The vinyl record collecting blog - with news about new vinyl record releases, vinyl record sales, new music releases, album cover art and weekly features
The new album from Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Working on a Dream, will hit stores on January 27 via Columbia.
The title track was premiered last night on NBC's Sunday Night Football during the half-time show and the band will play the Super Bowl on February 1, a prime spot to promote the new music.
There are twelve new tracks on the album plus The Wrestler from the new Mickey Rourke film and Springsteen's Halloween premier, Night With the Jersey Devil.
The album is produced by Brendan O'Brien, who also did Magic.
The track list:
Outlaw Pete My Lucky Day Working on a Dream Queen of the Supermarket What Love Can Do This Life Good Eye Tomorrow Never Knows Life Itself Kingdom of Days Surprise, Surprise The Last Carnival The Wrestler A Night With the Jersey Devil
31 Knots: It Was High Time to Escape (vinyl reissue) All the Saints: Fire on Corridor X (vinyl) Asobi Seksu: Me & Mary b/w Breathe Into Glass (vinyl single) Belle and Sebastian: The BBC Sessions (vinyl) Bloc Party: Intimacy (vinyl) The Dead C: Secret Earth EP (vinyl) Dead Can Dance: Dead Can Dance EP Dead Can Dance: Garden of the Arcane Delights (limited edition 2-disc vinyl) Dead to Me: Little Brother EP (vinyl) Drew Andrews: Only Mirrors (vinyl) Free Blood: Parangatang (vinyl single) Ida: I Know About You (vinyl reissue) Ida: Tales of Brave Ida (vinyl reissue) Ida: Ten Small Paces (vinyl reissue) Joan of Arc: My Summer-Long High Wipeout (vinyl single) Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid: NYC (vinyl) The Killers: Day & Age (2-LP vinyl edition) The Killers: Human/A Crippling Blow (Picture Disc vinyl) Lemonheads: It's a Shame About Ray (vinyl reissue) Max Tundra: Parallax Error Beheads You (vinyl) Mudvayne: The New Game (vinyl) Nimrod Workman: I Want to Go Where Things Are Beautiful (vinyl) Scott Walker: Tilt (vinyl reissue)
Upcoming Vinyl Releases
11/25/08 RELEASE DATE
Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock: The Album (180 Gram Vinyl) Anne Briggs - Anne Briggs (180 Gram Vinyl) Anne Briggs - The Time Has Come (180 Gram Vinyl) Bauhaus - Burning From The Inside (180 Gram Vinyl) Beck - Odelay (10th Anniversary) [4 LP] (VERY LIMITED - 180 Gram Vinyl in quad-gatefold numbered jacket with 12-page booklet) Blue Mountain - Midnight In Mississippi & Omnibus [2 LP] Chrome - Red Exposure [LP] Chrome - Retro Transmission [LP] Coffins - The Other Side Of Blasphemy [2 LP] Coldplay - Prospekt's March [EP] Congos - Heart Of The Congos [Deluxe Edition] [2 LP] Dir En Grey - Uroboros Duff McKagan's Loaded - Wasted Heart EP [LP] Flaming Lips - Christmas On Mars [1LP] (180g Green-Colored w/insert plus a White-Colored 7'' & DVD) Heartbreak - Lies [2LP] Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power [LP] JD Souther - If The World Was You Joe Gibbs - Scorchers From The Mighty [2LP] Judas Priest - Hero Hero [2 LP] Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla [LP] Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny [LP] Large Pro - Main Source [2LP] Lee Scratch Perry - Repentance [2 LP] (170 Gram Vinyl) Matthew Dear - Body Language Vol. 7 [2LP] Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante (180 Gram Vinyl) Negura Bunget - OM [2 LP] Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl) Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live At The Fillmore East [LP] [180 Gram Vinyl) PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me (180 Gram Vinyl) Running Man - Running Man [LP] (180 Gram Vinyl) Santana - Abraxas [LP] Santana - Santana [LP] Star Fucking Hipsters - Until We're Dead [LP] (includes digital download card) Swingin' Utters - Hatest Grits: B-Sides And Bullshit Underoath - Lost in the Sound of Separation - [LP] (Deluxe Edition includes CD / DVD / Vinyl) Various Artists - Blood Is Red: Dario Argento Limited Edition Vinyl Boxset [5LP] (180 Gram Vinyl) Wendy & Bonnie - Genesis [3LP] Bomb the Bass - Butterfingers [12''] Jazmine Sullivan - Bust Your Windows [12''] Terry Lynn - Kingstonlogic [12''] Yelle - Ce Jeu E.P. [12''] Constantines - Our Age [7''] (Full Color Jacket w/ white dust sleeve 48 gram) Less Than Jake - GNV FLA - Deluxe Edition [3x7'' Box with exclusive tracks plus CD / DVD / poster]
Here is another artist that they are featuring over at www.rockitradio.net Stop by for a visit and to listen to the great old music of the past!(look for this featured in their newsletter!)
Your Vinyl Destination
Warren Smith
Written by Robert Benson
Warren Smith had the ability to be a superstar. Certainly the Rockabilly star was one of the most talented singers to stand in front of a microphone at Sun Records. But commercial success eluded him, even though he was capable of singing the most heartfelt vocals and gut-wrenching country ballads. Let’s explore this pioneer of Rockabilly and Country Music singer’s legendary career.
Born in Humphreys County, Mississippi in 1931, he was raised by his grandparents after his parents divorced. Always interested in music, he took up the guitar while serving in the US Air Force while stationed in San Antonio. By the time he was discharged, he decided to try and make a career in the music industry. After moving to West Memphis, Arkansas, he successfully auditioned to play at a local hot spot called the Cotton Club. When steel guitarist Stan Kessler spotted this young, up and coming musician, he took him to Memphis’s famed Sun Records to audition for Sam Phillips.
Sam Phillips loved what he heard and decided to release Smith’s first record, “Rock & Roll Ruby,” a song credited to Johnny Cash (although Smith would later claim that the song was actually written by George Jones and was sold to Cash for $40). He recorded the record in February of 1956 with a country crooner song on the B side. By May 26th of that year, “Rock & Roll Ruby” would hit #1 on the local charts and went on to outsell the first Sun Records releases by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.
But Smith’s second release with Sun Records, “Ubangi Stomp,” did not fare as well nor sell as well as his debut record. Interestingly, the B side of this record was a classic ballad called “Black Jack David,” which originated in the early eighteenth century Britain and may be the oldest song ever recorded by a rock and roll performer.
In 1957, Smith recorded a Roy Orbison tune called “So Long, I’m Gone” and it became Smith’s biggest seller at Sun Records; peaking at #74 on the Billboard Charts. But Sun Records did not financially back Smith; all of Sun’s money went into marketing another Sun recording artist, Jerry Lee Lewis. Smith continued to provide fantastic Rockabilly Music for Sun Records, including a rocking cover of Slim Harpo’s “I Got Love If You Want It” (recorded in October of 1957). However with no marketing and publicity behind it, his records did not do well commercially. Smith also cut a cover version of Don Gibson’s “Sweet Sweet Girl” (his last record with Sun Records) and in 1958, seeing that his future might be in Country Music; he decided to leave Sun Records.
In 1959, Smith moved his family from Mississippi to Sherman Oaks, California, not far from Johnny and Vivian Cash. Cash even offered Smith a spot on his show, but seeing himself as a headliner, not a backing musician, Smith turned down the invitation. In 1960, he signed on with Liberty Records and immediately scored a hit with “I Don’t Believe I’ll Fall In Love Today” (#5 on Billboard Country & Western Chart). He had another hit with Liberty Records called “Odds And Ends, Bits And Pieces” and Smith recorded several more tunes (mostly cover versions of the popular country hits at the time) and released an album called “The First Country Collection of Warren Smith.”
Smith continued to record with success for Liberty Records from 1960-1965, but in August of 1965 a serious automobile accident immobilized him for nearly a year. By the time he recovered from his injuries, his recording contract with Liberty Records had run out and Smith made several unsuccessful attempts to restart his career. Sadly, Smith’s own personal demons caught up with him as difficulties with addictions to alcohol and pills would hold him back. Smith’s drug problems led to an 18-month term in an Alabama prison, when he was convicted of robbing a pharmacy.
