Reunion Tours

Phish Reunion Tour Taking Shape


Although an official announcement has been made, Phish's first tour in five years is beginning to look like a reality.

LiveNation.com was listing a Jan. 30 on sale date for a Phish show on June 18 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion outside Pittsburgh, which coincides nicely alongside rumors of Phish making an appearance at the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, Tenn., the previous weekend. The link has since been removed.

Meanwhile, a June 6 show at Great Woods outside Boston is up on Ticketsnow.com, a secondary ticketing company owned by Ticketmaster, but for now, the only confirmed Phish shows are March 6-8 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. This will be the band's first shows since August 2004.

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Genesis Again?


Peter Gabriel has stated that he has "no real objection" to a reunion with Genesis. He claimed he didn't participate in the 2007 tour because he was busy with his own projects. Could this mean a Genesis reunion?

Cover Art Stories

As always, I thank Michael Goldstein over at www.RockPoPGallery.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.


Cover Story - Elvis Presley - "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong", artwork by Bob Jones

Cover Story for August 17, 2007


Subject – 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2 – a 1959 recording by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records and featuring design and art direction by Bob Jones.


With the marking this week of the 30th anniversary of the untimely death of Elvis Presley, this week’s Cover Story will be presented in a slightly different format, with the details behind the making of this iconic record cover coming from a variety of different sources, most notably the descriptive literature produced along with a series of lithographs produced in the early 1990s by a now-defunct publisher called “Record Art”.

Released just prior to Elvis’ return from his stint in the Army, this record was the first “Greatest Hits, Volume 2” rock & roll compilation (with his first Greatest Hits album coming out in early 1958, just before he entered into his military service) and consisted of all five of his Top 5 singles released in ’58-’59 (both “A” and “B” sides). His records sold so well that even the “B” sides charted in the Top 40!

Included in the compilation were a number of songs that showed just how mature a performer he had become while still being able to rock the socks off his competition. All the more impressive was the fact that these songs were recorded while Elvis was in the Army (when the set was re-released in the late 1990’s, the re-mastered recordings improved the sound dramatically), so you’d think that he’d have been slightly distracted, but cuts such as “I Need Your Love Tonight” and “A Big Hunk of Love” proved that he’d be even more formidable once he was out of the Army and back in the studio.

According to Bob Jones, who served as art director for RCA Records for this (and many other) recordings – “To the best of my knowledge, Elvis was indifferent to his image and to the graphics on his covers…the overwhelming number of Elvis Presley’s album covers were produced according to a formula – a large color photo of his head; a bold, horsey hand-lettered ELVIS, a title and the repertoire. During my brief and infrequent visits with him, the subject of covers never came up. It was just another matter of business that The Colonel (Tom Parker) took care of.

For several years during his career, the sales of Presley product accounted for well over 20% of all of RCA Victor Records’ gross income. At the time, RCA had at least one hundred contract recording artists on the label, and my department was producing over 400 LP and 45EP covers each year. The “man behind the man” was Colonel Thomas A. Parker, and he was a far more interesting and complex character than his artist. As the music and motion picture industry knew, he was an aggressively shrewd and calculating man. He sensed from the beginning that Elvis was “product”. The Colonel was a master of promotion, merchandising and exploitation.

Of the more than 70 combined LP and 45EP covers I was responsible for, the only departure from the Parker formula was the 50,000,000 Elvis Fans cover. My final stab at trying to bring a fresh look to Presley’s covers came when I took samples of some big name illustrators to the Colonel in L.A. I took portraits by Bob Fawcett, Austin Briggs, Al Parker, Victor Kalin and even young Andy Warhol. I had hardly started my pitch when it was brought to a screeching halt. ‘Damn it, I’ve told you I don’t want any of your artistic stuff!’ However, The Colonel had been unable to come up with a single gimmick to promote the album. He then gave me a picture of Elvis in a gold lame suit and told me to come up with something.

