Monday, September 12, 2011

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

the hollywoodreporter.com has a very detailed look at what 9/11 did, not only to music, but people's lives as well:

9/11 Remembrance: How the Music Industry Was Impacted

by Shirley Halperin, Ed Christman

Songs were banned, albums rejiggered and tours postponed, but musicians also banded together, writing inspirational songs and raising over $170 million in the weeks after the terrorist attacks.


Like nearly all forms of entertainment, the music industry both felt the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and made its own.

September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday, the day when music stores typically receive new releases, and several big titles were on deck, including Jay-Z’s The Blueprint. The week after the terrorist attacks, music sales dropped 5%, while the New York metropolitan area suffered a 16.2% decline, according to Nielsen SoundScan (worth noting: six weeks earlier, N Sync's Celebrity album sold a staggering 1.8 million units its first week out). But soon thereafter, music would play an important role in the process of grieving and healing and the eventual return to normalcy.

Read the rest at hollywoodreporter.com






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Leslie West Album with Slash, Zakk Wylde, Billy Gibbons out September 19

Andrew Vaughan

Legendary guitarist and Mountain founder Leslie West will release Unusual Suspects on Monday, September 19. It’s his first album since 2006’s Blue Me.

Unusual Suspects features West alongside some of the world’s finest guitar players including Slash, blues-rock guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa of Black Label Society, ex-Ozzy guitarist and Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and Toto’s Steve Lukather.

“These guys don’t just show up to play on everybody’s albums,” said West.

Read more at our friends at Gibson.com





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Julian Lennon To Release Sixth Album On October 3

Julian Lennon is scheduled to release his first album in 13 years this October 3.    'Everything Changes,' is a 12 effort and his first since 1998's 'Photograph Smile'.  The first single from the album, produced by Lennon and Grant Ransom, is called 'Lookin' 4 Luv' and is out now.

In his 13 years away from the music industry, Lennon, the son of Cynthia and John Lennon, has had his photography work exhibited across the world. He had also worked with U2 in his capacity as a photographer. He has also helmed the eco-charity, the White Feather Foundation. Of recording an album after such a long gap, Lennon said:

I get twitchy if I don't pick up a guitar or sit at the piano every now and then... I have to do it; I don't have a choice.

The tracklist:

'Everything Changes'
'Lookin' 4 Luv'
'Hold On'
'Touch The Sky'
'Invisible'
'Just for You'
'Always'
'Disconnected'
'Never Let You Go'
'Guess It Was Me'
'Don't Wake Me Up'
'Beautiful'

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Think Fast! Records Announce 10th Anniversary Release


Press Release:

It's been exactly 10 years since Think Fast! Records was born. We've come a long way since handcut layouts from Kinko's and have had the honor of working with some of our favorite bands of all time. To tell us 10 years ago that we'd be working with bands like Sick of it All and Ignite, we probably wouldn't have believed you. But here we are. Despite the ever-declining music industry and despite the worst economy our generation has ever seen, we're still here weathering the storm.

To celebrate 10 years, we've compiled our first 10" vinyl record (picture disc), complete with 10 exclusive songs and artwork created by celebrated punk/hardcore artist, Ryan Eyestone. We wish we could fit songs from every band we've ever worked with, but that would be nearly impossible. Appropriately titled "10 Years of Think Fast! Records", here's the track listing below.

1. Ambitions - "Lines I've Drawn" (new)
2. This Is Hell - "Rat Race" (new)
3. Bullet Treatment - "Devils" (new)
4. Mountain Man - "Grief" (new)
5. Have Heart - "Dig Somewhere Else" (never been released on vinyl)
6. The Geeks - "I Still Believe" (new)
7. No Turning Back - "Bitter Forever" (new)
8. Esteem - "Taken For All I Had" (never been released on vinyl)
9. Outbreak - "Fuck Armageddon...This Is Hell" (new, Bad Religion cover)
10. Far From Finished - "Treasure In The Trash" (new)

The album will be released on 10" vinyl and digital formats on November 22, 2011. All vinyl orders will come with a digital download coupon and exclusive poster featuring the album's artwork. Look out for pre-orders in the very near future from the Think Fast! website, as well as updates on exclusive streams.

