Saturday, January 10, 2009

Music News & Notes

Top selling vinyl for 2008

From Nielsen Soundscan, here are the top 10 vinyl sellers in 2008. I find it amazing that the legendary Beatles' LP "Abbey Road" is included, it says a lot for their music.
10. Radiohead, OK Computer, 1997.
9. Metallica, Death Magnetic, 2008.
8. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes, 2008.
7. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, 1973.
6. Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, 1998.
5. Portishead, Third, 2008. See number 8.
4. B-52s, Funplex, 2008.
3. Guns 'n' Roses, Chinese Democracy, 2008.
2. The Beatles, Abbey Road, 1969.
1. Radiohead, In Rainbows, 2008.


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Autopsy Records Two New Songs For New Vinyl 7" and "Severed Survival" Reissue

Autopsy has been "dragged from the grave and vomited out 2 brand new tracks" (according to the press release), their first in nearly 15 years. This will make up the new extremely limited vinyl single release of "Horrific Obsession" in January. "Horrific Obsession" will be limited to only 1000 units and will be available exclusively from peaceville.com on January 26, 2009, with pre-orders available now.

The two tracks will also be included on a special 2-disc 20th anniversary edition of the classic 1989 debut album, "Severed Survival," coming in March. The release includes a second disc of previously unheard rehearsal and live rarities, including two songs originally intended for "Severed Survival." The package also includes a booklet detailing the early history of the band, as documented by the guys themselves, plus unseen photos. This special 2-disc edition of "Severed Survival" will be available on February 23, 2009.

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Southern Lord vinyl release

In February, Southern Lord will release the vinyl-only version of the new WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM EP entitled "Malevolent Grain", featuring two brand new tracks from the Pacific Northwest organic black metallers. Conspiracy Records will offer a limited-edition picture disc of the 12" for Europe, while Southern Lord will release a black 180-gram version worldwide. Additionally, the band will press a limited CD version for tour purposes only. The EP features the band's newly designed logo (see below) crafted by renowned artist Christophe Szpajdel, designer of black metal band logos for KULT OV AZAZEL, EMPEROR, MOONSPELL and other international acts.


The third WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM full-length, "Black Cascade" will follow on March 31 via Southern Lord. Both the EP and the full-length were recorded to 2-inch tape by Randall Dunn and Mell Dettmer in Seattle this winter. The new recordings are the first to feature the band's new guitar player Will Lindsay (MIDDIAN) who had previously served as the band's touring bass player, in addition to longtime members, brothers Nathan and Aaron Weaver.

The band will tour Europe beginning in late January.

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Queen: More Details Revealed On Upcoming Vinyl Reissues

EMI Music and Queen are announcing the re-release over two years of the entire Queen studio album catalogue on long playing vinyl albums. The album packaging will include every detail of the original releases in their original 12” format. Bonus posters, extra pictures, and all the unique content of the original albums will be faithfully reproduced.

The first group of releases, out March 16th, will consist of four classic Queen albums Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races.


Following in May 2009 will be come five further albums including the very first album, Queen, along with News Of The World, Flash Gordon, A Kind Of Magic and Innuendo, with successive releases coming approximately every 6 months.

In a deliberate move, the albums are not being released chronologically but instead sequenced over the twenty-two year period of release allowing buyers wider choice with each new batch of releases.

Queen’s original studio albums: Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera, A Day At The Races, News Of The World, Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon, Hot Space, The Works, A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, Innuendo, Made In Heaven.

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Stax Reissuing Two Isaac Hayes Classics

Stax Records, now part of the Concord Group, will be reissuing two of Isaac Hayes' classic 70's album on February 24.


Up first is Black Moses, originally issued in 1971. This double-CD of Hayes' most critically acclaimed album includes a complete replication of the original album cover which folds out into a cross-shaped image of the artist. New to the set is liner notes by Rob Bowman who wrote Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records.

The album was notable for the fact that so many of the tracks were covers, including the Jackson 5's Never Can Say Goodbye, the Carpenters Close to You, and Kris Kristofferson's For the Good Times. Hayes took the songs and crafted soulful versions that, at times, ran upwards of ten minutes in length. The singer noted that the album came out of the pain of a divorce. Bowman says "Isaac's ability to take other people's material and make it so deeply personal is nothing short of brilliant."

The album went to number one on the R&B, number two on the Jazz and number ten on the Pop Album charts while Never Can Say Goodbye was a number five R&B and number 22 Pop single. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Also being released is 1976's Juicy Fruit (Disco Heat). The album was nowhere near as good or as big as most of his previous works, mostly attempting to tap into the current disco trend. It was also his third release of that year for his new label, ABC, and was one of his few albums on which he wrote all of the songs. The combination proved problematic with the songs being formulaic and non-descript.

The album peaked at 18 on the R&B and 124 on the Pop charts and didn't produce any hit singles.

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Loretta Lynn Busy With Two New Albums

Country legend Loretta Lynn is preparing two projects this year to follow up her 2004 crossover hit, "Van Lear Rose."

Lynn, 74, is working on an album of new material that she says could be ready by late spring. The album will be in her traditional country style but will deal with modern issues. "(A friend) told me: 'Loretta, don't quit writing, because if you do, no one in Nashville is writing songs,'" Lynn tells Billboard. "I write about what's happening today and how I feel."

The second project, an album of re-recorded versions of her No. 1 hits from the past four decades, is being produced by John Carter Cash and could hit stores this summer.

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