Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 21, 2010


DEAR JERRY: While watching a standup routine on the Comedy Channel, one of the bits I heard has created my need for your expertise.

The comedian talked about growing up in the Midwest, and how rough the winters were there.

He said it was not unusual for him to wake up in the morning and find two or three feet of snow had fallen overnight. Then he would go to the window and discover it was even deeper outside!

Definitely a funny story, but as soon as I heard the punch line I immediately recalled hearing pretty much the same joke by a male singer in a tune played on the radio in the 1960s.

No one I ask knows anything whatsoever about such a song. Can you confirm my recollection?
—Sandy Billingsley, Helena, Mont.


DEAR SANDY: Living where you do, I'll bet you can relate to this snowy scenario.

Since it is unlikely more than one song ever used this tale, and with that one being a regional hit in 1968, I'd say the confirmation you seek is a given.

The recording is “The Girl from the Next Farm Over,” by Wes Helm (Chart 1037). Here then is the story, as first told to him by his mother, about surviving the brutal winters she faced as a teenager:

“I was talkin' to the girl from the next farm over from my dad when he was a boy.

“And according to her, the kid had a rough way to go. 'Cause my dad and the girl from the next farm over lived the farthest away from school. Hey, they had to walk 23 miles through the snow.

“Well, according to the girl from the next farm over from my dad when he was a boy, you know she'd wake up in the morning and the snow was two feet high.

“She would jump out of bed, run over to the window and wish she had a ride. 'Cause don't you know it was even deeper outside.

“But if it wasn't for the snow and the rough way to go, I might not be here today. 'Cause as a general rule on the way to school, they'd cuddle up and keep warm that way.

“And according to the girl from the next farm over, who later became my mom, some days they never made it all the way to school.

“What daddy didn't learn from sittin' in a class, he learned on the way to school.

“ 'Cause if you saw my mama, you'd see my daddy ain't no fool.”

We don't know whether the comic you saw picked up the bit from the song, or was inspired by its use long before. It sure sounds like something from a Burns and Allen or Groucho Marx routine.

Here is the link where you can acquaint, or reacquaint, yourself with this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiBVj4QePlo


WES HELM - Girl from the Next Farm Over (1968)




DEAR JERRY: Only recently have I come to appreciate the progressive style of Tangerine Dream, and now I have all seven of their charted vinyl albums.

Still, I find no appearance by them on any singles survey. Did they not issue 45s?
—Hugo Hollis, Lansing, Mich.

DEAR HUGO: Tangerine Dream, for those unlike yourself who may think we're talking about a popsicle, is a German synthesist rock band. Edgar Froese formed the band in Berlin in 1967.

Those seven audacious albums making the U.S. charts are: “Phaedra” (1974); “Stratosfear” (1977); “Sorcerer” (1977); “Encore” (1977); “Thief” (1981); “Exit” (1981); and “Legend” (1986). Coincidentally, each of these has a one-word title.

The Dream's lengthy cosmic anthems are best appreciated on long play albums, though from 1977 through '87 they did issue eight singles, six being commercial releases and two made specifically for use by dee jays.

A three-minute record simply isn't the appropriate showcase for TD's intergalactic-passion music, thus none of the singles charted.


IZ ZAT SO? Of the seven LPs named above, “Sorcerer” and “Thief” are soundtracks, and the first two of that genre by TD. Between 1982 and 2003, another 30 soundtrack albums would be added to their discography. Overall, Tangerine Dream's music is heard in nearly 70 films, videos, and audio novels.


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 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission

Music News & Notes

Hopeless Records Plans Avenged Sevenfold Vinyl

Hopeless Records has announced that it is set to release a very special and limited vinyl pressing of Avenged Sevenfold’s upcoming album, 'Nightmare.' The Deluxe Edition includes 2 x 12” discs pressed on blood red 180g vinyl, in a double gatefold, the 2,500 limited edition package also comes numbered. A Standard version is also available, on 2 x 12” discs pressed on standard weight vinyl in a double gatefold packaging.

