Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

I am often humbled by the internet, trying to keep up with all the vinyl releases out there an impossible task. I have been lucky enough to learn about many vinyl sites, retailers and record labels and have made many, many friends online whose products and releases are featured here at the CVR blog.  

That said, I have run across a new site that I found very compelling and caught my eye the moment I went to their site.  They are called Bomp Records and I ask you to visit their site and read more about the story and the products they offer.  I am not affiliated with them in any way, but their selection of music is as diverse as it is interesting.

The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres The Bomp roster has included artists such as The Modern Lovers, Iggy & The Stooges, Stiv Bators & The Dead Boys, 20/20, Shoes, Devo, The Weirdos, The Romantics, Spacemen 3, The Germs, SIN 34, Jeff Dahl, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Black Lips; just to name a few.  

Visit the site HERE

here is one sample of one of their products 

RADIO MOSCOW - Magical Dirt

With a powerful, crunching Sabbath-style chords and fiery solos that earn the right to be called Hendrixian, Iowa power trio Radio Moscow plants its flag firmly in the territory where psychedelic rock, cranked-up blues, and metal meet. The sound is unabashedly retro (specifically, FM radio from around 1973), so it’s easy to see how it caught the ear of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who produced its 2007 self-titled debut. Like the Keys, Radio Moscow updates an old-school style with pure passion and a refreshing lack of irony. – Christopher Bahn / The ONION (A.V. Club – Minneapolis)

THEIR NEW LP  IS AVAILABLE with two covers (blue or yellow) with two different starburst vinyl colors, and two color vinyl versions.

SHIPPING FIRST WEEK OF JUNE, ORDER NOW TO RESERVE YOUR COPY!

Pre-Order at the BompStore

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Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus! 

After a short run of albums that found Super Furry Animals exploring their slower, more ponderous side, Hey Venus! sees Wales's heady psychedelic explorers revisit the bright melodies and glammy bounce that powered earlier albums like 1999's Guerilla and their fondly remembered debut, Fuzzy Logic. While a vague sort of concept album, following the narrative of a character, Venus, as she moves from a small town to a great metropolis, Super Furries know enough about songcraft not to let the backstory overshadow the melodies. "Run-Away" comes on like Queen and the Beach Boys jamming on a Christmas Top of the Pops, "Neo Consumer" is a pile-up of infectious vocal melodies, singalong choruses, and electronic blips that stubbornly refuses to outstay its welcome, and as is customary these days, Bunf gets a chance on the microphone for the profoundly odd "Battersea Odyssey." And to play counter to all this cheer and exuberance, there’s a pair of late-doors slowies, "Suckors" and "Let the Wolves Howl at the Moon," that usher the album to a serene close. Eight albums in and we're still waiting for Super Furry Animals to deliver a dud album; at this rate, it's never going to happen.

Buy at RoughTrade

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Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lions Skull (2xLP)

This version of The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull 2XLP comes packaged in a BROWN faux leather cover-gatefold jacket that emulates a old bible. Inside this book is another Stoughton gatefold jacket. Black vinyl limited to 2500 copies.

*This is a pre-order item which will ship on or around June 9th 2014. If other in-stock items are part of the same order they will ship simultaneously with the pre-order item(s)

Pre-Order at SouthernLord


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from our friends at AudioFidelity

For Immediate Release

Disney’s TRON Original Motion Picture Soundtrack By Wendy Carlos To Be Released On Limited Edition 180g Translucent Blue Vinyl Double-LP

Camarillo, CA - Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity is proud to announce the release of Disney’s TRON Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The 1982 film score was composed, performed and produced by the pioneer electronic musician, Wendy Carlos.

The Audio Fidelity release will contain two 180g translucent blue vinyl records packaged in a distinctive gatefold jacket. The album includes colorful photos from the popular cult film and generous and informative liner notes written by the composer as well as music maven, Michael Fremer. The album was mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

Disney's 1982 video game crossover movie TRON was a notable landmark in the synthesis of electronic and traditional orchestral music. Carlos created a brilliant orchestral recording with symphonic backgrounds by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the UCLA Chorus which was later enhanced and upgraded with an electronic score. The result is an impressive soundscape that successfully and seamlessly fuses organic and electronic music.

The multi-Grammy award winning Wendy Carlos best-known for her popular “Switched on Bach,” series of albums also composed and performed on the soundtracks of two Stanley Kubrick cinema masterpieces, “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Shining.”

The TRON album includes two additional tracks (“Only Solutions” and the rock guitar-driven instrumental, “1990's Theme”) provided by Journey, one of America's best selling and most beloved bands.

Double LP on two 180g translucent blue vinyl records!  Gatefold package includes colorful photos and extensive liner notes!

Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio

For more info visit AudioFidelity

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new releases from our friends at MusicOnVinyl

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND - THAT'S IT

Preservation Hall Jazz Band's new album That's It! re-focuses on the group's mission: keeping alive the traditions of New Orleans jazz. While That's It! is their first ever album of all original compositions in the band's 50+ year history, PHJB manages to preserve the infectious joy of New Orleans' traditional music. The memories of Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, George Lewis and other New Orleans greats feel fresh and dynamic in these new tunes.

Co-produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket, the songs on the album by this heritage act from the Preservation Hall in the French Quarter of New Orleans stay true to the swinging blues and gospel-oriented traditions of New Orleans jazz. Though some traditional jazz purists may be surprised, the broader public might find this music engaging, enthralling and irresistibly danceable.

That's It! is an eclectic album that draws on the collective experience of players nurtured in the New Orleans tradition but determined to build something fresh and exciting on that foundation.

• 180 gram audiophile vinyl 
• Includes 60 x 90 cm poster
• Printed innersleeve

CASEY & THE PRESSURE GROUP - DUTCH RARE GROOVE VOL.3

Rare Groove enthusiasts worldwide will welcome the first ever vinyl release of this essential Casey & The Pressure Group compilation, sometimes referred to as the Dutch equivalent of Booker T & the MG's. A selection of tracks from the albums The Beast And I (1967), Powerhouse (1970), Lazybones (1970) and Memphis Revisited (1972) are featured here on 180 gram vinyl, including a download code.

Casey's influence on Dutch Pop music history cannot be underestimated, having featured on 2800 (!) recordings. Organist and keyboardist Cees Schrama rose to fame in the late Sixties as a session man for various Dutch international stars like Shocking Blue (that's his catchy piano-lick on the 1970 U.S. chart topper "Venus"), he played keys on several early Golden Earring tracks as well as Mouth & MacNeal's "How Do You Do", which reached the American top ten in 1972. The renowned Nederbeat movement, with acts like The Shoes, The Haigs, Sandy Coast, Earth & Fire and many others (check out the Dutch Rare Masters compilation on a double 10" [MOV10010]) all used Schrama as a session man.

He was also doing his own thing with his combo Casey & The Pressure Group. On his first solo-album The Beast And I (1967) he was billed as Crazy Casey, with The Golden Earrings as his session men. After many years in the Pop music business he slowly but surely managed to return to his first and greatest love: Jazz music! Dutch broadcasting company VARA asked Schrama to assemble a hip and swinging orchestra. Schrama came up with Casey & The Funky Eight, including the horns that also played on his Powerhouse (1970) album. Schrama also became the host of music RTV programme TROS Sesjun for 32 years, the longest running live Jazz show in the world!

• 180 gram audiophile vinyl
• Insert  with liner notes written by Sjeng Stokkink
• Includes download code
• Brand new compilation on vinyl!

THE COMMON LINNETS - THE COMMON LINNETS

The Common Linnets are Ilse Delange (World Of Hurt [MOVLP938,] After The Hurricane [MOVLP1011]) and Waylon. Together they found a new and exciting challenge in expressing their love for Country music. Their mission was writing real Country music, stripped of all unnecessary trappings, and inspired by such greats as Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash, but also West coast stars like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and James Taylor.

Writing brought Ilse and Waylon to the epicenter of Country music, Nashville, where both Ilse and Waylon feel very much at home. American songwriters Rob Crosby, Matthew Crosby and Jake Etheridge soon came on board, after which Dutch singer-songwriter Daniel Lohues and Dutch producer JB Meijers rounded out the team.

The album consists of thirteen emotional songs that deal with hurt and misfortune, but also with hope, comfort and love. In their purity and sincerity, expressed in heavenly harmonies.

The Common Linnets will represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest this year with the song "Calm After The Storm". This song has already reached the number 1 spot in the Dutch charts and gained popularity in various European countries like Sweden, Estonia, Norway among others, selling 10.000 copies in the process.

Check out www.thecommonlinnets.com for more information.

• 180 gram audiophile vinyl 
• Insert with lyrics sheet
• Brand new album!

ELLIOTT MURPHY - JUST A STORY FROM AMERICA

Just A Story From America is the fourth studio album from the American singer-songwriter Elliott Murphy. For Just A Story From America Elliott traveled to London to record with a band including Genesis drummer Phil Collins. Robin Geoffrey Cable produced and engineered the album. He also came up with the idea to work with Phil as he previously worked with him. It turned out a great match. A bluesy solo on "Rock Ballad" is played by former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor.

Elliott insisted on that David Bailey would shoot the cover shots. Bailey also had done great early Rolling Stones' covers.  Originally released in 1977, Just A Story From America is a new addition to the classic albums re-issued on 180 gram audiophile vinyl.

GURU - JAZZMATAZZ

Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1, originally released in 1993, is one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip hop production and rapping. Guru had a vision and brought together a diverse group of jazz cats both old and new school; Lonnie Liston Smith, Branford Marsalis, Ronny Jordan (check out his solo on the track "No Time To Play"), Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers and vocalists like Carleen Anderson, N'Dea Davenport (of the Brand New Heavies) and French rapper MC Solaar have cooperated on this classic album.

Jazzmatazz proved to be a highly influential album and a huge commercial success.  On 180 gram audiophile vinyl

WILSON PICKETT - IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

Wilson Pickett's first album on Atlantic (1965) includes singles from as far back as 1962. Three of these tracks were actually issued as singles by The Falcons (for whom Pickett sang lead) before he started his solo career; others were issued as singles before Pickett broke through as a national star with the title track. The all-time classic "In The Midnight Hour" was composed by Pickett and Steve Cropper at the historic Lorraine Motel in Memphis where Martin Luther King, Jr. would later be killed. The song reached #1 on the R&B charts.

The album includes other surefire hits such as "Come Home Baby", "Don't Fight It," which reached the R&B Top Ten in late 1965; "I'm Gonna Cry," a 1964 single Pickett wrote with fellow soul legend Don Covay; and "I Found a Love," a Falcons single that made the R&B Top Ten in 1962. The record features the first recordings he made with the Stax rhythm section in Memphis, a combination that would yield much fine soul music throughout the rest of the '60s.  On 180 gram audiophile vinyl


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Carey's Cold Spring (Pre-order) - Frog Eyes

AVAILABLE ON LIMITED EDITION PURPLE VINYL W/ DOWNLOAD CARD INCLUDED OR CD ON JUNE 17, 2014

VINYL BOX - includes limited edition purple vinyl + 'Clouds of Evil' book + signed limited run poster + t-shirt

Paper Bag Records will release Frog Eyes' Carey’s Cold Spring on vinyl and compact disc worldwide on June 17th. The label will also be releasing Carey Mercer’s book called Clouds of Evil, a collection of essays compiled for his son Ivan. Essay titles include: A Story about the Time I Broke Up Wolf Parade, a Popular Independent Rock Band, by Starring in Their music Video and accepting One Thousand of Their Dollars and a Few recollections of the Time my Band Frog eyes Went to Moscow.

Just two days after Carey Mercer completed the final mixes for the he received a call from his doctor telling him that he had throat cancer. He had been working on the album since 2010 and chose to self-release the record through Bandcamp.

News like this has a way of understandably overshadowing the music itself, and, thankfully, Mercer's cancer seems to be departed, leaving us the opportunity to appreciate the record without such a dire context. The joy here is tripled: he's not going to die, and, as a bonus, the record is awesome. And these victories are made even sweeter with the addition of tour dates.

Mercer explains that Carey’s Cold Spring is not only built from personal experiences but also from what he saw over the last three years of recording: riots, storms, mass protests, the dissolution of any collective faith in our political and economic institutions. But it's not all doom and gloom: He describes the record's duality: “deeply fearful, almost paranoid, the sound of a person grinding his or her teeth in the night. But just a part of it. It’s also the sound of the birds in the morning, I hope”.

Pre-Order HERE

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WHY? - Ezra Benus Flexi-Disc

A few months ago WHY? cyber-stalked their fans, writing various "theme songs" informed by fan's social media accounts. These songs were released on the Golden Tickets EP, which itself contained one last golden ticket... And a promise that WHY? would compose a song for and about the winner of that golden ticket.

The winner of that final Golden Ticket is a gentleman by the name of Ezra Benus. WHY?'s ode to Ezra is one of the most fucked up songs in the band's catalog, and is now available exclusively on this limited edition flexi disc.

Flexis are limited to just 525 hand-numbered copies, and include an instant digital download in both WAV and MP3. This track will never be released on any other format, and digital will not be available apart from the flexi (no iTunes, Spotify, etc.). So get it now, or you'll never hear this craziness!

Fewer than 250 copies are currently available, so don't delay!

Available from JoyfulNoiseRecordings

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from our friends at SlyVinyl (look for their feed in the left margin!)

an album to buy, just for the cover art!

