Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes


LEGACY RECORDINGS RELEASING HEART'S FANATIC

Fanatic, Heart's 14th studio album, arrives Tuesday, October 2 (a day late, sorry folks!). The group's second full-length studio album for Legacy, Fanatic premieres 10 new essential performances from sisters Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson on songs including "Fanatic," "Dear Old America," "Walkin' Good" (featuring Sarah McLachlan), "Skin and Bones," "Million Miles," "Pennsylvania," "Mashallah," "Rock Deep (Vancouver)," "59 Crunch," and "Corduroy Road."

The first album of new music from Ann and Nancy Wilson since 2010's Red Velvet Car had its Top 10 debut in 2010,Fanatic was recorded in hotel rooms and studios up and down the West Coast, with Grammy-winning producer Ben Mink back at the helm with the Wilson sisters drawing from their own lives and personal experiences as inspiration for their music. "Dear Old America" comes from memories of a military household and is written from the point of view of their father, a Marine Corps officer, returning from war ("When I get home, I'm going to own this town/Shine this medal/Wear that crown…."); "Rock Deep (Vancouver)" harkens back to the city where Dreamboat Annie was written; and "Walkin' Good" (a duet with Vancouver resident Sarah McLachlan) captures the joy of finding new life in a new love.

The title song is a celebration of the Wilson's life spirit: Ann and Nancy are fanatics about love, art, truth, and the belief that they can do anything together they set their minds to. Fans looking for a first taste of Fanatic can check out the title track on YouTube.

"What a crazy year we are having," said Ann Wilson. "Our box set, Strange Euphoria, and our book, Kicking and Dreaming, each tell the story of our lives so far, personally and musically. Our new album, Fanatic, tells our story as it is now and brings it all up-to-the-minute. What a thrill to have worked with both Charles Cross and Ben Mink respectively on these, and of course to touch the musical magic Nancy and I have always shared together. Anybody want to RAWK??"

Released in 2010, Fanatic's predecessor, Red Velvet Car (the first new studio album in six years from the groundbreaking Seattle-based band) entered the Billboard 200 best-selling album charts at #10, becoming the seventh Top 10 album of Heart's career. Heart's critically-acclaimed first album for Legacy Recordings marked the return of Heart to the Sony Music Entertainment family, reaching #1 in sales on Amazon.com on Sunday, September 5.

On June 5, Epic Records/Legacy Recordings released Strange Euphoria, the first definitive career-spanning, multi-label boxed set retrospective chronicling the seminal American rock band Heart, personally curated by Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson.

A carefully-considered anthology of biggest hits and best-loved songs set alongside deep catalog treasures, rarities, demos and live performances, Strange Euphoria includes three compact discs and one DVD in a deluxe box.

Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson, first showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the '70s with hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," "Barracuda," "Straight On," "Even It Up," "Kick It Out" and many more. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments, making them the first women in rock to do so. Heart continued topping the charts through the '80s and into the '90s with huge hits like "These Dreams," "Alone," "Never," and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters' enormous talents as both musicians and singers. Along the way, Heart sold more than 35 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and profoundly influenced the sound and direction of American rock music while inspiring women (and guys too!) around the world to rock out in bands of their own.

Heart were 2008 recipients of VH1 Rock Honors, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northwest Grammy Foundation, and received ASCAP's award for Excellence in Songwriting in 2009.

What's made Heart endure across four decades and 14 studio albums, from Dreamboat Annie (1976) through 2012's Strange Euphoria and Fanatic is simply the quality of the music and the Wilsons' deep connection to the emotions, psyches and experiences of their fans.

Heart will be touring throughout the summer and fall (June 29-November 17). Alejandro Escovedo and Shawn Colvin will be supporting in October and November respectively. This fall , Ann and Nancy Wilson will be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (followed by a live concert webcast).

HEART - FANATIC



=============





























=============

from our friends at www.vinylcollective.com

Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) — “Former Lives” pre-order

Other cities, other plans; different friends, different dreams; former loves, former lives. After fifteen years in Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Gibbard didn't make his first solo album in search of a new beginning; instead, it closes a door. "These songs span eight years, three relationships, living in two different places, drinking then not drinking" he says of the dozen tracks that comprise former lives. "They're a side story, not a new chapter." Still, what we keep for ourselves is often just as interesting as what we choose to share. Former lives is a gorgeous shadow anthology, the exuberant sound of one of our best songwriters finding his voice by experimenting with those of others.

