Classic Album Cover Art - Pink Floyd Division Bell

Pink Floyd: ‘The Division Bell’ The Division Bell is the final studio album by Pink Floyd, released in 1994 (March 30 in the UK and April 5 in the US), and also was the second album without original bassist Roger Waters. It was recorded at a number of studios, including guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour's houseboat studio called The Astoria. The album went to #1 in the UK and debuted at the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 album charts in April 1994, spending four weeks as the top album in the country. The Division Bell was certified Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum in the U.S. in June 1994 and Triple Platinum in January 1999.

The cover artwork, by long-time Pink Floyd collaborator Storm Thorgerson, shows two metal head sculptures sculpted by John Robertson, each over three metres tall and weighing 1500 kilograms. They were placed in a field and photographed under all weather and lighting conditions over a two-week period, sometimes even using visual effects such as lights between them. Ely Cathedral is visible in the background, as are lights (actually car headlights on poles), shown through the sculptures' mouths. The sculptures are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The cover photograph is slightly different on each format, and between the United States Columbia and British EMI releases. The Braille writing on the EMI CD jewel case spells Pink Floyd.

Recording:

“We started off by going into Nick's studio, Britannia Row studio in London, in January 1993 with myself, Nick [Mason], and Rick [Wright], and Guy [Pratt], the bass player from our last tour. And we just jammed away at anything for two weeks, just playing anything that we had in our heads or that we made up on the spot. And then we took all that over to Astoria and started listening to all the tapes and working stuff out. We found that we had 65 pieces of music, which we worked on all of to a certain extent, and then we started adding these things. We had a couple of sessions which we called 'The Big Listen' where we listened to all these 65, and all the people involved with it voted on each track, on each piece of music as to how popular it was with them. And so we then arranged these 65 pieces of music in order of popularity amongst the band, and then we dumped 40 of them, and worked on the top 25, which in fact became the top 27 because a couple more got added in. And so the process went on from there with us working away on all these pieces of music and gradually either merging pieces together or scrapping them until we finally were down to about twelve to fifteen things that we all kind of liked. And in the end one or two of them went by the way, and we were left with eleven on the album, I think. ” -David Gilmour, Questions and Answers with David Gilmour.

Notes:

Pink Floyd took their album on tour in 1994 where most of the songs were played, but never all on the same night. "Keep Talking", "Take It Back" and "High Hopes" were a staple of the performances and were present every night, and "Coming Back to Life" nearly so; others like "Poles Apart", "What Do You Want From Me" and "A Great Day For Freedom" flip-flopped every night.

Additional album artwork. Two additional 7.5 metres tall stone head sculptures were made by Aden Hynes and photographed in the same manner; although they do not appear in the CD artwork, they appeared on the cassette cover, and can be seen in the tour brochure and elsewhere.

The artwork inside the lyric booklet revolves around a similar theme, except the heads are made up of various other objects, such as newspapers ("A Great Day for Freedom"), coloured glass ("Poles Apart"), and boxing gloves ("Lost for Words"). Pages two and three portray a picture from La Silla observatory.

The album was received mostly poorly by professional critics despite its strong sales. Jerry McCully of Amazon.com said of the album in his editorial review that "The Division Bell is not a great Pink Floyd album, but an all-too-fallible simulation".

Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly echoed McCully's sentiment, giving the album a grade of "D" and saying that "avarice is the only conceivable explanation for this glib, vacuous cipher of an album, which is notable primarily for its stomach-turning merger of progressive-rock pomposity and New Age noodling".

Tom Graves of Rolling Stone criticized lead guitarist David Gilmour's performance on the album, stating that his guitar solos "were once the band's centerpieces, as articulate, melodic and well-defined as any in rock, [but] he now has settled into rambling, indistinct asides that are as forgettable as they used to be indelible", adding that "only on 'What Do You Want from Me' does Gilmour sound like he cares.”

Rock/Pop Tidbits

A race running the route described in the song "Dead Man's Curve", from Hollywood and Vine to Sunset and Doheny, would have covered 4.5 miles. If it were extended to the real "dead man's curve" near UCLA, it would have been a drag race of 8.7 miles.

The Beach Boys' 1966 hit, "Caroline, No" was originally titled "Carol, I Know".

After Jan Berry of Jan and Dean was seriously injured in a car accident on April 12, 1966 and could no longer perform, his partner Dean Torrence formed a graphics design company that was responsible for over 200 album covers including "The Turtles Golden Hits", nine for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and several for Harry Nilsson. He won a Grammy Award for Best Album Cover of the Year in 1972 for the LP "Pollution" by the group of the same name and was nominated on three other occasions.

In 1956, entertainer Jackie Gleason said of Elvis Presley, "He can’t last, I tell you flatly, he can’t last."

The Recording Industry Association of American began certifying recordings as Gold on March 14th, 1958 to recognize records that sold over 500,000 copies. The first Gold plaque was presented to Perry Como for his hit single, "Catch A Falling Star". Four months later, the cast album to "Oklahoma" sung by Gordon Macrae became the first official Gold album. In 1976, because of booming record sales, the RIAA created a new platinum award, for singles that sell in excess of 2 million copies and an album that sells 1 million units. The first platinum single was Johnnie Taylor's "Disco Lady", and the first platinum album went to the Eagles for their "Greatest Hits 1971-1975". On March 16, 1999, the RIAA launched the Diamond Awards, honoring sales of 10 million copies or more of an album or single. Awards were presented to AC/DC, The Eagles, and Metallica.

On February 14th, 1977, singer / songwriter Janis Ian received 461 Valentine's day cards after indicating in the lyrics of her 1975, number 3 hit "At Seventeen", she had never received any. (The valentines I never knew, The Friday night charades of youth, Were spent on one more beautiful, At seventeen I learned the truth)

According to Paul Anka, who appeared with Buddy Holly on some of the Winter Dance Party tour before the plane crash that took Holly's life, Buddy had plans to take flying lessons when the tour was over.

On Sunday, February 10th, 1964, the night that the Beatles made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, an estimated 73 million viewers watched on TV, with over 45 percent of all sets in the US tuned in. The crime rate among American teenagers dropped to nearly zero that night.

Friends of The Raiders leader, Paul Revere, say that in high school, his name was Revere Dick and he had a brother named Sly.

Little Richard's 1958 Top Ten hit "Good Golly Miss Molly" says that Miss Molly "sure likes to ball..." At the time it was on the charts, Richard was enrolled a bible college.



Producer Terry Melcher called upon song writers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil to come up with something for Paul Revere And The Raiders. They sent him a song called "Kicks", which they had originally written hoping it would help get a friend of theirs off drugs.

In 1962, Mersyside Newspaper held a contest to see who was the most popular band in Liverpool. The Beatles were the winners, partly because they called in posing as different people, voting for themselves.

In 1972, David Bowie declared that he was a homosexual, only to deny it in the 1980’s. Finally, Bowie admitted what he really was-a ‘trisexual’. He explained: “I’ll try anything once.”

Shock rocker Sid Vicious died in February, 1979 from an overdose of heroin that was bought for him by his mother, who was present when he injected it.

George Martin, who produced The Beatles most successful recordings, first rose to prominence by recording comedy records.

In 1962, when Johnny Carson took over the NBC "Tonight Show" from Jack Parr, he commissioned Paul Anka for a new theme song. Paul suggested a song that he had already written called "Toot Sweet". After a lyric was added in 1959 it was re-named "It's Really Love" and under that title, was recorded by Annette Funicello on her LP, "Annette Sings". Under a deal with Anka, Johnny became the "author" for copyright purposes and got a piece of not only the publishing but the composer's share too. Both Anka and Carson's names were listed as writers and the two began collecting BMI performance royalties. The pair got $200 in royalties every time the show aired...and it ran for 32 years, 52 weeks a year, 5 nights a week -- which works out to $1,664,000.00 -- not bad for an old tune that had been re-cycled twice before.

There is a five way tie for the shortest title of a song to make it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The songs are: The Jacksons' "ABC", Edwin Starr's "War", Frankie Avalon's "Why", and Michael Jackson's "Ben" and "Bad".

Roberta Flack recorded "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" as an album cut for her 1969 debut LP "First Take". Three years later, Clint Eastwood remembered hearing the song and included it in his film "Play Misty For Me", causing Atlantic Records to re-edit and rush release the song as a single. Six weeks later, it was the number one song in the US, where it stayed for six weeks.

During a December, 1974 interview, TV talk show host Dick Cavett asked David Bowie what his mother thought of his act. He replied "She pretends I'm not hers."

This Date In Music History-September 11

Birthdays:

Charles Patrick - Monotones (1938)

Bernie Dwyer - Freddie and the Dreamers (1940)

Mickey Hart - Grateful Dead (1944)

Phil May - Pretty Things (1944)

Leo Kottke (1945)

Dennis Tufano - Buckinghams (1948)

Guitarist Henry Kaiser (1952)

Tommy Shaw - Styx and Damn Yankees (1953)

John Moss - Adam & the Ants, Bow Wow Wow and Culture Club (1957)

Mick Talbot - Style Council (1958)

Moby (Richard Melville Hall) (1965)

Pianist Harry Connick, Jr. (1967)

Richard Ashcroft - The Verve (1971)

Jonny Buckland - Coldplay (1977)

Ludacris (Chris Bridges) (1977)



They Are Missed:

Reggae star Peter Tosh was shot and killed in his home in Kingston, Jamaica in 1987. Police say Tosh was shot in the head after he refused to give money to robbers. He was 42.

