Music News, Notes & Did You Know?

Jazz Fest releases 2011 Lineup

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Wednesday announced the music lineup for the 2011 festival scheduled for April 29 through May 1 and May 5 through 8.

With 12 stages of virtually every style of roots music, Jazz Fest presents one of the entertainment world's most diverse music lineups. This year is no exception. Fans can catch Arcade Fire, Kid Rock, Bon Jovi and John Mellencamp alongside Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, The Strokes and Lauryn Hill.

And that's just the start of it. Hundreds of Louisiana artists will be taking the stage alongside national acts such as Wilco, Tom Jones, John Legend and Jason Mraz.

For more info go to www.nojazzfest.com

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Turnstyle Record Player Concept Looks Far Out

Read more HERE












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Here is a nice UK story about vinyl:

A Vinyl Upsurge

By Phillip Walker

OLD-STYLE vinyl records are still a hit on Teesside despite download sales taking over the charts.

Digital sales now account for just under 20% of all album sales and last year The BPI and the Official Charts Company’s figures showed digital album sales topping 50 million.

Even so, it looks increasingly unlikely physical media, like vinyl and CDs, will fade away completely.

Read the rest   HERE












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Album Cover Art

Honoring 80s reggae dancehall album cover art

Read more HERE











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An incredible story through the words of a vinyl lover!!

Uncovering Bangkok through its forgotten vinyl records

DJ Chris Menist explains how being an outsider allowed him to breathe new life into Thailand's oft-maligned northeastern beats and vinyl castoffs

Read more: Uncovering Bangkok through its forgotten vinyl records | CNNGo.com HERE

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Interesting sidepiece and some great thoughts:

Vinyl Records: The New Growth Story!

by M Kraten

Times are tough in the music business nowadays! Sales of CDs, and of almost all other forms of recorded music, are dropping precipitously. And the live concert business is wilting as well, with entertainers from U2 to Christina Aguilera forced to cancel performances because of low customer demand.

Earlier this month, however, when Billboard reported its annual SoundScan sales totals, one form of recorded music actually reported a significant increase in sales volume between 2009 and 2010. And the size of that increase would have been impressive in any era: 14% on a year-to-year basis!

Even more surprising was the nature of the format that experienced this increase in sales volume. Yes, it was the venerable disk shaped record, a technology that was first introduced in the 1880s and that overtook the phonograph cylinder during the 1920s. Can it now become the growth story of the 21st century?

Read the rest   HERE

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Vinyl has now done it, it's now a story in Time Magazine!!

Vinyl Gets Its Groove Back

By Kristina Dell

From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean CDs. Vinyl records, especially the full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock in the 1960s and '70s, are suddenly cool again.

Read more: Time Magazine

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A rare and intense look inside the mind of Jack White

Jack White's Third Man Records tells the world: Your Music City is not dead
The House that Jack Built

Jack White


Just found this, according to http://www.musicpriceguide.com/ a Jack White record has sold for over $13,000 on eBay recently.  Amazing!!

this from the seller:

Hand Painted ( Dave Buick artwork) Lafayette Blues #15. there are only 15 of these hand painted beauties out there. hard to come by & rare.


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ARTILLERY: New Album Artwork Revealed

Danish thrash metal veterans Artillery have completed work on their sixth album, "My Blood", at Medley Studios in Copenhagen for a March 21 European release via Metal Mind Productions (April 5 in the U.S. through MVD). The cover artwork was created by well-known Polish graphic designer Graal, who has previously worked with VITAL REMANS, SINISTER, SOLITUDE AETURNUS and BULLDOZER. Graal was also responsible for the covers of ARTILLERY's "Through The Years" box and "When Death Comes".

Chilling work, well done......













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Did You Know?

Although it is generally acknowledged that the "Rock 'n' Roll era" began in the US when Bill Haley and His Comets reached the top of the Billboard chart in July, 1955 with "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock", many Rock historians believe that the first true Rock and Roll record was a song called "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and The Delta Cats, which topped the American R&B chart in May, 1951.

The longest title of an album to reach the Billboard Hot 200 LP chart is Fiona Apple's

"When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right"

The title is made up of 90 words.   Sheeeeesh......

In 1965, Alan Freed, who many credit with coining the term "Rock and Roll", died at the age of 43. Freed was a Cleveland disc jockey who started promoting dances that featured the top artists of the day, including, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. After moving to New York and appearing in some teen movies, he was caught up in the payola scandal of 1959 for accepting money for playing certain records on his radio show. Before his death, he was virtually broke and fighting charges of tax evasion. It was a sad end for one of Rock and Roll's most important pioneers.

Also in 1965, The Rolling Stones and the Kinks made their first appearances on ABC-TV's Shindig! Also appearing were the Dave Clark Five, Petula Clark, Bobby Vee, Bobby Sherman and Gerry And The Pacemakers.



In 1968, an amazing event unfolded as John Fred's "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses"), a song title inspired by the Beatles "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," knocked the Fab Four's "Hello Goodbye" out of Billboard's top spot.

In 1973, Jerry Lee Lewis was booked to play the Grand Ole Opry on the condition that he would stick to Country and Western tunes only. Jerry did just that for a while, but eventually broke into his old Rock hits from the 50's, while swearing up a storm. He proclaimed, "I am the rock and rollin', country and western, rhythm and blues singin' motherf***er."  Nice, and I couldn't agree more!



And in 1982, the infamous Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off of what he thought was a plastic bat thrown at him during a concert in Des Moines. The bat turned out to be real and Ozzy later went through a series of injections against rabies. Mmmmmm....good stuff

CTI Records 40th Anniversary Celebration, Continues With 180-gram Vinyl LP Reissues

SONY MASTERWORKS JAZZ RELEASES CLASSIC REISSUES FROM GEORGE BENSON, DEODATO, MILT JACKSON, PAUL DESMOND, JIM HALL AND RON CARTER

Available January 25, 2011

Also available, critically acclaimed CTI Records: The Cool Revolution deluxe 4-CD box and California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium 2-CD set featuring previously unreleased tracks

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Masterworks Jazz continues the celebration of the 40th anniversary of CTI Records, the beloved jazz label founded in 1970 by producer Creed Taylor with the release of 6 more classic reissues available on January 25th, 2011. They include: White Rabbit by George Benson, All Blues by Ron Carter (first time on CD in the U.S.), Prelude by Deodato, Pure Desmond by Paul Desmond, Concierto by Jim Hall, and Milt Jackson's Sunflower. The reissues are packaged in eco-friendly softpack sleeves that replicate the original gatefold LP design and their iconic covers most with photos by Pete Turner.

