Why Vinyl Records Sound Best - The Analog Vs Digital Debate

Here is another great article from my vinyl friend Alan Bayer:

Records Sound Best - The Analog Vs Digital Debate

By Alan Bayer

Analog vs. Digital:

An analog format such as vinyl records are said to be more accurate to the source of the music than digital formats, which convert the music into a digital format, before being converted back to analog for reproduction.


Vinyl records provide a more rich, warm tone than digital formats. The reason for this better tone is because the grooves on records provide more musical data to your amplifier. When the stylus (needle) fits into the groove of the record, it vibrates in such a way that is reminiscent of the soundwaves present when the artists performed the song. When amplified, you get a reproduction of the original performance.

When the musical data is converted into a digital format, there are various "resolutions". To use photos as an example, it would be the difference between a 100x100 pixel picture, and a 1000x1000 pixel picture. For CDs, it is 16-bit. For DVD Audio up to 24-bit. Then, there is a sample rate, which is how often these photos are taken. For CDs, they happen 44,100 times per second. DVD Audio, up to 192,000 times per second. For SACDs, an amazing 2,000,000+ samples per second. You can see how the more advanced digital formats would sound better than CDs, which is how most people listen to digital music.

In the case of digital formats like MP3 and AAC, some of the higher frequencies get pulled out to save space, in addition, these formats are taken from a CD, and compressed, so they could never approach the sound quality of a CD. I expect digital music formats to continue to gain in popularity, and I also expect even better formats to come out, with new digital format remasters, which could sound much better than a CD (Or even DVD-A or SACD), have more customization options, and of course, undisputed portability. Are you listening, record companies?

How specifically vinyl sounds better:

Vinyl seems to reproduce the higher frequencies much better. On digital, high frequencies (voices, cymbals, drums, etc.) sound thinner, harsher, "swishy", simply not as good. On vinyl, these high frequencies sound more natural, less harsh, more "real". Also, very small high-pitched nuances shine through better, like for example when a bass player plucks a string.

Bass seems to sound fuller on vinyl as well. It sounds thicker, richer, more natural, more nuanced. It's nice. When listening to bass on vinyl, you'll know why so many DJs still use vinyl to this day. On digital, bass seems to be muddier, thinner...it has less impact.

It's true that vinyl does have some weaknesses, such as pops and hiss, but these are eliminated if the record is clean. The pops and hiss also add a nostalgic charm to the sound of the music. Some artists, especially hip hop, have incorporated this sound into their music.

If you love the sound of music, and want to hear something that has a better sound than CDs and MP3s, you should give vinyl a listen. Once you hear it, you'll become a fan too!

Alan Bayer is a music enthusiast and entrepreneur. Visit his website [http://www.vinylrevinyl.com]Vinyl Revinyl for much more about vinyl, as well as a wide selection of records for sale.

Alan says: "Join the return to vinyl."

Classic Rock Awards Given in London

Britain's Classic Rock magazine gave out their annual awards on Monday night at London's Park Lane Hotel in celebration of their 10th anniversary as a publication.


The big award of the night, which had been previously announced, went to Ozzy Osbourne as the Living Legend. The award, given by Slash, had previously been presented to Alice Cooper, Lemmy of Motorhead and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.

One of the night's most touching moments came when Syd Barrett's sister, Rosemary, accepted the Tommy Vance Inspiration Award in his name.

The magazine's editor, Scott Rowley, said “Ten years ago people said a magazine like Classic Rock couldn’t last. A decade later, we outsell the NME and Kerrang! – as well as men’s magazines like Esquire and Arena. Ozzy’s a household name and bands like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses are getting more headlines and front covers than ever, breaking box office records and topping the charts. The Roll Of Honour is a celebration of rock music as the most vital and vibrant genre of music.”

The full list of winners:

Album Of The Year: Good To Be Bad - Whitesnake
Band Of The Year: Foo Fighters
Reissue Of The Year:1st Three Albums: Vinyl Reissues - Metallica
DVD Of The Year: Plug Me In - AC/DC
Event Of The Year: Led Zeppelin @ The 02 Arena
Best New Band: Airbourne
Classic Songwriter: Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
Showman Award: Paul Stanley (Kiss)
The Armand de Brignac VIP Award: Harvey Goldsmith
The Tommy Vance Inspiration Award: Syd Barrett
Classic Album: Disraeli Gears - Cream
Metal Guru: Wayne Kramer (MC5)
Classic Rock/Childline Award: Bryan Adams
Outstanding Contribution: Jeff Beck
Marshall ‘11’ Award: Slash
Living Legend: Ozzy Osbourne

SOURCE: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com

Belle And Sebastian's BBC Sessions

Matador Records has assembled 14 songs Belle And Sebastian recorded for Britain's BBC Radio from 1996 to 2001 and will release them as The BBC Sessions on Nov. 18.

A limited-edition double-disc version of the album will include a Dec. 21, 2001 concert recorded in Belfast, Ireland. The BBC Sessions will also be released as a double-vinyl album.

The 14 BBC songs include alternate versions of tracks from Belle And Sebastian's first three albums and associated EPs, and four bootlegged songs recorded for John Peel that have never before appeared on CD or vinyl: "The Magic Of A Kind Word," "Nothing In The Silence," "Shoot The Sexual Athlete" and "(My Girl’s Got) Miraculous Technique." Those four songs are the band's last recordings with Isobel Campbell before she left the group to pursue a solo career.

You can preview "The State I Am In" and "Like Dylan In The Movies" on Belle And Sebastian's website.

The Dublin gig features bassist/guitarist Bob Kildea, who replaced Stuart David, and includes covers of The Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun," Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back In Town" and The Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For The Man."

Belle And Sebastian released their Tigermilk debut album in 1996. The Scottish band followed that with If You're Feeling Sinister, The Boy With The Arab Strap, Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant and Dear Catastrophe Waitress. The band are now on hiatus and have announced no plans to record a follow-up to their last studio album, 2006's The Life Pursuit.

Here are the songs on The BBC Sessions:

Disc one — Radio Sessions:

"The State I Am In"
"Like Dylan In The Movies"
"Judy And The Dream Of Horses"
"The Stars Of Track And Field"
"I Could Be Dreaming"
"Seymour Stein"
"Lazy Line Painter Jane"
"Sleep The Clock Around"
"Slow Graffiti"
"Wrong Love" (later recorded as "The Wrong Girl")
"Shoot The Sexual Athlete"
"The Magic Of A Kind Word"
"Nothing In The Silence"
"(My Girl's Got) Miraculous Technique"

Disc two — Live In Belfast:

"Here Comes The Sun"
"There's Too Much Love"
"The Magic Of A Kind Word"
"Me And The Major"
"Wandering Alone"
"The Model"
"I'm Waiting For The Man"
"The Boy With The Arab Strap"
"The Wrong Girl"
"Dirty Dream #2"
"The Boys Are Back In Town"
"Legal Man"

SOURCE: http://www.chartattack.com

Universal Revives Essential Blues Vinyl

It's an odd, ironic turn of events. As the major record labels attempt to make up for the loss of sales of their one-time cash cow – the compact disc – they're returning to the format that made them famous in the first time…vinyl records! Although this isn’t the time or place to discuss the merits of vinyl vs. CD, the move certainly bodes well for blues fans who have kept their turntables ready to roll.

Universal Music, the biggest dog in the major label junkyard, has announced its plans to reissue a number of essential blues and blues-rock albums on vinyl in the coming weeks. Just a few days ago the label dipped its toe in the water with reissues of two classic Jimi Hendrix Experience albums from 1967: Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold As Love, both fine examples of psych-drenched electric-blues rock by the master guitarist.

In a couple of weeks, they'll go back to the well to reissue Eric Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand, a subtle but hard-hitting collection of blues, blues-rock, pop, and even a touch of country; and the classic 1966 John Mayall collection, Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, a powerful showcase for the talents of a young "Slowhand."

Only time will tell if this "back to vinyl" strategy works out for Universal and the major labels, and I hope that it does…if only because the Reverend would love to see Universal dig a little deeper in the vaults and reissue some of the classic Chess label albums they have stored away from folks like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and other stalwarts of the modern blues era.


SOURCE: Keith's Blues Blog
http://blues.about.com

Classic Rock Videos

The Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man

Album Cover Art

Let's continue our look at the Gigwise.com list of the dirtiest and sexiest album covers (as put together by their crack staff):


49. Ween: ‘Chocolate & Cheese’ - was Ween's fourth studio album, originally released by Elektra Records in 1994. It was the first Ween album to eschew the four-track recordings of their first three albums and utilize a professional recording studio. However, most of the instruments were still played by Dean and Gene Ween, including their drum machine.

The album is dedicated to comedian John Candy, who died while Ween was putting the album together. "A Tear for Eddie" was dedicated to the funk/psychedelic guitar pioneer Eddie Hazel, who died December 23, 1992. Ween originally wanted the cover to have a "gay sailor theme" but the studio thought it politically incorrect (possibly because of the "HIV Song" which is ironically cheery and upbeat), so they opted for the woman's body on the cover. Ween say they never got to meet the attractive cover model, Ashley Savage. (not that's a bummer!)

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales

Week Ending 11/01/2008

1) LP - Georges Enesco Bach Sonatas Continental - $3,378.49 Start: $0.99 Bids: 28

2) 45rpm - Celebrities "I Choose You Baby" / "I Choose You Baby (instr)" - $3,200.00 Start: $3,200.00 Bids: BIN

3) LP - The Beatles "Mono Collection" Parlophone UK - $3,150.00 Start: $0.99 Bids: 27

4) LP - The Beatles "Hard Days Night" Odean Japan Red Vinyl - $2,499.00 Start: $2,499.00 Bids: 3

5) 45rpm - Jimmy Delphs "Dancing A Hole In The World" / "Dancing A Whole In The World (instr)" - $2,415.00 Start: $25.99 Start: 22


One of the most sought after classical box sets, Continental's Georges Enesco plays Bach Sonatas, takes the #1 spot this week bidding up over $3.3k. Next, A Northern Soul 45 from Celebrities on the Boss label out of Detroit sells on a Buy-It-Now for $3.2k.

The #3 spot goes to another box set, this one a collection of the Mono mixes of 11 Beatle records. This set sells for halfway past $3.1k. And at #4 is another Beatles LP, a Japanese red vinyl pressing of "A Hard Days Night" fetches a dollar under $2.5k.

And last, another Northern Soul record, this one from Jimmy Delphs, sells for a little bit over $2.4k.


As always, I want to thank Brian over at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com for this valuable information!

Album Cover Art

We had so much fun (and the response was overwhelming!) with our Gigwise.com list of the most controversial, weirdest, best and worst album cover art (as compiled by their crack staff), I have decided to take it a step further. Let's explore Gigwise.com's list of the dirtiest and sexiest album cover art top 50 that they have put together (we will do one album cover per day- advance warning- some my even be offended by some of the images, but as we all know-sex sells- always has and always will)



50. Madonna: ‘Hard Candy’ Hard Candy is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna and was first released on April 25, 2008 by Warner Bros. Records. This release is the final studio album with Warner Bros., her record company for the past 25 years. The album, overall, has an urban vibe, while remaining a dance-pop record at heart. In the early stages of recording, Stuart Price, the producer of Confessions on a Dance Floor, described the new album as moving in an urban direction. It had initially been defined as having "a lot of producers from a lot of genres in there.", The Sun proclaiming that "it could be her most ambitious project yet.”

Timbaland, one of the featured producers of the record, referred to the album as being "like 'Holiday' with an R&B groove." Justin Timberlake also defined the album as being "an R&B/pop/dance record." Upon release, The New York Times reviewed the album as "a set of catchy, easily digestible, mass-appeal songs."

The album features vocal appearances from Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West along with production credits from Timbaland, Timberlake, The Neptunes, and Nate "Danja" Hills as well as co-production from Madonna. Additionally, Hard Candy includes a guest appearance of American guitarist and singer-songwriter Wendy Melvoin, best known for her work with Prince, contributing guitars on the song "She's Not Me", on which she is mentioned.

The album peaked at number one in twenty-seven countries worldwide, including United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Turkey, Austria, Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Greece, Japan, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Singapore and Slovakia.

During its first day of release in the Netherlands, Hard Candy sold over 60,000 copies, earning a platinum certification. The album also received a Gold certification on its first day of release, selling over 15,000 copies. Furthermore, after only two days of release, Hard Candy debuted at number one on the French albums chart, selling 38.000 copies. It also debuted at number one on the Oricon weekly album chart in Japan, selling about 55,462 copies.

Hard Candy also debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, where Madonna joined a selected group of artists to achieve ten number one albums, behind Elvis Presley, with eleven, and The Beatles, with fifteen. Madonna achieved a similar feat in Australia, where it became her seventh album to reach number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album was certified gold in its first week. "4 Minutes" has also remained in the Australian Top Ten for over eleven weeks.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Hard Candy sold 100,000 copies in the United States upon its first day of release. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with over 280,000 copies sold. Hard Candy became her seventh number one album, making her the female artist with the second most number one albums, behind only Barbra Streisand. It was certified Gold on June 4, 2008, a month after its release.

In Latin America the album was also well-received, reaching number nineteen on the Mexican Top 100 Albums chart based on three-day sales alone, and after three weeks in the chart, the album has peaked at number four. In Argentina, after debuting at number-four based on shipments, it climbed to number one.

In New Zealand Hard Candy debuted and peaked at number five and stayed on the chart for nine weeks.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Classic Rock Videos

The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!

NEW LP's Being Released This Week:

Afro-Cuban All Stars present Felix Baloy - Baila Mi Son (180 Gram Vinyl)

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Jingle All The Way [LP]

Black Sabbath - Sabotage (180 Gram Vinyl)

Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstacy (180 Gram Vinyl)

Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll [2 LP] (180 Gram Vinyl)
Booker Ervin - That's It (180 Gram Vinyl)

Booker Little - Out Front (180 Gram Vinyl)

BSTC - Music For A Saturday Evening [2LP]

Camera Obscura - Underachievers Please Try Harder [LP] (180 Gram Vinyl w/coupon for MP3 Download)

Clark Terry - Color Changes (180 Gram Vinyl)

Cocoa Tea - Sweet Sound Of Cocoa Tea [2LP]

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels [LP] (180 Gram Vinyl)

Country Joe & The Fish - Electric Music For The Mind And Body (180 Gram Vinyl)

Crystal Antlers - Ep

Dead Can Dance - Dead Can Dance [180 Gram Vinyl 2LP]

Earl Hines & Harry Sweets Edison - Early Meets Harry (180 Gram Vinyl)

Flying Burrito Brothers - Burrito Deluxe (180 Gram Vinyl)

Grandmaster Flash vs. Sugar Hill Gang - The Greatest Hits [3 LP Box] (180 Gram Vinyl)

Greyboy - 15 Years of West Coast Cool [2LP]

Harvey Milk - My Love Is Higher Than Your Assessment of What My Love Can Be [2LP]

Him - Razorblade Romance [2LP]

Hinder - Take It To The Limit [2LP]

Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night [2 LP] (180 Gram in Gatefold Jacket includes vinyl-only bonus track)

Kinks - Something Else By The Kinks (180 Gram Vinyl)

Lindstrom - Where You Go I Go too [2LP]

