UPCOMING VINYL RELEASES

U2 Back In Studio After Holiday Break

By: Don Kaye

U2 has returned to its Dublin studio to resume work on the band's next album, according to Billboard.com. The group took a break for the Easter holiday and is now recording again, with a message at the official U2 web site saying, "Everyone (is) still hoping the new album will be out this year." The yet-to-be-titled disc will follow up 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and will be supported by a world tour in 2009. The band is working on the new CD with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, who together and separately have been involved with classic U2 records like The Unforgettable Fire, Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree.

Meanwhile, July 22nd will see the arrival of remastered, expanded editions of U2's first three albums, 1980's Boy, 1981's October and 1983's War. Each will be reissued in a two-CD package featuring rare studio tracks, B-sides and live material. A single-disc heavyweight vinyl edition will be available as well.

U2 guitarist The Edge is overseeing the reissues, which began last fall with The Joshua Tree.

U2 recently signed a 12-year worldwide contract to have Live Nation handle its merchandising, digital and branding rights. Live Nation, which has handled U2's tours for 20 years, will now also oversee its merchandising, sponsorships and other corporate partnerships, its fan club and other Web sites, plus other digital, marketing and creative ventures.

Info from: http://www.kbsradio.ca/news/music/87/697172



The Magnetic Fields are readying the re-release of their catalog on full-length 12" vinyl albums. Merge Records will start the run with "The Charm of the Highway Strip," out on May 6 in the US. Nonesuch Records will follow this summer with a pressing of "Distortion," the band's January 2008 release. This fall, Merge Records will release the vinyl edition of "Get Lost."

Men, Women, and Children, the electro-punk outfit formed by former Glassjaw guitarist Todd Weinstock have announced plans to release a new 7-inch/digital single. The release is the follow up to their self-titled Warner/Reprise full length, and first since parting ways with the label.

The record is titled Ultra Hot Volcano [7-inch/digital] and is due out May 06, 2008. Along with a wide release on iTunes/eMusic, the single will be pressed as a limited-edition 7” vinyl (all hand-numbered, on red vinyl.

Baby Shakes’ defection from New York City to Atlanta was always intended to be a temporary move. In 2006, the black-miniskirt- and fishnet-flaunting trio of Mary Blount (vocals/guitar), Judy Hsu (guitar) and Claudia Gonzales (bass) migrated south to concentrate on playing music without worrying about the high price of the Big Apple.

The fruits of their labor are finally starting to take shape as the group’s third offering comes in the form of a red, vinyl, heart-shaped 10-inch EP via Rob’s House Records.