Smith continued to try and restart his music career after his release from prison. In the late 70’s he got a boost from the Rockabilly revival that was occurring at the time. In 1977, he was invited to appear at London’s Rainbow Theatre (also on the bill were Charlie Feathers, Buddy Knox and Jack Scott) and was very well received. This reception boosted his spirits and he returned to the US to perform with a new confidence. In November of 1978, he teamed up for another successful tour of Europe, this time with Ray Smith.
Sadly in 1980, Warren Smith died of a heart attack (age 47) while preparing for yet another European tour.
What would have happened to this legendary Rockabilly star had he had the proper marketing early in his career at Sun Records? We can only guess, but his contribution to Rockabilly Music has been recognized and adored by millions and he is enshrined in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. A true legend, he is missed, but his spirit of his music lives on.
Discography and vinyl prices:
Singles Sun 239 - Rock 'n' Roll Ruby / I'd Rather Be Safe Than Sorry (April 1956)
A misprint on the label adds value to this 45rpm. If listed as “Rock ‘M’ Roll Ruby” it is listed at $100-125. If the label reads the correct title the record lists at $50-75
Sun 250 - Ubangi Stomp / Black Jack David (September 1956) listed at $50-75
Sun 268 - So Long I'm Gone / Miss Froggie (April 1957) lists at $50-75
Sun 286 - Got Love If You Want It / I Fell In Love (1957) listed at $60-80
Sun 314 - Goodbye Mr Love / Sweet Sweet Girl (1959) listed at $15-25
Warner Brothers 5125 - Dear Santa / The Meaning Of Xmas (1960) $10-20
Liberty 55248 - Cave In / I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today (1960) Liberty 55302 - Odds And Ends (Bits And Pieces) / A Whole Lot Of Nothin' (1961) Liberty 55336 - Call Of The Wild / Old Lonesome Feeling (1961) Liberty 55361 - Why Baby Why (with Shirley Collie) / Why I'm Walkin' (1961) Liberty 55409 - Five Minutes Of The Latest Blues / Bad News Gets Around (1961) Liberty 55475 - Book Of Broken Hearts / A Hundred And Sixty Lbs. Of Hurt (19614) Liberty 55615 - That's Why I Sing In A Honky Tonk / Big City Ways (1963) Liberty 55699 - Blue Smoke / Judge And Jury (1964) All Liberty Records 45prm records listed at $8-12
Skill 007 - Future X / She Likes Attention (1966)
Mercury 78225 - When The Heartaches Get To Me / Lie To Me (1968) ($4-8)
Jubal 172 - Make It On Your Own / Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1972) Jubal 272 - I Don't Believe / Did You Tell Him (1972) Jubal 473 - A Woman's Never As Gone / One More Time (1973)
Original albums: The First Country Collection Of Warren Smith (1961) Liberty Records (3199)
monaural $35-40/stereo version (Liberty 7199)is worth $40-60
The Legendary Warren Smith (1977)
Memorial Album (10" LP, 1980, partial re-release of The Legendary Warren Smith) Last Detail (recorded live in London, 1977, released 1981)
Paul McCartney says he wants the currently unreleased Beatles song `Carnival Of Light` to be heard by all.
The 14-minute jam was recorded in one take around the time The Beatles were working on ‘Penny Lane’. In fact, specifically, it was recorded on January 5, 1967.
Speaking with John Wilson on the BBC, McCartney said that he feels the time is right to release the avant-guard track. 'I like it because it's the Beatles free, going off piste,' he said. ‘We were set up in the studio and would just go in every day and record,' McCartney tells Wilson. 'I said to the guys, this is a bit indulgent but would you mind giving me 10 minutes? I've been asked to do this thing. All I want you to do is just wander round all of the stuff and bang it, shout, play it. It doesn't need to make any sense. Hit a drum, wander to the piano, hit a few notes ... and then we put a bit of echo on it. It's very free".
McCartney said in the interview that the track was almost released in 1996 on Anthology. We were listening to everything we'd every recorded,' McCartney says. 'I said it would be great to put this on because it would show we were working with really avant-garde stuff ... But it was vetoed. The guys didn't like the idea, like "this is rubbish".'
