All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Rock & Roll Tidbits
An obvious inebriated Steve Tyler once confessed to a luck reporter: “I’ll tell you what’s fun,” the rock said. “Finding the right stewardess and turning her upside-down in the back of the plane. Ever done it? You come so fast, it’s the greatest.”
Frank Zappa made an experimental film in 1965. He tied a camera to a string and just started swinging it around his head. The name of the film? “Motion.” “Pretty stupid, eh?” lamented Zappa.
Vince Neil of Motley Crue saw a woman mud-wrestling one night and quickly fell in love. He offered the dirty grappler $3,000 a week if she would stop mud-wrestling with anyone but him, and she agreed. The two were married- but divorced a short time later.
Ray Davies of the Kinks once tried to be like Keith Moon (the Who) and destroy his hotel room. “I threw a Guinness bottle against the wall,” he explained. “It bounced back and hit me in the head and knocked me out.” That plan failed.
While we are on the subject….At a Monkees’ concert in 1968, Keith Moon jumped up in the crowd just before the show started and started chanting “We Want the Who!”
Alice Cooper is famous for his stage antics. In 1988, while he was rehearsing for his onstage hanging routine, the safety rope broke and Cooper would have hung himself if not for the quick thinking of a roadie; who cut the dangling rock star down.
Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue fame once claimed he shot whiskey into his arm when he ran out of heroin.
In a related story, Sixx shot up too much heroin in 1987, in addition to consuming Valium, Cocaine, whiskey, and beer. Sixx stated, “I kinda remember waking up and a paramedic telling me that I had died, and had to be revived.” He got that part right, as paramedics did indeed have to administer two shots of adrenaline to restart his heart. Upon his release from the hospital, he hitchhiked back home, shot up more heroin, later writing the song, “Kickstart My Heart.” How appropriate.
In the early days of Queen, rocker Freddie Mercury would hit himself so hard with the tambourine that he suffered a severely bruised leg.
Frank Zappa booked the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to play a concert of his music at the Royal Albert hall. But the show was canceled due to “lyrical obscenity.” Zappa sued, but lost the case when he couldn’t convince the British judge that the song “Shove It Right In” was not obscene.
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys spent 1971-1975 in bed.
Mamas and the Papas founder John Phillips was kind of careless with his drugs. His dog, Trelawny (a.k.a Mr. T) once gobbled up a whole bag of mescaline capsules. The poor pooch ran in circles for three days. Then he stared at himself in the mirror for over twelve hours. “He was more human than anything else after swallowing all that mescaline,” mused Phillips.
In the 60’s, the Who made instrument smashing a part of every show that they did. Trouble was, the band was destroying 700 pounds of equipment per night and only earning about 500 pounds per show. Bass player John Entwistle screamed: “We’d come out ahead just by not showing up!”
Frank Zappa made an experimental film in 1965. He tied a camera to a string and just started swinging it around his head. The name of the film? “Motion.” “Pretty stupid, eh?” lamented Zappa.
Vince Neil of Motley Crue saw a woman mud-wrestling one night and quickly fell in love. He offered the dirty grappler $3,000 a week if she would stop mud-wrestling with anyone but him, and she agreed. The two were married- but divorced a short time later.
Ray Davies of the Kinks once tried to be like Keith Moon (the Who) and destroy his hotel room. “I threw a Guinness bottle against the wall,” he explained. “It bounced back and hit me in the head and knocked me out.” That plan failed.
While we are on the subject….At a Monkees’ concert in 1968, Keith Moon jumped up in the crowd just before the show started and started chanting “We Want the Who!”
Alice Cooper is famous for his stage antics. In 1988, while he was rehearsing for his onstage hanging routine, the safety rope broke and Cooper would have hung himself if not for the quick thinking of a roadie; who cut the dangling rock star down.
Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue fame once claimed he shot whiskey into his arm when he ran out of heroin.
In a related story, Sixx shot up too much heroin in 1987, in addition to consuming Valium, Cocaine, whiskey, and beer. Sixx stated, “I kinda remember waking up and a paramedic telling me that I had died, and had to be revived.” He got that part right, as paramedics did indeed have to administer two shots of adrenaline to restart his heart. Upon his release from the hospital, he hitchhiked back home, shot up more heroin, later writing the song, “Kickstart My Heart.” How appropriate.
In the early days of Queen, rocker Freddie Mercury would hit himself so hard with the tambourine that he suffered a severely bruised leg.
Frank Zappa booked the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to play a concert of his music at the Royal Albert hall. But the show was canceled due to “lyrical obscenity.” Zappa sued, but lost the case when he couldn’t convince the British judge that the song “Shove It Right In” was not obscene.
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys spent 1971-1975 in bed.
Mamas and the Papas founder John Phillips was kind of careless with his drugs. His dog, Trelawny (a.k.a Mr. T) once gobbled up a whole bag of mescaline capsules. The poor pooch ran in circles for three days. Then he stared at himself in the mirror for over twelve hours. “He was more human than anything else after swallowing all that mescaline,” mused Phillips.
In the 60’s, the Who made instrument smashing a part of every show that they did. Trouble was, the band was destroying 700 pounds of equipment per night and only earning about 500 pounds per show. Bass player John Entwistle screamed: “We’d come out ahead just by not showing up!”
Album Cover Art
Continuing our look at album cover art, let's look at a new release by Gory Blister:
Italian tech-death metallers GORY BLISTER have announced they will release their new album, Graveyard Of Angels, in Europe on April 6th via Mascot Records.
Gory Blister is a technical death metal band from Milan, Italy. Gory Blister was formed in 1991. Their debut album, Art Bleeds, was released in 1999. " Demos/EPs released by Gory Blister include: "Spoilt by Greed" (1991 Demo), "Hanging Down The Sound" (1993 Demo), and "Cognitive Sinergy" (1997 EP).
Gory Blister's lyrical themes range from psychology to inner thoughts & outer space.
Italian tech-death metallers GORY BLISTER have announced they will release their new album, Graveyard Of Angels, in Europe on April 6th via Mascot Records.
Gory Blister is a technical death metal band from Milan, Italy. Gory Blister was formed in 1991. Their debut album, Art Bleeds, was released in 1999. " Demos/EPs released by Gory Blister include: "Spoilt by Greed" (1991 Demo), "Hanging Down The Sound" (1993 Demo), and "Cognitive Sinergy" (1997 EP).
Gory Blister's lyrical themes range from psychology to inner thoughts & outer space.
Music News & Notes
Whitney Houston's Triumphant Return
A strong-sounding Whitney Houston made her triumphant return to the stage last night (Feb. 7) in Los Angeles at a pre-Grammy party that honored her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis.
"I've got it, I've got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I'm Every Woman." But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar -- whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago -- was back in top form.
"We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily)," stated Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. "This is a new begining."
The 45-year-old is one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, but hasn't made an album since 2002. Since, she has struggled with drug problems and a tumultuous personal life, a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980's.
Houston is expected to release an album sometime this year and this comeback seems to be the real deal. "She was on it, she was happy -- she's back," said Foxx. "Everybody else watch out."
