solo album, "On An Island." But the Gdansk show, staged at the city's historic shipyards and featuring an orchestra, changed his mind.
"It's slightly not representative of all the shows from the tour," Gilmour said, "but so many of the best (songs) for the album seemed to come from that night, anyway.
"So in the end we thought, 'Oh, we'll just do the whole (album) from Gdansk. That's the one we'll do. It'll be great."
"Live in Gdansk" is available in five different CD, DVD and vinyl album combinations.
The album also features one of the last recorded performances of Pink Floyd keyboardist and Gilmour band member Richard Wright, who died Sept. 15 of cancer at age 65.
http://www.upi.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------
UK's What Records is taking pre-orders for AC/DC's new album, "Black Ice", as a limited heavyweight vinyl, deluxe packaged (book) CD and CD album. The vinyl will come with an exclusive AC/DC badge. Anyone ordering the CD or limited CD before October 1 will also get a badge.
This Date In Music History- September 24
Birthdays:
Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers ("Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying") turns 66.
Barbara (1940) and Jiggs (1942) Allbut of the Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back") are born-- same day, different years.
History:
Jimi Hendrix and Chas Chandler, former bassist with the Animals, flew from New York to London in 1966. There, Hendrix will form a new band and Chandler will become the manager of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. En route, they decide to change the guitarist's name from Jimmy to Jimi.
The late Linda McCartney ("Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" with husband Paul) was born in 1942.
Alan Freed's "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll" movie, with appearances by Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, LaVern Baker, Little Richard and others, premiered in New York City in 1957.
John Lennon appeared as a guest on The Dick Cavett Show in 1971.
Memphis played host to the first Elvis Presley convention in 1977.
Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released in 1991.
Fleetwood Mac`s "Don`t Stop" peaked at #3 in 1977. However, an Arkansas fan, Bill Clinton, revives the song using as his presidential campaign theme song in '92.
Stamps designed by John Lennon to support a strike by postal workers were sold for $2,000 in 2003, double the pre-sale estimate, according to auctioneers at Sotheby's.
London`s Wembley Arena was the site of the 50th birthday party for the Fender Stratocaster guitar in 2004. Paul Rodgers, Joe Walsh and David Gilmour are among those who attended. Proceeds from the event went to the Nordiff-Robbins Music Therapy charity.
In 1962, Elvis Presley received an invitation to appear at the Royal Variety Performance, a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom which was attended by senior members of the British Royal Family. Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker graciously declined, citing motion picture commitments. The real reason was that Parker was an illegal Dutch immigrant living in the United States who feared he may not be allowed to return if he left the country.
The Association had their first number one single with "Cherish" in 1966. The song had been released in August and within two months would be a million seller, remaining at the top of the US Pop charts for nearly a month. Oddly, it did not do well overseas, perhaps because of poor distribution. Only when the song was re-recorded by David Cassidy in 1971, did "Cherish" become an international hit.
In 1988, Bobby McFerrin's a cappella tune, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" hit the top of the record charts, not only in the US but in almost every country in the world. The song would go on to win Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It made #2 in the UK. During his career, McFerrin has become a ten-time Grammy Award winner.
Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
Judy Garland made her TV debut on the "Ford Star Jubilee" on CBS in 1955.
After suing for wrongful dismissal, Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler collects a $2.5 million settlement from the band in 1993. He alleged that his bandmates threw him out of the group for his heroin habit, after encouraging him to take the drug in the first place. That'll teach 'em.
Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers ("Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying") turns 66.
Barbara (1940) and Jiggs (1942) Allbut of the Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back") are born-- same day, different years.
History:
Jimi Hendrix and Chas Chandler, former bassist with the Animals, flew from New York to London in 1966. There, Hendrix will form a new band and Chandler will become the manager of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. En route, they decide to change the guitarist's name from Jimmy to Jimi.
The late Linda McCartney ("Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" with husband Paul) was born in 1942.
Alan Freed's "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll" movie, with appearances by Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, LaVern Baker, Little Richard and others, premiered in New York City in 1957.
John Lennon appeared as a guest on The Dick Cavett Show in 1971.
Memphis played host to the first Elvis Presley convention in 1977.
Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released in 1991.
Fleetwood Mac`s "Don`t Stop" peaked at #3 in 1977. However, an Arkansas fan, Bill Clinton, revives the song using as his presidential campaign theme song in '92.
Stamps designed by John Lennon to support a strike by postal workers were sold for $2,000 in 2003, double the pre-sale estimate, according to auctioneers at Sotheby's.
London`s Wembley Arena was the site of the 50th birthday party for the Fender Stratocaster guitar in 2004. Paul Rodgers, Joe Walsh and David Gilmour are among those who attended. Proceeds from the event went to the Nordiff-Robbins Music Therapy charity.
In 1962, Elvis Presley received an invitation to appear at the Royal Variety Performance, a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom which was attended by senior members of the British Royal Family. Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker graciously declined, citing motion picture commitments. The real reason was that Parker was an illegal Dutch immigrant living in the United States who feared he may not be allowed to return if he left the country.
The Association had their first number one single with "Cherish" in 1966. The song had been released in August and within two months would be a million seller, remaining at the top of the US Pop charts for nearly a month. Oddly, it did not do well overseas, perhaps because of poor distribution. Only when the song was re-recorded by David Cassidy in 1971, did "Cherish" become an international hit.
In 1988, Bobby McFerrin's a cappella tune, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" hit the top of the record charts, not only in the US but in almost every country in the world. The song would go on to win Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It made #2 in the UK. During his career, McFerrin has become a ten-time Grammy Award winner.
Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
Judy Garland made her TV debut on the "Ford Star Jubilee" on CBS in 1955.
After suing for wrongful dismissal, Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler collects a $2.5 million settlement from the band in 1993. He alleged that his bandmates threw him out of the group for his heroin habit, after encouraging him to take the drug in the first place. That'll teach 'em.
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at album cover art, a list compiled by Gigwise.com:
Controversial
35. Serge Gainsbourg: ‘Histoire De Melodie Nelson’ Who? What? And an image of a underage girl with no top? Yeah, that will sell your music.
Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by controversial French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his 26-horsepower 1910 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost into teenage nymphet Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues. Histoire de Melody Nelson is considered by many critics and fans to be Gainsbourg's most influential and accomplished album.
At just under twenty-eight minutes, the short running time and the stylistic consistency and similarity throughout the album gives it qualities more in line with an EP or an extended musical piece with a number of movements. Histoire de Melody Nelson‘s mix of freewheeling guitar, funk style bass guitar, near spoken word vocal delivery, and lush, deep orchestrated string and choral arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier have proven to be highly influential amongst later francophone and anglophone musical performers including the French band Air, David Holmes, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, Portishead, and Beck, whose 2002 track "Paper Tiger" from Sea Change is extremely close to the distinctive Histoire de Melody Nelson sound.
Oh, now that explains it all, the guy was a perv.
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Weird
35. Gerhard Polt: 'Leberkas Hawaii' Gerhard Polt (born May 7, 1942 in Munich) is a Bavarian writer, filmmaker, actor and satirical cabaret artist. Gerhard Polt often performs using Bavarian dialect. His main topics are Bavarian people, culture and politics. His performances in Munich theaters, which he started in 1976, are very popular. 1979 he became known to a wider audience in Germany by his TV-comedy-series “Fast wia im richtigen Leben” (Almost like in real life). In the following years, he was writer and actor in the movies “Kehraus” (1983), “Man spricht deutsh” (1987), “Germanikus” (2004), and writer and director of “Herr Ober!” (1992).
I'll have his head on a platter- errrr...wait there it is....obviously album cover design was not one of his strong suits.
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Worst
35. Butthole Surfers – ‘Brown Reason To Live’- Love the band name and I would think that is more of a controversial cover than worst (I have seen worse) Nonetheless, here it is at #35 on Gigwise's list. Hmmm I wonder if Gibby posed for the cover.
Butthole Surfers is the debut studio EP by American punk band Butthole Surfers, released in July 1983. It is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor (see "Title controversy"). All songs were written and produced by the Butthole Surfers. The album was originally released on Alternative Tentacles. Butthole Surfers and 1984's Live PCPPEP were reissued as the Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP CD on Latino Buggerveil in 2003. The 12-inch vinyl version is still available from Alternative Tentacles, and is listed as Brown Reason to Live.
The Surfers introduced themselves to the world with seven songs full of throbbing bass, crashing drums, and heavily distorted guitar topped off with largely nonsensical, barely intelligible lyrics, alternately sung by lead vocalist Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary. Haynes also plays saxophone on some tracks. Unlike later Surfers albums, no electronic instrumentation is present.
Though this EP is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor, Butthole Surfers is its official title. First, "Butthole Surfers" were the only words to appear on the front cover of its original release. Furthermore, Latino Buggerveil's 2003 reissue of the EP, together with 1984's Live PCPPEP on a single CD, is titled Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP. Perhaps most importantly, it is listed as Butthole Surfers in the "Discography" section of the band's official website.
That said, Brown Reason to Live has a strong claim to title rights, and many fans refer to it by that name. The 12-inch vinyl edition was, and still is, sold as Brown Reason to Live through original label Alternative Tentacles, but it is unclear if it was initially released as such. Also, though the words "Brown Reason to Live" did not appear on the original album's packaging, they were included below the band's name on later Alternative Tentacles printings (see image).[3] Finally, Latino Buggerveil's reissue of this album is listed as Brown Reason to Live (together with Live PCPPEP) on iTunes.
