The vinyl record collecting blog - with news about new vinyl record releases, vinyl record sales, new music releases, album cover art and weekly features
Cowboy Junkies are set to release Renmin Park – The Nomad Series Volume 1 on October 25th through Proper Records in the UK.
Renmin Park was inspired by a three-month stay that Michael Timmins and his family spent in China—which he describes as "an other-worldly experience"— Renmin Park is the first of four releases planned over the next 18 months, collectively titled "The Nomad Series."
The album will be followed by 'Demons,' on which Cowboy Junkies will cover the songs of their late friend Vic Chesnutt, who passed away in December 2009.
"His catalogue is so deep and, for the most part, so overlooked," said Michael. "It will be a labor of love." The final two volumes of the Nomad Series will be titled Sing in My Meadow, the contents of which are still being discussed, and The Wilderness, a full album of new songs, some of which ("Angel In The Wilderness," "Fairytale," "The Confession of Georgie E") the band has already introduced on stage.
The band’s recently revamped website will play an important role in the Nomad Series by taking fans inside the creative process and after all four volumes are released, plans call for a book that will delve into the character, nature, and inspiration behind each of the albums. Michael sums up the band's motivation for taking on such a massive project quite simply:
"The main reason for wanting to do it," he says, "is that, as we steam through our twenty-fifth year, we feel that we have the energy and inspiration to pull it off."
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Weezer's Death to False Metal album cover
Considering their controversial album cover for their new album 'Hurley,' Weezer is doing it again with something that is even more bizarre. The cover for their upcoming b-sides and rarities album 'Death to False Metal' has a strange title and equally strange cover art.
The cover does not include the band's logo or any reference to their name. The artwork is a painting of people working on an idyllic farm.
'Death to False Metal' and a deluxe edition of Weezer's 'Pinkerton' LP are both scheduled to be released this November 2.
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Monster Magnet to release Mastermind
MONSTER MAGNET is set to release their long-awaited new album 'Mastermind' on October 26. AOL Music's Noisecreep premiered the brand new MONSTER MAGNET music video – for the album's roll out single “Gods and Punks." The video was directed by Nathan "Karma" Cox (Queens of the Stone Age, Linkin Park, HIM) and tells the story of “a Super Villain down on his luck” whose “life's mission is to destroy the planet” trying to find a way to make his way back to “respectable evil genus status.”
The album's cover artwork was designed by Invisible Creature (Wolfmother, Chris Cornell, Foo Fighters).
"I'm extremely proud of this new album," says Wyndorf. "It's a big, beefy ball of demented anthems and power rock. The music itself is exaggerated and muscular; like classic rock gone insane! Giant hooks, giant sounds. The rockers are direct and intense. The ballads; trippy and strange. It's guitar heaven."
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Bloodsoaked Reveals New Album "The Death Of Hope" Details
North Carolina's Bloodsoaked has issued the following announcement about revealing the cover artwork for the new album "The Death of Hope:"
"Here it is, the brand new cover art and track listing. The two re-recorded songs are my two favorite songs from the first CD that I feel deserve a much better production. I have been writing the entire new CD with Brent Williams, the drummer for Atrocious Abnormality. Brent has sparked new blood in the writing process as will be very evident once the recording is complete.
"At this time it is still un-clear if I will record with Brent or stick with the programmed drums. Shane McFee is still programming my live drums as he did on the last Bloodsoaked album 'Sadistic Deeds Grotesque Memories.' The cover art for the new CD was done by Jumali Katani, the complete layout will be done by Steve/Comatose Music."
Track list:
1. Wading The Blood Pools
2. Forever Damned
3. Obsessed With Hate
4. No God
5. Consume The Flesh
6. The Death of Hope
7. Infestation
8. TBA
9. Self Mutilation (re-recorded)
10. Grinding Your Guts (re-recorded)
IN the late summer of 1968, Big Brother and the Holding Company had nearly finished recording “Cheap Thrills” when Janis Joplin, the band’s singer, slipped the drummer Dave Getz a set of lyrics she’d handwritten to accompany a piano riff he had been practicing. The song, “Can’t Be the Only One,” with words by Joplin and music by Mr. Getz, was something of a parting gift. Within days, Joplin gathered her band mates in a room at the Chelsea Hotel and announced that she was going solo.
This April Mr. Getz, still drumming with Big Brother, released “Can’t Be the Only One,” the first solo album of his career, which includes two versions of the bluesy title song. Mr. Getz had 500 copies of the CD made, selling them through iTunes and other Internet sites.
As he expected, Mr. Getz immediately heard from Joplin’s heirs: “I got an e-mail saying, ‘You can’t do this. Anything involving the Joplin estate has to go through us.’ ” Not for the first time throughout an often contentious four-decade relationship with the Joplin family, Mr. Getz sought legal advice, and he was assured of his rights as the song’s co-author, he said.
Joplin died of a heroin overdose at 27, alone in a Los Angeles motel room in the early morning hours of Oct. 4, 1970. Yet “Can’t Be the Only One” is one of the few projects coinciding with the 40th anniversary of her passing.
“We don’t celebrate her death,” said Laura Joplin, the singer’s sister, who controls the Joplin estate with her brother, Michael Joplin. “We celebrate her life.”
Some Joplin fans wonder whether there has been enough celebrating at all. The singer’s faded cultural presence suggests a failure to groom a legacy lately reduced to pale imitations on “American Idol.”
Consider this year’s tide of memorial offerings sanctioned by the Jimi Hendrix estate for the guitarist, whose own drug-related death occurred 16 days before Joplin’s. Last spring’s acclaimed “Valleys of Neptune” CD of previously unreleased material will be followed by next month’s boxed set, “West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology.”
The dearth of significant, unheard Joplin recordings — a five-CD boxed set in 1999 essentially cleared the vaults — has presented an obstacle to maintaining Joplin’s presence in the marketplace. But now the Joplins have recruited, for the first time, a professional estate manager, Jeffrey Jampol, to develop business opportunities and guide the career of a singer dead since Nixon’s first term.
His firm, Jampol Artist Management in Los Angeles, handles the estates of the Doors frontman Jim Morrison, the country rocker Gram Parsons, the reggae legend Peter Tosh and the ’80s funk star Rick James. Mr. Jampol has an ambitious blueprint to end what he calls Joplin’s “fallow period.” Working closely with the Joplins, he has sketched a one- to three-year business plan that includes Made for Pearl, a Joplin-inspired line of jewelry, accessories and clothing based on items worn by the singer; at least two books (a follow-up to Laura Joplin’s 1992 “Love, Janis” and a critical appreciation); vinyl collector editions of her albums; two reproductions of her Gibson Hummingbird guitar; an iPhone app allowing custom mixes of Joplin songs; and the tour of the Strange Kozmic Experience exhibition of Joplin, Hendrix and Morrison memorabilia, now at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
Mr. Jampol, a producer of this year’s Doors documentary, “When You’re Strange,” is also working with Spitfire Pictures on a feature-length Joplin documentary, with access to rarely seen footage shot by Joplin’s road manager John Byrne Cooke. In addition, Mr. Jampol said the Joplin estate would next year co-produce “One Night With Janis,” a touring theatrical production of Joplin songs.
In several phone interviews Mr. Jampol emphasized his intention to expand the Joplin enterprise while honoring the singer’s “authenticity.” In choosing projects, he said, “the first question we ask is, Will this stand proudly next to Monterey Pop and ‘Me and Bobby McGee?’ ”
Indeed, Mr. Getz said that when he questioned Mr. Jampol about the estate’s initial opposition to “Can’t Be the Only One,” he was told that a “new” Joplin-penned song, even without her vocals, would be squandered on such a small-scale project. (Mr. Jampol confirmed the phone call with Mr. Getz but declined to discuss details.)
As Mr. Getz remembers it, “I told him, Look Jeff, I have three boxes of CDs in my house.
“Get me Pink to sing it, get me Stevie Nicks to sing it, get me anyone, and I’ll take my CDs and throw them in the garbage. But I’m 70 years old. I don’t have forever to wait.”
Mr. Jampol’s presence might provide a new avenue of communication between the singer’s family and her old band mates. Profits from the two albums Joplin made with Big Brother, notably “Cheap Thrills” and its hit single “Piece of My Heart,” are split among the three surviving band members (Mr. Getz, Sam Andrew and Peter Albin) and the estates of Joplin and the guitarist James Gurley, who died last year.