Lorne Greene ("Ringo") died of complications of prostate cancer in 1987.

Great tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine died in 2000 (age 66).

American lyricist Fred Ebb died of a heart attack at his home in New York City in 2004. Co-wrote, ‘New York, New York’ and ‘Chicago’ and worked with Liza Minnelli.

Grammy-award winning guitarist and singer Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown died in Texas in 2005 (age 81). Recorded with Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder and Frank Zappa during a career that spanned 50 years.



History:

In 1847, "Oh, Susannah" was sung in public for the first time. Stephen Foster sold the rights to the song for a bottle of whiskey.

In 1952, Ahmet Ertegun began recording his newest signing, 21 year old Ray Charles at Atlantic Records on West 56th St in New York City. Ertegun had purchased the singers contract from the Swingtime label for $2,500.

Police were called to break up a crowd of rowdy teenagers following the showing of the film Rock Around The Clock at the Trocadero Cinema in London, England in 1956. The following day, The Times printed a reader's letter that said: "The hypnotic rhythm and the wild gestures have a maddening effect on a rhythm loving age group and the result of its impact is the relaxing of all self control." The film was quickly banned in several English cities. Damn that rock and roll!

Judy Garland started a 13-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1961 with "Judy At Carnegie Hall."

In 1961, after George Martin insisted that session drummer Andy White took Ringo Starr's place, The Beatles returned to EMI Studios in London for a third attempt at recording their first single. ‘Love Me Do’ was selected to be The Beatles' first A-side, with "P.S. I Love You" on the flip side (a reversal of the original plan). The single that was released on October 5th featured a version of ‘Love Me Do’ with Ringo on drums, but the album ‘Please Please Me’ included a version with Andy White on drums.

A two-record "bootleg" set of Bob Dylan songs, called "The Great White Wonder" first appeared in a Los Angeles record store in 1963. It's believed to be the first bootleg album.

Beatle George Harrison formed his own song publishing company, Harrissongs, in 1964.

In 1964, a 16-year-old youth won a Mick Jagger impersonation contest at The Town Hall Greenwich. The winner turned out to be Mick's younger brother Chris Jagger. Can anyone say Ringer?

The Beatles started a nine-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1965 with "Help!," the group's sixth US chart topper.

The Gentry's "Keep on Dancing" entered the Hot 100 in 1965 where it stays for 13 weeks. It get up to #4. It will be the group's biggest hit.



The Rolling Stones hit #1 in England in 1965 with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Frank Sinatra was denied credit at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in 1967 and breaks two teeth in the resulting fight.

Filming began for The Beatles ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ in 1967. There was no script, nor a very clear idea of exactly what was to be accomplished, not even a clear direction about where the bus was supposed to go. The ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ bus set off for the West Country in England stopping for the night in Teignmouth, Devon were hundreds of fans greeted The Beatles at their hotel.

The Beatles's "All You Need Is Love" was certified as a million-seller in 1967.



The Beatles recorded 34 takes of "Glass Onion" in 1968.

Donny Osmond started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1971 with "Go Away Little Girl." The singer's only US solo chart topper. The song had also been a #1 for Steve Lawrence in 1963.

Also in 1971, "The Jackson Five" animated TV series debuts on ABC. The show featured the voices of the five brothers.

Janis Ian earns her first gold record in 1975 for the album "Between the Lines." The album contains her single "At Seventeen," which was climbing the charts and ultimately peaking at #3.

KC and the Sunshine Band went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1976 with '(Shake Shake Shake), Shake Your Body," the group's third US #1 (a #22 hit in the UK).

In 1977, David Bowie accepted Bing Crosby's invitation to appear as a special guest on Bing's annual Christmas television special. Bowie and Bing sing duets on "Little Drummer Boy" and "Peace on Earth." The songs were recorded for Crosby's album Merrie Olde Christmas LP.

In 1979, The Who made their first US concert performance since the death of drummer Keith Moon. It's at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey and with Kenny Jones on drums.

"Valley Girl" by Frank Zappa and his daughter Moon Unit peaked at #32 on the singles chart in 1982.

In 1983, John Cougar's American Fool LP topped the charts. Cougar becomes the first artist in over a year and a half to have the #1 album, "American Fool," and two singles in the top ten, "Jack & Diane" and "Hurt So Good," in the same week.

Bruce Springsteen broke the attendance record at Philadelphia's Spectrum in 1984 when 16,800 fans attend the first of six sold-out shows.

In 1988, Michael Jackson appeared at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England on his Bad World Tour. Over 3,000 fans were treated by the St. John Ambulance service for passing out, hysteria and being crushed amongst the crowd of 125,000 fans, the largest concert of the 123-date world tour.

Mariah Carey started a eight week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1993 with 'Dreamlover'.

In 1995, Green Day told a British magazine that they turned down an invitation to perform on "Sesame Street" because "we couldn't handle a mosh pit full of 5 year olds."

Janet Jackson's "Runaway" made history in 1995 by becoming the first single by a woman to make its debut in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100.

Noel Gallagher walked out on the rest of Oasis half way through an American tour in 1996 after a fight with his brother Liam in a hotel in Charlotte North Carolina. Noel flew back to London the following day. Babies.....

In 1996, for the first time, a new single by a major recording artist was released exclusively on the Internet. David Bowie's "Telling Lies" was released on Bowie's web site, where it was available for 24 hours.

In 2003, Tommy Chong, one-half of the comedy team of Cheech and Chong, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. The 65 year-old Chong pled guilty to the charges last May. He remained free until April, 2004, when he went to jail.

In 2006, a study from the University of Leicester found that more than a quarter of classical music fans had tried cannabis. Researchers were trying to find out what people's taste in music revealed about their lifestyles. The UK study also revealed that blues buffs are the most likely to have received a driving penalty. Hip hop and dance music fans were more likely to have multiple sex partners and were among the biggest drug-takers surveyed. More than 2,500 people were interviewed for the study, which was published in the scientific journal Psychology of Music.

Music News & Notes

Rolling Stones Reissuing “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!” With Big Bonuses

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ya-Ya’s!, ABKCO is set to release a remastered deluxe and super-deluxe edition of the live album, a three-disc/one-DVD box set complete with five unreleased songs from the MSG shows and a DVD featuring the Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out film directed by the Maysles Brothers — the documentary team behind the Stones’ classic Gimme Shelter. In the film, the Stones hang out with Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead, mess around during the Ya-Ya’s cover shoot, perform the five unreleased songs and much more.

Additionally, one disc in the set will be dedicated to the sets from the MSG shows’ two opening acts, B.B. King and Ike & Tina Turner. The set will also include a replica poster and a 56-page booklet featuring photos, essays, Lester Bangs’ original Rolling Stone review of the album and much more. The “super-deluxe” version of the box set will also house a three picture disc vinyl version of Ya-Ya’s, complete with etched cover images and the Stones’ signatures, as well as an enlarged version of the replica poster and 56-page booklet. To top it all off, the box set will come with a voucher allowing fans to download the Ya-Ya’s version of the Stones’ “I’m Free” for Guitar Hero 5.

The deluxe box will hit shelves November 3rd, while the super deluxe set arrives two weeks later on November 17th. Check out the track list below:

Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stone In Concert – 40th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set

Disc 1: Get Yer Ya-Ya;s Out (remastered)
1. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
2. “Carol”
3. “Stray Cat Blues”
4. “Love In Vain”
5. “Midnight Rambler”
6. “Sympathy For The Devil”
7. “Live With Me”
8. “Little Queenie”
9. “Honky Tonk Women”
10. “Street Fighting Man”

Disc 2: unreleased Rolling Stones tracks
1. “Prodigal Son”
2. “You Gotta Move”
3 “Under My Thumb”
4. “I’m Free”
5. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Disc 3:
1. “Everyday I Have The Blues”
2. “How Blue Can You Get”
3. “That’s Wrong Little Mama”
4. “Why I Sing The Blues”
5. “Please Accept My Love”
6. “Gimme Some Loving”
7. “Sweet Soul Music”
8. “Son Of A Preacher Man”
9. “Proud Mary”
10. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”
11. “Come Together”
12. “Land Of 1000 Dances”
Tracks 1 - 5: B.B. King
Tracks 6 - 12: Ike & Tina Turner

DVD: Maysles Brothers’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out
1. “Prodigal Son”
2. “You Gotta Move”
3. “Under My Thumb”
4. “I’m Free”
5. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

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Special Edition Swift CD Set For Oct. Release


A new Platinum Edition of Taylor Swift’s Fearless album is headed for stores in time for the holiday sales rush. Big Machine Records will release the CD/DVD set on Oct. 27, containing new music and video extras such as her video collaboration with T-Pain on “Thug Story,” and exclusive new behind-the-scenes photos shot by Taylor’s brother, Austin K. Swift.