(alternate cover)
As for Pee Pee the Sailor, the album has never been officially released or marketed under that name. That title is derived from Alternative Tentacles' vinyl editions, which include a cartoon of a Popeye-esque character with buttocks for a face printed on the record's center label, and the words "Pee Pee the Sailor" written next to it. This cartoon is in addition to the label's humorous suggestion that listeners play the record at 69 RPM.
Gotta love the names, whatever it may be called.
-------------------------------------------------------
Best
35. David Bowie: ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ - Finally, a cover I can relate to and have in my collection. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a 1972 concept album by English rock musician David Bowie. It peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 75 in the United States on the Billboard Music Charts. A concert film of the same name directed by D.A. Pennebaker was released in 1973. The location of the cover has since taken on legendary status with Bowie fans (similar to that of Abbey Road for Beatles’ followers).
The album presents the story, albeit vaguely, of "Ziggy Stardust," the human representative of an alien being who is hoping to present humanity with a message of hope in the last five years of its existence. Ziggy Stardust is the definitive rock star: sexually promiscuous, wild in drug intake and with a message, ultimately, of peace and love; but he is destroyed both by his own excesses of drugs and sex, and by the fans he inspired. The real-life inspiration for Ziggy was chiefly Vince Taylor. Bowie claimed that the name came from a tailor's shop in London called Ziggy's.
Bowie later told Rolling Stone it was "one of the few Christian names I could find beginning with the letter 'Z'." "Stardust" comes from one of Bowie's labelmates, a country singer named Norman Carl Odam, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Bowie covered a Legendary Stardust Cowboy song, "I Took a Trip (On a Gemini Spaceship)" thirty years later on Heathen.
A great addition to any LP collection, this, to me, was Bowie's crowning acheivement.
Controversial
35. Serge Gainsbourg: ‘Histoire De Melodie Nelson’ Who? What? And an image of a underage girl with no top? Yeah, that will sell your music.Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by controversial French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his 26-horsepower 1910 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost into teenage nymphet Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues. Histoire de Melody Nelson is considered by many critics and fans to be Gainsbourg's most influential and accomplished album.
At just under twenty-eight minutes, the short running time and the stylistic consistency and similarity throughout the album gives it qualities more in line with an EP or an extended musical piece with a number of movements. Histoire de Melody Nelson‘s mix of freewheeling guitar, funk style bass guitar, near spoken word vocal delivery, and lush, deep orchestrated string and choral arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier have proven to be highly influential amongst later francophone and anglophone musical performers including the French band Air, David Holmes, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, Portishead, and Beck, whose 2002 track "Paper Tiger" from Sea Change is extremely close to the distinctive Histoire de Melody Nelson sound.
Oh, now that explains it all, the guy was a perv.
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Weird
35. Gerhard Polt: 'Leberkas Hawaii' Gerhard Polt (born May 7, 1942 in Munich) is a Bavarian writer, filmmaker, actor and satirical cabaret artist. Gerhard Polt often performs using Bavarian dialect. His main topics are Bavarian people, culture and politics. His performances in Munich theaters, which he started in 1976, are very popular. 1979 he became known to a wider audience in Germany by his TV-comedy-series “Fast wia im richtigen Leben” (Almost like in real life). In the following years, he was writer and actor in the movies “Kehraus” (1983), “Man spricht deutsh” (1987), “Germanikus” (2004), and writer and director of “Herr Ober!” (1992).
I'll have his head on a platter- errrr...wait there it is....obviously album cover design was not one of his strong suits.
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Worst
35. Butthole Surfers – ‘Brown Reason To Live’- Love the band name and I would think that is more of a controversial cover than worst (I have seen worse) Nonetheless, here it is at #35 on Gigwise's list. Hmmm I wonder if Gibby posed for the cover.
Butthole Surfers is the debut studio EP by American punk band Butthole Surfers, released in July 1983. It is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor (see "Title controversy"). All songs were written and produced by the Butthole Surfers. The album was originally released on Alternative Tentacles. Butthole Surfers and 1984's Live PCPPEP were reissued as the Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP CD on Latino Buggerveil in 2003. The 12-inch vinyl version is still available from Alternative Tentacles, and is listed as Brown Reason to Live.
The Surfers introduced themselves to the world with seven songs full of throbbing bass, crashing drums, and heavily distorted guitar topped off with largely nonsensical, barely intelligible lyrics, alternately sung by lead vocalist Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary. Haynes also plays saxophone on some tracks. Unlike later Surfers albums, no electronic instrumentation is present.
Though this EP is also known as Brown Reason to Live and Pee Pee the Sailor, Butthole Surfers is its official title. First, "Butthole Surfers" were the only words to appear on the front cover of its original release. Furthermore, Latino Buggerveil's 2003 reissue of the EP, together with 1984's Live PCPPEP on a single CD, is titled Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP. Perhaps most importantly, it is listed as Butthole Surfers in the "Discography" section of the band's official website.
That said, Brown Reason to Live has a strong claim to title rights, and many fans refer to it by that name. The 12-inch vinyl edition was, and still is, sold as Brown Reason to Live through original label Alternative Tentacles, but it is unclear if it was initially released as such. Also, though the words "Brown Reason to Live" did not appear on the original album's packaging, they were included below the band's name on later Alternative Tentacles printings (see image).[3] Finally, Latino Buggerveil's reissue of this album is listed as Brown Reason to Live (together with Live PCPPEP) on iTunes.
(alternate cover)As for Pee Pee the Sailor, the album has never been officially released or marketed under that name. That title is derived from Alternative Tentacles' vinyl editions, which include a cartoon of a Popeye-esque character with buttocks for a face printed on the record's center label, and the words "Pee Pee the Sailor" written next to it. This cartoon is in addition to the label's humorous suggestion that listeners play the record at 69 RPM.
Gotta love the names, whatever it may be called.
-------------------------------------------------------
Best
35. David Bowie: ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ - Finally, a cover I can relate to and have in my collection. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a 1972 concept album by English rock musician David Bowie. It peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 75 in the United States on the Billboard Music Charts. A concert film of the same name directed by D.A. Pennebaker was released in 1973. The location of the cover has since taken on legendary status with Bowie fans (similar to that of Abbey Road for Beatles’ followers).
The album presents the story, albeit vaguely, of "Ziggy Stardust," the human representative of an alien being who is hoping to present humanity with a message of hope in the last five years of its existence. Ziggy Stardust is the definitive rock star: sexually promiscuous, wild in drug intake and with a message, ultimately, of peace and love; but he is destroyed both by his own excesses of drugs and sex, and by the fans he inspired. The real-life inspiration for Ziggy was chiefly Vince Taylor. Bowie claimed that the name came from a tailor's shop in London called Ziggy's.
Bowie later told Rolling Stone it was "one of the few Christian names I could find beginning with the letter 'Z'." "Stardust" comes from one of Bowie's labelmates, a country singer named Norman Carl Odam, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Bowie covered a Legendary Stardust Cowboy song, "I Took a Trip (On a Gemini Spaceship)" thirty years later on Heathen.
A great addition to any LP collection, this, to me, was Bowie's crowning acheivement.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Album Cover Art
Continuing our look at controversial, best, worst and the weirdest album cover art as compiled by the staff at Gigwise.com, let's look at #36:
Controversial
36. Jimi Hendrix: ‘Electric Ladyland’ This one is a mystery to me. Naked vinyl cover art was a staple in the early 50's and sold many an album- regardless of how bad the music was. But God forbid a black man be pictured with naked white women. It sure caused a controversary, enough so, that the cover had to be changed.
Electric Ladyland is the third and final album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on October 16, 1968 on Reprise Records. Written and produced by Jimi Hendrix, the album is seen as the peak of Hendrix's mastery of the electric guitar, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It is not only the last of his albums released as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but also the last of Hendrix's studio albums to be professionally produced under his own supervision. After Electric Ladyland, Hendrix spent the remaining two years of his life attempting to organize a new band and recording a breadth of new songs.
Released as a double album, Electric Ladyland is a cross-section of Hendrix's wide range of musical talent. It includes samples of several genres and styles of music, including the psychedelia of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" (previously a UK single in the summer of 1967), the bluesy guitar jam "Voodoo Chile", the New Orleans-style rock and roll of "Come On", the epic studio production of "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)", and the political commentary of "House Burning Down". The album also features a cover version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" that was widely praised by many, including Dylan himself, as well as "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", a staple of both radio and guitar repertoire.
alternate cover art
Electric Ladyland was first released in the U.S. in October 1968 and became a massive hit; it was Hendrix's only #1 album. The UK edition reached #5 upon its release amid considerable controversy. A letter Hendrix wrote to Reprise described exactly what he wanted for the cover, but it was mostly ignored. He expressly asked for a colour photo by Linda Eastman of the group sitting with children on a sculpture from Alice in Wonderland in Central Park, NY, even drawing a picture of it for reference. The company instead used a blurred red & yellow photo of his head, taken by Karl Ferris. Track Records had its own art department, which produced a cover depicting of several nude women lounging in front of a black background. The original UK & German CD release from the 1980s features the UK artwork cover, while Allan Douglas' re-master CD issue from 1993 features the front half of it. The U.S. version by Ferris, however, has since become the official cover of Electric Ladyland outside the UK. The company Experience Hendrix, which owns the rights to the album and most of Hendrix's catalogue, has stated that the original UK nudes cover will not be used any longer, since Hendrix himself did not like it; nonetheless Hendrix's own choice, the Eastman photo, is still ignored. A dispute nearly happened with the album's title. In the final stages of production, a studio technician renamed the album "Electric Landlady." The album was almost released under this official title until Hendrix noticed the error, which upset him considerably. Kirsty MacColl later used this alternate title for an album of her own.
