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DEAR JERRY:My favorite rock music instrument is the guitar, and, though I play a little, I am in awe by some of the masters.
One in that category is the late George Harrison, and it is he who inspires my question.
What did he do to create that unmistakable opening chord on “A Hard Day's Night”?
I have tried but cannot even come close. —Rick Jensen, Lancaster, Pa.
DEAR RICK: Close is as close as you can get on your own. Duplicating that chord requires a supporting cast.
Easily among the most instantly recognizable opening chords ever, those two seconds involve much more than just George on his 12-string Rickenbacker.
Though not individually distinct, Paul on bass, Ringo on drums, George Martin on piano, and a touch of random reverberation are all crucial to the forceful kickoff on the finished product.
As for getting close, the best advice for going it solo comes from Randy Bachman, lead guitarist for Guess Who and singer-guitarist of Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
In a segment of Randy Bachman's Guitarology 101 (CBC and satellite radio), he explains:
“The opening chord of “A Hard Day's Night” is the most famous chord ever played on a 12-string guitar!
“George plays an F chord, with a G on top, and a G on the bottom with a C next to that G.”
Randy then strums it live, coming amazingly close to what the Beatles and their producer created at the Abbey Road Studios, in April 1964. You should be able to do so with a similar result.
DEAR JERRY:Check any telephone directory and you will see how very, very few people have a last name that begins with X. But since I am one of that rare breed (actually pronounced Zenos), I'd like to know if any popular recording artists are alpha-filed under X.
Also, how many popular songs from singles actually have “Xmas” in the title? —Joseph Xenos, Houston
DEAR JOSEPH: By not limiting the search to specific genres or time periods, there are, perhaps, more than you might think, though X is the letter with the fewest names of people as well as songs.
By far, the most successful X act is the Atlanta all-girl foursome, Xscape.
They sold millions of singles and albums between 1993 and 2000, with their best-known tune being “Just Kickin' It,” their platinum-selling debut single.
Others in the X-file are X; Xavier; Xavion; X-Clan; X-Con; X-Ecutioners; Xmas Balls; X-Rays (1949); XTC; X-25 Band; Xymox; XYZ; Xzibit
All but X-Con and Xzibit (solo males) are groups, and only X-Rays is earlier than the 1980s.
Just because none of your X brethren hit the charts before the '80s doesn't mean they weren't trying. Here are some Xamples of earlier efforts, and the decade in which they recorded:
1910s: Xylophone Solo Orchestra
1950s: X-Citers Vocal Group; and X-Rays (not the '40s group)
1960s: X. Lincoln; Ndikho Xaba and the Natives; X-Cellents; X-Ceptions; X-Citers Unlimited; XL's; XL-5; X-Man; X-Men; and Xtreems
1970s: X-Cessors; X-Cetra; Xenogenesis; Dax Xenos; XIT; XS; Baggage; and XYZ (not the 1980s group)
Might Dax Xenos be a relative?
There are more than 100 “Xmas” songs, most being album cuts and non-hit singles, but I can only think of two bona fide hits: “Nuttin' for Xmas” (1955, Joe Ward) and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971, John Lennon & Yoko Ono).
IZ ZAT SO? Before the 1980 hit soundtrack single, “Xanadu,” by Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra, there was only one popular song title beginning with X.
In May 1948, “X-Temperanous Boogie,” an original instrumental by Camille Howard “Playing the Piano with Rhythm Accompaniment,” made Billboard's Top 10 “Most-Played Juke Box Race Records.”
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 2011 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission
Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales - Week Ending 12/24/2011
A sweet find turned up this week, a test pressing of "Freewheelin'" that has the alternate tracks that were mistakenly released on the original pressing. A stock copy of "Freewheelin'" typically sells for around half the $5k price that this test pressing bid to. Psych stuff continues to make the list, with Canadian holy grail "Bent Wind" getting the #2 spot, and Delany and Bonnie's Apple record getting the #4 spot. Poking in at the bottom is a KBD 45 from Bad Brains.
1. LP - Bob Dylan "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" Test Press LP Alternate Tracks - $5,212.00
4. LP - Delany & Bonnie "The Original Delaney And Bonnie" Apple SAPCOR7 UK Pressing - $3,534.64
5. 45 - Bad Brains "Pay To Cum" / "Stay Close To Me" w/sleeve and insert - $2,938.00
As always, a thank you to Norm & Jane over at Vinyl Record Talk for this enlightening data!
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wonderful story and interview over at clashmusic.com
Label Profile: Captured Tracks
Mike Sniper speaks to ClashMusic
Posted by Robin Murray
One of the defining imprints behind the current indie pop boom, it would be churlish to pin Captured Tracks down amongst the cardigan-clad legions. Sticking to its guns, the Brooklyn label has supported music it dearly loves building up a back catalogue that moves from noise pop to dream pop, with a touch of electronics along the way.
Retaining a love for the physical format, the pop song and a fuzzed up guitar riff Captured Tracks has constructed an identity without allowing themselves to be pigeon-holed.
Some Girls: The Facts About the Stones' Most Notorious Record Cover
John Hood / Miami-based writer
A few weeks back, to much acclaim, The Rolling Stones re-released their seminal Some Girls album. As John Carucci reported here, the new edition comes as both a double disc and box set, and includes a slew of songs that were intended to be the original LP, but got cut due to time restraints. In fact, Stones guitarist Keith Richards said rushing to market was "the same as cutting off your baby's head."
But added tracks, as kickin' as they may be, aren't the only story behind the Some Girls re-release, which is wrapped in the very same sleeve that caused such a stir way back in '78 and remains a bone of contention between its co-creators, Peter Corriston and Hubert Kretzschmar. Now that the head's been put back on the baby, song-wise, perhaps it's time we put to bed the issue over who did what with the notorious sleeve.
Music fans going back to black as vinyl records enjoy a revival
While sales of compact discs are plummeting, vinyl is making a comeback, says Andy Welch
For millions of music lovers, owning hard copies of albums became a thing your parents did after the advent of iTunes.
These days, 99 per cent of all new singles are bought digitally, with more than 85 per cent of those bought from the aforementioned online store, leaving CDs and minidiscs to dance their way to the musical graveyard.
Yet there’s one analogue anachronism in this high-tech world that refuses to go offline. During the first nine months of 2011, more vinyl records were sold than in the whole of 2010 – a 40 per cent sales bump. Not bad for a product that was reportedly consigned to the scrapheap decades ago.
Last month’s UK Record Store Day, which began two years ago, celebrated the vinyl format, with numerous bands either re-releasing or recording special, limited-edition vinyl stock and giving copies to independent sellers across the country.
Doors Five-Disc Super Deluxe Edition of ‘L.A. Woman’ Cancelled
by: Karen 'Gilly' Laney
The Doors‘ ‘L.A. Woman’ five-disc Super Edition is no longer on the list for a January 2012 release. Bumped from its initial release date of Nov. 24, 2011 and despite the hundreds of pre-paid advance orders, Rhino Records has decided that it’s not a commercially viable project.