While Tom and Harry Jenkins – the RCA V.P. – started discussing merchandising schemes, I started making a few thumbnail sketches for a cover. The Colonel looked over to me and asked to look at what I had been doing. With barely a glance at the sketches, he chose the one with the full figure surrounded by the six or eight smaller ones. He said ‘That’s it, but I want at least a couple of dozen of the little pictures in there’. I later sent him a mechanical and he approved the image with less than two dozen figures (ed. note – there are 16 pictures of Elvis on the record cover).

The album sold well over $1,000,000 worth of product. The Colonel loved that gold lame suit. He kept it in one of his closets in his home for years. Elvis Presley hated the damned suit from the first time he put it on…”

The now-famous cover photo montage of multiple Elvises (or would that be Elvi?) dressed in his gold lame’ “Nudie Suit” – as well as the record’s title - has inspired many knock-offs record packages, including (in descending order) Bon Jovi’s 100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong, 1,000,000 People Can’t Be Wrong by Blues Traveler, 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong by The Fall, and Phil Och’s 50 Phil Ochs Fans Can’t Be Wrong!.

About the artist - Bob Jones -

Bob Jones – Art Director, RCA Records – won a Grammy Award in 1965 for “Best Album Cover, Photography” for Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, an RCA recording featuring a shot by photographer Ken Whitmore. Other credits include covers for Hall & Oates (Rock ‘n Soul: Part 1 – Greatest Hits) and many other RCA artists. He is considered one of the early pioneers of LP/45 cover design, working at various points with other classic cover artists such as Jim Flora and Alex Steinweiss.

To see more of the Bob Jones lithograph that is available for sale at the RockPoP Gallery, please follow this link –

http://rockpopgallery.easystorecreator.com/items/gifts~50~100/elvis-presley-50-million-elvis-fans-ltd-edition-s-n-litho-print-lep-vggh1-detail.htm

Interview tex Copyright 1991 - Record Art

All other text Copyright 2007 - Mike Goldstein & RockPoP Gallery - All rights reserved.

“Elvis” and “Elvis Presley” are Registered Trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.

Classic Rock Videos

Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson

Rock & Roll Tidbits

Set to Ronald White's tune, Smokey Robinson was inspired by his wife Claudette to write the lyrics to one of music history's greatest love songs, "My Girl". Smokey's personal problems lead to their divorce in 1986.

From clay tablets and other forms of pictures, historians have determined that stringed musical instruments were developed in ancient Egypt and Rome over 3,300 years ago. The first six string guitar, called a vihuela, was developed in Spain in the 17th century.

In February 1949, after RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm phonograph, they put together a promo package of seven 45s that were sent to US disc jockeys and retailers. The records were color coded for classification of music. Popular - Black; Classical - Red; Popular Classical - Midnight blue; Children's - Yellow; Country and Western - Green; Rhythm And Blues - Cerise; International - Sky blue.

John Fogarty's comeback album, 1985's "Centerfield", included a couple of songs titled "Zantz Can't Dance" and "Mr. Greed", which were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, which forced Fogerty to issue a revised version of "Zaentz Can't Dance", changing the lead character's name to Vanz.

The Knack's lead vocalist, Doug Fieger, is the older brother of famed attorney Jeffrey Fieger, who defended doctor-assisted suicide advocate, Dr. Jack Kervorkian.

Three Dog Night's 1972, #1 hit "Black And White" was written in the mid-1950s about the 1954 US Supreme Court's landmark decision banning segregation in public schools. Some of the verses were changed in the Three Dog Night version. The original second verse went "Their robes were black, Their heads were white, The schoolhouse doors were closed so tight. Nine judges all set down their names, To end the years and years of shame".

Diane Renay, who was born Renne Diane Kushner, initially wanted to be billed as Renay Diane. She chose the "Renay" spelling to keep it from being mis-pronounced as "Ree-nee". Unfortunately, Atco Records misunderstood and printed early copies of her first recordings that said "Diane Renay". Rather than make an issue out of it, she decided to leave it that way. The record, "Navy Blue", went on to reach #6 in the US in 1964.

Joey Scarbury, who reached #2 on the Billboard chart with "Believe It Or Not" in 1981, was discovered by singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb's father, who wandered into a furniture store and heard the 14 year old's mom praising her son's singing ability. His initial recordings were not successful and it took another 12 years for Joey to have his big hit. Although he never cracked the Top 40 again, he did record the soundtracks for ER, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Fahrenheit 9/11.

By 1968, around eighty-five different manufacturers had sold over 2.4 million cassette players world wide and in that year alone, the cassette business was worth about $150 million.

This Date In Music History-January 8

Birthdays:

In 1935, Elvis Aron Presley was born to Gladys and Vernon Presley in a two-room cabin on North Saltillo Road in East Tupelo, Mississippi.

David Robert Jones, a.k.a. David Bowie, was born in Brixton, London in 1947.

"Little" Anthony Gourdine is 68.

Shirley Bassey ("Goldfinger") turns 72.

Robby Krieger (The Doors) 1946

Terry Sylvester (Hollies) 1947

The Donnas’ drummer Torry Castellano (Donna C.) and bassist Maya Ford (Donna F.) are born in 1979.

Mike Reno (Loverboy) 1955


They Are Missed:

Bill Graham was born in Berlin, Germany in 1931 (died October, 1991).

Sara Carter, of the famed Carter Family of country singers, died in 1979 (age 79).

Steve Clark, guitarist for Def Leppard, died in 1991 from an accidental mixing of prescription drugs and alcohol at the age of 31.

Laura Webb of The Bobbettes died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 57. The R&B quintet scored a Billboard #6 hit with "Mr. Lee" in 1957.


History:


In 2004, on what would have been Elvis Presley's 69th birthday, it's announced that he's the biggest selling solo artist in American history. His label RCA says Presley has sold 117.5 million albums to date.

"Elvis Presley Day" was declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia in 1981.

An Elvis Presley stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1993 and became its best-seller to this day, with over 500 million sold.

1955- Elvis Presley celebrates his twentieth birthday by performing his weekly spot on the KWKH radio show, Louisiana Hayride.

In 2007, officials from the National Archives announced that their most requested document is a photo of a cloaked and bejeweled Elvis Presley shaking hands with President Nixon at The White House on December 21st, 1970.

Nirvana’s last U.S. show was a hometown gig at the Seattle Center Arena in 1994.

The Canadian government names Rush the country’s “Ambassadors of Music” in 1979. Whatever happened to the Guess Who?

Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut achieved multi-platinum status in 1988.

The Who and the Kinks performed on the last "Shindig" show on ABC-TV in 1966.

The TV dance show "Hullabaloo" debuted on NBC in 1965.

In 1974, KISS gave a special dress rehearsal after being signed to Casablanca Records. It was their first recording contract.

Yoko Ono released Approximately Infinite Universe in 1973, a double album whose highlights included songs like "I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window." Ono explained she felt she should make a double LP because "if George Harrison can put out a triple album, then I can put out a double album." Uh, Yoko, you are no George Harrison.

Tickets for three Led Zeppelin concerts at Madison Square Garden went on sale in 1975. The box office had to call on other ticket outlets to help cope with demand and sold out their 60,000 tickets in four hours.

The Beatles started a six week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1966 with "Rubber Soul", the group's seventh US chart topper.

Queen went to #1 on the UK album chart in 1977 with "Day At The Races.” The album title was taken from 1937 Marx Brothers movie.

Lou Christie recorded the original, uncensored version of "Rhapsody In The Rain,” in 1966.

Music News & Notes

Uh, No Thank You Queenie


The Beatles were honored with the MBE (Member of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965. Four years later, John Lennon returned his medal to Buckingham Palace in protest of a number of issues as outlined in the note that was attached to the award.

"Your Majesty,

"I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts.

"With Love, John Lennon."

About 40 years have past since the return of the medal, but it has recently been found by officials at St. James Palace in London. Included in the find was the infamous letter.

St. James Palace officials have contacted Yoko Ono to ask about disposition of the find. A palace spokesperson said:

"John Lennon's MBE is being taken good care of and is in storage at the Central Chancery. It has been retained since the day Mr Lennon returned it, but in order to decide whether the medal could go on display in a museum, we would have to establish ownership first. It could be up to Yoko Ono as she is the custodian of John Lennon's estate."

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Zeppelin To Carry On without Plant

According to the manager for Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin are planning to tour and record a new album, without vocalist Robert Plant.


Although Plant remains on good terms with his former band-mates, he confirmed that he is not interested in the reunion. So Page’s manager Peter Mensch has stated that the band would indeed carry on-if they can find the right singer.

“Jimmy Page has been playing guitar professionally since he was 16 years old,” said Mensch. “Jimmy likes being a musician. That’s what he does! He doesn’t want to be a race car driver or a solicitor.”

“So they (Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham) did the show (at London’s O2 Arena in 2007) with Robert Plant; they had a really good time rehearsing, the three of them, before Robert showed up. And they decided that if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill- whatever their bill was at this stage in their career-that they’d make a record and go on tour,” explained Mensch.

“John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page enjoy playing with each other, Jason Bonham is a really good drummer so why not? We just need to find a singer,” he said.

Rumors have swirled as to who the next singer will be, from Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, but Mensch has remained tight-lipped as to who the replacement singer may be.

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New Aerosmith Material?

According to information on Aerosmith’s official website, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton are hard at work on some new music.

“Happy New Year!” the post reads. “Today is the first day Tom and I are getting back together. We just rehearsed for 2 hours and it feels so good. We can’t wait to get back into the studio and get back out on the road and to do what we do best. We’ll check in from time to time and give you progress on how things are going.”

If they do record a new album, it would be the band’s first original material since “Just Push Play” in 2001.

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Happy Birthday!

On January 12, legendary Country artist Ray Price will celebrate his 83rd birthday with all his fans at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage, Texas.

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Frehley Solo Project

KISS veteran Ace Frehley is naming his new solo album “Anomaly.” It will be his first release in more than 18 years and includes songs that he has been writing and collecting over the past twelve.

Stooges Guitarist Asheton Dies

Seminal punk rockers, The Stooges, lost a valued member of the band when Ron Asheton was found dead on Tuesday. The influential guitarist was found at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan and appeared to have been dead for several days. The Ann Arbor police do not suspect foul play in the 60 year-old rocker’s death.

Along with his brother, Scott (drummer), the pair were the founding members of the Iggy Pop-lead Stooges. The band was known for their often violent and primitive style that featured over-the-top theatrics by Pop. The band partied hard and played hard and backed by Asheton’s legendary guitar riffs, their music has been credited as a powerful influence on many punk bands; including the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. In fact, Asheton is ranked as the 29th greatest guitar player by Rolling Stone Magazine.

The Stooges broke up in 1974 after just three albums and limited commercial success. They were also limited by the antics and drug problems of Pop. Their concerts were legendary and Pop’s outlandish behavior only fueled audience behavior. Pop would force himself to vomit, jump chest-first into broken glass and on one occasion told the audience to beat him up and they obliged.

After the Stooges broke up, Asheton tried to break into acting and was cast in several low-budget horror films in the 1980s and 1990s. He rejoined the Stooges when the group reformed in 2003 and for the 2007 album “The Weirdness.” Asheton loved his music and had no intention of laying his guitar to rest.

“You’re a professional musician,” he explained. “You can’t be forced to retire. Look at B.B. King, what is he 80-something? That’s the beauty of being a musician. They can’t take it away from you. It’s your music, and you’re pumping it out. You just play ‘til you drop.”

Classic Rock Videos

Simon & Garfunkel- sound of silence

Rock & Roll Tidbits

When "Monster Mash" first started to get air-play in 1962, Bobby "Boris" Pickett was working part time as a cab driver. The song has since become an annual favorite, reaching the Billboard Top 10 in '62 and '73, earning three gold records and selling an estimated four million copies. Bobby has said that royalties from the record have "paid the rent for 43 years". Not bad for a song that took a half hour to write and another half hour to record and was intended to be a bit of fun to be shared only among family and friends.

The Who's album "Tommy" spent over two years on the US chart, but in their home country, the UK, it lasted only nine weeks.