In 2005 Q magazine readers voted Electric Ladyland the 38th greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 72. In 2003, Rolling Stone declared it the 54th greatest album of all time. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
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Weird
36. Cloud Cult: 'Advice From The Baby Hippopotamus' Don't know much about the band, in fact, I never heard of them. But they make Gigwise's list at #36. Interesting cover- though not overly weird for me, I have seen much odder images. And with his own two-year old son passing away, my guess is that it may even be his picture that is being used, and that does not qualify as weird for me.
Cloud Cult is the creative brainchild of Craig Minowa and to understand his band's epic ambitions and sound, you have to understand him. Hoping to enlighten people about environmental issues, Minowa began writing and performing songs in the early '90s. During breaks at gigs, he would hand audience members fact sheets about the environment, and, as could be expected in dives, he was often met by a less-than-passionate response. Though a singer concerned about the environment sounds a bit cliché, Minowa's concern was genuine -- he was simultaneously pursuing a degree in environmental science -- and this zeal foreshadowed the intense love for life Minowa would express in future recordings. Obsessed with making an album, he spent a year recording at home, substituting household items for actual instruments because of financial limitations. To Minowa's surprise, the album, titled The Shade Project, drew enough attention to attract several label offers.
This unexpected and modest success led to the formation of Cloud Cult, a band that describes itself as a "not-for-profit, music-centered environmental and philosophical movement". Yes, this all sounds a bit over the top and pretentious, but like U2, Cloud Cult's sound is as vast as its aspirations. This is not only because Minowa has epic visions, but also because his band, which is more of a collective, combines the basic rock lineup with cello, viola, flute, and an assortment of unidentifiable sounds. Adding to this broad palette of instruments is Minowa's life experience, which has recently included unthinkable tragedy. In February of 2002, his two-year-old son passed away in his sleep, and the ensuing grief led to the end of Minowa's marriage. Rather than crumbling he turned to music, and the eventual appreciation for life that comes out of death and demise is beautifully articulated in Cloud Cult's music. Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus is Minowa's song of himself, a poetic expression of solace and glee among the ruins of unexpected suffering.
As far as its sound is concerned, Cloud Cult combines indie pop, jazzy improvisation, chamber pop, folk, and classic pop. These elements do not surface in every song, but drift in and out of the album, adding to Hippopotamus's celebratory yet elegiac sound. Minowa's voice falls in the tradition of high-pitched screamer/crooners such as Wayne Coyne, Isaac Brock, and Doug Martsch, and like these singers, Minowa emphasizes sincerity over technicality. Lyrically, Minowa deals with the weighty issues, such as the meaning of life, the reality of death, and what happens afterwards. In "What Happens at the End", for example, Minowa warbles, "I am just wondering comes at the end / I hope I meet you again / You'll be a hummingbird / And I'll be your bumblebee / And we'll fall in love in our new skin". Such playful yet profound musings reflect Cloud Cult's two main passions: nature and life. Indeed, even when the topic matter veers towards the somber, the lyrics always include an element of hope. by Michael Franco (found at popmatter.com)
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Worst
36. Kaiser Chiefs – ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ Yours Truly, Angry Mob is the second album by English rock band Kaiser Chiefs. It was released on 23 February 2007 in Belgium and the Netherlands, on 26 February 2007 in the rest of the world and in late March in North America. The album was preceded by the release of lead single "Ruby" on 19 February. It became the band's first (and to date, only) number one album in the British album charts.
Once again produced by Stephen Street, producer of the band's debut album Employment, Yours Truly, Angry Mob is lyrically darker and more socially aware than its predecessor, with tracks dealing with street crime, violence, fame, and the inaccuracy of tabloid articles.
I certainly have seen worse, but I think it made the list just because of the guy who just had to wink at the camera...silly.
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Best
36. Pulp: ‘Different Class’ - When I first saw this, I really questioned the inclusion to even make a 'best of' album cover art list. But when I found that you can find with a different cover, I guess I can accept it (although it would not make my list)
Different Class is an album by English Britpop band Pulp. It was released in 1995 at the height of Britpop, and led to the band being regarded as part of that movement. Two of the singles on the album – "Common People" (which reached number two in the UK singles chart) and "Disco 2000" (which reached number seven) – were especially notable, and helped propel Pulp to nationwide fame. A "deluxe edition" of Different Class was released on 11 September 2006. It contains a second disc of B-sides, demos and rarities.
The album was the winner of the 1996 Mercury Music Prize. In 1998 Q readers voted Different Class the 37th greatest album of all time; a repeat poll in 2006 put it at number 85. In 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 46 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2004 it was voted number 70 of Channel 4's 100 greatest albums. The album is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Some versions of the album came with 12 different options for cover art.
Controversial
36. Jimi Hendrix: ‘Electric Ladyland’ This one is a mystery to me. Naked vinyl cover art was a staple in the early 50's and sold many an album- regardless of how bad the music was. But God forbid a black man be pictured with naked white women. It sure caused a controversary, enough so, that the cover had to be changed.
Electric Ladyland is the third and final album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on October 16, 1968 on Reprise Records. Written and produced by Jimi Hendrix, the album is seen as the peak of Hendrix's mastery of the electric guitar, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It is not only the last of his albums released as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but also the last of Hendrix's studio albums to be professionally produced under his own supervision. After Electric Ladyland, Hendrix spent the remaining two years of his life attempting to organize a new band and recording a breadth of new songs.
Released as a double album, Electric Ladyland is a cross-section of Hendrix's wide range of musical talent. It includes samples of several genres and styles of music, including the psychedelia of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" (previously a UK single in the summer of 1967), the bluesy guitar jam "Voodoo Chile", the New Orleans-style rock and roll of "Come On", the epic studio production of "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)", and the political commentary of "House Burning Down". The album also features a cover version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" that was widely praised by many, including Dylan himself, as well as "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", a staple of both radio and guitar repertoire.
alternate cover art
Electric Ladyland was first released in the U.S. in October 1968 and became a massive hit; it was Hendrix's only #1 album. The UK edition reached #5 upon its release amid considerable controversy. A letter Hendrix wrote to Reprise described exactly what he wanted for the cover, but it was mostly ignored. He expressly asked for a colour photo by Linda Eastman of the group sitting with children on a sculpture from Alice in Wonderland in Central Park, NY, even drawing a picture of it for reference. The company instead used a blurred red & yellow photo of his head, taken by Karl Ferris. Track Records had its own art department, which produced a cover depicting of several nude women lounging in front of a black background. The original UK & German CD release from the 1980s features the UK artwork cover, while Allan Douglas' re-master CD issue from 1993 features the front half of it. The U.S. version by Ferris, however, has since become the official cover of Electric Ladyland outside the UK. The company Experience Hendrix, which owns the rights to the album and most of Hendrix's catalogue, has stated that the original UK nudes cover will not be used any longer, since Hendrix himself did not like it; nonetheless Hendrix's own choice, the Eastman photo, is still ignored. A dispute nearly happened with the album's title. In the final stages of production, a studio technician renamed the album "Electric Landlady." The album was almost released under this official title until Hendrix noticed the error, which upset him considerably. Kirsty MacColl later used this alternate title for an album of her own.
In 2005 Q magazine readers voted Electric Ladyland the 38th greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 72. In 2003, Rolling Stone declared it the 54th greatest album of all time. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
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Weird
36. Cloud Cult: 'Advice From The Baby Hippopotamus' Don't know much about the band, in fact, I never heard of them. But they make Gigwise's list at #36. Interesting cover- though not overly weird for me, I have seen much odder images. And with his own two-year old son passing away, my guess is that it may even be his picture that is being used, and that does not qualify as weird for me.
Cloud Cult is the creative brainchild of Craig Minowa and to understand his band's epic ambitions and sound, you have to understand him. Hoping to enlighten people about environmental issues, Minowa began writing and performing songs in the early '90s. During breaks at gigs, he would hand audience members fact sheets about the environment, and, as could be expected in dives, he was often met by a less-than-passionate response. Though a singer concerned about the environment sounds a bit cliché, Minowa's concern was genuine -- he was simultaneously pursuing a degree in environmental science -- and this zeal foreshadowed the intense love for life Minowa would express in future recordings. Obsessed with making an album, he spent a year recording at home, substituting household items for actual instruments because of financial limitations. To Minowa's surprise, the album, titled The Shade Project, drew enough attention to attract several label offers.