Magnetic Fields - Get Lost [LP] (180 gram vinyl. Includes coupon for MP3 download)

Max Roach - We Insist - Freedom Suite (180 Gram Vinyl)

MC5 - Motorcity Is Burning [2 LP]

Memphis Slim - USA (180 Gram Vinyl)

Metallica - And Justice For all - [4LP] (180 Gram Vinyl)

Metallica - And Justice For All [2LP]

OhGr - Devils In My Details [LP]

Polvo - Celebrate The New Dark Age [LP] (ncludes coupon for MP3 download of entire album. Limited edition of 3,000)

Prototypes - Synthetique [LP]

Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me [LP] 180 Gram Vinyl

Replacements - Tim [LP] 180 Gram Vinyl

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology [LP]

Simonetti / Morante / Pignatelli - Tenebre (180 Gram Vinyl)

Skatalites - Stretching Out: Volume One [LP]

Stereolab - Groop Played Space Age Batchelor Pad [LP] (includes MP3 coupon)

Streets - Everything Is Borrowed [LP]

Susan Tedeschi - Back To The River [2LP]

The Fall - Room To Live (180 Gram Vinyl)

Tim Barry - Manchester [LP] (Colored Vinyl Full Jacket Full Picture Sleeve)

Tipsy - Buzzz [LP]

Tom Gabel - Heart Burns [LP]

Undertones - The Undertones (Picture Disc)

Zach de la Rocha & Jon Theodore - One Day As A Lion [LP]


NEW 12" SINGLES

CSS - Move ( Sub Pop - 70797 / 098787079715 ) $5.99

Krumb Snatcha - Feeling b/w Mind Power (Limited Edition 12inch) ( Mind Power Ent - MPE-33 / 672343003316 ) $6.98

Lets Go To War - Burn Down The Disco ( Last Gang - Q100849 / 060270084919 ) $9.98


NEW 7" SINGLES

Low - Santa Is Coming [7''] (sleeve is iridescent white paper and includes a punch-out paper ornament) ( SubPop - SP801 / 098787080179 ) $5.99

Mahjongg - Free Groove Rider ( K Records - KRD 629147 / 789856291472 ) $5.49

No Age - Teen Creeps ( Sub Pop Records - SPP 707987 / 098787079876 ) $3.99


As always I thank my vinyl friend Spyder over at http://dj-spyder.blogspot.com for this great information!

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More Vinyl Releases:

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones: Jingle All the Way (vinyl)
Black Moth Super Rainbow: Drippers EP
Camera Obscura: Underachievers Please Try Harder (vinyl reissue)
Castanets Vs. Ero: Dub Refuge (vinyl)
Civet: Hell Hath No Fury (vinyl)
Darling Downs: From One to Another (vinyl)
Datarock: Computer Camp Love (import single)
Dead Can Dance: Dead Can Dance (vinyl remaster)
The Dead Trees: King of Rosa (vinyl)
Department of Eagles: In Ear Park (vinyl)
Desolation Wilderness: White Light Strobing (vinyl)
Doug Paisley: Doug Paisley (vinyl)
Frida Hyvonen: Silence Is Wild (vinyl)
Grampall Jookabox: Rope Chain (vinyl)
Illa J: Yancey Boys (vinyl)
Kings of Leon: Only By The Night (vinyl)
Lady Gaga: The Fame (vinyl)
Little Joy: Little Joy (vinyl)
Lou Reed: Berlin: Live at St. Ann's Warehouse (vinyl)
Magnetic Fields: Get Lost (vinyl remaster)
Mahjongg: Free Groove Rider (vinyl)
Max Richter: 24 Postcards in Full Color (vinyl)
Megapuss: Surfing (vinyl)
Micah Blue Smaldone: The Red River (vinyl)
No Age: Teen Creeps (vinyl)
OhGr: Devils In My Details (vinyl)
One Day As A Lion: One Day As A Lion (vinyl)
Past Lives: Strange Symmetry(vinyl)
Prototypes: Synthetique (vinyl)
Q-Tip: The Renaissance (vinyl)
Ryan Adams: Cardinology (vinyl)
Skatalites: Stretching Out (2-LP vinyl remaster)
The Streets: Everything Is Borrowed (vinyl)
Thursday / Envy: Split 12" (vinyl)
Tom Gabel: Heart Burns (vinyl)
Wallpaper : On The Chewing Gum Ground (vinyl)
Wild Beasts: Limbo, Panto (vinyl)
Wilderness: (k)no(w)here (vinyl)

This Date In Music History-November 3

Birthdays:

Brian Poole of the Tremeloes is 67.

John Barry ("Goldfinger") turns 75.

Blues vocalist Mabel John, the first woman to sign to Berry Gordy's Tamla label, was born in Detroit in 1930.

Scottish singer Lulu, who went to No. 1 with "To Sir With Love," was born in Glasgow in 1948.

Birthday wishes to rock insect Adam Ant (born as Stuart Goddard in London).

History:

In 1957, Sun Records released Jerry Lewis’s "Great Balls of Fire," written by Otis Blackwell (who penned "Don't Be Cruel" and others for Elvis Presley). By the second week in December, the single is ensconced in the Top Ten on the pop, country and R&B charts. It became the best-selling record in Sun's history.

A song called "He's A Rebel" by the Crystals topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. In reality, the song was recorded by a trio known as the Blossoms, featuring lead singer Darlene Love. Phil Spector had hastily put the song together while The Crystals were out of town and put their name on the label because they had already had two top twenty hits with "There's No Other" and "Uptown".

"Boss Guitar," Duane Eddy’s 15th Top Forty single in less than five years, entered the charts in 1962. It marks the end of an astounding run of instrumental hits for the king of twang.

In 2002, the king of skiffle, Lonnie Donegan, died at the age of 71, midway through a UK tour. One of the most successful recording artists of the pre-Beatles era, Donegan had three number one hits and numerous top 10 entries on the UK chart. In the US he was best known for the top ten hits, "Rock Island Line" and "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Over Night".

The filming for The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour was completed in 1967, finishing with a sequence at Ringo's country house in Weybridge, Surrey, BBC television bought the rights to broadcast the film twice, the first broadcast, in black-and-white was scheduled for December 26, 1967. The second showing, on the color channel BBC2, was not yet available to all Britons, was set for January 5, 1968.

'Too Tough to Die,' among the best of the Ramones’ later albums, is released in 1984.

The Beatles record "Michelle" in 1965.

In 1957, ABC-Paramount released Danny & the Juniors' first hit, "At the Hop". The song sold 7,000 copies in and around Philadelphia when it was first issued on the small independent Singular label.

British musician Robin Scott, using the pseudonym M, topped the US singles chart in 1979 with a techno-pop, dance tune called "Pop Muzik". The record had reached number two in England the previous May.

Billy Ocean started a two week run at #1 on the Billboard singles chart in 1984 with "Caribbean Queen". The song was originally titled "European Queen".

In 1990, The Righteous Brothers' version of "Unchained Melody" rose to #1 on the UK singles chart 25 years after it had first been released. The track had recently been featured in the film Ghost.

In 1973, "Ramblin' Man," by the Allman Brothers Band, reached #2. It was the highest-charting single of their career.

1982-Devo bring their video-synchronized concert experience to Minneapolis. This involves the band performing in front of a giant screen on which are projected films and lyrics. The robotic band also interacts with the clips.

'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet' (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) was a hit in 1974.

Classic Rock Videos

Oldies But Goodies 50's & early 60's Rock & Roll

Blue Note Records to Celebrate 70th With Releases, Concerts & Tributes

Written By: Jeff Tamarkin

In 2009, Blue Note Records will celebrate two milestones when it commemorates both the 70th anniversary of the label’s founding by Alfred Lion, as well as the 25th anniversary of the its re-launch in 1984 under current president Bruce Lundvall. Blue Note plans a range multi-media offerings, including live concerts, special digital and physical reissues and new releases, the Blue Note 7; an all-star tribute band of current jazz luminaries, book releases, festival honors, merchandise and more.

The label’s plans includes:

The Blue Note 7 All-Star Tribute Band Worldwide Tour & Album Release

Events will kick off January 7 with the start of a worldwide tour by the Blue Note 7; an all-star tribute band comprising pianist and musical director Bill Charlap with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash. The tour will hit 50 U.S. cities capped off with a week-long run at Birdland in New York April 14-19. A European tour is planned for October-November. On January 13, the septet will be releasing Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records, an eight-song collection of re-envisioned Blue Note classics.

Blue Note Takes New York

On January 27, Blue Note will kick off a month-long invasion of New York City’s clubs and music halls with two Blue Note legends—Lou Donaldson and Dr. Lonnie Smith—at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Other artists already confirmed throughout the month of February include Anita Baker, Terence Blanchard, Bill Charlap, Robert Glasper, Norah Jones, Joe Lovano, Lionel Loueke, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Willie Nelson, Aaron Parks, Dianne Reeves and Cassandra Wilson. Venues will include the Blue Note Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Standard, Town Hall, and the Village Vanguard.

Blue Note Reissues/Merchandise

In addition to the continuation of Blue Note’s long-running RVG Series (for which the legendary recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder remasters his classic sessions) and Connoisseur Series (featuring lesser-known gems from the catalog), the label will also begin reissuing its core RVG Series titles as vinyl/CD combos. The label will also be making special digital initiatives available on BlueNote.com and via digital retail partners around the world. In addition, during the spring-summer 2009 clothing company Friend or Foe will also present a line of their vintage-look, luxurious-feel t-shirts featuring classic Blue Note cover artwork and many other brand licensing efforts in multiple categories are in the works as Blue Note furthers its efforts of developing Blue Note as a premium lifestyle brand with licensing agent Fusion.

Blue Note Tributes At Festivals Around The World

Throughout 2009 several major jazz festivals will be paying tribute to Blue Note Records. The 6th Annual Portland Jazz Festival in Oregon (February 13-22) will dedicate itself to a 360° celebration of the label—Somethin’ Else: Blue Note Records at 70—featuring performances from Blue Note’s past and present roster, as well as panel discussions about the label’s legacy with Bruce Lundvall, Michael Cuscuna and various jazz artists, writers and historians. In addition, the Blue Note Records Festival in France (March 30-April 11) will be showcasing talent from around the world. Other festivals paying tribute to Blue Note will include the JVC Jazz Festival in New York, Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, and multiple festivals in Europe to be confirmed.

SOURCE: http://jazztimes.com/

Indie record store thrives

I want to thank the author, Liz Wahlman and the publication http://media.www.dailycollegian.com for allowing me to reprint this wonderful story about an independent record store located in Northampton, Mass.

Indie record store thrives

Dynamite Records in NoHo moves to new location with continued success

Written By Liz Wahlman, Collegian Correspondent

(Media Credit: Oliver Scott Snure, Collegian)


The indie record store is a piece of Americana that has influenced the lives of adolescents throughout the latter part of the 20th century. It's a home where the smell of vinyl is the only air freshener, and friendships form out of a love for Glenn Danzig. It's a place where local, music-obsessed individuals can interact with others like themselves while surrounded by the thriving force of good music. However, in the age of iPods, MP3s and music piracy, this important piece of American culture is becoming as outdated as hair metal.

One independent record store in Northampton, Mass., won't let the age of iTunes bring them down. Dynamite Records opened in 1982, and is the longest running independent record store in western Massachusetts. Dynamite started in the back of a station wagon in front of the Amherst Post Office, then moved on to spend 20 years in Thornes Marketplace. Recently, it moved to 33 Main Street in Northampton, between Lucky's Tattoo and Piercing and La Veracruzana. When Dynamite was invited to use the store front on Main Street, owner Ronnie Kwon jumped at the opportunity.

