Alex Steinweiss Creator Of Album Covers, Dies at 94
Alex Steinweiss, an art director and graphic designer who brought custom artwork to record album covers and invented the first packaging for long-playing records, died last Sunday in Sarasota, Fla. He was 94.
In 1939, Alex Steinweiss was the first art director for Columbia Records, where he introduced a wider application of album covers and cover art. He pitched an idea: Why not replace the standard plain brown wrapper with an eye-catching illustration? The company took a chance, and within months its record sales increased by over 800 per cent. His covers for Columbia combining bold typography with modern, elegant illustrations ”took the industry by storm" and revolutionized the way records were sold.
Steinweiss was active in record cover design from 1939 until 1973, when he semi-retired to devote himself to painting. By his own admission, he has designed roughly 2500 covers.
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this amazes me, the fact that this writer likens this 'new' music service to listening to vinyl - hey, it's digital music, how can that compare? anyway, read on, it is the world we live in and I can respect his opinion (although I will die clutching my vinyl records!)
Spotify: The New Way to Enjoy Vinyl (Or the Closest Thing to It)
by Jorge Escobar
As many people can attest to, specially if you are a Generation X’er, I used to buy vinyl records when I was a teenager. Yes, they were fragile, could get scratched easily and if you played them too many times, they would become unusable.
But for me, vinyls represent the long form of an artist’s vision. You would listen to each side in its entirety, just like reading a novel, each song had a place in the story, like a chapter. I would specially like to hear my albums late at night, when everyone was asleep, using a pair of huge leather headphones my dad used to own. I would close my eyes and really listen to the music.
After years of licensing battles, Spotify, a music service that comes from London and has been available there for a long time, finally launched this week in the U.S. After struggling a bit for an invitation, I was finally let in. And all I can say is that I was like a child again, seeing all my vinyl records in front of me, but this time in digital format.
Read the rest of this interesting post at jungleg.com
want even more info, the wall street journal has some more info, though they don't compare it to listening to vinyl...
New Way to Stream Music Crosses the Pond
online.wsj.com
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this article caught my eye, i haven't heard the word gramophone in quite some time. Yet, in india, it is quite popular, read on:
Bring on the music
K. Pradeep
The gramophone record makes a comeback in Malayalam with ‘Timeless Melodies Yesudas' that has eight recent film songs by the singer
Just when the gramophone record seemed to have lost its battle against time and innovations like the audiocassette and compact discs it has made a welcome comeback. There is a romance in the gramophone, something you still cannot associate with the new gadgets.
Satyam Audios has marked the return of the gramophone record in Malayalam with a Long Play (LP) record titled ‘Timeless Melodies Yesudas' that incorporates eight recent film songs by the singer.
History
The first ever `native' recording in India, done professionally by the engineers of the Gramophone Company, England, one of the two major companies in this field during the acoustic era, was in 1902. Two little ‘dancing girls', Soshi Mukhi and Fani Bala, who were associated with the Classic Theatre, were the first Indians to have their voices recorded. Gauhar Jan, an artiste of repute, called the Gramophone Girl and in some of the later records described as the Dancing Girl of Calcutta is considered the first singer to be recorded.
Read the rest at thehindu.com
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Metric Releasing Remix Album, 'Fantasies Flashbacks,' In October
Metric put together a limited deluxe version of Fantasies Flashbacks that features 10 7" vinyl singles, digital download codes, and much more. All of the proceeds from the deluxe box set will be donated to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health.
•10 x 7" vinyl singles, each containing an original song from Fantasies and the associated winning remix from the Indaba Music contest;
•A PlayButton digital music player pre-loaded with (the same) 10 winning remixes (one of the first new notable commercial releases available on PlayButton);
•A digital download code redeemable for all music from the 7" singles (20 tracks including the original studio album version of Fantasies), plus an additional 11 of the band's favorite remixes. In total this is 31 songs or over 80 minutes of music;
•Two 6" x 6", two-sided color inserts featuring fan-created artwork/imagery, track listing, credits and information about the genesis of the remix album and the charitable tie-in with CAMH;
•A limited edition 18" x 24" glossy Metric poster
•A custom box housing everything listed above.