More details and the pre-sale can be found here: http://hopelessrecords.com/a7x/

Avenged Sevenfold is set to release their fifth studio album, 'Nightmare' on July 27th. The album is the first from the band without drummer James “The Rev” Sullivan, who passed away in December. Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy plays drums on the new album.

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Michael Jackson's Estate Makes an Estimated $1 Billion in Last Year

As the first anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson quickly approaches, Billboard decided to look back on how the singer's heirs have made over $1 Billion in revenue. It's a combination of huge public interest in his back catalog, a new merchandising deal, the release of the biggest concert film of all-time and his publishing empire.

•Music Sales - $429 million - Since his death, Jackson has sold 9 million albums in the U.S. (plus another 800,000 by the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons) and 24 million in the rest of the world. In addition, 12.9 million individual tracks were downloaded in the U.S. and an estimated total of 26.5 million worldwide.

•Film & TV - $392 million - Michael Jackson: This Is It took in $72 million at the boxoffice in the U.S. and $188 million in the rest of the world. When it was released on DVD, the film made another $43 million in sales and an estimated $25 million in rental income. Additional income came from the DVD overseas along with sales for network licensing and to airlines and cruiseships.

•Publishing - $130 million - The Income is not only from his own publishing company, Mijac, but also from his 50% ownership in Sony/ATV.

•Licensing/Touring - $35 million - The 50 This is It shows at London's O2 Arena never happened, yet they've still brought in $11.5 million. $6.5 million of that is for tickets that fans never turned in for refunds, either in error, because they wanted the ticket for a souvenir or they're looking to make money on the memorabilia market. Additional money came in through merchandise sales and licensing royalties.

•Recording Contract - $31 million - The estate signed a deal with Sony Music worth an estimated $200 to $250 million between now and 2017. $31 million is the estimated amount for the first year of the contract, even though no new product has been released to date.

Conspiracy theory anyone?

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You Say Party! We Say Die! Rename Themselves After Drummer's Death
Keyboardist also leave the group...

You Say Party! We Say Die! Have renamed themselves following the recent death of drummer Devon Clifford. Clifford suffered a brain hemorrhage during a performance at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver in April and died later in hospital.

In a statement, You Say Party! We Say Die! said Clifford's family had urged them to continue, but “out of respect” for the late drummer they had changed their name.

The band will now be known as You Say Party.

Keyboardist Krista Loewen has also left the group.

“The 5 of us look forward to carrying the spirit of our friend Devon with us everywhere,” the statement added.

You Say Party are set to release a new single, entitled 'There Is XXXX (Within Me Heart)', in the US next month.

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Brian Wilson May Join Beach Boys for 50th Anniversary

Next year will be the 50th anniversary for the Beach Boys and Mike Love has told the Las Vegas Sun that there is a chance Brian Wilson may join the group for the celebration.

Currently, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are the only original members still touring with the official Beach Boys, a name that Love owns. Wilson, who has issued a number of solo albums and is currently working on an LP of unfinished George Gershwin songs, has toured under his own name mixing his music with that of the Beach Boys. The other living original member, Al Jardine, tours with a band called Endless Summer. Dennis and Carl Wilson have passed away.

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Kenny Chesney Releases Details On New Album- Hemingway's Whiskey

Kenny Chesney will release his first studio album in 3 years this fall when Hemingway’s Whiskey will hit store shelves.

“I knew I wanted the record to be something more, something that took what I do in my special projects and weaved it into what I do for the mainstream,” Chesney says.

Hemingway’s Whiskey will be released on September 28.

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Warner Bros. Records to release soundtrack to Christopher Nolan's new feature film, 'Inception,' on July 13th

“Inception: Music From The Motion Picture,” the dramatic score to the highly anticipated sci-fi action flick, “Inception,” will be released digitally and on CD by Warner Bros. Records on July 13th, three days before the movie opens nationwide in theatres and IMAX on July 16th. A vinyl edition of the soundtrack will be released on August 3rd

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Reunited BUSH To Release New Album In The Fall

As announced by Gavin Rossdale during Stryker's show on Los Angeles radio station KROQ, that BUSH is returning to the front line in 2010.

BUSH will perform is first live show in eight years as part of the Epicenter weekend in Fontana, September 25-26, joining EMINEM and KISS at the Golden State's inland empire venue. Also in the fall, the first new studio album in nine years from BUSH will be released on Interscope, titled "Everything Always Now".

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Rob Schneider Releases New Album Ahead of New Film

Rob Schneider is best known for his work on Saturday Night Live but he has now entered a new medium. He has just released his first ever comedy album, 'Registered Offender,' on Oglio Records
.
Registered Offender features sixteen tracks of sketch comedy with Rob Schneider performing every voice in the album and the compact disc version will included a limited edition sticker of the album cover. Rob's first ever ring tones will also be available in July starting with his famous "You Can Do It" catch-phrase. The CD version of the album will be out in stores on July 27th.

Oglio Records will also release in July a limited edition seven inch vinyl for "She's Gonna Come"/"Swain The Legend".

Rob can be seen along with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade in this summer's Grown Ups, due in theaters June 25th.

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Blink-182 Confirm Plans To Record New Album This Autumn

Blink-182's Mark Hoppus has confirmed that the band intend to start work on a new album this year. The reformed group are due to play a series of shows in Europe this summer, followed by a gig in California in September.

Hoppus said that after the latter date they plan begin immediate work on the on the follow-up to 2003's 'Blink-182'.

"In June and July we will be at the rehearsal spot, getting ready for the European tour this summer, and writing new songs,” Hoppus wrote on his blog.

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Malevolent Creation Reveals "Invidious Dominion" Album Artwork

Florida based death metal act Malevolent Creation has revealed the artwork from the band's upcoming 11th studio outing entitled "Invidious Dominion." The cover art, which can be viewed here, was brought to life this time around by artist Pär Olofsson.

"Invidious Dominion" will be released on August 24 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records (three days later in Europe through Massacre). The effort will made available in various territories as a regular CD; digipack with bonus material; and vinyl LP.















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15 Awe Inspiring Christian Album Covers

If you love album cover art (as I do), there are some very strange covers here that, honestly, are quite scarry. Take a look here:

http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/photos/15-awe-inspiring-christian-album-covers

This Date In Music History - June 23

Birthdays:

Rosetta Hightower - Orlons (1944)

Randall Darius Jackson, American musician and record producer, best known for being a judge on American Idol (1956)

Steve Shelley - Sonic Youth (1962)

Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs - Oasis (1965) Quit the band in Aug 1999.

James MacPherson - Breeders (1966)

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (1975)

Aimee Anne Duffy (Duffy) (1984)


They Are Missed:

Born on this day in 1940, Stuart Sutcliffe, original bassist of The Beatles for eighteen months (January 1960 - June 1961). Sutcliffe was living in Hamburg, Germany at the time of his death, he died of a brain hemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital on April 10, 1962 (age 22).

Born today in 1929, June Carter Cash, country singer, wife of Johnny Cash. Died 15th May 15, 2003 (age 73). 'If I Were A Carpenter'.

Born on this day in 1937, Niki Sullivan, guitarist, singer, one of the three original members of Buddy Holly's backing group, The Crickets. He co-wrote a number of his hit songs and sang back-up vocals on 27 of the 32 songs Buddy recorded over his brief career. Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack on April 6, 2004, at his home in Independence, Missouri (age 66).


History:

Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax was born in 1814. He was the inventor of the saxophone.

In 1957, Lonnie Donegan was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Gamblin' Man / Putting On The Style," the singers second UK #1. It was the last UK #1 to be released as a 78rpm as well as a 7' vinyl record.

Eddie Cochran recorded "Somethin' Else" in 1959.



In 1960, Paul Anka (at 20) became the youngest performer ever (at that time) to perform at the Copacabana nightclub in New York.

Ray Charles started a 14-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1962 with 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music.'

Del Shannon charted with "From Me To You" in 1963, which was the first Lennon & McCartney composition to make the Billboard Hot 100.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles released "Tracks Of My Tears" in 1965.