"We spent 20 years in Thornes, and we had really outgrown it," said Kwon. "We wanted a more visible location, since Dynamite had become a local secret that was difficult to find."

The store is as cozy as any home, with hardwood floors and an actual living room display in the front window, and an array of artists swarming the shelves. Dynamite Records specializes in new and used vinyl records, but also carries a wide variety of new and used CDs, pins, patches and posters.

"There's a lot of love in Dynamite Records, and that's why I love it," said Kwon. "I love records; I love the way they look, the way they sound, the way they feel, just everything about them."

The music industry is at a noteworthy place at this point in time. With the emergence of MP3s and digital file sharing, shelves containing a music library have been reduced to a hard drive that can crash at any time. The current echo boomer generation has taken creativity and good music for granted. Many people have substituted quality for convenience, and face-to-face communication for computers. Buying music online is nothing like going into a store and having the power to listen to everything happening around you.

"Independent record stores allow us to bypass what's playing on the top 40 and fill our ears with something real, something with heart," said UMass senior and psychology major, Rachel Schein. "It'll change your perspective on what music's all about."

However, it seems as if more and more people are trading the experience of a record store for the cheap thrill of a download timer. It has been proven however, that MP3s have a far worse sound quality than CDs or even records. In order to fit an MP3 onto an MP3 player, the file from a CD has to be compressed to an extremely small size. As a result, the song may sound much different, and small subtleties, like key changes, can't be detected by the listener. Yet many people, both young and old, are standing by their vinyl. Kwon has faith in his store and doesn't believe he'll lose many customers as a result of this new technology.

"There's always going to be change," said Kwon. "I think you have to learn to adapt and evolve and know that people still value music. We choose our standards and we have a lot of loyal customers."

One can truly feel at ease and at home inside Dynamite. There's always good music playing as the gazes of Siouxsie Sioux and Robert Smith look down from displayed posters. The store has a very relaxed atmosphere, where no one peers over your shoulder and you're allowed to be with the music in your own way.

"I think independent record stores are a good idea; keeps the small businesses up and running, and the awareness that records are still being produced and used," said Hampshire College student Taylor "Matchstick" McNeilly. "[Records have] a very different quality of sound, and are definitely enjoyable. I'm glad such places as Dynamite Records are still around, because it really lends something to the culture."

Dynamite Records also tries to help local artists obtain success by offering them a place to perform. The shop often has artists perform in the store itself or in the display windows. This gesture is how Mr. Kwon and his employees give back to the community.

"I feel like there are fewer opportunities than before for local artists to get out there," said Kwon. "Even in New York, there aren't a lot of places where local artists can perform. Music is such an important part of people's lives and of important value in communities. Dynamite Records has always been a community store and will always be a community store."

While Kwon is giving back to the artists, the artists are giving back to the record stores. Record Store Day, which will be celebrated on April 18, 2009, aims to make people more aware of the culture and history that record stores have.

On their Web site, Recordstoreday.com, Boston native Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls said, "My early record shopping experiences were my musical backdrop… it's not just the ability to touch, see and smell an album and the artwork ... it's the fact that you're in a real place with real people ... you can't get that feeling sitting behind your computer, ever."

Kwon doesn't wait for April to celebrate his love of music. To him, every day is Record Store Day.

"I just hope people still enjoy the experience of buying music," he said. "If you don't know what that is, come on in and we'll show you."

Independent record stores, their employees and their loyal customers are filled with a passion for music. They do more than just hear music; they can see it and feel it. It's a part of them. To them, shopping for music is more than just retail therapy, it's a ritual. It's not something they do, but something they experience. Independent record stores are alive today because of the people who want to have that experience.

Dynamite Records is located at 33 Main Street in Northampton.

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