Fantasies Flashbacks is being released on Oct. 11 via Mom + Pop Music Co.
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Lady Antebellum Reveals Cover Art For New Album
Lady A penned 10 of the 12 tracks on the album, including their fastest rising and current Top 10 single, "Just A Kiss." Collaborating again with veteran producer Paul Worley, Lady A also return as co-producers.
"We're definitely more in tune with each other musically and personally than ever," said Dave. "It's an exciting place to be. This album was created from the ground up—we are writing these songs, playing these instruments and creating these arrangements. With Own The Night, more than ever before, I think we share a real feeling of accomplishment both as a band and as friends.”
"Our only hope and expectation for this record is that it will build on the first two," adds Charles. "At the end of the day, we just want our fans to be able to say that we continue to give them solid albums with solid songs they can enjoy from start to finish."
Own The Night track listing:
1. We Owned The Night
2. Just A Kiss
3. Dancin’ Away With My Heart
4. Friday Night
5. When You Were Mine
6. Cold As Stone
7. Singing Me Home
8. Wanted You More
9. As You Turn Away
10. Love I’ve Found In You
11. Somewhere Love Remains
12. Heart Of The World
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i love heavy metal cover art!
Midnight Odyssey Reveals New Album "Funerals From The Astral Sphere" Artwork
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NIGHTRAGE: 'Insidious' Cover Art Unveiled
The "Insidious" cover art was created by Gustavo Sazes (MORBID ANGEL, ARCH ENEMY, FIREWIND, SONIC SYNDICATE, GOD FORBID) of Abstrata Art and cane be seen below.
Read the rest at Blabbermouth
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Man Addicted to Heavy Metal
Swedish government to provide income support to help compulsive rock fan go to concerts
In a pretty extraordinary story, The Local reports that 42 year old Roger Tullgren has been medically diagnosed with a non-substance compulsive disorder that means his addiction to heavy metal often impacts on his social and working life.
Three psychologists have now diagnosed the condition, which means that Tullgren is entitled to state benefits - including income support - so that he can attend concerts and indulge other parts of the addiction.
Read the rest of the story at planetrock.com
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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 7/11 - 7/17, 2011
Top 25 Vinyl:
1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
2. Diarrhea Planet - Yama-Uba 7"
3. Washed Out - Within & Without
4. JEFF The Brotherhood - We Are The Champions
5. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
6. Ben Harper - Give Till It's Gone
7. Les Demoniaques - Teenage Lust 7"
8. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
9. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
10. Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer
11. Radiohead - Little By Little remix 12"
12. KORT - Invariable Heartache
13. Paperhead - Focus In On The Looking Glass
14. Natural Child - 1971
15. Natural Child - White Man's Burden 7"
16. Foster The People - Torches
17. The Head & The Heart - The Head & The Heart
18. Yes - Fly From Here
19. Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
20. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
21. Son Lux - We Are Rising
22. Kings Of Leon - Holy Roller Novocain 10"
23. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
24. Charles Bradley - No Time For Dreaming
25. The Black Keys - The Big Come Up
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USA
Albums:
1. Beyonce :4
2. Big Sean :Finally Famous
3. Selena Gomez & The Scene :When The Sun Goes Down
4. Jill Scott :The Light Of The Sun
5. Jason Aldean :My Kinda Party
6. David Cook :This Loud Morning
7. Jackie Evancho :Dream With Me
8. Adele :21
9. Bad Meets Evil :Hell The Sequel
10. Scott McCreery :American Idol Season 10
Singles:
1. LMFAO :Party Rock Anthem
2. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
3. Adele :Rolling In The Deep
4. Katy Perry :Last Friday Night
5. Nicki Minaj :Super Bass
6. Lady Gaga :The Edge Of Glory
7. Katy Perry feat. Kanye West :E.T.
8. Lil Wayne :How To Love
9. One Republic :Good Life
10. Hot Chelle Rae :Tonight Tonight
UK
Albums:
1. Adele :21
2. Beyonce :4
3. Adele :19
4. Lady Gaga :Born This Way
5. The Horrors :Skying
6. Caro Emerald :Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor
7. Bruno Mars :Doo Wops and Hooligans
8. Foo Fighters :Wasting Light
9. Take That :Progress
10. Rihanna :Loud
Singles:
1. The Wanted :Glad You Came
2. DJ Fresh :Louder
3. Ed Sheeran :The A Team
4. Beyonce :Best Thing I Never Had
5. Loick Essien :How We Roll
6. Jason Derulo :Don't Wanna Go Home
7. Example :Changed The Way You Kiss Me
8. Calvin Harris :Bounce
9. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer :Give Me Everything
10. Katy Perry :Last Friday Night
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and in music history for today:
Billboard's first Music Popularity Chart was published in 1940. The magazine had previously printed best-seller lists submitted by the individual record companies, but the new chart combined the top sellers from all major labels. Their first number one song was "I'll Never Smile Again" by Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
In 1946, 13 year old Petula Clark made her first appearance on British TV on a BBC variety show called Cabaret Cartoons, which would lead to her being signed to host her own afternoon series titled simply Petula Clark.
In 1954, Elvis Presley performed on one what was probably the smallest stage of his career when he appeared on the back of a flatbed truck outside a Memphis drugstore for its grand opening. Elvis was then a member of The Blue Moon Boys trio with Bill Black and Scotty Moore, who took their name from a song they had recorded just two weeks previously, "Blue Moon of Kentucky".
In 1963, Jan and Dean's "Surf City" tops Billboard's singles chart just two weeks after its release. The pair had recorded the song in a converted garage underneath their apartment in Bel Air, California.
Also in 1963, Lesley Gore released "Judy's Turn To Cry", the follow up to her number one hit, "It's My Party". The record was a continuation of the original story and it too became a Top 5 hit in the US.
The Lovin' Spoonful released their first record, "Do You Believe in Magic" in 1965. It will reach #9 on the US Pop chart.
Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" was released by Columbia Records in 1965. It turns out to be his biggest hit ever, climbing to number two in the US and number four in the UK.
In 1968, Iron Butterfly's classic album, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" entered Billboard's Hot 200 chart at #117. It was the band's second LP and contained the 17 minute title track that filled the entire second side of the disc. A shortened, single version of the song only made it to number 30, but the album climbed to number 4 and went on to sell over four million copies in the US alone. A remastered edition was released by Rhino Records in 1995 that contains the single version as well as a live version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".
In 1969, Roy Hamilton, whose version of "Unchained Melody" was the best-selling R&B record of 1955, died of a heart attack at the age of 40. He also scored hits with "Don't Let Go" in 1958 and "You Can Have Her" in 1961.
In 1975, Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band opened their Born to Run tour in Providence, RI. It was Steve Van Zandt's first live performance with the band.
In 1976, the Buzzcocks made their live debut in Manchester, England.
In 1978, Steve Martin's novelty tune "King Tut" became a Top Ten hit in the US. Some of the musicians on the track were members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
In 1986, Santana celebrates their 20th anniversary at a concert in San Francisco that features a jam with all previous members of the band.
In 1991, EMF went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Unbelievable” it spent 14 weeks on the chart before reaching the top.
In 2000, the Evergreen Ballroom in Lacey, Washington was destroyed by a fire. During the ballroom's heyday in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, many of music's greats played there: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Duke Ellington, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner and Fats Domino. Glen Campbell had lived in the kitchen at the venue for a while before he became famous.
In 2009, Jackson Browne settled his lawsuit against US Senator John McCain and the Republican Party after his 1977 hit "Running On Empty" was used without permission in a 2008 McCain presidential campaign ad that aired on TV and the Internet. McCain and the Republican Party apologized for using the song in the ad and said that McCain himself "had no knowledge of, or involvement in, the creation or distribution of the video."
celebrating birthdays today are John Lodge (Moody Blues) (66), Paul Cook (Sex Pistols) (55), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave) (47), Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) (45), Brent Wilson (Panic at the Disco) (24) and the legend Carlos Santana (64) to name a few....
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