==================================
This from Blabbermouth.net:
RAM: New Album Details Revealed
RAM, the Sweden-based heavy metal band featuring Morgan Pettersson (ex-B-THONG), has completed work on its second album, "Lightbringer." The follow-up to 2005's "Forced Entry" was produced by Johan Reivén and was mixed at Studio Bongo in the group's hometown.
Commented the band: "Compared to 'Forced Entry', the 'Lightbringer' album is a step in many directions for us. 'Forced Entry' was a very straightforward (in RAM terms) heavy metal album. 'Lightbringer' is more concept-orientated and it displays an array of different themes that are noticeable in song writing, lyrics and throughout the production. Including a horror mantra that features Mexican poet Adelaida Caballero performing one of her profound, surrealistic and magick poems, this album offers hard and heavy but quite unorthodox heavy metal songs that features many twists and different parts, along with melancholic and very melodic pieces. E from the infamous black metal band WATAIN is featured on one track which is a modern heavy black metal track and he lays down some sinister vocals indeed. Something as unusual as a metal horror opera, 'The Elixir' features a macabre tale in vein of Edgar Allan Poe's work. Our most epic track to date and also the longest RAM song ever recorded is a song about the battle at Suomussalmi in 1939 during the Finnish winter war."
RAM's full-length debut, "Forced Entry", was recorded at Black Path studios and was mixed at Gothenburg's Brewhouse facility. Mastering duties were handled by Göran Finnberg.
==================================
THYRFING Vinyl Release
War Anthem Records will release the vinyl edition of "Hels Vite", the latest album from Swedish meatl band THYRFING, at the end of March.
"Hels Vite" came out in the U.S. on January 27 via Regain Records.
Released in Europe on October 22 via Regain Records, the CD was co-produced (with the band) by Jörgen Svensson of Tyroon Production and the cover artwork was created by the Swedish artist Mikael Schelén. The layout and the photos were handled by Jens Rydén.
THYRFING announced in 2007 the addition of Jens Rydén as the band's new vocalist. Jens is best known as founding member and ex-vocalist of NAGLFAR and for his one-man army PROFUNDI.
THYRFING's fifth album, "Farsotstider" (in English: "Times of Plague"), was released in November 2005 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Vansinnesvisor" (Hammerheart Records) was recorded at EMI Studio in Stockholm with producer Henrik Edenhed (LAMBRETTA, THE SOUNDS).
A strong-sounding Whitney Houston made her triumphant return to the stage last night (Feb. 7) in Los Angeles at a pre-Grammy party that honored her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis.
"I've got it, I've got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I'm Every Woman." But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar -- whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago -- was back in top form.
"We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily)," stated Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. "This is a new begining."
The 45-year-old is one of the best-selling artists of all time and among the greatest singers, but hasn't made an album since 2002. Since, she has struggled with drug problems and a tumultuous personal life, a far cry from the princess image she cultivated since her debut in the 1980's.
Houston is expected to release an album sometime this year and this comeback seems to be the real deal. "She was on it, she was happy -- she's back," said Foxx. "Everybody else watch out."
==================================
This from Blabbermouth.net:
RAM: New Album Details Revealed
RAM, the Sweden-based heavy metal band featuring Morgan Pettersson (ex-B-THONG), has completed work on its second album, "Lightbringer." The follow-up to 2005's "Forced Entry" was produced by Johan Reivén and was mixed at Studio Bongo in the group's hometown.
Commented the band: "Compared to 'Forced Entry', the 'Lightbringer' album is a step in many directions for us. 'Forced Entry' was a very straightforward (in RAM terms) heavy metal album. 'Lightbringer' is more concept-orientated and it displays an array of different themes that are noticeable in song writing, lyrics and throughout the production. Including a horror mantra that features Mexican poet Adelaida Caballero performing one of her profound, surrealistic and magick poems, this album offers hard and heavy but quite unorthodox heavy metal songs that features many twists and different parts, along with melancholic and very melodic pieces. E from the infamous black metal band WATAIN is featured on one track which is a modern heavy black metal track and he lays down some sinister vocals indeed. Something as unusual as a metal horror opera, 'The Elixir' features a macabre tale in vein of Edgar Allan Poe's work. Our most epic track to date and also the longest RAM song ever recorded is a song about the battle at Suomussalmi in 1939 during the Finnish winter war."
RAM's full-length debut, "Forced Entry", was recorded at Black Path studios and was mixed at Gothenburg's Brewhouse facility. Mastering duties were handled by Göran Finnberg.
==================================
THYRFING Vinyl Release
War Anthem Records will release the vinyl edition of "Hels Vite", the latest album from Swedish meatl band THYRFING, at the end of March.
"Hels Vite" came out in the U.S. on January 27 via Regain Records.
Released in Europe on October 22 via Regain Records, the CD was co-produced (with the band) by Jörgen Svensson of Tyroon Production and the cover artwork was created by the Swedish artist Mikael Schelén. The layout and the photos were handled by Jens Rydén.
THYRFING announced in 2007 the addition of Jens Rydén as the band's new vocalist. Jens is best known as founding member and ex-vocalist of NAGLFAR and for his one-man army PROFUNDI.
THYRFING's fifth album, "Farsotstider" (in English: "Times of Plague"), was released in November 2005 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Vansinnesvisor" (Hammerheart Records) was recorded at EMI Studio in Stockholm with producer Henrik Edenhed (LAMBRETTA, THE SOUNDS).
Rascal Flatts' New Cover Art
People’s Choice Award winner for Favorite Group of 2008, Rascal Flatts is paying tribute to their fans by asking them to choose the cover art for their next album,” Unstoppable,” due out April 7. In January, Rascal Flatts, which includes guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, teamed up with People’s Choice and invited fans to submit original cover designs for their upcoming album, according to a news release.
The top four submissions have been chosen by the band and voting is now open to all on www.pcaVOTE.com.
The new cover art for “Unstoppable” is scheduled to be revealed live during a Rascal Flatts concert in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The top four designs were submitted by Rick Brewer from Fenton, Mo.; Christopher Cox from Venus, Texas; Garret Dickerson from Greenbrier, Tenn.; and Chris Kubik from Arlington Heights, Ill.
“We were very impressed with all the entries and it was a difficult decision to narrow down the possibilities to just these four,” said Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, in the release. “We can’t imagine how hard it will be for the fans to choose just one!”
“At the beginning of this partnership, Rascal Flatts came to us looking for a way to thank their fans for years of unwavering support and dedication,” said Fred Nelson, President, People’s Choice, in the release. “By working together to develop this album cover contest and vote, we at People’s Choice are thrilled to help bring this request to fruition and get the fans involved in such an important decision.”
Here are the choices:
Vote now at :
Rascal Flatts Cover Art
The top four submissions have been chosen by the band and voting is now open to all on www.pcaVOTE.com.
The new cover art for “Unstoppable” is scheduled to be revealed live during a Rascal Flatts concert in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The top four designs were submitted by Rick Brewer from Fenton, Mo.; Christopher Cox from Venus, Texas; Garret Dickerson from Greenbrier, Tenn.; and Chris Kubik from Arlington Heights, Ill.
