Thursday, August 6, 2009

Classic Rock Videos

The Rolling Stones - Get Off of My Cloud (1967)

Still Unbeatable Records Offers Punk Releases


Got an email from a gent with some exciting news about a new vinyl site. Here are some details:


Started in 2008, Still Unbeatable Records is dedicated to bring back the music and spirit of '77, by bringing out never before released punk and powerpop songs from back in the day, as well as new releases from current bands keeping punk alive. Our previous releases include singles from the Boys and the Stiffs and we are about to bring out new stuff from the Boss Martians, as well as a new acoustic album from Honest John Plain (the Boys).

Stop by and buy some great punk music from yesteryear (as well as new music!):

www.still-unbeatable-records.de

This Date In Music History- August 6

Birthdays:

Mike Elliot – Foundations (1929)

Allan Holdsworth - Soft Machine (1948)

Pat McDonald - Timbuk 3 (1952)

Randy Debarge – Debarge (1958)

Geri Halliwell – (Ginger Spice) - Spice Girls (1972) Halliwell has scored more UK #1's than any other female artist.


They Are Missed:

Avant-garde musician and former backing singer with David Bowie Klaus Nomi died at the age of 39 of Aids in New York City in 1983. Nomi was one of the first celebrities to contract AIDS.

Born on this day in 1938, Isaac Hayes, singer, (1971 US #1 single, “Theme From Shaft”) Hayes was found dead at his home on Aug 10, 2008 (age 65).

Born in 1969, Elliot Smith, US singer songwriter. His song “Miss Misery” saw him nominated for an Academy Award in 1997. Smith committed suicide on October 22, 2003 (age 34).

Dick Latvala, erstwhile curator of Grateful Dead bootlegs, died from a heart attack in 1999. The archivist's collection of shows was officially released as Dick's Picks.

Rick James was found dead at his Los Angeles home in 2004. Known as “The King of Punk-Funk,” James scored the 1981 #3 album ‘Street Songs’ and 1981 #16 single “Super Freak part 1.” In the late 60's James worked as a songwriter and producer for Motown, working with Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Addicted to cocaine, he once admitted to spending $7,000 a week on drugs for five years.


History:

In 1955, Dale Hawkins' swamp-rock classic, "Susie-Q," was released. Guitarist James Burton provided the snaky signature riff and searing solo.





Chubby Checker appeared on TV show American Bandstand in 1960 and performed “The Twist.” The song went to #1 on the charts and again 18 months later in 1962. It is the only song to go to the top of the charts on two separate occasions.



Bob Dylan began recording his third album, The Times They Are A-Changin” in 1963.

In 1965, the Beatles released their fifth album and soundtrack to their second film ‘Help!’ which included the title track, “The Night Before,” “You've Got to Hide Your Love Away,” “You're Going to Lose That Girl,” “Ticket to Ride” and “Yesterday.”

Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Poco and Johnny Winter all appeared at the Concert For Peace at New York's Shea Stadium in 1970. The concert date coincided with the 25th anniversary of dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

In 1973, Stevie Wonder was seriously injured when the car he was riding in crashed into a truck on I-85 near Winston-Salem, North Carolina leaving him in a coma for four days. The accident also left him without any sense of smell.

Abba scored their first US top 10 hit in 1974 when “Waterloo” went to #6. The Swedish group were also on their first American tour.

Stevie Nicks released her first solo album “Bella Donna” in 1981 which contained four top 40 US hits. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (with Tom Petty), “Leather and Lace,” (with Don Henley) “Edge of Seventeen” and “After the Glitter Fades.”

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” starring Bob Geldof opened in movie theatres in New York in 1982. The film was conceived alongside the double album by Pink Floyd’s, Roger Waters.

“Graceland,” the signature album of Paul Simon's career, was released in 1986.

The Beastie Boys sued the city of Jacksonville, FL in 1987 for including the phrase "mature audience" on their concert tickets and ads.

“Appetite For Destruction,” Guns N' Roses debut album, went to #1 in the US in 1988, after spending 57 weeks on the chart and selling over 5 million copies. Singles from the album, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City” were all US top 10 hits.

In 2001, Whitney Houston became one of the highest-paid musicians in the world after signing a new deal with Arista records, said to be worth more than $100m.

In 2007, Keith Richards claims he did, in fact, inhale his late father's ashes, despite earlier statements saying he was misquoted when he made the infamous revelation in an April NME interview. "What I found out is that ingesting your ancestors is a very respectable way of . . . y'know, he went down a treat," says the Rolling Stones guitarist. Oh well, that's not so weird. Right. Richards also refutes part of the original quote. "The cocaine bit was rubbish. I said I chopped him up like cocaine, not with." Considering Richards doesn’t so much talk as mumbles it’s not surprising he was misunderstood.