The Joplin and Big Brother camps have often been less than friendly. Ms. Joplin described the partnership now as “cordial.”
“They thought we murdered Janis, not to put too fine a point on it,” Mr. Andrew said. “They thought we brought her into a room and shot her full of heroin. They were from Port Arthur, Tex. How would they know what it was like?”
Among the less-considered ramifications of rock star deaths are the mismatched partnerships left in their wakes as grieving families struggle to make sense of careers they didn’t choose.
Laura Joplin was 21 when her sister died and 27 when she and her brother stepped in for their aging parents to run the family business. “I had an incredible amount of grief over Janis’s death,” Ms. Joplin said from her home in Paradise, Calif. Running her sister’s estate “was not something I intended to do, and certainly not something you can get a lot of training in.”
“Neither my brother nor I were involved in the entertainment industry,” she added. “We were isolated from connections.”
And now, Ms. Joplin said, the seismic shifts in the post-digital music industry demand an expertise she and her brother (who lives in Tucson) lack. “At this point I think someone else can do this better than we can,” she said.
One thing that would boost Joplin’s 21st-century profile is a feature film. The Joplin siblings sold considerable song rights and life rights to Sony Pictures during the 1990s, and so relinquished any significant control over their sister’s cinematic portrayal. Sony later sold the rights to the producer Peter Newman, whose credits include the critically lauded film “The Squid and the Whale,” and whose commitment to a Joplin biopic is undaunted after more than a decade of unsuccessful attempts. “We’re in the final stages of closing a deal with a highly respected director who is noteworthy for his innovative approach to rock topics,” Mr. Newman said in an e-mail last month.
Mr. Newman might have competition. Temple Hill Entertainment, the production company behind the blockbuster “Twilight” vampire movies, confirmed in July that it had signed the actress Amy Adams and the director Fernando Meirelles for a Joplin biopic. (Ms. Adams and Mr. Meirelles declined to comment; neither Mr. Newman nor Temple Hill have secured financing for their projects.)
Temple Hill’s announcement set the stage for a potential replay of the 1990s duel between Lakeshore Entertainment’s planned Joplin vehicle for, variously, Renée Zellweger, Melissa Etheridge and Brittany Murphy, and the Sony project, which Mr. Newman was co-producing for, also variously, the actresses Lili Taylor and Zooey Deschanel, and the singer Pink.
Neither film came to fruition, joining other Joplin movie projects killed by script problems, a tangle of legal rights and the ego clashes among the people who claim a piece of the singer. Myra Friedman, Joplin’s friend and publicist, who wrote the 1973 biography “Buried Alive,” said she’s all but abandoned hope that a film would be made from her book. Hundreds of pages of documents — contracts, film option agreements, memorandums, old scripts, yellowing correspondence with agents and producers, some dating back to the 1970s — line the closet shelves of her Manhattan apartment.
Ms. Friedman, perusing the documents one hot day last summer, recalled a June evening 40 years earlier, when she accompanied Joplin to a taping of “The Dick Cavett Show.” Ms. Friedman sat in the studio audience as Joplin, her hair streaked with a rainbow of feather boas, told Cavett of plans to attend her 10th high school reunion in Texas. She’d be dead within months, but at that moment (still available on YouTube) Joplin looked like God’s idea of a rock star.
Legendary singer Janis Joplin was found dead at the Landmark Hotel Hollywood in 1970, after an accidental heroin overdose.
J. Frank Wilson ("Last Kiss) died of a heart attack on October 4, 1991.
Canadian bassist Bruce Palmer died of a heart attack in 2004. Member of The Mynah Birds and The Buffalo Springfield. Also worked with Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and Neil Young.
History:
Winners for 1957's annual NME readers poll included Pat Boone who was voted the world's #1 singer, with Elvis Presley voted second.
Bob Dylan played a showcase at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1961 - to 53 people.
In 1963, Eric Clapton was asked to join the Yardbirds to replace Anthony "Top" Topham.
In 1963, the Beatles made their first appearance on the UK TV pop show 'Ready Steady Go!' They lip-synch "She Loves You" and "Twist And Shout."
The Byrds played the first of a 13 night run at The Village Gate, New York City in 1966.
Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1969 with 'Green River.'
The Beatles 'Abbey Road' album went to #1 on the UK chart in 1969. The cover supposedly contained clues adding to the ‘Paul Is Dead’ phenomenon: Paul is barefoot and the car number plate ‘LMW 281F’ supposedly referred to the fact that McCartney would be 28 years old if he was still alive. ‘LMW’ was said to stand for ‘Linda McCartney Weeps.’ And the four Beatles, represent; the priest (John, dressed in white), the Undertaker (Ringo in a black suit), the Corpse (Paul, in a suit but barefoot), and the Gravedigger (George, in jeans and a denim work shirt).
The song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" was released by Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1969.
In 1971, Pink Floyd played the first of four nights at the Roman Ampitheater, Pompeii, Italy for their Live in Pompeii album.
The BBC broadcast the 500th edition of UK music show Top Of The Pops in 1973. Slade, Gary Glitter and The Osmonds all appeared.
In 1973, a San Francisco Stephen Stills & Manassas concert turned into a reunion when David Crosby and Graham Nash joined Stills onstage. A bit later Neil Young showed up and it’s CSN&Y.
'Walls And Bridges' was released by John Lennon in 1974.
Pink Floyd’s album “Wish You Were Here” topped the charts in 1975.
In 1980, Carly Simon collapsed on stage during a show in Pittsburgh suffering from nervous exhaustion. The tour was canceled.
Queen started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1980 with "Another One Bites The Dust."
In 1980, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks present a platinum record to the USC Marching Band for their contributions to 'Tusk.'
Winners in the Melody Makers readers poll in 1980 included, Kate Bush who won Best female singer, Peter Gabriel won Best male singer, Best guitarist went to Ritchie Blackmore, Phil Collins won Best drummer, Genesis won Band of the year, Best single went to Pink Floyd for "Another Brick in The Wall" and Saxon won brightest hope.
The Smiths made their live debut at the Ritz in Manchester England in 1982.
The group Squeeze broke up in 1982.
Muggers attacked CBS News anchor Dan Rather in 1986 and yell “What’s The Frequency Kenneth?” Later, R.E.M. turns this bizarre incident into a song.
In 1996, Roger Miller was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Also in 1996 - Van Halen announced that Gary Cherone, formerly of Extreme, would be the singer that would replace Sammy Hagar.
Boyz II Men went to No.1 on the US singles chart in 1997 with "4 Seasons Of Loneliness," the group's fifth US #1.
In 1997 - Farm Aid '97 raised over $1 million for U.S. farmers.
It was reported in 1999 that the sister of Jimi Hendrix was planning to exhume her brothers body and move it to a pay-to view mausoleum. Other plans for the new site included a chance for fans to buy one of burial plots around the guitarist's new resting-place.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concluded their 2002-03 world tour at NY’s Shea Stadium in 2003. It’s the 120th show of the 14 month tour. Bob Dylan shows up to perform “Highway 61 Revisited.”
In 2004, Elton John takes the stage to rip Madonna’s nomination as the Best Live Act. "Since when has lip-synching been live?" John asks rhetorically. "Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay to see them should be shot.” Chick fight!!...
In 2006, Dave Grohl fulfillled his promise to drink a beer with an Australian miner named Brant Webb who asked to hear Foo Fighters music while he was trapped underground for nearly two weeks. Grohl performed a new instrumental song called "The Ballad Of Beaconsfield Miners" during the Foo Fighters' acoustic concert in Sydney. After the show Grohl hooked up with Webb and his friends for a brew or two.
The legendary Jerry Lee Lewis performed (with Neil Young on hand) on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman in 2006 to promote his album “Last Man Standing” (Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash & Elvis Presley of the so-called Million Dollar Quartet are deceased - hence the title).
Former R Kelly employee (who claimed to have been a “mentor and guide” to Kelly since he was a teenager) Henry Vaughn filed a lawsuit against the singer in 2006, accusing him of assault, false imprisonment and a breach of contract that defrauded him of songwriting royalties. Vaughn also claimed that Kelly and his associates dragged him to the basement at Kelly’s Olympia Fields home and “repeatedly struck him about the face and body with his fists."
In 2007, producer Phil Spector was set to be retried for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson following the collapse of the first trial in Sept of this year. The first trial ended with the jury deadlocked 10-2 favouring conviction. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler set another hearing for the case on October 23.
Also in 2007, the Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time with their A Bigger Bang tour. T he tour which ran from late 2005 to August 2007, earned the band $437 million with The Stones playing to over 3.5 million people at 113 shows. The previous high was set by U2's Vertigo tour, which took place in 2005 and 2006, which earned $389 million.
Neil Young Official Release Series Discs 1-4 Box Set (new reissue) Neil Young Warner Brothers/Reprise 4 180g LP, numbered Box Set Produced by: Neil Young, Jack Nitzsche, David Briggs, Elliot Mazer, others Engineered by: various engineers Mixed by: various mixers Mastered by: Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Music
Sound
Available Again For a Short Time!: Neil Young's Upcoming Four 180g LP Box Set!
by Michael Fremer
September 01, 2010
When Buffalo Springfield broke up, Neil Young set about building his solo career. The high-production work with Jack Nitzsche that had created classics like “Expecting to Fly” and “Broken Arrow” brought Neil back to the producer/keyboardist/orchestrator, who gained fame working with Phil Spector but the results on Young’s eponymous debut album were not as memorable. In fact, many critics and fans alike back in 1969 considered the album a disappointment and a misstep.
The “overproduction” charge was compounded by two issues: first was the original mix that buried Young’s voice, second was the label’s disastrous choice to master using the Haeco-CSG system. Invented by Howard Holzer, A&M’s chief engineer, Haeco-CSG was about cost cutting not sonic improvement.
By the late ‘60s, stereo had taken hold among album buying youngsters but most rock was still heard on AM radio or FM in the car, which was mostly monophonic. Stereo records played back monophonically usually produced terrible results: folding stereo down to mono upped common L/R information by 3 dB, which is major. That means vocals placed in both channels so they’d appear in the phantom center channel would be way too loud in mono. Not many rock singers of the era needed that kind of exposure, so Holzer invented a system to deal with the problem.
Unfortunately, his solution was to phase-shift common L/R right information so that it didn’t get the 3dB boost. Imagine, though, what happened to image focus and soundstage clarity! It produced a sonic mess that ruined many releases of the era, including Neil’s debut and Roots The Everly Brothers’ superb “comeback” album that inexplicably hasn’t been reissued yet on vinyl.
Neil remixed the first album, made sure it was mastered without Haeco-CSG and put a wide banner with his name on it at the top of the front cover in an effort to save the debut but it was too late. The album never recovered. Relatively rare original pressings with the first cover, mix and Haeco-CSG processing were quite collectible for a time, going for hundreds of dollars. I’m not sure what the going rate is today.
Time has actually been kind to Young’s debut. “The Loner” and “I’ve Been Waiting For You” are fuzz-tone laden standouts. “I’ve Loved Her Too Long” maintains its warm grip and even the surreal, Dylanesque overreach of “The Last Trip to Tulsa,” with Young’s acoustic guitar center stage and his voice off on the right channel, arrives nicely burnished through the time tunnel.
One could argue that the first album isn’t a high priority but no one would say that of the next three in this four, 180g LP box set: Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, After the Goldrush and Harvest.
With a set list that includes “Cinnamon Girl,” the title tune, “Round and Round,” “Down By The River,” and “Cowgirl In The Sand,” the second album with Crazy Horse is a hard-rocking, no-nonsense follow-up to the tentative debut and contains no filler. But surely you didn’t need to be told that.
Nor do you need to be told about the enduring folk/rock brilliance of After the Goldrush or Young’s greatest album chart success Harvest. If you do, you’re not forking over the big bucks for this 180g box set anyway. You’re more likely to opt for a 140g individual album or two.
What you’re really interested in hearing about is the sound quality of these reissues. But first a word about the packaging: Warner Brothers has gone to the trouble and expense of using deluxe paper over cardboard jackets that are authentic to the originals, though there are barcodes, new catalog numbers and updated mastering credits— all tastefully and respectfully done. All original posters and inserts are included. Pick up the new Harvest and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell it from the original, so perfectly does the new, thick outer paper stock match the original.
What’s very different about these reissues though, is the sound: I have multiple originals of all of them, including both the original Haeco-CSG version of the debut album and the re-do (obviously, though Warner Brothers and Young went with the original cover, the second mix was used) and I have to tell you, these reissues, mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman and pressed at Pallas in Germany (buy a copy of my second DVD It’s a Vinyl World, After All and you can take a guided tour of Pallas, shot in high definition), sound far superior to the originals.
Look, I’ve been listening to these four albums for up to forty years now and I was not prepared for what I heard on all four of these albums. Grundman’s chain is sounding better than ever after what I hear are a series of upgrades.
Starting with the second album, Young arranged for multiple voices, often his own multi-tracked, but never before have the individual voices been so clearly locked in three dimensional space and timbrally distinct. The way the voices project into 3D space (including Young’s main centered one) is positively eerie (assuming your system can reproduced this, because trust me, it’s in the grooves in a way it’s not on the originals). Instrumental textures are far richer, fuller and better defined. Harmonics are fully fleshed out. Reverb trails extend to infinity before disappearing into background pitch blackness. There is so much more there there in every respect, it’s almost stupefying.
You can see Young before the microphone and experience every little vocal tick and breath pressurization. It’s not important because you can hear these details. It’s important because hearing them imparts greater meaning to the proceeding and certainly a greater appreciation of his singing and the deliberateness of his communications skills.
I wish I could tell you that the 140g versions, pressed, I assume, from the same stampers, sounded as good, but even correcting for the VTA/SRA differences, they don’t. They do sound plenty good, mind you, and better than the originals, but not quite as good as the 180g versions contained in the box set. And good as the Blu-ray versions are at 192k/24 bit, they don’t touch the vinyl.
So, my advice is: when the numbered, limited edition box is finally introduced shortly, if you’re as big a Neil fan as I am, don’t hesitate until it’s too late. Buy and enjoy this box set.
Warner Brothers, thanks to the tireless and meticulous efforts of Warner Brothers Senior Vice President and vinyl fanatic Tom Biery, demonstrates yet again, that it is possible for a major label to do vinyl correctly: cutting from analog masters, pressing at the best plants and packaging to provide fans with the genuine experience. It’s sad that the others don’t have the will to properly manage the task.
Maxwell Smart is a ska/punk band from California's San Fernando Valley. They have been steadily making danceable music since Jan. 2007. This record entitled "Infinite Appeal" has just that, a conscious effort to keep the genre of ska alive.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 01, 2010 – Do you get tired of hearing the same old songs on the radio? Are you looking for something fresh and new, but also tried and true? Look no further! Maxwell Smart are here to lift your spirits! The Band was formed in January of 2007 and released their first self titled EP in November of 2007. Coming from the ashes of a legendary SFV ska band "eleven penny life", Maxwell Smart made it their mission to enlighten and coerce EVERYONE into liking ska music.
Its members include Eduardo Lizarraga on drums, Tristan Garcia on bass guitar, Pedro Ramirez on Trombone, Eddie Martinez on Trumpet, Ian Anderson on Baritone Sax, and Brandon Maxwell on Lead Vocals and Guitar.
Maxwell Smart just recently played Pomona California's SKA IN THE PARK concert series, the Carson, CA stop of the VANS WARPED TOUR on the Kevin Says stage and have shared the stage with bands such as Big D and the Kids Table, Mustard Plug, Warsaw Poland Bros., Fishbone, and Suburban Legends, just to name a few.
The band has played such venues as The Glasshouse in Pomona, The Fox Theatre, The Home Depot Center, The Knitting Factory Hollywood, The Whiskey, The Roxy, The Cat Club, The Cobalt, Paladinos, The Little Rock, and many many more.
Maxwell Smart has become a prominent name in the Southern CA music scene, and will continue to make records for everyone's enjoyment well into the twilight of their lives.
# # #
About Maxwell Smart: A ska band coming from the San Fernando Valley. Dedicated to making great music for an energetic new audience.
Mike Rutherford, guitar, Genesis & Mike And The Mechanics (1950)
Gordon Sumner - Police, solo Due to a fondness for a black and yellow striped jersey he acquired the name Sting (1951)
Phil Oakey - Human League (1955)
Soul singer Freddie Jackson (1956)
Sigtryggur Baldursson - Sugarcubes (1962)
Bud Graugh - Sublime (1967)
Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough) (1969)
Mall queen Tiffany (1971)
LaTocha Scott - Xscape (1973)
They Are Missed:
America's singing cowboy Gene Autry died in 1998 (age 91). During his career he scored 25 successive Top 10 Country hits. In 1995 it was estimated he was worth $320 million.