Fearless, named 2009’s Album of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, was originally released by Big Machine in November of 2008. Now quadruple-platinum, Fearless has spent more weeks in the No. 1 position atop Billboard’s Top 200 all-genre CD sales chart than any other album this decade. Yesterday, Fearless was nominated for Album of the Year by the Country Music Association. Swift also received CMA nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.

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Beatles Reissues Sales Figures For UK & US

According to Britain's Official Chart Company, the Beatles will be placing five albums in the top 20 on the British Album charts and 15 albums in the top 75 when the new charts come out next week. While some were expecting that the Fab Four would top the charts, it's unlikely as sales are spread over a number of single releases and the box sets.

Abbey Road and Sgt. Peppers are dominating, but the Stereo Box Set is also selling well, coming in as the fourth biggest after one day on the market.

America's Hits Daily Double released their estimates of first week sales in the U.S. and it's extraordinary, especially for albums that are already in so many people's collections already.

Projecting on retailer reports over the first two days of availability, it is appearing that the 16 titles (14 albums plus two box sets) will sell close to 500,000 copies for the week. Individual titles are headed by Abbey Road with sales of between 70 and 75,000 while Sgt. Pepper and the White Album are looking at 50 to 55,000.

The full list with estimates:

1.Abbey Road (70 to 75,000)
2.Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (50 to 55,000)
3.Beatles (White Album) (50 to 55,000)
4.Rubber Soul (40 to 45,000)
5.Revolver (35 to 40,000)
6.Past Masters (27 to 30,000)
7.Help! (25 to 28,000)
8.Let It Be (24 to 27,000)
9.Magical Mystery Tour (24 to 27,000)
10.Stereo Box Set (24 to 26,000)
11.Hard Day's Night (22 to 25,000)
12.Please Please Me (19 to 22,000)
13.Beatles For Sale (17 to 20,000)
14.With the Beatles (17 to 20,000)
15.Yellow Submarine (12 to 15,000)
16.Mono Box Set (9 to 11,000)

Amazing for a band that broke up 40 years ago.

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Paul McCartney: 'The Beatles Took Too Many Drugs'


Sir Paul McCartney has spoken about the copious amount of drugs The Beatles consumed in their career and expressed dismay at how they managed to survive the period.

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, he said, 'We were overdoing substances and really getting crazy, as we all were.

"We'd be falling asleep, the kinda thing when you can hardly get your head off the pillow. You go, 'Woah, I'd better get my head off this pillow.'

However some experiences on drugs led to writing The Beatles classic Let It Be.

McCartney said, "I had a dream, where my mother, who had been dead, by then, 10 years came to me in the dream and was very sort of helpful and very calming, and it was lovely just to see her... and she said, 'Don't worry about it... Let it be.'

'I went, 'OK', and I felt so good... and I woke up and wrote Let It Be. I thought, 'That's a good idea for a song.

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Phil Collins Reveals He Can No Longer Play Drums

Phil Collins has told the Mirror in the U.K. that, due to recent spinal surgery, he can no longer play the drums or piano and is not sure if he ever will be able to again.

Collins told the paper that, after years of sitting in a certain position to play drums, his vertebrae were crushing his spinal chord. He had surgery for the situation, but the end result is that he cannot hold his drumsticks.

Phil told the paper, It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through.

But don't worry, I can still sing."

Collins says that he is very sad over the situation, but is keeping an upbeat attitude. "There isn't any drama regarding my 'disability' and playing drums. Somehow during the last Genesis tour I dislocated some vertebrae in my upper neck and that affected my hands. After a successful operation on my neck, my hands still can't function normally.

"Maybe in a year or so it will change, but for now it is impossible for me to play drums or piano. I am not in any 'distressed' state...stuff happens in life."

Rock/Pop Tidbits

While talking on the phone with his mother, Disc Jockey Murray The K mentioned that he and Bobby Darin were soaking their feet after playing a game of softball in Central Park. A few minutes later, she called back to say that she had an idea for a song - "Splish, Splash, take a bath..." Murray and Bobby began sorting out some lyrics while Murray's mother, Jean, who had been a vaudeville piano player, finished the melody. It became the first of Bobby's 22 US Top 40 hits when it reached #3 in the Summer of 1958.

The Beatles recorded two different versions of the song "Strawberry Fields Forever". One was a half-tone higher and slightly faster than the other. The group couldn't decide which rendition they liked better and finally asked producer George Martin if he could put them together somehow. When one was slowed down, it fit perfectly with the other, resulting in the song we know today.

Apparently, Little Richard was not a real smart child. As a lad, he wanted to give one of his neighbors a ‘creative gift.’ But his neighbor, Miz Ola screamed when she opened her present. It seems young Richard thought that defecating in a box and wrapping it up as a present for his elderly friend would be a good gift for her. Little Richard stated in his autobiography: “God bless Miz Ola, she’s dead now.” No word on if he selected other neighbors to receive his thoughtful gift.

When Malcolm Young and Angus Young named their band AC/DC, they apparently didn’t realize that the electrical term was also slang for bisexual. But the ambiguous name helped them out in the beginning as the group was hired to play many gay-themed gigs. Work is work, I guess.

In the early days, the Bee Gees were so desperate to sell their records that they actually gave members of their fan club money to go out and but their records. Thankfully, there were only six members in the fan club or the trio would be broke.

Ironically, only Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was the group’s only surfer.

Antoine "Fats" Domino came by his nickname because he stood 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 225 lb.

Fats Domino's 1956, US #2 hit, "Blueberry Hill" was originally a number one hit for big band leader Glen Miller in 1940.

When Elvis Presley was inducted into the US Army on March 24th, 1958, Uncle Sam started losing an estimated $500,000 in lost taxes for each year that Private Presley served.

Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead was brought in as a session musician to play steel guitar on Brewer and Shipley's March, 1971 hit, "One Toke Over The Line".

Michael Jackson was just five years old when the Jackson Five played their first professional gig. Their fee for the night was only eight dollars, but they collected over one hundred dollars in money tossed on the stage.

The music business is hard on a marriage. Paul Revere has been married six times. Jerry Lee Lewis, Kenny Rogers and Tammy Wynette have each been married five times. James Brown, Glen Campbell and Peggy Lee have been married four times.

Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson were not the first group in the rock and roll era to call themselves The Supremes. An all male quartet from Columbus, Ohio used the name on a 1957 single called "Just You And I" and Ruby and the Romantics, who had a number one US hit with "Our Day Will Come" in 1963, started out as The Supremes.

The Guess Who performed at The White House during the Nixon administration, but were asked not to perform their #1 hit "American Woman" because of its' anti-U.S. establishment lyrics.



According to Rolling Stone magazine, The Young Rascals were surprised by the success of "Good Lovin". Felix Cavaliere admitted, "We weren't too pleased with our performance. It was a shock to us when it went to the top of the charts."

Although Jerry Lee Lewis received a lot of bad press for marrying his 13 year old second cousin, Jerry's sister Linda Gail first married at 14 and another sister, Frankie Jean, first married at age 12.

When song writer Burt Bacharach asked B.J. Thomas to sing "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" for the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, he neglected to tell Thomas that the song had already been turned down by Bob Dylan and Ray Stevens.

Buddy Holly's drummer, Jerry Allison played drums on The Everly Brothers 1959 hit "Til I Kissed You".

Songwriter Hoyt Axton once revealed that the first line of "Joy To The World", Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was never intended to be in the song. It was just a fill-in line he used until he could come up with better lyrics. He pitched the tune to Three Dog Night when they toured together and they ended up recording it "as is."

George Harrison expressed his feelings about the break-up of The Beatles by saying: "The saddest thing was actually getting fed up with one another."

TOP TEN BIGGEST RECORD-COMPANY SCREWUPS OF ALL TIME

Youth Movement

#10 Columbia Records loses Alicia Keys, drops 50 Cent

Columbia had a way with young talent in the late ’90s and early ’00s. First, after plunking down a reported $400,000 to sign Alicia Keys, they turned her over to high-priced producers who tried to transform her into Whitney Houston. Frustrated, she bolted—and signed with J Records, where she has sold more than 20 million albums to date. Around the same time, another languishing Columbia prospect, 50 Cent, recorded “How to Rob” in a desperate attempt to get his label to notice him. But when he was shot nine times in 2000, skittish execs dumped him—and then watched as he became an unstoppable one-man money factory at Interscope.

Unintended consequence Fedoras and bullet¬proof vests become essential urban-fashion accessories.



Spy Game

#9 “Digital-rights management” backfires even more badly than usual

In a 2005 effort to combat digital piracy, Sony BMG packaged millions of CDs with copy-protection software that automatically installed a “rootkit” on users’ PCs, which, in addition to preventing consumers from making more than three copies of their legally purchased CD, also made them vulnerable to viruses and hackers. Sony BMG initially downplayed the problem, but after the Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory, the label recalled more than 4 million CDs. Sony was accused of spying on its customers’ listening habits and was forced to pay several million dollars to settle class-action lawsuits that alleged violations of spyware laws and deceptive trade practices.

Unintended consequence Radiohead offer up In Rainbows for a bargain pay-what-you-like price.