Crowds visit Somerville's Union Square for Rock & Roll Yard Sale

By Taylor Miles/Somerville

Instead of mining for toys, romance novels and dusty floral dresses from neighbors’ lawns, folks enjoyed the Rock & Roll Yard Sale Union Square-style Saturday: with a vinyl music party, as hundreds dug through troves of records in search of their next vintage must-have.

The Do-It-Yourself-themed yard sale, part of the Somerville Art Council’s ArtsUnion Marketplace Series, brought people of all ages and musical interests to search for classic or obscure albums, homemade jewelry, patches, T-shirts and other independent business items from about 50 vendors. Rock & Roll Yard Sale co-founder Chris Daltry said since he and his wife brought the yard sale to Somerville three years ago, it has been their most successful show, but Saturday’s was the biggest yet.

“I couldn’t move a while ago,” Chris, co-owner of What Cheer Antiques and Vintage, a vintage and vinyl store in Providence, said about the large crowd in Union Square.

What Cheer co-owner Jennifer Daltry said they started the Rock & Roll Yard Sale six years ago after WFMU, a large record show in New York, cut its shows down to once a year. They began organizing their own record show in Providence, and it has since progressed from solely records to including other handmade and vintage items.

“There’s just more of a fun, festival atmosphere about doing it in the Square there,” Jennifer Daltry said about the Somerville show. “[There’s] a mixed bag of people. Not just hipsters, but all kinds of people.”

The yard sale’s popularity coincides with what Chris said has been a recent “resurgence” in album interest, which he attributes to a reaction against newer digital forms. He said people have a renewed desire for a cheaper and more tangible form of music.

Read the rest here:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville

Music News & Notes

Aerosmith's Tyler Injured

Aerosmith cut their performance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota short last night after frontman Steven Tyler fell off the stage and was airlifted to the hospital. Tyler suffered minor head and neck injuries as well as a shoulder injury, the AP reports. Tyler’s fall came after the sound system at the Buffalo Chip Campground failed during “Love in an Elevator.” Trying to keep the crowd enthused, Tyler began dancing and spinning on the catwalk, but ultimately fell backwards into crowd. Security and audience members rushed to help Tyler, who was then brought backstage.

Tyler was “good-natured” about the whole incident. “He was in good spirits when he got in the helicopter. He was talking and joking with the physician,” Sanborn said.

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Fogerty LP Release Date Changed

Another album is being moved up to make the Grammy cut-off for this year. John Fogerty's The Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again will now be out August 31 with the vinyl version available August 25.

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Radiohead Releases New Song In Tribute to WWI Veteran

Radiohead has released a new song today paying tribute to the last known British World War I veteran. The track, titled "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" is available for download on the band's Waste music store.

http://download.waste.uk.com/Store/did.html

Thom Yorke was inspired to write the song from an interview with Patch back in 2005 for BBC Radio 4. "The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me. It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death," writes Yorke on Dead Air Space. "It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny [Greenwood]. I very much hope the song does justice to his memory as the last survivor."

Fans can download the song for $1.70, and proceeds will be donated to the Royal British Legion. Patch passed away on July 25 at the age of 111.

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Bob Dylan Christmas Album on the Way

folk grandmaster Bob Dylan has been steadily compiling a collection of modern songs and Christmas carols for his first-ever Christmas album. Four songs have reportedly been recorded at Jackson Browne's Groove Master Studios in Santa Moncia, Calif., including "Must Be Santa," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

No word yet on a release date, but we have a sneaking suspicion it could come out sometime between November 26 and December 25 of this year. Call it a hunch.

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Robbie Williams Announces New Album

The amazing ROBBIE WILLIAMS releases his brand new single and album later this year on EMI’s Virgin Records.

The singer, who has sold a staggering 55 million albums worldwide, releases his new single “Bodies” on October 12 (digital release October 11).

This will be followed by his new album “Reality Killed the Video Star” which will be released on November 9.

Both single and album were produced by Trevor Horn and were recorded and mixed in London.

Robbie Williams has consistently set new records for album and ticket sales, not least when he entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2006 having sold 1.6 million tickets on one day for his 2006 tour. That tour played to 3.7 million people in total. Three years previously he played the biggest live music event in UK history when his 3 nights at Knebworth saw him play to over 365,000 people.

Robbie has also won more Brit Awards than any other artist to date, has won 3 Ivor Novello awards for songwriting and holds the UK record for the fastest selling Greatest Hits album ever – that same album reaching number 1 in 18 countries.

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If you are in the neighborhood:

KUSF Rock ‘n’ Swap Record Fair | SFSunday, August 9, 2009
10:00 am

• Music Lover’s Dream – Rare vinyl, collectible CDs, concert DVDs, original posters, t-shirts & more. Music for any budget from expensive first pressings to $1 records.
• Largest – All the music and memorabilia we can stuff into a giant 6,000 sq ft room.
• Longest Running – Over 20 years and counting.
• Bargain – Admission is $3. Proceeds support KUSF’s freeform community radio.