Doors’ Manager Jeff Jampol explains that “there are concerns at [Rhino's] end” and “they want to be sure that not only is the market there, but do we have a place to distribute them?” The two-disc ‘L.A. Woman’ 40th Anniversary special edition remains on schedule with a Jan. 24 date, but now it appears that a three-disc set (previously unreleased alternates/outtakes/chatter) will later accompany it.
This three-disc set is the replacement for the proposed five-disc set and will be packaged so that it’s more affordable. Priced moderately, as in “likely under $50″ says Jampol.
QUEENSRŸCHE's 'The Warning' To Be Reissued On Limited-Edition Audiophile Vinyl
QUEENSRŸCHE's classic first full-length album, 'The Warning,' will be reissued on limited-edition 180-gram audiophile vinyl with a gatefold cover on February 14, 2012.
Astral Winter Reveals New Album "Forest Of Silence" Art
Black metal at Astral Winter have unleashed the cover artwork for their upcoming album 'Forest of Silence.'
Tracklist:
I. Pathway To The Ancient Forest II. When Moonlight Evokes The Frozen Night III. The Palace Of The Prophets IV. As I Embrace The Winter Winds [Instrumental] V. Defenders Of The Astral Kingdom [Part II] VI. The Summoning Of Arcane Magic VII. Forest Of Silence [Outro]
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Ron Mosely of Ruby & the Romantics and Sean Bonniwell of the Music Machine Pass Away
Two artists from the 60's passed away earlier in December but the information in only becoming public now.
Ron Mosely of Ruby & the Romantics passed away on December 3 after a long illness at the age of 72.
Mosely was originally in the group the Skarlettones who recorded on Ember starting in 1959. When Ruby Nash joined the group, they changed the name to Ruby & the Romantics and hit the top of the charts in 1963 with Our Day Will Come.
In 1963, the Beatles get their first major press in the US when Brian Epstein was interviewed in the New Yorker.
In 1963, a quartet from Minneapolis, Minnesota who called themselves The Trashmen saw their first release, "Surfin' Bird", enter the Billboard Hot 100 where it would reach #4 during the first week of February, next year. The song is a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons: "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word."
In 1965, surrounded by friends at Graceland, Elvis Presley took LSD for the first time, joined by girlfriend Priscilla Beaulieu. After staring at each others' distorted faces, the tropical fish in his aquarium and dew drops on the grass, both decided that they'd be risking their sanity to try the drug again.
In 1968, the Miami Pop Festival in Hallandale, Florida attracted an estimated 100,000 music fans. The three-day event featured performances by Marvin Gaye, the Turtles, the Box Tops, Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly, Joni Mitchell, the McCoys, the Grateful Dead, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, Three Dog Night, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Chuck Berry.
Also in 1968, Vanilla Fudge performed at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their opening act was Led Zeppelin.
The Doors' "Touch Me" was released in 1968. Written by Robby Krieger, its riff was influenced by The Four Seasons' "C'mon Marianne." It is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments (including a solo by featured saxophonist Curtis Amy) to accent Jim Morrison's vocals. It was one of The Doors' most popular singles.
The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in the Cashbox Top 100 in early 1969 (the band's third American number-one single). The single also did well elsewhere, peaking at #1 in the RPMCanadian Singles Chart and at #10 in the Kent Music Report in Australia. However, despite the band's commercial success the previous year, "Touch Me" did not chart in the UK Singles Chart.
In 1970, John Lennon released the single "Mother."
"Mother" is actually a cry to both his parents, who abandoned him in his childhood. His father Alf left the family when John was an infant; his mother Julia, didn't live with her son although they had a goodrelationship, was hit and killed in a car accident on 15 July 1958 by a drunk, off-duty policeman named Eric Clague, when Lennon was 17. Lennon relives the loss of his parents with lyrics such as "Mother, you had me/but I never had you"; "Father, you left me/but I never left you."
"Mother" begins with the sound of a funeral church bell ringing ominously, signifying death.
Lennon was inspired to write the song after undergoing primal therapy with Dr. Arthur Janov, originally at their home at Tittenhurst Park and then at the Primal Institute, California, where they remained for four months. Lennon, who eventually derided Janov, initially described the therapy as "something more important to me than The Beatles."
Although Lennon said that "Mother" was the song that "seemed to catch in my head," he had doubts about its commercial appeal and he considered issuing "Love" as a single instead. "Love" was eventually released as a single in 1982.
In 1974, although Cher had earlier turned the song down, "Angie Baby" becomes a number one hit in the US for Helen Reddy. Cher had also rejected "The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia", which Vicki Lawrence took to the top in April, 1973.
In 1975, twenty-five year old David Gelfer pointed a .44 magnum at Ted Nugent and was then brought down to the ground by members of the audience and security guards. Gelfer was charged with "intimidating with a weapon."
In 1976, Freddie King, who reached the Hot 100 in 1961 with "Hide Away", died from a heart attack at the age of 42. In 2003, King was ranked 25th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
In 1981, WEA Records (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic) raised the price of its 45-rpm records from $1.68 to $1.98.
In 1983, depressed over mounting debts and personal problems, 38 year old Beach Boys' drummer, Dennis Wilson drowned after jumping over board from his yacht at Marina Del Ray Harbor in Los Angeles. He was the first of the group to release a solo album, "Pacific Ocean Blue", writing and singing every track. Special permission was granted by President Reagan to have a burial at sea, which is usually only allowed with deceased Navy personnel. His brother Brian, who was still unable to cope with day to day life, did not attend the funeral.
In 1988, Nirvana played the Hollywood Underground in Seattle.
In 1998, singer Ronnie Hammond of The Atlanta Rhythm Section was shot in the chest by a Macon police after allegedly lunging at an officer with a broken guitar handle and a hammer. Police were responding to reports that the singer was trying to commit suicide. This was the second suicide attempt within a month for Hammond, following the first on December 9th. He would later make a full recovery, but died of heart failure on March 14th, 2011.
In 2002, British Glam Rock star Gary Glitter (real name: Paul Gadd), who was convicted of child pornography offences in 1999 in England, was deported from Cambodia. The 58 year old Glitter had set up a home last year in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. pig.....
In 2003, Michael Jackson gave an emotional interview to CBS-TV's "60 Minutes," his first since being arrested on child molestation charges, saying, "Before I would hurt a child, I would slit my wrists." Ed Bradley had taped the interview with Jackson three days earlier on Christmas night.
In 2003, guitarist Pete Townshend of the Who revealed to a London newspaper that he seriously considered suicide after a 2002 arrest on child pornography charges. He claimed to have been visiting child pornography Web sites as research for a book he was writing that dealt with his own sexual abuse as a child.
In 2004, a North Carolina man named Wade Jones sold three tablespoons of water taken from a cup used by Elvis Presley during a 1977 concert for $455.