Order HERE





=============

articles of interest:


Vinyl and Ebay: A Fascinating Relationship










=============

Ash Set to Release Special Edition Triple-Vinyl Package this November

=============

Some vinyl album fans say it's all about sound quality, but for others, it's the artwork

=============

Mayer Hawthorne Gains Daryl Hall's Praise, Shares Vinyl Collection Favorites

=============

Underoath Disbanding, Announces Farewell Tour And Anthology Album

=============

Third Man Records Announces Building Expansion and Upgrades, October Shows Feat. The Shins, The Kills, Seasick Steve, Olivia Wyatt and More

=============

Archaeologists uncover the "lost" second album from C86 band The Servants

=============

Bullet Tooth Founder Josh Grabelle on Getting Back to What He Loves After Trustkill Records (EXCLUSIVE)

=============

Mastering Engineer Jon Astley on The Who 14 LP Box Set Coming From MCA

 

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 1, 2012

DEAR JERRY: In a box of miscellaneous records I found at a flea market is an unusual 78.

All it has for a title is "CNA," and that's it. No subtitle. No explanation. No clue. And I can't play 78s.

Under "CNA" is "Robert Lee McCoy, Blues Singer with Piano, Guitar, and Harmonica." The number (Bluebird 7440) makes it a 1930s issue.

The label on the other side is badly torn, and cannot be read.

My searching indicates CNA is mostly used for a Certified Nursing Assistant, an unlikely topic for a blues song.

Do you agree?
—Clark Warwick (via e-mail)




DEAR CLARK: Wholeheartedly, but it won't require the FBI or CIA to decode CNA.

Too bad you can't play 78 rpms, because listening to "CNA" would convince you it has nothing to do with health care workers.

Here are three lines that clearly identify what is an initialism for a legendary railroad:

My baby caught the Illinois Central, [and] changed over to the CNA Now she's gone, down that CNA railroad line You know that CNA will never be my friend

"CNA" is indeed by Robert Lee McCoy; however, this record is what is known as a split single, one with a totally different artist on each side.

The split single format has been around at least since 1900, and, like having a hole in the middle, is still in use by record companies today.

Just a few months ago, Rhino Records produced a single with "Respect" on both sides. Side One plays the original by Otis Redding, and Side Two has Aretha Franklin's famous version.

If the other label on your Bluebird disc were not damaged, you would know the flip is "Want to Woogie Some More," by Washboard Sam (nee Robert Brown).

Though released in 1938, playable copies, with undamaged labels on both sides, can often be found in online auctions, usually selling in the $100 range.

At the time of this recording, the Canadian National Railway Company, founded in 1918, was most often referred to as CNR, but CNA was also used. Since 1960, their abbreviation has been shortened to just CN.

The line is very much alive today, primarily hauling freight instead of passengers, and running coast (B.C.) to coast (N.S.) in Canada, and from the Northwest Territories to the Gulf of Mexico.



DEAR JERRY: I have a music loving friend who specializes in collecting obscure original versions of songs that later became big hits.

He just asked me if there is an earlier version of "Patches," one preceding Dickey Lee's 1962 hit.

I checked my "BMI Pop Hits (1940-1966)" book, and they show 1962 as the year Larry Kolber and Barry Mann wrote "Patches." So, it would have still been that same year even if someone else did record it first.

I told him I would look into it further, which means asking you for help.
—Sid Smotherman, Scottsbluff, Neb.




DEAR SID: Apparently one of the lesser-known originals, Jimmy Isle released "Patches," backed with "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey" (Everest 19383), 52 years ago this month. That is about two years before Dickey Lee's Top 10 smash — appropriately on Smash (S-1758).

In their Pop Record Reviews for the week of October 10, 1960, Billboard gave Jimmy Isle's "Patches" a three-star rating, meaning "Good Sales Potential," adding:

"Patches is a gal from Shantytown. It's a sad, melancholy tune, handled for okay results by Isle against nice guitar and chorus support."

As for the "BMI Pop Hits" book, it lists BMI member's songs according to when they became "Pop Hits," regardless of year written.

There is no connection to the Kolber-Mann song, but another "Patches," written by R. Dunbar and N. Johnson, provided hits for Clarence Carter (1970), Ray Griff (1970), and Jerry Reed (1981).



IZ ZAT SO? Jimmy Isle's "Patches" is what drew me to the Billboard Record Reviews, but that same week (Oct. 10, 1960) "Sheila," by Tommy Roe and the Satins (Judd 1022), also got three-stars and some positive comments:

"Roe has a good rockabilly quality, somewhat reminiscent of Buddy Holly. He handles this dedication to a chick well and has the support of a girl vocal group. Good sound."

Still, neither "Sheila" nor "Patches" clicked in 1960.

Nearly two years later (Sept. 1962), "Sheila" and "Patches" spent three weeks together in the Billboard Top 10.

This "Sheila" was a newly-recorded version by Tommy Roe (ABC-Paramount 10329) and this "Patches" is by Dickey Lee. "Sheila" peaked at No. 1 while "Patches" stalled at No. 6.


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 2012 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Exclusive Permission