This unexpected and modest success led to the formation of Cloud Cult, a band that describes itself as a "not-for-profit, music-centered environmental and philosophical movement". Yes, this all sounds a bit over the top and pretentious, but like U2, Cloud Cult's sound is as vast as its aspirations. This is not only because Minowa has epic visions, but also because his band, which is more of a collective, combines the basic rock lineup with cello, viola, flute, and an assortment of unidentifiable sounds. Adding to this broad palette of instruments is Minowa's life experience, which has recently included unthinkable tragedy. In February of 2002, his two-year-old son passed away in his sleep, and the ensuing grief led to the end of Minowa's marriage. Rather than crumbling he turned to music, and the eventual appreciation for life that comes out of death and demise is beautifully articulated in Cloud Cult's music. Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus is Minowa's song of himself, a poetic expression of solace and glee among the ruins of unexpected suffering.
As far as its sound is concerned, Cloud Cult combines indie pop, jazzy improvisation, chamber pop, folk, and classic pop. These elements do not surface in every song, but drift in and out of the album, adding to Hippopotamus's celebratory yet elegiac sound. Minowa's voice falls in the tradition of high-pitched screamer/crooners such as Wayne Coyne, Isaac Brock, and Doug Martsch, and like these singers, Minowa emphasizes sincerity over technicality. Lyrically, Minowa deals with the weighty issues, such as the meaning of life, the reality of death, and what happens afterwards. In "What Happens at the End", for example, Minowa warbles, "I am just wondering comes at the end / I hope I meet you again / You'll be a hummingbird / And I'll be your bumblebee / And we'll fall in love in our new skin". Such playful yet profound musings reflect Cloud Cult's two main passions: nature and life. Indeed, even when the topic matter veers towards the somber, the lyrics always include an element of hope. by Michael Franco (found at popmatter.com)
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Worst
36. Kaiser Chiefs – ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ Yours Truly, Angry Mob is the second album by English rock band Kaiser Chiefs. It was released on 23 February 2007 in Belgium and the Netherlands, on 26 February 2007 in the rest of the world and in late March in North America. The album was preceded by the release of lead single "Ruby" on 19 February. It became the band's first (and to date, only) number one album in the British album charts.
Once again produced by Stephen Street, producer of the band's debut album Employment, Yours Truly, Angry Mob is lyrically darker and more socially aware than its predecessor, with tracks dealing with street crime, violence, fame, and the inaccuracy of tabloid articles.
I certainly have seen worse, but I think it made the list just because of the guy who just had to wink at the camera...silly.
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Best
36. Pulp: ‘Different Class’ - When I first saw this, I really questioned the inclusion to even make a 'best of' album cover art list. But when I found that you can find with a different cover, I guess I can accept it (although it would not make my list)
Different Class is an album by English Britpop band Pulp. It was released in 1995 at the height of Britpop, and led to the band being regarded as part of that movement. Two of the singles on the album – "Common People" (which reached number two in the UK singles chart) and "Disco 2000" (which reached number seven) – were especially notable, and helped propel Pulp to nationwide fame. A "deluxe edition" of Different Class was released on 11 September 2006. It contains a second disc of B-sides, demos and rarities.
The album was the winner of the 1996 Mercury Music Prize. In 1998 Q readers voted Different Class the 37th greatest album of all time; a repeat poll in 2006 put it at number 85. In 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 46 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2004 it was voted number 70 of Channel 4's 100 greatest albums. The album is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Some versions of the album came with 12 different options for cover art.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Collector's Report
Collector's Report reviews the top selling 45's, LP's, 78's and CD's each week on eBay. The following are the top sellers for the week of September 14 to September 20, 2008.
LP's
1) Cool Struttin' - Sonny Clark - Blue Note 1588 - Mono 1st Printing (M/NM) - $3,750.00
2) Let It Be - Beatles - Canadian Box (Still Sealed) - $3,000.00
3) Cressida - Cressida - Vertigo (NM/M) - $2,200.00
4) Introducing - Brief Encounter - Seventy-Seven Records 77-102 (Still Sealed) - $1,975.00
5) Introducing - Brief Encounter - Seventy-Seven Records 77-102 (NM/NM) - $1,975.00
45's
1) Make a Change/Soul Food - Johnny Rodgers with the Nu Tones - Amon 4619 (M-) - $2,900.00
2) New Years Day (Dia de ano Nuevo)/Two Hearts Beat As One (Dos Corazones Palpitan Como Uno) - U2 - Guatamalan issue promo - Discos de Centroamerica S.A. I-236 (E) - $2,069.59
3) Please Please Me/Ask Me Why - Beatles - Beatles spelled with two T's - VeeJay 498 (VG) - $2,026.00
4) Love Buzz/Big Cheese - Nirvana - Sub Pop - Unnumbered (E/E) - $2,000.00
5) Love Buzz/Big Cheese - Nirvana - Sub Pop (M/M) - 645/1000 - $1,958.00
78's
1) That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley - Sun 209 (M-) - $999.95
2) Kill It Kid/Broke Down Engine Blues - Blind Willie McTell Performing as Barrelhouse Sammy - Atlantic 891 (E+) - $987.77
3)That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley - Sun 209 (E) - $890.00
4) Baby Let's Play House/I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone - Elvis Presley - Sun 217 (VG) - $750.00
5) Junk-Bucket Blues/Harlem's Araby - Get Happy Band - Columbia 14091(M-) - $653.00
SOURCE: Winkscollectibles.com
LP's
1) Cool Struttin' - Sonny Clark - Blue Note 1588 - Mono 1st Printing (M/NM) - $3,750.00
2) Let It Be - Beatles - Canadian Box (Still Sealed) - $3,000.00
3) Cressida - Cressida - Vertigo (NM/M) - $2,200.00
4) Introducing - Brief Encounter - Seventy-Seven Records 77-102 (Still Sealed) - $1,975.00
5) Introducing - Brief Encounter - Seventy-Seven Records 77-102 (NM/NM) - $1,975.00
45's
1) Make a Change/Soul Food - Johnny Rodgers with the Nu Tones - Amon 4619 (M-) - $2,900.00
2) New Years Day (Dia de ano Nuevo)/Two Hearts Beat As One (Dos Corazones Palpitan Como Uno) - U2 - Guatamalan issue promo - Discos de Centroamerica S.A. I-236 (E) - $2,069.59
3) Please Please Me/Ask Me Why - Beatles - Beatles spelled with two T's - VeeJay 498 (VG) - $2,026.00
4) Love Buzz/Big Cheese - Nirvana - Sub Pop - Unnumbered (E/E) - $2,000.00
5) Love Buzz/Big Cheese - Nirvana - Sub Pop (M/M) - 645/1000 - $1,958.00
78's
1) That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley - Sun 209 (M-) - $999.95
2) Kill It Kid/Broke Down Engine Blues - Blind Willie McTell Performing as Barrelhouse Sammy - Atlantic 891 (E+) - $987.77
3)That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley - Sun 209 (E) - $890.00
4) Baby Let's Play House/I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone - Elvis Presley - Sun 217 (VG) - $750.00
5) Junk-Bucket Blues/Harlem's Araby - Get Happy Band - Columbia 14091(M-) - $653.00
SOURCE: Winkscollectibles.com
New Vinyl Releases
As always, a special thank you to my vinyl friend DJ Spyder (http://dj-spyder.blogspot.com) for his usual 'heads up' on new vinyl releases:
9/30/08 RELEASE DATE
Anberlin - New Surrender [2LP]
Ben Folds - Way To Normal [2LP 180 Gram Vinyl Gatefold jacket w/digital download card]
Ben Folds - Way To Normal [Super Deluxe Box Set] [2LP 180 Gram Vinyl includes 2 CD + 1 DVD + Poster in Foil-Stamped Box]
Big Brother & The Holding Company (Janis Joplin) - Big Brother & The Holding Company [LP] (Mono Edition)
Boz Scaggs - Speak Low [2LP]
Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall [2 LP] [180 Gram Vinyl w/ 2 Bonus CDs]
Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty [2LP] Double Gatefold
Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball [2LP] w/ Download Card
Delbert McClinton - Live [LP] 180 Gram Vinyl
Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown [LP] (w/bonus download)
Earth Wind & Fire - Gratitude [2LP]
Innerpartysystem - Innerpartysystem [2 LP]
Jack's Mannequin - Glass Passenger [2 LP]
Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys [LP] (180 Gram RED-Colored Vinyl) (LIMITED EDITION)
John Lennon - Imagine [LP] (180 Gram Vinyl plus poster and postcard) (LIMITED EDITION)
Michael Jackson - Thriller [LP] [Picture Disc]
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition [LP] (180 Gram BLUE Vinyl plus 2 CD's / 1 DVD / Book / Poster in custom Gatefold Media Jacket)
Murs - Murs For President [2 LP] [Red & White Colored Vinyl]
Nikka Costa - Pebble To A Pearl [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl in Gatefold Jacket)
Nina Simone - Remixed & Reimagined [LP]
Paul Kantner / Jefferson Starship - Blows Against The Empire [LP]
Sam Cooke - One Night Stand - Live At The Harlem Square Club [LP] 180 Gram
Sublime - Sublime [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl)
T.I. - Paper Trail [2 LP] (VERY LIMITED)
Trio Of Doom - Trio Of Doom [LP] 180 Gram
We The People - Too Much Noise [LP]
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger [LP]
Polly Scattergood - Nitrogen Pink [10 inch vinyl]
Jack White & Alicia Keys - Another Way To Die (7 Inch) (LIMITED EDITION - Gold Vinyl in special sleeve) (theme to James Bond movie 'Quantum Of Solace')
Madlib - Go! (feat. Guilty Simpson) b/w Gamble On Ya Boy (feat. Defari) (LIMITED EDITION 7'')
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It [7 Inch Box Set]
9/30/08 RELEASE DATE
Anberlin - New Surrender [2LP]
