Freewill - Rush
Monday, June 1, 2009
Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales
Week Ending 05/30/2009
1. 45rpm - The Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen" / "Did You No Wrong" Gallo Rhodesia - $4,837.65 - Starts: $1.55 - Bids: 27
2. LP - Mark Fry "Dreaming With Alice" IT Italy - $3,752.36 - Start: $1.54 - Bids: 23
3. LP - Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin'" Blue Note Mono original - $3,416.00 - Start: $9.99 - Bids: 18
4. 78rpm - Whistler's Jug Band "Foldin' Bed" / "Tiger Rag" Victor - $3,333.33 - Start: $0.99 - Bids: 16
5. 45rpm - Dennis Edwards "Johnnie On The Spot" / "I Didn't Have To" International Soulville - $3,072.88 - Start: $499.99 - Bids: 12
An original pressing from Rhodesia on the Gallo label of the second Sex Pistols' single bids to over $4.8k. Next, and Italian prog LP sells for more than halfway over $3.7k.
A Blue Note original of a Sonny Clark LP bids up a little over $3.4k. A 78 gets the #4 spot, this one from Whistler's Jug Band gets perfect 3's at over $3.3k. In the #5 spot, a northern soul45 from Dennis Edwards bids wellover $3k.
As always, thanks to Norm at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com for this great data!
1. 45rpm - The Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen" / "Did You No Wrong" Gallo Rhodesia - $4,837.65 - Starts: $1.55 - Bids: 27
2. LP - Mark Fry "Dreaming With Alice" IT Italy - $3,752.36 - Start: $1.54 - Bids: 23
3. LP - Sonny Clark "Cool Struttin'" Blue Note Mono original - $3,416.00 - Start: $9.99 - Bids: 18
4. 78rpm - Whistler's Jug Band "Foldin' Bed" / "Tiger Rag" Victor - $3,333.33 - Start: $0.99 - Bids: 16
5. 45rpm - Dennis Edwards "Johnnie On The Spot" / "I Didn't Have To" International Soulville - $3,072.88 - Start: $499.99 - Bids: 12
An original pressing from Rhodesia on the Gallo label of the second Sex Pistols' single bids to over $4.8k. Next, and Italian prog LP sells for more than halfway over $3.7k.
A Blue Note original of a Sonny Clark LP bids up a little over $3.4k. A 78 gets the #4 spot, this one from Whistler's Jug Band gets perfect 3's at over $3.3k. In the #5 spot, a northern soul45 from Dennis Edwards bids wellover $3k.
As always, thanks to Norm at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com for this great data!
This Date In Music History-June 1
The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in the UK in 1967 (it was released in the US the next day). The album was certified gold for sales on its first day in stores.
Buy Sgt. Pepper
Birthdays:
Pat Boone (1934)
Ron Wood – Rolling Stones (1947)
Alan Wilder - Depeche Mode (1959)
Graham Russell - Air Supply (1950)
Simon Gallup – Cure (1960)
Alanis Morissette (1974)
Ronnie Dunn - Brooks and Dunn (1953)
They Are Missed:
Noted Frank Sinatra arranger Nelson Riddle was born in 1921 (died October 6, 1985). He also wrote the theme to the Batman TV show.
David Ruffin of the Temptations died in Philadelphia following an accidental drug overdose in 1991.
The late Johnny Bond ("Hot Rod Lincoln") was born in 1915.
History:
In 1951, Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88," recorded by Sam Phillips and released by Chicago's Chess Records, hits #1 on the R&B chart. It is widely acknowledged as the first rock and roll record. The same month Phillips records "How Many More Years"/"Moanin' At Midnight," the first single by bluesman Howlin' Wolf.
In 1955, Sam Phillips signed aspiring country singer Johnny Cash and released his debut single, "Cry! Cry! Cry!"/"Hey! Porter."
In 1962, the Beatles auditioned for George Martin at Parlophone/EMI Records. He agreed to sign the group, but insisted that Pete Best be replaced. Within months, Richard "Ringo" Starkey joined the group.
"Walking to New Orleans," Fats Domino's last Top Ten pop hit, was released in 1960.
Sam Cooke recorded "You Send Me" in 1957.
The Monterey International Pop Festival took place in 1967, featuring the new generation of bands from San Francisco, Los Angeles and London.
In 1958, Jimi Hendrix's father bought him a second-hand acoustic guitar. It costs five dollars. "Jimmy told me about it [the guitar] and I said, ‘Okay,' and gave him the money. He strummed away on that, working away all the time, any spare time he had," said Al.
In 1972, the first day of recording took place at Abbey Road studios, London on what would become Pink Floyds album “Dark Side Of The Moon.”
“All we are saying is give peace a chance.” The anti-war anthem “Give Peace A Chance” was recorded during John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-in for peace in Montreal in 1969. Holed up in room 1742 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel with John and Yoko are acid guru Timothy Leary, singer Petula Clark, comedian Dick Gregory, poet Allen Ginsberg and comedian Tommy Smothers (who played acoustic guitar with Lennon). They and others contribute vocals to the song. “Give Peace A Chance” eventually gets to #14 in the US and #2 on the U.K. charts (kept out of the top spot by the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women”).
'Supernatural', Santana's first album for Arista Records, was released in 1999. It goes on to sell more than 21 million copies worldwide 13 million in the U.S. alone.
“Eagles,” the band’s self-titled debut containing “Take It Easy,” was released in 1972.
Today in 1959, the song "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks. The song was originally a poem written by high school teacher James Morriss in 1936, which he put to the music of an old fiddle tune known as “The Eighth Of January.” Horton later won a Grammy Award for the song.
"It's My Party" by Lesley Gore topped the charts in 1963.
In 1956, Doris Day signs a five-year contract with Columbia for a whopping $1 million. Que sera, sera!
Elvis Presley's two-sided hit single, "Teddy Bear" and "Loving You", was released in 1957.
The shack in which Elvis was born in Tupelo, Miss., was opened as a tourist attraction in 1971.
Joni Mitchell released her legendary album Blue in 1971.
Paul Simon released There Goes Rhymin' Simon in 1973.
In 1975, Willie Nelson released his acclaimed concept album Red Headed Stranger.
KISS released their album Love Gun in 1977.
Top Sellers of the Decade
This is the latest music data as we are rapidly coming closer to the end of the decade (yeah, I know, it's only the end of May). What I find interesting is that the Beatles come in at #2. Not bad for a group that has been around for fifty years. This exemplifies the impact that the group has had upon our music world throughout the decades and the fact that they can obtain a new audience as each decade passes- Amazing! Another interesting point is that country music's contributation to the list is a bit overwhelming and shows the power that this genre of music has. Another surprise for me is the number of people who buy (and keep buying) Johnny Cash music, another legend that spans the generations.
Here's a list of the 20 musical acts that have sold the most albums since the first week of January 2000. The number immediately after the artist's or band's name is the total number of albums that the artist has sold in this decade. Also identified is when the artist first cracked The Billboard 200, and the title of their best-selling album since January 2000.
1. Eminem - 31,127,000. First charted: 1999. Eminem, 36, is the top male artist and the top rap artist so far in this decade. His 2000 album "The Marshall Mathers" LP is his best-seller. It has sold 10,178,000 copies.
