MINNESOTA BEATLE PROJECT VOL.2 AVAILABLE NOW AS LIMITED EDITION

On December 7th, the Minnesota Beatle Project is releasing the second volume of their critically acclaimed Beatles covers to benefit art and music education in Minnesota Public Schools.

If you want to hear musicians like Soul Asylum, Mason Jennings, Total Babe, P.O.S. and Sounds of Blackness in all their intended glory, you have to pick the limited edition (500) double white LP exclusively available from http://www.electricfetus.com/.

Each gorgeous ivory record also comes with the chance to win one of the new, rare John Lennon silver proofs from the Royal UK Mint. These coins sold out within hours and are highly coveted by fans and collectors around the world. This album is a definite must have for any self respecting Beatle fan or record collector.

Album Cover Art, News & Notes

DEICIDE: New Album Artwork,  Release Date Revealed

Florida-based death metallers DEICIDE are set to release their new album, 'To Hell With God,' on February 15 via Century Media Records. The effort was produced by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA) at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.


















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Mother of Mercy Unveils New Cover Art

Pennsylvania natives MOTHER OF MERCY are excited to unveil the cover art for their Bridge Nine debut, 'IV:Symptoms of Existence,' done by none other than Paul Romano! Recorded throughout late summer and Fall with producer WIll YIp, IV: Symptoms of Existence contains 10 of the band's strongest songs yet. Raw, abrasive, and dark, IV: Symptoms of Existence is set to hit stores on January 25, 2011.

















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Drone Metal Titans Earth Announce New Album

Dylan Carlson's long-running Seattle-based doom-metal project Earth, which once upon a time included a young Kurt Cobain as a member, will release the new album Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1 in February via Southern Lord.  For the follow-up to 2008's The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull, Carlson and percussionist Adrienne Davies recruited former Nirvana cellist Lori Goldston and K Records artist Karl Blau to join the lineup.
















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VISIONS OF ATLANTIS: New Album Title, Cover Artwork, Revealed 

Austrian symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will release their fourth album, "Delta", on February 25, 2011 via Napalm Records. The effort was recorded Dreamscape Studios in Munich, Germany and marks the debut of the band's new singer, Maxi Nil, who joined the group last year. Working songtitles set to appear on the album include "Aeon", "Memento", "Reflections", "Gravitate Towards Fatality", "New Dawn" and "Beyond Horizon - The Poem Pt. II".
















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With Honor - This Is Our Revenge Vinyl LP Now Available

With Honor - This Is Our Revenge is now available for the first time on limited edition vinyl through Animal Style Records. Under exclusive license from Victory the record is limited to 500 copies and available on 3 different colors. You can find more information at http://www.animalstylerecords.com/











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Merry Christmas With Album Cover Art

In the mood for the holidays? If not, take a look at Top 12 Sexiest Christmas Album Covers according to the Houston Press




















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R.I.P. Vinyl records?

An article over at Consequence of Sound

This Date In Music History - December 3

Birthdays:

Andy Williams (1928)

John Cale - Velvet Underground (1940)

Ken Lewis - Ivy League (1942)

Ozzy Osbourne (John Michael Osbourne) - Black Sabbath, Solo (1948)



Mickey Thomas - Jefferson Starship (1949)

Nicky Stevens - Brotherhood Of Man (1951)

Duane Roland - Molly Hatchet (1952)

Don Barnes - .38 Special (1952)

Paul Gregg - Restless Heart (1954)

Steve Forbert (1954)

Montell Jordan (1968)


They Are Missed:

Composer Hoyt Curtin died of heart failure in 2000 (age 78). He was the composer of many of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons' theme songs, including The Flintstones, Top Cat, Jonny Quest, Superfriends, The Jetsons, Josie and the Pussycats, and The New Scooby-Doo Movies.

Session guitarist Grady Martin died in 2001 (age 72). Member of the legendary Nashville A-Team, he played guitar on hits ranging from Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman," Marty Robbins' "El Paso" and Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter." During a 50-year career, Martin backed such names as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Joan Baez and J. J. Cale.

Composer, keyboardist and arranger Derek Wadsworth died in Oxfordshire, England in 2008. As a musician he worked with Georgie Fame, Alan Price, George Harrison, Mike Oldfield, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Simply Red. Arranger for David Essex, Dusty Springfield, Nina Simone, Judy Garland, Kate Bush, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, The Small Faces, The Rolling Stones and Manfred Mann.

Elmer Valentine, co-founder of the legendary Whiskey a Go Go on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard, died in 2008 at age 85. Valentine launched the Whiskey in ’64. Johnny Rivers, The Byrds, Love, Buffalo Springfield, and The Doors made a name for themselves at the venue. 2008


History:

Elvis Presley's first release on RCA Victor Records was announced in 1955. The first two songs "Mystery Train" and "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" had been purchased from Sam Phillips of Sun Records. Elvis was described by his new record company as 'The most talked about personality in recorded music in the last 10 years.'

Guy Mitchell was at #1 on the US singles chart in 1956 with his version of the Marty Robbins song "Singing The Blues."

In 1961, Brian Epstein invited the Beatles into his office to discuss the possibility of becoming their manager. We all know the rest.

In 1965, Rolling Stone Keith Richards was knocked unconscious by an electric shock on stage at the Memorial Hall In Sacramento, California, when his guitar made contact with his microphone.

In 1965, The Beatles set out on what would be their last ever UK tour at Glasgow's Odeon Cinema. Also on the bill, The Moody Blues The Koobas and Beryl Marsden. The last show was at Cardiff's Capitol Cinema on 12th December.

British act The New Vaudeville Band started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1966 with "Winchester Cathedral."

Paul Revere and The Raiders saw their sixth Billboard Top 40 hit, "Good Thing" enter the Hot 100 in 1966. The song will eventually reach #4 and enjoy a ten week chart run.

Also in 1966, Ray Charles was given a five year suspended prison sentence and a $10,000 fine after being convicted of possessing heroin and marijuana.

The Monkees made their live debut at the International Arena, Honolulu in 1966.

In 1968, in his first appearance before a live audience in seven years, Elvis Presley's comeback TV special aired on NBC. At the end of the show, The King performs his latest single, "If I Can Dream", which was currently #12 on the Billboard chart, his highest reaching single since 1965.



'Led Zeppelin II' tops the U.S. album charts in 1969. It sells over eight million copies.

The Rolling Stones recorded "Brown Sugar" in 1969 at Muscle Shoals studios. The single went on to be a UK & US #1.

Also in 1969 - John Lennon was asked to play the title role in 'Jesus Christ, Superstar.' The offer was revoked the next day.

In 1971, the Montreux Casino in Switzerland burnt to the ground during a gig by Frank Zappa. The incident is immortalized by Deep Purple's 1973 hit, "Smoke on the Water." (some stupid with a flare gun, burned the place to the ground...")

Ringo Starr released the song "You're Sixteen" in 1973. It was his second straight number one single.

In 1975, Ronnie Wood’s wife Krisse was arrested for alleged possession of cannabis and cocaine after a raid on the couple's house in Richmond. Krissie’s friend Audrey Burgon was also arrested, newspapers reported that the two women were found ‘sleeping together.’ Cool.....

A giant 40ft inflatable pig could be seen floating above London in 1976 after breaking free from its moorings. The pig had been photographed for Pink Floyd's 'Animals', album cover; the CAA issued a warning to all pilots that a flying pig was on the run.

In 1976, Bob Marley narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when seven gunman sprayed bullets into his Kingston, Jamaica home, where he and the Wailers were rehearsing. He had become unpopular in some circles because of his influence on local politicians. He moved to Miami Florida soon after the incident and the gunmen were never caught.