Earthless meets Heavy Blanket - In a Dutch Haze // Limited to 300 Purple Sky 2 LP

Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Reissue Limited to 500 Transparent Red LPs

Mikal Cronin / Wand Lamc #11 // Limited to 500 Milky Clear with Aqua Blue Swamp Green Splatter Vinyl 7"











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cooler than cool article!

Vinyl Record Motivation An On Going Investigation/








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Jokes On Wax: Inside Comedy's Vinyl Resurgence







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Record Collections of Vinyl Connoisseurs Around the World







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Cause For Celebration: The Iconic Blue Note Records At 75








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album cover art of the day:

Lyric Video For New Track FBS Available From Goatwhore






















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album cover art of the day, part two:

Hard Girls Play New Song "The Chord" For Punks In Vegas

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 26, 2014


DEAR JERRY: I have the same question about three different records in my collection: "When I Was 15" by Mary Sneed (Capitol 5291); "I Still Care" by Miss Frankie Nolan (ABC-Paramount 10231); and "Ya Gotta Take a Chance" by the Bonnets (Unical 3010).

I think each of these is by a more familiar artist who's using a pseudonym, and that Mary Sneed is actually Carole King, Miss Frankie Nolan is Frankie Valli, and the Bonnets are the Delrons.

I would appreciate knowing your thoughts on this matter.
—Katsuhiro Ohishi, Fujieda, Japan

DEAR KATSUHIRO: I don't believe any of these three are pseudonyms for who you think they are, though their real names may differ from what's on the record labels, and they may have even recorded under another name along the way.

Still, there is a direct connection between two of these and the artists you suspect they really are.

The Capitol single is by Mary Sneed; however, "When I Was 15" was written by Carole King and her then-husband, Gerry Goffin.

Miss Frankie Nolan is indeed a female, but the backing vocals on her ABC-Paramount single are by Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. I know, they're both named Frankie, and Mr. Valli often sings in falsetto.

I find no connection between the Bonnets and the Delrons, with or without Reparata.


DEAR JERRY: I can't remember the title or artist of a soul tune from the 1960s, but am hopeful you will know it.

This song is by a male singer who honors several of the top R&B performers of the '60s.

He not only mentions each of them by name but attempts a brief impersonation of each man's vocal style.

The tune I have in mind is NOT "Sweet Soul Music," by Arthur Conley, though they both involve a similar tribute gimmick. Also, Conley's tune is much faster.
—Duane Hague, Portland, Ore.

DEAR DUANE: Interestingly, Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" (Atco 6463) made its national chart debut March 11, 1967, exactly one week after a 12-week chart run of "Stand By Me" (MGM K13617), by Spyder Turner.

I have no doubt that Spyderman's reincarnation of Ben E. King's soulful classic is the record you hope I know.

For this single, MGM concocted an uncharacteristically substandard label. It simply reads "Vocal impressions of 'My Girl' (BMI), 'I'll Try Something New' (BMI), 'Any Day Now' (ASCAP)." The licensing affiliate (BMI or ASCAP) for each selection is also shown exactly this way, which is very unusual.

A more informative and appropriate layout would be to indicate that Spyder's impressions are of the singers rather than their songs. Plus, by naming only the songs and not the honorees, neither Jackie Wilson nor Billy Stewart are mentioned anywhere on the label. Those two impressions are done using "Stand By Me" instead of sampling one of their hits.

While we're in repair mode, an improved description of the recording would be:

Vocal impressions of Jackie Wilson; David Ruffin of the Temptations ("My Girl"); Billy Stewart; Smokey Robinson of the Miracles ("I'll Try Something New"); and Chuck Jackson ("Any Day Now").

Everything stated so far applies only to the 45 rpm single, with a run time of 2:47. Two weeks after the single hit the charts, MGM issued an LP, also titled "Stand By Me" (SE-4450).

The album has the full-length (5:35) version of the title track, making time for four additional soul singers (below in CAPS) to get a nod.

In order heard, here is the extended roster of impressions, none of which are of the Impressions: Jackie Wilson; JAMES BROWN; EDDIE KENDRICKS (Temptations); MELVIN FRANKLIN (Temptations); David Ruffin (Temptations); Billy Stewart; SAM COOKE; Smokey Robinson (Miracles); Chuck Jackson; and finally Spyder Turner with a shout-out to himself.

One huge difference between Turner's "Stand By Me" and Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" is that Arthur does no impressions. He simply spotlights five acts, and, except for James Brown, sings the title line from one of their hits: Lou Rawls "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing"; Sam & Dave "Hold On! I'm a Comin'"; Wilson Pickett "Mustang Sally"; Otis Redding "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)"; and James Brown (no song mentioned, just that "he's the king of 'em all, y'all").

James Brown is the only person mentioned in both "Stand By Me" and "Sweet Soul Music."


IZ ZAT SO? The genesis of "Sweet Soul Music" is Sam Cooke's "Yeah Man," one of the tracks on his 1965 LP "Shake" (RCA Victor LSP-3373). Cooke's original tune focuses on some popular 1960s dances, especially the monkey, watusi, twist, and swim. No reference is made to any singers or song titles.

Writing credit for "Yeah Man" shows only Sam Cooke, whereas "Sweet Soul Music," with many different lyrics but nearly identical music, is credited to Otis Redding and Arthur Conley.

Somehow, Cooke's musical contribution just vanished. Because Sam wrote the music, the credit should read either "Cooke - Redding - Conley" or "Redding - Conley - Cooke."

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 2014 Osborne Enterprises - Reprinted By Exclusive Permission 

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

from our friends at SoundStageDirect

A Letter Home (Deluxe) by Neil Young

Neil Young recorded a collection of covers with Jack White on a refurbished 1947 Voice-O-Graph recording booth at Third Man's Nashville headquarters. Imagine a very simple recording studio not much larger than a phone booth and you’ll get the idea. He describes the album as "an unheard collection of rediscovered songs from the past recorded on ancient electro-mechanical technology captures and unleashes the essence of something that could have been gone forever." Recorded live to track to one-track, mono, the album has an inherent warm, primitive feel of a vintage Folkways recording.

As for the track-listing, Young chose songs that have personal meaning for him, such as British folk artist Bert Jansch’s “Needle of Death” (which inspired Young to write 1972’s “Needle and the Damage Done”), Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country,” Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” Don Everly’s “I Wonder If I Care as Much,” Bruce Springsteen’s “My Home Town,” and many others. Click here to view a video for “Needle of Death”

One of the most influential artists of all time, Neil Young has set a standard of artistic integrity and iconoclastic creativity. Before starting his multi-platinum solo career, he was a founding member of the folk-rock band Buffalo Springfield and worked with the groups Crazy Horse and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The Canadian singer-songwriter was recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 for his work as a solo artist and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1982. Young's philanthropic work is as renowned as his musical legacy. His famous Bridge School Benefit Concert has become a yearly tradition since 1986 and continues to boast an incredible line-up of high-profile artists. Each year, Young donates all of the proceeds to the Bay Area's Bridge School, which assists children with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs. He was also one of the original founders of Farm Aid in 1985, and continues to be an active member on the organization's board of directors.