White Rabbit is perhaps George Benson's finest album for CTI, featuring the signature title track arrangement of the Jefferson Airplane classic – a 1972 Grammy® nominee for Best Jazz Performance by a Group.

All Blues by Ron Carter makes its debut on CD in the U.S. (it was previously only released in Japan). Carter was voted Bassist of the Year in DOWNBEAT's Readers' Poll in 1973, 1974 and 1975, highlighting his work with CTI.

Deodato's Prelude includes his Grammy®-winning hit title track, an arrangement of Richard Strauss's fanfare from Also Sprach Zarathustra, used as the main theme in 2001: A Space Odyssey. This song is the biggest hit the CTI label would ever have. The album's title track won 1974 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, and rose to No. 2 on the U.S. pop charts.

Pure Desmond by Paul Desmond was not only highly praised but it also brought to the spotlight the considerable talents of Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert. It also features Ron Carter on bass and Connie Kay on drums. Paul Desmond was voted by DOWNBEAT's readers into its Jazz Hall of Fame in 1977.

For his work on Concierto, Jim Hall received a Grammy® nomination in 1975 for Best Jazz Performance by a Soloist. He was also named Guitarist of the Year in DOWNBEAT's Jazz Poll in 1974, the year before he recorded Concierto.

Sunflower is the most revered album by Milt Jackson, one of the greatest of jazz vibraphone players, and most acclaimed improvisational blues instrumentalists of all time. He was a founding member of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet, voted by DOWNBEAT's readers into its Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sony MASTERWORKS Jazz kicked off the 40th anniversary celebration with the release of CTI Records: The Cool Revolution, a deluxe 4-CD multi-artist box set retrospective in the Fall. Receiving rave reviews The Associated Press dubbed it "…the most comprehensive anthology to date" and NPR said it was "… as striking a portrait of the Jazz World in the '70s as you'll find anywhere."

Also released in the Fall was the double-CD restoration of California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium (1971) which included 90-minutes of music rarely heard and never before available. It is the most complete version of the historic Hollywood Palladium all-star concert recorded July 18, 1971. It doubles the content of the original five-song LP release with five additional tracks - three of them previously unreleased - and restores the original concert sequence for the first time. Creed Taylor hand-picked a dream team of CTI artists for the occasion: Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Hank Crawford, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Johnny Hammond, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham and Airto Moreira. Liner notes are by multi-Grammy winning musician-producer Bob Belden who says California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium "...ranks up there with the greatest jazz concerts of all time…"

The celebration also included reissues of the first set of 6 classic CTI albums: She Was Too Good To Me by Chet Baker, God Bless the Child by Kenny Burrell, Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard, StoneFlower by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Morning Star by Hubert Laws (first time on CD), and Stanley Turrentine's Sugar.

In addition, Sony also released the following 180-gram vinyl LP reissues of 4 classic CTI albums using the original gatefold sleeve designs accompanied with digital download cards: Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine's Sugar, White Rabbit by George Benson and Prelude by Deodato.

In the 1970s, CTI, its music, its style and its discriminating quality transformed contemporary jazz. The roster worked almost like a repertory company, in which great musicians took turns in the spotlight and accompanying each other. The albums they and their colleagues created set new standards in their look as well as their sound. "[Creed Taylor's] plan was ingeniously simple, yet famously maverick: record top-tier musicians, keeping their artistic integrity intact while also making their art palatable to the people. CTI thus achieved that rare balance of jazz and commercialism," writes Dan Ouellette in the liner notes. CTI surpassed the majors and fellow indies to be named the #1 Jazz Label of 1974 by Billboard. The immediate success of CTI's recordings has echoed across the decades in a profound influence on jazz, pop, R&B and hip-hop.

SOURCE Masterworks Jazz

Don Kirshner Remembered

Music mogul Don Kirshner, whom Time magazine once called "the man with the golden ear," had expressed disappointment over not having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Joshua Prezant / Washington Post)


It always amazes me that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has not recognized his contributions to the industry (shame on the Hall). Heck, he brought some cool TV shows back then, something that we don't have right now (sans videos). Could you imagine some of the brightest stars doing this today? I can't......

Don Kirshner dies at 76; music mogul

Don Kirshner guided the careers of songwriters, launched the Monkees and introduced TV audiences to an array of musicians and comics through his show in the 1970s.

Don Kirshner, the veteran music mogul who shepherded songs from a monstrously talented stable of young writers to the top of the pop charts in the 1960s, launched the career of the Monkees and then became a familiar face to millions of rock fans as impresario of his late-night music TV series in the 1970s, died Monday of heart failure in Boca Raton, Fla., where he had lived for the last decade, a family spokeswoman said Tuesday. He was 76.

"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" brought the biggest names in rock and pop music to television in live performances instead of the lip-synced sessions that often characterized rock music on television.

Read the rest of this LA Times write up HERE









 
Black Sabbath: "War Pigs" (Live on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert", 1975)

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 17, 2011


DEAR JERRY: After reading of Patti Page's unsuccessful revival of Patsy Montana's “I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart,” I did a little research on this song.

Turns out Patsy Montana's signature song is widely regarded as the first million-selling single ever by a female!

Hoping to find a 78 rpm of the original version, I scanned eBay, but was surprised and confused by the results.

I found this song on eBay on four or five different labels (Columbia, ARC, Melotone, etc.) and no explanation by anyone as to which is the first issue, or which ones, if any, were recorded years later and would not sound the same as the original hit.

Curiously, one is on the Montgomery Ward label. I didn't know this store also had a record company. I can't imagine competing stores selling records made by them.

Can you guide me through this Montana maze?
—Imogene Chamberlain, Beloit, Wisc.

DEAR IMOGENE: Saddle up, our maze extrication adventure begins August 16, 1935.

That's the day Patsy Montana (née: Ruby Rose Blevins) recorded “I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart,” for the Vocalion Record Company.

By January 1936, the track that would become the most famous and recognizable yodel song in history was in the Pop Music Top 10, and headed for unprecedented success.

Shortly after release of the original recording (Vocalion 03010), in what was an extremely common practice for then, the American Record Company (ARC) leased the original master and rights to produce records for their family of budget labels.

Rather than sell to record stores, ARC distributed their pressings to department stores with an area for record sales, and at prices discounted as much as 75% off what the major labels charged.

Music lovers could choose from higher quality records, in this case Vanguard, for about a buck, or an ARC reproduction for 25- to 39-cents, depending on where one shopped.

Though the cut rate companies produced records using lower grade materials, resulting in lower audio fidelity and a shorter playing life, we must not forget the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. In all areas of life, less expensive alternatives were mighty appealing.

That any record sold a million copies under those economic conditions makes the feat even more extraordinary.

By the end of 1935, ARC-produced 78 rpms of “I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart” were available on ARC itself, plus at least six other variations:

ARC (5-11-56); Oriole (5-11-56); Romeo (5-11-56); Banner (5-11-56); Melotone (5-11-56); and Perfect (5-11-56).

Notice all of these labels have the same selection number, 5-11-56. The actual record number is really 56, but the 5-11 tells us it came out in 1935, during November.

ARC also made two of the above labels specifically for what were known as dime stores: Romeo for S.H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Stores, and Oriole, which proudly states right on the sleeve “Sold only at McCrory's” (Five and Dime Stores).

Another ARC product, with a different name and selection number (Conqueror 8575), was offered exclusively by Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Which leads to your comment about the Montgomery Ward label. Unlike Sears, Roebuck & Co., the Ward stores leased the music directly, eliminating the middleman (ARC). They effectively created their own discount label, active from 1933 to 1941.

Ward did issue two Patsy Montana singles, “When the Flowers of Montana Were Blooming” (MW 4322) and “Montana Plains” (MW 4484). Neither contained “I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart.”

The Columbia 78 you found is also the original Vocalion master, but didn't come out until 1947 (Columbia 37602).

For best quality reproduction, you can't go wrong with either the Vocalion or Columbia 78.


IZ ZAT SO? There will never be a better time to identify some of the other record labels manufactured exclusively for nationally known retailers: Macy's (Cameo); McCrory's (Oriole); S.H. Kress (Muse; Romeo; Tremont); Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Challenge; Conqueror; Harvard; Oxford; Silvertone; Supertone); W.T. Grant (Bell; Diva); and Woolworth's (Crown).

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: http://www.jerryosborne.com/

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

Copyright 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission

Music News, Notes & Did You Know?

Amon Amarth: New Album Cover Art, Track Listing Revealed

Swedish metalheads Amon Amarth are set to release their eighth studio album, 'Surtur Rising,'  in North America on March 29 (Metal Blade Records). Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim ("flame land") and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record, which was listed among Decibel magazine's most anticipated albums of 2011 and features 10 tracks of sword-wielding, fist-pumping, hyper climactic battle anthems. The follow-up to 2008's monolithic "Twilight Of The Thunder God" full-length was recorded again at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and features strikingly brutal cover art by Tom Thiel.

Read more HERE





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WHITESNAKE: New Album Details Revealed

WHITESNAKE, the legendary rock 'n' roll legacy founded and formed by renowned singer/songwriter David Coverdale, will release its new album, "Forevermore" on March 29 in North America (March 25 in Europe ) via Frontiers Records. The band's eleventh studio album was recorded, produced and mixed by Coverdale, guitarist Doug Aldrich and Michael McIntyre at Snakebyte Studios and Grumblenott Studios & Villas in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, with additional work at Casa Dala, Sherman Oaks, California.

Read more HERE



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Protest The Hero Reveals Cover Art For Upcoming Full Length

Canadian progressive metal titans Protest the Hero have revealed the cover artwork for its forthcoming full length album. The new album, titled "Scurrilous," was produced once again with producer Julius 'Juice' Butty and will see its release on March 22, 2010 through Underground Operations in Canada and through Vagrant Records in the United States.











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Lower Than Atlantis Album Cover Art

Lower Than Atlantis have posted the album art for their upcoming album WORLD RECORD which is to be released on the 4th of April.

“The cover art for ‘World Record’ was hand drawn by the very talented Mr. Paul Jackson of Tank.Axe.Love, and it bloody works!” says frontman Mike Duce. “I’m pretty into it because it’s almost like a photo of my own hands – I think it’s supposed to be to do with being in a band and being poor but if you ask me, he’s got a load of cool shit there! A pick for playing guitar so he can write songs, the means to make a cigarette because smoking’s cool and enough money for a couple of penny sweets to keep his energy up while writing said songs! When we first saw the art we were all in total shock at how great it was. Could not be happier with Paul’s vision and the results of his work.”




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Lost Highway Records Celebrates 10th Anniversary

NASHVILLE-based LOST HIGHWAY RECORDS celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a special vinyl reissue series and a much-anticipated showcase during the SOUTH-BY-SOUTHWEST MUSIC CONFERENCE in AUSTIN.

LOST HIGHWAY will commemorate its anniversary throughout 2011 by releasing 20 different titles from its extensive and diverse catalog on limited-edition clear vinyl. This series will begin on JANUARY 25th with releases of RYAN ADAMS’ "Gold" and the soundtrack of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" That will be followed on FEBRUARY 15th with releases of HAYES CARLL’s "KMAG YOYO" and DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS’ "Southern Rock Opera." MARCH will see the vinyl releases of LUCINDA WILLIAMS and BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS’ newest releases.

On MARCH 18th, LOST HIGHWAY will team up with BMI to hold a concert at the new AUSTIN CITY LIMITS studio called THE MOODY THEATER. Artists performing include WILLIAMS, ROBERT EARL KEEN, CARLL, LEWIS and special guests.

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My Chemical Romance To Release Limited Edition Colored Vinyl

My Chemical Romance will release its current album, "Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys" on limited-edition colored and black vinyl on February 1. In the U.S., 500 colored vinyl discs will be available for purchase exclusively at MCR’s webstore at http://www.mychemicalromance.com/shop  while 2,500 black vinyl discs will be available for purchase at retail outlets, the band’s website, and becausesoundmatters.com/

Released by Reprise Records on November 22,the album claimed the No. 1 spot on Soundscan’s Rock and Alternative Album Charts, and debuted at No. 8 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart..

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Still Busted At Oz

Permanent Records’ Lance Barresi talks about re-issuing the classic Chicago punk compilation

by Leor Galil

Three decades ago, a fledgling Chicago label called Autumn Records released Busted At Oz, a compilation record that documented the city’s punk scene. Recorded live at Oz, a venue that hosted many of Chicago’s first punk acts, the compilation features early recordings from Strike Under, Da, Silver Abuse, Subverts, Naked Raygun, and the Effigies.