Rap Attack

#8 Warner junks Interscope

When anti-rap crusaders wanted to deliver a body blow to hip-hop, they took aim at the Warner Music Group, because its corporate parent, Time Warner, was American-owned and publicly traded. When Ice-T’s “Cop Killer” became too hot to handle, Warner Music dropped him, but the label still enjoyed huge rap hits—particularly through Death Row Records, partially owned by their Interscope label. But when Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole attacked Warner Music in his stump speech, Time Warner panicked, ordering the sale of Interscope to rival Universal. Universal soon became the biggest record company in the world—in large measure due to Interscope hits by Tupac, Dr. Dre and Eminem. Warner Music went on a long slide and was finally sold in 2004.

Unintended consequence Time Warner shareholders never have to worry about who killed Tupac.



Something’s Happening, But You Don’t Know What It Is

#7 Music publisher gives away Bob Dylan

In the early 1960s Leeds/Duchess was a legendary music-publishing company but far from the hippest: It knew Tin Pan Alley but couldn’t find a Greenwich Village coffeehouse with a compass. Yet when Columbia signed Bob Dylan in 1961, they steered him to Leeds, where he happily signed a publishing deal with a $1,000 advance. The following year, Dylan’s new manager, Albert Grossman, got out of the deal with the disinterested publisher simply by repaying the $1,000. Dylan’s new publisher, the savvier M. Witmark & Sons, received 237 songs—many of them future standards worth tens of millions of dollars—in just the first three years.

Unintended consequence The receptionists at Leeds/Duchess never have to field calls asking what “All Along the Watchtower” is really about.



Nothing Exceeds Like Excess

#6 Casablanca rides strong sales straight to the poorhouse

No record label represents the coked-up inanity of the late ’70s like disco-driven behemoth Casablanca. In 1978, the label simultaneously shipped a million copies of four solo albums by each member of their biggest rock act, Kiss, so they could justifiably claim the records “shipped platinum.” The albums sold well—but not that well. Record stores returned hundreds of thousands of unsold copies, inspiring comedian Robert Klein to joke that Casablanca’s releases “shipped gold and returned platinum.” The label continued to lose millions a year throughout the late ’70s, until part-owner PolyGram Records bought out founder Neil Bogart for $15 million in 1980.

Unintended consequence Hey, man—400,000 extra surfaces to snort drugs from!



Whoa, Mama

#5 The RIAA sues a struggling single mom for digital piracy

n In the court of public opinion, it’s hard to find a more sympathetic defendant than a single mother of two, earning $36,000 a year. So what in the name of common decency was the Recording Industry Association of America thinking when it went after 30-year-old Jammie Thomas from Brainerd, Minnesota? The RIAA accused Thomas of using the P2P service Kazaa to illegally share mp3 files of 24 songs, including Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” and Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills.” Thomas pleaded not guilty, blaming the shared files on mistaken identity, but last October a jury disagreed and fined her $222,000. That breaks down to a whopping $9,250 per song—more than six times her annual salary. At press time, Thomas was planning an appeal.

Unintended consequence The nation’s toddlers and fluffy kittens rush to erase their hard drives.



Pay (Somebody Else) To Play

#4 Indie promoters take the major labels to the cleaners

After the payola scandals of the ’50s, the government barred record labels from paying radio stations to play records. The solution: set up middlemen to do the dirty work! “Independent promoters” represented the labels’ interests to radio programmers, creating a massive cash flow of corruption. Even a mid-size hit could cost $700,000 in promo expenses—cash, vacations, drugs and other illicit rewards for mustachioed DJs—and labels ended up paying to get airplay for huge artists the stations would have spun anyway. A lot of coked-up DJs got nice tans, while the labels spent unnecessary millions and covered their balance sheets in bloody red.

Unintended consequence Colombian GDP spikes each time Mariah Carey releases a single.



Detroit At a Discount

#3 Motown sells for a pittance

In 1988 Berry Gordy Jr., reportedly losing millions of dollars on the label he had founded decades earlier, sold Motown and its incomparable back catalogue to MCA and investment company Boston Ventures for $60 million. How bad was that price? The next year, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss sold their A&M Records to PolyGram for roughly $500 million. In 1990, David Geffen got about $700 million for Geffen Records and in ’92, Richard Branson unloaded Virgin Records to EMI for $960 million. And five years after buying Motown, Boston Ventures cashed out, selling the label to PolyGram for $325 million—a return of more than 500 percent.

Unintended consequence The Motown Atlantic airline, and Berry’s career as a trans-global balloonist, have yet to materialize.



Tomorrow Never Knows

#2 Decca Records A&R exec tells Fab Four, “No, thanks”

Dick Rowe was not the only record-label executive who passed on the Beatles in the early ’60s, but he was the only one who brushed off their manager, Brian Epstein, with the astute prediction that: “Groups with guitars are on their way out.” Epstein begged Rowe to reconsider, so Rowe hopped a train to Liverpool to check out the band live. When he arrived at the Cavern, he found a mob of kids trying to force their way into the club in the pouring rain. Annoyed, he smoked a cigarette, went home and signed Brian Poole and the Tremeloes instead.

Unintended consequence The Monkees.



THE BIGGEST RECORD-COMPANY SCREWUP OF ALL TIME

#1 Major labels squash Napster

Shawn Fanning’s file-sharing service attracted tens of millions of users, but instead of trying to find a way to capitalize on it, the Recording Industry Association of America rejected Napster’s billion-dollar settlement offer and sued it out of existence in 2001. Napster’s users didn’t just disappear. They scattered to hundreds of alternative systems—and new technology has stayed three steps ahead of the music business ever since. The labels’ campaign to stop their music from being acquired for free across the Internet has been like trying to cork a hurricane—upward of a billion files are swapped every month on peer-to-peer networks. Since Napster closed, “there’s been no decline in the rate of online piracy,” says Eric Garland of media analysts BigChampagne, who logged users of son-of-Napster peer-to-peer networks more than doubling between 2002 and 2007. And that figure doubles again if you count BitTorrent.

Music News & Notes

THE FEW AGAINST MANY: Entire Debut Album Available For Streaming -

"Sot", the debut album from former SCAR SYMMETRY vocalist Christian Älvestam's THE FEW AGAINST MANY project (in which he plays rhythm guitar and sings), is available for streaming in its entirety at Terrorizer.com. (Note: The stream will be available until September 13.)

"Sot" will be released on September 15 via Pulverised Records. The effort will be made available in a super jewel box format and limited digipack format edition. "Sot" will also receive an exclusive vinyl version edition release, also via Pulverised. It will be available in two different formats: gatefold sleeve with black vinyl and gatefold sleeve with picture-disc vinyl (both formats will be strictly limited to 250 copies each).

"Sot" ("Soot" in English) was recorded at Panic Room studios with producer Tomas "Plec" Johansson and features lyrical contributions from Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILITY) and Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA, BLOODBATH). The cover artwork (see below) was created by acclaimed artist Dan Seagrave (MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, SUFFOCATION).

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

X Classic Gets 180 Gram Vinyl Reissue

(PR) It's no secret that vinyl is back and the demand for this format is soaring. So, we at Porterhouse Records have created a new imprint, Prime Vinyl specifically focusing on releasing fan favorites and out-of-print gems in the 12" vinyl format.

The first scheduled Prime Vinyl release will be "Wild Gift," the second studio album from Los Angeles' greatest punk rock act ever X, which will arrive in stores October 6, 2009.

Hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as "the finest American punk album ever" "Wild Gift" has long been considered one of the most relevant recordings of it's time and stands as a landmark to the originality and creativity of the Los Angeles quartet. Out of print in vinyl format for well over 15 years, long time fans will appreciate the time and care that has gone into creating this re-issue product. Including re-mastered audio at today's highest standards, 180 Gram premium vinyl and dead accurate artwork and lyric sheet reproductions as per the original Slash and Electra releases.

Prime Vinyl, will be releasing 3 of the bands first 4 albums in their original format. "Under The Big Black Sun", and "More Fun In Then New World", will also be getting the treatment, and are scheduled for release in the spring of 2010. The members of X themselves are overseeing and will approve all of these re-issues to ensure that they are true to the originals in every way. We look forward to bringing these titles to X fans everywhere.

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

Switchfoot Set New Album Release

On November 10, Atlantic Records will release Hello Hurricane, the seventh full-length album from the multi-Platinum, San Diego-based rock band Switchfoot.
Hello Hurricane is the group's first album on Atlantic Records and its first studio album since 2006's Oh! Gravity, which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200. Switchfoot has been hard at work on Hello Hurricane, tracking more than 80 songs at the band's self-built home studio and selecting the very best of them for the record. The band recorded the album with noted producer/bassist Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Rilo Kiley, Eminem, and Pink). The edgy, driving lead single "Mess of Me" goes for adds at Modern and Active Rock radio this month.

The back-to-basics approach employed has yielded a career-defining album that lead singer Jon Foreman views as "a new beginning." Elizondo's unique background facilitated a departure for the band, allowing it to build on SWITCHFOOT's foundation, punctuated by hard-hitting instrumentation and soaring choruses, and elevating the music to a new level.

"Hello Hurricane acknowledges the storms that tear through our lives," states Foreman. "This album is an attempt to respond to those storms with an element of hope, trying to understand what it means to be hopeful in a world that keeps on spinning."