Double LP Includes Standard & Audiophile 180g Pressing 
Standard Audio CD + DVD With Footage From The Recording 
12" X 12", 32-page Full Color Booklet 
Seven 6" Vinyl Discs Pressed On Clear Vinyl 
7th Disc Of This Set Features A Version Of Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" Backed With An Alternate Take / Arrangement Of "Crazy"

1. A Letter Home intro
2. Changes (Phil Ochs) 
3. Girl from the North Country (Bob Dylan)
4. Needle of Death (Bert Jansch)
5. Early Morning Rain (Gordon Lightfoot)
6. Crazy (Willie Nelson) 
7. Reason to Believe (Tim Hardin)
8. On the Road Again (Willie Nelson) 
9. If You Could Read My Mind (Gordon Lightfoot)
10. Since I Met You Baby (Ivory Joe Hunter)
11. My Hometown (Bruce Springsteen)
12. I Wonder If I Care as Much (Don Everly)

Order at SoundStageDirect

Greatest Hits: Steely Dan (Pre-Order) by Steely Dan

The duo of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker created some of the classiest, most sophisticated pop music of the 70's. Their compositions are so musically complex and fascinating that the Julliard actually offers a class devoted to their music. Features all 18 tracks from the original release, including `Do It Again', 'Reeling In The Years', 'Bodhisattva', 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', 'Any Major Dude (Will Tell Ya)','Here At The Western World' (originally issued only as a B-side), 'Doctor Wu', 'Black Friday', `Peg' and 'Josie'.

UK Import - One Time Press

1. Do It Again
2. Reelin' in the Years
3. My Old School
4. Bodhisattva
5. Show Biz Kids
6. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
7. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
8. Pretzel Logic
9. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
10. Here at the Western World [#]
11. Black Friday
12. Bad Sneakers
13. Doctor Wu
14. Haitian Divorce
15. Kid Charlemagne
16. The Fez
17. Peg
18. Josie

Pre-Order at SoundStageDirect


This Week's Bestselling Vinyl Records at SoundStageDirect

1. Jack White - Lazaretto (Pre-Order)
2. Led Zeppelin II (Pre-Order)
3. Led Zeppelin III (Pre-Order)
4. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell (Pre-Order)
5. Led Zeppelin I (Pre-Order)
6. Led Zeppelin I (Deluxe Edition) (Pre-Order) (On Sale)
7. Led Zeppelin II (Deluxe Edition) (Pre-Order) (On Sale)
8. Neil Young - A Letter Home (Deluxe)
9. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
10 Pink Floyd - The Wall

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from our friends at AudioFidelity

Herbie Mann - Live Jazz at the Village Gate

A Serious Landmark Recording of Live Jazz at the Village Gate

Herbie Mann established himself as jazz's most popular flutist for over a decade, and in so doing also solidified the flute's rightful place in jazz.  In 1962, his live album Herbie Mann at the Village Gate was his first major hit, selling over half a million copies.  The immense popularity of At the Village Gate made Mann a true superstar.

This live disc was recorded before jazz clubs were like museums, before musicians were like curators. People are sitting comfortably being all beatnik and cool about everything. But when Herbie Mann walks in, sexy hairy sweaty chest and all, they go ballistic!  You hear people talking, responding, and humming in the background – their presence pulls you into the room.  This "noise" adds an extra dimension of realness, of being front-row in the swing, which is jazz at its best.

The first track on the LP, "Comin' Home Baby", placed in the Top 30 on the pop charts and became Mann's first big hit. Composer Ben Tucker plays second bass on that cut, and Mann's other sidemen include vibraphonist Hagood Hardy, bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, drummer Rudy Collins, and Chief Bey and Ray Mantilla on percussion.   From the smoke-filled room, a woman with a whisky  voice testifies from the audience: “Oh yeah, play it!”

Next are two great Gershwin songs. Mann's version of “Summertime” deserves a place in any collection.  The song’s bittersweet essence is distilled and transported to Rio. The drums and percussion come up a samba beat. Fingers snap in time, and it’s all Bossa Nova.

Last is the long “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” clocking in at almost 20-minutes. Mann’s smart solo on this track wails - the crowd goes wild as his flute rises up from the rhythm section, settles back in, and rises up again, over and over.

Here it all is: a base of bebop with the Latin beat, but also Middle Eastern and African influences. There’s funk on this album, there’s cool, and Boss Nova, and samba, and bebop.  At this rare moment in Mann’s career, it all held together, and it just swings.

Side 1
Comin' Home Baby (8:37) 
Summertime (10:18)

Side 2
It Ain't Necessarily So (19:55)

Mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray

Buy at AudioFidelity

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from our friends at Relapse

Black Anvil - Hail Death 

New York black metal titans Black Anvil return with their third full length ‘Hail Death’—an uncompromisingly heavy mix of Dissection, Slayer and Behemoth.  While many of Black Anvil’s black metal contemporaries are born from the bedroom, ‘Hail Death’ is the filthy sound of the New York streets----gritty, punishing, strong and real.  In the 4 years since their last record, Black Anvil have tirelessly toured and played shows with the likes of Marduk, Watain, Inquisition and more, and with ‘Hail Death’ Black Anvil rightfully take their place amongst those contemporary black metal giants.

***Black 2xLP housed in gatefold packaging with insert.  Includes a digital download of the entire album***

Pressing Info: 
First Press 
1000 x Black Standard Gram 
100 x Clear (do not request clear)

Buy at Relapse

General Surgery -Like An Ever Flying Limb EP

Macabre Medical Masters GENERAL SURGERY hack off 5 brand new tracks and present them via a 7" slab of orange vinyl!  This bonesaw of an EP is at 45 RPM.

Pressing Info 
First Press 
1000 x Orange 
100 x Clear (do not request clear)

Buy at Relapse


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great interview about our friend in vinyl ross at EnjoyTheRideRecords

UTG Interview: Enjoy The Ride Records' Founder Ross Shotland





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Led Zeppelin Premieres New "Whole Lotta Love" Video

According to Robert Plant: "This version of 'Whole Lotta Love' is the mix down from the night that we recorded it, so it doesn't have any of the overdubs that everyone will be familiar with, because when they hear this they'll think, 'Oh yeah, that's the original' and all of a sudden they'll go, 'No, it's not.'"