An estimated three and a half million people applied for Abba's forthcoming British Albert Hall concerts in 1976, there were just over 11 thousand tickets available.

Paul McCartney saw his song, "Mull Of Kintyre" hit number one in the UK in 1977 and become the largest selling single that he or any of the other Beatles ever had, either as a group or solo. It was the first single to sell over 2 million in the UK. The tune was co-written by Denny Laine who later sold his rights to the song when he went bankrupt. The bagpipe laden tune was virtually ignored in the US, although the B-side, "Girls' School" charted at #33 early in 1978.

Linda Ronstadt started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1977 with 'Simple Dreams'.

Just three months after Keith Moon's death, tragedy struck The Who again in 1979, when eleven people were trampled to death while trying to reach unreserved concert seats at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The mayor of Providence, Rhode Island cancels the Who's next concert, scheduled there in two days. Multiple law suits are filed by families of the deceased.

Lionel Richie started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1983 with 'Can't Slow Down'.

In 1986, Judas Priest were sued by two family's, alleging that the band were responsible for their son's forming a suicide pact and shooting themselves after listening to Judas Priest records. Yeahm it was the music's fault.....

R.E.M.’s album "Document" cracked the US Top 10 in 1987. As a result, Rolling Stone magazine calls them "America’s Best Rock & Roll Band."

A Florida trio called Will To Power achieved a Billboard number one hit in 1988 by combining Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way" with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird". Why???

Boyz II Men knocked themselves off the #1 position on the US singles chart in 1994 when "On Bended Knee" started a six week run at #1. The group's "I'll Make Love To You" had been at #1 for a record breaking 14 weeks.

In 1999, U2 singer Bono had his missing laptop computer returned after loosing it. A young man had bought it for £300 discovered he had the missing laptop, which contained tracks from the forthcoming U2 album.

Alos in 1999, prosecutors in California charged Gabriel Gomez with the kidnapping and murder of Sandra Ann Rosas, wife of Los Lobos singer and guitarist Cesar Rosas. No body had yet been found.

Backstreet Boys started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 2000 with 'Black & Blue'.

It was announced in 2002 that Peter Garrett had quit Midnight Oil after 25 years.

The Recording Industry Association of America gave Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers a Diamond Award in 2003 to mark the sale of 10 million copies of the band's 'Greatest Hits' album in the US.

Aerosmith performed an acoustic set at New York's Beacon Theatre in 2006 as part of an exclusive concert series for users of Citi/Advantage credit cards. Corpoarte bitches....

In 2007, Diana Ross and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson both collected awards for contributions to US culture a ceremony in Washington, attended by President Bush. Hootie and the Blowfish paid tribute to Brian Wilson with a medley of some of the Beach Boys' best-known songs.

Nickelback's "Dark Horse" was the #2 album in the US in 2008 (behind Beyonce). The set sells 326,000 units during its first week of release. Checking in at #3 is Guns N' Roses' comeback album 'Chinese Democracy.'

In 2009, Rolling Stones' guitarist Ron Wood was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, 20-year-old Ekaterina Ivanova outside a restaurant in Surrey, England. Although she suffered several cuts to her knees, she was insistent that she didn't want the police involved or to press charges. The pair would split up a few days later.

A version of "21 Guns," featuring Green Day with the cast from American Idiot, debuts on Spinner.com in 2009. The track was recorded in an Oakland studio just days after the musical’s final performance at the Berkeley Rep in November. "They sung the hell out of it," says frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. "It's great to have something out there for people to hear who didn't get to see the show." The song goes to radio the next day.

Also in 2009, Nickelback are the first major contributors to the Obakki Foundation which helps orphaned children in Cameroon, Africa. The band donates $1 of every ticket sold during their previous summer tour for a total contribution of $500K. "Through the ongoing support of our incredible fans, Nickelback has the opportunity to step up, contribute and make a difference," says Ryan Peake, who founded the organization with his wife Treana. "I will personally be making the trip to Africa this weekend and I’m really looking forward to visiting the villages and communities to see where we can make the largest impact.

Legendary Album Cover Design Studio Unlocks Archives to Offer Works from their Amazing Portfolio to Art & Music Fans World-Wide

Pacific Eye & Ear now selling originals and limited-edition prints of iconic album cover artwork.

Portland, OR – based art seller RockPoP Gallery appointed exclusive distributor of fine art prints featuring Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, The Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, Earth Wind & Fire, Iron Butterfly, Jesus Christ Superstar and many others.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) December 1, 2010

In the early 1970s, no album cover design agency in the U.S. was hotter than Pacific Eye & Ear. Started in 1972 in Los Angeles by designer Ernie Cefalu after stints on Madison Avenue and with album cover designer Craig Braun, PE&E was built around a team of incredibly-talented young artists who brought the agency’s clients music packaging designs that captured the hearts and eyes of music lovers worldwide and built a portfolio of images that, to this day, are considered amongst the most-iconic of all time.

Who doesn’t remember the first time they saw Aerosmith’s Toys In The Attic, or Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies? Black Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath or the 3-D lenticular image on the cover of Captain Beyond? PE&E’s range of work was simply astounding and the talents of each of the associated artists (Drew Struzan, Ingrid Haenke, Bill Garland, Joe Garnett, Carl Ramsey, as well as Cefalu himself) would soon translate into their own success and/or fame after the agency disbanded 13 years later. In particular, Cefalu would go on to create greatly-admired campaigns for a wide variety of clients both in and out of the music business, while Struzan would gain world-wide attention for his theatrical posters for block-buster movies such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Muppets, Harry Potter and many others.

Now, for the first time in over 30 years, some of the best-known works from the PE&E archives are available for sale to music fans and art collectors worldwide as part of the Original Album Cover Art collection (http://www.originalalbumcoverart.com). Over 250 original works of art are offered – original paintings, drawings and sketches – as well as a series of limited-edition fine art prints derived directly from the original works in this archive.

In November, 2010, PE&E/OACA released the first five items in what will be a growing portfolio of highly-desirable album cover art prints. With production overseen by Cefalu himself, these prints are produced using only the best materials in order to enhance the visual impact of each of the images. Each finished print in both the unsigned ("Standard") and artist-signed ("Signature") editions is hand-numbered and stamped with the PE&E Corporate seal to ensure authenticity. Each print is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (a work of art in itself, featuring sample images from the collection), also signed and stamped by Ernie Cefalu.

The first five prints now available include –

Aerosmith’s Toys In The Attic – the cover of the band’s triumphant 1975 release features an illustration by Ingrid Haenke;

Alice Cooper’s Alice At The Palace – the promotional image for an un-staged Broadway extravaganza that was to have been produced in 1972. It features an "Alice as Medusa" image created by Joe Garnett and additional graphics by Drew Struzan and Ingrid Haenke;

Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits gatefold cover – this St. Valentine’s Day Massacre-themed image by Drew Struzan and Bill Garland was featured on the front cover of the band’s 1974 Greatest Hits package;

Captain Beyond’s Captain Beyond – a collaborative effort (painting by artist Joe Garnett, lettering by Ernie Cefalu) was used as part of a 3D "lenticular" album cover for this band’s 1972 debut recording;

Jesus Christ Superstar Angels – The package for Rice/Lloyd-Webber’s ground-breaking rock musical featured these angels, recreated here in stunning detail by their creator, Ernie Cefalu.

When thinking about the labor of love that produced this collection of images, Ernie looks back in wonder at his timing and good fortune – "Early in my career, I was sent from New York to LA to open the West Coast Satellite office of a creative agency. It was with this company that I conceived and designed the original Rolling Stones Tongue logo, Cheech & Chong’s Big Bambu, Grand Funk Railroad’s E Pluribus Funk and Alice Cooper’s School’s Out album cover designs and packaging. In 1971, I started my own company, Pacific Eye & Ear, which became a main player in "the golden era" of album cover art.