“We were very impressed with all the entries and it was a difficult decision to narrow down the possibilities to just these four,” said Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, in the release. “We can’t imagine how hard it will be for the fans to choose just one!”
“At the beginning of this partnership, Rascal Flatts came to us looking for a way to thank their fans for years of unwavering support and dedication,” said Fred Nelson, President, People’s Choice, in the release. “By working together to develop this album cover contest and vote, we at People’s Choice are thrilled to help bring this request to fruition and get the fans involved in such an important decision.”
Here are the choices:
Vote now at :
Rascal Flatts Cover Art
This Date In Music History- February 8
Birthdays:
Creed Bratton- Grass Roots (1943)
Paul Wheatbread- Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (1946)
Adolpho De La Para, drums, Canned Heat (1946)
Dan Seals- England Dan & John Ford Coley (1948)
Vince Neil- Motley Crue (1961)
Dave 'Phoenix' Ferrel- Linkin Park (1977)
Larry Verne ("Please Mr. Custer") turns 73.
Sammy Llanas- The BoDeans (1961)
They Are Missed:
Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds in 1990.
In 1973, Max Yasgur the owner of the Woodstock farm where the 1969 festival was held died of a heart attack (age 53).
Keith Knudson, drummer with The Doobie Brothers, died of pneumonia in 2005 (age 56).
History:
George Harrison's tonsils were removed in 1969 at London's University College Hospital. The tonsils were destroyed so they could not be sold. (Oh, what a price would have been paid if eBay was around back then!)
In 1965, the Supremes released "Stop in the Name of Love," which became their fourth #1 single.
In 1960, the House of Representatives Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight opened hearings on disc jockey "payola."
Buddy Holly signed a recording contract with Decca Records (the contract left off the "E" in his last name, "Holley" so he dropped it from his stage name, as well) in 1956.
In 1972, London's Royal Albert Hall canceled a performance of Frank Zappa's classical opus "200 Motels." They claimed the lyrics were obscene.
Queen released their first hit single, "Killer Queen" in 1975.
In 1988, the Who (minus the late Keith Moon) reunited for their 25th anniversary at a London awards ceremony.
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood formed Blind Faith in 1969.
Right Said Fred started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with the inane cut, “I'm Too Sexy” (#2 hit in the UK).
In 1981, R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included “Gardening At Night,” “Radio Free Europe" and “(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.”
Bob Dylan went to #1 on the US album chart in 1975 with “Blood On The Tracks,” his second #1 album.
In 1975, the Ohio Players went to #1 on the US singles chart with “Fire.”
On their first full day in New York in 1964, the Beatles (minus George who had a sore throat), went for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Extra police were called in to keep fans away. Later in the day The Ronettes interviewed the band for radio.
Mark Dinning went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with 'Teen Angel', a #37 hit in the UK.
The Quarry Men appeared at the Wilson Hall in Garston in 1958. After the show Paul McCartney introduced George Harrison to John Lennon, George performed “Raunchy” for John, who was impressed with the young guitarist.
Oasis were forced to cancel their first foreign tour in 1994, after they were deported from Holland. The band was involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.
Creed Bratton- Grass Roots (1943)
Paul Wheatbread- Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (1946)
Adolpho De La Para, drums, Canned Heat (1946)
Dan Seals- England Dan & John Ford Coley (1948)
Vince Neil- Motley Crue (1961)
Dave 'Phoenix' Ferrel- Linkin Park (1977)
Larry Verne ("Please Mr. Custer") turns 73.
Sammy Llanas- The BoDeans (1961)
They Are Missed:
Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds in 1990.
In 1973, Max Yasgur the owner of the Woodstock farm where the 1969 festival was held died of a heart attack (age 53).
Keith Knudson, drummer with The Doobie Brothers, died of pneumonia in 2005 (age 56).
History:
George Harrison's tonsils were removed in 1969 at London's University College Hospital. The tonsils were destroyed so they could not be sold. (Oh, what a price would have been paid if eBay was around back then!)
In 1965, the Supremes released "Stop in the Name of Love," which became their fourth #1 single.
In 1960, the House of Representatives Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight opened hearings on disc jockey "payola."
Buddy Holly signed a recording contract with Decca Records (the contract left off the "E" in his last name, "Holley" so he dropped it from his stage name, as well) in 1956.
In 1972, London's Royal Albert Hall canceled a performance of Frank Zappa's classical opus "200 Motels." They claimed the lyrics were obscene.
Queen released their first hit single, "Killer Queen" in 1975.
In 1988, the Who (minus the late Keith Moon) reunited for their 25th anniversary at a London awards ceremony.
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood formed Blind Faith in 1969.
Right Said Fred started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with the inane cut, “I'm Too Sexy” (#2 hit in the UK).
In 1981, R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included “Gardening At Night,” “Radio Free Europe" and “(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.”
Bob Dylan went to #1 on the US album chart in 1975 with “Blood On The Tracks,” his second #1 album.
In 1975, the Ohio Players went to #1 on the US singles chart with “Fire.”
On their first full day in New York in 1964, the Beatles (minus George who had a sore throat), went for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Extra police were called in to keep fans away. Later in the day The Ronettes interviewed the band for radio.
Mark Dinning went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with 'Teen Angel', a #37 hit in the UK.
The Quarry Men appeared at the Wilson Hall in Garston in 1958. After the show Paul McCartney introduced George Harrison to John Lennon, George performed “Raunchy” for John, who was impressed with the young guitarist.
Oasis were forced to cancel their first foreign tour in 1994, after they were deported from Holland. The band was involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Rock & Roll Tidbits
Keith Moon, the drummer for the Who, developed his own unique language. In fact, here are some of his words that he used to describe male genitalia, they included: bacon assegai, beef torpedo, cobblers, cricket set, mutton javelin, plonker, wanger and last but not least, the pork sword.
The Ramones were well-known for their loud concerts. One time they performed so loud while in the recording studio that they actually destroyed several expensive pieces of audio equipment.
The Spice Girls once met Queen Elizabeth. But Ginger Spice refused to follow the proper protocol to curtsy when she was shaking hands with the Queen. Ginger Spice was terrified that her ‘old tired tits’ would come flopping out of her dress.
Tupac Shakur scored a big hit with his album 2Pacalypse. So he went out car shopping and bought his dream car. The next day, he totaled it.
On Aerosmith’s first tour of Britain, the American rockers rented a forty-five set private plane at a cost of 18,000 British pounds per day. Trouble was, the band was only bringing in about 2 to 3,000 pounds per show.
“I won’t be happy until I am as famous as god,” Madonna once quipped.
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees once worked on a solo album called “We Are The Bunbury’s.” The LP was about a family of cricket-playing rabbits. Uh, don’t think I ever saw that one.
Near the end of Metallica’s “Kill ‘Em All” tour, the band spotted one of their fans wearing a homemade shirt that read : “Alcoholica, Drank ‘Em All.” They liked it so much that they ripped off the idea and had their own “Alcoholic” t-shirts made.
Back in 1965, James Brown’s manager circulated a rumor that the King of Soul was going to get a sex-change operation in order to marry his band mate, Bobby Byrd.