In 2005, the body of Barry Cowsill, bass guitarist for The Cowsills, was recovered from the Chartres Street Wharf in New Orleans. He was killed on or about September 1st from injuries believed to be caused by Hurricane Katrina. He was 51.
Also in 2005, UK radio station Planet Rock asked 58,000 listeners to name the greatest Rock stars ever. First place went to Pink Floyd, followed by Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, AC/DC, U2, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Bon Jovi and Jimi Hendrix.
birthdays today include (among others): Johnny Otis (90), Charles Neville (Neville Brothers) (73), Dwight Bement (Gary Puckett & the Union Gap) (66), John Legend (33), Dick Diamonde (Easybeats) (64), Mike McGuire (Shenandoah) (53), Marty Roe (Diamond Rio) (51) and Edgar Winter (65)
DEEP PURPLE: 'Icon' Best-Of Compilation Due In January
DEEP PURPLE is featured in a new series of albums "featuring the greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites of the most popular artists in music history," which promise to offer "unprecedented value to consumers." The aptly named "Icon" series from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) launched in August 31, 2010, with releases from 30 major artists spanning rock, pop, R&B and country.
Each album, at a "great price," includes roughly a dozen hit tracks.
Due on January 10, 2012, the DEEP PURPLE "Icon" compilation will feature the following songs:
1. Smoke On The Water (live)
2. Hush (live)
3. Woman From Tokyo (live)
4. Knocking At Your Back Door
5. Call Of The Wild
6. Perfect Strangers
7. Bad Attitude
8. Nobody's Home
9. Black Night (live)
10. Child In Time (live)
11. Strange Kind Of Woman (live)
Black/Thrash vets Irdorath recently announced its signing with Massacre Records last month, and now the band has revealed the album cover art for 'Dekonstrukteur Des Fleisches,' which is due out on January 27th, 2012.
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this is very cool, although not necessarily a rare event in the states, as many radio stations have a DJ that spins records every now and then......
BBC Radio 6 Music Vinyl Only on New Year's Day
BBC Radio 6 Music is planning to make New Year's Day a vinyl-only event. Most BBC stations have phased out the use of vinyl records in favor of CDs in the early 1990s and now most use digital versions of songs.
However, the station is going to turn back the clock with their "all vinyl" day to end their month-long celebration of the format. Presenters Jarvis Cocker and Elbow's Guy Garvey will be among those who will ditch digital in favor of 45s.
Station editor Paul Rodgers said: "In a world dominated by digital music, vinyl is a format still close to the hearts of many music lovers and increased sales demonstrate its enduring appeal."
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Cocteau Twins Reissue 'Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990)' On Vinyl
The Cocteau Twins 2000 compilation set 'Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990)' is set to be reissued as a double vinyl set. The 18 tracks comprise material from the band’s 4AD release, from their 1982 debut 'Garlands' through their 1990 EP called 'Iceblink Luck.' The reissue was remastered by John Dent and will be released on white vinyl in the UK on February 6 via Beggars Archive. The set will be released in the US pressed on black vinyl, so if you want the white vinyl, order it from the UK.
Tracklist:
LP 1 1. Blind Dumb Deaf 2. Sugar Hiccup 3. My Love Paramour 4. Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops 5. Lorelei 6. Pandora 7. Aikea-Guinea 8. Pink Orange Red 9. Pale Clouded White
LP 2 1. Lazy Calm 2. The Thinner The Air 3. Orange Appled 4. Cico Buff 5. Carolyn’s Fingers 6. Fifty-Fifty Clown 7. Iceblink Luck 8. Heaven or Las Vegas 9. Watchlar
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Jim Sherwood of the Mothers of Invention Passes Away at 69
Mothers of Invention member Jim "Motorhead" Sherman passed away on Sunday, Christmas Day, at the age of 69.
Sherwood was the sax player and vocals and vocal sounds effects for the Mothers and played on the Zappa albums 200 Motels, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasals Ripped My Flesh and We’re Only In It For The Money.
i visit this site often, just to take a look at what's selling and in demand. I have listed Collectors Frenzy's top five, go to their site to see the top 25 (posted daily)
How does Collectors Frenzy work? It gathers completed auction data off of E-Bay on a regular basis giving you the most accurate and up to date prices on LPs.
SUN RA Secrets Of The Sun 1965 ORIGINAL SATURN RECORDS (GH 9954-E/F)
Sold Price:$1635.24 USD End Time:12/26/2011
CIRCUS 2000 AN ESCAPE FROM A BOX PROGR ITALIANO LP 1972
Sold Price:$1625.00 USD End Time:12/26/2011
LANG´SYNE SAME LP IN 1976 KRAUTROCK HOLY GRAIL
Sold Price:$1303.90 USD End Time:12/26/2011
BLUE NOTE 1573 JOHN JENKINS KENNY BURRELL 47W 63rd NM!
Sold Price:$1156.99 USD End Time:12/26/2011
DoLP 2. Internationales New Jazz Festival auf Burg Altena 1971 (Brötzmann, u.a.)
Sold Price:$988.36 USD End Time:12/26/2011
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and in music history for december 27th:
In 1903, in New York City, the barbershop quartet favorite, "Sweet Adeline," was sung for the first time.
In 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened its doors to the public for the first time.
In 1957, 20,000 fans begin lining up at 5:30 in the morning for Alan Freed's Christmas show at Brooklyn's Paramount Theatre, set to kick off at 9:00 AM. The average ticket price was $1.85.
In 1958, Buddy Holly makes his first appearance in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas since becoming a major star. Along with broadcasting 'live' over KLLL radio from a fruit and vegetable store, he will return to the station's studios to record "You're The One", a song that station management challenged him to write in half an hour.
In 1960, the Beatles were a last minute addition to a show at the Litherland Town Hall Ballroom in Liverpool. Advertising posters were altered to read "Direct From Hamburg, The Beatles!", causing some to believe they were a German group.
In 1963, the Animals perform on their first radio broadcast on the BBC show "Saturday Club."
Also in 1963, the music critics of the London Times name John Lennon and Paul McCartney as The Outstanding Composers of 1963. Two days later, the Sunday Times' music critic Richard Buckle proclaims the same two songwriters "the greatest composers since Beethoven."
In 1964, the Supremes made their first appearance on TV's "Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1967, the Doors performed on "The Jonathon Winters Show" on CBS-TV.
Also in 1967, Bob Dylan released the album 'John Wesley Harding.'
Produced by Bob Johnston, the album marked Dylan's return to acoustic music and traditional roots, after three albums of electric rock music. 'John Wesley Harding' was recorded around the same time as (and shares many stylistic threads with) a prolific series of home recording sessions with the Band, finally released in 1975 as 'The Basement Tapes.'
John Wesley Harding was exceptionally well received by critics and enjoyed solid sales, reaching #2 on the US charts and topping the UK charts. The commercial performance was considered remarkable considering that Dylan had kept Columbia from releasing the album with much promotion or publicity. Less than three months after its release, John Wesley Harding was certified gold by the RIAA. "All Along the Watchtower" became one of his most popular songs after it was covered by Jimi Hendrix the following year.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 301 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
In 1969, the Supremes final single release with Diana Ross, "Someday We'll Be Together", becomes the last US number one song of the sixties. It made #13 in the UK.