As a young designer, I had the honor and privilege of working side by side with many great, emerging artists. For 13 years, as Pacific Eye & Ear’s Creative Director, I was the creative thread that linked together some of the world’s top illustrators, designers, writers and photographers. It was a luxury for an agency to have even one good illustrator in your arsenal, so imagine having Drew Struzan, Ingrid Haenke, Bill Garland, Carl Ramsey and Joe Garnett all at the same time! That’s what I call, real illustration muscle!

I am so happy to finally be able to offer some of these works to collectors and am truly humbled and honored to have received so much positive feedback about this effort from fans all over the world. I’m also happy to have found a kindred soul in RockPoP Gallery owner Mike Goldstein, and I am eager to work with Mike and the dealers he selects to promote these editions and help them find good homes!"

Goldstein adds – "After meeting Ernie during an interview I did with him about his career, I was amazed to find out that he’d never produced fine art prints of his works. As someone who has made it his mission to advance the appreciation of album cover art and artists in the fine art world, I knew that it was simply a matter of time before I’d take that final step beyond simple reseller to become involved first-hand in a print publishing effort. You can only imagine how lucky I feel to have been able to help Ernie, Drew and the rest of the PE&E team realize their dream to bring the fruit of their labor to art collectors and fans of album cover art worldwide!"

Upcoming Releases – Upon completion of production, PE&E/OACA will also be releasing additional titles, including Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies and Welcome To My Nightmare, Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Bee Gees – Main Course and Iron Butterfly – Scorching Beauty (with more to come). These titles all feature the art/ illustrations of Drew Struzan.

Retail pricing for the current editions is as follows (all prices quoted in U.S. Dollars):

Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic – Standard Edition (375 prints) – $350.00; Signature Edition (125 prints) – $900.00;

Alice Cooper – Alice At The Palace – Standard Edition (375) – $450.00; Signature Edition (125) – $2100.00

Alice Cooper – Greatest Hits – Standard Edition (375) – $450.00; Signature Edition (125) – $2100.00

Captain Beyond – Captain Beyond – Standard Edition (375) – $350.00; Signature Edition (125) – $900.00

Jesus Christ Superstar – Angels – Standard Edition (375) – $350.00; Signature Edition (125) – $900.00

All prints are available now exclusively at RockPoP Gallery

Select art galleries are being sought for additional representation – please contact Mike Goldstein at RockPoP Gallery via email at info@rockpopgallery.com for additional details about these prints and dealer/gallery resale programs.


About RockPoP Gallery
– An online fine art gallery based in Portland, OR, RockPoP Gallery  is dedicated to bringing customers the best selection of limited-edition, rock and pop music-related art prints, photography and related collectibles available on the market today. With a focus on album cover artwork, our Gallery collection features over 650 examples of artwork, illustrations, photographs, illustrated lyric sheets and sculptures from the leading artists in their respective fields.

RockPoP Gallery was founded in 2005 by Michael Goldstein, a former television and interactive programming development, creative and production executive and long-time collector of music-related artwork. Since that time, RockPoP Gallery has helped music fans and collectors worldwide buy copies of some of the most cherished images from the last 40 years of rock n’ roll albums, CDs, promotional materials, concert photography and other imagery, allowing these customers to decorate their homes, apartments, and workplaces with the highest-quality products at highly-competitive prices.  RockPoP Gallery relocated from Long Island, NY to Portland, OR in September, 2008.

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Vinyl Record News & Notes

Atheist 'Jupiter'  Album Cover Art

Legendary progressive death metallers Atheist make their comeback with their fourth album, 'Jupiter.'  The cover -- reminiscent of their past album covers which feature strong circular elements -- was done by Eliran Kantor.










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FIREBALL MINISTRY Releasing First Full Length Vinyl Record Of Self-Titled Album

Hard rock foursome Fireball Ministry is releasing the 180 gram white vinyl pressing of their March 2010 self-titled album FIREBALL MINISTRY (Restricted Release) on December 22, 2010 also via Restricted Release.

“We are very excited to have a release on vinyl—it’s the way nature intended music to be heard,” says front-man Rev. James A. Rota II.

Recorded at Grandmaster in Hollywood, with additional vocals tracked at Dave Grohl’s 606 Studio, Fireball Ministry’s ten-track, collector’s edition LP has a limited run of 1,000 copies and is the band’s second release without a traditional label. The FIREBALL MINISTRY vinyl pressing is currently available for pre-order at www.FireballMinistry.com and includes the full album digital download and bonus video for “Butcher, Faker, Policy Maker.”

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The Decemberists Ready Deluxe Box Set

'The King Is Dead,' the title of the Decemberists' stripped-down new album, will arrive January 18 in North America via Capitol Records (a day earlier in Europe via Rough Trade). The album will be available in all the usual formats as well as a deluxe limited-edition box set, which will feature the album on CD and 180-gram white vinyl, as well as a DVD, a unique Polaroid photo, a hardcover book, and an art print-- all in a linen-wrapped clamshell box with a foil-stamped cover.

However, only 2,500 of these boxes will be available. For the box, the band teamed up with the Polaroid film manufacturers the Impossible Project and the photographer Autumn de Wilde. De Wilde took photos of the band's recording sessions in rural Oregon and L.A., and each box will come with a unique photo. The DVD contains Pendarvia, a 30-minute documentary about the making of the album by filmmaker Aaron Rose. The 72-page hardcover book features photos from de Wilde and illustrations from Carson Ellis, and the Giclée print is of an Ellis illustration and signed by Ellis herself.

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Metallica: 'Live At Grimey's' First-Week Sales Revealed

Metallica's new live album 'Live At Grimey's' sold about 3,000 copies in the US in just a three-day sales window (Friday-Sunday). The effort is being sold as a standard CD and as a limited-edition two-disc vinyl set in a gatefold sleeve.

Released on Friday, November 26, "Live At Grimey's" is available only at the approximately 700 independent record stores that support the annual Record Store Day, held each year in April. The set was recorded on June 12, 2008 at the tiny 150-capacity venue The Basement, located below the Grimey's New & Preloved Music record store in Nashville.

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Bright Eyes to Release Album Next Year

On Februrary 15, Bright Eyes is scheduled to release a new album, 'The People's Key,' which will be the band's first album since 2007's 'Cassadaga.' 'The People's Key' was produced by Mogis and features contributions from members of Cursive, the Faint, Now It's Overhead, Autolux, the Mynabirds, and the Berg Sans Nipple.

The band has also announced two tour dates next year, one at New York's Radio City Music Hall on March 9 and one at London's Royal Albert Hall on June 23.

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New record store ready to defy odds

By Sandra Sperounes

Two vinyl records, Led Zeppelin's I and Bruce Springsteen's The Promise, hang on the wall. Unopened boxes of CDs sit on the floor. Clint Anderson quietly prints out labels with band names on them while his friend and business partner, Mike McDonald, stands on a ladder, installing a speaker, at the back of Permanent Records.

It's Monday afternoon, four days before the opening of Edmonton's newest record store, located at 8126 Gateway Blvd. "There's going to be some long nights before we open on Friday," says co-owner Dave Gawdunyk. "There's a lot of receiving (of stock) to do, getting art on the walls, setting up the sections. ..."

Call them crazy -- McDonald's brother-in-law does.

Who opens a record store at a time when album sales are dropping and outlets across North America are shutting their doors?

Read more: Here

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In midtown Sacramento, two stores sell music on vinyl

by Carla Meyer

Two new midtown Sacramento businesses put the "record" back in record store.

Music boutique Phono Select and vintage-album seller Medium Rare emphasize vinyl over MP3s and in-person expertise over user comments.