After Elvis Presley began his meteoric rise to fame in 1956, his father Vernon said to him, "What happened El? The last thing I remember is I was working in a can factory and you were driving a truck."

Peter Cetera wrote "If You Leave Me Now" about a faltering relationship. Although the song proved to be Chicago's biggest selling record, it didn't help save the union, as the woman involved ended up leaving anyway.

CCR's John Fogerty had a notebook in which he jotted down words and names that he thought would make good song titles. At the top of his list was "Proud Mary", a phrase that brought images of a domestic washerwoman to John's mind. When he got around to putting it to music, the first few chords he used reminded him of a paddle-wheel going around. Instead of Proud Mary being a clean-up lady, she became a boat.

Lesley Gore's first album was called "I'll Cry If I Want To" which consisted of songs completely devoted to crying.

"Mack The Knife" was written for the 1928 German play The Threepenny Opera, in which "Mack" is Mackie Messer (Macheath), an amoral, anti-heroic criminal. Although it suffered an initially poor reception, the show went on to run 400 times in the next two years. It was translated into English in 1933 and since that time, at least seven productions have been mounted in New York, on and off Broadway.

It has often been rumored that Billy Joel played piano on The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack", but this has been denied by one of the song's co-writers, Ellie Greenwich.

The original version of "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen cost just $36 to record, but sold over 12 million copies.

In the 1950s, Paul McCartney's father lead a combo called Jim Mac's Jazz Band, where he played piano and trumpet. When he was a boy, Paul said that someday he hoped to be as good as his dad.

How to tell if your Beatles records are authentic

Found this interesting and thought to pass it along. while I was visiting the site (vinyl blast records), I noticed what a great selection they have, it is worth checking out!

I have also found these two sites very helpful when trying to figure out what kind of Beatles record I have:

http://www.jpgr.co.uk/i_vinyl.html

how-to-spot-fake-beatles-discs

Additional, we have own own Beatles expert in the Vinyl village forum. He is a Brit and really knows it stuff! Vinyl Village

How to tell if your Beatles records are authentic

Did you know that many, or most of the 1960's Beatles memorablilia are either reproductions or counterfeits? Well, unfortunately, they are. Here are the reasons why. The Beatles had a short span of years when almost everything sold had a Beatles theme on them. Bubble bath, sneakers, clothing, jewelry, posters, just to name a few. Even after the Beatles broke up, their authentic collectables were bought and sold by dealers. But after only a few years of Beatlesfests, all of the authentic items were gone. They had all been either purchased by fans, or were held onto by collectors who knew that they would be worth a lot of money in the future. So to quench the thirst for so many fans still wanting to pay top dollar for Beatles memorabilia, reproductions were made. Even after 40 years since the Beatles had their fame, fans are still paying top dollar for Beatles items. This led to the production of counterfeit items. Rulers, guitar picks, marbles, a 78 rpm record-listed but pulled off eBay, and many more items never even existed in the 60's. Much of what you see advertised as "Authentic Beatles NEMS, or Seltaeb (Beatles spelled backwards) dated 1964 and copy written," were produced in the early 90's in China. Made to closely resemble the originals, they are not exact matches. Authentic plastic guitar pins have a picture inserted into the body of the guitar, and a flat, round piece of clear plastic covering it. The fakes have blurry pictures not placed into the body of the guitar, but rather raised up using a clear plastic lens. On the neck of the fakes will read NEMS, while the original never had that marking. "A beatles brooch attached to original card that reads NEMS 1964", has a round pendant and a picture of Paul smiling. The original is a heart shaped pendant with a picture of Paul not smiling, but his eyes are looking upwards. Type Beatles into search on eBay and you will get over 20,000 items for sale. Many are authentic collectables made in the years that the Beatles were no longer a group, such as McFarlane Yellow Submarine action figures, or Franklin Mint musical domes. Nothing wrong with that, as they are listed truthfully. But when someone buys a blank disk go case for $5.00 and puts a 5 cent decal on it, and lists it as an "Authentic 1960's Beatles disk go case, there is definately something wrong with that!