Busted At Oz has long been out of print, and it has become a collector’s item for Chicago punk enthusiasts. It has been hard for most folks to hear the record, until now. That’s because Ukrainian Village record store and label Permanent Records is reissuing the compilation on vinyl: 500 copies of the newly minted Busted At Oz will be available at the end of the month. Before the reissue hits store shelves, The A.V. Club spoke to Permanent co-founder Lance Barresi about the record, why it’s taken so long to reissue, and why he thinks it’s the quintessential Chicago punk document.

Read the rest HERE

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Domenic Romeo

A389 Records owner talks about the heavy music scene and the endurance of LPs

A389, perhaps Baltimore’s premier active heavy-music record label, celebrates its seven-year anniversary this weekend with a blowout, ear-caving show at Sonar. Sporting a roster ranging from pure New York hardcore brutality to heavy-tonnage sludge to whatever you call Baltimore’s Oak, the label’s catalog offers a tour of extreme music—though, like much of the city’s extreme music, A389 is a mite undersung on its own turf. City Paper talked to label founder/owner Domenic Romeo, who also plays guitar in hardcore band Pulling Teeth, last week over the phone during a break in his workday about supporting heavy music, evictions, and why metal and punk fans still actually buy records.

Read the rest HERE

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Restoration of Phil Spector's Catalog Brings 4 New Collections

BE MY BABY: THE VERY BEST OF THE RONETTES (Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, 2007); THE SOUND OF LOVE: THE VERY BEST OF DARLENE LOVE (Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, 2011); DA DOO RON RON: THE VERY BEST OF THE CRYSTALS; WALL OF SOUND: THE VERY BEST OF PHIL SPECTOR 1961-1966

All titles available at both physical and digital retail outlets starting February 22, 2011, through Phil Spector Records/Legacy

Read the rest of the lengthy press release HERE

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Panic! At The Disco Back With New Music

Panic! At The Disco Unveil "Vices & Virtues"; First New Album in Three Years to Be Heralded by First Single, "The Ballad of Mona Lisa," Available at Digital Retailers on February 1st; PATD Also Set to Return to the Stage With Eagerly Awaited Live Sold Out Performance at NYC's Bowery Ballroom on February 1st; "VICES & VIRTUES" Drops Everywhere on March 29th

Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen recording group Panic! At The Disco has announced the release of their hugely anticipated new album. "VICES & VIRTUES" arrives in stores and at all digital retailers on March 29th.

The album's first single, entitled "The Ballad of Mona Lisa," will be available at all digital retailers on February 1st. That same day will see the multi-platinum certified band debuting new music from "VICES & VIRTUES" with a very special live performance at New York City's Bowery Ballroom, tickets for which sold-out in one hour. Furthermore, Panic! At The Disco will also play two European dates, the first a sold-out show on February 8th at London's Bush Hall, followed by a performance on February 10th at Visions Party/FZW in Dortmund, Germany. The band recently shot a music video for the single, "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" in Los Angeles with director Shane Drake, which will be released shortly. Drake previously directed the group's music videos for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" and "Nine In The Afternoon."

Produced by Butch Walker (Weezer, Pink) and John Feldmann (Neon Trees, The Used), "VICES & VIRTUES" marks Panic! At The Disco's first new release in three years, as well as their debut outing as a duo comprised of singer/multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith.

"It's been a long time coming," Urie recently told Alternative Press, "but we're really excited about the songs."

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Did You Know?

The Platters reached the number one spot on the US Pop chart in 1959 with the immortal "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes."

In 1974 - For a mere $4 you could have seen Bruce Springsteen at Kent State University in Ohio as the opening act for Black Oak Arkansas.

In 1993, an inaugural concert is held in Landover, Maryland to honor President-elect Bill Clinton. Aretha Franklin sings "I Have A Dream" and Fleetwood Mac perform "Don't Stop", a tune that the Clinton campaign used as their theme song. Others appearing were Michael Jackson, Judy Collins, Chuck Berry, Michael Bolton and Little Richard.   All just a lead in for Monica......



In 1994 Paul McCartney inducts John Lennon into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying "The thing you must remember is, that I'm the number one John Lennon fan. I love him to this day and I always did love him."

In 1998, Rock and Roll pioneer Carl Perkins died of stroke related causes at the age of 65. Carl wrote and recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" which went to number 2 for him in 1956, selling 2 million copies. The Elvis Presley version topped out at number 20 the same year.

In 2006, Wilson Pickett suffered a fatal heart attack. During his career, he placed 16 hits on Billboard's Pop chart, including "Land Of 1000 Dances" (#6) and "Funky Broadway" (#8).

At 65 years old, Bob Dylan became the oldest living musician to ever top the Billboard album chart when "Modern Times" entered at #1 in September, 2006.

And in 2008, John Stewart, singer / songwriter who was a member of The Kingston Trio in the early '60s, but more often remembered for writing The Monkees' hit, "Daydream Believer", died following a brain aneurism. Stewart also had a successful solo career which included four dozen albums and a Billboard #9 hit single with "Gold" in 1979.

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Even more useless trivia for music buffs

The Artists Who Spent The Most Weeks At #1

Number  Name  Total
1 - Elvis Presley 80
2 - Mariah Carey 61
3 - The Beatles 59
4 - Boyz II Men 50
5 - Michael Jackson 37
6 - Elton John 34
7 - Janet Jackson 33
8 - Madonna 32
9 - Whitney Houston 31
10 - Paul McCartney 30
11 - Bee Gees 27
12 - Stevie Wonder 25
13 - Puff Daddy 24
14 - George Michael 23
15 - The Supremes 22
16 - Santana 22
17 - Pat Boone 21
18 - Debby Boone 21
19 - Lionel Richie 21
20 - Rod Stewart 20
21 - Diana Ross 20
22 - Jennifer Lopez 20
23 - Four Seasons 18
24 - Olivia Newton-John 18
25 - Celine Dion 18
26 - TLC 18
27 - Goo Goo Dolls 18

No one will top Elvis at 80!

Music News, Notes & Did You Know?