The stores feature carefully curated LP selections drawn from their music business-savvy proprietors' own collections and aimed at the same diehard music fans who have inspired a surge in vinyl sales over the past few years.

"I think it is just a reaction to everything being so fast-foodish," Phono Select co-owner and longtime professional music buyer Dal Basi, 43, said of the revived interest in vinyl.

"The sound of vinyl is truly warmer than a CD," said Marty DeAnda, 58, an artist manager, record-label owner and proprietor of the baby boomer-centric Medium Rare. And his customers can actually make out the art – and read liner notes – on a 12-inch album cover.

Read more: Here

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Throwback Products We Love: Vinyl Records

By Diane Bullock

The record spins again: Sales are up, bands are pressing new music, and players are back on the shelves.

The LP record. Those clunky, 12-inch discs of vinyl have inspired a god-like worship by audiophiles -- from John Cusak’s character in High Fidelity who organized his music collection not alphabetically, not chronologically, but autobiographically to Stanley Goodspeed in The Rock who shelled out $600 for a Beatles LP, rather than a $13 CD because they “sound better” to the characterization of Lester Bangs in Almost Famous, whose radio station studio and bedroom/home office were clogged, floor to ceiling, with the last ‘real’ records before the impending “death rattle, the last gasp, the last grope” of rock and roll music.

Four decades before Cameron Crowe had Bangs putting a nail in the coffin his record acquiring habit, RCA Victor was introducing the very first commercial vinyl record to the market. But the listening medium didn’t catch on until with the public until Columbia Records pioneered cost effective playback equipment and unveiled the 12-inch Long Play 33 1/3 RPM microgroove polyvinyl chloride record at a New York press conference in 1948.

The vinyl record would be the dominant mass market music medium for the next three-plus decades until the 1980s when cassette tapes started filling the shelves. But vinyl’s major popularity plunge came courtesy of Sony (SNE) and Philips’ (PHG) digitally recorded compact disc which proved far more portable, far less vulnerable to damage and, according to some, provided better fidelity. Vinyl records were officially ushered out of the marketplace by 1991 when the vast majority of copies of U2’s Achtung Baby were purchased on CD and Tower Records stores were holding final clearance sales on all vinyl merchandise, which comprised only 15 percent of total sales.

Read more: Here

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Amoeba has good Friday

Music retailers amp up for Record Store Day

By Christopher Morris

Aisles were teeming with shoppers at Amoeba Music in Hollywood on Friday -- "Black Friday," traditionally the biggest retail day of the year -- as the store joined other indie retailers in pulling out the stops to drive up their pre-Christmas business.

Amoeba was participating in a special pre-holiday promotion, mounted for the first time by the organizers of April's annual Record Store Day, that placed exclusive product (much of it vinyl-only) in indie store racks, hoping to reverse the double-digit downturn in record sales this year.

"There was a real good feel to it," said Amoeba co-owner Karen Pearson. "It was a really great energy … It sure seemed busier."

There was a sense of some urgency in this second Record Store Day event of the year.

Read more: Here

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Jack White defends Third Man Records eBay auctions

Singer dismisses complaints of fan exploitation, saying his decision to sell limited-edition vinyl to the highest bidder cuts out opportunists who profit from secondary sales

Sean Michaels

There is a rebellion brewing among fans of Jack White's label, Third Man Records, over the company's decision to auction limited-edition releases to the highest bidder. After admitting that Third Man was inspired by profiteers who "flipped" the label's releases on eBay, White has waded into the debate, telling critics to "stop all of the whining". "We didn't do anything to you but give you what you want," he wrote. "Don't want them to be expensive? Then guess what? Don't WANT them."

Since 2009, White has been issuing limited-edition records on his Third Man imprint, including releases by the Dead Weather, Conan O'Brien and the White Stripes. Many of these are released in runs of 100 or 300 copies, with tri-colour, glow-in-the-dark or oddly sized vinyl. Although these limited editions often resell for hundreds of pounds, Third Man sold them on a first-come, first-served basis through its Nashville headquarters, "pop-up shops" and a paid members' service, the Vault. With the label's rising profile, and its releases' rising values, Third Man has attracted "flippers", who buy limited records purely sell online.

This week, Third Man Records decided to beat the flippers at their own game,

Read more: Here

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 29, 2010


DEAR JERRY: I think my question is one you have never been asked.

I have many of the picture sleeves that accompanied hit singles by vinyl era (1949-'89) stars, mostly the Beatles; Beach Boys; 4 Seasons; Prince; Ricky Nelson; Connie Francis; and Elvis Presley.

I know you have talked about consecutive streaks, like No. 1s and Top 10s, etc., but among this group, who had the most consecutive single releases originally issued with picture sleeves?
—Fred Simon, Evansville, Ind.


DEAR FRED: Not only has your question never been submitted for the column, I don't recall it ever coming up in any correspondence or conversation. I like it!

As you know, the number of picture sleeves made for a given artist is not necessarily proportional to the number of singles issued.

For example, Glen Campbell charted with over 55 singles (1961-'81), only one of which had a special sleeve (“Hey Little One”).

James Brown and Ray Charles each topped 100 single hits, yet only eight of Brown's came with a custom sleeve, and just one of Brother Ray's (“That's a Lie”).

Among other influential factors is the record company. Some labels felt the added expense, nearly double, of producing a nice picture sleeve was worth it. Others, especially those on shoestring budgets, did not, knowing the added cost could not passed be on to their customers. Records with gorgeous, full-color coated-stock sleeves sold for the same prices as ones with plain white or brown, low-grade paper wrappers.

In the order you list them, we begin with the Beatles and the Beach Boys. During their most significant years, both groups recorded for Capitol, at times a picture sleeve-oriented label.

From 1964 to 1982, Capitol produced 23 consecutive Beatles singles with picture sleeves. Mixed in with the Capitol product in 1964 are five other labels who provided custom sleeves with their singles: Vee-Jay (“Please, Please Me” and “Do You Want to Know a Secret”); Swan (“She Loves You”); MGM (“My Bonnie” and “Why”); Atco (“Ain't She Sweet”); Tollie (“Love Me Do”).

In the throes of Beatlemania, these other records came flying in from all directions, but none affect the streak by Capitol, their official U.S. label at the time.

During the same period, Capitol printed sleeves for 10 consecutive Beach Boys hits (1964-'66). Over their entire career, the California boys have 20 picture sleeves.

The 4 Seasons also have 20 total, but only six are for consecutive hits (1966-'67).

Like the Beatles, Prince's successive streak (1982-'89) reached 23.

Ricky Nelson is an interesting case in point. Imperial shipped 11 of his first 12 singles in color sleeves (1957-'62), then inexplicably did not make one for his best seller to date, and first No. 1 hit, “Poor Little Fool.” By skipping it, what would have been a streak of 16 is reduced to 12.

In the mid-'60s, for Imperial as well as Decca, Rick (no longer Ricky) enjoyed another run of 10 straight sleeved hits (1963-'66).

The MGM cameras loved Connie Francis, and showed it by doing sleeves for 31 of her hits. Of those, they put together an uninterrupted streak of 25 (1960-'65), making her the runner-up in this sheathing event.

All of which means Elvis is alone at the top, and the King of Rock & Roll is also the King of Picture Sleeves.

Having 90 consecutive RCA Victor hits encased in collectible picture sleeves is downright remarkable.


IZ ZAT SO? Though not mentioned in today's question, the Rolling Stones certainly have a significant place in picture sleeve history.

Of all the top vinyl era stars — limited to ones with over a dozen hits — the Stones are the act with the most consecutive picture sleeves, beginning with that artist's debut hit. In their case that would be “Not Fade Away.”