As a lad, Johnny Ramone was known as a bit of a thug, but not necessarily a smart one. He once was caught breaking into a Laundromat. Apparently, he thought that he was breaking into a drug store. Ooops.
In 1995, at the MTV European Awards ceremony in Paris, U@ front man Bono commented to the French: “What a city. What a night…what a wanker you have for president!”
Elton John was always known for his extravagant costumes. His least successful creation? A pair of wooden pants. “Not very good for moving about, I’m afraid,” said John.
At the end of a live television appearance in Paris, the Who ran out of the studio and into the streets, lined up against a wall and urinated. Trouble was, the group peeing session was broadcast to viewers in France and England.
The Ramones were well-known for their loud concerts. One time they performed so loud while in the recording studio that they actually destroyed several expensive pieces of audio equipment.
The Spice Girls once met Queen Elizabeth. But Ginger Spice refused to follow the proper protocol to curtsy when she was shaking hands with the Queen. Ginger Spice was terrified that her ‘old tired tits’ would come flopping out of her dress.
Tupac Shakur scored a big hit with his album 2Pacalypse. So he went out car shopping and bought his dream car. The next day, he totaled it.
On Aerosmith’s first tour of Britain, the American rockers rented a forty-five set private plane at a cost of 18,000 British pounds per day. Trouble was, the band was only bringing in about 2 to 3,000 pounds per show.
“I won’t be happy until I am as famous as god,” Madonna once quipped.
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees once worked on a solo album called “We Are The Bunbury’s.” The LP was about a family of cricket-playing rabbits. Uh, don’t think I ever saw that one.
Near the end of Metallica’s “Kill ‘Em All” tour, the band spotted one of their fans wearing a homemade shirt that read : “Alcoholica, Drank ‘Em All.” They liked it so much that they ripped off the idea and had their own “Alcoholic” t-shirts made.
Back in 1965, James Brown’s manager circulated a rumor that the King of Soul was going to get a sex-change operation in order to marry his band mate, Bobby Byrd.
As a lad, Johnny Ramone was known as a bit of a thug, but not necessarily a smart one. He once was caught breaking into a Laundromat. Apparently, he thought that he was breaking into a drug store. Ooops.
In 1995, at the MTV European Awards ceremony in Paris, U@ front man Bono commented to the French: “What a city. What a night…what a wanker you have for president!”
Elton John was always known for his extravagant costumes. His least successful creation? A pair of wooden pants. “Not very good for moving about, I’m afraid,” said John.
At the end of a live television appearance in Paris, the Who ran out of the studio and into the streets, lined up against a wall and urinated. Trouble was, the group peeing session was broadcast to viewers in France and England.
Album Cover Art
I've always loved looking into a farmer's field and right in the middle of a field sits a lone tree, why they keep it there, I am not sure. But it's something that always grabs my attention, as so did this cover.
Shiny Toy Guns- We Are Pilots
Shiny Toy Guns is a Grammy-nominated American rock band originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They have released three versions of their first studio album We Are Pilots, which featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the U.S. Modern Rock Charts.
Shiny Toy Guns gained popularity in California as well as through their MySpace page. In January 2005, they released their first album We Are Pilots through record company Stormwest International. They began touring across America that summer in support of their album. We Are Pilots was re-recorded and re-released with a revised track list through record company SideCho in November 2005. Continuing to tour extensively, in June 2006 they signed with Universal Records and released a finalized copy of We Are Pilots on October 17, 2006.
Shiny Toy Guns- We Are Pilots
Shiny Toy Guns is a Grammy-nominated American rock band originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They have released three versions of their first studio album We Are Pilots, which featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the U.S. Modern Rock Charts.
Shiny Toy Guns gained popularity in California as well as through their MySpace page. In January 2005, they released their first album We Are Pilots through record company Stormwest International. They began touring across America that summer in support of their album. We Are Pilots was re-recorded and re-released with a revised track list through record company SideCho in November 2005. Continuing to tour extensively, in June 2006 they signed with Universal Records and released a finalized copy of We Are Pilots on October 17, 2006.
Music News & Notes
ISIS - New Album Tracklisting, Cover Art Revealed
ISIS, the Los Angeles by way of Boston quintet, will release their fifth full-length album, Wavering Radiant, on May 5 via Ipecac Recordings.
The album, recorded over the late summer andfall of 2008 in Los Angeles, was produced by Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, MELVINS) and will also see a vinyl release on April 21.
Aaron Turner recently discussed the new album with Billboard, saying "This is a better sonic representation of what the band actually sounds like. In the past I think some of the recordings were a little too clean in their final form. There was something about the energy that seemed to be lacking. It seems to feel more like us than anything else has."
"I feel a sense of completion with this record that I've never felt before,” Aaron Harris adds. “We spent more time creating this record than we have with any other, and I feel in my heart that this record is in many ways our best."
Cover art was once again created by Turner.
The track listing for Wavering Radiant is: 'Hall Of The Dead', 'Ghost Key', 'Hand Of The Host', 'Wavering Radiant', 'Stone To Wake A Serpent', '20 Minutes / 40 Years', 'Threshold of Transformation'.
Isis is currently planning extensive worldwide touring behind Wavering Radiant with more details to be announced shortly.
==========================
James Backs Out Of Statement
Etta James states that she was just joking when she told an audience that she hated Beyonce. She told the New York Daily News, "I didn't really mean anything. Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude... That's probably what went into it."
In reference to Beyonce's version of "At Last," James said she felt "left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around. Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle. They were all laughing, and it was funny."
==========================
Coldplay Doesn't Have To Hide At Grammy's
The members of Coldplay no longer have to try to avoid being seen at the Grammy's. A lawyer for the group has accepted papers from Joe Satriani's lawyers rather than have any embarassing incidents.
Satriani is suing the group, claiming that Viva La Vida was plagiarized from his I Just Wanna Fly. Lawyer Howard King told E! News, "We were going to attempt to serve them sometime this weekend while they were in Los Angeles, the Grammys being the most obvious time. We had also considered the MusiCares event. However, we had a very fine lawyer contact us and assure us there's no need to personally serve them. He will accept the papers on the band's behalf."
==========================
Jerusalem based extreme metal band Arallu has revealed the cover art for their upcoming album "Desert Battles - Descending To The Sands."
ISIS, the Los Angeles by way of Boston quintet, will release their fifth full-length album, Wavering Radiant, on May 5 via Ipecac Recordings.
The album, recorded over the late summer andfall of 2008 in Los Angeles, was produced by Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, MELVINS) and will also see a vinyl release on April 21.
Aaron Turner recently discussed the new album with Billboard, saying "This is a better sonic representation of what the band actually sounds like. In the past I think some of the recordings were a little too clean in their final form. There was something about the energy that seemed to be lacking. It seems to feel more like us than anything else has."
"I feel a sense of completion with this record that I've never felt before,” Aaron Harris adds. “We spent more time creating this record than we have with any other, and I feel in my heart that this record is in many ways our best."
Cover art was once again created by Turner.