In 1971, the "Sonny & Cher Show" began airing on CBS. The show ran for four 1/2 years.
In 1975, the Four Seasons, "December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)" was released.
In 1980, three weeks to the day after John Lennon's murder, "Starting Over" is number one in the US and the UK simultaneously.
In 1981, composer /pianist/singer/actor Hoagy Carmichael died after a heart attack at age 82.
In 1983, Walter Scott, lead singer of Bob Kuban And The In-Men, who scored a 1966 hit with "The Cheater", is seen alive for the last time. On April 10th, 1987, his badly decomposed, bound body would be found floating face down in a cistern, shot in the back. Scott's second wife, Jo Ann (Calceterra), pled guilty to hindering prosecution in his murder. She received a five year sentence. Jo Ann's boyfriend (whom she married in 1986), James H. Williams Sr., was found guilty of two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Walter Scott as well as his previous wife, Sharon Williams. James Williams received two life terms without the possibility of parole.
In 1985, Metallica finished working on 'Master of Puppets.'
In 2003, Dick St. John, one half of the singing team of Dick and Dee Dee, who recorded such hits as "The Mountain's High" (1961), "Young And In Love" (1963) and "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (1965), died from complications suffered in a fall from the roof of his home two weeks earlier. The 63 year old singer had continued to record and performed regularly until his death.
In 2008, Delaney Bramlett, the guitarist who gained renown in the late 1960s as part of the rhythm and blues combo Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, died following gallbladder surgery. He was 69. Bramlett's backing band would often contain the likes of Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Dave Mason. The ensemble achieved a pair of Billboard Top 40 hits in 1971: "Never Ending Song Of Love" (#13) and "Only You Know And I Know" (#20).
birthdays today include (among others): Mike Pinder (Moody Blues) (70), Matt Slocum (Sixpence None the Richer) (39), Peter Sinfield (King Crimson) (68), Mick Jones (Foreigner) (67), Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf) (63) and David Knopfler (Dire Straits) (59)
Alabama Shakes - Alabama Shakes EP
Black Mountain - Year Zero (vinyl)
Buckinghams - Time & Charges / Portraits
Chet Atkins - Workshop (reissue)
Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory
Con Funk Shun - Touch / Seven / To the Max (2 CDs)
Dan Fogelberg - Twin Sons of Different Mothers / Phoenix
David Bowie - Heathen (reissue) (vinyl)
Elvis Presley - Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives (2 CDs)
Grand Funk Railroad - Mark Don & Mel 1969-71 (2 CDs)
Harper's Bizarre - Feelin' Groovy: Deluxe Expanded Mono Edition
Johnny Cash - Now Here's Johnny Cash (reissue)
Joy Division - Plus Minus (10 CDs)
Julio Iglesias - 1: Definitive Collection Deluxe (2 CDs)
Kinks - The Kinks in Mono (10-disc box set)
Low - I Could Live in Hope (reissue) (vinyl)
Merzbow - Lop Lop
Nada Surf - The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy (vinyl)
Patrick Wolf - Brumalia EP
Pete Shelley - Sky Yen (reissue) (vinyl)
Philip Glass - In the Penal Colony
Ramones - 4 Albums (4-CD box set)
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - I Don't Want to Go Home / This Time It's for Real
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)
Twiggy - Romantically Yours
Ventures - Another Smash! (remastered with bonus tracks)
Wham! - Final: 25th Anniversary Edition
Sex Pistols Acetate Sells on eBay For Almost $16 Thousand!
we've been watching the Sex Pistols Anarchy In The UK Original 1976 7“ 1 sided Abbey Road Swirl Acetate and this rarity was recently sold on eBay. The acetate sold for approximately US $15,952.80 on December 24th (great christmas gift for the seller!) i didn't think it would go that high.....
Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales - Week Ending 12/17/2011
In 1971 you could have found any of these records in a used bin for a half-dollar. Maybe the Brute Force 45 might not have turned up so easily as it was given out, more or less, as a joke by Apple Corp employees and was never officially released. This week is an honor roll of psych holy grails, with the Mexican psychedelic band Kaleidoscope having their only release topping the list.
1. LP - The Kaleidoscope "self-titled" Orfeon - $7,200.00
2. 45 - Brute Force "King Of Fuh" / "Nobody Knows" Apple 8 - $4,374.00
3. LP - The Bachs "Out of the Bachs" Private Press - $3,888.00
4. LP - The Beatles "Yesterday & Today" Capitol T-2553 #6 Mono 2nd State Butcher Cover - $3,483.83
5. LP - Damon "Song Of A Gypsy" Private Press - $3,450.00
As always, a thank you to Norm & Jane over at Vinyl Record Talk for this enlightening data!
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Watch Van Halen’s 2012 Tour Announcement
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in my email box from a reader in Canada (Philip) - in a recent Mr. Music column , Jerry answered a question about a certain bug and song. Here is a video (really the audio) for the song about a weda bug! (thanks for the research Philip!)
COOLBREEZERS - Eda Weda Bug (1958)
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The Stars We Lost In 2011 (from ClassicBands.com)
Gerry Rafferty - the lead singer of Stealers Wheel on their 1973 hit "Stuck In The Middle With You" died after a long illness on January 4th, 2011 at the age of 63. After the band split up, he went on to a successful solo career and enjoyed five more Billboard Top 30 hits, including "Baker Street" and "Right Down The Line".
Tommy Crain - guitarist for The Charlie Daniels band on their Grammy-winning single "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and more than twenty albums, died on January 13th, 2011 at the age of 59.
Don Kirshner - the songwriter, manager, publisher and music executive who helped launch the careers of Neil Diamond, Bobby Darin, Carole King, Neil Sedaka, The Monkees, The Archies and Kansas, died of heart failure on January 17th, 2011 at the age of 76.
Gladys Horton - whose lead vocals helped The Marvelettes establish their career with such hits as "Mr. Postman", "Playboy" and "Beechwood 4-5789", died following a stroke on January 26th, 2011 at the age of 66.
Gary Moore - guitarist for the influential Irish rock band Thin Lizzy was found dead in his hotel room in Spain on February 6th, 2011 following a suspected heart attack. He was 58.
Rick Coonce - drummer for The Grass Roots on their 11 Billboard Top 40 hits, died of heart failure on February 25th, 2011 at the age of 64.
Mark Tulin - bassist for The Electric Prunes on their 1967 hit "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)", suffered a fatal heart attack on February 26th, 2011, at the age of 62.
Johnny Preston - who topped the Billboard chart in January, 1960 with "Running Bear", passed away on March 4th, 2011 at the age of 71 from lingering health problems following heart bypass surgery.