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in nz, a look at some really creative album cover art!

Hobbits, heavy metal and an artist

By Phillipa Yalden

An apocalyptic explosion of pyramids with the hint of heavy metal is just what Nick Keller intended for the album cover of Beastwars.

The design that won Nick Keller the ‘Best Album Cover’ award at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

The former Tauranga Boys’ College student has just won ‘Best Album Cover’ at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards with an imaginative original design for Wellington based band Beastwars.

This 28-year-old has one creative mind, producing the cover from a brief provided by the heavy metal band.

“I really loved the idea – the band wanted it to show a really apocalyptic event,” says Nick.

“I used a lot of symbolism and played with the scale and different levels of pyramids.”

Read more and see more cover art at sunlive.co.nz

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this from our friends at vinylcollective.com

Top 10 Albums – September 5

Here are the Top 10 Albums at Shop Radio Cast for the week of August 30 – September 5, 2011:

1. Thrice – Major/Minor
2. Saves The Day – Daybreak LP
3. The Horrible Crowes – Elsie
4. Face To Face – Laugh Now Laugh Later LP
5. Portugal The Man – It’s Complicated Being A Wizard LP
6. Blink 182 – Neighborhoods LP
7. Rise Against – Make It Stop (September’s Children) 7″
8. Nirvana – Nevermind 4XLP [Deluxe Edition]
9. The Postal Service – Give Up
10. Gregory Alan Isakov – That Sea, The Gambler LP

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and in music history for today:

In 1948, Elvis Presley's family moved to Memphis, TN.

In 1964, Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" entered Billboard's Hot 100, where it will reach the number one position just a few weeks later.

Also in 1964, the Supremes, the Shangri-La’s, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, the Ronettes, Millie Small, the Temptations, the Miracles and Little Anthony and the Imperials all appeared at the Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, New York. WOW, what a show!

In 1966, the Monkees television show premiereed on NBC. Producers Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson decided to emulate the zany, madcap humor of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night for the small screen. When they placed in ad in Variety for four Folk and Rock musicians to appear in a TV series, over 400 applied for the job, including Stephen Stills, John Sebastian, Harry Nilsson and Danny Hutton, but as it turned out, only one of the four winners, guitarist and songwriter Michael Nesmith, actually saw the ad. Micky Dolenz (who would play drums), Davy Jones (who would sing), and Peter Tork (bass) found out about the opportunity from other sources. Nesmith and Tork had experience in the Folk scene; Dolenz and Jones were primarily actors, although Nesmith and Jones had already made some obscure solo recordings. Some have claimed that Charles Manson also applied, but the truth is that he was in prison at the time and would not be paroled until March 21, 1967. my bad, on a previous music history post i had claimed he has audititoned. my bad....




"Josie and the Pussycats," the cartoon, debuted on CBS in 1970.

Also in 1970, $40,000 of Pink Floyd's equipment was stolen in New Orleans.

In 1972, Gary Glitter's instrumental, "Rock and Roll Part 2" reached its peak at number seven on the US chart. The song was a standard at sporting events for years until he was arrested on child pornography charges in England in 1997. Many pro sports organizations quit playing the song after a technician fixing Glitter's computer found indecent images of young children on his hard drive.   pig, i hate the song anyway.....

One of the most iconic Pink Floyd LPs of all time 'Wish You Were Here,' was released on this date in 1975

Wish You Were Here is the second Pink Floyd album to use a conceptual theme written entirely by Waters, and echoes his feeling at the time that the camaraderie that had served the band previously, was largely absent. The album begins with an eight minute thirty seconds instrumental preamble, before segueing into the lyrics for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". "Shine On" is a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett, whose drug-induced breakdown had forced him to leave the band several years before. Barrett is fondly recalled with lines such as "Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun" and "You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon."