History:
DeFord Baily recorded eight masters in Nashville, TN in 1928. The songs that were issued were the first recording sessions to be made in what is now known as Music City, USA.
In 1954, Elvis Presley made his only appearance on Nashville's "Grand Ole Opry" (the Opry manager told him to stick to driving a truck).
US band vocalist from the 1940s, Don Cornell was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1954 with "Hold My Hand." This song was banned by the BBC for the words 'kingdom of heaven'.
Connie Francis recorded her immortal cut "Who's Sorry Now" in 1957.
Phil Spector and partner Lester Sill released the first single in 1961 on their new label Philles, The Crystals’, "Oh Yeah Maybe Baby." A little over a year later, they had a #1 hit with "He’s a Rebel" and soon after, "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me."
'Banks of the Ohio' was released by Joan Baez in 1961.
The Who made their debut on US TV in 1965 on the show "Shindig!"
In 1965, the McCoys were at #1 on the US singles chart in 1965 with "Hang On Sloopy." The song was first released by The Vibrations and called "My Girl Sloopy."
In 1965, Manfred Mann became the first Western rock band to play behind the Iron Curtain, in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
The Grateful Dead (all six members), were arrested for possession of marijuana in 1967. They were released six hours later on bail.
Rod Stewart started a five week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1971 with "Maggie May / Reason To Believe," his first solo #1 hit. Stewarts album 'Every Picture Tells A Story' also started a four-week run on this day at #1 on the UK and US chart.
In 1975, a bomb scare canceled a Bruce Springsteen concert in Milwaukee. The show was re-scheduled for midnight. Meanwhile Springsteen has a few drinks at the hotel and rode on the hood of a car back to the concert hall. A journalist writes “I have seen the future of Rock & Roll and he’s on my windshield.”
In 1976, John Belushi came out on stage with Joe Cocker while he was performing on "Saturday Night Live."
"Tonight's The Night" by Rod Stewart was released in 1976.
In 1977, the body of Elvis Presley and his mother Gladys were moved from the cemetery where they were buried to Graceland's after an unsuccessful attempt was made to body snatch the coffin.
Also in 1977, Gene Simmons (KISS) received a platinum record for his solo album.
In 1980, Leaveil Degree from the soul group The Whispers started a two-year prison sentence in Boron California for his part in diamond robbery.
1982, John Cougar started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1982 with "Jack and Diane," his first US #1 hit.
Rush’s “Signals” entered the LP charts in 1982. In addition, The Clash’s “Rock The Casbah” hits the singles charts. And at a benefit concert in England, current members of Genesis (Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks) were joined by past members Steve Hackett and Peter Gabriel.
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was at #1 on the US singles chart in 1983 with the Jim Steinman written and produced track "Total Eclipse Of The Heart." It made her the only Welsh artist to score a US #1.
Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." tour ended in 1985 in Los Angeles, CA .
The Prince single "America" was released in 1985.
In 1994, John Mellencamp announced that it was true - that he had suffered a mild heart attack.
Oasis released their second album '(What's The Story), Morning Glory' in 1995, which entered the UK chart at #1.
Iron Maiden's tenth album "The X Factor" was released in 1995. It was the first album to include Blaze Bayley as vocalist.
In 1996, a Pearl Jam show in Hartford Connecticut ended in a riot when mass fighting broke out among the 30,000 strong crowds.
In 1997, Juanita L. Evans filed suit against Wu-Tang members RZA and Method Man, rapper Redman, and a Pennsylvania university and its student government. Evans claimed that she was distracted by Redman and therefore did not see Method Man when he leapt off stage and landed on her. Evans was knocked unconscious.
Radiohead's fourth album, "Kid A", was released in 2000.
Come Together: A Night For John Lennon’s Words and Music was held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in 2001. Dave Matthews and the Stone Temple Pilots are among the performers.
In 2002, Adam Ant (yes, that Adam Ant!) escaped a prison sentence after a judge ruled that an incident in which he threatened drinkers with a replica pistol in a London pub was a result of mental illness. The 1980's pop star had been voluntarily having psychiatric treatment since the incident.
Robbie Williams signed the most lucrative British record deal in history in 2002 when he signed with EMI records for £80m (over 125 million). Asked what he was going to do with money Robbie said, "I'm going to count it all." Can I help?
In 2003, police were called to a suspected burglary at the Los Angeles house of Courtney Love's former boyfriend and ex-manager Jim Barber in the early hours. Love was picked up in the street outside and detained - with officers noting "Miss Love's behaviour was consistent with being under the influence of a controlled substance." Shortly after her arrest, Love was taken to hospital with a suspected drug overdose. Real smart.......
In 2006, the second leg of the Rolling Rock and Roll Show cranks up with The Romantics and Shadows Of Knight. The Garage Rock-themed tour featuring ‘60s bands was organized by E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt. The first stop was San Diego.
Matchbox 20 released 'Exile On Mainstream' in 2007.
John Fogerty's LP 'Revival,' with the single, "Don't You Wish It Was True," was released in 2007. Recorded in L.A., the disc's title references the singer-guitarist’s former band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, as does the track, "Creedence Song." Fogerty also appears on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman to promote the album.
Bruce Springsteen released 'Magic' in 2007. The 11-track album was his first in five years (since '02's 'The Rising') with the E Street Band. "You could say that it's a little more sonically guitar-driven than any past Bruce album," says Jon Landau, Springsteen's long-time manager. A single, "Radio Nowhere," was initially available as a free download exclusively at iTunes. Springsteen and Co. also kicked off a North American tour in Hartford, CT.
Songs by Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan were free at Starbucks locations in 2007 via "Song of the Day" cards that are redeemable at iTunes. During the month-long promotion Starbucks issued 1.5 million free downloads per day.
In 2007, Britney Spears was ordered to hand over her two young children to her former husband Kevin Federline by a judge in Los Angeles. The court ruled that Federline would be given custody of Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James, until further notice. Last month Judge Scott Gordon had said Ms Spears showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol." The singer was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week as part of her child custody dispute with Mr Federline. Idiot......
The Unseen Beatles, a DVD with rare footage of the lads from Liverpool, was in stores in 2007. The 65-minute documentary has interviews and personal home movies of the band shot in the '50s and '60s.
Elton 60: Live at Madison Square Garden, a two-DVD set documenting John's 60th birthday concert (earlier in the year) in New York was released in 2007.
"The Best Of Steely Dan: The Millennium Collection" was also released in 2007.
An eBay auction to help pay the medical bills of founding Poco drummer George Grantham, who suffered a debilitating stroke in '04, got underway in 2007. Items for sale during the weeklong auction were contributed by ex-Poco/Buffalo Springfield member Richie Furay, Graham Nash and the Eagles' Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit.
Mott The Hoople's five original members reunited in 2009 for the first of two London concerts to commemorate the band's 40th anniversary. "Why are we doing it? I can't speak for the others, but I'm doing it just to see what it's like," writes frontman Ian Hunter. A second show is the following day. Cool......
For the serious vintage music listener there is no turntable out there I know of with the speed flexibility to accommodate for the many different types of records made over time.
Bowers & Wilkins CM9 loudspeakers, Bowers & Wilkins Signature 8NT loudspeakers, Bowers & Wilkins 804 Diamond Speakers, Meridian 568.2MM Preamplifier, McIntosh MC402 Amplifier, Sunfire Cinema Grand Amplifier, Krell S-300i Integrated Amplifier, Sonneteer Sedley Phono Preamplifier, Benz L2 and Grado 78E phono cartridge (mono 78), Furman Elite 15i Power Conditioner, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, Audioquest, Canare, DeCorp cables, McIntosh MCD301 CD Player, Tascam US-122 MKII external sound mixer, Dell Studio 1537 Laptop, Audacity 1.3 recording software.
Setup and Impressions
In the early days of my retail career (in the 90s) I would occasionally have customers interested in variable speed turntables that could play 78 rpm records. In those days I remember a leaflet that Esoteric put out listing their various Technics modded 78 rpm players. It’s only fitting that I’ve finally received one of their players for review. This, however, is not simply an upgraded Technics.
When I first pulled the Rondine out of the box I thought that the table looked a little bit homebrewed. The arm looks like one manufactured from Jelco (similar to the Sumiko MMT and the arms from Audioquest). The control box is metal and mounted underneath the plinth. The screws that protrude from it will scratch the platform surface unless the supplied Vibrapod feet are utilized. These just sit under the pillars at each corner of the table, so placement is a bit delicate as there is no way to level the table. The plinth is fairly heavy and vinyl-covered, but the cutout for the motor is not fully hidden by the platter. The spindle comes off which seems like an advantage, but it would occasionally also come off when I just lifted the record off the platter.