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Great Albums With Just 3 Tracks or Less: Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, Jethro Tull











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Scientists Can Now Manipulate Your Brain to Like Certain Genre of Music






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Amazon's Top Ten Best Selling Vinyl

1. Led Zeppelin III ~ Led Zeppelin
2. Led Zeppelin II ~ Led Zeppelin
3. Are We There ~ Sharon Van Etten
4. Violator ~ Depeche Mode
5. XSCAPE ~ Michael Jackson
6. Led Zeppelin I ~ Led Zeppelin
7. And Then You Shoot Your Cousin ~ The Roots
8. Legend - 30th Anniversary Edition ~ Bob Marley & the Wailers
9. Suburban Light (reissue) ~ Clientele
10. Playing The Angel ~ Depeche Mode


Amazon's Top Ten Best Selling Music

1. Ghost Stories ~ Coldplay
2. Frozen 2 Disc Deluxe Edition Soundtrack ~ Demi Lovato
3. Turn Blue ~ The Black Keys
4. Xscape ~ Michael Jackson
5. A Letter Home ~ Neil Young
6. Led Zeppelin I (Deluxe CD Edition) ~ Led Zeppelin
7. Led Zeppelin III (Deluxe CD Edition) ~ Led Zeppelin
8. Led Zeppelin II (Deluxe CD Edition) ~ Led Zeppelin
9. Disney's Karaoke Series: Frozen ~ Disney Karaoke Series
10. Unplugged 1991/2001: The Complete Sessions ~ R.E.M.

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BecauseSoundMatters Top 10 Best Sellers  

1. Mastodon - Once More ‘Round The Sun Deluxe 2LP Vinyl
2. Cute Is What We Aim For - Rotation (Blue Colored Vinyl)
3. LP - Forever For Now Vinyl + Poster Bundle
4. The Black Keys - Turn Blue Vinyl
5. Mastodon - The Hunter Vinyl
6. Various Artists - Girls Volume 2
7. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
8. Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends
9. Wiz Khalifa - O.N.I.F.C.
10. Michael Bublé - Georgia On My Mind (7" Peach Colored Vinyl Single)

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GRIMEY'S BEST SELLERS 5/19 - 5/25, 2014

Vinyl Top 25:
1. Coldplay - Ghost Stories
2. The Black Keys - Turn Blue
3. PUJOL - KLUDGE
4. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
5. The Apache Relay - The Apache Relay
6. Band Of Horses - Acoustic At The Ryman
7. Coldplay - Rush Of Blood To The Head
8. Jeff Buckley - Grace
9. Big Star - #1 Record
10. Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
11. Hank Williams - Garden Spot Programs 1950
12. American Football - American Football
13. Yann Tiersen - Infinity
14. Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots
15. The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
16. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness
17. Beck - Morning Phase
18. St Vincent - St Vincent
19. The Black Keys - Brothers
20. The Beatles - Abbey Road
21. The xx - Coexist
22. The National - High Violet
23. Arcade Fire - Funeral
24. Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time
25. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

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Billboard's 25 highest-grossing touring artists from 1990 through 2014

1. THE ROLLING STONES
2. U2
3. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
4. MADONNA
5. BON JOVI
6. ELTON JOHN
7. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
8. CELINE DION
9. KENNY CHESNEY
10. THE EAGLES
11. THE POLICE/STING
12. ROGER WATERS
13. PAUL MCCARTNEY
14. BILLY JOEL
15. ROD STEWART
16. NEIL DIAMOND
17. METALLICA
18. AEROSMITH
19. GEORGE STRAIT
20. JIMMY BUFFETT
21. COLDPLAY
22. TOBY KEITH
23. CHER
24. FLEETWOOD MAC/STEVIE NICKS
25. AC/DC

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album cover art of the day:

Slash to Release World On Fire Album in September






















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album cover art of the day, part two:

Alestorm Sunset On The Golden Age Cover Artwork Unveiled

New Music Releases - May 27, 2014

21 Octayne - Into the Open
38 Special - Rockin' Into The Night
38 Special - Tour De Force
7seconds - Leave A Light On
Alan Licht and Brian Chase - We Thought We Could Do Anything (vinyl)
Alias - Pitch Black Prism (vinyl)
Alice Coltrane - A Monastic Trio (vinyl)
Among Gods - Monument
Amy Lavere - Runaway's Diary (vinyl)
Annisokay - The Lucid Dream(er)
Arne Deforce & Mika Vainio - Hephaestus
Ásgeir - In The Silence (vinyl)
Austin Mahone - The Secret
Babes - Babes (10")
Ben Frost - A U R O R A (colored vinyl)
Ben Vida - Slipping Control (vinyl)
Black Anvil - Hail Death (2xLP)
Blood of Kings - Starvation
Blood Red Fog - On Death’s Wings
Blu - Good to Be Home (2xLP)
Bo Ningen - III (vinyl)
Bolt Thrower - War Master (2xLP)
Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis - Our Year
Buffalo Killers - Heavy Reverie (vinyl)
Building Instrument - Building Instrument (vinyl)
Bury Tomorrow - Runes
Canned Heat - Reheated
Celine Dion - Playlist: The Very Best of Celine Dion
Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf - Circa 1990-1993 (4xLP)
Cher Lloyd - Sorry I'm Late
Cherub - Year of the Caprese (vinyl)
Chris Schlarb - Making the Saint (vinyl)
Clear Plastic Masks - Being There (vinyl)
Clint Mansell - Filth OST (vinyl)
Clouds - Tannhauser Acid Works II (12")
Condello - Phase 1 (vinyl)
Cradle of Filth - Total Fucking Darkness
Cretin Stompers - Looking Forward to Being (vinyl)
Crowbar - Symmetry In Black
Crowder - Neon Steeple
Crusaders - Street Life
D.C. Talk - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of DC Talk
DAMH - Black Night (12")
Darkthrone - Sardonic Wrath (vinyl)
Datashock - Keine Oase in Sicht (2xLP)
Dave Porter - Breaking Bad OST (2xLP)
Dead Congregation - Promulgation of the Fall
Deep Purple - Made In Japan (Limited Edition Deluxe Boxed Set)
Delaney Bramlett - Some Things Coming
Depeche Mode - Exciter (vinyl)
Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel (2xLP)
Depeche Mode - Speak and Spell (vinyl)
Django Reinhardt - Essential Electric (vinyl)
Don Caballero - Five Crazy Pairs of Pants. Wear 'Em: Early Caballero (vinyl)
Donato Dozzy - Dimensions EP (12")
Donna Regina - Holding the Mirror for Sophia Loren (vinyl)
Edgar Winter - Playlist: The Very Best of Edgar Winter
Edward Rogers - Kaye
Eleh - For Moussavi Atrium
Elvenking - The Pagan Manifesto
Elvis Presley - Playlist: The Very Best Of Elvis Movie Songs
Enabler - La Fin Absolue Du Monde
Expulsion - Certain Corpses Never Decay
Eyehategod - Eyehategod
Fatima - Yellow Memories (vinyl)
Fifth Dimension - Playlist: The Very Best of The Fifth Dimension
Fire Retarded - Scroggz Manor (vinyl)
Fossil Aerosol Mining Project - 17 Years in Ektachrome
Foxing - The Albatross (vinyl)
French for Rabbits - Goat (7")
Fripp & Eno - Evening Star (vinyl)
Fripp & Eno - No Pussyfooting (vinyl)
Fucked Up - Glass Boys
Fuckface Unstoppable - FFU
Funereal Presence - The Archer Takes Aim
Future Death - Special Victim
G.B.H. - Dover Showplace 1983 (vinyl)
George Jones - Playlist: The Very Best of George Jones Duets
Gluttony - Beyond the Veil of Flesh
Godflesh - Decline & Fall EP
Goodtime Boys – Rain (vinyl)
Grant Green - Idle Moments (vinyl)
Grateful Dead | John Oswald - Grayfolded (3xLP)
Greg Ginn and the Taylor Texas Corrugators - Gumbo and Holy Water
H. Usui - Sings the Blues (vinyl)
Hank Mobley - Soul Station (reissue) (vinyl)
Harassor - Into Unknown Depths
Haunted Hearts - Initiation (vinyl)
Hellspirit - Dawn Under Curse
Hercules and Love Affair - The Feast of the Broken Heart
Hockeysmith - But Blood (EP)
Hollie Cook - Twice
HOR - Can't Make It Up
Horace Silver Quintet - Song for My Father (reissue) (vinyl)
Hundred Waters - The Moon Rang Like a Bell (2xLP)
Hundreds - Aftermath (vinyl)
Ice Dragon - The Burl,the Earth,the Aether (reissue)
Ice Dragon - The Sorrowful Sun (reissue)
Ice Dragon - Tome of the Future Ancients (reissue)
Icon Of Evil - Syfilis Mentalis
Iggy Pop - Gimme Some Skin - The 7 Inch Collection Numbered only 1000 Made (vinyl)
Impaled Nazarene - Vigorous and Liberating Death
Insense - De:Evolution
Intronaut - Mike's Leg (7")
Iron Butterfly - Live At The Galaxy 1967
J.C. Satan - Italian Summer/I Don't Feel Like Dancing (7")
Jack Ruby - Jack Ruby (vinyl)
James Brown - Sex Machine
Jar’d Loose - Turns 13
Jeremy Fisher - The Lemon Squeeze (vinyl)
Jerry David DeCicca - Understanding Land
Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun / Phase Two
Joakim - Tropics Of Love
Joey Negro - Italo House Part One PRE-ODER (2xLP)
John Roberts - Ausio EP (12")
Johnny Cash - Playlist: The Very Best of Johnny Cash Duets
Joseph - Stoned Age Man (vinyl)
Judy Collins - Essential Judy Collins
Katatonia - Last Fair Day Gone Night (3xLP)
Kenny Rogers & the First Edition - First Edition
Kiss - Carnival of Souls (reissue) (vinyl)
Kiss - Crazy Nights (reissue) (vinyl)
Kiss - Hot in the Shade (reissue) (vinyl)
KISS - Kiss 40 (2xCD)
Kiss - Rock and Roll Over (reissue) (vinyl)
Kitten - Kitten
Knox - Thieving of Well (12")
Kool Keith - Demolition Crash (2xCD)
Krakatau - Water Near a Bridge (mixed color vinyl)
Lazer/Wulf - The Beast Of Left And Right
LCC - D/evolution (vinyl)
Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires - Dereconstructed (vinyl)
Lee Hazlewood - Friday’s Child (reissue) (vinyl)
Lee Hazlewood - Love and Other Crimes (reissue) (vinyl)
Lee Hazlewood - The N.S.V.I.P.’s (Not So Very Important People) (reissue) (vinyl)
Leslie Winer - Witch (vinyl)
Lily Allen - Sheezus (vinyl)
Little Barrie - Shadow
LL Cool J - Radio (vinyl)
Madlib - Shades of Blue (reissue) (2xLP)
Man - Carousel of Sound (7")
Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah
Marianne Faithfull - Dangerous Acquaintances
Mark Jones & Twenty Paces - Breaking Even
Marty Friedman - Inferno
Mary Monday and the Bitches - I Gave My Punk Jacket To (7")
Mayday Parade - Monsters in the Closet (deluxe edition)
Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare
McCoy Tyner - The Real McCoy (vinyl)
Melanie De Biasio - No Deal (vinyl)
Metsatöll - Karjajuht
Meyhem Lauren and Buckwild - Silk Pyramids
Misery Index - The Killing Gods
moe. - No Guts, No Glory (vinyl)
Mongol Horde - Mongol Horde
Mordecai - Neil’s Generator (vinyl)
Moskus - Mestertyven (vinyl)
N.O.R.E. - noreaster
Nachtmystium - As Made (7")
Napolian - Incursio (vinyl)
Neil Young - A Letter Home (deluxe edition) (2xLP+7x6"+CD+DVD)
Nektar - Remember The Future (with 3D graphics) (deluxe box edition)
Nils Lofgren - Face the Music
Ninos Du Brasil - Novos Misterios (vinyl)
Nones - Midwestern Family Values (vinyl)
Nurse with Wound and Graham Bowers - Parade (2xLP)
Oasis - Definitely Maybe (reissue) (2xLP)
Obsequiae - Suspended in the Brume of Eos (vinyl)
Officer! - Ossification
Owen Pallett - In Conflict (vinyl)
Paper Garden - Paper Garden (vinyl)
Paul Williams - Best of Paul Williams
Paul Williams - Ordinary Fool
Paul Williams - Phantom of the Paradise
Pharoahe Monch - P.T.S.D. - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2xLP)
Plaza Francia - A New Tango Song Book (2xLP)
Popstrangers - Fortuna (colored vinyl)
Powerman 5000 - Builders of the Future
Prins Thomas - 10 Years of Full Pupp (2004-2014) (2xCD)
Redman - Whut? Thee Album (vinyl)
REO Speedwagon - Box Set Series
Reuben And The Dark - Funeral Sky
Richard Pinhas | Oren Ambarchi - Tikkun
Richard Pinhas and Yoshida Tatsuya - Welcome in the Void
Rick Derringer - Playlist: The Very Best of Rick Derringer
Ringo Deathstarr - God's Dream (12")
Rival Sons - Head Down (2xLP)
Robyn - Do It Again
Roll The Tanks - Broke Til Midnight
Ron Morelli - Periscope Blues (vinyl)
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again (EP)
Rush Midnight - Rush Midnight (vinyl)
Sabaton - Heroes (Nuclear Blast)
Sabbatory - Endless Asphyxiating Gloom
Sam Smith - Sam Smith
Sandy Denny and the Strawbs - All Our Own Work (vinyl)
Sean Nicholas Savage - Bermuda Waterfall (vinyl)
Serpentine Path - Emanations
Seun Anikulapo Kuti and Egypt 80 - A Long Way to the Beginning (vinyl)
Sex With Strangers - You Know Something We Don't?
Shakra - 33: The Best of’
Sharon Van Etten - Are We There (colored vinyl)
Sid Vicious - Jack Boots & Dirty Looks (vinyl)
Skyzoo and Torae - The Barrel Brothers
Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit
Some Ember - Some Ember (vinyl)
Son Lux - Alternate Worlds (12")
Sonny Vincent - Cyanide Consomme (vinyl)
Soulsavers - The Light the Dead See (deluxe) (CD+DVD)
Southern Comfort - Suzanne (7")
Spacemonkey - The Karman Line
Spanish Gold - South of Nowhere (vinyl)
Spiders & Snakes - Year of the Snake
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto: 50th Anniversary
Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing
Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega
Teleman - Breakfast
Tentacle - Ingot Eye
The Ataris - Anywhere But Here (vinyl)
The Ataris - Blue Skies, Broken Hearts... Next 12 Exits (vinyl)
The Ghost Wolves - Man, Woman, Beast (vinyl)
The Howling Brothers - Trouble (vinyl)
The Nels Cline Singers - Macroscope (vinyl)
The Nest - Sayweenjoy (vinyl)
The NVs - Trust Fun Suicide EP (7")
The Quasi Dub Development - Little-Twister vs. Stiff-Neck (vinyl)
The Ready Set - The Bad & The Better
The Roots - And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (vinyl)
Theo Parrish - Footwork (12")
They Might Be Giants - Idlewild: A Compliation (vinyl)
This Wild Life - Clouded
Three Legged Race - Rope Commercial Vol. 1 (vinyl)
Tomas Barfod - Love Me
Tommy Bolin & Zephyr - Zephyr - Deluxe Edition Numbered
Trash Talk - No Peace
Trentemøller - Late Night Tales (2xLP)
Triptykon - Melena Chasmata (vinyl)
Trash Talk - No Peace
Troy Ave - New York City
Turquoise Summers - Shades (vinyl)
Tweak Bird - Any ‘Ol Way (vinyl)
Vainaja - Kadotetu
Valina - Container (vinyl)
Vanhelgd - Relics of Sulphur Salvation (vinyl)
Various Artists - Everything Is Shit: Punk in Brussels (vinyl)
Various Artists - Go Devil Go! Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel 1944-1976 (vinyl)
Various Artists - Midnight Rider: Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band
Various Artists - One and All, Together, for Home
Various Artists - Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton (CD+Bluray)
Various Artists - Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cambodia
Various Artists - Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection (vinyl)
Various Artists - Too Slow to Disco (2xLP)
Verma - Sunrunner (mixed color vinyl)
VHS Head - Persistence of Vision (2xLP)
Violation Wound - Violation Wound
Watter - This World (vinyl)
Waxen - Agios Holokauston
We Are The Damned - Doomvirate
Weatherbox - Flies In All Directions (vinyl)
Wet - Wet (EP)
Winter Drones - Heavy Eyes (vinyl)
Wolf Alice - Creature Songs (EP)
YAITW - When Life Comes To Death
Yonatan Gat - Iberian Passage
Young And In The Way - When Life Comes To Death
Zoldier Noiz - Regression Process