Aretha Franklin records "Chain Of Fools" in 1967.

In 1970, Chubby Checker and 3 others were arrested in Niagra Falls after marijuana and unidentified drug capsules were found in Checker's car.

Smokey Robinson appeared in concert with the Miracles for the last time, in Washington, DC, 1972.

George Harrison started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1973 with 'Living In The Material World', his second US #1.

B.W. Stevenson recorded "My Maria" in 1973.

During his 'Welcome To My Nightmare' tour in Vancouver, Canada in 1975, Alice Cooper fell from the stage and broke six ribs.

Jefferson Starship released their “Red Octopus” LP in 1975.

Also in 1975, Bob Marley and The Wailers played the first of 14 shows over 7 nights at Paul's Mall in Boston, Massachusetts, as part of their Natty Dread Tour.

Duran Duran started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1984 with "The Reflex," the group's first US #1, also a UK #1.

Madonna was on the cover of "Cosmopolitan" magazine in 1987.

In 1990, 13-year-old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Madonna, claiming he suffered nightmares and bed-wetting problems after an incident outside Madonna’s home when she allegedly flung him to the ground. Ummm, OK...

Buddy Holly’s Gibson acoustic guitar sold for $237,419 in a Sotheby's auction in 1990. The guitar was in a tooled leather case made by Holly himself.

In 1995, CBS anchorman Dan Rather shows up at a R.E.M. soundcheck at Madison Square Garden to perform “What’s The Frequency Kenneth?” A couple years earlier Rather was mugged. While his attackers were pummeling him they demanded “What’s the frequency Kenneth?” Right, it makes no sense. R.E.M. then writes a song referencing the incident.



In 2002, the top pop earners from US sales during 2001 were listed by Rolling Stone magazine as: Madonna at #5 with $49.5 million; Dave Matthews Band at #4 with $52.7 million; The Beatles at #3 with $58 million; Dr. Dre at #2 with $63 million and, top of the list, U2 with $75 million.

Nelly started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2002 with "Hot In Here."

In 2003 - In London, Eminem gave a $450,000 necklace to a fan in the front row of a concert. He had announced while from the stage that "I'm going to give this to the sexiest woman I see."

Also in 2003, Diana Ross appeared in court and testified that she was coerced and felt intimidated into taking a breath test that showed her blood alcohol level was 0.2 (well over the 0.08 limit). The singer said, "If I didn’t take the breath tests, I was either going to go to the hospital or to jail." After the hearing, Ross asked the judge if it would be possible to have court paperwork processed using her married name of Diana Naess. The City Magistrate said he thought it was "a little late" for that now.

In 2004, Bob Dylan was awarded an honorary degree by the University of St. Andrews Scotland’s oldest University and made a "Doctor of Music."

The documentary “Festival Express” chronicling a 1970 cross-country Canadian tour (via train) was released in San Francisco in 2004. Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, The Band and Buddy Guy are on board. The film was stored in the Canadian National Archives for almost 25 years. The Dead’s Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh provide commentary.

In 2007, 1,800 guitarists in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, set a world record for a mass guitar performance of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water." This effort breaks the mark set just three weeks earlier in Kansas City, KS, when over 1,600 played the riff.



In 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The 19 year-old R&B singer was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to do six months community service. Brown had faced charges of assaulting Rihanna, 21, during a row in February. The last-minute plea deal came before a hearing at a Los Angeles court at which Rihanna was due to give evidence. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also ordered Brown and Rihanna to stay at least 50 yards from each other, except at entertainment industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

Def Leppard, Cheap Trick and Poison hit the road for a summer tour in 2009. The first stop on the 40-city romp is Camden, NJ. It’s also the day Cheap Trick’s “The Latest” is available on the band’s web site and Amazon.com. "We wanted to make a record that sounded like 2009 . . . like us this year," says drummer Bun E. Carlos.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their sophomore effort “Reckoning,” R.E.M. reissues a remastered and enhanced version of album in 2009. The set includes an ‘84 show recorded in Chicago.