‘Money for Nothing’ too offensive for Canada

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has recently ruled that the Dire Straits’ 1980s hit "Money for Nothing" is too offensive for Canadian radio. The ruling, released last Wednesday, was in response to a complaint against St. John’s radio station CHOZ-FM. The listener complained that the word faggot – which appears three times in the song is “extremely offensive” to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

It ruled that “faggot,” when used to describe a homosexual, is “even if entirely or marginally acceptable in earlier days, is no longer so.”

Here are the offending lyrics from the song:

The little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah, buddy, that’s his own hair
That little faggot’s got his own jet airplane
That little faggot, he’s a millionaire

Get over it!

Read the full story here: Money For Nothing

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beehivecandy.com has a great post to read:

The Byrds - Bath Festival 1970.


The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music took place at the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet, England over the weekend of 27th and 28th June 1970. The line up included a good number of major American acts (inc Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Steppenwolf) and from the UK the likes of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

The festival suffered from some appalling weather at times and also from traffic jams getting to the venue which affected some acts. The original schedule of artists times for appearing went disastrously wrong and delays eventually meant acts appeared through both nights and into Monday morning.

The Byrds appeared on stage, in the early hours of Monday 29th June and the following from the festival archives site takes up the story - It was really late, something like 2 am

Read the rest at BeeHiveCandy.com

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Daggermouth's 'Stallone' Gets Vinyl Release

Animal Style Records has given the vinyl treatment to 'Stallone,' the 2006 full-length effort from Vancouver, BC's punk rockers Daggermouth. The first vinyl pressing is limited to 500 copies spread across three variants (100 red, 200 forest green and 200 clear pink).

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Soundgarden Announce Live Album

Soundgarden announced their first-ever live album titled, 'Live on 15.' The 17 track LP is scheduled for release on March 22nd and will include the crowd pleasing "Outshined," "Spoonman," and "Black Hole Sun," and some fantastic covers of The Beatles’ "Helter Skelter" and Iggy and The Stooges’ "Search and Destroy." The set was recorded at shows while touring North America in 1996 and feature two tracks recorded at Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland, CA.

In addition to the live album they may release an album of B-sides.

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Jack White Enlists Bob Dylan On New Wanda Jackson Album

Music and melody maker Jack White enlisted the help of Bob Dylan on his latest project, Wanda Jackson's new album 'The Party Ain't Over.' The album includes collaborations with Jack White's wife Karen Elson, The Dead Weather's Jack Lawrence, The Raconteur's Patrick Keeler, Ashley Monroe and Patti Smith's son Jackson Smith.

''I just happened to ask Bob Dylan what he thought, because I told him Wanda was coming to record with me,'' White told BBC 6 Music. "I asked if there were any songs of the top of his head, he sent a couple over and one of was Thunder on the Mountain."

Wanda Jackson is signed to White's Third Man records and they are offering – with the first 1,000 album preorders – an exclusive poster print from the legendary Hatch Show Print letterpress printers in Nashville in the limited edition Greeting Card Gatefold™ (a first for Third Man). Amongst the lucky people who pre-order the LP, 100 will have a chance at the fuchsia-colored vinyl discs that have been randomly inserted.

Nice collectible, I hope I get one!




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Steven Tyler Tells Howard Stern That Aerosmith Will Write and Play Again

New 'American Idol' judge Steven Tyler popped by Howard Stern's SiriusXM radio show this morning and dished about how things are going with his 'other' gig in Aerosmith Stern exalted Tyler, calling him the "American Mick Jagger," and then launched into the hardline questioning he's known for. There were no softballs here, with Stern flat out asking.........

Read the rest HERE

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Beatles Hit Five Million in iTunes Sales

Yes, I know, this is a blog about vinyl. However, other music mediums exist and The Beatles balked for years to join the downloading game. But they are introducing their music to a whole new generation of fans and that cannot be a bad thing.

In fact, in only two short months the Beatles have accomplished a feat that has taken many modern artists several months to accomplish – sell five million songs and one million albums; almost half of those in the first week the music was available in the middle of November 2010 on Apple iTunes.

According to Apple statistics, the most popular of the 13 Beatles’ albums is 'Abbey Road,' and amazingly (considering all their hit singles) the most popular song is the George Harrison penned “Here Comes the Sun”.

For us vinyl fans, the Beatles also topped 2010 sales for record sales. The iconic group from Liverpool sold 36,700 albums in 2010 with 35,000 copies of  'Abbey Road' being sold. In all nearly three million vinyl record albums were sold in 2010.

Nielsen SoundScan the top 10 selling artists vinyl albums for 2010:

The Beatles
The Black Keys
Radiohead
Arcade Fire
Jimi Hendrix
The National
Pavement
Vampire Weekend 
Metallica
Bob Dylan


The top 10 individual vinyl albums for 2010:

 Abbey Road  by The Beatles
”Suburbs” by Arcade Fire
”Brothers” by the Black Keys
”Contra” by Vampire Weekend
”Thriller” by Michael Jackson
”High Violet” by the National
”Teen Dream” by Beach House
Valleys Of Neptune (2 LP Vinyl) Jimi Hendrix Experience
”Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd
”XX” by the xx

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Did You Know?

Johnny Preston started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1960 with "Running Bear." Written by J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), the tune originally entered the chart in October 1959, then quickly vanished, but re-entered in November and slowly climbed to the top. It was also a UK No.1.

In 1964, The Beatles had their first appearance on the US singles chart with "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The record entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #45, just ten days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history. Capitol had earlier turned down "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me to You" and "She Loves You", which were then released by Vee Jay Records. After a nasty lawsuit, Capitol Records was granted an injunction, restraining Vee Jay Records from further manufacturing, distributing, advertising or otherwise disposing of recordings by the Beatles. If you have any old Beatles records on Vee Jay, hang on to them, they are now collector's items.

In 1974, former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US #1 album with their debut release.

And, another Barry Manilow reference, this is two days in a row (sorry) - In 1975, Barry Manilow launched his career with the number one smash "Mandy". Originally called "Brandy" when it was recorded in 1972 by Scott English, Manilow changed the title to avoid confusion with the hit of the same name by a group called Looking Glass.

In 1978, Johnny Paycheck's cover of David Allan Coe's ode to workplace frustrations, "Take This Job and Shove It", reached the top spot on the Billboard Country chart. Although the song failed to crack the Pop chart Top 40, it still seems to be one that we all know and can relate to!

DAVID ALLAN COE Take This Job And Shove It





Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson in 1996 after less then two years of being married. No one saw that coming.......