Ben Folds - Way To Normal [2LP 180 Gram Vinyl Gatefold jacket w/digital download card]
Ben Folds - Way To Normal [Super Deluxe Box Set] [2LP 180 Gram Vinyl includes 2 CD + 1 DVD + Poster in Foil-Stamped Box]
Big Brother & The Holding Company (Janis Joplin) - Big Brother & The Holding Company [LP] (Mono Edition)
Boz Scaggs - Speak Low [2LP]
Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall [2 LP] [180 Gram Vinyl w/ 2 Bonus CDs]
Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty [2LP] Double Gatefold
Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball [2LP] w/ Download Card
Delbert McClinton - Live [LP] 180 Gram Vinyl
Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown [LP] (w/bonus download)
Earth Wind & Fire - Gratitude [2LP]
Innerpartysystem - Innerpartysystem [2 LP]
Jack's Mannequin - Glass Passenger [2 LP]
Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys [LP] (180 Gram RED-Colored Vinyl) (LIMITED EDITION)
John Lennon - Imagine [LP] (180 Gram Vinyl plus poster and postcard) (LIMITED EDITION)
Michael Jackson - Thriller [LP] [Picture Disc]
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition [LP] (180 Gram BLUE Vinyl plus 2 CD's / 1 DVD / Book / Poster in custom Gatefold Media Jacket)
Murs - Murs For President [2 LP] [Red & White Colored Vinyl]
Nikka Costa - Pebble To A Pearl [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl in Gatefold Jacket)
Nina Simone - Remixed & Reimagined [LP]
Paul Kantner / Jefferson Starship - Blows Against The Empire [LP]
Sam Cooke - One Night Stand - Live At The Harlem Square Club [LP] 180 Gram
Sublime - Sublime [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl)
T.I. - Paper Trail [2 LP] (VERY LIMITED)
Trio Of Doom - Trio Of Doom [LP] 180 Gram
We The People - Too Much Noise [LP]
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger [LP]
Polly Scattergood - Nitrogen Pink [10 inch vinyl]
Jack White & Alicia Keys - Another Way To Die (7 Inch) (LIMITED EDITION - Gold Vinyl in special sleeve) (theme to James Bond movie 'Quantum Of Solace')
Madlib - Go! (feat. Guilty Simpson) b/w Gamble On Ya Boy (feat. Defari) (LIMITED EDITION 7'')
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It [7 Inch Box Set]
Classic Rock Videos
Again, I just couldn't help myself- yes, it's another Chuck Berry classic, covered by many a band and still being played in bars and nightclubs all around the world.
Album Cover Art
Continuing our look at album cover art, let's look at number 37 of the top 50 most controversial, weirdest, best and worst covers as compiled by Gigwise:
Controversial
37. Black Sabbath: 'Born Again' - Born Again is Black Sabbath's eleventh studio album, released in 1983. The album cover, which featured the image of an infant with horns and vampire fangs, with a purple background, was designed by Steve Joule. He also handwrote the lyrics that appear on the inner bag. The deliberately lurid design was submitted by Joule in a vain attempt to be rejected from this design commission, as he was also retained on a lucrative contract by Ozzy Osbourne's organisation for his sleeve designs. To Joule's horror and surprise, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler approved the image for the album. Gillan and Ward were not present when the decision was made, though they later noted that they hated the finished cover. Gillan reportedly hated the cover so much, that he threw a box of 50 records out a window. Joule reports that he was drunk and high on speed when he drew the finalized designs for the album. The cover is hated by many fans, but also has a cult following (much as the album itself), most notably with Max Cavalera and Glen Benton both stating that it is their favorite album over. Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under also said he likes the artwork, stating; "It's really the birth of the Antichrist in a Pop Art way which is scary of sorts on a few different levels for me."
It was panned by critics at the time of its release, but reached #4 in the UK charts as well as the top 40 in the U.S. and has gained a strong cult following among a number of fans.
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Weird
37. J-Zone: 'Music For Tu Madre' J-Zone is a rapper, producer, and CEO of Old Maid Entertainment. He lives in Queens, New York. J-Zone has enjoyed a large following of underground hip hop aficionados and a sizable European fan base, which continues to grow.
At a young age, he developed and honed his musical abilities by listening to records and playing bass guitar. He later learned the basics of production under the tutelage of DJ Vance Wright (Slick Rick's DJ) in 1994. In 1999, he released Music for Tu Madre, garnering critical acclaim in the hip hop underground, but it was not enough to propel him into the mainstream spotlight. He has since worked with and produced beats for artists such as Biz Markie, Cage, Diversion Tactics, DM & Jemini, High and Mighty, Jehst, Redman, R.A. the Rugged Man, Tame 1, MF Grimm, and Tha Liks.
Usually accompanied by fellow Old Maid Billionaires Huggy, Al-Shid, and Captain Back$lap (J-Zone's more crass, arrogant alter ego), J-Zone's music could be described as somewhat unconventional. He typically uses lots of offbeat samples, which often function as a sort of Greek Chorus. While generally praised for his comedic storytelling, clever punch lines, acerbic wit, and stellar production work, some critics have claimed that his music is crude, juvenile, and misogynistic.
Apparently, this image is the best that they could do for an LP cover. Weird? To me, this belongs in the 'worst' cover section, and probably in the top ten.
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Worst
37. Crosby, Stills & Nash – ‘Live It Up’ Someone was waaayyy too drugged up for this cover. A weinnie roast, but where is the fire? And wouldn't the men on the sticks get toasted too?
1990's LIVE IT UP fully embraces the era's slick production ethos--right from the bombastic opening title track, the album is timely take on CSN's timeless sound. Graham Nash performs the big power rock epics, from the singalong "If Anybody ... . Full Description Had A Heart" to the tender ballad "House Of Broken Dreams." Stephen Stills indulges his Latin-tinged shuffle muse on "Tomboy" and slows things down for the gritty, acoustic 'Haven't We Lost Enough?" Crosby brings his sweet, melodic gift to bear on some of the album's lighter numbers--from the philosophic "Yours and Mine" to the chiming, synth-driven "Arrows." The album's powerful social statement, "After The Dolphin" unites all three, in a vocal blend which instantly harkens back to the group's early classic works, combining masterful musicianship with a stirring message. Producers: Joe Vitale, Stan Johnston, David Crosby, Steven Stills, Graham Nash. The boys also brought in a number of amjor players to help out including: Mike Landau, Roger McGuinn, Peter Frampton (guitar); Bruce Hornsby (accordion, piano); Branford Marsalis (soprano saxophone); Joe Vitale (keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Craig Doerge (keyboards); Leland Sklar, Bob Glaub (bass); Mike Fisher, Michito Sanchez (percussion); Tony Beard (programming); The Williams Family, J.D. Souther (backgound vocals). Too bad they didn't splurge for a top-notch album cover designer.
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Best
37. Motorhead: ‘Ace of Spades’ Ace of Spades is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. Released on November 8, 1980, it peaked at #4 on the UK album charts. It was preceded by the release of the title track "Ace of Spades" as a single on October 27, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #15 in early November.
The album was produced by Vic Maile at his Jackson's Studio in Rickmansworth. This is the first of what would be a series of projects with Maile, and members of the band commented at the time about finding the right producer. Whereas the band had previously had an input at the mixing stage, Maile took sole responsibility here, Clarke explaining that the result was that "you can finally hear everything that's going on". Of the performances, Lemmy claimed that "Vic got me singing instead of just shouting all the time", while Taylor added "and he got me playing more solid".
It was the first of the band's albums to feature a photograph of them on the cover, dressed as cowboys. The 'Arizona desert-style' pictures used on the album sleeve and tour programme were taken during a photosession at a sandpit in Barnet. They were not in a desert and there were no horses. Great cover anyway!
Controversial
37. Black Sabbath: 'Born Again' - Born Again is Black Sabbath's eleventh studio album, released in 1983. The album cover, which featured the image of an infant with horns and vampire fangs, with a purple background, was designed by Steve Joule. He also handwrote the lyrics that appear on the inner bag. The deliberately lurid design was submitted by Joule in a vain attempt to be rejected from this design commission, as he was also retained on a lucrative contract by Ozzy Osbourne's organisation for his sleeve designs. To Joule's horror and surprise, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler approved the image for the album. Gillan and Ward were not present when the decision was made, though they later noted that they hated the finished cover. Gillan reportedly hated the cover so much, that he threw a box of 50 records out a window. Joule reports that he was drunk and high on speed when he drew the finalized designs for the album. The cover is hated by many fans, but also has a cult following (much as the album itself), most notably with Max Cavalera and Glen Benton both stating that it is their favorite album over. Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under also said he likes the artwork, stating; "It's really the birth of the Antichrist in a Pop Art way which is scary of sorts on a few different levels for me."