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

Chris N. of Los Angeles, CA was the winner in the SpaceLab9 Walking Dead Soundtrack Vinyl Contest

Congratulations to Chris and thank you to all who entered!



Special thank you to SPACELAB9.COM for providing an awesome prize!

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amazing story for Memorial Day:

Newly Restored Vinyl Record Helps Children of World War II Veteran Hear Their Father Again







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

neat story from across the pond:

Liverpool Tour Guide Bumps Into Longtime Beatles Friend











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WEEKLY WAX: Vinyl Releases For The Week Of 5/18-5/24





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fantastic story from by Sam McManis of sacbee.com

Discoveries: Vinyl: The Sound and Culture of Records








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from our friends at AudioFidelity

The Grateful Dead - Shakedown Street

The Grateful Dead led by Jerry Garcia were one of the cornerstones of 60’s counterculture - the band had lots of members from diverse musical backgrounds, each lending a different facet to the band’s sound and approach to music. 1978's "Shakedown Street" is the their tenth studio album, and is definitive Dead - essential to any serious rock collection, a fusion of rock, funk, blues, reggae, country, and improvisational jam. Produced by Lowell George of Little Feat - the union between George and the Grateful Dead was certainly intriguing.

The album features Garcia and Bob Weir on vocals and guitars, Phil Lesh on bass and vocals, Keith Godchaux on vocals and keyboards, Donna Jean Godchaux on vocals, and Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart on percussion.

Two of the Dead's most beloved live songs, "Shakedown Street" and "Fire on the Mountain", appear here. Their bouncy Caribbean-soul-style cover of The Rascals' "Good Lovin'" is irresistible. The Dead revive "New Minglewood Blues" (which they originally cut for their debut) and Garcia and Robert Hunter write their own "Stagger Lee" while Hart and Kreutzmann get a percussion workout on the instrumental "Serengetti," Bob Weir affects a bluesy growl on "I Need a Miracle" and Donna Godchaux's "From The Heart Of Me" is absolutely gorgeous.

The album cover art was by underground comics artist Gilbert Shelton.

"Shakedown Street" is a fascinating listen - classic sounds from a classic band. Even the jacket artwork is classic.

SIDE ONE:
1. Good Lovin' 
2. France 
3. Shakedown Street 
4. Srengetti 
5. Fire On The Mountain 

SIDE TWO:
1. I Need A Miracle 
2. From The Heart Of Me 
3. Stagger Lee 
4. All New Minglewood Blues 
5. If I Had The World To Give

*Mastered by Kevin Gray*

Order at AudioFidelity

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Sam Cooke – Ain’t That Good News – ABKCO/ Hugo and Luigi Records – vinyl  Sam Cooke‘s final album…

Sam Cooke – Ain’t That Good News – ABKCO/ Hugo and Luigi Records 9899-1 (1964) – stereo Audiophile LP ***1/2:

There will always be an argument over whether it was Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, or Jackie Wilson, who was the greatest soul crooner of the 1960s. Each had major hit songs and huge fan followers. None of the three had long lifetimes with only Wilson approaching his 50th birthday. Cooke lived the shortest, dying in a mysterious shooting at a motel in December 1964, just a month short of his 34th birthday.