The headshell is detachable, which is advantageous for those who will be using a variety of cartridges. Set up and alignment was no more difficult than the last few turntables I’ve used. There is a VTA adjustment, but I didn’t need it as I was right on the money with the L2 (although it is a little hard to get at). Azimuth is adjusted right on the headshell itself by a small setscrew.
The dust cover was a pain to get on as the hinges require prying open (with a flathead screwdriver) while sliding the plastic lid into them. The lid is rounded on the one side, but whether I put this part in front or back it did not line up with the front edge of the table. There are some rubber pads on the plinth up front to cushion the lid as it comes down. I’m not a big fan of dust covers, but leaving this one off meant having to look at three ugly hinges on the back. Luckily, you can just unscrew them and this will clean it up. I suppose you can remove the rubber pads in the front corners as well. The control box is very convenient, but some users might prefer having it separate from the table.
There is no need for a mat—the record goes right on the playing surface. Startup is fast (like a direct drive table). The rough speed settings are on a stepped, rotary switch. If the speed needs to be adjusted from these rough settings there is a switch that engages a smooth rotary control that can increase or decrease the speed by 15%. In addition, each fixed speed has an adjustment screw in the back of the control box for fine tuning. I checked speed at 33 1/3 and 45 and I didn’t feel the need to bother tweaking (as the speed was almost right on).
The manual is well-written and easy to follow even for the novice. There is a troubleshooting section for any that get lost along the way.
Phono Preamplifiers and Cartridges
Although there is standardization when it comes to playing back modern records using an RIAA curve, older records use a variety of different EQ curves for correct playback. There are several options for phonograph preamplifiers that will accommodate older recordings (and new as well). has two: KAB Electro Acoustics the VSP MK2 at $600 that only accepts MM cartridges and the EQS MK12 (at $1625)—a more full-featured model (10 curves + RIAA) with better specifications, two turntable connections, ability to use MC cartridges, adjustable level output and more. Another offering is by Vadlyd ($1760) and available here This piece looks like a good higher-end option as well. Esoteric themselves offer the Re-Equalizer II at $350. If you want to go all out there is always the LOC Analog Legacy at $10000. Lastly, there is the Graham Slee Revelation at $1600 which offers switching capabilities as well. Nauck’s Vintage Records offers a book that lists the proper EQ for many older recordings.
The type of stylus used for older records is also different from those typically used for 45 and 33 1/3 rpm records. Some of the popular ones are from Audio Technica, Grado, Shure and Stanton. Modern records use needles with tips that typically measure .7 mil (mil- 1000th of an inch) around for conical or spherical tips (and represent the longer length for elliptical styli). Due to the fact that older discs have larger grooves, these styli are not a good choice for 78 and older records. Choices are often 2.5 (transcriptions) – 3.0 mil (30s to 50s discs and Edison) although 3.5, 4.0 (raw aluminum) and even some bigger styli exist. Many companies offer a kit that includes a variety of sizes to accommodate different vintages or condition of the records. Tracking force can typically be higher than with LPs, so caution should be taken if switching back and forth.
Recommended Speeds
This information comes from the manual:
(1) 71.29- Berliner, Early Victor (no label), Zonaphone
(2) 76.59- Acoustic Victor
(3) 78.26- Modern 78 records
(4) 80- Edison, Pathe vertical (paper label), acoustic Columbia & Okeh, most vertical
(5) 90- Some Pathe
(6) 16.66- Half speed of 33 1/3
(7) 22.5- Half speed of 45
(8) 39.13- Half speed of 78.26
Vertical-cut records could be from: Pathe, Edison, Sapphire, Arya, Lyric, Genet, Phono-Cut, Star, Crescent, Empire, Mozart, Okeh, Operaphone, Rex, Rishell, Aeolian, Vocalion, World Transcription. To set up for vertical playback just reverse the leads to one channel of the phono cartridge. Esoteric offers a pre-wired vertical only headshell as well. Esoteric offers older records for sale here
Listening – Part I (LP)
As is typical of my latest phono reviews, I did some comparisons by recording tracks to a computer and then burning a CD for direct comparison on playback (with the same cartridge and phono preamp as reference). In this case, I compared the Rondine 3 with a Linn LP12 (with a Valhalla power supply). I have to say that there wasn’t a huge difference with the recordings I listened with (a mix of jazz, rock, vocal, etc.) The Linn combination sounded slightly mellower (due to the cartridge choice). The Rek-o-Kut had a bit more top end by comparison and bass wasn’t as good, but it was close. The fact that it could keep up with an LP12 (performance-wise) is saying a lot for the Esoteric and makes me think that unless the listener is looking for a much better LP player, the Rondine 3 is “good enough” for both newer and older records.
I spent hours listening to various records with this table and have nothing negative to report. My wife liked the fact that she could easily switch between 33 1/3 and 45 speeds with the turn of a knob (and that there weren’t a bunch of separate boxes to make this occur). Records sounded good and competitive with tables in this price range. To get up to the next level I’d say double the price is where you’d be at and that is not figuring in the multi-speed capability.
Listening – Part II (78 rpm)
Years ago I had given away the old 78 records I’d had for lack of the ability to play them. There are a few factors that need to be considered for playback. First, there is the need for the specialized phono preamp and cartridge (as mentioned above). Next, you’ll need to realize that due to the speed increase, you typically get a single song per side. For classical listening this is going to be a huge issue. Typically, popular music comes in little “books” that house four or more records for an entire album (figuring both sides are in use). If you aren’t big on record flipping then you will soon tire from constantly having to get up.
People often have the misconception about the sound of these records having only listened to them on old victrolas or what those in the industry (un)affectionately call “close n’ plays” (i.e. all-in-one devices that accommodate 78s and have speakers built-in). The truth is: On a good system these records can incredibly lifelike and that is even without the proper equalization (unfortunately I did not have a proper phono preamp during this review). This meant a boost in highs and a cut in the lows. Vocals came through beautifully and it’s easy to get immersed in the performance. With people giving away these records by the bunch in pawn shops and swap meets, fans of “older” music might want to jump in head first.
[One carriage-trade-level historic recordings dealer had several 78s for sale alongside his LPs and one was the complete Bach Cello Suites with Pablo Casals for $500. The Angel/EMI reissue CDs are pretty bad, but recent software improvements in remastering recordings have made huge advancements in reducing the noise in the grooves while still capturing all the music. I have a recent Italian double CD reissue of the Casals Suites which is excellent, but the one original 78 rpm side I once heard still surpasses it…Ed.]
Conclusion
My reservations on the physical appearance aside, the Rondine 3 offers an attractive performance package. The modern record listener can get very good performance with a high-end phono cartridge and for the serious vintage music listener there is no turntable out there I know of with the speed flexibility (and ease of adjustment) to accommodate for the many different types of records made over time. Anyone looking at revitalizing a system with LP playback and needing 78 (or variable speed playback) should give this a turntable a serious look. Highly recommended!
-- Brian Bloom
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 100 SACD, DVD Video/Audio and standard CD reviews are published during each month, and our archives go back to January 2001.
INSPIRED COLLECTION OF STRIPPED DOWN HITS SPANNING ADAMS' ILLUSTRIOUS THREE-DECADE CAREER
NEW YORK, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Decca is pleased to announce its first CD release by Grammy-winning superstar, singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Slated for release on November 16th, Bare Bones is an inspired collection of minimally arranged hits culled from Adams' impressive body of work spanning three decades. Recorded in spring of 2010 during his "Bare Bones Tour," the disc captures a raw Adams, featuring only his distinctive voice and guitar, accompanied on select songs by keyboardist Gary Breit, lending a newfound appreciation and perspective to what many consider some of the most beloved songs in pop/rock music.
Inspired by his experience recording "MTV's Unplugged" in the 90's, Adams decided to revisit performing his material pared down once again in 2008. With a consistently loyal following on the road, Adams continued playing live shows with these new spare arrangements in 2010, and as an experiment decided to start recording them for a possible record. Comments Adams, "as the tour rolled across the USA and Canada, many people were asking for a recording of the songs as they had just heard in the show. So in response to that, I decided to record a few shows to see if a recording was even interesting… I like the way the songs carry themselves warts and all, bare-boned, without the original arrangements of a full band or an orchestra." He continues, "These recordings only have the voices and handclaps of the fans in the audience and the ambience of the room to lift them."