You may ask what can a buyer do to not get ripped off when buying 1960's Beatles memorabilia. These are my recommendations. First, type the item name into search. If you find numerous items of that same nature, beware. Use common sense. Would any seller really list an authentic 1960's Beatles movie lobby card, jewelry, set of uncut trading cards, used/unused Beatles concert ticket, autographs, poster, pins, buttons, badges, clothing, hairspray, sneakers, lunchboxes, notebooks, bobbleheads, concert memorabilia, T shirts, sweat shirts, programs, flight bags, flicker pins, flicker rings, on and on for a no reserve $9.99 starting price auction? I doubt it.

TIPS

Check the seller's previous transactions. If that seller has sold many pieces of the same supposed 1960s Beatles item, they are probably fake. How could 1 person get so many of these extremely rare items. If the seller buys blank disk go cases and sells real 60's Beatles disk go cases-probably fake. If a seller has an abundance of different "Authentic NEMS or Seltaeb 1960's Beatles items", probably fake. If a seller has an "Authentic autograph with Certificate of Authenticity" and is selling it for less than $1000.00's- probably fake. One seller got caught selling fake original Beatles concert posters. His defense? "They are original, I created them!"

Visit Beatles websites. Search for Beatles items through the internet. Look at the prices that these authentic original 1960's Beatles memorabilia collectables cost. Then ask yourself, "Why would someone list a $10,000 piece of Beatles historical item for $50.00?" By now I think you know the answer.

In conclusion, there are very few original authentic 1960's Beatles collectables available. To obtain one, expect to pay $100.00's to $1,000's and up. Otherwise you are putting your hard earned money into some devious seller's pockets, and obtaining a ten cent piece of junk.

SOURCE: http://vinylblastrecords.goods.officelive.com/

New Vinyl Releases

Alkaline Trio/Hot Water Music: Alkaline Trio/Hot Water Music EP (vinyl reissue)

Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (vinyl)

Denison Witmer: Carry the Weight (vinyl)

The Ecclesia: Birdsong Over the Interior Castle (vinyl reissue)

Fireman: Electric Arguments (vinyl)

Hacienda: Loud Is the Night (vinyl)

Joy Division: In the Studio with Martin Hannett (import vinyl)

King Khan & BBQ Show: Animal Party 7" (vinyl)

Pole: Alles Gute (vinyl)

Starflyer 59: Dial M (vinyl)

Wroom: North of Forty-Five (vinyl)

SOURCE: http://blog.largeheartedboy.com/

Fleet Foxes win album artwork prize

Roots Manuva and Coldplay beaten to the Best Art Vinyl award

Fleet Foxes have claimed the Best Art Vinyl Award 2008 for the front cover of their self-titled album.


The album cover, which features a segment of Pieter Bruegel's painting 'Netherlandish Proverbs', was voted the winner of the annual award, organised by the Artvinyl.com who manufacture frames to display old records in.

Roots Manuva's 'Slime And Reason' came second, while Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' came third in the poll.

The album covers that came in the upper echelons of the chart after the public had voted will be on display at the London Rough Trade East store in London throughout January.

The Top Ten album covers in the Best Art Vinyl rundown were:

1. Fleet Foxes – 'Fleet Foxes'
2. Roots Manuva – 'Slime And Reason'
3. Coldplay – 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends'
4. Goldfrapp - 'Seventh Tree'
5. Elbow – 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
6. Metallica – 'Death Magnetic'
7. Bloc Party – 'Intimacy'
8. Low Motion Disco – 'Keep It Slow'
9. Santogold – 'Santogold'
10. Zombie Zombie – 'Dog Walker'

SOURCE: http://www.nme.com

Music News & Notes

Give It Up Jacko

In the rumor mill, a "source" close to Michael Jackson says that he would like to make amends with Paul McCartney by willing what he owns of the Beatle's catalog back to the former Beatle. Get that will written up ASAP!

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Geico Not Hiring

Iggy Pop is the spokesman in a new multi-million dollar advertising campaign by the U.K. on-line insurance company Swift Cover.

According to the press release, the ads are based around their new catchphrase "get a life" and will feature Pop "embracing his online life and how it provides efficiencies and cost savings."