And in 2007, crazy rocker Ted Nugent caused a stir at the inaugural ball of Texas Governor Rick Perry when he appeared on stage wearing a T-shirt adorned with the Confederate flag and then embarking on an angry monologue about people who don't speak English. The 58-year-old Rocker also carried a fake machine gun on stage with him.

Happy Birthday to Jonathan Davis of Korn!

New Music Releases ~ January 18, 2010

Finally, getting back into the swing of things with lots of new music releases for mid January.  Look for new music from Blackmore's Night, Daniel Martin Moore, Gregg Allman, James Blunt and Twilight Hotel; among others.  And, this week has some great vinyl reissues including Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan together on vinyl, Booker T. & the MGs, Fela Kuti, Mudhoney, the Kinks, Sparklehorse, Mudhoney and Social Distortion, just to name a few.  As always, CVR Blog picks in red. 


New Music Releases ~ January 18, 2010

16 Horsepower - Yours Truly
Alan Parsons Project - X2 (I Robot/Eye In The Sky)
Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session (vinyl)
Aquabats - Hi-Five Soup!
Audio Bullys - Higher Than the Eiffel
Aurelio - Laru Beya
Beep - City of the Future
Benjy Davis Project: Sincerely
Blackmore's Night - Autumn Sky
Booker T. & the MGs - McLemore Avenue (vinyl)
Boris - Live in Japan (DVD)
Braids - Native Speaker
Brandon Heath - Leaving Eden
Bridge and Powerlines - Eve
Clarence Johnson - Low Down Papa
Cobra Skulls - Bringing the War Home
Daniel Martin Moore - In the Cool of the Day
Disappears - Guider
Distractions - Dark Green Sea
Dolorean - The Unfazed
Ducktails - Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics(vinyl)
Electric Wizard - Black Masses Rise
Elvis Presley - Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition
Eulogies - Tear the Fences Down
Farewell To Freeway - Filty Habits
Buy Fela Kuti Nusic Here
Fela Kuti - Army Arrangement (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Beasts of No Nation /O.D.O.O. (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Coffin For Head of State / Unknown Soldier (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Live in Amsterdam (reissue)
Fela Kuti - Original Suffer Head / I.T.T. (reissue)
Fergus & Geronimo - Unlearn
First Aid Kit - "Universal Soldier" b/w "It Hurts Me Too" 7''
Ghost - Opus Eponymous
Gilkyson-Gorka-Kaplansky - Red Horse (vinyl)
Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues (2 LPs) (vinyl)
Harry Belafonte - Sings The Blues (24k Gold Master)
Ian Axel - This Is The New Year
Ike & Tina Turner - Absolutely the Best: Live
James Blunt - Some Kind of Trouble
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - Je Taime Moi Non Plus (reissue) (vinyl)
Janis Ian - Between The Lines (Gold Disc)
Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall (Vinyl)
Jayhawks - Tomorrow The Green Grass (remastered with bonus CD)
Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop 19

Kinks - Kinda Kinks (vinyl)





Klaxons - Surfing the Void (deluxe edition reissue)

Import! 'The album kicks off with "Echoes," a challenging first single that sees fuzzy electric guitars form the basis for which the often breathy vocals can overlap. Instantly, something hits the listener: the album seems to be rather poorly mastered, either deliberately to create a lo-fi sound or unintentionally as a result of Klaxons disputes with their label. I'd like to think that it is a deliberate move; it doesn't hurt the album to be a little grittier, and even benefits some of the tracks. "Surfing the Void," is an apocalyptic, riff-heavy beast that seems to thrive on the loudness that mastering would partially remove. Vocals come quick and fast, taking the shouting of older tracks like "Atlantis to Interzone" to new levels in this murky atmosphere. Overall, Klaxons seem to have gone for a dark, brooding sound that largely plays to their strengths. "Valley of Calm Trees" offers softer vocals and a reluctant, saddening tone as well as one of the most memorable Klaxons choruses so far. Klaxons embrace being British throughout the record; Jamie Reynolds sounds similar to Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel during select parts of "Future Memories," which shows influences in vocals and guitar-work. Elsewhere, the tension is broken in softer, percussion-led tracks such as "Twin Flames," that places vocals further in the mix and allows the glitch-like guitars to remain in the background, creating a wonderful rhythm.' - Alex Phillimore / OneThirtyBPM.com

Lady Lazarus - Mantic
Ladytron - 604 (reissue with bonus tracks)
Ladytron - Light & Magic (reissue with bonus tracks)
Ladytron - Witching Hour (reissue with bonus tracks)
Les Jupes - Modern Myths
Lionheart - Built on Struggle
Madlib - Low Budget High Fi Music (3xCD)
Magic Sam - West Side Soul: Special Edition
Modern Skirts - Gramahawk
Mogwai - Rano Pano (vinyl)

Mudhoney - Head on the Curb (reissue) (vinyl)

This beautiful 180 gram vinyl-only release is mid-period Mudhoney at its rawest. Original bass player Matt Lukin is in top form, as is the rest of the classic lineup, blasting out songs and ideas, some of which went on to be studio-fied for their Warner Bros. debut Piece of Cake, while others got lost to the dark crevices of time until now. Besides the cover of SCTV classic "I Hate The Bloody Queen", these recordings have never been released, and represent a sonic assault that is pure Mudhoney. Raw, unabashed, and sometimes downright no-fi. Head On the Curb writes a new chapter into Mudhoney's legendary past.

Neon Quartet - Catch Me
Night Ranger - Authorized Bootleg: Live Marquette, Michigan - 8/8/84
Norman Blake - Green Light On The Southern
Oh No Oh My - People Problems
Pearl Jam - Live On Ten Legs (vinyl)
Phish - Live Phish 6/27/10 Merriweather Post Pavilion
Phish - Live Phish 7/4/10 Verizon Wireless at Encore Park
Phish - Live Phish: 7/3/10 Verizon Wireless at Encore Park
Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival
Ringside - Lost Days
Robert Pollard -Space City Kicks (vinyl)
Roomful of Blues - Hook, Line & Sinker
Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour
Scars on 45 - Give Me Something (EP)
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - Je Taime Moi Non Plus (vinyl)
Serge Gainsbourg - Le Claqueur De Mots 1958-1959
Serge Gainsbourg - Initials B.B. (reissue) (vinyl)
Shalamar - Ultimate Best of (2 CDs)
Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers - Teenage and Torture
Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Folk Roots New Routes (vinyl)
Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2xLP) (Bonus Tracks)







Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider (reissue)(vinyl)

On 180 gram vinyl! This reissue comes with a bonus 7" containing "Waiting for Nothing" (ghost song in the original vinyl version) and "Happy Place," plus download card of the entire album. 'Sparklehorse's 1996 full-length debut, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, has even more sad, beautiful, weird moments of spacy, rural folk-rock than it does letters in its name. Primarily the project of singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Linkous, Sparklehorse's sound embraces impossibly frail, cobwebby ballads like the album opener "Homecoming Queen," "Most Beautiful Widow in Town," and "Heart of Darkness"; sun-drenched, noisy pop like "Rainmaker" and "Hammering the Cramps"; and noise blasts like "Ballad of a Cold Lost Marble" and "850 Double Pumper Holley." The album's most powerful moments borrow from folk and country traditions, alluding to their universally understood poignancy, while updating and personalizing them with spacy arrangements, distorted vocals, and slivers of feedback. "Heart of Darkness" and "Homecoming Queen" in particular have a woozy, late-night sweetness that conveys a touching, if unstable, honesty. The single "Someday I Will Treat You Good" molds this vulnerability into a radio song, with catchy and affecting results, but it's the shambling, understated songs like "Saturday" and "Sad & Beautiful World" that define the group's down-to-earth melancholy. Despite covering some expansive musical territory, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot doesn't sound scattered so much as spontaneous, reflecting the happy, sad, noisy, and quiet moments in life.' - Heather Phares / All Music Guide

Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (reissue)(vinyl)
Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies (reissue)(vinyl)
Spiritualized - Pure Phase (reissue)(vinyl)
Steve Lukather - All’s Well That Ends Well
Tennis - Cape Dory
The Brute Chorus - How The Caged Bird Sings
The Carrier - Blind To What Is Right

The Decemberists - The King is Dead (CD & DVD) (CD, DVD & book)

On 180 gram gatefold vinyl! 'The Decemberists release their sixth album The King Is Dead via Capitol Records. The critically acclaimed Portland, OR alt-pop outfit, led by frontman and songwriter Colin Meloy, are joined by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck on three of the album's ten tracks. Meloy has mentioned that R.E.M. is an inspiration for the album, a claim that is backed up by the album's more straightforward, driving folk/rock sound on the songs like "Down By the Water," "This Is Why We Fight" and "Calamity Sound." The King Is Dead follows up The Decemberists' March 2009 album Hazards of Love.' - Direct Current







The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace (Omnibus Edition)
The Frames - For the Birds (reissue) (vinyl)
The Script - Science & Faith
The Walkmen - You & Me (reissue) (vinyl)
Times of Grace - The Hymn Of A Broken Man (Special Edition)(CD/DVD)
Tokio Hotel - Best Of
Tony Bennet & Gene Krupa - Guard Sessions
Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death - Some of Are in This Together
Twilight Hotel - When the Wolves Go Blind
Various Artists - Disco Fever USA
Various Artists - Shots Of Blues Volume 1
Various Artists - Six Sessions (2 CDs)
Vusi Mahlasela - Say Africa (vinyl)
Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse EP (reissue)
White Fence - is growing faith (vinyl)
White Lies - Ritual (vinyl)
Young Prisms - Friends For Now (vinyl)


New Jazz Releases January 18, 2010

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.

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

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record - Sales Week Ending 01/15/2011

The first three entries this week look like they're off the covers of the Goldmine Record Guide. Those are followed up by two Northern Soul 45s. Ok, I'm calling it - the economy is improving, at least in the UK, Northern Soul records have been making the list every week.




1. LP - The Beatles "Introducing The Beatles" Vee Jay Rainbow Label Stereo - $4,162.00

2. 45 - The Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen" / "Did You No Wrong" South Africa Pic Sleeve - $3,716.00

3. LP - The Velvet Underground "The Velvet Underground & Nico" Yellow Label Promo Mono - $3,506.00

4. 45 - Charles Johnson & Orchestra "You Made A Mistake" / "I'll Keep Loving You" Rainbow - $3,383.33

5. 45 - John Harris & Soul Sayers "Hangin' In" / "What Can I Do" Kerston - $2,916.00


More on this week's top 5 on Vinyl Record Talk, Tuesday 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific on Radio Dentata.

Did You Know?

Lennon’s Ferrari On The Auction Block

Lennon’s Azzuro 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 coupe was the first car the Beatle bought after passing his driving test in 1965 and this vintage auto will be among the lots at Bonhams Febuary 5, 2011, auction at the Grand Palais in Paris. The blue coupe carries a presale estimate $155,000 to $220,000. Guess I better warm up the jet......

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Did You Know?

Here is my first installment of a new Daily Feature called "Did You Know?" Just a few quick notes and oddities that everyone should know.....

Led Zeppelin's debut album was released this month in 1969

In 1974, Dino Martin, of Dino, Desi and Billy and son of crooner Dean Martin, is arrested for possession of eight machine-guns and a 14-foot antitank gun. He is arraigned and released the next day on $5,000 bail. Wonder what 'ole blue eyes' had to say about that.....

in 1976, Barry Manilow had the #1 record in the US with "I Write The Songs." Although he wrote many of his hits, he didn't write this one. In fact, Bruce Johnson of the Beach Boys did and Manilow has always been quick to point out that fact.

In 1994, Donny Osmond fought the Partridge Family's Danny Bonaduce in a charity boxing match in Chicago (Bonaduce wins a split decision). I actually have seen the fight, Donny got burned.....

And today is Chris Montez' birthday. He was born in 1943.

David Crosby and Graham Nash to Tour as Crosby/Nash This Spring

1971 LIVE SET 'ANOTHER STONEY EVENING' OUT IN MARCH ON THE DUO'S NEW LABEL BLUE CASTLE RECORDS

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Singer-songwriters David Crosby and Graham Nash will launch a spring tour in the U.S. with a March 25 show in Long Beach, CA. While Crosby and Nash's legendary vocal harmonies will be the centerpiece of the show, they will be accompanied on the road by an ace-backing band featuring James Raymond (keyboards), Dean Parks (guitar), Kevin McCormick (bass), and Steve DiStanislao (drums). The initial on-sale date for tickets is January 21.

The tour will mix acoustic and plugged-in performances. "Touring with a full band gives us the opportunity to do selections from our catalogue that Graham and I haven't performed live together before," says Crosby. "We will also be introducing some brand new songs we've written, that have never been heard onstage or on record."