Narrowing down the selections for Bare Bones was a challenging exercise given Adams' expansive catalogue, so he enlisted the assistance of his fans. Chosen by a combination of suggestions received through Twitter and his official website, the final tracklisting reflects a well-balanced mixture of old, rare, familiar and new material.
Bare Bones Tracklisting:
You've Been A Friend To Me
Here I Am
I'm Ready
Night To Remember
It Ain't A Party (If You Can't Come 'Round)
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Cuts Like A Knife
Please Forgive Me
Summer Of '69
Walk On By
Cloud Number 9
It's Only Love
Heaven
Right Place
The Way You Make Me
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
You're Still Beautiful To Me
Straight From The Heart
I Still Miss You...A Little Bit
All For Love
About Bryan Adams
The Canadian-born, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide, garnered 21 top ten hits, earned nominations for three Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, received 18 Juno Awards, an American Music Award and five ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards for Most Performed Song from a Motion Picture (his music has appeared on more than 40 movie soundtracks).
Adams was recently honored to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, performing a duet with Nelly Furtado. This past spring, he was the recipient of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a tribute to his fundraising and charitable efforts. A week later he received the prestigious Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. Adams has been awarded the Order of British Columbia and is a companion of the Order of Canada; he has received an award for "Artist of the Decade" and was recently inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame. He also has a star on Canada's Walkway of Fame and recently added his handprint to the Wembley Square of Fame in celebration of his 25th show at the famed stadium.
Bryan Adams' live performances have benefited His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Prince's Trust, Live Aid, Live 8, The Concert for Freedom for Nelson Mandela, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Net Aid, The Canadian Avalanche Foundation and Breast Cancer, as well as campaigns that have saved the rainforests, provided food and comfort for the needy and created whale sanctuaries. Through his own foundation he has also helped build schools in areas of Southeast Asia, devastated by the tsunami in 2004.
Adams is also an acclaimed photographer and donates his fees to his namesake foundation that funds projects supporting the elderly, victims of wars and natural disasters and other disadvantaged individuals. His work has also been on display with Hear the World presents "Hear the World Ambassadors" – featuring exclusive portraits of renowned personalities from the film, music, and fashion industries. His critically acclaimed exhibit, "Modern Muses," was on display in 2008 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Adam's outstanding live concerts have established him as one of the world's best rock singers of our time, performing over 120 concerts a year as he works to spread his message of music and environmental awareness to an audience of millions around the globe.
Radio Jimmy Eat World Provides a One of a Kind Listening Experience Created and Hosted by the Band
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Jimmy Eat World and Slacker, Inc. today launched Radio Jimmy Eat World, a radio station featuring songs from the alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona and songs that have inspired their ever-evolving style with comments and introductions from Jimmy Eat World band members. Songs from the band's entire career will be featured on the station including those from the band's brand new album Invented available now in stores and digitally. The new album marks the reunion of the band and producer Mark Trombino who served as producer on the band's two biggest selling albums Clarity and Bleed American. Radio Jimmy Eat World is now available for free in the Slacker Spotlight http://www.slacker.com/ section of the Slacker Radio application on the web, on home entertainment devices and leading smartphones.
Slacker Spotlight is a special station category that can be found on any Slacker Radio application. The Radio Jimmy Eat World station can also be accessed directly on the web at: http://www.Slacker.com/RadioJimmyEatWorld
"Radio Jimmy Eat World is a reflection of who we are as a band and as individuals, offering our fans a glimpse into the music we love and what inspires us," said Jim Adkins, Jimmy Eat World lead vocalist. "Slacker is providing their listeners with a completely unique experience through free radio and unparalleled music discovery options – which we have experienced personally – we are stoked to work with them to provide a truly intimate look into who we are as a band and as music lovers." Drummer Zach Lind added, "We are very excited to have our own Slacker station so we can share some of our favorite songs with everyone."
Radio Jimmy Eat World was programmed by Jimmy Eat World lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind. The station provides listeners with Jimmy Eat World hits, an eclectic mix of hundreds of hand-picked favorites from a range of other artists such as Arcade Fire, The Cure, Rogue Wave, Rocket From The Crypt, Frightened Rabbit and many more, as well as commentary from the band on the tunes that have influenced them over almost two decades of playing together. In addition to the band's selections, each song from the new album Invented is also programmed on the station, along with other Jimmy Eat World favorites as selected by the Slacker Radio programming team.
"The Artist Showcase stations provide artists with the rare opportunity to express the genesis of who they are and leverage today's technologies to connect with their audience in a transformative way," said Scott Riggs, Director of Radio at Slacker. "By working directly with Jimmy Eat World, Slacker provides listeners with the opportunity to discover extraordinary insight into what makes their favorite band who they are."
Whether listening on the web, BlackBerry smartphones, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, Android-powered smartphones, webOS smartphones, a Slacker-enabled SONY TV or Blu-ray player (or any of the many available devices the support Slacker Radio), Radio Jimmy Eat World listeners have instant access to the group's favorite music along with artist profiles, album reviews and album cover art. To get the free Slacker mobile application, simply direct your mobile web browser to Slacker.com
About Jimmy Eat World
Formed in Mesa, Arizona, Jimmy Eat World got their start in 1994 and has gained a reputation for being a band of great perseverance and hard work. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind. Since the 1999 release of their breakthrough debut album Clarity, they've sold millions of records, have had numerous top ten singles at Modern Rock Radio, appeared on Saturday Night Live and have toured with Foo Fighters, Green Day and Weezer. For more information please visit Jimmy Eat world on the web at http://www.jimmyeatworld.com/.
About Slacker, Inc.
Slacker is the world's first Personal Radio company offering "Your Radio Everywhere." Slacker enables music lovers to play highly personalized music online at the Slacker web site, at home on products such as Slacker-enabled SONY TV and Blu-ray players or on the go with all leading smartphones. Slacker mobile applications are currently available for Android, iPhone, Palm webOS, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry smartphones. For more information on where Slacker is available visit http://www.Slacker.com/everywhere.
Slacker and http://www.slacker.com/ are registered trademarks of Slacker, Inc. All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.
Gwar Streaming Song From New Album "GWAR’s Bloody Pit of Horror"
Richmond, Virginia natives and shock-thrasher band Gwar has revealed the cover artwork for their upcoming studio album 'GWAR’s Bloody Pit of Horror.' The follow up to 2009's 'Lust in Space' is scheduled for release on November 9, 2010 through Metal Blade Records. The cover art as well as "Zombies March," the first single from "Bloody Pit of Horror," is available at this location. http://www.metalblade.com/gwar
Gwar will kick off its North American "Bloody Tour Of Horror," with The Casualties, Infernaeon and Mobile Deathcamp on October 2, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Rihanna Unveils New Album Artwork
Rihanna has revealed the colorful cover art for her upcoming new album 'Loud' after leaving a series of teasers on her Twitter and Facebook pages for fans to pour over. The R&B superstar left different portions of the artwork on her various social media sites before revealing the full picture on her official website. The cover is a close up shot of Rihanna sporting her new bright red haired look.
'Loud' is Rihanna's fifth studio album and is set for release on November 12th. It will feature her latest single "Only Girl (In The World)" and her upcoming single "What's My Name," for which Rihanna has reportedly just finished shooting a new video. A full track list has yet to be confirmed, more detials when they become available......
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Death Cab, M Ward, Laura Veirs On Led Zeppelin Tribute
M. Ward, Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and Colorado alt-folk singer Laura Veirs are among the artists covering some of their favorite Led Zeppelin tracks on a new tribute album to the 70s rock icons.
The album, 'From The Land Of Ice And Snow: The Songs Of Led Zeppelin,' is scheduled for release on Jealous Butcher Records on October 8th. It has been six years in the making and reportedly came out when Rob (Jealous Butcher), Matt (Ward) and John (King) were sitting around the basement in the evening working on cover art for a project, each proclaiming their love and respect for Led Zeppelin in their formative musical years and that it be nice to put together a tribute release featuring friends; not being a "who's who" sort of tribute, but rather a 'community' inspired collection of Zeppelin songs."
Laura Veirs collaborated with Mount Analog on her take on 'The Ocean', which you can listen to via Stereogum.com.