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

Lost John Lennon Interviews Published

Nightwatcher reports: A series of interviews with late Beatles legend John Lennon have been published - revealing the star's thoughts on his bandmate Paul McCartney and the Fab Four's split. The interviews also include previously unpublished chats with McCartney and Ringo Starr by British journalist Ray Connolly.

In one of the tapes, recorded in 1969, Lennon is heard praising McCartney's musical ability at a time when the legendary band was on the verge of splitting up and after he was rumored to have dismissed his pal's work as pop ditties. Lennon tells Connolly, "(For No One from the Revolver album) that was one of the good ones. All his semi-classical ones are best, actually. I suppose it was a bit hard on him... I only ever asked two people to work with me as a partner. One was Paul McCartney and the other Yoko Ono."

Lennon also opens up about the reasons behind the band's split, insisting he wanted to initiate the break up months before they parted ways in 1970 - but they stayed together in case it damaged sales of their album Let It Be.

In another taped interview two years after the split, Lennon adds,"The whole thing died in my mind long before the rumpus started. We used to believe the Beatles myth just as much as the public and we were in love with them just the same way. But we were four individuals who eventually recovered our individualities (sic) after being submerged in a myth."

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

Big Star Boxed Set

Rhino is releasing Big Star's 4-disc boxed set which includes 98 tracks spanning from 1968-1975. This power pop band created music that turned artists as diverse as Cheap Trick, R.E.M., and The Replacements into Big Star fans. The 4-disc boxed set, Keep an Eye on the Sky, includes extensive liner notes, rare and never-before-seen photos, and insightful essays about the cult of Big Star and the band's history. These influential tracks will be released September 15, 2009.

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

Lennon would have liked computer game

JOHN LENNON would have been very "amused" if he'd seen himself immortalised on a computer game.

Sir Paul McCartney said if Lennon and his other former Beatles bandmate George Harrison, were still alive today, they would have "seen the point" of The Beatles: Rock Band, released on September 9 for Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Speaking to Observer Music Magazine, McCartney said: "For us, lets remember that the central thing is our music is getting played. That's the bottom line. I'm sure John and George would have thought, 'Hey, what a clever idea'."

But he admitted that his first impression of Rock Band was quite negative.

He said when he first saw it, he described it as "a couple of grown-ups standing looking very foolish with these little plastic guitars playing to a screen".

But he added that he has since been impressed with the work of the Harmonix team, which has been respectful and stayed true to the band's legacy and image.

Sir Paul said this approach was important "not just because you should respect The Beatles, but mainly because there are a lot of people out there who are going to notice if you don't".

Lennon's wife Yoko Ono agreed that her husband would have been "excited" by the game's concept and "very happy with how the music and the visuals of The Beatles were represented".

She said: "It will inspire and encourage the young generation to be intimately involved in music making.

"You can't ask for more. It will be another musical revolution created by The Beatles to make our planet a planet of music."

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

McCartney was blessed to know Lennon

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY has said he rarely remembers his disagreements with John Lennon because he is blessed just to have known him.

The Beatles stars had a tumultuous relationship during the group's later years and their constant arguing has often been blamed for the band's split in 1970.

They reconciled later that decade but then Lennon was shot dead in New York in 1980 - and McCartney said he never thinks about the bad times between them.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, he said: "What I do is I look for the positive side... I'm the only guy who sat down with John and wrote all those songs. It's me. (I've) got to pinch myself, I can't believe it. I just feel blessed to have known him and to have experienced his presence so intimately."

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

ANVIL: Entire 'This Is Thirteen' Re-Release Available For Streaming


ANVIL's re-release of the group's latest album, "This is Thirteen", is available for streaming its entirety at VH1.com. The CD will finally be given proper national distribution on CD and vinyl on September 15 via VH1 Classic Records. The collectible double vinyl LP boasts newly re-recorded versions of ANVIL classics "Metal on Metal" and "666". The album, originally recorded in 2007 and produced by Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY), was primarily available directly from the band via their web site and at their concerts.

ANVIL will take part in an in-store performance and signing session at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey on September 27, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. A free screening of the band's acclaimed documentary, "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil", will take place at Vintage Vinyl on September 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

ANVIL, considered a major influence for a generation of hard rockers including METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, and GUNS N' ROSES, was the subject of a critically acclaimed, must-see rock-doc, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", directed by Sacha Gervasi. And in the process, the film has made the group (led by Kudlow and Reiner — both founding members) a household name. But the group's story will certainly not end with the film.

According to RollingStone.com, ANVIL is currently re-recording several other classics with producer Chris Tsangarides, which will be included on a forthcoming "Anvil!" soundtrack. "What happened was the label that owns the old material wanted so much money to license the songs, that it became ridiculous," explained Lips. "In fact, it was far cheaper to go in and re-record in the same studio [Phase One], with the same producer, and re-do the songs. The new version of 'Forged in Fire' is amazing — I think the original version was played too fast. Remarkably, we're getting a second chance to record the songs."

Other freshly re-recorded tunes are "Winged Assassins", "March Of The Crabs", and "School Love". "It's going to be a true 'Best of Anvil', in a way," added Reiner.

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

Ryan Adams Relaunches Record Label, Preps Digital Single

Musical savant Ryan Adams may be nearing the end of his break from the music industry as it appears he has relaunched his record label and is planning to release a digital single on Sept. 11.

Having finished out his contract with Lost Highway, Adams is following in the footsteps of Jack White and is launching a digital and vinyl label to distribute new material. Adams originally launched Pax Americana as a way to release 4-tracked home recordings of songs while he was still signed to Lost Highway; but other than T-shirts, the label seemingly closed shop after a handful of releases.

Today it was revealed the first release from the rebranded PAX.AM will be a digital single featuring the tracks “Lost and Found” and “Go Ahead and Rain.” The album is available for preorder for $1.49 and is set to be released Sept. 11.

There’s no word yet on a physical release, but a video on Adams’ homepage hints that vinyl manufacturing has ensued, so don’t be surprised to see Digital Single: No. 1 find its way to the new old medium

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

The Red Chord Reveals New Album, "Fed Through the Teeth Machine"


Boston Massachusetts metal band THE RED CHORD is gearing up for the release of their fourth full length album, entitled "Fed Through the Teeth Machine," due out on October 27th in the US through Metal Blade Records.

Guitarist Mike “Gunface” McKenzie comments on the band’s new album "Fed Through the Teeth Machine," "We spent the last year working hard on this one and we're excited for everyone to finally hear it. It's a lot faster and, in my opinion, more straight forward in a structural sense. We're really happy with the great work Jonny Fay and Zeuss did too. It's not a concept record, but there are some loose conceptual elements to it: hygienic obsession, delusional compound-dwellers and Maniac Mansion. Get ready to make fun of us on the internet!"

THE RED CHORD has also uploaded the brand new track, "Demoralizer," to their MySpace page that showcases the album’s artwork.

"Demoralizer kind of sums up what the record is about. It's aggressive and fast with some darker melodic parts. Probably one of the angriest-sounding songs we've recorded, which fits the records vibe" comments Mike “Gunface” McKenzie.

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

Krallice Reveals New Album, "Dimensional Bleedthrough


Brooklyn NY’s KRALLICE have completed work on their new album “Dimensional Bleedthrough.” The tracklisting for “Dimensional Bleedthrough” [cover] is as follows:

1. Dimensional Bleedthrough
2. Autocthon
3. Aridity
4. The Mountain
5. Intraum
6. untitled
7. Monolith Of Possession







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

Hollenthon Announces New EP

Hollenthon has issued the following announcement about releasing a new EP:

"New EP coming! It's called 'Tyrants and Wraiths' and features 4 new tracks and 2 live videos from last years Graspop Metal Meeting. The official release dates are: 28.10.09 Finland & Spain, 30.10.09 Benelux, France, Italy and Sweden, 02.11.09 Rest of Europe, 03.11.09 in Canada, and 17.11.09 in the USA.

"But if you come see us on tour, you'll be able to purchase the album already on October 23rd."

The cover art for the EP can be viewed below

Halfway to Platinum: Furnace MFG Produces 500,000th Vinyl Record

Furnace MFG, a leader in the growing trend of vinyl record sales, announced they have produced their 500,000th vinyl record showing no shortage of capacity for additional audiophile-quality vinyl manufacturing.

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) September 9, 2009 -- With the completion of Green Day's newest box set, twenty-one 7" records, Furnace MFG has surpassed a historic milestone today; producing 500,000 vinyl records since the beginning of the year.

While the sale of audio CDs continues to decline, vinyl LP sales are steadily climbing. Industry estimates indicate that vinyl record sales are expected to increase 80-90% in 2009 over the previous year. Furnace MFG has experienced that growth rate firsthand by packaging and shipping over 100,000 vinyl records in July and August alone.

"A new generation of music fans are experiencing music in a whole new/old way. While the digital music format provides the convenience of portability and storage, only vinyl offers audio playback the way artists intended: analog and uncompressed. Not to mention, the larger packaging format makes the experience so much more enriching than looking at cover graphics on a computer screen or iPod," says Eric Astor, Furnace MFG President and CEO.

Notable titles among Furnace MFG's half-million records include recent new releases Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown" and Wilco's "The Album" as well as re-releases such as John Coltrane's "Live at the Village Vanguard", Neil Young's "Sugar Mountain" and Metallica's "Black Album" Box Set.

It has been reported that there is a vinyl record manufacturing capacity constraint, which will limit the growth of vinyl sales beyond current numbers. Not so, says Manish Naik, COO of Furnace MFG. "Through our exclusive partnerships with two of Europe's leading vinyl pressing plants, we have enough capacity to produce over 325,000 records per month. We import the records to our Virginia facility where we assemble and package them for retail distribution."

As vinyl record sales continue to grow and US music labels gear up for the retail holiday season, Furnace MFG expects to pass the 1 million vinyl record mark later in 2009.

About Furnace MFG:

In business since 1996, Furnace MFG (http://www.furnacemfg.com) is a recognized leader in CD and DVD duplication, replication, and vinyl record manufacturing and packaging.

Contact:
Manish Naik, COO
Furnace MFG
703-205-0007


# # #

Interesting Thoughts

Here are some of the music/Beatle related stories circulating the net:


Apple iTunes 9 announced

Apple has announced the launch of iTunes 9 at It's Only Rock and Roll event in San Francisco.

The new music download software will add a host of new features bringing with it a Snow Leopard style interface allowing you to access the navigation menu from the top of every page.

Other features include greater preview and buy features as well as the much rumoured iTunes LP that gives users a visual experience of old vinyl records - so they get the feeling they've bought a LP rather than just a selection of digital tracks. That includes lyrics, artwork, but will be applied by the record companies, not Apple.


Read the rest here:
www.pocket-lint.com/news




REVIEW: Apple records finally gets it right with Beatles CD reissues

People laughed at me in the early 1990s when I refused to submit to the hegemony of the compact-disc world.

I was a vinyl man, through and through.

CDs might have been smaller and easier to maintain but they didn't have the sound quality or dynamic range of records, I said. Pish-tosh, other said.

Why didn't I go ahead and trade in my light bulbs for some nice kerosene lanterns while I was at it?

I bring all this up because it was not long before that time that Apple Records released The Beatles catalog on CD.


Read the rest here:
www.lehighvalleylive.com/music




Beatlemania sweeps the world again

Fab Four create global stir with revamped 14-set CD collection - and a video game

The scenes were familiar: long, snaking queues of ardent fans waiting eagerly to lay their hands on the latest Beatles album. But the photos were taken in 2009, not 1969, and there were 14 different CD albums up for grabs, rather than just the one on vinyl.

Beatlemania returned around the world yesterday with the release of remastered copies of the Fab Four's studio recordings and a new computer game to draw in a new audience.

The new CDs are designed to appeal to those who want to upgrade their collections and to potential younger fans whose interest has been sparked by classics from their parents' – or grandparents' – albums, or from bands who have name-dropped their influence.

Read the rest here:
www.independent.co.uk




Beatles for Sale (Again)

It's an event that happens once a generation. If you'd had a child in 1987, the last time the Beatles catalog was re-mastered for release (on CD, for the first time), the kid wouldn't be a kid anymore. Voting rights? Check. Able to purchase alcohol without a fake ID? Check and mate.

On September 9, at long last, the re-mastered (again) catalog was released on CD, this time in conjunction with the release of The Beatles: Rock Band video game (how very 21st century). It includes the Beatles' 12 albums as originally released in their native UK, along with Magical Mystery Tour and non-LP song collections "Past Masters Vol. I and II," which have now been combined as one title.

Read the rest here:
www.phoenixnewtimes.com




Record shops across Canada flooded by fans looking for Beatles reissues

TORONTO — Record stores were overrun Wednesday with devoted Beatles fans clamouring to get their hands on yet another round of rereleased Fab Four material, this time remastered and repackaged in box sets, individual CDs and even the first-ever Beatles video game.

Those diehard fans - at least those who actually managed to walk away with product in hand - said they were more than happy to open their wallets for the latest and greatest Beatles package, even if they've bought into the hype before.

"The cynic in me would normally come out and say, 'Come on, how much money can you guys get from us?"' said Toronto radio DJ Stu Jeffries, who picked up both versions of the new box sets.

"But I think the fan in me says, 'Great, if it's better, I want it, and if there really is never before seen stuff, then I want it."'

Read the rest here:
canadianpress




Beatles Wizardry Charms Again as EMI Issues Remastered Albums

From Paul McCartney’s excited “one- two-three-FOUR” kick-start on “I Saw Her Standing There” to the surprise sign-off of “Her Majesty’s a pretty nice girl ...,” the Beatles took little more than six years to record more than 220 songs and 620 minutes of music.

Today, the band’s output is released on CD after being digitally remastered at last -- a process that took four years. Many fans will be asking if the time was well spent on what was probably the biggest sonic makeover to date.

In a word, yes. These recordings are the purest version of the most revered repertoire in rock. The quality of tracks such as “All You Need Is Love” shone through in the 1960s even when played through tinny transistors. Now, it’s easier to hear why the British foursome became the most successful group ever -- with more than a billion records sold, according to their label EMI Group Plc, owned by Guy Hands’s London-based Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd.

Read the rest here:
www.bloomberg.com

Rock/Pop Tidbits

The studio group who helped Boz Scaggs record the bulk of his hits in the 1970s, including "Lido Shuffle" and "Lowdown" would go on to form the nucleus of the band Toto. Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate and David Paich scored four Top Ten hits of their own with "I Won't Hold Back" (#10), "Hold The Line" (#5), "Rosanna" (#2) and "Africa" (#1).

In 1984, former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page founded a new band called The Firm with ex Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers. Page said the group was to be a vehicle to show people that he was not a washed up drug user. In the fall of the same year, he was arrested for possession of cocaine.

Janis Ian got the inspiration for her hit "At Seventeen" while sitting at the kitchen table reading a New York Times article about a debutante. The opening line of the story was "I learned the truth at 18." Janis wrote the lyrics as "at seventeen" because it flowed better.

Five different record companies, including Decca, Roulette, Columbia, RCA and Atlantic turned down "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly. Finally, Bob Thiele at Coral / Brunswick Records heard the demo and signed Holly to a contract.

In order to give fans a "gold record", the first 100,000 copies of "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad were stamped out of gold colored vinyl.

Lesley Gore appeared in two episodes of the TV show Batman in 1966. She played the role of "Pussycat", one of Catwoman's henchwomen. She may have had a little help landing the role, as Howie Horwitz, one of the show's producers, is her uncle.

Even though they have such strange names as Moon Unit, Diva, Dweezil and Ahmet Rodan, Frank Zappa once said that he believed that his kids would always have more trouble because of their last name.

According to the Amusement & Music Operators Association, Patsy Cline's 1962 hit, "Crazy" is the most played song on jukeboxes across the United States. It is followed by "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger and "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel" by Elvis Presley.



Years before scoring 1972's number one smash "I Can See Clearly Now", Johnny Nash entered a talent show in Houston Texas. He lost to a young Soul singer named Joe Tex, who would have a chart topping hit of his own in 1968 with "Skinny Legs and All".

Jimi Hendrix was hired as the Monkees opening act for their 1967 Summer tour. Unfortunately, US audiences had never seen anything like Hendrix before and booed him off of the stage. He quit the tour after two weeks.

According to BMI, the performing rights organization that represents, songwriters, composers and music publishers, Mason Williams' 1968 hit, "Classical Gas" has received more radio airplay than any other instrumental.

Before starting his run at the legendary Whisky A Go Go, Johnny Rivers hired a fill-in bass player named Sylvester Stewart. Things didn't go well the first night and Stewart was promptly fired. A few years later, he would re-appear on the music scene as the leader of his own band...Sly and The Family Stone.

According to guitarist Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan's backup band resisted all conformity, even naming their ensemble. After landing their own recording contract, record company executives pressed them for a group name, but had to settle for simply The Band.

In April, 1967, the Greyhound bus company began offering a guided tour of what they called "Hippyland" in San Francisco.

According to producer Mickie Most, The Animals went into a recording studio at 8 A.M. to cut "House Of The Rising Sun" and 15 minutes later, the track was complete. With studio time costing the equivalent of $20 an hour, the song cost $5 to record, but would go on to top both the US and UK charts.

The set on which Rick Nelson appeared in the TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, was an exact copy of the Nelson's real Hollywood home.

Frank Sinatra once called Rock and Roll "The most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear."

The musicians who backed The Chiffons on their 1963 #1 hit "He's So Fine" were all members of The Tokens, who had scored their own chart topper with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961.

In the Fall of 1965, while the Four Seasons' "Let's Hang On" was a Billboard #3 smash, they also scored a #12 hit with "Don't Think Twice" under the name of The Wonder Who. At the same time, lead singer Franki Valli reached #39 with a solo release called "You're Gonna Hurt Yourself", giving him three Top 40 hits at the same time, all under different names.

Classic Album Cover Art - The Beatles Revolver

Revolver is the seventh album by the Four Lads, released on August 5, 1966. The album showcased a number of new stylistic developments which would become more pronounced on later albums. Many of the tracks on Revolver are marked by an electric guitar-rock sound, in contrast with their previous, folk-rock inspired album “Rubber Soul.” It reached #1 on the UK chart for seven weeks and #1 on the US chart for six weeks.