Bernard St. Clair Lee - a baritone singer and original member of the Hues Corporation, who had an early Disco hit in 1974 with "Rock the Boat", died of natural causes on March 8th, 2011. He was 66
Ronnie Hammond - lead singer of The Atlanta Rhythm Section died of heart failure on March 14th, 2011 at the age of 60.
Ferlin Husky - a Country-music entertainer who reached the Billboard Top 40 twice with "Gone" (#4 in 1957) and "Wings of a Dove" (#12 in 1960) died of heart related problems on March 17th, 2011 at the age of 85.
Terence "Jet" Harris - bass guitarist for The Shadows, died from throat cancer on March 18th, 2011. He was 71. Jet played on the hit "Apache" and, during their days as Cliff Richard's backing band, performed on the chart-topper "Living Doll". In 1962 he left the band and had solo hits with "Besame Mucho" and "The Man With The Golden Arm".
Loleatta Holloway - best known for the 1980 Disco hit "Love Sensation", died of heart failure on March 21st, 2011 at the age of 64.
Phoebe Snow - the velvet voiced singer / songwriter who reached #5 in the U.S. in 1975 with "Poetry Man", died of complications from a stroke on April 26th, 2011. She was 60.
John Walker - lead vocalist for The Walker Brothers, who enjoyed Billboard Top 20 hits with "Make It Easy On Yourself" in 1965 and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" in 1966, died of liver cancer on May 7th, 2011. He was 67.
Kathy Kirby - who had five UK Top 40 hits between 1963 and 1965, including "Dance On", "Secret Love" and "Let Me Go, Lover!" died of a suspected heart attack on May 19th, 2011 at the age of 72.
Andrew Gold - who reached #7 in the U.S. in 1977 with "Lonely Boy" and #25 a year later with "Thank You For Being A Friend", died of cancer on June 3rd, 2011. Along with his solo career, he also arranged songs for and performed on several Linda Rondstadt albums, including "Heart Like a Wheel" and did session work for James Taylor and Carly Simon.
Carl Gardner - the lead singer of The Coasters on their pioneering Rock 'n' Roll hits "Yakety Yak", "Charlie Brown", "Poison Ivy" and "Searchin'" died June 12th, 2011 at the age of 83. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's and congestive heart failure.
Clarence Clemons - the burly sax player who helped develop Bruce Springsteen's early sound, died June 18th, 2011, just six days after suffering a stroke at his Florida home. He was 69.
Rob Grill - lead singer and bassist for the 1960s rock band The Grass Roots, whose hits included "Midnight Confessions", "Temptation Eyes" and "Let's Live for Today", died July 11th, 2011 after suffering a head injury from a fall caused by a stroke. He was 67.
Dan Peek - a founding member of the Soft Rock trio America died in his sleep on July 24th, 2011 at the age of 60. The group notched eight Top 40 hits in the US charts between 1971 and 1975, including "Sister Golden Hair", "Ventura Highway", "Tin Man", "Daisy Jane" and Peek's own composition, "Lonely People".
Gene McDaniels - most often remembered for his 1961 Top Ten hits "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" and "Tower Of Strength", died at the age of 76 on July 29th, 2011 after a short illness. Gene also wrote Roberta Flack's 1974 number one smash, "Feel Like Makin' Love".
Marshall Grant - who played bass for Johnny Cash from 1954 to 1980, passed away on August 7th, 2011 at the age of 83. After his time with The Man In Black, Grant managed The Statler Brothers until they retired in 2002 and later wrote an autobiography entitled I Was There When It Happened.
Jerry Leiber - a songwriting legend whose credits include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Yakety Yak", "Poison Ivy" and "Love Potion No. 9", died August 23rd, 2011 at the age of 78. Leiber and his songwriting partner Mike Stoller were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years later.
Marv Tarplin - the guitarist whose riffs and melodies helped form the sound of one of Motown's most successful acts, Smokey Robinson And The Miracles, died September 30th, 2011, at the age of 70.
Andrea True - Disco star and actress who had Top 40 hits with "More, More, More" (1976) and "N.Y. You Got Me Dancing" (1977), died on November 7th, 2011 at the age of 68.
Dobi Gray - Soul singer who reached #13 in 1965 with "The In Crowd" and #5 in 1973 with "Drift Away", died December 6th, 2011 at the age of 71 from complications following cancer surgery.
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and in music history for december 26th:
In 1955, Bill Haley And His Comets' version of the Bobby Charles tune "See You Later Alligator" is released by Decca Records. It will reach #6 on the US Pop chart and become Haley's third and final million-selling single.
Jay & the Americans recorded "She Cried" in 1961.
In 1963, Capitol Records, the EMI-affiliated company which rejected the US rights to every Beatles record that they were offered until then, finally releases "I Want to Hold Your Hand" backed with "I Saw Her Standing There". The song was currently topping the UK chart with "This Boy" on the flip side. Within five weeks the record will rise to number one in the US, where it would stay for seven weeks. The song was recorded the previous October and the hit version was take number 17.
In 1964, the Rolling Stones, whose long hair had helped set the new standard for teenagers, took out an advertisement in the music newspaper New Musical Express wishing starving UK hairdressers and their families a "Happy Christmas."
In 1966, John Lennon made his third visit to Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's BBC-TV comedy show "Not Only… But Also." Lennon had previously appeared in the series' pilot in late 1964 and returned in early 1965. For this 1966 "Christmas Special" Lennon played a men's room attendant.
Also in 1966, in London, Jimi Hendrix wrote the lyrics to a new song called "Purple Haze" while backstage following an afternoon show at the Uppercut Club.
In 1967, the Beatles movie, 'The Magical Mystery Tour' was shown in black and white by BBC-TV on Boxing Day. The concept was to load the band into a bus, drive around for a while and see what happened. Unfortunately, nothing did. Audiences were mystified, critics were either disappointed or contemptuous, and the Beatles suffered their first flop. The negative reaction was so strong that a US television deal for broadcasting the movie was cancelled. A Daily Express critic wrote that he had never seen "such blatant rubbish."
The Monkees recorded "Valleri" in 1967
In 1968, at the Auditorium Arena in Denver, Led Zeppelin began their first U.S. tour, opening for Vanilla Fudge.
In 1970, George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" becomes the first Beatles solo single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Five years later, a New York state judge would find Harrison guilty of copyright infringement for plagiarizing the Chiffon's 1963 hit, "He's So Fine."
In 1979, the concerts for the people of Kampuchea began in London with performances by Queen, the Clash, Elvis Costello, the Pretenders, the Who, Wings and others.
In 1999, soul singer/songwriter/producer Curtis Mayfield died of diabetes at age 57. He had been paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident on stage in 1990.
In 2010, singer/songwriter/musician Teena Marie, known as the "Ivory Queen of Soul," died at the age of 54.