2. The Beatles - 27,591,000. First charted: 1964. The Beatles have sold more albums in the 2000s than any other group, rock act or foreign act. Their 2000 compilation "1" is their best-seller. It has sold 11,402,000 copies. The Beatles were the #5 album-selling act of the 1990s.
3. Tim McGraw - 24,295,000. First charted: 1994. McGraw, 42, is the #1 country artist so far in the 2000s, just nosing out Toby Keith. McGraw was the #38 album-selling act of the ‘90s. His 2000 compilation "Greatest Hits" is his best-selling album of the decade. It has sold 5,995,000 copies.
4. Toby Keith - 24,189,000. First charted: 1993. Keith, 47, is the #2 country artist of this decade. His 2003 album "Shock'n Y'All" is his best-seller. It has sold 4,420,000 copies.
5. Britney Spears - 22,937,000. First charted: 1999. Spears, 27, is the youngest artist on this list, edging out Josh Groban by one year. She is also #1 female artist in this decade. Her 2000 album, "Oops!...I Did It Again," is her best-seller of the decade. It has sold 9,183,000 copies. Spears was the #108 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
6. Kenny Chesney - 21,396,000. First charted: 1996. Chesney, 41, is the #3 country artist of this decade. His best-selling album is 2004's "When The Sun Goes Down," which has sold 4,111,000 copies.
7. Nelly - 21,206,000. First charted: 2000. Nelly, 34, is the #1 new artist to emerge in this decade, edging out Linkin Park. He's also the #1 African American artist, edging out Jay-Z, and the #2 rap artist. Nelly's 2000 debut, "Country Grammar," is his best-selling album. It has sold 8,454,000 copies.
8. Linkin Park - 21,125,000. First charted: 2000. Linkin Park is the #2 rock group of the decade, behind the Beatles. It's also the #2 new artist. The band's 2000 debut album, "Hybrid Theory", is its best-seller. It has sold 9,600,000 copies.
9. Creed - 20,398,000. First charted: 1997. Creed is the #3 rock group of the decade. 1999's "Human Clay" is the band's best-selling album. It has sold 9,480,000 copies since January 2000. Creed was the #167 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
10. Jay-Z - 19,379,000. First charted: 1996. Jay-Z, 39, is the #3 rap artist of the decade. 2003's "The Black Album" is his best-selling album of this decade. It has sold 3,338,000 copies. Jay-Z was the #152 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
11. Nickelback - 19,158,000. First charted: 2000. The Canadian group is the #2 foreign act of this decade (after the Beatles). Nickelback is also the #3 new artist and the #4 rock group. 2005's "All The Right Reasons" is its best-seller, with sales of 7,159,000 copies.
12. Josh Groban - 19,115,000. First charted: 2001. Groban, 28, is the #1 pop male artist of this decade. He's the #4 new artist. The pop/classical star's 2003 album "Closer" is his best-seller, with sales of 5,746,000 copies.
13. Rascal Flatts - 18,831,000. First charted: 2000. The trio is the #1 country group of this decade, nosing out Dixie Chicks. It's also the #5 new act. 2004's "Feels Like Today" is the act's best-selling album. It has sold 5,134,000copies.
14. Metallica - 18,490,000. First charted: 1984. Metallica is the #1 hard rock act of the decade (unless you count the genre-bending Linkin Park). The band's 1991 blockbuster "Metallica" is the band's best-selling album of this decade. It has sold 3,691,000 copies since January 2000. Metallica was the #3 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
15. Alan Jackson - 18,479,000. First charted: 1990. Jackson, 50, is the oldest solo artist on this list, edging out Toby Keith. 2002's "Drive" is his best-selling album of this decade. It has sold 3,508,000 copies. Jackson was the #17 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
16. *NSYNC - 18,402,000. First charted: 1998. The boy band is the #1 pop group of this decade (assuming you classify the Beatles as rock). *NSYNC's 2000 album "No Strings Attached" is its best-seller, with sales of 11,111,000 copies. The quintet was the #80 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
17. Dixie Chicks - 18,293,000. First charted: 1998. The female trio is the #2 country group so far in this decade. 2002's "Home" is the act's best-selling album of this decade. It has sold 5,997,000 copies. Dixie Chicks was the #105 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
18. Johnny Cash - 17,860,000. First charted: 1958. The country legend, who died in 2003 at age 71, is the most surprising name on the list. He made it on the strength of an enormous catalog and a renewed focus on him after his death. His 1999 compliation "16 Greatest Hits" is his best-seller of the decade. It has sold 2,846,000 copies since January 2000.
19. Kid Rock - 17,606,000. First charted: 1999. Kid Rock, 38, is the #1 male rock artist of this decade. Kid's 2001 album "Cocky" is his best-seller of the decade. It has sold 5,045,000 copies.
20. Celine Dion - 17,579,000. First charted: 1991. The Canadian diva, 41, is the #2 pop female artist of this decade, behind Britney Spears. Dion's 1999 greatest hits album, "All The Way...A Decade Of Song," is her best-seller in the decade. It has sold 4,971,000 copies since January 2000. Dion was the #4 album-selling act of the ‘90s.
Music News & Notes
New Music From Young, Matthews, Costello Coming Tomorrow
"Neil Young Archives Vol. 1: 1963-1972," Neil Young will be released tomorrow. Some, who may be expecting a trove of unheard songs may be disappointed in this endlessly delayed eight-CD set. There's only a smattering of truly new material here, some of it more interesting than it is essential. Spring for the pricey DVD or truly extravagant Blu-ray versions -- each a whopping 10 discs -- and you'll also get a warehouse's worth of photos, lyrics, and audio and video clips. An impressive package, but fans will be paying big bucks for a lot of stuff they already own; which may be a cause for concern.
"Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King," Dave Matthews Band is also scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 2. Dave Matthews Band have somberly been faced with the sudden loss of one of the founding members (Saxophonist LeRoi Moore died in August from injuries incurred in an ATV accident, midway through the recording of their latest album). However, his spirit -- and his sound -- looms large, on "Big Whiskey." The GrooGrux King of the title references Moore, as does the figure at the center of Whiskey's intricate cover art (drawn by Matthews himself); his sweet, solitary sax flourishes even bookend the album. Throughout, the spectre of death rarely recedes, but life -- embodied by the proto-DMB revelry of "Why I Am" -- still prevails. Moore's spirit is effident throughout the album, another fine effort from the band.
"Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane," Elvis Costello is also set for a June 2 release. In this new effort, Elvis Costello sounds downright acousticly-frisky at times which musically calls to mind 1986's sublime, countryish "King of America." (The two albums share producer T Bone Burnett.) "Sulphur to Sugarcane" in particular is a lusty delight, pinpointing the notable (alleged) qualities of ladies from different locales ("The women in Poughkeepsie/Take their clothes off when they're tipsy ..."). Fans will not be disappointed, in fact, this is Costello's best effort in a long time.
--------------------------------------
STATIC RADIO NJ Set For Tour
The New Brunswick, New Jersey punk trio will be playing shows in support of the vinyl release of their debut full-length, "An Evening Of Bad Decisions." Originally issued on CD by Black Numbers in September of 2008, the 12-inch version was released by the label earlier this month. It features brand new artwork and a free digital download for all the songs. There were 1000 copies pressed on 3 limited colors: 500 black, 300 white and 200 clear, creating a buzz among collectors
--------------------------------------
World Renowned Reggae Label VP RECORDS Releases REGGAE GOLD
Album to Feature Some of the Summer’s Hottest Tracks by Sean Paul, Mavado, Estelle, Elephant Man, T.O.K., Beres Hammond and Jazmine Sullivan
VP Records has released the long-awaited and latest installment of "Reggae Gold" on June 30th, 2008. The compilation is Reggae’s most highly-anticipated release of the year and will be part of the definitive collection from the genre this summer.
Reggae Gold 2009 compilation features a varied assortment of top reggae artists and hits including Estelle featuring Sean Paul on the international smash “Come Over”, as well as tracks by Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, T.O.K. and Serani’s massive radio hit, “Playing Games”. The JTB (Jamaican Tourist Board) and VP Records have partnered to re-create the iconic “Welcome to Jamaica” image for the album cover. In cooperation with JTI (Jamaica Trade and Invest), JTB and Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, VP Records will launch an extensive marketing campaign around the release of Reggae Gold 2009 that extends until the end of the year. All details of the campaign’s phases will be announced on www.myspace.com/reggaegold and www.vprecords.com.
For the past 16 years, VP Records has been at the forefront of reggae music with their Reggae Gold series. Since it’s inception this collection has featured the biggest songs of the year in reggae/dancehall but has also included music from international artists and crossover recording acts. Reggae Gold has featured superstars such as Beenie Man, Buju Banton, and Lady Saw. Reggae Gold is renowned for featuring dancehall and reggae hits, as well as tracks from up and comers which on this offering includes Laden, Jah Vinci and Prodigal Son.
Tracklisting for Reggae Gold 2009:
“Come Over” – Estelle featuring Sean Paul
“Need U Bad” – Jazmine Sullivan
“Love Is Wicked” – Brick & Lace
“Playing Games” – Serani
“So Special” – Mavado
“Nuh Linga” – Elephant Man
“Watch Your Friends” – Jah Vinci
“Protected” – Chino featuring Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor
“See You Again” – Beres Hammond
“Blessings” – Etana & Alborosie
“Start A New” – Tarrus Riley
“Far Away” – Queen Ifrica
“Head Cyaan Hot So” – Prodigal Son
“Praise and Worship” – Busy Signal
“Money Over War” – Laden
“Dance and Sweep” – Elephant Man
“Couple Up” – T.O.K.
“Leave If You Want To Leave” – I Wayne
BONUS I-TUNES ALBUM TRACKS:
“So Blessed” – Mavado
“Stay Close” – Wayne Wonder
--------------------------------------
Award-Winning Caribbean Trumpet Phenom Etienne Charles Releases Landmark CD “Folklore” To International Acclaim
NEW YORK – World-renowned trumpeter Etienne Charles announces the release of the highly-awaited CD, "Folklore," already being hailed internationally as a landmark recording.
A native of Trinidad and Tobago and emanating from a robust fourth-generation musical family heritage, Charles has composed and brilliantly delivered a unique suite of Caribbean/Afro-Caribbean music based on West African-Caribbean mythology.
A banner CD release event is scheduled with performances July 21-25, 2009 at 11PM nightly at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center in New York. For ticket/reservations, please call 212-258-9595 or visit http://www.jalc.org.
“The music of Folklore employs and combines jazz improvisation and harmony with folk rhythms and chants inspired by the African experience of Trinidad and Tobago,” stated Charles, a graduate of Julliard who won the 2006 National Trumpet Competition, among other performance awards. “At the album’s core is a suite of compositions based on mythical characters of Afro-Caribbean folkloric tradition - creatures that have been a part of that heritage for centuries, as they were brought over by West African slaves and passed down from generation to generation through stories, chants and dances,” he added.
--------------------------------------
SLASH Issues Update On Solo Record
VELVET REVOLVER and ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash has posted an update on the recording process for his new solo album, which he is tracking with former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese and ex-JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney. Confirmed guest singers so far include Ozzy Osbourne and AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows.
Slash writes on his MySpace page: "We're almost done with vocals — two more songs left and a couple of odds and ends. Then, I can stand back and see what we've got. It is a fucking awesome ensemble, that much I do know, with brilliant performances from each and every singer. I do hope to have a release date soon, but I can assure you, as I said before, it won't be this year. It will, most definitely, be out be very early in the New Year.
"Even though the recording process is almost done, the legal logistics involved with so many different artists takes a minute to iron out.
"When the record is released, I plan on posting what gear was used on what songs; guitars, amps etc. Although most of it was done with one guitar and two amps. A lot of interesting mic set-ups, though. The record is being recorded anolog as well. This might be one of the last rock and roll records to be recorded that way, no joke. So, of course, I have to release it on vinyl, as well as CD."
Slash will be joined by BLACK SABBATH legend Ozzy Osbourne, THE ROLLING STONES guitarist Ron Wood and LED ZEPPELIN drummer Jason Bonham — son of the late John Bonham, the band's original drummer — for the axeman's headlining appearance at this year's edition of the Quart festival, set to take place June 30 - July 4, 2009 in Kristiansand, Norway. Slash will perform a mixture of old and new material on the festival's opening day.
Commented Slash: "My gig at the Quart fest is coming up in Norway, June 30, which is starting to come together. I'll [announce] who all's playing next week, but it's a great lineup and the songs so far are shaping up to be a really great set."
Slash previously played with Ozzy at the 77th Royal Variety Performance in November 2005 in Cardiff. They performed a version of THE BEATLES classic "In My Life", with family photographs projected onto the background of the stage.
Slash left GUNS N' ROSES in the mid-'90s, forming SLASH'S SNAKEPIT before later assembling VELVET REVOLVER with several other ex-members of GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland.
VELVET REVOLVER is currently searching for a replacement for Weiland, who was dismissed in April 2008.
--------------------------------------
The New Riders of the Purple Sage are releasing their first studio CD in over 20 years on June 2, 2009 !
This legendary SF group’s renaissance began four years ago and continues today with over 100 shows annually to audiences throughout North America. The new album, "Where I Come From," is produced by Michael Falzarano and features 12 new songs, seven of which were written by David Nelson and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Also included are Carl Perkins "Wears The Crown," an ode to the rockabilly king, written by Michael Falzarano (formerly of Hot Tuna) along with "Something in the Air Tonight," two live show favorites Higher, penned by Johnny Markowski, and Olivia Rose by Ronnie Penque, and a cool cover of the classic "Minglewood Blues." NRPS is David Nelson, Buddy Cage, Michael Falzarano, Ronnie Penque & Johnny Markowski. (cover art by San Francisco artist Stanley Mouse)
"Neil Young Archives Vol. 1: 1963-1972," Neil Young will be released tomorrow. Some, who may be expecting a trove of unheard songs may be disappointed in this endlessly delayed eight-CD set. There's only a smattering of truly new material here, some of it more interesting than it is essential. Spring for the pricey DVD or truly extravagant Blu-ray versions -- each a whopping 10 discs -- and you'll also get a warehouse's worth of photos, lyrics, and audio and video clips. An impressive package, but fans will be paying big bucks for a lot of stuff they already own; which may be a cause for concern.
"Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King," Dave Matthews Band is also scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 2. Dave Matthews Band have somberly been faced with the sudden loss of one of the founding members (Saxophonist LeRoi Moore died in August from injuries incurred in an ATV accident, midway through the recording of their latest album). However, his spirit -- and his sound -- looms large, on "Big Whiskey." The GrooGrux King of the title references Moore, as does the figure at the center of Whiskey's intricate cover art (drawn by Matthews himself); his sweet, solitary sax flourishes even bookend the album. Throughout, the spectre of death rarely recedes, but life -- embodied by the proto-DMB revelry of "Why I Am" -- still prevails. Moore's spirit is effident throughout the album, another fine effort from the band.
"Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane," Elvis Costello is also set for a June 2 release. In this new effort, Elvis Costello sounds downright acousticly-frisky at times which musically calls to mind 1986's sublime, countryish "King of America." (The two albums share producer T Bone Burnett.) "Sulphur to Sugarcane" in particular is a lusty delight, pinpointing the notable (alleged) qualities of ladies from different locales ("The women in Poughkeepsie/Take their clothes off when they're tipsy ..."). Fans will not be disappointed, in fact, this is Costello's best effort in a long time.
--------------------------------------
STATIC RADIO NJ Set For Tour
The New Brunswick, New Jersey punk trio will be playing shows in support of the vinyl release of their debut full-length, "An Evening Of Bad Decisions." Originally issued on CD by Black Numbers in September of 2008, the 12-inch version was released by the label earlier this month. It features brand new artwork and a free digital download for all the songs. There were 1000 copies pressed on 3 limited colors: 500 black, 300 white and 200 clear, creating a buzz among collectors
--------------------------------------
World Renowned Reggae Label VP RECORDS Releases REGGAE GOLD
Album to Feature Some of the Summer’s Hottest Tracks by Sean Paul, Mavado, Estelle, Elephant Man, T.O.K., Beres Hammond and Jazmine Sullivan
VP Records has released the long-awaited and latest installment of "Reggae Gold" on June 30th, 2008. The compilation is Reggae’s most highly-anticipated release of the year and will be part of the definitive collection from the genre this summer.
Reggae Gold 2009 compilation features a varied assortment of top reggae artists and hits including Estelle featuring Sean Paul on the international smash “Come Over”, as well as tracks by Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, T.O.K. and Serani’s massive radio hit, “Playing Games”. The JTB (Jamaican Tourist Board) and VP Records have partnered to re-create the iconic “Welcome to Jamaica” image for the album cover. In cooperation with JTI (Jamaica Trade and Invest), JTB and Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, VP Records will launch an extensive marketing campaign around the release of Reggae Gold 2009 that extends until the end of the year. All details of the campaign’s phases will be announced on www.myspace.com/reggaegold and www.vprecords.com.
For the past 16 years, VP Records has been at the forefront of reggae music with their Reggae Gold series. Since it’s inception this collection has featured the biggest songs of the year in reggae/dancehall but has also included music from international artists and crossover recording acts. Reggae Gold has featured superstars such as Beenie Man, Buju Banton, and Lady Saw. Reggae Gold is renowned for featuring dancehall and reggae hits, as well as tracks from up and comers which on this offering includes Laden, Jah Vinci and Prodigal Son.
Tracklisting for Reggae Gold 2009:
“Come Over” – Estelle featuring Sean Paul
“Need U Bad” – Jazmine Sullivan
“Love Is Wicked” – Brick & Lace
“Playing Games” – Serani
“So Special” – Mavado
“Nuh Linga” – Elephant Man
“Watch Your Friends” – Jah Vinci
“Protected” – Chino featuring Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor
“See You Again” – Beres Hammond
“Blessings” – Etana & Alborosie
“Start A New” – Tarrus Riley
“Far Away” – Queen Ifrica
“Head Cyaan Hot So” – Prodigal Son
“Praise and Worship” – Busy Signal
“Money Over War” – Laden
“Dance and Sweep” – Elephant Man
“Couple Up” – T.O.K.
“Leave If You Want To Leave” – I Wayne
BONUS I-TUNES ALBUM TRACKS:
“So Blessed” – Mavado
“Stay Close” – Wayne Wonder
--------------------------------------
Award-Winning Caribbean Trumpet Phenom Etienne Charles Releases Landmark CD “Folklore” To International Acclaim
NEW YORK – World-renowned trumpeter Etienne Charles announces the release of the highly-awaited CD, "Folklore," already being hailed internationally as a landmark recording.
A native of Trinidad and Tobago and emanating from a robust fourth-generation musical family heritage, Charles has composed and brilliantly delivered a unique suite of Caribbean/Afro-Caribbean music based on West African-Caribbean mythology.
A banner CD release event is scheduled with performances July 21-25, 2009 at 11PM nightly at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center in New York. For ticket/reservations, please call 212-258-9595 or visit http://www.jalc.org.
“The music of Folklore employs and combines jazz improvisation and harmony with folk rhythms and chants inspired by the African experience of Trinidad and Tobago,” stated Charles, a graduate of Julliard who won the 2006 National Trumpet Competition, among other performance awards. “At the album’s core is a suite of compositions based on mythical characters of Afro-Caribbean folkloric tradition - creatures that have been a part of that heritage for centuries, as they were brought over by West African slaves and passed down from generation to generation through stories, chants and dances,” he added.
--------------------------------------
SLASH Issues Update On Solo Record
VELVET REVOLVER and ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash has posted an update on the recording process for his new solo album, which he is tracking with former NINE INCH NAILS drummer Josh Freese and ex-JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney. Confirmed guest singers so far include Ozzy Osbourne and AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows.
Slash writes on his MySpace page: "We're almost done with vocals — two more songs left and a couple of odds and ends. Then, I can stand back and see what we've got. It is a fucking awesome ensemble, that much I do know, with brilliant performances from each and every singer. I do hope to have a release date soon, but I can assure you, as I said before, it won't be this year. It will, most definitely, be out be very early in the New Year.
"Even though the recording process is almost done, the legal logistics involved with so many different artists takes a minute to iron out.
"When the record is released, I plan on posting what gear was used on what songs; guitars, amps etc. Although most of it was done with one guitar and two amps. A lot of interesting mic set-ups, though. The record is being recorded anolog as well. This might be one of the last rock and roll records to be recorded that way, no joke. So, of course, I have to release it on vinyl, as well as CD."
Slash will be joined by BLACK SABBATH legend Ozzy Osbourne, THE ROLLING STONES guitarist Ron Wood and LED ZEPPELIN drummer Jason Bonham — son of the late John Bonham, the band's original drummer — for the axeman's headlining appearance at this year's edition of the Quart festival, set to take place June 30 - July 4, 2009 in Kristiansand, Norway. Slash will perform a mixture of old and new material on the festival's opening day.
Commented Slash: "My gig at the Quart fest is coming up in Norway, June 30, which is starting to come together. I'll [announce] who all's playing next week, but it's a great lineup and the songs so far are shaping up to be a really great set."
Slash previously played with Ozzy at the 77th Royal Variety Performance in November 2005 in Cardiff. They performed a version of THE BEATLES classic "In My Life", with family photographs projected onto the background of the stage.
Slash left GUNS N' ROSES in the mid-'90s, forming SLASH'S SNAKEPIT before later assembling VELVET REVOLVER with several other ex-members of GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland.
VELVET REVOLVER is currently searching for a replacement for Weiland, who was dismissed in April 2008.
--------------------------------------
The New Riders of the Purple Sage are releasing their first studio CD in over 20 years on June 2, 2009 !
This legendary SF group’s renaissance began four years ago and continues today with over 100 shows annually to audiences throughout North America. The new album, "Where I Come From," is produced by Michael Falzarano and features 12 new songs, seven of which were written by David Nelson and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Also included are Carl Perkins "Wears The Crown," an ode to the rockabilly king, written by Michael Falzarano (formerly of Hot Tuna) along with "Something in the Air Tonight," two live show favorites Higher, penned by Johnny Markowski, and Olivia Rose by Ronnie Penque, and a cool cover of the classic "Minglewood Blues." NRPS is David Nelson, Buddy Cage, Michael Falzarano, Ronnie Penque & Johnny Markowski. (cover art by San Francisco artist Stanley Mouse)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Ozzy Responds To Lawsuit
The Blizzard of Ozz himself has issued a statement saying that after years of trying to “resolve the issue amicably,” the lawsuit was regretfully Ozzy’s last course of action.
“The Black Sabbath legacy should live on long after we have all gone. Please do the right thing,” Ozzy says to close his statement.
Read Ozzy’s entire statement to Iommi below:
“It is with great regret that I had to resort to legal action against my long term partner, Tony Iommi, but after three years of trying to resolve this issue amicably, I feel I have no other recourse. As of the mid-1990’s, after constant and numerous changes in band members, the brand of ‘Black Sabbath’ was literally in the toilet and Tony Iommi (touring under the name Black Sabbath) was reduced to performing in clubs. Since 1997 when Geezer, Bill and myself rejoined the band, Black Sabbath has returned to its former glory as we headlined sold-out arenas and amphitheatres playing to upwards of 50,000 people at each show around the world.
We worked collectively to restore credibility and bring dignity back to the name ‘Black Sabbath’ which lead to the band being inducted into the UK and US Rock & Roll Hall of Fames in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Throughout the last 12 years, it was my management representatives who oversaw the marketing and quality control of the ‘Black Sabbath’ brand through OZZFEST, touring, merchandising and album reissues. The name “Black Sabbath” now has a worldwide prestige and merchandising value that it would not have had by continuing on the road it was on prior to the 1997 reunion tour.
Tony, I am so sorry it’s had to get to this point by me having to take this action against you. I don’t have the right to speak for Geezer and Bill, but I feel that morally and ethically the trademark should be owned by the four of us equally. I hope that by me taking this first step that it will ultimately end up that way. We’ve all worked too hard and long in our careers to allow you to sell merchandise that features all our faces, old Black Sabbath album covers and band logos, and then you tell us that you own the copyright. We’re all in our 60’s now. The Black Sabbath legacy should live on long after we have all gone. Please do the right thing.”
NEW HOME FOR TRUTONE
WSDG Completes New Studio for Vinyl Mastering Pro
DMN Newswire ~ Carl Rowatti, owner of Trutone Mastering Labs Inc., veteran mastering engineer, and master in the art of lacquer-cutting for vinyl records, has opened a new studio in his suburban 4400 sq. ft. Orangeburg, NY home. Created by Walters-Storyk Design Group architect/acoustician John Storyk, the facility features the same technology which earned Carl, Adrianna (his wife and partner) and Trutone Mastering Labs midtown studios, recognition as one of NY's most prestigious mastering complexes.
"Last year when Sony BMG Music went looking for a new location for their mastering studios, they offered to buy out our lease," Carl Rowatti says. "After serious contemplation we decided that their offer was simply too attractive to dismiss."
"The opportunity to transfer our NYC studio lease to Sony BMG, enabling them to move in and begin mastering with minimal downtime, was testament to the merits of our original WSDG-designed studios," confides Adrianna Rowatti. The Sony group truly appreciated our facility, it saved them months of construction time and expense"
In 2003, when the Rowatti's acquired the historic, former Record Plant space, at 321 West 44 St., they consulted with John Storyk, who embraced the challenge of reconfiguring the dated control room and live studio into two spacious state-of-the-art mastering suites with accommodations for Neumann VMS-70 lathes for analog cutting.
As soon as the Sony deal was finalized, Carl again consulted with WSDG architect/ acoustician John Storyk. "Our engineers and clients were so pleased with the look, sound and functionality of our Midtown studios, that we wanted John to recreate the same ambience for our new home studio. During his first visit to our home in the summer of 2008, John was in full agreement with our assessment of the 1100 sq ft. site we suggested for the new mastering suite. He also allayed our concerns about maintaining good relations with our suburban neighbors in terms of noise," Rowatti says. "We also liked his idea of developing a 'home theater' look for the new studio to keep it aesthetically appropriate to our home."
"Trutone is a casebook example of the mushrooming trend of established engineers moving their pro studios 'in house,'" Storyk says. "This is the second residential studio we've completed this year. The logic behind these investments is irrefutable. Recording studios represent the ideal 'neighborhood business.' Low traffic, low noise, zero pollution... When properly designed, these facilities are totally transparent to the surrounding residents. By employing decoupled floors, fully floating room design, IAC doors, diffusers, absorption and the latest sound insulation treatments, we guaranteed Carl the freedom to work at whatever dB level his clients require without compromising sound transmission to the rest of the residence."
Once plans were approved and finalized, in late 2008, the Rowattis contracted NJ-based studio construction pros, Kevin Carroll and Mark Jakubek of Sonic Construction to construct the studio and lounge areas.
"Now, we've eliminated our own daily commute and our clients are fine with the reverse trip," Adrianna Rowatti adds. "They can get to our new studio within 40 minutes from mid-town Manhattan. They rely on Carl's mastering skills and are completely at ease here. We're confident that the convenience, comfort and economics of moving the studio into our home will greatly extend the longevity of our career."
Rowatti depends on the Sonic Studio Pre-mastering System for CD master creation. Outboard equipment includes digital as well as solid state and vacuum tube analog. Gear includes: Weiss BW-102 Digital EQ and Compressors, Solid State Sontec EQ, Prism and NTP Compressors, Vacuum tube gear includes: Pultec and Manley Massive Passive Equalizers as well as the world-renowned Fairchild 670 and Manley Variable Mu Compressors. Analog to digital conversion is achieved utilizing a Prism Sound Dream A/D Converter. Analog disc cutting is accomplished via a meticulously maintained Neumann VMS-70 lathe retrofitted with a Zuma disc computer and Technics quartz-controlled turntable motor. The lathe is equipped with a Neumann SX-74 cutter head driven by a Neumann SAL-74B amplification system. A Neumann SP-77 console has been extensively modified to exceed the demands of today's high level electronic music. Studio monitors are KEF Reference 4s powered by Bryston and Ramsa amps.
"Thanks to its warmth and sonic vibrancy, demand for vinyl continues to thrive with rock 'n roll, classic reissues and a growing iPod generation fan base," Carl Rowatti concludes. "DJ's have long understood the mystery behind vinyl's ability to bring a unique emotional experience to today's club goers. It draws them out of their ear bud cocoons and fully engages them in the hot, exciting communal experience of dance. The sound of vinyl is unmistakable and fortunately for us, irreplaceable."
Carl Rowatti's recent projects include: Bruce Springsteen, Magic (vinyl), Bob Dylan, Most Likely (vinyl) Boyz n da Hood, Back up n da Chevy (CD & vinyl), Shontelle, T-Shirt (remixes) (CD), B-52s, Juliet of the Spirit (CD), Lindsay Lohan, Bossy (remixes) (CD), Nina Simone, Remixed & Reimagined (vinyl), Akon, Beautiful (remixes) (CD). Ultra Nate, Give It All You Got (CD).
SOURCE: http://sony.broadcastnewsroom.com
DMN Newswire ~ Carl Rowatti, owner of Trutone Mastering Labs Inc., veteran mastering engineer, and master in the art of lacquer-cutting for vinyl records, has opened a new studio in his suburban 4400 sq. ft. Orangeburg, NY home. Created by Walters-Storyk Design Group architect/acoustician John Storyk, the facility features the same technology which earned Carl, Adrianna (his wife and partner) and Trutone Mastering Labs midtown studios, recognition as one of NY's most prestigious mastering complexes.
"Last year when Sony BMG Music went looking for a new location for their mastering studios, they offered to buy out our lease," Carl Rowatti says. "After serious contemplation we decided that their offer was simply too attractive to dismiss."
"The opportunity to transfer our NYC studio lease to Sony BMG, enabling them to move in and begin mastering with minimal downtime, was testament to the merits of our original WSDG-designed studios," confides Adrianna Rowatti. The Sony group truly appreciated our facility, it saved them months of construction time and expense"
In 2003, when the Rowatti's acquired the historic, former Record Plant space, at 321 West 44 St., they consulted with John Storyk, who embraced the challenge of reconfiguring the dated control room and live studio into two spacious state-of-the-art mastering suites with accommodations for Neumann VMS-70 lathes for analog cutting.
As soon as the Sony deal was finalized, Carl again consulted with WSDG architect/ acoustician John Storyk. "Our engineers and clients were so pleased with the look, sound and functionality of our Midtown studios, that we wanted John to recreate the same ambience for our new home studio. During his first visit to our home in the summer of 2008, John was in full agreement with our assessment of the 1100 sq ft. site we suggested for the new mastering suite. He also allayed our concerns about maintaining good relations with our suburban neighbors in terms of noise," Rowatti says. "We also liked his idea of developing a 'home theater' look for the new studio to keep it aesthetically appropriate to our home."
"Trutone is a casebook example of the mushrooming trend of established engineers moving their pro studios 'in house,'" Storyk says. "This is the second residential studio we've completed this year. The logic behind these investments is irrefutable. Recording studios represent the ideal 'neighborhood business.' Low traffic, low noise, zero pollution... When properly designed, these facilities are totally transparent to the surrounding residents. By employing decoupled floors, fully floating room design, IAC doors, diffusers, absorption and the latest sound insulation treatments, we guaranteed Carl the freedom to work at whatever dB level his clients require without compromising sound transmission to the rest of the residence."
Once plans were approved and finalized, in late 2008, the Rowattis contracted NJ-based studio construction pros, Kevin Carroll and Mark Jakubek of Sonic Construction to construct the studio and lounge areas.
"Now, we've eliminated our own daily commute and our clients are fine with the reverse trip," Adrianna Rowatti adds. "They can get to our new studio within 40 minutes from mid-town Manhattan. They rely on Carl's mastering skills and are completely at ease here. We're confident that the convenience, comfort and economics of moving the studio into our home will greatly extend the longevity of our career."
Rowatti depends on the Sonic Studio Pre-mastering System for CD master creation. Outboard equipment includes digital as well as solid state and vacuum tube analog. Gear includes: Weiss BW-102 Digital EQ and Compressors, Solid State Sontec EQ, Prism and NTP Compressors, Vacuum tube gear includes: Pultec and Manley Massive Passive Equalizers as well as the world-renowned Fairchild 670 and Manley Variable Mu Compressors. Analog to digital conversion is achieved utilizing a Prism Sound Dream A/D Converter. Analog disc cutting is accomplished via a meticulously maintained Neumann VMS-70 lathe retrofitted with a Zuma disc computer and Technics quartz-controlled turntable motor. The lathe is equipped with a Neumann SX-74 cutter head driven by a Neumann SAL-74B amplification system. A Neumann SP-77 console has been extensively modified to exceed the demands of today's high level electronic music. Studio monitors are KEF Reference 4s powered by Bryston and Ramsa amps.
"Thanks to its warmth and sonic vibrancy, demand for vinyl continues to thrive with rock 'n roll, classic reissues and a growing iPod generation fan base," Carl Rowatti concludes. "DJ's have long understood the mystery behind vinyl's ability to bring a unique emotional experience to today's club goers. It draws them out of their ear bud cocoons and fully engages them in the hot, exciting communal experience of dance. The sound of vinyl is unmistakable and fortunately for us, irreplaceable."
Carl Rowatti's recent projects include: Bruce Springsteen, Magic (vinyl), Bob Dylan, Most Likely (vinyl) Boyz n da Hood, Back up n da Chevy (CD & vinyl), Shontelle, T-Shirt (remixes) (CD), B-52s, Juliet of the Spirit (CD), Lindsay Lohan, Bossy (remixes) (CD), Nina Simone, Remixed & Reimagined (vinyl), Akon, Beautiful (remixes) (CD). Ultra Nate, Give It All You Got (CD).
SOURCE: http://sony.broadcastnewsroom.com
This Date In Music History- May 30
Birthdays:
Lenny Davidson - Dave Clark Five (1944)
Nicky 'Topper' Headon – Clash (1955)
Tom Morello - Rage Against The Machine (1964)
Tim Burgess – Charlatans (1968)
Patrick Dalheimer - Live (1971)
Marie Fredriksson – Roxette (1958)
Wynonna Judd (1964)
They Are Missed:
Carl Radle, bass player with Derek and the Dominoes, died of kidney failure in 1980 (age 38 - also worked with Gary Lewis & the Playboys, George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Dave Mason & Delaney and Bonnie).
Famed record producer Mickie Most died in 2003 (age 64). Produced hits for The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Donovan, Kim Wilde, Lulu and Jeff Beck. Also operated his own record label RAK in the 1970's, having hits with Hot Chocolate, Suzi Quatro and Mud.
The ‘King of Swing’ Benny Goodman was born in Chicago in 1909 (died June 13, 1986).
“The Man of a Thousand Voices,” and voice of a cartoon generation, Mel Blanc was born in 1908 (died July 10, 1989). His original characterization of Daffy Duck (for over 52 years) is the longest time any animated character has been performed by his or her original voice contributor.
Jazz guru/madman Sun Ra died in Birmingham, Alabama in 1993.
History:
In 1956, Time Magazine ran an article entitled "Teener's Hero," which explained Elvis Presley's mystique. After a drawn-out description of his singing style, the writer keyed on Presley's appeal: "his movements suggest, in a word, sex."
Though many declared that disco was dead in 1980, "Mickey Mouse Disco" went platinum anyway.
In 1971, three dozen Deadheads were treated for hallucinations caused by LSD they had unwittingly ingested when the drug was used to spike an apple drink served at San Francisco's Winterland. Although members of the group are suspected of supplying the drug, they are not accused. I wouldn’t have suspected them anyway…..
We need more! In 1994, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences announces will be adding seven more categories to the 81 Grammy Awards already handed out yearly.
Ray Stevens went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1970 with “Everything Is Beautiful.” The former DJ had a string of novelty hits, including “Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green & Purple Pill.”
1999 - In London, a bomb threat at a Kenny Rogers concert being held at Royal Albert Hall caused the evacuation of more than 3,000. No bomb was found and no injuries were reported, however, surprisingly, more than 3,000 people really did show up for the gig.
Also in 1999 - In New Jersey, Lenny Kravitz walked off stage after 40 minutes and collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ummm, he had been performing in a fur coat.
Midnight Oil closed down 6th Avenue in New York City in 1990 as they played a protest concert in front of Exxon's offices. The protest was in reaction to the Exxon Valdez disaster.
On his 53rd birthday in 1962, clarinetist Benny Goodman performed with his jazz band for the first time in the Soviet Union.
The Jefferson Airplane performed at a benefit in 1966 for the Haight-Ashbury Legal Organization in San Francisco.
In 1968, the Beatles kicked off recording The Beatles double album (the White Album) by laying down 18 takes of "Revolution 1." Sessions will gradually deteriorate until all four members were recording independently of one another.
In 1997, Neil Young had to cancel his European tour after cutting his finger open while slicing a ham sandwich. A man really does need a maid.
Paul Simon married Edie Brickell of the New Bohemians in 1992. Brickell was performing "What I Am" on NBC's Saturday Night Live when she noticed Simon standing in front of the cameraman. "He made me mess the song up when I looked at him," she said with a smile. They have three little Bohemians.
In 2005, Coldplay's new album was illegally put on the internet a week before its UK and US release. The leak took place on the day copies were sent to UK radio stations and the day before it went on sale in Japan. Security measures around the release included hosting album playbacks at Abbey Road studios for journalists instead of sending them copies of the album, any CDs that were sent out were labelled with a false name - The Fir Trees - to throw would-be pirates off the scent.
In 2007, a leaked copy of the new White Stripes album “Icky Thump” was played completely on Chicago's radio station Q101-WKQX. Jack White personally called the US radio station from Spain, where he was touring, to voice his displeasure.
Lenny Davidson - Dave Clark Five (1944)
Nicky 'Topper' Headon – Clash (1955)
Tom Morello - Rage Against The Machine (1964)
Tim Burgess – Charlatans (1968)
Patrick Dalheimer - Live (1971)
Marie Fredriksson – Roxette (1958)
Wynonna Judd (1964)
They Are Missed:
Carl Radle, bass player with Derek and the Dominoes, died of kidney failure in 1980 (age 38 - also worked with Gary Lewis & the Playboys, George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Dave Mason & Delaney and Bonnie).
Famed record producer Mickie Most died in 2003 (age 64). Produced hits for The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Donovan, Kim Wilde, Lulu and Jeff Beck. Also operated his own record label RAK in the 1970's, having hits with Hot Chocolate, Suzi Quatro and Mud.
The ‘King of Swing’ Benny Goodman was born in Chicago in 1909 (died June 13, 1986).
“The Man of a Thousand Voices,” and voice of a cartoon generation, Mel Blanc was born in 1908 (died July 10, 1989). His original characterization of Daffy Duck (for over 52 years) is the longest time any animated character has been performed by his or her original voice contributor.
Jazz guru/madman Sun Ra died in Birmingham, Alabama in 1993.
History:
In 1956, Time Magazine ran an article entitled "Teener's Hero," which explained Elvis Presley's mystique. After a drawn-out description of his singing style, the writer keyed on Presley's appeal: "his movements suggest, in a word, sex."
Though many declared that disco was dead in 1980, "Mickey Mouse Disco" went platinum anyway.
In 1971, three dozen Deadheads were treated for hallucinations caused by LSD they had unwittingly ingested when the drug was used to spike an apple drink served at San Francisco's Winterland. Although members of the group are suspected of supplying the drug, they are not accused. I wouldn’t have suspected them anyway…..
We need more! In 1994, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences announces will be adding seven more categories to the 81 Grammy Awards already handed out yearly.
Ray Stevens went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1970 with “Everything Is Beautiful.” The former DJ had a string of novelty hits, including “Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green & Purple Pill.”
1999 - In London, a bomb threat at a Kenny Rogers concert being held at Royal Albert Hall caused the evacuation of more than 3,000. No bomb was found and no injuries were reported, however, surprisingly, more than 3,000 people really did show up for the gig.
Also in 1999 - In New Jersey, Lenny Kravitz walked off stage after 40 minutes and collapsed from heat exhaustion. Ummm, he had been performing in a fur coat.
Midnight Oil closed down 6th Avenue in New York City in 1990 as they played a protest concert in front of Exxon's offices. The protest was in reaction to the Exxon Valdez disaster.
On his 53rd birthday in 1962, clarinetist Benny Goodman performed with his jazz band for the first time in the Soviet Union.
The Jefferson Airplane performed at a benefit in 1966 for the Haight-Ashbury Legal Organization in San Francisco.
In 1968, the Beatles kicked off recording The Beatles double album (the White Album) by laying down 18 takes of "Revolution 1." Sessions will gradually deteriorate until all four members were recording independently of one another.
In 1997, Neil Young had to cancel his European tour after cutting his finger open while slicing a ham sandwich. A man really does need a maid.
Paul Simon married Edie Brickell of the New Bohemians in 1992. Brickell was performing "What I Am" on NBC's Saturday Night Live when she noticed Simon standing in front of the cameraman. "He made me mess the song up when I looked at him," she said with a smile. They have three little Bohemians.
In 2005, Coldplay's new album was illegally put on the internet a week before its UK and US release. The leak took place on the day copies were sent to UK radio stations and the day before it went on sale in Japan. Security measures around the release included hosting album playbacks at Abbey Road studios for journalists instead of sending them copies of the album, any CDs that were sent out were labelled with a false name - The Fir Trees - to throw would-be pirates off the scent.
In 2007, a leaked copy of the new White Stripes album “Icky Thump” was played completely on Chicago's radio station Q101-WKQX. Jack White personally called the US radio station from Spain, where he was touring, to voice his displeasure.
Friday, May 29, 2009
New Tim Buckley Music Coming In August
Ironically, on the anniversary of his son's death (Jeff Buckley died on on May 29th, 1997) and nearly 25 years after his death, fans of folk legend Tim Buckley (who died of a heroin overdose in 1975 at the age of 28) will finally get to hear "Live at the Folklore Center, NYC - March 6th, 1967." The music is set to be released on August 25th on NYC’s Tompkins Square label. Buckley’s performance at the Folklore Center was a gig that was attended by only 35 people and was thankfully recorded by folk impresario Izzy Young — will be presented in its original running order.