KUSF’s Rock ‘n’ Swap, Northern California’s largest and longest-running record fair, returns to the University Of San Francisco campus on Sunday, August 9th. Going strong for over 20 years, the Rock ‘n’ Swap has catered to music aficionados and bargain hunters alike since the heyday of vinyl records.

With the resurgence of interest in vinyl by music fans of all ages, the Rock ‘n’ Swap has quietly become the best place to find mint-condition punk 7”s or scruffy vintage jazz LPs in the Bay Area. About five times a year, vendors come from all over the country to sell rare LPs, collectible CDs, concert DVDs, original posters and t-shirts to local crate diggers and music fans traveling from as far away as Japan.

Regular admission (10am – 3pm) is $3. A special Early Bird shopping exclusive (6-10am) is $20. Proceeds help keep KUSF 90.3FM non-commercial radio on the air.

Cost: $3
Website: http://www.kusf.org/swap/
Venue: University of San Francisco - McLaren Hall
Address: 2130 Fulton Street (@ Cole St.), San Francisco, CA 94117


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Jack White to release solo single

Jack White is releasing a solo single just weeks after debuting new band the Dead Weather.

The new track, Fly Farm Blues, features on a new David Guggenheim documentary called It Might Get Loud. Released on 14 August in the US, the film is an examination of the electric guitar from the point of view of White, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and U2's The Edge.

The single, available 10 August through iTunes and on seven-inch vinyl, will be the next release from White's Nashville-based label Third Man Records.

Fly Farm Blues is the latest in a flurry of activity from White, who also claims that a new White Stripes album is imminent. White has produced two songs by new band Transit, which comprises Nashville Metro Transit Authority staff. According to NME.com, White has also produced two tracks for Dan Sartain, entitled Bohemian Grove and Atheist Funeral.

But news of Fly Farm Blues will no doubt fuel rumours that White is planning to release a solo album before the end of the year – something which could delay his apparent plans to regroup with Meg White for a White Stripes album in 2010.

The Dead Weather will continue touring until October.

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Westbound Train releases new vinyl Friday

Paper + Plastick Records, the all vinyl/digital label run by Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello, consistently delivers quality releases to both music fans and vinyl collectors alike, and is proud to announce the newest addition to the growing catalog.

This Friday, Paper + Plastick will release a limited edition vinyl 7" from Boston’s WESTBOUND TRAIN, which will be available at the P+P webstore:

http://www.audiblediversiongroup.com/PaperandPlastick

The 7” will be available on orange, green and black vinyl, and is limited to 99 copies of each pressing. Appearing on this release are two tracks off the soulful ska band’s fourth full-length album, Come and Get It (Hellcat).

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Abdul Leaving American Idol

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest took to his KIIS radio show this morning to say he was “stunned” by Paula Abdul’s decision to leave the show after eight seasons, adding that despite whispers to the contrary, Abdul’s abrupt departure is not a publicity stunt. As Rock Daily reported this morning, Abdul announced that she was leaving AI via Twitter after failing to reach an agreement with the show’s producers on a new contract.

“First of all, everyone that I passed today here has asked me, ‘Is it true? Is it a publicity stunt?’ As far as I know, it’s real — at this point, she’d decided to leave,” Seacrest, who recently signed a lucrative new deal with AI though he had a year left on his contract, said on his radio show. “So the news that Paula Abdul is leaving American Idol stunned me last night. She’s a dear friend, I love her to death, and it’s really sad that it’s come to fruition. I’m just bummed and I think if you were to talk to Randy or Simon they’d say the same thing. It’s just sad. It bums us out.”

Randy Jackson spoke to Us Weekly about Abdul’s departure, saying, “I am shocked. Paula is a dear friend and will be missed.” Season Eight champ Kris Allen posted on his Twitter, “We love you. Glad I was able to be a part of your last season on the show. You showed us so much love.”

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Lots Of MJ Material Not Released Yet


Hard drives containing new Michael Jackson songs and unreleased cuts from his ’80s peak were removed from the his estate by his sister LaToya after the singer’s death on June 25th, Rolling Stone reports in their new issue, an in-depth look at the battle between will co-executors and the Jackson family over Michael’s estate.

Jackson’s manager Frank DiLeo told RS that there are over 100 songs that remain unreleased, but the hard drives removed from Jackson’s Los Angeles home feature songs Jackson worked on with Akon, Will.i.am and Ne-Yo.

In the weeks following Jackson’s death, DiLeo says every day brings a new discovery into the singer’s unheard musical vault. “There are a couple of songs we recorded for the Bad album that we had to cut that are just sensational,” DiLeo adds.