They followed this 1964 single and sleeve with 18 more on London, concluding with “Honky Tonk Women,” in 1969. They are also the only artist in this class whose label (London) did not produce even one hit single without a custom sleeve.

Lesley Gore (13) and Janet Jackson (10) notwithstanding, it is quite rare for any of the vinyl era's top stars to have custom sleeves for their earliest singles. Elvis didn't get a special sleeve until his 10th release (“Don't Be Cruel”/“Hound Dog”).

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

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

Copyright 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission

This Date In Music History - December 1

Birthdays:

Billy Paul (1934)

Sandy Nelson (1938)

Dianne Lennon - Lennon Sisters (1939)

Bette Midler (1944)

Eric Bloom - Blue Oyster Cult (1944)

John Densmore - Doors (1944)

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946)

Sam Reid - Glass Tiger (1963)

Greg Upchurch - 3 Doors Down (1971)

Brad Delson - Linkin Park (1977)


They Are Missed:

Lee Dorsey, who had two US Top Ten hits with "Ya Ya" (#7 in 1961) and "Working In A Coal Mine" (#8 in 1966), died of emphysema in 1986, just three days shy of his 60th birthday.

Born on this day in 1951, Jaco Pastorius, jazz bass player, (1976 hit with Weather Report, "Birdland"). Also worked with Joni Mitchell and Pat Metheny. Died on September 21,1987 (age 35). He suffered irreversible brain damage after being beaten into a coma after an altercation with a bouncer at the Midnight Club in Fort Lauderdale.

William Smith, vocalist and keyboard player for Motherlode, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 53 in 1997. The Canadian group hit #18 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1969 with "When I Die."

Born on this day in 1936, Lou Rawls. Rawls died from lung cancer on January 6, 2006 (age 72).




History:

The rock and roll film "Shake, Rattle and Roll" opened in 1956.

Buddy Holly and the Crickets appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957, performing "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue." Sam Cooke was also a guest on the same show performing "You Send Me."

In 1958, Ricky Nelson became the first 'rock and roller' to appear on the cover of Life magazine.

The Teddy Bears were at #1 on the US singles chart in 1958 with "To Know Him is to Love Him." The trio consisted of Spector along with two friends, Marshall Leib and Annette Kleinbard. The title of the Phil Spector song came from words on his father’s tombstone.

A San Diego, California quintet called Rosie And The Originals reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 with a loosely recorded ballad called "Angel Baby." Written by the group's 14 year old singer, Rosie Hamlin, the song held the position for six weeks and stayed on the chart for three months.



The Beatles performed a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1961. That night they headlined a six-group Big Beat Session at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton in Wallasey.

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr booked into University College Hospital to have his tonsils removed in 1964. Big news back then....

Also in 1964, the Who played the first of 22 consecutive Tuesday night gigs at The Marquee Club in London, the band were paid $75 for each gig.

The Mamas and the Papas earned their fourth Gold record in 1966 for their album, 'Cass, John, Michelle and Denny.'

In 1966, Tom Jones' cover version of Porter Wagoner's "Green, Green Grass of Home" tops the UK charts for the first of a seven week stay. It will become his biggest hit, selling over 1.2 million copies in Britain alone. The record reached #11 in the US.

Janis Joplin made her final appearance with Big Brother & the Holding Company in 1968.

Martha & the Vandellas gave their farewell performance in Detroit, MI in 1972.

Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" was released in the US in 1972, where it will reach #1. The tune caused much speculation about who Carly was singing about, with popular guesses that included Mick Jagger (who sang unaccredited backing vocals on the song), Cat Stevens, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson (with whom she had had brief relationships), her unfaithful fiancé William Donaldson, and her ex-husband, James Taylor. Here we are almost 40 years later and we still are not sure who the song was about....



Aerosmith’s “Dream On” can only make it to #59 on the pop chart in 1973. However, when it’s re-released three years later it lands in the Top 10.

The Carpenters went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1973 with "Top Of The World," their second US #1. An earlier version by Lynn Anderson had already topped the US Country chart.

In 1976, the Sex Pistols, who have just released their first single, "Anarchy in the UK," appeared on British TV's Today Show as a last-minute replacement for Queen. After interviewer Bill Grundy asks them about their "nasty reputation," bass player Glenn Matlock uttered a four letter word on the air. In the resulting uproar, The Sex Pistols were banned from appearing in all but five cities that were booked for their first UK tour. By next month, no club or concert hall in Great Britain will book the group. It's all about the image....

During a North American tour in 1977, Queen appeared at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

After nearly eight months in production, Michael Jackson's milestone album "Thriller" was released in 1982. Seven of the album's nine songs were released as singles and all reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The LP won a record-breaking eight awards at the 1984 Grammys and would become the largest selling album of all time, worldwide.

In 1983, Neil Young was sued by Geffen Records because his new music for the label was “not commercial in nature and musically uncharacteristic of his previous albums.”

Jim Diamond was at #1 in the UK singles chart in 1984 with "I Should Have Known Better." The song was displaced after one week by Band Aid's charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Diamond publicly requested that people not buy his single, but instead buy "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Interesting....

A Kentucky teacher lost her appeal in the US Supreme Court in 1987 over her firing after showing Pink Floyd's film 'The Wall' to her class. The court decided that the film was not suitable for minors with its bad language and sexual content. Teacher, leave those kids alone....

Whitney Houston went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1990 with "I'm Your Baby Tonight," her 8th US #1 and the first for writers and producers Reid and Babyface.

The Band’s self-titled sophomore album with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," was certified a platinum selling album (over one million sales) in 1991. It only took 22 years.

Pearl Jam’s classic album “Ten,” containing “Jeremy,” passed the 6 million sales mark in 1992.

In 1993, Elton John suffered a rare flop when his album 'Duets' failed to crack the top twenty-five on the US album chart. The effort, which featured Don Henley, Chris Rea, kd lang, Little Richard, Kiki Dee, Gladys Knight, Bonnie Raitt and Leonard Cohen, was received much better in the UK, topping out at number 5.

In 1995, an auction of Frank Sinatra's possessions earned him $2,072,000.

In 1997, Kenny G set a new world record when he held a note on his saxophone for 45 minutes and 47 seconds. (The record has since been broken by Geovanny Escalante, who held a note for 1 hour, 30 minutes and 45 seconds, using a technique that allows him to blow and breathe at the same time). Blowharts....

The first night of a US tour with *NSYNC, Britney Spears and B*Witched opened in Columbus, Ohio in 1998. *I was unable to *at*tend....

Shania Twain started a five week run at #1 on the US album chart in 2002 with ‘Up!'

After much haggling, Pearl Jam played the first of two shows at Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo in 2005. Mayor Jose Serra had suspended the shows after complaints from nearby wealthy residents about the noise and mess. He later reversed his decision when the group complied with some ground rules. The shows marked Pearl Jam's Brazilian debut.

Memories Of John Lennon was in bookstores in 2005. The 300-plus page book, compiled by Yoko, contains prose, poetry and drawings from Lennon's friends, associates and admirers, including the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, the Who's Pete Townshend, U2's Bono, Carlos Santana and Elton John.

In 2006, an Oasis fan enjoyed "the best day of his life" when Noel Gallagher popped round to his house in Poynton, Cheshire to play an intimate gig. Ben Hayes had won a BBC Radio 1 competition to have the star play in his front room as part of a week of gigs compered by DJ Jo Whiley. 15 people packed into his lounge for the tiny gig - with his mother on hand making cups of tea for the crew.

In 2008, Wham's "Last Christmas" was the most played festive track of the last five years. The Performing Right Society put the 1984 hit at the top of their chart of seasonal songs, just ahead of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas." The Pogues came third with "Fairytale of New York," recorded with the late Kirsty MacColl and first released in 1987. Other featured artists include Slade, Mariah Carey and Bruce Springsteen.