Crosby and Nash are also launching their own record label, Blue Castle Records, with the first-ever digital and vinyl editions of the live album Another Stoney Evening, recorded forty years ago, in 1971 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The release date is set for March 22, and the album can be pre-ordered through their website http://www.crosbynash.com/ when tickets for the tour go on sale.

"This album represents the very beginning of our musical relationship as a duo," says Nash. "Whatever David and I do well together, it's wonderful that we're still doing it well. For the upcoming tour, with a rock 'n roll band, we've gotten fantastic advance response. It's exciting to be bringing this great new show to people."

David Crosby and Graham Nash have each been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - once with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and a second time with the Byrds and the Hollies, respectively.

For more information, log on to: http://www.crosbynash.com/

For special benefit seating, please visit http://www.guacfund.org/

CROSBY/NASH Tour Dates (additional dates to be added shortly):

March 25
Long Beach Terrace Theater
Long Beach, CA

March 27
Arlington Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA

March 28
Warfield Theatre
San Francisco, CA

March 30
WaMu Theatre
Seattle, WA

April 1
Van Duzer Theater/Humboldt State Univ.
Arcata, CA

April 2
Laxson Auditorium/Chico State Univ.
Chico, CA

April 4
Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

April 9
Swallow Hill Rootsfest/Paramount Theater
Denver, CO

SOURCE  http://www.crosbynash.com

Music News & Notes

Obscura - Reveal New Album Cover Art

'Omnivium,' the upcoming album of death metallers Obscura is set to be released on March 29th via Relapse Records.

According to a press release, Omnivium finds the band pushing the progressive edges of the genre's sounds to new heights while delivering the technical metal that has become their calling card. The band gracefully blends brutality and beauty with complex, commanding songs played at stunningly virtuosic levels. Ominivum very clearly raises the bar for extreme, technical metal and is Obscura's finest moment to date.








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Dalriada Reveals New Album Details

Hungarian folk metal band DALRIADA has announced that their new album, 'Ígéret, will be released on February 18th. The band has also revealed the cover art which I think is very unique for a metal band.....













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Supergrass Will Reform, Bassist Mick Quinn Says

Ex Supergrass bassist Mick Quinn has hinted that he expects the band will reform. Quinn stated he was on “good terms” with fellow members Danny Goffey and Gaz and Rob Coombes after they split in 2010.

"I'm still on good terms with the rest of them and I'm confident we would probably reform at some point,” he told BBC News.

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Dirty Beaches Release Limited Edition Vinyl

ZOO MUSIC will be releasing the limited edition Badlands 12" vinyl record on March 29 from Montreal minimalist Dirty Beaches.

Pressed in a limited edition of 500 vinyl records, Badlands features eight exclusive unreleased tracks coated in noise, echoed vocals and layered distortion. We highly recommend hitting up the pre-order shop as supplies are very limited.

Additionally, Dirty Beaches will also be embarking on a national tour with Dum Dum spring of 2011.

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This from B & I Records

B&I To Release Figure Four LP / Reunion Planned

Blood & Ink Records is extremely pleased to announce we have started working on a vinyl pressing of Figure Four’s seminal hardcore album Suffering The Loss! Details are still coming together, but we plan to have the LP out in time for their planned reunion at Rain Fest 2011 in May, if not earlier. That’s right! They’ve announced plans to play Rain Fest in Seattle the last weekend of May alongside Trial, Madball, Most Precious Blood









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Tommy Crain of the Charlie Daniels Band Passes Away

Tommy Crain, a former guitarist with the Charlie Daniels Band and one of the writers of The Devil Went Down to Georgia, passed away on Thursday in Franklin, TN. He was 59.

Read more: VintageVinylNews.com

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Boy George sends fan album back after 10 years

Culture Club star Boy George made a North fan’s day after posting a signed album cover back . . . more than a decade after he sent it.

The singer, real name George O’Dowd, came across the Colour By Numbers cover in a cupboard while having a clear-out in his London pad.

And he gave Peter Anderson the surprise of his life when he finally got the album back through the post, together with an autographed photo and an apologetic letter.

Read the rest HERE

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LA Times critic talks about the evolving ways musicians get their music to the masses:

In pop music, a whole new way of doing business

By Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times Pop Music Critic

January has always been slump month when it comes to new pop music. Musicians tend to turn bearlike around this time, hibernating until conditions seem friendlier. Yet the resourceful pop lover will be anything but bored right now, with so much to reap from the eternally sunlit realm of the Internet.

Read the rest of the article HERE

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Queen Working On Multiple Projects to Celebrate 40th Anniversary

This year, Queen is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their formation and they are celebrating with a number of new products.

With over 170 million global album sales, 18 Number One Albums, 10 Number One DVD's, 700 concerts performed in every corner of the world including their historic appearance at Live Aid, Seven Ivor Novello Awards, inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Guinness Book of Records award for the most successful UK album chart artist ever, the Queen story is one of the most remarkable in modern British culture. 40 years after Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon formed Queen and the band became the epitome of rock n roll swagger and excess Queen continues to rule globally.

Read more: VintageVinylNews.com

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Some great cover art to look at!

LEAVES' EYES: New Album Title, Artwork Unveiled

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian has set "Meredead" as the title of its new album, due on April 22 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Release dates for other territories will be announced soon. Producer/co-vocalist Alexander Krull is currently overseeing the efforts final mix at Mastersound Studio. The album's artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann.

Commented Kristine: "As we began composing the first song ideas for our fourth full-length album, all of us were very eager to take another step in strengthening both the individual sound and concept of LEAVES' EYES, like we have done album by album. Along with the songwriting process, I made up my mind about the songs' themes, and drowned myself in different sources of literature. Some songs clearly needed lyrics rooted in northern history and culture, as well as having mystical themes.

Read more HERE

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Classic Rockers Coming Together For Mark Farner's Son

On July 3 of last year, Mark Farner's (Grand Funk Railroad) son Jesse was critically injured in a fall. This coming Monday night there will be a benefit for Jesse and the Farner family at B.B. King's in New York City.

Read more: HERE

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Interesting story

The Making of an Album Cover

Making of an album cover

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Very cool album cover art

Indie Album Covers

Indie Album Cover Art

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How much is my old vinyl Beatles record worth?

Beatles Record

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Vinyl Thrives at Ragged Records

Read HERE