It was panned by critics at the time of its release, but reached #4 in the UK charts as well as the top 40 in the U.S. and has gained a strong cult following among a number of fans.
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Weird
37. J-Zone: 'Music For Tu Madre' J-Zone is a rapper, producer, and CEO of Old Maid Entertainment. He lives in Queens, New York. J-Zone has enjoyed a large following of underground hip hop aficionados and a sizable European fan base, which continues to grow.
At a young age, he developed and honed his musical abilities by listening to records and playing bass guitar. He later learned the basics of production under the tutelage of DJ Vance Wright (Slick Rick's DJ) in 1994. In 1999, he released Music for Tu Madre, garnering critical acclaim in the hip hop underground, but it was not enough to propel him into the mainstream spotlight. He has since worked with and produced beats for artists such as Biz Markie, Cage, Diversion Tactics, DM & Jemini, High and Mighty, Jehst, Redman, R.A. the Rugged Man, Tame 1, MF Grimm, and Tha Liks.
Usually accompanied by fellow Old Maid Billionaires Huggy, Al-Shid, and Captain Back$lap (J-Zone's more crass, arrogant alter ego), J-Zone's music could be described as somewhat unconventional. He typically uses lots of offbeat samples, which often function as a sort of Greek Chorus. While generally praised for his comedic storytelling, clever punch lines, acerbic wit, and stellar production work, some critics have claimed that his music is crude, juvenile, and misogynistic.
Apparently, this image is the best that they could do for an LP cover. Weird? To me, this belongs in the 'worst' cover section, and probably in the top ten.
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Worst
37. Crosby, Stills & Nash – ‘Live It Up’ Someone was waaayyy too drugged up for this cover. A weinnie roast, but where is the fire? And wouldn't the men on the sticks get toasted too? 1990's LIVE IT UP fully embraces the era's slick production ethos--right from the bombastic opening title track, the album is timely take on CSN's timeless sound. Graham Nash performs the big power rock epics, from the singalong "If Anybody ... . Full Description Had A Heart" to the tender ballad "House Of Broken Dreams." Stephen Stills indulges his Latin-tinged shuffle muse on "Tomboy" and slows things down for the gritty, acoustic 'Haven't We Lost Enough?" Crosby brings his sweet, melodic gift to bear on some of the album's lighter numbers--from the philosophic "Yours and Mine" to the chiming, synth-driven "Arrows." The album's powerful social statement, "After The Dolphin" unites all three, in a vocal blend which instantly harkens back to the group's early classic works, combining masterful musicianship with a stirring message. Producers: Joe Vitale, Stan Johnston, David Crosby, Steven Stills, Graham Nash. The boys also brought in a number of amjor players to help out including: Mike Landau, Roger McGuinn, Peter Frampton (guitar); Bruce Hornsby (accordion, piano); Branford Marsalis (soprano saxophone); Joe Vitale (keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Craig Doerge (keyboards); Leland Sklar, Bob Glaub (bass); Mike Fisher, Michito Sanchez (percussion); Tony Beard (programming); The Williams Family, J.D. Souther (backgound vocals). Too bad they didn't splurge for a top-notch album cover designer.
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Best
37. Motorhead: ‘Ace of Spades’ Ace of Spades is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. Released on November 8, 1980, it peaked at #4 on the UK album charts. It was preceded by the release of the title track "Ace of Spades" as a single on October 27, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #15 in early November.
The album was produced by Vic Maile at his Jackson's Studio in Rickmansworth. This is the first of what would be a series of projects with Maile, and members of the band commented at the time about finding the right producer. Whereas the band had previously had an input at the mixing stage, Maile took sole responsibility here, Clarke explaining that the result was that "you can finally hear everything that's going on". Of the performances, Lemmy claimed that "Vic got me singing instead of just shouting all the time", while Taylor added "and he got me playing more solid".
It was the first of the band's albums to feature a photograph of them on the cover, dressed as cowboys. The 'Arizona desert-style' pictures used on the album sleeve and tour programme were taken during a photosession at a sandpit in Barnet. They were not in a desert and there were no horses. Great cover anyway!
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces Nominees
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced their nine nominees for 2009 induction. Included in the list are first time nominees Metallica, who are in their second year of eligibility, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Jeff Beck, Run-DMC, War and Bobby Womack.
Disco group Chic has been nominated for the fifth time and the Stooges for the seventh, but they're nowhere near the record. Solomon Burke was nominated eleven times before finally being elected.
The announcement of the five acts being inducted will be made in early December and the ceremony will be held April 4, 2009 in Cleveland.
The nominees and the number of times they've been nominated (five will be elected):
Jeff Beck (1)
Chic (5)
Wanda Jackson (2)
Little Anthony & the Imperials (1)
Metallica (1)
Run-DMC (1)
Stooges (7)
War (1)
Bobby Womack (1)
There are some glaring omissions (Neil Sedaka) from the Hall and I am not sure of exactly how they 'vote' but the process should be and needs to be fixed.
Disco group Chic has been nominated for the fifth time and the Stooges for the seventh, but they're nowhere near the record. Solomon Burke was nominated eleven times before finally being elected.
The announcement of the five acts being inducted will be made in early December and the ceremony will be held April 4, 2009 in Cleveland.
The nominees and the number of times they've been nominated (five will be elected):
Jeff Beck (1)
Chic (5)
Wanda Jackson (2)
Little Anthony & the Imperials (1)
Metallica (1)
Run-DMC (1)
Stooges (7)
War (1)
Bobby Womack (1)
There are some glaring omissions (Neil Sedaka) from the Hall and I am not sure of exactly how they 'vote' but the process should be and needs to be fixed.
This Date In Music History- September 22
Birthdays:
Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life") is 52.
Joni James ("Why Don't You Believe Me") turns 78.
Vocalist David Coverdale was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, in 1952.
Birthdays wishes to Joan Jett, born in 1960.
History:
In 1956, Billboard Magazine printed an article which said, "with new experiences to their credit, such as calling in riot squads and with scars such as damaged seats, some arena and stadium officials have turned their thumbs down to Rock and Roll."
The untitled first album by Funkadelic, including the defining track "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic...?," was released in 1969.
In 1958, after receiving special permission from the US Army, Elvis Presley gives one last press conference at the Military Ocean Terminal in Brooklyn. He then joins the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on the USS General Randall for a voyage to the seaport town of Bremerhaven, Germany.
Ten years after parting ways, the Everly Brothers reunited onstage for two concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1983. The event is taped and released as Reunion Concert, an album and home video.
Joe Walsh announced his bid for the U.S. presidency in 1979 (he obviously doesn't win).
The first "Farm Aid" concert was held in 1985 (which raised $10 million for beleaguered farmers and becomes an annual event), in Champaign, Illinois with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, John Fogerty and others.
Grace Slick made her singing debut with San Francisco's Great Society in North Beach, California in 1965.
John Lennon signed a new record deal with Geffen Records in 1980, as he prepared to release Double Fantasy, his first album of new material in six years. David Geffen promised to release the album without even hearing any of the songs.
In 1981, the great songwriter Irving Berlin died in New York at age of 101. His "White Christmas" became one of the most successful singles ever when Bing Crosby recorded it.
In 1999, Bono met the pope at the Vatican. The pope offers his support for Bono's Third World-debt-ending initiative Jubilee 2000. He also steals the U2 singer's sunglasses.
In 2004, the CBS broadcasting network was fined $550,000 by the FCC for airing Janet Jackson's bare nipple during the Super Bowl telecast. Oops.
"Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway in 1964. It was the beginning of a run of 3,242 performances.
"MTV Unplugged" renamed one episode "MTV Plugged," when Bruce Springsteen played an electric set on the show in 1992.
David Bowie began his first U.S. tour with the Spiders From Mars in Cleveland in 1972.
In 1966, the Lovin' Spoonful were awarded a gold record for their fifth US top ten single and first number one hit, "Summer in the City".
Cat Stevens, who now goes by the name of Yusuf Islam, was escorted from a diverted transatlantic flight and refused entry into America by FBI agent in 2004. His name showed up on a US watch list after United Airlines Flight 919 had taken off from London. The flight landed in Maine where Islam, who was traveling with his 21-year-old daughter, was detained and questioned.
Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life") is 52.
Joni James ("Why Don't You Believe Me") turns 78.
Vocalist David Coverdale was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, in 1952.
Birthdays wishes to Joan Jett, born in 1960.
History:
In 1956, Billboard Magazine printed an article which said, "with new experiences to their credit, such as calling in riot squads and with scars such as damaged seats, some arena and stadium officials have turned their thumbs down to Rock and Roll."
The untitled first album by Funkadelic, including the defining track "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic...?," was released in 1969.
In 1958, after receiving special permission from the US Army, Elvis Presley gives one last press conference at the Military Ocean Terminal in Brooklyn. He then joins the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on the USS General Randall for a voyage to the seaport town of Bremerhaven, Germany.
Ten years after parting ways, the Everly Brothers reunited onstage for two concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1983. The event is taped and released as Reunion Concert, an album and home video.
Joe Walsh announced his bid for the U.S. presidency in 1979 (he obviously doesn't win).
