Music News, Notes & Did You Know?

SCALE THE SUMMIT Announce New Album and Unveil Cover Artwork

Houston-based progressive-instrumentalists Scale The Summit have recently announced the title of their third album, 'The Collective, which is scheduled for release on March 1 via Prosthetic Records. It’s the follow-up to their 2009 critically acclaimed Prosthetic debut, 'Carving Desert Canyons.' The album was recorded at Paint It Black Studios in Orlando, FL with producer Mark Lewis (Devildriver, All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder).







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DROPKICK MURPHYS Reveal Cover Art For March 1st Release

Celtic punkers DROPKICK MURPHYS have announced a March 1, 2011 release date for their seventh full-length studio album 'GOING OUT IN STYLE.'  The record will be released through their own BORN & BRED RECORDS (ILG), and was produced by Ted Hutt. The album also features a guest appearance by "The Boss" himself, with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN providing vocals in their rousing rendition of "Peg O' My Heart."











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ACROSS THE SUN Reveal 'BEFORE THE NIGHT TAKES US' Cover Art

Portland, Oregon-based ACROSS THE SUN will release their Metal Blade debut BEFORE THE NIGHT TAKES US on March 15, 2011. The band has just revealed the cover art and tracklisting, and those that "like" the band on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/acrossthesun will be treated to the first single from the release, "Song For The Hopeless."





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SHROUD OF DESPONDENCY To Release 'Dark Meditations' In February

"Dark Meditations in Monastic Seclusion" from dynamic U.S. black metal act SHROUD OF DESPONDENCY is set for self-release on February 12. The album is an organic blend of beautiful acoustic and caustic black metal songs with lyrics focusing on isolation, despair, hatred, and one's personal celebration of introversion.












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Beatles' John Lennon's Letters And Drawings To Be Turned Into A Book

John Lennon's drawings and letters are scheduled to be turned into a published book. Yoko Ono has sold the rights to a collection of Lennon's letters and drawings, per a Rolling Stone report. The book will include over 150 letters, written throughout of Lennon's life to record companies, newspapers and a variety of drawings. The as-yet-untitled collection is set to be released in October to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Beatles debut single 'Love Me Do'.

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Jukebox Envy

My DJ friend Shawn out of Waterloo, Iowa has told me about his great find, and I would agree. I have been wanting a jukebox of my own (hint hint) for many, many years. Now I am jealous. Take a gander at Shawn's new toy! He also told me of a collection of old jazz LPs (most on Bluenote), so watch eBay for some treasures heading our way!

Check out more pics of this amazing machine at Shawn's Blog

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‘The Eight Track Museum’ to open in Dallas

Goldmine magazine has a great write up about the old 8-tracks we used to know. I actually still have a couple hundred hidden away somewhere, we recently moved and I am sure the boxes are somewhere! :O)

Read more: Eight track museum to open in Los Angeles | Goldmine Magazine

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Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello talks about new covers album and tour stop in Stroudsburg, Pa.

Not many bands can get away with covering the "iCarly" theme song and still be considered punk -- unless you're Less Than Jake.

It's one of 16 commercial jingles and TV theme songs that make up the band's new album, "TV/EP," which also includes the "Diff'rent Strokes," Toys R Us and FreeCreditReport.com themes.

Read more  HERE

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The Wall Street Journal has a fantastic write up about Wanda Jackson

The Queen of Rockabilly Returns

Wanda Jackson, a '50s music pioneer, gets a boost from rocker Jack White; covering Amy Winehouse.

WSJ Article

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Did You Know?

Dead fairy found at yard sale

A couple of months ago, I stopped in at a yard sale and came across this strange little creature. The apparent mummified corpse of a fairy being - or some kind of demon offspring (?) - this specimen is surreal to be around. My cat continually tries to get at the diminutive cadaver through the jar; and the thing just generally unnerves people whom have been in its admittedly creepy presence. It does have a definite Black Magick, otherworldly, Voodoo feel about it. In my opinion, the faint of heart are better off not having this thing around them.

This was apparently the write up, seems a bit creepy to me, but, hey, if it sold and the guy made a few bucks, I give him an A for effort.  Check out the 10 weirdest eBay auctions HERE

Weird eBay Auctions


Born on this day in 1939, DJ Wolfman Jack. Master of ceremonies for the rock 'n' roll generation of the '60s on radio, and later on television during the '70s. Died of a heart attack 1/7/95.




Hank Ballard and the Midnighters were the first group to place three records on The Billboard Hot 100 at the same time - "Finger Poppin' Time", "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" and "The Twist" in mid-July, 1960.

The shortest record to reach the Billboard Top 40 was "Some Kind-A Earthquake" by Duane Eddy. This seldom heard instrumental, which is only one minute, seventeen seconds long, reached #37 in 1959

In 1957 - Singer Patsy Cline appeared on Arthur Godfrey's nighttime TV show. She performed "Walking After Midnight."

The Byrds recorded "Mr. Tambourine Man" in 1965.

In 1968, Jimi Hendrix recorded his epic version of the Bob Dylan song "All Along the Watchtower" at Olympic Studios in London. Rolling Stone Brain Jones and Dave Mason from Traffic both played on the session.




In 1978, the soundtrack album 'Saturday Night Fever' started a 24 week run at No.1 on the US album charts, it went on to sell over 30 million copies world wide, making it the best selling soundtrack album of all time.

In 1982, B.B. King donated his entire record collection of over 20,000 discs to Mississippi University's centre for the Study of Southern Culture,

In 1987, The Coasters, became the first vocal group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And in 1997, 'Colonel' Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager and agent died of a stroke in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 87. Born Andreas van Kuijk, a Dutch immigrant who changed his name as soon as he arrived in the US, Parker never applied for a green card and feared deportation his entire life. He briefly managed country singers Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow.