Contest is still open!! ~ I have one more certificate left
To help celebrate the 300,000th visitor, the CVR Blog is running a contest. Seth over at www.soundstagedirect.com has given me 6 $10 gift certificates toward a purchase of vinyl at his website, but I only have one left.
To win the last $10 gift certificate, be the first one to email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com with Sound Stage Direct in the subject line and you win!
Again, thanks so much got stopping by the CVR Blog!!
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Epic Records Set To Release IMMORTAL The New Album From Michael Jackson On November 21
A MUSIC TAPESTRY FOR THE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL SHOW MICHAEL JACKSON THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR KICKING OFF LAST NIGHT
EXPERIENCE IMMORTAL AT MICHAELJACKSON.COM
NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 21, Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will release IMMORTAL – the highly anticipated musical tapestry for Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. IMMORTAL will be released as both a deluxe double disc version and single disc.
Led by esteemed musical designer, Kevin Antunes (Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Madonna) IMMORTAL takes a fresh, creative approach in redesigning and reimagining more than 40 of Michael Jackson's greatest original recordings into a compilation that allows listeners to experience his music in an entirely new way. After spending a year in the studio working with Michael's original multi-track master recordings, Kevin created IMMORTAL which offers listeners a new soundscape to Michael's artistry while preserving the power and familiarity of his unparalleled voice and his legendary tracks.
Kevin Antunes comments, "Michael's legacy as the greatest entertainer of our lifetime is inspiring beyond words. It was clear from the start that Michael's voice and overall musical essence was the sole/soul source of creative energy driving the project. From the studio to the stage, there's an undeniable integrity and resolute truth in Michael's vocal performances that are highlighted in the Immortal arrangements. It was built with love and respect for Michael's music, his family, and his millions of fans around the world."
IMMORTAL is sure to touch the hearts of passionate Michael fans as the album unfolds his musical legacy with redesigned versions of his hits, electrifying mashups and newly discovered outtakes fans have never heard before including an alternate take on the Jackson 5's "ABC" and a choir that Michael recorded for "They Don't Really Care About Us."
To pre-order IMMORTAL, and view footage from Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour please visit
www.MichaelJackson.com
The North American leg of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour kicked off last night in Montreal, and will include an extended stay in Las Vegas in December. The epic show, which was written and directed by Jamie King - the leading concert director in pop music today – is a riveting fusion of Michael Jackson music, choreography and Cirque du Soleil creativity that offers fans worldwide a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of the artistic genius who forever transformed global pop culture.
IMMORTAL DELUXE ALBUM TRACKLISTING:
1. Working Day and Night (Immortal Version)
2. The Immortal Intro (Immortal Version)
3. Childhood (Immortal Version)
4. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Immortal Version)
5. Shake Your Body Down To The Ground (Immortal Version)
6. Dancing Machine/Blame It On The Boogie (Immortal Version)
7. Ben (Immortal Version)
8. This Place Hotel/Smooth Criminal/Dangerous (Immortal Version)
9. The Mime Segment: I Like The Way/Speed Demon/Another Part Of Me (Immortal Version)
10. J5 Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save (Immortal Version)
11. Human Nature/Speechless (Immortal Version)
12 .Is It Scary/Thriller/Ghost/Somebody's Watching Me/Threatened (Immortal Version)
13. You Are Not Alone/I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Immortal Version)
14. Beat It/Jam/State Of Shock (Immortal Version)
15. Earth Song/Planet Earth (Immortal Version)
16. Scream/Little Susie (Immortal Version)
17.Gone Too Soon (Immortal Version)
18.They Don't Care About Us (Immortal Version)
19. I'll Be There (Immortal Version)
20.I mmortal Megamix: Can You Feel It/Don't Stop Til You Get Enough/Billie Jean/Black Or White (Immortal Version)
21. Man In The Mirror (Immortal Version)
22. Remember The Time/Bad (Immortal Version)
IMMORTAL SINGLE ALBUM TRACKLISTING:
1. Working Day and Night (Immortal Version)
2. The Immortal Intro (Immortal Version)
3. Childhood (Immortal Version)
4. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Immortal Version)
5. Dancing Machine/Blame It On The Boogie (Immortal Version)
6. This Place Hotel/Smooth Criminal/Dangerous (Immortal Version)
7. J5 Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save (Immortal Version)
8. Human Nature/Speechless (Immortal Version)
9. Is It Scary/Thriller/Ghost/Somebody's Watching Me/Threatened (Immortal Version)
10. You Are Not Alone/I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Immortal Version)
11. Beat It/Jam/State Of Shock (Immortal Version)
12. Earth Song/Planet Earth (Immortal Version)
13. They Don't Care About Us (Immortal Version)
14. Immortal Megamix: Can You Feel It/Don't Stop Til You Get Enough/Billie Jean/Black Or White (Immortal Version)
15. Man In The Mirror (Immortal Version)
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,400 artists from more than 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. In 2011, Cirque du Soleil will present simultaneously 22 different shows around the world. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.
SOURCE Epic Records
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very intriguing, a rare peek into record collecting in china!
Once illegal, record collection emerges in China
Vinyl record collecting has started to make an appearance in China, with both music enthusiasts and investors digging up rare cuts and popular favorites. A well-preserved record from the 1950s can fetch prices of up to 1 million yuan (US$156,600) at auction.
While out-of-print records of Cantopop legend Leslie Cheung are worth several thousands of yuan, it is reported that Taiwanese sensations Teresa Teng and Tsai Chin are the most widely appreciated.
Since 2007, many musicians in western countries have been re-releasing their records on vinyl, and sales have soared as collecting becomes more popular. Yet in China, LPs are still out of production.
Zheng Anping, executive vice president of Shanghai Symphony Enthusiasts Association, said that although there are many collectors in countries outside of China, they are still confined to a small minority, especially as there is an enormous amount of old records that are hard to track down.
Shou Xiaojun, a record collector with China's Collection Association, pointed out that because the record collection market has not been given enough attention, the prices of vintage records are lower than the market value.
This is especially true of the rare LPs that were acquired before the Cultural Revolution, which were only preserved by people willing to defend their music collections with their lives. According to insiders, 78-rpm records were only circulated in several thousands of households. Following the Cultural Revolution, most of these LPs had been destroyed, and are now regarded as the most valuable collectable items as each of them is pricing over 10,000 yuan (US$1,600).
Experts said that though the gains from LP collection may not be particularly high, investors need only pick out records based on how well-maintained they are, and the record will likely appreciate in value.
References - Leslie Cheung 張國榮 Theresa Teng 鄧麗君 Tsai Chin 蔡琴
SOURCE - www.wantchinatimes.com
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DEFTONES To Release 'The Vinyl Collection 1995-2011'
Reprise Records will be releasing a limited edition vinyl box set from the DEFTONES. 'Deftones: The Vinyl Collection, 1995 - 2011' will be available on October 25th exclusively via Deftones.com and BecauseSoundMatters.com. The collection is a seven-album (8 LP) retrospective containing the band's six studio albums -1995's 'Adrenaline,' 1997's 'Around The Fur,' 2000's 'White Pony,' 2003's 'Deftones,' 2006's ,'Saturday Night Wrist,' and 2010's 'Diamond Eyes,' as well as the limited-edition 2011 Record Store Day release 'Covers,' Each album will be exclusively re-cut for vinyl from the original master recordings and pressed on
180-gram European virgin vinyl. The collection, which includes a unique lithograph and cover art, comes packaged in a hand numbered collector's box pressing of
1,000 copies worldwide.
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great to see!
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Pay Tribute To Bandmate At Premiere Of George Harrison Film
The remaining members of The Beatles reunited for the London premiere of new the film 'George Harrison: Living In A Material World' last night (October 2). Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were joined by Harrison's widow Olivia and son Dhani, along with friends, family and high-profile admirers including the director Martin Scorsese, plus Yoko Ono, Sir George Martin, Noel Gallagher, Sir Ben Kingsley, Billy Connolly, Terry Gilliam, Ronnie Wood and Harrison’s first wife Pattie Boyd.
McCartney told BBC News that his bandmate, who died of lung cancer in 2001 aged 58, was "a great man."
"Every time I see something to do with George it brings back more memories than you would believe. He was my little mate on the school bus. A lot of fond memories. He's sorely missed by us all," McCartney stated.
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fantastic article out of the state of new york, well worth the read:
An indie record label discovers a great new century-old platform for its artists
By Michaelangelo Matos
To find talent for a record label, one used to have to attend a lot of shows and listen to a lot of demo cassettes.
Five years ago, another variable came into the equation: MySpace.
British singers Lily Allen and Kate Nash, before they were famous, uploaded new songs onto the social-media network and were each dubbed, for a mercifully brief period, “the queen of MySpace.”
DFA Records released New Orleans musician Walter Jones’s haunting 12-inch “I’ll Keep on Loving You,” (backed with “Living Without Your Love”) in 2009 after label employee Justin Miller became enraptured by the former song on Jones’ MySpace page.
But then labels started headhunting bands online before the latter had even become a band, or the former yet become a label. That’s what happened a few years ago when Mike Sniper—the 34-year-old Brooklyn musician and minimogul who records as Blank Dogs and runs Captured Tracks, New York’s premiere lo-fi indie label—first encountered the music of San Francisco’s The Soft Moon, initially the one-man recording project of musician-songwriter Luis Vasquez.
“I had posted just a few tracks up on the page,” said the 32-year-old Vasquez, who was born in L.A. and raised in the Mojave Desert before heading north for school and punk rock.
“It was just a temporary thing for me," he said. “I just wanted to write a few songs, battle a few demons, or whatever. Literally moments before I was going to take the page down, Mike [left] a message on MySpace about releasing a 7-inch.”
Read the rest at
capitalnewyork.com
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another great story about the vinyl revival!
Mankato tunes in to Music Expo
By Robb Murray The Free Press
MANKATO — She’s a little more frail, a little grayer. But Maureen Toonkel, sifting through the stack of record albums in the basement of the VFW Sunday morning, probably looked a lot like she did when she was a teenager in New York.
Back then she hit the neighborhood record stores or Lloyd’s just outside of the New York City and thumbed through the stacks for the latest Beatles 45s. She got ’em for 69 cents back then.
Today, she’s still got almost every record she bought — roughly 900 — from back in the day.
“It’s kind of nostalgic,” she said, looking around the room full of vinyl, thinking about 40 years ago.
Read more at
mankatofreepress.com
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MASTERWORKS JAZZ CONCLUDES THE CELEBRATION OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF CTI RECORDS WITH THE RELEASE OF FOUR MORE CLASSIC REISSUES FROM ESTHER PHILLIPS, HANK CRAWFORD,JOHNNY HAMMOND AND LONNIE SMITH
All Available for the First Time on CD ON OCTOBER 4TH
Also available, critically acclaimed CTI Records: The Cool Revolution deluxe 4-CD box set and California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium 2-CD set featuring previously unreleased tracks, and 24 reissues of classic CTI albums
Masterworks Jazz concludes its celebration of the 40th Anniversary of CTI Records with reissues of four more classic CTI / Kudu albums available on October 4, 2011. Available for the first time on CD are Esther Phillips' Performance, Hank Crawford's Don't You Worry ‘Bout a Thing, Johnny Hammond's Wild Horses Rock Steady and Lonnie Smith's Mama Wailer. All four releases have been remastered for the first time using the original two-track analog tapes. Each 40th Anniversary Edition is packaged in a soft-pack sleeve that replicates the iconic cover design.
While often compared to Nina Simone, Esther Phillips' idiosyncratic vocal style and her ability to sing in a wide range of styles from blues and jazz to straight-up pop and disco, established her as a unique talent. The lush orchestrations heard on Performance feature a backup band consisting of a veritable who's who of ‘70s jazz artists including Bob James, John Faddis, Hubert Laws, Bernard Purdie and Steve Gadd. Edgier than some of her other CTI/Kudu releases, Performance shows Phillips at her most soulful and at the peak of her vocal powers. Available for the first time on CD, Performance includes "Mr. Bojangles" as a bonus track.
"With an unmistakable blues wail, full of emotion and poignancy, altoist Hank Crawford bridges the gap between that tradition and that of jazz more completely than any other living horn player," writes Thom Jurek in All Music Guide (Crawford passed away in 2009). Taking its title from Stevie Wonder's timeless hit, Don't You Worry ‘Bout A Thing features artists emerging from their years as straight-ahead jazz practitioners. Hank Crawford and crew create their own special mix of funk and soul and apply it to popular hits as well as original compositions with a jazz fusion bent. Don't You Worry ‘Bout A Thing is available on CD for the first time.
The title of organist Johnny Hammond's second CTI/Kudu outing is a dead giveaway. Combining the names of The Rolling Stones' classic "Wild Horses" and Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady" gives a good glimpse into the eclectic nature of this release even before the first notes of the recording are heard. Hammond and an incomparable band of sidemen (including Grover Washingtion, Jr., Ron Carter and Billy Cobham among many others) take on standards from the pop world as well as pop-based Broadway show tunes "Who is Sylvia" from Galt MacDermot's Two Gentleman of Verona and "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar, all with a jazz/soul/funk groove that is as unique as it is unmistakable. Wild Horses Rock Steady is available for the first time ever on CD.
"The doctor of groove," as Lonnie Smith refers to himself, is most definitely in session on Mama Wailer, Smith's only CTI release that is available for the first time on CD. While known as a master of the Hammond B-3 organ, the title track features Smith on clavinet. A distinct departure from the fat sound of the B-3, Smith manages to make this electronic keyboard lay down a strong feeling of urban funk. Half of the album is made up of original compositions - the title track and "Hola Muneca" - the other half covers tracks popular from the time of the recording sessions - Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and Sly and The Family Stone's "Stand." Several of the usual suspects from the CTI stable of sidemen - Grover Washington, Jr., Billy Cobham and Airto Moreira - make an appearance on some or all of the tracks.
Sony MASTERWORKS Jazz kicked off the 40th anniversary celebration with the release of CTI Records: The Cool Revolution, a deluxe 4-CD multi-artist box set retrospective in 2010. Receiving rave reviews The Associated Press dubbed it "...the most comprehensive anthology to date" and NPR said it was "... as striking a portrait of the Jazz World in the ‘70s as you'll find anywhere."
Also released in Fall 2010 was the double-CD restoration of California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium (1971) which included 90-minutes of music rarely heard and never before available. It is the most complete version of the historic Hollywood Palladium all-star concert recorded July 18, 1971. It doubles the content of the original five-song LP release with five additional tracks - three of them previously unreleased - and restores the original concert sequence for the first time. Creed Taylor hand-picked a dream team of CTI artists for the occasion: Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Hank Crawford, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Johnny Hammond, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham and Airto Moreira. Liner notes are by multi-Grammy winning musician-producer Bob Belden who says California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium "...ranks up there with the greatest jazz concerts of all time..."
The celebration also included reissues of 24 classic CTI albums: She Was Too Good To Me by Chet Baker, God Bless the Child by Kenny Burrell, Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard, Stone Flower by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Morning Star by Hubert Laws (first time on CD), Stanley Turrentine's Sugar, White Rabbit by George Benson, All Blues by Ron Carter (first time on CD in the U.S.), Prelude by Deodato, Pure Desmond by Paul Desmond, Concierto by Jim Hall, Milt Jackson's Sunflower, George Benson's Beyond the Blue Horizon, Freddie Hubbard's First Light, Giant Box by Don Sebesky, Stanley Turrentine's Salt Song, George Benson's Body Talk, Hubert Laws' In the Beginning, Freddie Hubbard's Straight Life, and Stanley Turrentine's Don't Mess with Mister T. Airto's Fingers, Jackie Cain & Roy Kral's A Wilder Alias, Joe Farrell's Outback and Randy Weston's Blue Moses are all available for the first time on CD.
In addition, Sony also released the following 180-gram vinyl LP reissues of 4 classic CTI albums using the original gatefold sleeve designs accompanied with digital download cards: Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine's Sugar, White Rabbit by George Benson and Prelude by Deodato.
In the 1970s, CTI, its music, its style and its discriminating quality transformed contemporary jazz. The roster worked almost like a repertory company, in which great musicians took turns in the spotlight and accompanying each other. The albums they and their colleagues created set new standards in their look as well as their sound. "[Creed Taylor's] plan was ingeniously simple, yet famously maverick: record top-tier musicians, keeping their artistic integrity intact while also making their art palatable to the people. CTI thus achieved that rare balance of jazz and commercialism," writes Dan Ouellette in the liner notes. CTI surpassed the majors and fellow indies to be named the #1 Jazz Label of 1974 by Billboard. The immediate success of CTI's recordings has echoed across the decades in a profound influence on jazz, pop, R&B and hip-hop.
For more information on these releases, please visit
CTIMasterworks.com
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for some reason, i love this album cover art!
Funerus Reveals New Album Details
Funerus have recently announced that the new 11 track album 'Reduced to Sludge' is set for release on November 22nd via Ibex Moon Records. 'Reduced to Sludge' will be the second full-length release from the Pennsylvania/New York based death metal band that features Incantation guitarist John McEntee, bassist/vocalist Jill McEntee and drummer Sam Inzerra (Mortician, Morpheus Descends).
The album was engineered by Sam Inzerra, Jim Roe and John McEntee. Drums and guitars were recorded at Neanderthal Studios in Plainfield, New Jersey and the bass and vocals were recorded at Aries Studio in Johnstown, PA. "Reduced To Sludge" was mixed and mastered by Dan Swano (Bloodbath, Dark Funeral, Dissection, Hail Of Bullets, Opeth), and the cover artwork was done by Dusty Peterson (Six Feet Under, Cattle Decapitation, Bloodbath). Funerus has also now made the track "Sound Of Oil" available for streaming through band's Facebook profile here.
Jill McEntee comments on the album, "I feel we were able to capture the natural Funerus essence on this album. It continues in the same vein of the first album Festering Earth, in heaviness and songwriting. I think it will be well received."
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another cool cover!
Mystic Prophecy Reveals New Album Cover Artwork
Mystic Prophecy is scheduled to release their new album 'Ravenlord' on November 25th via Massacre Records. The band has now revealed the cover artwork for the album, which you can see
Tracklist:
1. Ravenlord
2. Die Now
3. Eyes Of The Devil
4. Cross Of Lies
5. Hollow
6. Wings Of Destiny
7. Endless Fire
8. Damned Tonight
9. Reckoning Day
10. Miracle Man (Ozzy cover)
11. Back With The Storm
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John Fogerty to Play Creedence Albums in Their Entirety
John Fogerty is the latest artist to join the trend of playing full versions of classic albums in concert but, with him, it's a special treat. For years, Fogerty was banned from playing his Creedence Clearwater Revival material due to a lawsuit with Fantasy Records owner Sal Zantz. Once that was settled, he began to mix CCR music into his sets and has just announced that he will play two of the group's albums in their entirety at November concerts.
Read more at our friends at
vintagevinylnews.com
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love to see this!
The Black Eyed Peas and Sting Raise More Than $7 Million for Robin Hood Over the Weekend to Help New Yorkers in Need
Every cent will go toward anti-poverty projects
NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- New Yorkers joined together over the weekend to help millions of their less fortunate neighbors. Robin Hood – New York's largest private poverty-fighter -- announced today that combined VIP tickets sales and donations made via texts from Friday night's Black Eyed Peas concert in Central Park, donations on robinhood.org as well as ticket proceeds from Sting's 25th anniversary/60th birthday concert at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday night, raised more than $7 million to fight poverty in New York City. These funds will be earmarked to support food pantries, homeless shelters, health clinics and will provide jobs training for New Yorkers in need throughout the five boroughs.
"This was an amazing weekend of music, and it's incredibly gratifying to see New Yorkers come together during difficult times to help their neighbors in need," said David Saltzman, executive director of Robin Hood. "The Black Eyed Peas and Sting have a long history of giving back to their communities and we're truly honored that they've chosen to help the 1.8 million New Yorkers living in poverty through Robin Hood; we hope to do them proud."
Because Robin Hood's board of directors covers all administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of every dollar raised goes to helping individuals and families in need.
On September 30, The Black Eyed Peas performed the largest charity concert ever held on the Great Lawn, with 60,000 in Central Park and thousands more watching live via web stream. Concert-goers participated in a variety of digital media efforts throughout -- including "text-to-donate", instagram, group-me and Twitter – to enter contests and enhance the sense of community and their enjoyment of the show. The "Concert 4 NYC" was presented by Chase, and was supported by Clear Channel's Elvis Duran and the Z100 Morning Show, Eventbrite and Calvin Klein Collection.
As part of the partnership with The Black Eyed Peas, Robin Hood will fund the opening of three Peapod Academies in New York City over the coming years, which will support disadvantaged youth by providing music and artistic education, such as music engineering, sound mixing and video editing, among other opportunities.
The following night -- on October 1 -- Sting generously donated proceeds from his all-star 25th anniversary/60th birthday concert at the Beacon Theatre to Robin Hood. Highlights of the show included incredible performances by Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, will.i.am, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Rufus Wainwright, and Billy Joel, among many others. In thanks for his many good works, prior to the show's kick-off, Mr. Saltzman presented Sting with a plaque naming the music room in the Robin Hood-funded KIPP NYC College Prep High School in his honor. The school is currently under construction in the South Bronx and due to be completed in late 2013.
For more information about the Robin Hood Foundation and its mission to fight poverty in New York City, please visit robinhood.org.
About Robin Hood
For more than 20 years, Robin Hood has fought poverty in New York City. It finds, funds and partners with programs that have proven to be an effective remedy to poverty and is a consistent force for good in the lives of New Yorkers in need. Robin Hood employs a rigorous system of metrics and third-party evaluation to ensure accountability from organizations that receive its' funds. The board pays all administrative and fundraising costs, so 100% of donations go directly to helping New Yorkers in need. It works closely with groups that receive grants to make them more effective, enabling them to assist even more people. In 2010, Robin Hood invested over $132 million in more than 200 programs and schools, directly touching the lives of over 650,000 New Yorkers.
SOURCE Robin Hood
www.robinhood.org
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for shits and giggles
Watch William Shatner Covering Black Sabbath
William Shatner has recorded a cover of Black Sabbath’s "Iron Man" and has released the in-studio footage of the session. The clip shows an animated Shatner laying down the vocals for the track, which was first released by Ozzy Osbourne and company in 1970.
The track is due to appear on the Star Trek actor’s new album ’Seeking Major Tom,' a concept album album following David Bowie’s Space Oddity character through a selection of suitably spacey covers from the former Captain Kirk. ‘Seeking Major Tom’ is out via Cleopatra Records on October 11.
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and in music history for october 3rd:
In 1901, the Victor Talking Machine Company was incorporated. After a merger with Radio Corporation of America the company became RCA-Victor.
The great Eddie Cochran was born on this date in 1938 (died in 1960).
In 1945, Elvis Presley made his first ever-public appearance in a talent contest at the Mississippi Alabama Dairy Show singing “Old Shep.” Elvis was 10 years old at the time and came second.
The immortal Stevie Ray Vaughan was born today in 1954 (died in 1990).
In 1958, the Biggest Show of Stars tour opened in Worcester, MA with the amazing lineup of Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin, Frankie Avalon, Dion & The Belmonts, Duane Eddy, Clyde McPhatter, The Coasters, The Olympics, Bobby Freeman, The Elegants, Jimmy Clanton, and The Danleers.
In 1961, the Country Music Hall of Fame inducted their first class: Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams.
In 1961, a group of teens from Hawthorne California calling themselves The Pendletones recorded three songs for Hite and Dorinda Morgan, who ran a publishing business and two small record labels. One of those songs was called "Surfin'", which, when pressed on to a Candix Records 45 rpm disc, was credited to The Beach Boys, a name made up by promotion man Russ Reagan, who had taken it upon himself to re-christen the band. "Surfin'" would get to #75 on the Billboard chart and sold 50,000 copies, launching the career of one of America's most successful Rock 'n' Roll acts.
In 1964, the Animals' self-titled album entered the Billboard LP chart. It contained their #1 hit, "House Of The Rising Sun". The British album "The Animals" was released a month later with substantially differing contents.
Also in 1964, the Supremes' "Baby Love" entered Billboard's Hot 100, where it will stay for thirteen weeks, becoming their second number one record in a row.
In 1965, Manfred Mann became the first western band to perform behind the Iron Curtain.
In 1967, folk legend Woody Guthrie passed away of Huntington's chorea in a hospital where he had spent the last ten years. Along with writing "This Land is Your Land", Guthrie was a major influence on Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and many others. In 1967, his son Arlo would score a hit with "Alice's Restaurant", which was made into a movie in 1969.
In 1969, 'Abbey Road' by the Beatles was released in the US. It was released a week earlier in England.
In 1970, the group Lifetime was formed when Jack Bruce (Cream), John McLaughlin (Miles Davis' group), Larry Young and Tony Williams joined forces.
In 1978, the members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they were arrested for smoking pot during an Aerosmith concert at Fort Wayne Coliseum.
In 1981, Billy Joel released the first digitally recorded, live album, "Songs in the Attic," a collection of tunes he had recorded before his big breakthrough, "Just The Way You Are."
In 1988, The documentary "Imagine," about John Lennon, premiered in Hollywood, CA.
In 1990, a storeowner in Florida was found guilty of distributing obscene material. The material in question was 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" album. The man was later fined $1,000.
In 1992, Sinead O'Connor did her career some major damage when she appeared on US TV's Saturday Night Live and held up an 8" x 10" color photo of Pope John Paul II, ripped it into pieces and said, "Fight the real enemy." Over the next few days the NBC switchboard in New York received thousands of calls denouncing O'Connor's performance. The network and the show's executive producer, Lorne Michaels, both denied any knowledge of O'Connor's plan and said she had performed the song differently in rehearsal. Catholic groups expressed outrage at the act and called it patently offensive to people of all religious beliefs. NBC has never again aired the O'Connor performance.
Farm Aid '98 was held in Tinley Park, IL in 1998 with Willie Nelson, Phish, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Steve Earle, Del McCoury Band and Wilco
In 2000, the Cars’ singer and bass player Benjamin Orr died of cancer at home in Atlanta at the age of 53. He sang lead vocals on the band’s hits “Just What I Needed,” “Let's Go” and “Drive.”
Also in 2000, John Lennon's assassin Mark Chapman was denied parole after serving 20 years in prison. Chapman was interviewed for 50 minutes by parole board members who concluded that releasing Chapman would 'deprecate the seriousness of the crime.'
In 2002, Darryl DeLoach of Iron Butterfly, died from liver cancer at the age 55.
In 2007, the Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time when their A Bigger Bang tour, which ran from the Fall of 2005 to August 26, 2007, earned the band a staggering $558,255,524. The previous high was set by U2's Vertigo tour, which took place in 2005 and 2006, earning $389,000,000.
In 2008, singer, producer and songwriter Johnny J (Johnny Jackson) died after jumping from a tier in a Los Angeles jail while serving a sentence for driving under the influence. He produced Tupac Shakur's albums All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World, as well as many of Shakur's subsequent posthumous albums and Candyman.
celebrating birthdays today (among others) are:
Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) (42), Lindsey Buckingham (62), Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) (49), Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust) (39), Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) (33), Chubby Checker (70) and
Frank Hannon (Tesla) (67)