The first "Farm Aid" concert was held in 1985 (which raised $10 million for beleaguered farmers and becomes an annual event), in Champaign, Illinois with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, John Fogerty and others.
Grace Slick made her singing debut with San Francisco's Great Society in North Beach, California in 1965.
John Lennon signed a new record deal with Geffen Records in 1980, as he prepared to release Double Fantasy, his first album of new material in six years. David Geffen promised to release the album without even hearing any of the songs.
In 1981, the great songwriter Irving Berlin died in New York at age of 101. His "White Christmas" became one of the most successful singles ever when Bing Crosby recorded it.
In 1999, Bono met the pope at the Vatican. The pope offers his support for Bono's Third World-debt-ending initiative Jubilee 2000. He also steals the U2 singer's sunglasses.
In 2004, the CBS broadcasting network was fined $550,000 by the FCC for airing Janet Jackson's bare nipple during the Super Bowl telecast. Oops.
"Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway in 1964. It was the beginning of a run of 3,242 performances.
"MTV Unplugged" renamed one episode "MTV Plugged," when Bruce Springsteen played an electric set on the show in 1992.
David Bowie began his first U.S. tour with the Spiders From Mars in Cleveland in 1972.
In 1966, the Lovin' Spoonful were awarded a gold record for their fifth US top ten single and first number one hit, "Summer in the City".
Cat Stevens, who now goes by the name of Yusuf Islam, was escorted from a diverted transatlantic flight and refused entry into America by FBI agent in 2004. His name showed up on a US watch list after United Airlines Flight 919 had taken off from London. The flight landed in Maine where Islam, who was traveling with his 21-year-old daughter, was detained and questioned.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Classic Rock Videos
Can't have a classic rock video series without the professor of early rock and roll- Chuck Berry!
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at Gigwise's top 50 controversial, weird, best and worst album covers as compiled by their crack staff. Some I agree with, some are debatable- but they all interesting and certainly worth exploring.
Controversial
38. Guns N Roses: ‘Appetite for Destruction’ MTV originally refused to play any of Guns N Roses videos until they agreed to change the cover of their debut album. The album's original cover, based on the Robert Williams painting "Appetite for Destruction", depicted a robot rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger. After several music retailers refused to stock the album, they compromised and put the controversial cover art inside, replacing it with a cover depicting a cross and skulls of the five band members (designed by Billy White Jr., originally as a tattoo), each skull representing one member of the band: Izzy Stradlin, top skull; Steven Adler, left skull; Axl Rose, center skull; Duff McKagan, right skull; and Slash, bottom skull. The photographs used for the back of the album and liner notes were taken by Robert John.
Guns N' Roses' debut, Appetite for Destruction was a turning point for hard rock in the late '80s -- it was a dirty, dangerous, and mean record in a time when heavy metal meant nothing but a good time. On the surface, Guns N' Roses may appear to celebrate the same things as their peers -- namely, sex, liquor, drugs, and rock & roll -- but there is a nasty edge to their songs, since Axl Rose doesn't see much fun in the urban sprawl of L.A. and its parade of heavy metal thugs, cheap women, booze, and crime. The music is as nasty as the lyrics, wallowing in a bluesy, metallic hard rock borrowed from Aerosmith, AC/DC, and countless faceless hard rock bands of the early '80s. It's a primal, sleazy sound that adds grit to already grim tales. It also makes Rose's misogyny, fear, and anger hard to dismiss as merely an artistic statement; this is music that sounds lived-in. And that's exactly why Appetite for Destruction is such a powerful record -- not only does Rose have fears, but he also is vulnerable, particularly on the power ballad "Sweet Child O' Mine." He also has a talent for conveying the fears and horrors of the decaying inner city, whether it's on the charging "Welcome to the Jungle," the heroin ode "Mr. Brownstone," or "Paradise City," which simply wants out. But as good as Rose's lyrics and screeching vocals are, they wouldn't be nearly as effective without the twin-guitar interplay of Slash and Izzy Stradlin, who spit out riffs and solos better than any band since the Rolling Stones, and that's what makes Appetite for Destruction the best metal record of the late '80s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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Weird
38. Elephant's Memory: 'Elephant's Memory' The sleeve depicts the band in tribal paints superimposed onto an elephant's body. Although chiefly remembered these days for their role as John Lennon's loose and ragged backup band on his Some Time in New York City album from 1972, Elephant's Memory have a bit more to their history than that. Formed in 1967 by drummer Rick Frank and saxophonist and clarinetist Stan Bronstein, who reportedly met on the New York City strip-joint circuit, the group specialized in an eclectic Frank Zappa-like mix of psychedelia, jazz, and acid-tinged rock, and delivered a truly bizarre stage show complete with inflatable stage sets. Their first album, simply called Elephant's Memory, was released in 1969 on Buddah Records, a label more famous for bubblegum pop groups than whacked-out horn bands.
Two tracks from the LP, "Jungle Gym at the Zoo" and "Old Man Willow," found their way onto the Midnight Cowboy movie soundtrack later that year, which gave the group some visibility, but it didn't exactly translate into sales for the debut album. A second LP, 1970's Take It to the Streets, had even less commercial impact. Then came John Lennon and Some Time in New York City, and Elephant's Memory had their moment in the sun. They released a third album, also called Elephant's Memory and featuring David Peel, on Apple Records later that year, then backed up Yoko Ono on 1973's Approximately Infinite Universe. Angels Forever, which turned out to be the group's swan song, appeared in 1974. I never saw this cover before or maybe I did and forgot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worst
38. Rob & Fab – ‘Rob and Fab’: Poor Rob and Fab. They were known as Milli Vanilli- the world's worst lip synch artists, so I guess this name change and the fact that they were really singing on this LP meant that they were talented. Guess not, as the album was a complete failure. Rob & Fab is the lone album by Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan after their disastrous turn as Milli Vanilli, was produced in 1993.
Months after the lip synching scandal, Morvan and Pilatus appeared in a commercial for CareFree Sugarless Gum. The duo begin to lip sync to an opera record. An announcer asks while they are lip synching, "How long does the taste of CareFree Sugarless Gum last?". The record then begins to skip and then the announcer answers, "Until these guys sing for themselves."
During this time the duo moved to Los Angeles, where they released an eponymous album under the name 'Rob & Fab, but despite receiving positive reviews; financial constraints, poor promotion and the scandal surrounding Milli Vanilli's lip-synching allegations led to its failure.
Pilatus served three months jail for assault, vandalism, attempted robbery and spent six months on drug rehabilitation before returning to Germany. A depressed Pilatus eventually died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in Frankfurt on April 2, 1998.
This album was the last performance by Pilatus prior to his fall from grace and eventual death in 1998. Morvan would not release another album until his 2003 solo work, Love Revolution.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best
38. Tangerine Dream: ‘Rubycon’ -The 'Dream' have released many albums, but this is considered among their best. An interesting cover blended in with their signature progressive rock, made this one of their best. The simple idea of a solitary splash in water proved made for a durable image for their classic album cover.
Rubycon is a classic of electronic music and still sounds fresh today. If pieces of it sound familiar, its because three decades of ambient and film music has drawn from early TD's innovative use of electronic voices, sound textures and analog synth rhythems. Remember that TD did not use sequencers to produce their music at this time - they played it pretty much live. It ranges from dark and spooky to grand and etheral and feels more like a classical composition as it moves from theme to theme and through a variety of sound environments. It generally stays melodic or harmonic, mostly through arpeggiation, with only occassional dissonance - they were shooting to be a popular afterall, in contrast to some of their German counterparts. This is one of the classic electronic albumns by which you compare everything else that followed.
Controversial
38. Guns N Roses: ‘Appetite for Destruction’ MTV originally refused to play any of Guns N Roses videos until they agreed to change the cover of their debut album. The album's original cover, based on the Robert Williams painting "Appetite for Destruction", depicted a robot rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger. After several music retailers refused to stock the album, they compromised and put the controversial cover art inside, replacing it with a cover depicting a cross and skulls of the five band members (designed by Billy White Jr., originally as a tattoo), each skull representing one member of the band: Izzy Stradlin, top skull; Steven Adler, left skull; Axl Rose, center skull; Duff McKagan, right skull; and Slash, bottom skull. The photographs used for the back of the album and liner notes were taken by Robert John.