Sam’s final studio album was Ain’t That Good News, which was issued shortly before his death. It was notable for the fact that it introduced  “A Change is Gonna Come,” which became an anthem for the civil rights movement. “Another Saturday Night” was the other chart topper that arose from this album. The album has been given an audiophile make-over by ABCKO and Hugo and Luigi Records. The acoustics are crisp with Cooke’s velvety vocals matched by bright horns and upfront rhythm section.

The title track gets the LP off to a strong start with its relaxed groove. “Meet Me at Mary’s Place” has an infectious gospel beat with the background singers in a call and response. “Good Times” finds Sam testifying about letting the good times roll. Try to keep your feet from tapping here. The horns open with a fanfare on “Rome (Wasn’t Built in a Day)” and Cooke makes this pedestrian song sparkle. Much more intoxicating is “Another Saturday Night.” Listening to this classic tune with Cooke’s ad libs will bring you back to nostalgic transistor days. However, the clear percussion, horns, and vocals mix on this track make it blow away any previous issue. Sam tries to resuscitate “Tennessee Waltz” but even his efforts are for naught as it doesn’t belong here, and serves as filler.

Side 2 opens with “A Change is Gomma Come” and its powerful message still resonates today. The strings swirl around Cooke in magnificent stereo, and the violins add to its majesty. Knowing Sam would soon be gone just adds to the effect of the song’s lyrics. He could have been a powerful voice for civil rights had he lived a full life. “Falling in Love” is a sumptuous ballad, and it is easy to imagine slow dancing with your girl to this tune back in the day. “Home (When Shadows Fall)” is given a saccharine treatment and the strings bring to mind the Jackie Gleason with strings albums. This track explains though why Cooke appealed to both the younger listener as well as their parents.

“Sittin’ in the Sun” has a lilting quality that elicits memories of  sitting outside in the summer enjoying a lemonade (with maybe an added splash of something stronger). The horns luckily help tamper down the intruding strings . “There’ll Be No Second Time” is much better listening as Cooke instructs what the outcome will be due to a lover’s indiscretion. The inclusion of “The Riddle Song” to end the album shows the producer’s confidence that Cooke could bring soul to most any number, and Cooke partially rewards their confidence with his magnificent voice. It’s doubtful that Otis Redding could have pulled this feat off.

This album has enough plusses to recommend its purchase by fans of Cooke, who want to hear his knockout version of “A Change is Gonna Come” along with the other winning songs, primarily on Side 1, all in superb remastered sound.

TrackList: 
Side 1:  Ain’t That Good News, Meet Me at Mary’s Place, Good Times, Rome (Wasn’t Built in a Day), Another Saturday Night, Tennessee Waltz

Side 2:  A Change is Gonna Come, Falling in Love, Home (When Shadows Fall), Sittin’ in the Sun, There’ll Be No Second Time, The Riddle Song

—Jeff Krow

Kathleen Grace – No Place To Fall – Monsoon Records (vinyl or CD)

Not many jazz artists attempt a full crossover into country music.

Kathleen Grace – No Place To Fall – Monsoon Records MS204 vinyl (43:10) or CD (48:10), [5/13/14] ****1/2:

(Kathleen Grace – vocals; Eric Kertes – electric bass, double bass; David Steele – acoustic, electric guitars; David Raven – drums; Will Gramling – piano, organ; Tim Young – electric guitar; Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar; Jamie Drake – vocals; Leslie Stevens – vocals; Patrick Park – vocals; Anthony Wilson – electric guitar)

Not many jazz artists attempt a full crossover into country music. Native Tucsonian Kathleen Grace had established a career as a jazz artist. She released three critically acclaimed albums (Sunrise/2005; Songbird/2007 and Mirror/2008), but things changed. After listening to Leonard Cohen singing “Suzanne”, she began to explore country music performers, like John Prine, Dolly Parton and Kitty Wells. This eventually led to the recording of a new country album

Monsoon Records has released No Place To Fall in two formats, standard CD (with ten tracks) and vinyl (nine tracks). With an assortment of covers and original compositions, Grace (with the help of a top notch band and guest players) has initiated a winning debut in country music. And what better way to open a country album than with the laid-back melancholy of Townes Van Zandt on the title cut. With a languid beat and sorrowful guitars (including pedal steel), the unique essence of weary romance is expressed. Grace’s voice meshes perfectly with the band. Her vocals are subtle, but she reflects a deep sentiment. Her songwriting is lyrical and allows narrative imagery “I’m On Fire” uses a desert campfire to articulate the intensity of love. Her vocals are evocative, with ethereal accents and touches of upper register vocalese. The band mix contributes to the overall delicacy. In a traditional country waltz, “Fine Young Woman” pays homage to the singer’s mother.

Choosing interesting songs can be a defining element of a good album. Tom Waits’ “The Briar And The Rose” is a compelling, gospel hymn. Grace is joined by Jamie Drake and Leslie Stevens who contribute a verse apiece. But the trio glows in three-part harmony. Another fresh take is Grace’s version of Meat Puppets’ “Plateau”. This band has been described as ‘country-punk” and the arrangement resonates with harder rock edges.  Reaching back to elegant jazz roots, “Mood Indigo” assumes a country twang, but with all the requisite jazz/blues flourishes that an Ellington opus commands. There is an innate connection to the soulful core of country and blues, and Grace nails it.

No Place To Fall pushes the boundaries of country music. “The Colour Of Spring” (only available on the CD) is a spacey, emotional song that is deliberate and utilizes a church organ (Will Gramling) and guitar echos for texture. Additionally there are some agile chord shifts. Grace has a feel for the nuances of country. “Goodnight” (also in waltz time) exudes the relaxed elegance of Americana.

Both the vinyl and CD format sound excellent. There is advanced clarity on the digital CD album. The vinyl captures some of the distortion (on electric guitar and especially bass). For the most part, individual preferences for sound will determine which reproduction best suits a listener. Either way, it will be worth it!

TrackList: (Vinyl) = Side A: No Place To Fall; Emma; I’m On Fire; Fine Young Woman; Plateau
 Side B: Mood Indigo; The Briar And The Rose; Blame It On My Youth; Goodnight

TrackList: (CD) = No Place To Fall; Emma; I’m On Fire; Fine Young Woman; Plateau; Mood Indigo; The Colour Of Spring; The Briar And The Rose; Blame It On My Youth; Goodnight

—Robbie Gerson

I want to thank John over at www.audaud.com for the exclusive rights to reprint these great reviews!

AUDIOPHILE AUDITION focuses on recordings of interest to audiophiles and collectors, with an accent on surround sound for music, and on all hi-res disc formats. Over 100SACD, DVD Video/Audio and standard CD reviews are published during each month, and our archives go back to January 2001.