Here is full track list for 'From The Land Of Ice And Snow: The Songs Of Led Zeppelin:'
DISC 1
Good Times Bad Times / KIND OF LIKE SPITTING
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You / THE CLAMPITT FAMILY
Dazed And Confused / THE PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT
featuring LAURA GIBSON & JOHN MOEN
Your Time Is Gonna Come / NICK JAINA
Whole Lotta Love / FUKD'UPTIGHT
Poor Tom / ADAM SELZER
Nobody's Fault But Mine / CARCRASHLANDER
Fool In The Rain / KAIA
Thank You / DAN JONES
Heartbreaker / LACKTHEREOF FEAT. PETE MCCRACKEN
Moby Dick / KNOCK-KNOCK
Out On The Tiles / SUPER XX MAN
Friends / AMY ANELLE & THE SHISHI VALLEY BOYS
Tangerine / JEFF LONDON
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp / ARCH CAPE
Hey Hey What Can I Do / WEINLAND
In The Evening / CHRIS WALLA
DISC 2
Black Dog / LANA REBEL
Rock and Roll / PELLET GUN
The Battle of Evermore / TU FAWNING
Stairway To Heaven / KELLY BLAIR BAUMAN
Misty Moutain Hop / BUELTON
Four Sticks / REBECCA GATES AND THE CONSORTIUM
Over The Hills and Far Away / JOHANNA KUNIN
No Quarter / TESTFACE
The Ocean / LAURA VEIRS & MOUNT ANALOG
Houses Of The Holy / BELTLINE
Kashmir / LOCH LOMOND
In The Light / THE LONG WINTERS
Bron-Yr-Aur / M. WARD
Down By The Seaside / POWER OF COUNTY
All My Love / PARKS & RECREATION
I'm Gonna Crawl / DAVE DEPPER
DIGITAL BONUS TRACKS
Communication Breakdown / CAPTAIN VS. CREW
Heartbreaker / WOW & FLUTTER
Ramble On / THE LITTLE BETTERS
Immigrant Song / LEIGH MARBLE
That's The Way / THIS BUSY MONSTER
Rock and Roll / TRACTOR OPERATOR
Going To California / THE VALIANT ARMS
When the Levee Breaks / LARRY CRANE
The Rain Song / ANTLERAND
Over The Hills and Far Away / THE MIGHTY GHOSTS OF HEAVEN
Dancing Days / MISS MURGATROID AND THE QUEENS OF HEART
D'yer Mak'er / CHAD CROUCH
The Wanton Song / REMOTE TREE CHILDREN
Nobodys Fault But Mine V.1 / CARCRASHLANDER
Going To California / COOL SUMNER
featuring LISA SCHONBERG, KATY DAVIDSON & TARA JANE O'NEIL
Tea For One / LKN
Hot Dog / THE BIG RIVER BAND
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Hour Of The Wolf collection set for release
After the "Power Of The Wolf" EP in 2006 (Limekiln), "Waste Makes Waste" EP in 2007 (Think Fast!), "Split" with Lewd Acts in 2008 (Think Fast!), and the "Obsolete" EP in 2009 (Hellfish), it appears time for that annual release from Arizona's bastard sons, Hour Of The Wolf. "Decompositions Volume 1" is one half of a complete collection from 'The Wolf and it's now available for pre-order. Think Fast! Records co-owner and Hour Of The Wolf super-fan, Ryan O'Connor details the release:
"One time in Tokyo, Addison and I were were talking about how someday we hoped to team up to release an Hour Of The Wolf discography. Two and a half years later we have half of it ready...so at this rate, we will have Volume 2 ready in 2013. Okay it'll probably come out sooner than that. But anyway, with all of the odds and ends we've seen from Hour Of The Wolf (and never a proper full-length), this is a necessary collection, and a must-have for any fan of the band. It's the first time any of the songs have been released on vinyl, includes a new track which is grimiest they've ever written, the entire "Power Of The Wolf" EP, and a bunch of awesome cover tunes. It comes in a gatefold jacket, includes a digital download coupon for those who don't have a turn table, and the first press is limited to 500 copies on colored vinyl. With more headaches than we care to count, we're very stoked for this release to finally see the light of day."
The first press of the release features clear blue with dark blue swirl vinyl (limited to 200) and split red/yellow vinyl (limited to 300). There is a discounted package for the vinyl nerds who want to order both colored vinyl versions of the record. Also worth noting is that an Hour Of The Wolf coffee mug is being made available for all pre-orders! We couldn't think of a more appropriate artist to brand Think Fast!'s first ever coffee mug, and it's going to be a limited run, with no promises to print more. Right now the mug is only available when you pre-order the new record. Pre-orders are expected to ship on November 2nd, with the official release date being November 9th. All pre-orders come with a free digital download coupon, and a free, full color Think Fast! Showcase Tour poster. The showcase tour hits most major U.S. cities this Fall and features Hour Of The Wolf, Outbreak, and lots more.
Not familiar with 'The Wolf? To put things simply, and at risk of sounding cliché, Hour Of The Wolf is a band who likes to play by their own rules. Combining a sound that fits just as nicely next to the Misfits as it does Motorhead? Check. Touring with punk bands like Against All Authority, metal-core bands like Bleeding Through, and hardcore bands like Terror? Check. Going five years and purposely avoiding putting out a proper full length album? Check. Hour Of The Wolf is clearly not set to please anyone but themselves, and frankly, we wouldn't want it any other way. Alternative Press described their latest output as a "virtually perfect blend of fever, passion and raucousness". "Decompositions Volume 1" may very well be the closest thing to a full-length album that we ever see from Hour Of The Wolf - that is, until Volume 2 drops in 2011.
Switchfoot, Fat Mike, Tegan and Sara and More Celebrate Bad Religion
In celebration of Bad Religion's 30th anniversary and new album, 'The Dissent of Man,' some music giants including MySpace Music, SPIN and Epitaph Records have partnered up to release a free compilation, 'Germs of Perfection: A Tribute to Bad Religion,' which will feature an assortment of artists and bands covering songs from the hard-rocking group's catalog.
The excitement kicks off with Tegan and Sara's somber version of "Suffer," the title track from Bad Religion's groundbreaking 1988 album, and Polar Bear Club's cover of "Better off Dead" from 1994's 'Stranger Than Fiction,' which can both be heard now at SPIN.com or Myspace.com/music.
Over the next three weeks MySpace Music and SPIN.com will be rolling out new songs from the Bad Religion tribute compilation which will feature covers from William Elliott Whitmore, Frank Turner, The Weakerthans, Switchfoot, Ted Leo, Cheap Girls, New Politics, Cobra Skulls featuring Fat Mike from NOFX and Riverboat Gamblers.
The compilation will be available for download on October 19 at SPIN.com in conjunction with an oral history of Epitaph Records with liner notes for the tribute album running in the November issue of SPIN magazine.
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50th Anniversary of The Rat Pack Brings Two Albums
To mark the 50th anniversary of The Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., Reprise Records and Capitol/EMI is set to release two essential collections: 'The Very Best Of The Rat Pack '(Reprise) on November 9 and 'Christmas With The Rat Pack '(Capitol/EMI) on October 5, available at all retail outlets (CD and digital), including http://www.sinatra.com/.
Featuring 18 Vegas-era favorites that spotlight each singer, 'The Very Best Of The Rat Pack' captures the upbeat entertainment style synonymous with the trio. Showcasing swinging classics from each member solo along with two duets that feature Sinatra and Davis ("Me And My Shadow") and Davis and Martin ("Sam's Song"). The collection also includes a previously unreleased alternate version of Sinatra's "I'm Gonna Live Until I Die."
Ol' Blues Eyes opens the album with the signature track "Come Fly With Me" and also contributes his irresistible hits "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Witchcraft." The collection also includes "I've Got You Under My Skin," ranked among Sinatra aficionados as one of his finest collaborations with Nelson Riddle, and "Luck Be A Lady," a song featured in the musical "Guys And Dolls."
Dino's velvety croon takes the spotlight on six unforgettable performances that include "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)," the dramatic Italian ballad that Martin took to #12 in 1958, "Who's Got The Action?" from the 1962 film of the same name starring Martin and Lana Turner, and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head," a tune he sang in the Rat Pack's classic 1960 heist film Ocean's 11.
Davis' ebullient delivery and vocal power shine on standout tracks such as "Eee-O Eleven" from the Ocean's 11 soundtrack, "A Lot Of Livin' To Do," a song originally written for the 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie, and "Too Close For Comfort," from the 1956 Broadway play Mr. Wonderful in which Davis played the starring role.