Also in 2010, singer Bernie Wilson, a founding member of Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, died from complications of a stroke and heart attack at 64.
birthdays today include (among others): Phil Spector (72), Bob Carpenter (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) (65), Henning Schmitz (Kraftwerk) (58), James Kottak (Scorpions) (49), Lars Ulrich (Metallica) (48), Peter Klett (Candlebox) (42), James Mercer (Shins) (41), Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars) (40) and Chris Daughtry (Daughtry) (32)
first and foremost, the CVR Blog wants to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season. I will be taking a couple of days off to enjoy time with my family. Next post will be on Monday the 26th, in the meantime, catch up on some earlier posts!
personally, i love her work and her efforts:
Proceeds from Angelina Jolie's In the Land of Blood and Honey Soundtrack to Benefit SOS Children's Villages in Bosnia
Music from movie will benefit at-risk children through SOS Children's Villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dec. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Angelina Jolie, Graham King Films and Varese Sarabande Records today announced that a portion of the proceeds from the In the Land of Blood and Honey soundtrack will be donated to SOS Children's Villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The donation is given in support of the critically needed programs that SOS Children's Villages provides in Bosnia and Herzegovina to children, youth and families still suffering from lingering effects of the 1990s war in the Balkans. In her directorial debut, Ms. Jolie worked with actors from the region whose personal experiences during the war helped inform and shape the film.
Ms. Jolie stated, "We are happy that a portion of the proceeds from the film's soundtrack will support SOS Children's Villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina to provide stable, family-based homes to children, regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender, who do not have their own families to care for them."
SOS Children's Villages National Director in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Amir Omanovic, is grateful for this generous support. He explained, "The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was indeed a horrific event. Every family in Bosnia was affected by the war. Children suffered the most. Many were lost...left without parents and with no system to hold on to. SOS Children's Villages responded by providing family-based care to children who had lost their biological families. Those children are adults now and their SOS Mothers, brothers and sisters have become family through the years of their upbringing. We are thankful that this donation will help us continue to provide healing programs to the next generation of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.''
Proceeds from the soundtrack will be used to help fund SOS Children's Villages programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In SOS Children's Villages around the world, children who have no family to care for them are raised in a loving, nurturing family with SOS brothers and sisters headed by an SOS Mother. In Bosnia, 280 children and youth are growing up in SOS Children's Villages homes in Sarajevo and Gracanica. Nearly 7,000 more benefit from additional SOS programs in Bosnia including family strengthening, child care, education, vocational training and social services.
The soundtrack from In the Land of Blood and Honey was produced by Angelina Jolie, Robert Townson and Academy Award-winning composer Gabriel Yared. The soundtrack echoes themes from the film and includes a selection of songs from the Balkans. Two featured songs are Miss Sarajevo and When The Heart Dies. First released by U2 in 1995, Miss Sarajevo is performed by Luciano Pavarotti and Passengers. When The Heart Dies, by award winning composer Gabriel Yared is performed by acclaimed singer and actress Natasa Mirkovic-De Ro and also features Rade Serbedzija, Dado Dzihan and BOMBAJ STAMPA. The soundtrack is currently available through iTunes and the CD will be released on January 10, 2012.
About SOS Children's Villages
For over 60 years, SOS Children's Villages has been dedicated to providing family-based, long-term care to children who can no longer grow up with their biological families. They also focus on preventing the conditions that cause children to be orphaned and abandoned. Through its Children's Villages and Family Strengthening Programs, SOS impacts the lives of over 1 million people each year. SOS Children's Villages has received numerous awards including the Save the World Award, the Mother Teresa Gold Medal, the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, and the Vietnam Friendship Medal. For more information about SOS Children's Villages or to make a donation, visit www.sos-childrensvillages.org.
SOURCE SOS Children's Villages
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Stars Come Together for Music Video "A Merry Christmas," Proceeds to Benefit Bright Future International Children's Fund
Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Larry King, Ray J and Others Join Together for a Good Cause
CHICAGO, Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This holiday season, celebrities and children came together for "A Merry Christmas" music video, which features stars like Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Larry King, Ray J, Jordin Sparks, Jermaine Jackson, Mystery Guitar Man, DeStorm, Irina Slutskaya, the Bolshoi Ballet and others. The music video is set to premiere right before Christmas on Friday, December 23rd, and you can view the teaser video at http://youtu.be/T-vo2wokBRU. Proceeds from single sales will benefit Bright Future International (BFI), a charitable organization that funds programs for underprivileged children around the world.
The music video begins with a little boy and girl communicating with each other from opposite sides of the world. The boy wishes the girl "A Merry Christmas" in the form of song, and despite language barriers and many miles, they are connected through this tune. The song garners attentions from children and celebrities around the world, each of them adding their own special harmony.
Tying in with BFI's mission, the concept of the music video is to promote community and peace by uniting people around the world regardless of race, religion or social status, and to have children play a major role in this.
Bright Future International (BFI) is a charitable organization helping children around the world achieve a better future by promoting compassion, values, hope, knowledge, and a desire to help others. Currently, BFI funds after school programs for underprivileged children in Russia, Panama, Rwanda and Burundi. In 2012, BFI will also be launching programs in Kenya and the U.S.
SOURCE Bright Future International
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this news (and some wicked cover art) from relapse.com
Bolt Thrower
Honour Valour Pride 2xLP
Release date 1/31/12
The last three albums from British extreme metal pioneers BOLT THROWER "Mercenary" (1998), "Honour-Valour-Pride" (2001) and "Those Once Loyal" (2005) will be reissued on vinyl in the U.S. on January 31st, 2012 via Metal Blade Records. All three albums will be released as gatefold sleeves in black vinyl, limited to 1000 units initial pressing each.
The wait is over. ‘Incurso’, Spawn Of Possession’s Relapse debut and first new record in over five years is a headspinning masterpiece of technically brutal death metal. Featuring current and former members of tech-titans Necrophagist and Obscura, Spawn Of Possession absolutely annihilate with ‘Incurso’. Devastating riffs, jaw-dropping time-signatures and improbably complex and sophisticated songwriting all combine to create an opus of next level death metal. Spawn Of Possession’s ‘Incurso’ is simultaneously fresh and instantly classic, an immediate landmark in the death metal canon.
ABYSMAL DAWN’s first album From Ashes was one of the top death metal debuts of the past decade. The Los Angeles quartet's mix of classic death metal brutality, melodic flourishes, and impeccable soloing with a modern delivery made them a must watch band for the next generation of extreme metal connoisseurs. Remastered and featuring three bonus tracks, From Ashes exposes this sorely underrated effort from one of the best new American metal bands.
Australia's Beyond Terror Beyond Grace has issued an announcement about the band's forthcoming new album:
"We're proud to unveil the cover art and tracklisting from our forthcoming album 'Nadir'. We again worked with Colin Marks from Rainsong Design for the album artwork and booklet and feel he has done a fantastic job. Expect a label press release along with the official release date next week, and another track available to stream. Not long now folks!"