Revolver was released before the Beatles' last tour in August 1966 however they did not perform songs from the album live. Their reasoning for this was that many of the tracks on the album, for example "Tomorrow Never Knows", were too complex to perform with live instruments. A key production technique that was utilized for the first time on this album was automatic double tracking (ADT). ADT was invented by EMI engineer Ken Townsend on April 6, 1966 and used two linked tape recorders to automatically create a doubled vocal track. The standard method was to double the vocal by singing the same piece twice onto a multitrack tape, a task Lennon deplored. The Beatles were reportedly delighted with the invention, and used it extensively on Revolver and ADT quickly became a standard pop production technique, and led to related developments, including the artificial chorus effect.

Arguably the first psychedelic rock album, Revolver was praised for its musical experimentation--the Indian sounds of "Love You To," the Motown-inspired "Got To Get You Into My Life," the backwards guitar in "I'm Only Sleeping." "Tomorrow Never Knows" was the most radical departure from previous Beatles' recordings for its skeletal bass/drums propulsion enhanced only with tape loops (contributed by all four Beatles and added in the mix-down process), more backwards guitar, and an eerie John Lennon vocal. Add in George Harrison’s bitter, yet catchy “Taxman,” McCartney’s ode to the lonely "Eleanor Rigby," the upbeat songs like "Good Day Sunshine" and "Yellow Submarine,” Lennon’s ode to his dealer “Doctor Robert” and the vocal prowess of cuts like "Here, There and Everywhere" "And Your Bird Can Sing" along with the other cuts and you have, arguably, one of the best albums of all time.

The cover illustration is the creation of German-born bassist and artist Klaus Voormann, who was one of the Beatles' oldest friends from their days at the Star Club in Hamburg. Voormann's illustration, part line drawing and part collage, included photographs by Robert Whitaker, who also took the back cover photographs and many other images of the group between 1964 and 1966, such as the infamous "butcher cover" for Yesterday and Today. Voormann's own photo as well as his name (Klaus O. W. Voormann) was worked into Harrison's hair on the right-hand side of the cover. Harrison's Revolver image was seen again on his single release of "When We Was Fab" along with an updated version of the same image.

The title "Revolver", like "Rubber Soul" before it, is a pun, referring both to a kind of handgun as well as the "revolving" motion of the record as it is played on a turntable. The Beatles had a difficult time coming up with this title. According to Barry Miles in his book Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now, the title that the four had originally wanted was Abracadabra, until they discovered that another band had already used it. After that, opinion split: Lennon wanted to call it Four Sides of the Eternal Triangle and Starr jokingly suggested After Geography, playing on The Rolling Stones' recently released Aftermath LP. Other suggestions included Magical Circles, Beatles on Safari, Pendulum, and, finally, Revolver, whose wordplay was the one that all four agreed upon. The title was chosen while the band were on tour in Japan in June–July 1966.

Revolver Notes:

In 1997, it was named the 3rd greatest album of all time in a Music of the Millennium poll conducted in the United Kingdom by HMV Group, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM.

In 2006, Q magazine readers placed it at number 4, while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 1 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.

In 2001 the TV network VH1 named it the number 1 greatest album of all time, a position it also achieved in the Virgin All Time Top 1,000 Albums.

A PopMatters review described the album as "the individual members of the greatest band in the history of pop music peaking at the exact same time,” while Ink Blot magazine claims it "stands at the summit of western pop music."

In 2002, the readers of Rolling Stone ranked the album the greatest of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 3 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It placed behind only the Beatles' own Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.

"The biggest miracle of Revolver may be that the Beatles covered so much new stylistic ground and executed it perfectly on one record, or it may be that all of it holds together perfectly. Either way, its daring sonic adventures and consistently stunning songcraft set the standard for what pop/rock could achieve" ~ AllMusic.com

In 2006, the album was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 best albums of all time.

In 1972, Lennon offered some context for the influence of drugs on the Beatles' creativity (quoted in The Beatles Anthology):

“It's like saying, 'Did Dylan Thomas write Under Milk Wood on beer?' What does that have to do with it? The beer is to prevent the rest of the world from crowding in on you. The drugs are to prevent the rest of the world from crowding in on you. They don't make you write any better. I never wrote any better stuff because I was on acid or not on acid.”

I’ll have what he was having, to me, this album is one the Beatles’ best (right behind the White Album).

Music News & Notes

Hey Folks, 09/09/09 Today is Beatles Day!

The fourth quarter of 2009 for the music and video game industries looks like it's shaping up to be all about the Beatles. And both could use some "Help!" The video game industry has high hopes The Beatles 'Rock Band' will pull it out of recession and there is no reason why it won't, as a new generation is now discovering the iconic rock band.

It's been 40 years! The band, which released its last full album of original music in 1970, is the focus of the simultaneous Wednesday release of "The Beatles: Rock Band" for the Rock Band video game franchise, as well as the digitally remastered box set of the Beatles 13-album discography by EMI. Analysts expect a spike in video game and CD sales, which have been declining through the year.

For audiophiles the release of the remastered CDs in mono and stereo will be the first re-release of the Beatles catalogue since 1987.

"It's probably the biggest catalogue remaster that has ever happened," said Paul Bromby, EMI's senior marketing manager heading the re-release for the London-based company.

Today, 09/09/09 is music history!



Now, there are unconfirmed rumors about the Beatles' music being available for digital downloading...just in time for Christmas I bet.

Pick Up Your Beatles The Beatles [Stereo Box Set] Here:


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ANVIL CHORUS' new album, "The Killing Sun", will be released on September 29 via Rockadrome Records.

Nearly three decades after the group's formation and a couple years after their recent reformation, this legendary underground band unleashes its full-length debut. Consisting solely of newly recorded material from ANVIL CHORUS' early '80s heyday, it's destined to be the classic album everyone has long expected from this magical group. Led by guitarist Thaen Rasmussen and vocalist/bassist Aaron Zimpel, the group's integrity is fully maintained and should please anyone who has followed the band through the years or owned any of their heavily circulated demo tapes. A 16-page color booklet with liner notes written by San Francisco metal legend Ron Quintana (KUSF radio, Metal Mania fanzine) and cover art by Mark Devito (MOTÖRHEAD), packed with lyrics, photos and memories, complete this magnificent and much-anticipated release.

Musicians featured on the recording include:

Aaron Zimpel - Vocals, Bass, Synthesizer
Thaen Ramussen - Guitar, Vocals
Joe Bennett - Drums
Phil Bennett - Keyboards, Piano, Hammond B3
Doug Piercy - Guitar ("Deadly Weapons", "Red Skies", "Man Made Machines", "Death of a Dream", "Tales", "Blade", "Once Again", "Such is Life")

Additional musicians:

Carlos Hernandez - Guitar (Death of a Dream)
Mark Bradley - Piano (Once Again)
Jon Simon - Keyboards (Once Again)

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POWERMAN New Release In October


POWERMAN 5000 has new music in the works and are hard at work on a new release for 2009. They have now revealed the cover art for the name album, which is titled ‘Somewhere On The Other Side of Nowhere.’ The album hits stores on October 6th, 2009.

In a recent interview Spider commented:

“We made this record with a clear vision and a purpose. We wanted to reclaim a sound we created and represent certain influences as only a band like Powerman 5000 can. While writing we would watch Godzilla or Ultraman films to ensure the sonics were on point. We knew that this record needed to sound like the footsteps of a giant robot!”

The album will be available on i tunes and all digital outlets as well as in CD format with a 12 page booklet.

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Rammstein confirms artwork for upcoming single


The single, available exclusively via iTunes, is the first new music to come from the Berlin-based band in over four years. Having sold three million albums in the U.S. alone (and over 14 million worldwide), anticipation for the new album, whose title has been a closely guarded secret, is high with rumors running rampant worldwide as to the theme and contents of the new release. The album will be released in the U.S. via Universal Music Germany through a marketing and distribution deal with Vagrant Records on Oct. 20.






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David Bowie Gets Spider Named After Him


Joining the ranks of Neil Young and Stephen Colbert, rock’n’roll legend David Bowie has had a newly discovered species of spider named after him.

According to a report from the Guardian, the new species of Malaysian spider has been discovered by spider genius Peter Jäger, who has apparently found 200 new kinds of spider in the last ten years.

Jäger says the purpose of naming the spider after the celebrity is to alert the world to its endangered status. "It is working against time," he said. "Along with the species, we are also quickly losing genetic resources that have evolved over more than 300 million years."

The giant, yellow, hairy spider has been named Heteropoda davidbowie, and yes, that’s him pictured up at the top.

No word yet on whether the spider is from Mars.

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New Album cover art for "Haulin Ass" by Thunderhorse


ThunderHorse was formed by San Jose natives Pete Rice and Justin Estep. Pete and Justin met in high school back in 1992 and played together in the ska/punk band The Janitors Against Apartheid. After the Janitors broke up, they both pursued a career in electronic music and occasionally teamed up to bang out tracks. Frustrated with the lack of a rock/metal scene in San Jose, they returned to their instruments of choice in 2000. Both created names for themselves in the local music scene by playing in bands such as: American Avenue, Highcyde, A Life in Vain and If Time Fails.