Christmas With The Rat Pack, a 16-track collection of festive holiday classics begins with Dean Martin's "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," followed by Frank Sinatra's take on "Mistletoe And Holly," and Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Christmas Time All Over The World." Other songs featured in the collection include Martin's "Silver Bells," "White Christmas," "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "Winter Wonderland," Sinatra's "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," and "The First Noel," and Davis' "Jingle Bells" and "The Christmas Song," among others.
THE VERY BEST OF THE RAT PACK
1. Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
2. Ain't That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin
3. Too Close For Comfort – Sammy Davis Jr.
4. I've Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
5. Who's Got The Action? – Dean Martin
6. A Lot Of Livin' To Do – Sammy Davis Jr.
7. Ring-A-Ding Ding – Frank Sinatra
8. Eee-O Eleven – Sammy Davis Jr.
9. Luck Be A Lady – Frank Sinatra
10. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) – Dean Martin
11. Birth Of The Blues – Sammy Davis Jr.
12. Witchcraft – Frank Sinatra
13. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You – Dean Martin
14. I Get A Kick Out Of You – Frank Sinatra
15. Sam's Song – Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr.
16. I'm Gonna Live Until I Die – Frank Sinatra (Alternate Version)
17. Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
18. Me And My Shadow – Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis Jr.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK
1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin
2. Mistletoe And Holly – Frank Sinatra
3. Christmas Time All Over The World – Sammy Davis Jr.
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Frank Sinatra
5. Silver Bells – Dean Martin
6. The Christmas Waltz – Frank Sinatra
7. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Dean Martin
8. Jingle Bells – Sammy Davis, Jr.
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
10. Peace On Earth / Silent Night – Dean Martin
11. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – Frank Sinatra
12. Winter Wonderland – Dean Martin
13. The Christmas Song – Sammy Davis Jr.
14. The First Noel – Frank Sinatra
15. White Christmas – Dean Martin
16. I'll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams) – Frank Sinatra
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Iron Maiden/Deep Purple/Black Sabbath Supergrouping
Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan are going to be recording together again, however this time they will bring in Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain and Deep Purple's Jon Lord along for the ride... and it's all for a good cause. Iommi's site explains:
"In 1989 Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan were just a few names in a long list of talent involved in the recording of the Deep Purple track "Smoke on The Water." This song was re-recorded to raise money for those affected by the Leninakan earthquake that struck Armenia in 1988."
In October of last year both Tony and Ian travelled to Armenia to see how the funds raised had helped the local community. On their trip they visited a music school only to find it being run out of temporary accommodation, it was only location not to have been rebuilt 20 years after the earthquake had struck.
Next week Tony and Ian will be heading back into the studio, joined by Jon Lord (ex Deep Purple / Whitesnake) and Nicko McBrain (drummer of Iron Maiden) to record a new track to raise money to rebuild the Armenian music school. More information about the charity single "Out of my Mind" very soon......
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Sorrows Path Announces New Album Track Listing And Reveals Artwork
Sorrows Path have issued the following announcement about revealing the cover artwork for the band's new album:
"Hail doomsters and friends! We are really proud to reveal the cover and the track listing of our newborn child 'The Rough Path of Nihilism' which is going to be released on October 29, 2010 by Rock It Up Records! The cover was done by artist Seth Siron Anton, the famous bassist and vocalist of Septic Flesh, who already worked with big names such as Paradise Lost, Kamelot, Moonspell, Exodus, and many more!"
The album's track list::
1. All Love is Lost
i) Lost Innocence
ii) Lost Youth
2. The Beast (S.P.R.)
3. Honestly...
4. Fetish
5. Dirty Game
6. Mr. Holy
7. Getting Closer
8. Queen of Doom
9. Prostitute
10. Hymn of Differentiation
11. Empty Eyes and Blackened Hearts
12. Nihilism
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JIMMY PAGE and EDDIE VAN HALEN Top 'Greatest Guitar Solo' List
According to The Pulse of Radio, Jimmy Page's 1971 solo to LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway To Heaven" topped the Gibson.com list of the "Top 50 Guitar Solos Of All Time." Next at #2 is Eddie Van Halen's 1978 groundbreaking instrumental "Eruption" from VAN HALEN's self-titled debut, with Jimi Hendrix's solo on his 1968 cover of BOB DYLAN's "All Along The Watchtower" rounding out the Top 3.
Hendrix made the list four times — the most of any guitarist. Eric Clapton scored three times with solos for tracks with CREAM, THE BEATLES, and DEREK & THE DOMINOES. In addition to his runner-up spot with "Eruption", Van Halen's 1982 solo on MICHAEL JACKSON's "Beat It" came in at No. 50.
Jimmy Page — whose solos to LED ZEPPELIN's "Since I've Been Loving You", "Heartbreaker" and "Whole Lotta Love" also made the list — says that after all the success LED ZEPPELIN had, the real reward has been that the music has lasted so well: "The most satisfying, the most rewarding part of it, is having been part of music like that, which has stood up to the test of time. Every musician hopes that their music will hold up. And it's wonderful."
Peter Frampton has been close friends with Page since the mid-1960s. He frequently watched ZEPPELIN record in the early '70s at London's Olympic Studios, while taking breaks from his own recordings and was consistently impressed with Jimmy Page's guitar technique: "He's a very well-rounded player. His technique on acoustic is phenomenal. And he uses various different open tunings. He tunes his guitar down and there's a special 'Jimmy Page' tuning (laughs) that he uses on a lot of the stuff."
Gibson.com's "Top 50 Guitar Solos Of All Time":
1. Stairway To Heaven - Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
2. Eruption - Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN)
3. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE)
4. Hotel California - Don Felder and Joe Walsh (THE EAGLES)
5. Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour (PINK FLOYD)
6. Free Bird - Gary Rossington and Allen Collins (LYNYRD SKYNYRD)
7. Layla - Eric Clapton and Duane Allman (DEREK & THE DOMINOS)
8. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Eric Clapton (THE BEATLES)
9. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
10. Bohemian Rhapsody - Brian May (QUEEN)
11. Crazy Train - Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE)
12. 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers - Jeff Beck
13. Sweet Child O' Mine - Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
14. Hot For Teacher - Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN)
15. Since I've Been Loving You - Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
16. November Rain - Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
17. Mr. Crowley - Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE)
18. Whole Lotta Rosie - Angus Young (AC/DC)
19. Like A Hurricane - Neil Young
20. Sultans Of Swing - Mark Knopfler (DIRE STRAITS)
21. Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan (STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN & DOUBLE TROUBLE)
22. One - Kirk Hammett (METALLICA)
23. Cortez The Killer - Neil Young
24. Rock Around the Clock - Danny Cedrone (BILL HALEY & THE COMETS)
25. Sweet Jane - Live - Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner (LOU REED)
26. Purple Rain - Prince (PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION)
27. Heartbreaker - Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
28. Jessica - Dickey Betts (THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND)
29. Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix
30. Crossroads - Eric Clapton (CREAM)
31. Time - David Gilmour (PINK FLOYD)
32. Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix (THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE)
33. Race With the Devil - Cliff Gallup (GENE VINCENT)
34. Don't Believe A Word - Brian Robertson (THIN LIZZY)
35. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix (THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE)
36. Besame Mucho - Wes Montgomery
37. Sympathy For The Devil - Keith Richards (THE ROLLING STONES)
38. Blue Sky - Duane Allman and Dickey Betts (THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND)
39. My Sharona - Berton Averre (THE KNACK)
40. Marquee Moon - Tom Verlaine (TELEVISION)
41. Hitch A Ride - Tom Scholz (BOSTON)
42. The End - Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison (THE BEATLES)
43. Whole Lotta Love - Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
44. Train Kept A-Rollin' - Live - Joe Perry (AEROSMITH)
45. Highway Star - Ritchie Blackmore (DEEP PURPLE)
46. Dirt - Ron Asheton (THE STOOGES)
47. Off The Handle - Rory Gallagher
48. The Great Curve - Adrian Belew (THE TALKING HEADS)
49. The Messiah Will Come Again - Roy Buchanan
50. Beat It - Eddie Van Halen (MICHAEL JACKSON)
Like all of these types of lists, it is very subjective. Personally, I love the guitar work on "Aqualung," by Jethro Tull as well as the riffs and solos on Neil Young's "Cowgirl In The Sand." And, the guitar solo on "My Sharona" making the list? Not when you only have one Stevie Ray Vaughan cut, that's just silly. Any thoughts, who's on your list?