Tracklist:
1. Dusk 2. Requiem for the Grey (featuring Rob Allen of Encircling Sea, The Abandonment) 3. Throatless Sirens 4. Nadir 5. Embracing Null 6. The Blood of Time (featuring Jason Netherton of Misery Index & Rob Allen) 7. Pathea
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Chiddy Bang Announce Release For Debut Album
Chiddy Bang have revealed the cover art and track list for the new record, due out on February 28th . ‘Breakfast’ will have12 songs including the group’s singles ‘Mind Your Manners’ and ‘Ray Charles’ as well as ‘Baby Roulette’ which features the Grammy-award winning rock-band Train.
Tracklist 1. ‘Breakfast’ 2. ‘Handclaps & Guitars’ 3. ‘Mind Your Manners’ 4. ‘Ray Charles’ 5. ‘Does She Love Me’ 6. ‘Run It Back’ 7. ‘Out 2 Space’ 8. ‘Whatever We Want’ 9. ‘Talking To Myself’ 10. ‘Happening’ 11. ‘Baby Roulette’ 12. ’4th Quarter’
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interesting story
If CD format is dying, will any music fans mourn their compact discs?
By: Nick Patch, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - It was just over 29 years ago that the compact disc was first made widely available to the public, a much-hyped new format that — we were told — was certain to sound vinyl's death knell with crisp digital clarity.
And in the coming decades, CDs did flourish, with music listeners rushing to clear shelf space for stacks of jewel cases (in hindsight, could they have had a more ridiculous name?). But the second part of that '80s prognostication never really came true. Vinyl only ever died just enough so that it could be revived — with holdout music-loving purists clinging to the old things with such relentless resolve that the format has actually enjoyed a gradual resurgence in recent years.
That growth — marginal as it is — has come at the expense of CDs, now the dinosaur format fading into irrelevance as analysts point to a future that will apparently reside in streams, hard-drives or, perhaps, in the Cloud. According to a report in Side Line Music Magazine that created a stir in October, major labels are even planning to phase the CD out by the end of 2012 in favour of digital-only releases, almost 30 years after Billy Joel's "52nd Street" became the first commercial album to be released on CD in Japan.
So, major labels are reportedly musing on their CD exit strategy, major retailers such as HMV are desperately clearing discs from their shelves and many serious music fans — and stores — have already shifted their focus to vinyl.
Live albums and reissue projects often do much to shape the broader idea we have about a musical legacy, and this year was no different — with impressive sets devoted to Ray Charles, the Beach Boys, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings and the Smiths along with key live dates from the Rolling Stones, Freddie Hubbard, Levon Helm and Rockpile, among others.
Here are my Top 10 selections for 2011, along with five key honorable mentions …
U2 played to approximately 2.8 million people in the US and Africa during the year. New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi took in more than $192 million on attendance of about 1.8 million fans, British pop vocal group Take That's reunion tour grossed $185 million, and founding Pink Floyd member Roger Waters' "The Wall Live" earned almost $150 million, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
1. U2, $293 million
2. Bon Jovi, $192 million
3. Take That, $185 million
4. Roger Waters, $150 million
5. Taylor Swift, $97 million
6. Kenny Chesney, $84.5 million
7. Usher, $75 million
8. Lady Gaga, $72 million
9. André Rieu, $67 million
10. Sade, $53 million
11. Michael Bublé, $50 million
12. Eagles, $50 million
13. Katy Perry, $49 million
14. Lil Wayne, $46 million
15. Justin Bieber, $44 million
16. Glee Live! In Concert!, $40 million
17. NKOTBSB, $40 million
18. Journey, $40 million
19. Britney Spears, $37 million
20. Iron Maiden, $33 million
21. Kylie Minogue, $32.5 million
22. Neil Diamond, $31 million
23. Enrique Iglesias, $30 million
24. Jason Aldean, $28 million
25. Toby Keith, $27 million
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never get tired of these videos!
Vinyl Records Making Comeback in Cleveland
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and in music history for december 23rd:
In 1922, the British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the first orchestral concert, the first program of dance music, the first radio talk program, and the first regular bulletin of general news from London, provided by the Reuters news source.
In 1957, the Champs recorded "Tequila." "Tequila" became a #1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its release and continues to be strongly referenced in pop culture to this day. The track would be the Champs' only hit song, relegating them to one-hit wonder status.
In 1957, Gene Autry's record label, Challenge Records, signed Dave Burgess (born 1934), a rockabilly singer-songwriter from California who often recorded under the name "Dave Dupree." At the end of 1957, having produced no hits, Challenge Records looked to Burgess, who organized a recording session on December 23 in Hollywood. In the studio that day were Burgess on rhythm guitar, Cliff Hills on bass guitar, the Flores Trio (Danny Flores on saxophone and keyboards, Gene Alden on drums, and lead guitarist Buddy Bruce), and Huelyn Duvall contributing backing vocals. They gathered primarily to record "Train to Nowhere," a song by Burgess, as well as "Night Beat" and "All Night Rock."
The last song recorded was "Tequila," essentially just a jam by the Flores Trio. There were three takes, and Daniel Flores (d September 19, 2006), who wrote the song, was also the man who actually spoke the word "Tequila!". Flores also played the song's trademark "dirty sax" solo. The song served as the B-side for "Train to Nowhere," which was released by Challenge Records on January 15, 1958. Duvall recalls that the record initially found little success, but, after a DJ in Cleveland played the B-side, "Tequila" skyrocketed up the charts, reaching #1 on the Billboard chart on March 28, 1958.
Daniel Flores had written "Tequila," but, because he was signed to another label, the song was credited to "Chuck Rio," a name he adopted for the stage. Those present for the December 23 session began recording together again on January 20, 1958, under the name the Champs; the group technically formed after recording its most famous song.
In 1959, in St. Louis, Chuck Berry was arrested after Janice Norine, a 14-year old Apache girl he'd brought in from Mexico was revealed to be a prostitute. Berry claimed she was hired to be a hatcheck girl at his nightclub. Under the Mann Act in the U.S., which makes it illegal to transport a minor across state lines for immoral purposes, Berry was sentenced to five years in prison. The charges were eventually dropped after the judge allegedly made racist remarks.
In 1964, the Beach Boys performed "Little Saint Nick" and "Dance, Dance, Dance" in their first appearance on ABC-TV's "Shindig!" That night during their flight from Los Angeles to a concert in Houston, Brian Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown which led to his immediate retirement from touring. Studio musician Glen Campbell, who had performed on several Beach Boys recordings, was hired to take his place on stage, and eventually was replaced by Bruce Johnston who became a permanent member of the group.
Also in 1964, pirate radio station Radio London started broadcasting.
In 1966, the UFO club, London's premiere psychedelic hangout, opened with Pink Floyd as the house band.
Also in 1966, in the UK, after it was announced that union rules would be enforced barring lip-syncing by musicians on television, the ITV musical program "Ready Steady Go!" aired its last show, featuring the Who, Mick Jagger, Eric Burdon, the Spencer Davis Group, Donovan, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich.
In 1968, at Apple's Christmas party, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus, handed out presents to the children of the staff.