Guns N' Roses' debut, Appetite for Destruction was a turning point for hard rock in the late '80s -- it was a dirty, dangerous, and mean record in a time when heavy metal meant nothing but a good time. On the surface, Guns N' Roses may appear to celebrate the same things as their peers -- namely, sex, liquor, drugs, and rock & roll -- but there is a nasty edge to their songs, since Axl Rose doesn't see much fun in the urban sprawl of L.A. and its parade of heavy metal thugs, cheap women, booze, and crime. The music is as nasty as the lyrics, wallowing in a bluesy, metallic hard rock borrowed from Aerosmith, AC/DC, and countless faceless hard rock bands of the early '80s. It's a primal, sleazy sound that adds grit to already grim tales. It also makes Rose's misogyny, fear, and anger hard to dismiss as merely an artistic statement; this is music that sounds lived-in. And that's exactly why Appetite for Destruction is such a powerful record -- not only does Rose have fears, but he also is vulnerable, particularly on the power ballad "Sweet Child O' Mine." He also has a talent for conveying the fears and horrors of the decaying inner city, whether it's on the charging "Welcome to the Jungle," the heroin ode "Mr. Brownstone," or "Paradise City," which simply wants out. But as good as Rose's lyrics and screeching vocals are, they wouldn't be nearly as effective without the twin-guitar interplay of Slash and Izzy Stradlin, who spit out riffs and solos better than any band since the Rolling Stones, and that's what makes Appetite for Destruction the best metal record of the late '80s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weird
38. Elephant's Memory: 'Elephant's Memory' The sleeve depicts the band in tribal paints superimposed onto an elephant's body. Although chiefly remembered these days for their role as John Lennon's loose and ragged backup band on his Some Time in New York City album from 1972, Elephant's Memory have a bit more to their history than that. Formed in 1967 by drummer Rick Frank and saxophonist and clarinetist Stan Bronstein, who reportedly met on the New York City strip-joint circuit, the group specialized in an eclectic Frank Zappa-like mix of psychedelia, jazz, and acid-tinged rock, and delivered a truly bizarre stage show complete with inflatable stage sets. Their first album, simply called Elephant's Memory, was released in 1969 on Buddah Records, a label more famous for bubblegum pop groups than whacked-out horn bands.
Two tracks from the LP, "Jungle Gym at the Zoo" and "Old Man Willow," found their way onto the Midnight Cowboy movie soundtrack later that year, which gave the group some visibility, but it didn't exactly translate into sales for the debut album. A second LP, 1970's Take It to the Streets, had even less commercial impact. Then came John Lennon and Some Time in New York City, and Elephant's Memory had their moment in the sun. They released a third album, also called Elephant's Memory and featuring David Peel, on Apple Records later that year, then backed up Yoko Ono on 1973's Approximately Infinite Universe. Angels Forever, which turned out to be the group's swan song, appeared in 1974. I never saw this cover before or maybe I did and forgot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worst
38. Rob & Fab – ‘Rob and Fab’: Poor Rob and Fab. They were known as Milli Vanilli- the world's worst lip synch artists, so I guess this name change and the fact that they were really singing on this LP meant that they were talented. Guess not, as the album was a complete failure. Rob & Fab is the lone album by Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan after their disastrous turn as Milli Vanilli, was produced in 1993.
Months after the lip synching scandal, Morvan and Pilatus appeared in a commercial for CareFree Sugarless Gum. The duo begin to lip sync to an opera record. An announcer asks while they are lip synching, "How long does the taste of CareFree Sugarless Gum last?". The record then begins to skip and then the announcer answers, "Until these guys sing for themselves."
During this time the duo moved to Los Angeles, where they released an eponymous album under the name 'Rob & Fab, but despite receiving positive reviews; financial constraints, poor promotion and the scandal surrounding Milli Vanilli's lip-synching allegations led to its failure.
Pilatus served three months jail for assault, vandalism, attempted robbery and spent six months on drug rehabilitation before returning to Germany. A depressed Pilatus eventually died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in Frankfurt on April 2, 1998.
This album was the last performance by Pilatus prior to his fall from grace and eventual death in 1998. Morvan would not release another album until his 2003 solo work, Love Revolution.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best
38. Tangerine Dream: ‘Rubycon’ -The 'Dream' have released many albums, but this is considered among their best. An interesting cover blended in with their signature progressive rock, made this one of their best. The simple idea of a solitary splash in water proved made for a durable image for their classic album cover.
Rubycon is a classic of electronic music and still sounds fresh today. If pieces of it sound familiar, its because three decades of ambient and film music has drawn from early TD's innovative use of electronic voices, sound textures and analog synth rhythems. Remember that TD did not use sequencers to produce their music at this time - they played it pretty much live. It ranges from dark and spooky to grand and etheral and feels more like a classical composition as it moves from theme to theme and through a variety of sound environments. It generally stays melodic or harmonic, mostly through arpeggiation, with only occassional dissonance - they were shooting to be a popular afterall, in contrast to some of their German counterparts. This is one of the classic electronic albumns by which you compare everything else that followed.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hall of Fame Member Earl Palmer Dies at 84
He was the man who put the backbeat Tutti Frutti, You've Lost That Loving Feeling and River Deep, Mountain High. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Earl Palmer passed away on Friday at the age of 84.
Palmer grew up in a vaudeville family and was tap dancing by the age of four. The rhythms got him interested in drums and he readily mastered the instrument, starting with BeBop Jazz and eventually gravitating toward blues and R&B.
His first professional gig started in 1947 when he joined Dave Bartholomew's band, which led to a long term association with Fats Domino starting with his 1950 hit The Fat Man. Palmer's use of backbeat throughout the entire record was one of the basis for the Rock and Roll sound. Palmer once said, "That song required a strong afterbeat throughout the whole piece. With Dixieland you had a strong afterbeat only after you got to the shout last chorus. ... It was sort of a new approach to rhythm music."
Palmer was the main drummer at Cosimo Matassa's recording studio in New Orleans for much of the 50's, playing on records like Tutti Frutti for Little Richard, I Hear You Knocking by Smiley Lewis and Lawdy Miss Clawdy for Lloyd Price, but in 1957 he received an offer from Los Angeles' Aladdin Records and he tried his fortunes in the west.
In L.A., Palmer became a highly respected session drummer working with everyone from Phil Spector to Frank Sinatra to B.B. King. He also was used extensively as a session drummer for movies and TV.
Palmer also tried his hand at recording under his own name. Although sales were not great, he released a number of albums, including Drumsville (1961) and Percolator Twist (1962).
A biography, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, by Tony Scherman, was released in 1999 and, in 2000, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Among the thousands of recordings graced with the drums of Earl Palmer:
The Fat Man (Fats Domino)
Tipitina (Professor Longhair)
Tutti Frutti (Little Richard)
Blueberry Hill (Fats Domino)
Long Tall Sally (Little Richard)
I'm Walkin' (Fats Domino)
Lucille (Little Richard)
Chicken Shack Boogie (Amos Milburn)
Rockin' Robin (Bobby Day)
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens)
Little Bitty Pretty One (Thurston Harris)
You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
Sinatra and Swingin' Brass (Frank Sinatra)
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena (Jan & Dean)
You've Lost That Loving Feeling (Righteous Brothers)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike and Tina Turner)
People Like Us (Mamas & the Papas)
Theme From Mission Impossible (Lalo Schifrin)
Birds, the Bees and the Monkees (Monkees)
Express Yourself (Charles Wright & the 103rd Street Rhythm Band)
Stoney End (Barbara Streisand)
L.A. Midnight (B.B. King)
Sail Away (Randy Newman)
Blue Valentine (Tom Waits)
King of America (Elvis Costello)
SOURCE: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com
Palmer grew up in a vaudeville family and was tap dancing by the age of four. The rhythms got him interested in drums and he readily mastered the instrument, starting with BeBop Jazz and eventually gravitating toward blues and R&B.
His first professional gig started in 1947 when he joined Dave Bartholomew's band, which led to a long term association with Fats Domino starting with his 1950 hit The Fat Man. Palmer's use of backbeat throughout the entire record was one of the basis for the Rock and Roll sound. Palmer once said, "That song required a strong afterbeat throughout the whole piece. With Dixieland you had a strong afterbeat only after you got to the shout last chorus. ... It was sort of a new approach to rhythm music."
Palmer was the main drummer at Cosimo Matassa's recording studio in New Orleans for much of the 50's, playing on records like Tutti Frutti for Little Richard, I Hear You Knocking by Smiley Lewis and Lawdy Miss Clawdy for Lloyd Price, but in 1957 he received an offer from Los Angeles' Aladdin Records and he tried his fortunes in the west.
In L.A., Palmer became a highly respected session drummer working with everyone from Phil Spector to Frank Sinatra to B.B. King. He also was used extensively as a session drummer for movies and TV.
Palmer also tried his hand at recording under his own name. Although sales were not great, he released a number of albums, including Drumsville (1961) and Percolator Twist (1962).
A biography, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, by Tony Scherman, was released in 1999 and, in 2000, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Among the thousands of recordings graced with the drums of Earl Palmer:
The Fat Man (Fats Domino)
Tipitina (Professor Longhair)
Tutti Frutti (Little Richard)
Blueberry Hill (Fats Domino)
Long Tall Sally (Little Richard)
I'm Walkin' (Fats Domino)
Lucille (Little Richard)
Chicken Shack Boogie (Amos Milburn)
Rockin' Robin (Bobby Day)
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens)
Little Bitty Pretty One (Thurston Harris)
You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
Sinatra and Swingin' Brass (Frank Sinatra)
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena (Jan & Dean)
You've Lost That Loving Feeling (Righteous Brothers)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike and Tina Turner)
People Like Us (Mamas & the Papas)
Theme From Mission Impossible (Lalo Schifrin)
Birds, the Bees and the Monkees (Monkees)
Express Yourself (Charles Wright & the 103rd Street Rhythm Band)
Stoney End (Barbara Streisand)
L.A. Midnight (B.B. King)
Sail Away (Randy Newman)
Blue Valentine (Tom Waits)
King of America (Elvis Costello)
SOURCE: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com
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