Also in 2008, U2, Elton John, the Police, Bob Dylan and R.E.M. contributed music to (RED)WIRE, a subscription-based music-download service launched in conjunction with U2 singer Bono's Product Red initiative. Funds raised combat HIV and AIDS in Africa.

The Lennon Prophecy was in bookstores in 2008. Joseph Niezgoda claimed the Beatles’ popularity and John Lennon’s death were the result of a 20-year pack Lennon made with the devil in December, ’60 – well before the Beatles were international stars. The author cites historical events and hidden messages (in songs, album art, etc. – here we go again) as proof.

In 2009, Little Richard asked fans to pray for his speedy recovery after undergoing hip surgery at a Tennessee hospital. The 76-year-old Rock 'n' Roll pioneer asked family friend Rev. Bill Minson to tell fans "to get ready to rock 'n' roll with him in the new year because he's coming back strong."

New Music Releases - November 30, 2010

Short list this week, as always, CVR picks in red:

Abby Gogo - Abby Gogo
Adam Lambert - Take Two
Affiance - No Secret Revealed
Bette Midler - Memories of You
Beyonce - I Am... World Tour (CD & DVD)
Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning & The Best of The E.N.D. (Combo Deluxe Edition)
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (12 CDs)
Brian Jonestown Massacre - If I Love You EP (vinyl)
Bryan Adams - Bare Bones (Deluxe Edition)
Chrisette Michele - Let Freedom Reign
Conway Twitty - Conway Twitty Country / Heres Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty - Conway Twitty Sings / Look Into My Teardrops
Dave Berry - Picture Me Gone: Decca Sessions 1966-1974
Death in June - Peaceful Snow / Lounge Corps
Dinah Washington - Fabulous Miss D the Keynote Decca & Mercury Single (4 CDs)
Duffy - Well Well Well (2-Track)
El DeBarge - Second Chance
Eric Benet - Lost In Time
Fefe Dobson - Joy
Flo Rida - Only One Flo (Part 1)
Florence and the Machine - KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic (vinyl)
Flying Lizards - Flying Lizards / Fourth Wall (2 CDs)
Fugs - Tenderness Junction / It Crawled Into My Hand
Glee Cast - Glee: The Music, Volume 4
Gorillaz - Doncamatic
Graham Parker - Box of Bootlegs (6 CDs)
Graham Parker - Carp Fishing on Valium: Songs (reissue)
Grouper - Hold/Sick (vinyl)
Hank Marvin - Words And Music: All Alone With Friends
Heaven 17 - Penthouse & Pavement (3 CDs)
How to Dreess Well - Love Remains (vinyl)
Human League - Things That Dreams Are: Remixes
Jackson 5 - Compact Christmas
James Taylor - One Man Dog (Audio Fidelity)
Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back
Ladytron - Ace of Hz
Lambchop - Tour Box (10-CD box set)
Laurel Halo - King Felix
My Morning Jacket - Does Xmas Fiasco Style (reissue) (vinyl)
N.E.R.D - Nothing (vinyl)
Nick Gervanites & Mike Bloomfield - My Labors & More

Nilsson - Little Touch of Scmilsson in Night







OMD - Sister Marie Says
Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (OMD) - Sister Marie Says (Single)
Phil Collins - Face Value (Audio Fidelity)
Pointer Sisters - So Excited
Pointer Sisters - Special Things
Refugee - Refugee / Live in Newcastle
Ron Isley - Mr I
Russian Futurists - Weight's on the Wheels
Rye Rye - Sunshine (vinyl)

Sandy Denny -Deluxe Boxset 





Simian Mobile Disco - Delicacies
Sleeping in the Aviary - Great Vacation!
Solvents - Forgive Yr. Blood
Soulja Boy - The DeAndre Way
Steve Wynn - Northern Aggression
Steven Tyler - Love Lives
The Boy Least Likely To - Christmas Special
Tim McGraw - Number One Hits
Tristeza - Paisajes
Various Artists - Black Swan (soundtrack)
Various Artists - Glee: The Music, Volume 4
Various Artists - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (vinyl)
White Stripes - The White Stripes (2-LP vinyl reissue) (vinyl)
Yaz - You And Me Both



JAZZ  Find Latest Jazz Releases Here


The Bad Penny New Music Releases Schedule Find The Bad Penny Blog Here

Aeroplane – We Can’t Fly (previously available digitally; features vocals by Au Revoir Simone, Sky Ferreira)
Ane Brun – Live at Stockholm Concert Hall (iTunes release)
Ron Isley – Mr. I
Oberhofer – “Away Frm U” 7-inch
Terry Ohms (Vulture Whales frontman) – What Do You Mean, What Do I Mean?
Sleeping in the Aviary – Great Vacation
Solvents – Forgive Yr Blood
Sonny Smith – 100 Records Volume 2: I Miss the Jams (five-CD box set version; LP edition previously available)
Surf City – Kudos
Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 – Northern Aggression

Remember, if you are a record company and have new releases or know of any I missed (especially vinyl), please email me and I will add your music to the list. I also do reviews of new vinyl, email me for more information.

New Music Releases are put together from a variety of sources by blog owner Robert Benson

Have new music for the list? Email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com  

This Date In Music History - November 29

Birthdays:

John Mayall - father of the UK blues movement, his Bluesbreakers Band has featured Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Jack Bruce, Peter Green and Jimmy McCulloch (1933)

Meco Monardo (1939)

Chuck Mangione (1940)

Felix Cavaliere - Young Rascals (1944)

Ronnie Montrose - Montrose, Edgar Winter Group (1947)

Barry Goudreau - Boston (1951)

Michael Dempsey - Cure (1958)

Wallis Buchanan - Jamiroquai (1965)

Jonathan Knight - New Kids on the Block (1968)

Martin Carr - Boo Radleys (1968)

Apl.De.Ap - Black Eyed Peas (1974)

The Game (Jayceon Terrell Taylor) (1979)


They Are Missed:

Born on this day in 1917, country singer, songwriter Merle Travis. Invented the first solid body electric guitar. Wrote "Sixteen Tons" for Ernie Ford. Travis died October 20, 1983.

In 1996, singer and ukulele player Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury) died from a heart attack on stage while playing his hit "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" at a club in Minneapolis. On December 17, 1969, he married Victoria Mae Budinger on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, a publicity stunt that attracted over 40 million viewers. (they had a daughter, Tulip Victoria).

Butch McDade, drummer for The Amazing Rhythm Aces on their 1975 hit "Third Rate Romance," died of cancer in 1998 (age 52).

Singer and bandleader Curtis Knight died in 1999 (age 54). Jimi Hendrix had been a member of his band in the 60's. Though Hendrix wasn't in the group very long, he was featured on over 60 songs, 26 studio and 35 live recordings some of which have been released on record.

In 2001, former Beatles guitarist George Harrison died in Los Angeles of lung cancer (age 58). The news came as a shock to the world, despite Harrison's much-chronicled cancer treatments. Speaking outside his home in St John's Wood, north west London, Paul McCartney said: "I am devastated and very, very sad." Ringo Starr, speaking from Vancouver, Canada said: "We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter." Following the breakup of the Beatles, Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys. The youngest member of the Beatles, (aged 16 when he joined), his compositions include "Taxman," "Here Comes the Sun," "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Harrison released the acclaimed triple album, 'All Things Must Pass,' in 1970, from which came the worldwide #1 single "My Sweet Lord." He was the co-founder of Handmade Films, collaborated with Madonna and the members of Monty Python. An accomplished gardener, Harrison restored the grounds of his 120 roomed English home Friar Park.