The track listing for Wavering Radiant is: 'Hall Of The Dead', 'Ghost Key', 'Hand Of The Host', 'Wavering Radiant', 'Stone To Wake A Serpent', '20 Minutes / 40 Years', 'Threshold of Transformation'.
Isis is currently planning extensive worldwide touring behind Wavering Radiant with more details to be announced shortly.
==========================
James Backs Out Of Statement
Etta James states that she was just joking when she told an audience that she hated Beyonce. She told the New York Daily News, "I didn't really mean anything. Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude... That's probably what went into it."
In reference to Beyonce's version of "At Last," James said she felt "left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around. Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle. They were all laughing, and it was funny."
==========================
Coldplay Doesn't Have To Hide At Grammy's
The members of Coldplay no longer have to try to avoid being seen at the Grammy's. A lawyer for the group has accepted papers from Joe Satriani's lawyers rather than have any embarassing incidents.
Satriani is suing the group, claiming that Viva La Vida was plagiarized from his I Just Wanna Fly. Lawyer Howard King told E! News, "We were going to attempt to serve them sometime this weekend while they were in Los Angeles, the Grammys being the most obvious time. We had also considered the MusiCares event. However, we had a very fine lawyer contact us and assure us there's no need to personally serve them. He will accept the papers on the band's behalf."
==========================
Jerusalem based extreme metal band Arallu has revealed the cover art for their upcoming album "Desert Battles - Descending To The Sands."
Friday, February 6, 2009
Rock & Roll Tidbits
Neil Young loved the perks of being a rock star. While touring with CSN&Y, there were hookers on the payroll and a twenty-four hour party suite complete with champagne, iced shrimp and capsules of cocaine.
In her early days, Madonna would get the attention of the record company executives by dropping popcorn into her cleavage during business meetings and then sassily retrieving the lost kernels.
Rapper Ice-T had a firm belief that without the male sex-drive that the economy would come crashing down. “All we would do is lie around and eat and fart and get fat.”
Mama Cass Elliot was once on trial in London in 1967 for failure to pay a hotel bill. As the group (she was with fellow Mamas & Papas) left the courtroom, TV cameras caught Denny Doherty and John Phillips taking hash brownies out of Mama Cass’s purse and gobbling them down.
Back in 1978, Ozzy Osbourne publically declared that he was an alcoholic. He proceeded to quit his band and retired from music. So the odd rocker decided to open a bar, but Ozzy quickly drank up the inventory; squandered his money and soon was back together with his band.
Iggy Pop got very depressed when the Stooges broke up for the second time. So he gobbled up a bunch Quaaludes, Valium and Seconals and then went out for dinner. He flipped out and cops picked him up and gave him the choice of going to jail or a mental hospital. He chose the mental hospital. But the next day he broke out, consumed the rest of his stash and then committed himself to the hospital again.
Aerosmith was in Memphis for a gig in 1975 and local cops were intent on busting lead singer Steven Tyler if he said the ‘f-word’ onstage. But Aerosmith’s road manager convinced the locals to hold off on the bust until after the concert. However, one of the roadies tipped Tyler off. So he had the lighting man black out all the lights as soon as the show ended. After the show’s final number, Tyler jumped offstage and stumbled through the now pitch black auditorium in an effort to get away. But the vigilant cops just nailed the rock star in the lobby.
I guess Michael Jackson yearned for friendship because there was a time that he kept six mannequins in his room. He would dress them in evening gowns (no word whether these were male or female stiffs), he had a name for each one and actually had conversations with them. “I like to imagine talking to them,” the strange gloved-one stated. Perfectly normal Mike, perfectly normal- we all do that.
K. D LANG insists that people write her name using only lower case letters. Ooops.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono were known to push the media’s buttons every now and then. After their infamous ‘bed-in,’ the pair concocted ‘bagism.’ John and Yoko actually had themselves sewn inside of white bed clothes and crouched silently on a low table at a hotel in Vienna. Stunned reporters refused to believe that the odd couple were actually in the bag until Yoko began to wail a Japanese folk song- and left no doubt.
In 1987, while on a break from Metallica, James Hetfield played a series of surprise gigs at San Francisco nightclubs with a band named Spastic Children. When the band wanted to end one show with a nude encore, they were strongly discouraged from doing so by the club’s owner. So for the encore the group played in their underwear.
When James Brown was arrested at age fifteen for stealing clothes from parked cars and sent to jail, he said, “They sent me to prison for being dumb.”
In her early days, Madonna would get the attention of the record company executives by dropping popcorn into her cleavage during business meetings and then sassily retrieving the lost kernels.
Rapper Ice-T had a firm belief that without the male sex-drive that the economy would come crashing down. “All we would do is lie around and eat and fart and get fat.”
Mama Cass Elliot was once on trial in London in 1967 for failure to pay a hotel bill. As the group (she was with fellow Mamas & Papas) left the courtroom, TV cameras caught Denny Doherty and John Phillips taking hash brownies out of Mama Cass’s purse and gobbling them down.
Back in 1978, Ozzy Osbourne publically declared that he was an alcoholic. He proceeded to quit his band and retired from music. So the odd rocker decided to open a bar, but Ozzy quickly drank up the inventory; squandered his money and soon was back together with his band.
Iggy Pop got very depressed when the Stooges broke up for the second time. So he gobbled up a bunch Quaaludes, Valium and Seconals and then went out for dinner. He flipped out and cops picked him up and gave him the choice of going to jail or a mental hospital. He chose the mental hospital. But the next day he broke out, consumed the rest of his stash and then committed himself to the hospital again.
Aerosmith was in Memphis for a gig in 1975 and local cops were intent on busting lead singer Steven Tyler if he said the ‘f-word’ onstage. But Aerosmith’s road manager convinced the locals to hold off on the bust until after the concert. However, one of the roadies tipped Tyler off. So he had the lighting man black out all the lights as soon as the show ended. After the show’s final number, Tyler jumped offstage and stumbled through the now pitch black auditorium in an effort to get away. But the vigilant cops just nailed the rock star in the lobby.
I guess Michael Jackson yearned for friendship because there was a time that he kept six mannequins in his room. He would dress them in evening gowns (no word whether these were male or female stiffs), he had a name for each one and actually had conversations with them. “I like to imagine talking to them,” the strange gloved-one stated. Perfectly normal Mike, perfectly normal- we all do that.
K. D LANG insists that people write her name using only lower case letters. Ooops.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono were known to push the media’s buttons every now and then. After their infamous ‘bed-in,’ the pair concocted ‘bagism.’ John and Yoko actually had themselves sewn inside of white bed clothes and crouched silently on a low table at a hotel in Vienna. Stunned reporters refused to believe that the odd couple were actually in the bag until Yoko began to wail a Japanese folk song- and left no doubt.
In 1987, while on a break from Metallica, James Hetfield played a series of surprise gigs at San Francisco nightclubs with a band named Spastic Children. When the band wanted to end one show with a nude encore, they were strongly discouraged from doing so by the club’s owner. So for the encore the group played in their underwear.
When James Brown was arrested at age fifteen for stealing clothes from parked cars and sent to jail, he said, “They sent me to prison for being dumb.”