The album is also a critique of the music business; "Shine On" fades seamlessly into "Welcome to the Machine", which begins with the opening of a door—described by Waters as a symbol of musical discovery and progress betrayed by a music industry more interested in greed and success. The song ends with sounds from a party, epitomising "the lack of contact and real feelings between people". Similarly, "Have a Cigar" scorns record industry "fatcats", its lyrics containing well-used clichés such as "can hardly count", "they call it riding the gravy train", and "by the way, which one's Pink?"—a question actually asked of the band on at least one occasion. "Wish You Were Here" contains lyrics which relate not only to Barrett's condition, but also to the dichotomy of Waters' character, as an idealist, and a domineering personality. The album closes with a reprise of "Shine On", and further instrumental excursions.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Roger Waters

Side one
1. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts I–V)
2. "Welcome to the Machine"

Side two
1. "Have a Cigar"
2. "Wish You Were Here"
3. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts VI–IX)



In 1980, an in-depth report on the death of Elvis Presley aired on ABC-TV’s "20/20". It raised so many unanswered questions that the official case concerning Elvis’ death was reopened.

In 1986, John McGeoch of Public Images Ltd was hit with a two-litre wine bottle while performing in Vienna, Austria. He required 40 stitches in his face.

In 1987, Michael Jackson's "Bad" debuts at #1 on the UK album chart just as he kicks off his first solo world tour in Yokohama, Japan. The sixteen month concert series, which includes an entourage of 250 people, will play before a total audience of 4.4 million and take in over $125 million.

Morrissey left The Smiths for a solo career in 1987.

In 1990, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks announced they would leave Fleetwood Mac at the end of their current tour.

In 1991, although Hall and Oates' career was on the down swing in The United States, the pair played to a sold out show at the Mexico National Auditorium in Mexico. Their single "So Close" had made it to number eleven in the fall of 1990. Although their more recent efforts haven't done as well as their earlier material, Hall and Oates are still the best selling Rock duo of all time.

In 1997, founder of the Polar Music record label, songwriter, producer and ABBA’s manager Stig Anderson died of a heart attack. Anderson co-wrote some of ABBA’s biggest hits, such as “Waterloo,” “Mamma Mia” and :Fernando.” His funeral was broadcast live on Swedish television – an honor otherwise only reserved for distinguished statesmen or royalty.

In 2000, the family of Jimi Hendrix released 56 rare tracks in a 4-CD boxed set, "The Jimi Hendrix Experience."

In 2002, the house that Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) lived in as a child, from 11-15, was sold on eBay for $210,000. The house had been valued at $52,660 in 2000.


In 2003, the Beatles sued Apple (the computer maker) saying that their company logo infringed on that for the Apple record label. not sure of the outcome, but sheeesh, it's a freakin' apple!

In 2003, Johnny Cash, "The Man in Black" who became a towering figure in American music with such hits as "Folsom Prison Blues", "I Walk the Line", and "A Boy Named Sue", died at the age of 71. During his career, Cash won 11 Grammys, most recently in 2003, when "Give My Love To Rose" earned him honors as Best Male Country Vocal Performance. He also notched fourteen number 1 Country music hits. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Two of his most popular albums were recorded live at Folsom Prison in 1968 and at San Quentin in 1969. Many people wrongly thought he had served prison time himself. He never did, although he did spend the odd night in jail during his youth and battled addictions to pills on and off throughout his life.



In 2004, a benefit tribute to the Ramones was held in Hollywood with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins and X.

In 2006, the iTunes Music Store reached 1.5 billion songs and 45 million videos sold.

In 2007, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin announced they would reform for a star-studded tribute concert in London. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones would play at a show to remember the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The place of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980, would be taken by his son Jason. The one-off concert, the trio's first performance for 19 years, would take place at the O2 arena in London on 26 November with tickets costing £125. All profits from the show would go towards scholarships in Ertegun's name.

In 2008, David Gilmour announced that despite appearing onstage with Roger Waters in London in 2005, there will be no Pink Floyd reunion in the near future. "It isn't to do with animosity or anything like that. It's just that I've done that. I've been there, I've done it."

In 2009, Steve Jobs announced that Apple's iTunes had 88% of the legal U.S. music download market.

birthdays today include (among others) country icon George Jones (80), Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) (37), Tony Stevens (Foghat, Savoy Brown) (62), Neil Peart (Rush) (59), Gerry Beckley (America) (59), Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motorhead) (55), Larry LaLonde (Primus) (43) and Ben Folds (45)

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