Born today in 1941, Denny Doherty, singer, songwriter, The Mamas And The Papas. Doherty died Jan 19, 2007 at the age of 66 after a short illness.


History:

At the 1959 Grammy Awards, held just six months after a similar award show, Bobby Darin won Record of the Year for "Mack the Knife" as well as the Best New Artist of the Year. Song of the Year was awarded to Jimmy Driftwood, writer of Johnny Horton's hit, "The Battle Of New Orleans."

In 1960, Paul McCartney and Pete Best were deported from West Germany after being arrested on suspicion of arson after the hotel room they were staying in mysteriously caught fire. They were released and deported the next day.

The Beatles recorded their first U.K. #1 (on some charts it only reached #2), "Please Please Me" at Abbey Road Studios in London in 1962.

The Beatles' fifth British single "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was released in 1963. Advance orders exceed 700,000 and within three days the record will have sold one million copies, making it their second million seller. It was released in the US on December 26th and spent seven weeks at #1.

In 1966, after four weeks of work, the Beatles finally finished recording the epic cut "Strawberry Fields Forever."

The Who released their first concert record, "The Who Sell Out" in 1968.

In 1969, John Lennon was convicted of possession of cannabis and fined $360 in London. Yoko Ono, who was arrested with Lennon on October 18, was cleared of charges. The conviction played a large role in his later attempts to win US residency status. The drug bust makes him an "undesirable" even though his political beliefs/activities were the real issue.

The Beatles score a two-sided #1 hit in 1969 with John Lennon’s “Come Together” and George Harrison’s “Something.” Both songs are on 'Abbey Road.'

Elvis Presley's LP 'From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis' reached the Billboard album chart in 1969, where it would stay for the next 24 weeks, climbing as high as #12.

German trio Silver Convention started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1975 with "Fly Robin Fly."



In 1976, Lancaster local council cancelled the Sex Pistols gig at Lancaster Poly, England. The reason was given in a statement by the council saying: 'We don't want that sort of filth (The Sex Pistols) in the town limits.' Prudes....

In 1976, Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player, Norman "Butch" Owens, twice in the chest while trying to hit a soda bottle. Lewis was charged with shooting a firearm within the city limits.

'Alive II' was released by KISS in 1977.

Kansas goes platinum with their LP 'Point Of No Return' in 1977. The album contains one of their best songs “Carry On Wayward Son.”



In 1979, Anita Pallenburg, the common-law wife of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, was cleared of murder charges in the shooting death of her young male companion, whose body had been found in her New York state home.

Also in 1979 - The four original members of KISS performed for what they say will be the last time. However, they would reunite in 1996 for a tour in full makeup.

Metallica played their first headlining show in 1982. They played the song "Whiplash" for the first time. Exodus was the opening act.

In 1985, Kiss played the first night on their 91-date North American Asylum Tour at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas.

'Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Live / 1975-85' started a seven week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1986.

Also in 1986, Bon Jovi’s hit “You Give Love A Bad Name” topped the US pop chart.

U2's first TV special, called "U2's Zoo TV Outside Broadcast," aired on Fox-TV in 1992.

Mary J. Blige's second album, "My Life", was released in 1994.

In 1997, Whitney Houston pulled out of a concert sponsored by the Moonies two hours before she was due on stage after finding out the event was a mass wedding for over 1,000 Moonie couple's. The religious group said they had no intention of suing providing the singer returned the $1m fee she had received.

In 2002, three paintings by Sir Paul McCartney were bought for just $50 each at the Secrets Postcard Sale at London's Royal College of Art. Members of the public gambled on whether they were buying works by celebrity artists at a fraction of their value, as a picture's creator was only made known after it has sold.

A five-hour charity show, to boost the fight against Aids, was held at the Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town in 2003. Acts who appeared included, Bono, Queen, Ms Dynamite, Peter Gabriel, Eurythmics, Beyonce, Youssou N'Dour, Anastacia, The Corrs, Jimmy Cliff and Chaka Chaka. The show was also broadcast live on the internet.

Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Queen's Brian May and ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, autographed playing cards in 2005 for an auction to raise funds for the London-based Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong posted an open letter in 2006 urging fans to write President George W. Bush regarding the United States' growing energy crisis. Green Day and the Natural Resources Defense Council launch the Move America Beyond Oil campaign, that promotes clean, renewable energy.

In 2007, former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, a convicted sex offender, was arrested for failing to properly register a new permanent address. The 59-year-old had pleaded guilty in 1993 to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than 12 and being principal to lewd and lascivious behavior on a child younger than 16. He was sentenced to eight years of probation.

John Fogerty taped an episode of the PBS series Soundstage in Chicago in 2007. The program aired two months later.

Taylor Swift went to #1 on the US album chart in 2008 with ‘Fearless’, the country singers second studio album.

In 2009, Susan Boyle's album became the best-selling debut in UK chart history when it went to #1 on the UK chart. The 48 year-old runner-up in ITV's Britain's Got Talent, sold 410,000 copies of "I Dreamed a Dream." Boyle also topped the US charts, setting a first-week sales record for a female debut album with 701,000 copies sold in its first week.

Music News & Notes

Willie Nelson Arrested (Again) For Pot Possession

Willie Nelson was charged with marijuana possession in Texas yesterday (November 26) during a stop by Border Patrol agents in Sierra Blanca, Texas. An officer had searched the vehicle after smelling the substance and Border Agents found the marijuana on the bus, with Nelson taking responsibility for it. The country singing outlaw was taken to Hudspeth County Jail where he was booked on a misdemeanor and released on $2,500 bail.

Rock on, ya old pothead....



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Editors To Release Career-Spanning Box Set

Editors have announced that they are releasing a career-spanning box set, approprietly called 'Editors: The Complete Collection.' It is due out in February 2011 and will include B-sides, rarities and previously unreleased material. The set includes seven 12-inch vinyl records, seven CDs, a download card for all of the audio and an accompanying book.

Pre-orders will begin on December 2, with the first 200 box sets sold also set to receive a special personalized surprise from frontman Tom Smith.

For more information, visit EditorsOfficial.com.

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Beatles Figures From Yellow Submarine Coming From KnuckleBonz

It was announced that a new group of figurines is being released in KnuckleBonz' Rock Iconz limited edition series depicting characters from the 1968 Beatles' film 'Yellow Submarine.' They are licensed and approved by Apple Corps, Ltd and Live Nation Merchandise, Inc and the figures are at 1/9 scale, standing about nine-inches high, are hand-painted, individually numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity.

Shipping will begin on November 29 and the first figure is the film's villain, the 'Blue Meanie.' This figure is limited to 1,968 pieces in salute to the year that the movie was released.







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Jamie Foxx Reveals New Album Cover

Jamie Foxx is ready to debut his 4th studio album, 'Best Night Of My Life' on December 21st. The album will include the hit single "Fall For My Type" featuring Drake, along with "Living Better Now" featuring Rick Ross, and "Winner" featuring T.I. & Justin Timberlake.











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Burns & Poe Offer Fans Limited Edition Album and Holiday Single

Country specialists Burns & Poe are offering fans a special treat just in time for the holidays. The duo has pressed a limited number of vinyl records of their new self-titled debut album and are offering it exclusively through their website.

http://www.burnsandpoe.com/

When placing your order, you will also receive a copy of the album on CD, which will be autographed by the duo -- Keith Burns and Michelle Poe, as well as a digital download of their new Christmas song, 'Hear the Angels Singing.' The first 100 pre-orders made online will also receive 'Hear the Angels Singing' on CD.

"Our fans have been waiting for our music for a long time," Keith tells The Boot. "So we wanted to put it out and have it be something extra special. The LP is going to be a collector's item and something cool for them to have."

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Marduk To Release 20th-Anniversary Box Set

Swedish black metallers MARDUK are celebrating their 20th anniversary by releasing a strictly limited-edition box set in early 2011. According to the band, "This fabulous release will be a monument of the first two decades of MARDUK."

The vinyl edition of 'Wormwood,' the latest album from MARDUK, was released this past spring. The effort was available as a regular black vinyl with a gatefold sleeve (700 copies), picture disc (333 copies) and also as a gatefold deluxe edition with a 32-page booklet with lyrics on red vinyl (500 copies). Also newly released are the remastered versions on vinyl of MARDUK's "Germania", "Nightwing" and "Panzer Division Marduk" (available on regular vinyl and picture disc).

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STRATOVARIUS: 'Elysium' Collector's Edition Detailed

Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS are set to release their thirteenth full-length studio album, 'Elysium' on January 14, 2011. A single with two new songs has been released on November 26 to coincide with the start of the "7 Sinners World Tour." STRATOVARIUS will join HELLOWEEN, as very special guests, kicking off the same day at the Szene in Vienna, Austria.

The following tracks will be part of the single:

* Darkest Hours (from the upcoming album "Elysium")
* Infernal Maze (from the upcoming album "Elysium")
* Darkest Hours (demo version)
* Against The Wind (live recording, Sofia, Bulgaria)
* Black Diamond (live recording, Göteborg, Sweden)

"Elysium" will be released as a regular CD; a deluxe digipak edition with bonus track; a "collector's edition" (featuring two exclusive bonus tracks on a seven-inch single); and on vinyl.
The cover artwork was created by Gyula Havancsák.

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R.E.M Anounce New Album 'Collapse Into Now' Tracklisting

80's college radio darlings R.E.M have recently announced the tracklisting for their upcoming album called 'Collapse Into Now.' The album is due out early 2011 and features collaborations with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Patti Smith and Peaches. In an interview with Spin, Mike Mills said the album was “more expansive” than its predecessor, 2008's 'Accelerate.' I am excited, hopefully they rock out with this one...

The tracklisting for 'Collapse Into Now':

'Discoverer'
'All The Best'
'Uberlin'
'Oh My Heart'
'It Happened Today' (featuring Eddie Vedder)
'Every Day Is Yours To Win'
'Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter' (featuring Peaches and Lenny Kaye)
'Walk It Back'
'Mine Smell Like Honey'
'That Someone Is You'
'Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I'

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Limp Bizkit Team Up With Wu Tang Clan, KISS For New Album

Limp Bizkit's new album is scheduled to feature a guest collaboration with Wu Tang Clan rapper Raekwon. Singer Fred Durst previewed a number of songs from the album during an impromptu live web chat with fans on November 24.

Limp Bizkit's new album, 'Gold Cobra,' includes an introduction which was written by Durst and Kiss frontman Gene Simmons.

The album will mark the band's first full-length record in their original line-up since 2000's 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.'

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The Futureheads To Release Christmas Single

As part of their 10th birthday celebrations, pop rockers the Futureheads have decided to dip their toes in the dangerous waters with a new Christmas release.

The new single "Christmas Was Better In The 80s" will be released on 19th December 2010 through their own Null Records.

To celebrate their 10th birthday The Futureheads also collaborated with iconic artists including David Shrigley and Stuart Semple to create a series of limited edition prints, raising money for Newcastle based charities with all of the artists generously giving their time for free. For the FH10 project the band sent each one of the artists an album, and asked them to respond to its music as if creating the album cover for the first ever time.

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New Releases On Third Man Records

Third Man Records is scheduled to release two new singles on November 29th, with the first being the next episode in the labels Blue Series of 7" vinyl releases, featuring The Thornbills.

Michigan cousins Jim Wigand III and Tamara Finlay (The Thornbills) have chosen two Jack White produced songs, "Uncle Andrei" is a mysterious ode, reminiscent of a Russian waltz while "Square Peg" is a driving and charming tune layered with the strum of the guitar and wail of the violin.

Third Man and Nonsuch Records also are proud to produce the latest single from the Queen of Rock and First Lady of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, who brings the latest taste of her signature style to the label.

On the tracks "Thunder on the Mountain" and "Dust on the Bible," Jackson is joined by new friend, producer and Third Man Records founder Jack White, along with help from Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather/Raconteurs), Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), Patrick Keeler (Raconteurs), Ashley Monroe, Jackson Smith and Karen Elson, to name a few.

Thunder On The Mountain is a particularly exceptional track. Originally penned by Bob Dylan and chosen for Mrs. Jackson by the poet himself – his rockabilly fever dream is given new life by the songstress.

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Primal Scream to Release Box Set

Next year, Primal Scream’s LP 'Screamadelica' will have been around for 20 years and the band will be issiung a huge box set next March to commemorate the anniversary. The set will include four CDs, one DVD, and two vinyl records.

The rest of the set called 'Screamadelica: Collector’s Edition,' will consist of a new live album called 'Live in L.A., 1991,' a remastered edition of the band’s 1992 four-track EP 'Dixie-Narco,' and a remix CD featuring cuts by Andrew Weatherall and The Orb, among others. Also included is a double-vinyl version of Screamadelica, a DVD of the 30-minute documentary 'The Making of Screamadelica,' bonus footage from the original “Screamadelica” VHS release, and more.

Just to make 500 people feel even more super exclusive, the band will put out a limited “white” edition of the set. Just to make 20% of those super exclusive people feel super extra exclusive, Primal Scream will sign 100 copies of the “white” sets.

Screamadelica: The Collector’s Edition

CD1: Remastered Album
Remastered by Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes and Kevin Shields

01. Movin’ on Up
02. Slip Inside This House
03. Don’t Fight It, Feel It
04. Higher Than the Sun
05. Inner Flight
06. Come Together
07. Loaded
08. Damaged
09. I’m Comin’ Down
10. Higher Than the Sun [A Dub Symphony in Two Parts]
11. Shine Like Stars

CD2: Live In L.A., 1991
Mixed by Andrew Innes

CD3: Screamadelica Remixes
“Loaded”
01. Farley Mix 7? (5:59)
02. Loaded 7? (4:19)

“Come Together”
03. Farley 7? (4:23)
04. 7? Mix (Wetherall (4:45)
05. Terry Farley Extended 12? Mix (08:02)
06. Hypnotone Brain machine Mix (5:14)
07. BBG Mix (6:27)

“Higher Than The Sun”
08. Higher Than The Orb (5:00)
09. Higher Than The Sun 12? (6:43)
10. American Spring Mix (6:20)

“Don’t Fight It”
11. 7? Edit (4:10)
12. Graham Massey Mix (4:53)
13. Scat Mix (8:07)
14. High, High, High (Massey) (5:54)

Bonus
01. “I’m Losing More Than I Ever Had” (4:48)
02. “Ramblin Rose” (2:27)

CD4: Dixie-Narco EP (Remastered)
01. “Movin’ On Up”
02. “Stone My Soul”
03. “Carry Me Home”
04. “Screamadelica”

DVD: Classic Album Documentary
“The Making of Screamadelica” – 30 mins
01. “Screamadelica”
02. “Movin’ On Up”
03. “Slip Inside This House”
04. “Don’t Fight It, Feel It”
05. “Higher Than The Sun”
06. “Come Together”
07. “Damaged”
08. “Loaded”
09. “Shine Like Stars”
10. “Inner Flight”

LP: Remastered Album – Gatefold 2LP
A1. “Movin’ On Up”
A2. “Slip Inside This House”
A3. “Don’t Fight It, Feel It”

B1. “Higher Than The Sun”
B2. “Inner Flight”
B3. “Come Together”

C1. “Loaded”
C2. “Damaged”
C3. “I’m Comin’ Down”

D1. “Higher Than The Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts)”
D2. “Shine Like Stars”