Album Review by Michael Fremer
I am very proud to continue our new feature (look for this every Friday), music reviews that are written by the senior contributing editor of Stereophile magazine- Michael Fremer. It has been a pleasure to speak with Michael and learn more about audio sound and equipment. In fact, his new DVD, "It's A Vinyl World, After All" has hit the shelves and is selling out very quickly. This is a must have for anybody who loves vinyl, it is a true masterpiece.
Additionally, make sure to stop by his site, www.musicangle.com and bookmark it for further exploration. I certainly want to thank Michael for the exclusive rights to reprint his fantastic material.
ALBUM REVIEW:
Roy Orbison (reissue)
The All Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison
Mobile Fidelity MFSL 2-304 2 180g LPs
Produced by: Fred Foster
Engineered by: Bill Porter, Tommy Strong
Mixed by: Bill Porter
Mastered by: Rob LoVerde and Shawn R. Britton
Review by: Michael Fremer
The big problem with vinyl 'greatest hits' compilations is that they are, of necessity, at least a generation down from the master tape. That's because assembling the actual masters into a cutting reel usually isn't allowed and even were a record label to allow it, levels, equalization and tape head azimuth issues make in nearly impossible to adjust between tracks as the tape reel rolls and the lacquer gets cut.
Worse, many major labels usually won't let masters out of the vaults so what's used to cut is an assemblage produced from copies of copies or a digital master made from originals.
There have been many pressings of this Roy compilation over the years, including the Monument/CBS Records, N.Y. original issued in 1972 (KZG 31484) shortly after Columbia bought Monument from Fred Foster, another one a decade later on Monument Records a division of Monument Entertainment Corporation of America (KWG2784-38384-1), two 180g audiophile pressings (DCC Compact Classics LPZ[2]-2042 and S&P [2] 507) and now this one from Mobile Fidelity.
Forget the original even if you find it in the dollar bins. It's difficult to mess up Bill Porter recordings, but this one does. It meanders from bright to dull and is occasionally distorted (there are occasional distortions on the master tapes, but this reissue magnifies them and adds some!). Clearly a cut from who knows what generation tapes. The 1982 edition isn't any better. While it's not the same cut, it's clearly cut from the same bright, distorted who knows what generation tape.
Finally, in the mid-nineties, DCC Compact Classics issued a version that did justice to Bill Porter's (and Tommy Strong's) recordings and Roy Orbison's artistry. This version, cut by Kevin Gray and mastered and produced by Steve Hoffman set the standard for clarity, dimensionality, warmth and resolution. And the liner notes and photos brought added value, using Boudlaux Bryant's original annotation plus a long detailed remembrance from the great Bill Porter, full musician credits, studio details and some swell photos. The laminated jacket featured Roy's signature embossed on the cover. A class act.
When DCC Compact Classics failed (not because its records and gold CDs didn't sell!), former DCC Compact Classic employee Sam Passamano, Jr. founded S&P and issued a few noteworthy titles, including a stellar sounding edition of Eva Cassidy's Songbird (S&P 501) and a reissue of this Roy compilation cut in 2004 using the same superb packaging and a new cut by Kevin and Steve at AcousTech that sounds slightly warmer and perhaps a bit more involving than the DCC original, but clearly cut from the same tape.
The right to issue the title recently passed to Mobile Fidelity, which spent a great deal of time working with Sony/BMG in an attempt to get the original master tapes, assemble them into production reels and cut in real time, making on the fly EQ and azimuth changes as needed. Mo-Fi's hiring of former Sony mastering engineer Rob LoVerde facilitated the negotiations. LoVerde is listed as a 'mastering associate' on the S&P edition's cutting notes.
According to mastering engineer Shawn R. Britton, LoVerde was given permission to disassemble the master tapes of Orbison's original releases and assemble 'greatest hits' cutting reels (and of course restore them to their original place in history once the cutting had been accomplished)!
While adjustments were needed to produce a coherent package, because Bill Porter was such a perfectionist, and because these tracks were all recorded direct to two track at only two studios (RCA Studio B and Monument Studios with 'Pretty Paper' recorded in the UK at Pye), the track to track variations weren't nearly as great as they might have been.
I still find Britton's story difficult to believe and I hope he appreciates my skepticism and doesn't think I'm calling him dishonest, because I'm not. In fact, based on listening to this spectacular sounding reissue, I'm a believer! That said, I can't tell you how many times records are claimed to have been cut from 'master tapes' only to have 'well connected' people on the inside of the record biz call me and say things like 'don't believe what you read. I have the master tapes and they've never left the building.' So I'm just passing on what I've been told! So far no one's called to dispute Shawn, but then again I'm writing this before anyone's read it!
In any case, hearing is believing and this half speed mastered version of The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison is by far, the most dynamic, transparent, deep, wide and especially detailed version I've yet heard. I've been listening to some of these tracks for nearly 50 years and I heard new musical elements and details on almost every track (along with, of course, some tape deterioration and distortion).
Detractors claim that half speed mastering makes cutting bass difficult since you're halving the frequencies and making the cutting amps reproduce ultra-low frequencies, but the bottom end of this cut is deep and powerful and reveals nuances in the bottom octaves I've never before heard. Instruments that formerly receded into the mix are now clearly audible and not because of added brightness.
Play 'It's Over' and when the castanets click at the beginning, you'll jump, even if you've heard the song 1000 times. The crescendos jump out. There's a deep bass accent on the tune I've never before heard, nor do I know what produced it but it's powerful.
The album contains all of Roy's great Monument hits and a few clunkers too, like the campy 'Working For the Man' that sounds like a cross between Sam Cooke's 'Chain Gang,' Ernie Ford's '16 Tons' and Belafonte's 'The Banana Boat Song' but it's mostly hits from 1960's 'Only The Lonely' to '64's 'Pretty Woman.'
For fanatic Roy fans nothing but the original albums will do and if that's you, Classic has many of them, including Lonely and Blue, the original of which will set you back many hundreds of dollars. The problem with the original albums is a mix of greatness and lots of corny filler. For instance, Lonely and Blue has the hits 'Only the Lonely,' 'I'm Hurtin' and 'Blue Angel,' but the rest of it is not nearly as strong. However, Roy fans would want Roy and Joe Melson's 'Blue Avenue,' and a few others, but maybe not so much a karaoke-like cover of Johnnie Ray's 'Cry' complete with strings, a high fructose corn syrup cover of 'Bye-Bye Love,' and an over the top rendering of Don Gibson's '(I'd Be) A Legend In My Own Time.'
How do the cuts common to Classic's Lonely and Blue (cut by Bernie Grundman) and Mo-Fi's'Greatest Hits compare? Well here's where it gets tricky! Mo-Fi's mastering is warmer, more supple, more 'audiophile,' and if you monitored the meters, probably more dynamic. Classic's is somewhat brighter and more direct, but Classic's is also tighter and punchier.
I've had Roy fans here and they can't seem to come to a consensus as to which they prefer. One individual, who shall remain nameless and who has no axe to grind other than being a huge Roy fan dismissed the Mo-Fi as ''not being Roy.' That's an extreme position in my book! The two versions are different, that's for sure but then the mastering chains are too: as different as my stereo is from yours!