McCartney was at the BBC to talk about his new album as The Fireman with Wilson for his Front Row radio show in Radio 4. The interview will be heard this Thursday on BBC 4.
As we continue our look at Gigwise.com 50 sexiest and dirtiest album covers, let's look at #36:
36. Buckcherry: ‘Buckcherry’ - A painted lady adorns the cover of Buckcherry’s self titled album which was released in 1999, but has more a feel of 1967 with the psychedelic patterns which swirl around the models naked torso. To appreciate the image fully, you’d have to buy the gatefold vinyl where it shows her bottom half.
Buckcherry is a Grammy-nominated Los Angeles, California hard rock band formed in 1995. The band released two albums, their self-titled debut in 1999 and 2001's Time Bomb, before dissolving in the summer of 2002. In 2005, lead vocalist Josh Todd and lead guitarist Keith Nelson formed a new band using the Buckcherry moniker and released a new album on April 16, 2006 entitled 15. The album contained Buckcherry's biggest crossover hits to date, "Crazy Bitch" and the band's first Hot 100 top ten hit, "Sorry".
Bob Gaudio, who wrote many of the Four Seasons' hits with producer Bob Crewe, turns 66.
Jethro Tull lead guitarist Martin Barre was born in Lancashire, England in 1946.
Guitarist Isaac Hanson of the popular teen trio was born in 1980.
Jim Babjak, guitarist for the Smithereens, has a birthday (1957).
They Will Be Missed:
The late Gene Clark of the Byrds was born in 1941.
The late Dean Martin, Jr. of Dino, Desi and Billy was born in 1952.
Arthur Conley ("Sweet Soul Music") died of intestinal cancer in 2003.
Ruth Brown ("This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'") died of a stroke and heart attack in 2006.
Jethro Tull bassist John Glasscock died of a heart attack in London in 1979. He had a history of heart aliments.
In 2003, Country singer/songwriter Don Gibson died (age 75) in Nashville. His song "I Can't Stop Loving You" was recorded by over 700 artists, including Ray Charles.
History:
In 2003, The Beatles released “Let It Be… Naked.” It is a remastering of the original 1969 album with Phil Spector’s production removed. Spector, hired to salvage the project, added strings to several tracks – much to Paul McCartney’s displeasure.
The Four Seasons' "Big Girls Don't Cry" reached the top spot on the Billboard singles chart in 1962, just as their first hit, "Sherry" did earlier in the year. Songwriters Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio were inspired to write the song after they heard Clark Gable use the phase "big girls don't cry" in a movie. In the UK, the song reached #13.
'Double Fantasy,' by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, was released in 1980.
"The Beatles Revolution" documentary airs on ABC-TV in 2000.
Sign of the times: In Guildford, England in 1963, a headmaster says that students turning up to Clark's Grammar School with Beatles haircuts will be sent home. "This ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically," says John Weightman. "It makes them look like morons."
Also in 1963, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet singer Gene Pitney at a taping of the British pop program Thank Your Lucky Stars. They give him their song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday." Improbably, the song is a hit in both America and the U.K. But it's a year before Jagger and Richards begin writing songs for their own group.
Abba topped the British albums chart in 1979 with their collection "Greatest Hits, Vol. 2." Shortly afterward, the Guinness Book of Records named Abba the biggest-selling group in recording history.
Jewel released her second album Spirit in 1998, featuring the hits "Hands" and "Down So Long." The album peaks on the Billboard charts at No. 3.
Oops- In 2003, Britney Spears becomes the youngest singer to ever get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Metallica released the album "ReLoad" in 1997.
The Kingston Trio led the US hit parade in 1958 with a century-old folk song called "Tom Dooley". Although this popular group would place nine more songs in the US Top 40, this would be their only number one.
In 1958- DJ Alan Freed learns today that his trial for inciting a riot has been postponed until January of next year. The riot occurred during a Boston rock show he was promoting in May 1958. Prosecutors explain that the delay is because they are investigating allegations that Freed broke Massachusetts' anti-anarchy laws.