In 1969, for the first time Elton John met with what became his classic behind-the-scenes team – songwriter Bernie Taupin, arranger Paul Buckmaster, and producer Gus Dudgeon – to begin work on his first solo album.
In 1972, John Lennon's film "Imagine" premiered on national TV.
Also in 1972, at Madison Square Garden in New York, ex-Grand Funk Railroad manager Terry Knight showed up at the band's scheduled concert with a court order allowing him to seize $1 million in money and/or assets owed to him by Grand Funk. Realizing that the band couldn't get paid if they didn't perform, Knight and deputy sheriffs waited for the end of the concert to impound the band's instruments and equipment.
In 1974, George Harrison released a holiday single, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong."
In 1977, Cat Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusef Islam.
In 1978, Rod Stewart gets in on the Disco craze when "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" was released. It would rise to the top of the Billboard chart during an 18 week run. the worst song on the planet.....
In 1985, two Judas Priest fans shot themselves after listening to the album Stained Class.
In 1987, Roger Waters and David Gilmour settled their differences allowing Waters to perform as Pink Floyd and Gilmour to receive royalties.
In 1992, guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eddie Hazel, lead guitarist of Parliament/Funkadelic, died from internal bleeding and liver failure at 42.
In 1994, singer Dan Hamilton, lead vocalist of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, died after a stroke while being treated for Cushing's syndrome at the age of 48.
In 1997, Jackie Landry of the Chantels died of cancer at the age of 56. The group placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1958 and 1961, including "Maybe" (#15) and "Look In My Eyes" (#14), as well as an answer to Ray Charles' "Hit The Road Jack" called "Well, I Told You" (#29).
In 1999, unemployed musician Cristin Keleher broke into George Harrison's Maui house and made herself at home, heating a frozen pizza, drinking beer from the refrigerator, doing laundry, and calling her mother in New Jersey, before Hawaiian authorities arrived to arrest her. Convicted of breaking and entering and theft, she served four months in jail.
In 2007, jazz pianist/composer Oscar Peterson died of kidney failure at the age of 82.
In 2008, songwriter (Game Of Love, You're No Good, I'm Alive, Gingerbread, One Of Us, Good Timin') Clint Ballard, Jr., who discovered and managed the Kalin Twins, died at the age of 77.
birthdays today include (among others): Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) (71), Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap) (68), Ron Bushy (Iron Butterfly) (66), Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth, Mott the Hoople) (65), Adrian Belew (King Crimson) (62) and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) (47)
DEAR JERRY:You probably have seen the widely-publicized story (CNN, MSNBC, etc., etc.) about the “world's biggest insect,” the giant weta bug.
Since this species is pretty much confined to New Zealand's Little Barrier Island, I'd not heard of this insect until now. I found several YouTube videos about this bug, including one where a man eats a live weta bug.
All of which brought to mind a record I heard on a local radio station long ago, one that I think is actually titled “Eat a Weta Bug.”
I swear I am not making this up!
Even so, it seems nearly impossible that a song about a weta bug wouldn't have something to do with real weta bugs. Where else did they get the name? It can't be a coincidence, or can it? —Carmen Brandmeier, Washington D.C.
DEAR CARMEN: And I foolishly thought my study of entomology would never be useful.
The recording now bugging you is a late 1958 release by the Coolbreezers, issued by Bale (No. 100), a D.C. label.
To simply listen to the lyrics, whether spoken or sung, anyone could think they were hearing “eat a weta bug,” especially someone aware of the weta bug, a plentiful source of protein, or so I'm told.
However, the exact title of this up-tempo doo-wop tune is “Eda Weda Bug.”
Against all odds, after several spins of “Eda Weda Bug” on your behalf, I am convinced it is a coincidence. Beyond the homophonic “Eda Weda” and “Eat a Weta,” there is no arthropodal connection.
The “bug” reference is about catching the bug, or being caught up in the eda weda, suggesting a dance craze or music style. This is evident from the very first verse:
The Eda Weda is goin' around
The Eda Weda never lets you down
When it bites you're rhythm bound
Eda Weda has a rock, rock, rock and roll sound
DEAR JERRY:The store where I work plays music from one of the satellite oldies stations, which now includes many Christmas classics, from the 1950s and into the '80s.
One of the most played tunes is “Stop the Cavalry,” by the Cory Band.
Having never heard any other song by the Cory Band, it has me wondering how many of the now-familiar Christmas tunes are by artists who had no other hits, seasonal or otherwise. —Jackie Padgett, Evansville, Ind.
DEAR JACKIE: Most Christmas-related recordings from the period you specify are by established hit-makers, making for very few one-Christmas-hit wonders. Also, most of those would not likely be regarded as “now-familiar,” having been somewhat popular decades ago but rarely heard since.
For starters, here are five tunes I rate as familiar:
Cory Band and the Gwalia Singers “Stop the Cavalry” (1981)
Elmo & Patsy “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” (1979)
Gayla Peevey “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Hippo the Hero)” (1953)
Augie Rios “Donde Esta Santa Claus? (Where Is Santa Claus?)” (1958)
Yogi Yorgesson “I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas” (1949)
Now for 15 likely less familiar releases, ones that still made the Billboard charts, as referenced in Joel Whitburn's “Christmas in the Charts” book:
Art Carney “Santa and the Doodle-Li-Boop” (1954)
Dancer, Prancer & Nervous “The Happy Reindeer” (1959)
Michael Holm “When a Child Is Born” (1974)
Johnny Kaye “A Christmas Love” (1963)
Becky Lamb “Little Becky's Christmas Wish” (1967)
Melodeers “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer” (1960)
Lise Miller “Love Is” (1967)
Moonlion “The Little Drummer Boy” (1975)
Derrik Roberts “There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)” (1965)
Jack Halloran Singers “The Little Drummer Boy” (1961)
Stan & Doug “Christmas Goose (Snowbird)” 1970
Harvie June Van “Natividad” (1967)
Joe Ward “Nuttin' for Xmas” (1955)
Toni Wine “My Boyfriend's Coming Home for Christmas” (1963)
Ricky Zahnd and the Blue Jeaners “(I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for Christmas” (1955)
Not included are groups assembled for one special cause (e.g., Band Aid), or duets of bona fide stars (e.g., Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker).
IZ ZAT SO? Knowing most of the top-ranking singles and albums artists made at least one Christmas recording, have you ever wondered who is the biggest name exception?
That distinction goes to the Rolling Stones, but is not without caveats.
In a hidden, half-minute snippet on the December 1967 LP, “Their Satanic Majesties Request,” is the Stone's wish for a “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
In 1978, Keith Richards revived Chuck Berry's “Run, Rudolph, Run.”
Then Mick Jagger did a duet with Joss Stone of “Lonely Without You (This Christmas),” which is on the 2004 “Alfie” soundtrack album.
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 2011 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission
DEAR RICK: Close is as close as you can get on your own. Duplicating that chord requires a supporting cast.