I wish I had stayed in contact with Bill Porter so I could ask him to comment! Meanwhile, if you're a big Roy fan, when Classic's Lonely And Blue returns to print (if you don't already have it), you should pick as well as this Mo-Fi reissue up and decide for yourself. Mo-Fi returns to the original CBS packaging, which doesn't hold a match, never mind a candle to the DCC and S&P, but you can't have everything.
Additionally, make sure to stop by his site, www.musicangle.com and bookmark it for further exploration. I certainly want to thank Michael for the exclusive rights to reprint his fantastic material.
ALBUM REVIEW:
Roy Orbison (reissue)
The All Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison
Mobile Fidelity MFSL 2-304 2 180g LPs
Produced by: Fred Foster
Engineered by: Bill Porter, Tommy Strong
Mixed by: Bill Porter
Mastered by: Rob LoVerde and Shawn R. Britton
Review by: Michael Fremer
The big problem with vinyl 'greatest hits' compilations is that they are, of necessity, at least a generation down from the master tape. That's because assembling the actual masters into a cutting reel usually isn't allowed and even were a record label to allow it, levels, equalization and tape head azimuth issues make in nearly impossible to adjust between tracks as the tape reel rolls and the lacquer gets cut.
Worse, many major labels usually won't let masters out of the vaults so what's used to cut is an assemblage produced from copies of copies or a digital master made from originals.
There have been many pressings of this Roy compilation over the years, including the Monument/CBS Records, N.Y. original issued in 1972 (KZG 31484) shortly after Columbia bought Monument from Fred Foster, another one a decade later on Monument Records a division of Monument Entertainment Corporation of America (KWG2784-38384-1), two 180g audiophile pressings (DCC Compact Classics LPZ[2]-2042 and S&P [2] 507) and now this one from Mobile Fidelity.
Forget the original even if you find it in the dollar bins. It's difficult to mess up Bill Porter recordings, but this one does. It meanders from bright to dull and is occasionally distorted (there are occasional distortions on the master tapes, but this reissue magnifies them and adds some!). Clearly a cut from who knows what generation tapes. The 1982 edition isn't any better. While it's not the same cut, it's clearly cut from the same bright, distorted who knows what generation tape.
Finally, in the mid-nineties, DCC Compact Classics issued a version that did justice to Bill Porter's (and Tommy Strong's) recordings and Roy Orbison's artistry. This version, cut by Kevin Gray and mastered and produced by Steve Hoffman set the standard for clarity, dimensionality, warmth and resolution. And the liner notes and photos brought added value, using Boudlaux Bryant's original annotation plus a long detailed remembrance from the great Bill Porter, full musician credits, studio details and some swell photos. The laminated jacket featured Roy's signature embossed on the cover. A class act.
When DCC Compact Classics failed (not because its records and gold CDs didn't sell!), former DCC Compact Classic employee Sam Passamano, Jr. founded S&P and issued a few noteworthy titles, including a stellar sounding edition of Eva Cassidy's Songbird (S&P 501) and a reissue of this Roy compilation cut in 2004 using the same superb packaging and a new cut by Kevin and Steve at AcousTech that sounds slightly warmer and perhaps a bit more involving than the DCC original, but clearly cut from the same tape.
The right to issue the title recently passed to Mobile Fidelity, which spent a great deal of time working with Sony/BMG in an attempt to get the original master tapes, assemble them into production reels and cut in real time, making on the fly EQ and azimuth changes as needed. Mo-Fi's hiring of former Sony mastering engineer Rob LoVerde facilitated the negotiations. LoVerde is listed as a 'mastering associate' on the S&P edition's cutting notes.
According to mastering engineer Shawn R. Britton, LoVerde was given permission to disassemble the master tapes of Orbison's original releases and assemble 'greatest hits' cutting reels (and of course restore them to their original place in history once the cutting had been accomplished)!
While adjustments were needed to produce a coherent package, because Bill Porter was such a perfectionist, and because these tracks were all recorded direct to two track at only two studios (RCA Studio B and Monument Studios with 'Pretty Paper' recorded in the UK at Pye), the track to track variations weren't nearly as great as they might have been.
I still find Britton's story difficult to believe and I hope he appreciates my skepticism and doesn't think I'm calling him dishonest, because I'm not. In fact, based on listening to this spectacular sounding reissue, I'm a believer! That said, I can't tell you how many times records are claimed to have been cut from 'master tapes' only to have 'well connected' people on the inside of the record biz call me and say things like 'don't believe what you read. I have the master tapes and they've never left the building.' So I'm just passing on what I've been told! So far no one's called to dispute Shawn, but then again I'm writing this before anyone's read it!
In any case, hearing is believing and this half speed mastered version of The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison is by far, the most dynamic, transparent, deep, wide and especially detailed version I've yet heard. I've been listening to some of these tracks for nearly 50 years and I heard new musical elements and details on almost every track (along with, of course, some tape deterioration and distortion).
Detractors claim that half speed mastering makes cutting bass difficult since you're halving the frequencies and making the cutting amps reproduce ultra-low frequencies, but the bottom end of this cut is deep and powerful and reveals nuances in the bottom octaves I've never before heard. Instruments that formerly receded into the mix are now clearly audible and not because of added brightness.
Play 'It's Over' and when the castanets click at the beginning, you'll jump, even if you've heard the song 1000 times. The crescendos jump out. There's a deep bass accent on the tune I've never before heard, nor do I know what produced it but it's powerful.
The album contains all of Roy's great Monument hits and a few clunkers too, like the campy 'Working For the Man' that sounds like a cross between Sam Cooke's 'Chain Gang,' Ernie Ford's '16 Tons' and Belafonte's 'The Banana Boat Song' but it's mostly hits from 1960's 'Only The Lonely' to '64's 'Pretty Woman.'
For fanatic Roy fans nothing but the original albums will do and if that's you, Classic has many of them, including Lonely and Blue, the original of which will set you back many hundreds of dollars. The problem with the original albums is a mix of greatness and lots of corny filler. For instance, Lonely and Blue has the hits 'Only the Lonely,' 'I'm Hurtin' and 'Blue Angel,' but the rest of it is not nearly as strong. However, Roy fans would want Roy and Joe Melson's 'Blue Avenue,' and a few others, but maybe not so much a karaoke-like cover of Johnnie Ray's 'Cry' complete with strings, a high fructose corn syrup cover of 'Bye-Bye Love,' and an over the top rendering of Don Gibson's '(I'd Be) A Legend In My Own Time.'
How do the cuts common to Classic's Lonely and Blue (cut by Bernie Grundman) and Mo-Fi's'Greatest Hits compare? Well here's where it gets tricky! Mo-Fi's mastering is warmer, more supple, more 'audiophile,' and if you monitored the meters, probably more dynamic. Classic's is somewhat brighter and more direct, but Classic's is also tighter and punchier.