As fate had it, they both ended up at the same practice facility and started collaborating in February of 2007. Always having been fascinated with medieval times they decided to make that the band's theme and settled on the name ThunderHorse. Missing that final component of low-end they found Manell "Ian" Menor in July of 2007 on craigslist. Ian's thunderous bass playing compliments Justin's loud, machine like drumming. Together, they round out the ThunderHorse sound.

Gary “80” Velasco, the newest member of ThunderHorse will be adding to the stampede, bringing back that duel guitar sound we all know and love. The combination of Pete’s crunchy rhythm and Gary’s triumphant leads bring the thunder to the horse. Taking from all their musical influences ThunderHorse has managed to invent a style of their own, creating a style of metal that will stand out in any crowd. Ian and Pete will also be sharing vocal duties now at shows. Stay tuned for studio versions in the near future!

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Bad Religion Reissues Coming (very limited releases)

Epitaph Records has represessed three of Bad Religion's classic early albums. The records include "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?", "Suffer" and "No Control".

Each album is limited to 300 copies and available directly through Epitaph's merch store.

"How Could Hell Be Any Worse?" includes the 1st EP, "Back To The Known" and songs from the "Public Service" Comp, similar to the 2004 CD remastered version, while "Suffer" and "No Control" are repressed on orange and green vinyls respectively

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Jay-Z Rush Releases 'The Blueprint 3', Announces Huge Tour
In the US...

Jay-Z has rush released his new album 'The Blueprint 3' after it leaked online.

The rapper's latest effort was due out on September 11 to coincide with the eighth anniversary of the original 'Blueprint'.

But as a result of the album's leak earlier this month, fans can now purchase the album from today (September 8).

Meanwhile, Jay-Z has also announced details of a huge US tour, which will begin in Philadelphia on October 9.

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Houston On Top

Whitney Houston's "I Look To You" is expected to top the pop charts this week, according to Billboard analysts.

The diva is on pace to sell over 200,000 copies this week of her new album… her first in seven years. She's competing with a new EP from Miley Cyrus, "The Time Of Our Lives" – a Wal-Mart exclusive initially set for release this week, but that dropped last Friday instead, selling 62,000 copies to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 3 on the current chart. Whitney's last album, 2002's "Just Whitney," entered the charts at No. 9 with 205,000 copies sold, on par with her expected numbers for "I Look To You."

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I'll Drink To That

American Songwriter magazine has published their editor's list of the all-time ten best drinking songs.

Drinking songs have been around since almost the beginning of time, at least in the annals of handed down folk music. They have been sung at parties, on sailing ships and at most other big occasions, especially where everyone knows the words and everyone can join in. Today, drinking songs have a very firm base in country, folk and blues music; however, the people at American Songwriter have not chosen any blues songs and only one from the folk genre. Maybe they drank too much and have forgotten some of the oldies (what about "In Heaven There Is No Beer or 99 Bottles of Beer on The Wall?) Can anyone think of any more that belong on the list?

1. Tequila - Champs
2. There's a Tear in My Beer - Hank Williams
3. Whiskey River - Willie Nelson
4. Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
5. Gin and Juice - Snoop Dog
6. Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
7. Whiskey in the Jar - Traditional
8. Red Red Wine - UB40, Neil Diamond
9. Chug-a-Lug - Roger Miller
10.The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King) - Tom Waits

This Date In Music History-September 9

Birthdays:

Inez Foxx (1942)

Luther Simmons - Main Ingredient (1942)

Doug Ingle - Iron Butterfly (1945)

Dee Dee Sharp (1945)

Freddy Weller - Paul Revere and the Raiders Also co-wrote the immortal "Dizzy" with Tommy Roe (1947)

Dave Stewart - Eurythmics (1952)

Macy Gray (1970)

Michael Bublé (1975)

Stuart Price - British electronic musician (1977)


They Are Missed:

In Springfield, Tenn., Bill Monroe died in 1996 at the age of 84. The vocalist, fiddler, and guitar player is considered the father of bluegrass music.

Born on this day in 1940 , Joe Negroni - Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers (died on September 5, 1978)

Born today in 1941, Otis Redding - soul singer. Redding was killed in a plane crash on December 10, 1967.

Born today in 1946, Billy Preston - singer, keyboard player, some called him the 5th Beatle (died on June 6, 2006)

Born on this day in 1946, Bruce Palmer, bass, Buffalo Springfield (died October 4, 2004)

In 2004, US guitar maker Ernie Ball died after a long illness. In the late 50’s Ball opened the first music store in the USA in Tarzana, California to sell guitars exclusively. He developed the guitar strings called ‘Slinkys’ specifically designed for rock and roll electric guitar.

In 2007, founding Outlaws guitarist-singer Hughie Thomasson died after apparently suffering a heart attack at his home in Brooksville, FL. Thomasson, 55 years old, was also a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd from '96 to '05. He left for another stint with the Outlaws. "We have lost another one of our brothers to the Rock & Roll heaven," says Lynyrd Skynyrd in a press release. "We had many a good time writing and playing with Hughie and spent many miles on the road together."



History:

Elvis played at the opening of the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center in Memphis Tennessee in 1954. Johnny Cash was in the audience and after the show met Elvis for the first time.

The J.P. Seeburg Corporation introduced its Dual Music System Jukebox in 1955. It was the first ever equipped to handle a hundred singles and two song per side EPs.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. He belted out "Love Me Tender," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Ready Teddy." But what's most notable about this performance was that Elvis was shot just from the waist up, so that his gyrating pelvis wouldn't corrupt the nation's youth. Yeah, that would have done it.

US newspaper The Hollywood Reporter ran the following advertisement in 1965: "Madness folk & roll musicians, singers wanted for acting roles in new TV show. Parts for 4 insane boys." The Monkees were born.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono met in an art gallery in 1966 and his life (or the Beatles) would never be the same.

Sam & Dave's soul classic, "Soul Man" was released in 1967.

While working at Abbey Road studios in 1968, the Beatles recorded "Helter Skelter." John Lennon played bass and honked on a saxophone, roadie Mal Evans tried his best at playing trumpet. Paul McCartney recorded his lead vocal and George Harrison ran about the studio holding a flaming ashtray above his head.

John Lennon's Imagine LP was released in 1971.

The Eagles' "Witchy Woman" was released in 1972.

Jim Croce started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1972 with 'You Don't Mess Around With Jim.'

In 1973, Todd Rundgren recorded a thousand of his fans singing in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park for the song "Sons of 1984." The session ends in disarray after police arrest one crowd member for allegedly dealing cannabis. In the ensuing fight, 11 arrests are made. If you dust off your copy of 1974's Todd, the San Francisco choir can be heard in the left channel of your stereo. In the right are the voices of 5,000 fans Rundgren previously recorded in New York.

In 1977, David Bowie appeared on Marc Bolan's ITV show, 'Marc', singing a duet with Bolan. After the show they recorded demo's together which were never finished after Bolan was killed in a car crash one week later.

A Taste Of Honey started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1978 with "Boogie Oogie Oogie."


(sad but true, people did dance like that, that could have been your dad dancing there - or me, I will admit to going to a disco, um, that's where the women were...yeah, that's it, the women, certainly not the music)

The Rolling Stones' "Beast Of Burden" was released in 1978.

The Who's final album with Keith Moon, "Who Are You" entered the LP charts in 1978.

U2 opened for The Stranglers at the Top Hat Ballroom outside of Dublin in 1978. The Stranglers took up two dressing rooms, leaving U2 to dress behind their amps.

Amnesty International's "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball" took place in 1981. Sting played his first solo set as does Phil Collins.

In 1982, Al Green and Patti LaBelle made their Broadway debut in Vinnete Carroll's, "Your Arm's Too Short to Box with God." It opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City. Both Green and LaBelle got rave reviews from both critics and the audiences and the intial performances of 30 were expanded to 80.

New Kids On The Block scored their second US #1 single in 1989 with "Hangin' Tough," (also #1 in the UK in 1990) Just proves that pop music sucked at the time.

In 1992, Nirvana's Chris Novoselic knocked himself unconscious during the MTV music and video awards after being hit on the head with his guitar after throwing it up in the air.

Aaliyah went to #1 on the US album chart in 2001 with her self-titled album.

An episode of "Judge Judy" aired in 1998 in which Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten appeared as the defendant in a case involving a drummer who sues Rotten for allegedly head-butting him in a contract dispute. No word if Judge Judy got an autograph.

In 2003, Sinead O'Connor released "She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty," which she claimed will be her final album. The double CD's title was a quote from the Bible and they stopped printing it becasue of a shortage of ink.

Also in 2003, Velvet Revolver - the "super-group" made of ex-members of Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland - signed a recording deal with RCA.

09/09/09 - The Beatles: Rock Band video game is out on Wii, Xbox and PlayStation 3 game systems. The soundtrack has 45 songs along with previously unreleased conversations between band members from their recording sessions. According to a press release, The Beatles: Rock Band "[takes] players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career."

Also today - The Beatles' complete studio catalog is issued in a box set to coincide with the arrival of the The Beatles: Rock band video game (see above). Updated packaging and liner notes are among the enticements. 2009