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Judas Priest Overture?

Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest recently talked to Britain's Sunday Mercury, confirming the group's plans to play their latest album, Nostradamus, in its entirety at 2009 shows. "Our ambition is to perform Nostradamus from start to finish when everyone's got used to it and they all know it."

As far as their next project, "We might do a live album. We've recorded quite a few shows so we have to get together and listen to those and a think about that, but with us you never know what's around the corner."

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Guitar Hero Moola!

It is reported that Rock & Roll icons Aerosmith have made more money off the June release of "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith," than the band made from their last two album releases.

Kai Huang, co-founder of RedOctave, which first developed "Guitar Hero," predicts that music videos games will become the biggest platform for music distribution in the world. More than 65,000 original songs have been uploaded so far and more than 22 million units of "Guitar Hero" have been sold in the US since its launch in October of 2005. And I still play Atari....

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Turn That Crap Down!

Blasting music across enemy lines is not a new form of psychological warfare and US military interrogators are utilizing music in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanmo Bay to combat detainees and resurgents.

Some of the most frequently used songs include Metallica's "Enter Sandman," "Bodies" by Drowning Pool, two AC/DC numbers, "Shoot To Thrill" and "Hells Bells" and Bruce Springsteen's appropriate American jingle "Born In The USA."

Apparently they have taken torture to new levels by blasting the theme song from the children's television shows "Sesame Street" and the insipid "I Love You" song from Barney and Friends.

Other artists whose music has been played at US detention sites include: Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Don McLean, Lil' Kim, Limp Bizkit, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the most torturous of all Meatloaf.

Classic Rock Videos

Pleasant Valley Sunday - Monkees

Rock & Roll Tidbits

Bruce Hornsby's demo tapes were rejected by over 70 record companies. A year after RCA signed him in 1985, his tune "The Way It Is" topped the Billboard chart, followed by five more Top 40 hits, including "Mandolin Rain" (#4) and "The Valley Road" (# 5).

For many years it was thought that the very first song ever recorded was "Mary Had A Little Lamb", as spoken by Thomas Edison while testing an early phonograph in 1877. In March, 2008, the Association for Recorded Sound Collections announced the discovery of a recording of "Au Clair de la Lune", found by audio historians in the archives of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris . The recording was made by Parisian inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville and recorded on a "phonautograph", a device that engraved sound waves onto a sheet of paper blackened by the smoke of an oil lamp. The recording took place on April 9th, 1860...17 years before Thomas Edison invented his phonograph.

The Four Seasons' Frankie Valli was arrested by Columbus, Ohio Police in September 1965, after his manager forgot to pay his hotel bill.

Although he sang the lead vocal for "Sugar Sugar", a song that sold over 13 million copies and was named Billboard magazine's Record of The Year, Ron Dante did not earn any royalties for the hit. Just happy to be recording at all in 1969, he did the session for the musicians' union scale wage.

In November, 2007, Neil Diamond finally revealed a secret that he had held onto for decades. The inspiration for his 1969 hit "Sweet Caroline" was President Kennedy's daughter.

They say you don't have to be a rocket scientist to write a hit song, but Michael Kennedy was working for the McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company when he co-wrote The DeFranco Family's "Heartbeat - It's A Love Beat". He later gave up music and went on to work on the International Space Station.

Jay And The Americans first learned the song "Cara Mia" in 1962 because it contained the only four chords they knew. When they finally recorded it in 1965, the tune rose to #4 on the Billboard chart.

After seeing Marvin Gaye's large collection of pornography, writer David Ritz suggested that Gaye needed some "sexual healing". The two later collaborated on some lyrics which went into the hit song, but Ritz was not given any writing credit. After Gaye died, Ritz successfully sued.

The Allman Brothers' only Billboard Top 10 hit, "Ramblin' Man" was the last song recorded by bassist Berry Oakley before his death in 1972.

The soundtrack for the movie Saturday Night Fever was composed and performed primarily by The Bee Gees and has gone platinum fifteen times over. Despite this success, The Bee Gees' Robin Gibb says he has never seen the film all the way through.