I've had Roy fans here and they can't seem to come to a consensus as to which they prefer. One individual, who shall remain nameless and who has no axe to grind other than being a huge Roy fan dismissed the Mo-Fi as ''not being Roy.' That's an extreme position in my book! The two versions are different, that's for sure but then the mastering chains are too: as different as my stereo is from yours!
I wish I had stayed in contact with Bill Porter so I could ask him to comment! Meanwhile, if you're a big Roy fan, when Classic's Lonely And Blue returns to print (if you don't already have it), you should pick as well as this Mo-Fi reissue up and decide for yourself. Mo-Fi returns to the original CBS packaging, which doesn't hold a match, never mind a candle to the DCC and S&P, but you can't have everything.
Album Cover Art
Blur- Sunday- medium rare please!
Blur are an English alternative rock band that formed in London in 1989. The four members of the band are singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure (1991) incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing. Following a stylistic change—influenced by English guitar pop groups such as The Kinks, The Beatles and XTC—Blur released the Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995) albums. As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a famous chart battle with rival band Oasis dubbed "The Battle of Britpop".
Music News & Notes
Ben Kweller moves to Austin, releases country album
With 2009 comes a year of new territory for Ben Kweller. He has become an Austinite.
"I've just been wanting to do it for years... and there's no better town I'd rather live in," Kweller said. "It's the coolest place in the world, as far as I'm concerned."
Kweller's new vinyl album released Tuesday, "Changing Horses", also covers new ground with its consistent country sound.
"I did record it here in Austin, but I was still living in New York," he said. "I've been writing these songs for years. Some of them go back to the time I was 16 years old."
The "Changing Horses" vinyl album includes a free CD version.
============================
Pinhead Gunpowder to release Greatest Hits and discography
Recess Records have unveiled plans to release a Pinhead Gunpowder "Greatest Hits" album on CD and vinyl in March of this year.
The label has also confirmed plans to reissue the entire Pinhead Gunpowder discography on vinyl and CD in 2009. The label is aiming for a fall release of five albums including Jump Salty, Carry the Banner, Goodbye Ellston Avenue, Compulsive Disclosure and Shoot The Moon.
The band features members of Green Day and Crimpshrine.
============================
Jazzy Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi has been added to the New Orleans Jazz Fest as this year’s lineup continues to trend towards rock. The fest, taking place over the weekends of April 24-26th and April 30-May 3rd, also features Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, Kings of Leon, and Spoon among others.
============================
Wilco DVD
Wilco is helping out on Record Store Day, releasing their new live DVD "Ashes of American Flags" exclusively to the indie stores on April 18th, two weeks before its wide release.
“Without these stores, there’s just no way Wilco would still be around. They’ve been with us from the very beginning, through thick and thin,” Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy told Billboard.com.
============================
Etta James Not Beyonce Fan
Etta James has changed her mind over the performance of her song "At Last" by Beyonce at one of the President's Inaugural Balls. At the time, her son said that she was honored and thought it was great, but the audio from a recent concert has surfaced on the net where James says, "The great Beyonce ... I can't stand Beyonce. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever." Tell us how you really feel.
============================
More Stars For The Grammy's
We can add Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Allen Toussaint to the lalready long list of performers for Sunday night's Grammy Awards. Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Mayer and Keith Urban will salute the late Bo Diddley. Also look for a Four Tops salute with Duke Fakir, Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo.
============================
Pearl Jam Pumped Up To Hit The Studio
Pearl Jam is about to hit the studio for a two-week session in Los Angeles with producer Brendan O'Brien as it continues work on its ninth studio album, which the band plans to self-release in the United States.
After laying down some instrumental beds last summer, additional demos were put to tape in December, and the band's non-singing members formulated another batch of material during a recent trip to Montana.
Frontman Eddie Vedder "put rough vocals on about half the stuff we worked on in December," bassist Jeff Ament tells Billboard.com. "There's a handful of really great lyrics. Lyrically, that stuff is in the embryonic stage, but there's a handful of lines and a couple of choruses that are just really great. He keeps getting better."
"I saw [guitarist] Mike [McCready] last night and we were both talking about this song and that song," he continues. "One of the songs we decided would go down a whole step and he was asking me about a chord progression."
Read the rest here:
www.billboard.com
==================================
With 2009 comes a year of new territory for Ben Kweller. He has become an Austinite.
"I've just been wanting to do it for years... and there's no better town I'd rather live in," Kweller said. "It's the coolest place in the world, as far as I'm concerned."
Kweller's new vinyl album released Tuesday, "Changing Horses", also covers new ground with its consistent country sound.
"I did record it here in Austin, but I was still living in New York," he said. "I've been writing these songs for years. Some of them go back to the time I was 16 years old."
The "Changing Horses" vinyl album includes a free CD version.
============================
Pinhead Gunpowder to release Greatest Hits and discography
Recess Records have unveiled plans to release a Pinhead Gunpowder "Greatest Hits" album on CD and vinyl in March of this year.
The label has also confirmed plans to reissue the entire Pinhead Gunpowder discography on vinyl and CD in 2009. The label is aiming for a fall release of five albums including Jump Salty, Carry the Banner, Goodbye Ellston Avenue, Compulsive Disclosure and Shoot The Moon.
The band features members of Green Day and Crimpshrine.
============================
Jazzy Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi has been added to the New Orleans Jazz Fest as this year’s lineup continues to trend towards rock. The fest, taking place over the weekends of April 24-26th and April 30-May 3rd, also features Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, Kings of Leon, and Spoon among others.
============================
Wilco DVD
Wilco is helping out on Record Store Day, releasing their new live DVD "Ashes of American Flags" exclusively to the indie stores on April 18th, two weeks before its wide release.
“Without these stores, there’s just no way Wilco would still be around. They’ve been with us from the very beginning, through thick and thin,” Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy told Billboard.com.
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Etta James Not Beyonce Fan
Etta James has changed her mind over the performance of her song "At Last" by Beyonce at one of the President's Inaugural Balls. At the time, her son said that she was honored and thought it was great, but the audio from a recent concert has surfaced on the net where James says, "The great Beyonce ... I can't stand Beyonce. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever." Tell us how you really feel.
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More Stars For The Grammy's
We can add Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Allen Toussaint to the lalready long list of performers for Sunday night's Grammy Awards. Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Mayer and Keith Urban will salute the late Bo Diddley. Also look for a Four Tops salute with Duke Fakir, Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo.
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Pearl Jam Pumped Up To Hit The Studio
Pearl Jam is about to hit the studio for a two-week session in Los Angeles with producer Brendan O'Brien as it continues work on its ninth studio album, which the band plans to self-release in the United States.
After laying down some instrumental beds last summer, additional demos were put to tape in December, and the band's non-singing members formulated another batch of material during a recent trip to Montana.
Frontman Eddie Vedder "put rough vocals on about half the stuff we worked on in December," bassist Jeff Ament tells Billboard.com. "There's a handful of really great lyrics. Lyrically, that stuff is in the embryonic stage, but there's a handful of lines and a couple of choruses that are just really great. He keeps getting better."
"I saw [guitarist] Mike [McCready] last night and we were both talking about this song and that song," he continues. "One of the songs we decided would go down a whole step and he was asking me about a chord progression."
Read the rest here:
www.billboard.com
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