The set featured tracks off Buckley’s 1966 self-titled debut and his 1967 follow-up "Goodbye and Hello." The live recording also contains six Buckley compositions that have never before been released on any studio or live album: “Just Please Leave Me,” “What Do You Do (He Never Saw You),” “Carnival Song,” “Cripples Cry,” “Country Boy” and “I Can’t Leave You Loving Me.”
The track list for Live at the Folklore Center, NYC - March 6th, 1967:
1. “Song for Jainie”
2. “I Never Asked to Be Your Mountain”
3. “Wings”
4. “Phantasmagoria in Two”
5. “Just Please Leave Me”
6. “Dolphins”
7. “I Can’t See You”
8. “Troubadour”
9. “Aren’t You The Girl”
10. “What Do You Do (He Never Saw You)”
11. “No Man Can Find The War”
12. “Carnival Song”
13. “Cripples Cry”
14. “If the Rain Comes”
15. “Country Boy”
16. “I Can’t Leave You Loving Me”
13th Floor Elevators to Be Chronicled in 10-CD Set
The 13th Floor Elevators came out of Texas in the mid-60's and the world of rock was never to be the same. The group, fronted by Roky Erickson, challenged the listener with mixes of songs running from folk-rock to what is considered an early version of acid rock. Peter Buck of R.E.M. once commented that "They kind of sounded like Buddy Holly but on acid!"
The band only released three studio albums, but the folks at International Artists (the label that originally released the albums in the 60's) have tracked down hours of outtakes, unreleased tracks and live recordings to produce the 10-CD set Sign of the 3 Eyed Men. The company has been taking pre-orders at their website for the set, limited to 4,000 copies, and will be shipping within the next couple of weeks.
The CDs contain the band's three studio albums including rare mono versions, two "lost" albums of unreleased material and previously unreleased live recordings. Along with the ten CDs, the set also includes a 72-page hardcover book written by Paul Drummond with group information, rare photos and a full discography. Also included is reproduction memorabilia including photo prints, reproduction posters, stickers and handbills.
SOURCE: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com
'Rain' Songs- part three
By Robert Benson
Let’s continue with part three of our four part series about ‘rain’ songs:
“Here Comes The Rain Again” was a Top Ten Billboard hit (#4 in 1984) for the British pop duo Eurythmics. The song hit #8 in the UK and became their fifth consecutive Top Ten single in that country.
In The Dave Stewart Songbook , Dave Stewart has revealed that the lyrics for the song came after an argument between himself and Lewis; the basic melody had already been established:
“Annie was sitting in my room, and I was playing some little riff on the keyboard sitting on the window ledge, and I was playing these little melancholy A minor-ish chords with the B note in it. I kept on playing this riff, and Annie was looking out the window at the slate grey sky above the New York skyline and just sang spontaneously, 'Here Comes The Rain Again.' And that was all we needed.”
The song was adeptly recorded in an old church that was converted into a studio - except that the studio wasn't finished yet, however, they brought in the orchestra anyway. About 30 string players had to improvise by playing in corridors and even the toilet. The song was mixed blending the orchestra on top of electronic sounds created by a sequencer and drum machine.
The actual running time for the single depended on which release that you were playing, it is about five minutes long but was edited for the LP “Touch,” (it was cut down to four and one half minutes). The song was edited again for its single and video release, but many US radio stations decided to play the full-length version. The five minute version did not appear on any Eurythmics LP until the US edition of “Greatest Hits” in 1991.
A classic AM radio staple in the early 1970s, Albert Hammond’s “It Never Rains In Sothern California,” peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts in 1972. The song was written by Hammond and lyricist Mike Hazelwood, as he explains:
"It never rains... was written in London, before we (Albert and Michael) came to Los Angeles, and we knew we were coming, and I've been telling Mike the story of me in Spain when I started and how I was asking for money outside of the train stations because I had no money to eat and I didn't want to tell my parents. My cousin was on honeymoon then, and he came out of the train station and saw me, and I didn't even know it was him... I just asked him for some money, too. And he said "you should be ashamed, I'm gonna tell your father," and I said "please, don't tell him, he'll go crazy and and stop me doing this!" And then he took me back into the hotel, I had a bath, he gave me some clean clothes and some money. I moved on, but he did tell my father, you know. All these things like "will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it" and all that stuff came from that era of my life when I was struggling, trying to make it, trying to get from Morocco to Spain, from Spain to England, from England to America... That struggle you go through, that's It Never Rains In Southern California, the story of my life."
Although Hammond was never able to duplicate the magic of this song as a solo artist (he did chart one other Top Forty hit for himself, 1974’s “I’m A Train) he was able to become quite an accomplished songwriter, writing nine Top Ten pop hits. Among his hits were: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (#1 in 1974 performed by Starship), “The Air That I Breathe” (#6 in 1974 performed by the Hollies) and “To All The Girls I Loved Before,” written with Hal David and a #5 hit in 1984 for Julio Iglesais and Willie Nelson. Hammond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008.
“I Wish It Would Rain” was a 1967 hit single recorded by the legendary Motown group the Temptations. In a very sad tale of irony, the lyrics were written by Motown staff writer Roger Penzabene, who had just learned that his wife was cheating on him and in his sorrow and pain, penned the lyrics; wishing it would rain - to hide the tears falling down his face because "a man ain't supposed to cry." His tortured feelings were brought to life by David Ruffin and the accompanying mourning vocals of his bandmates Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams.
Penzabene also wrote the follow-up hit “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” (#13 in May of 1968), expressing his pain that he felt in the lyrics of both songs. Sadly, the distraught songwriter committed suicide on New Year’s Eve in 1967; just a week after the song was released.
We had looked at Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘rain’ song ”Have You Ever Seen The Rain” in part one, but now let’s explore another CCR ‘rain’ song called “Who’ll Stop The Rain” (from 1970 album Cosmo's Factory).
The cut is actually the B-side to the single "Travelin' Band," which was of the many CCR singles to stall at #2 on the Billboard charts. (Surprisingly, Creedence Clearwater Revival never had a #1 hit in the US.). Additionally, the line, "I went down Virginia, seekin' shelter from the storm" gave Bob Dylan the idea for the title of his 1975 song "Shelter From The Storm." The song was also used in the 1978 motion picture of the same name starring Nick Nolte as a Vietnam veteran. However, the movie was going to be called “Dog Soldiers,” but when the producers got the rights to use this song, they changed the title to “Who'll Stop The Rain.”
In 2007 during a concert, Fogerty said the following about the song:
“ Well this next song has a bit of a fable surrounding it. A lot of folks seem to think I sang this song at Woodstock way back when. No. I was at Woodstock 1969… I think. It was a nice event. I’m a California kid. I went up there and saw a whole bunch of really nice young people. Hairy. Colorful. It started to rain, and got really muddy, and then (yelling) half a million people took their clothes off!!! (Normal voice again) Boomer generation making its presence known I guess. Anyway then I went home and wrote this song.”
Here are the words to the second verse:
Heard the singers playin', How we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, Tryin' to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin', Fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder, Still I wonder Who'll stop the rain.
In part four of our series, we will wrap up our series about ‘rain’ songs.
Let’s continue with part three of our four part series about ‘rain’ songs:
“Here Comes The Rain Again” was a Top Ten Billboard hit (#4 in 1984) for the British pop duo Eurythmics. The song hit #8 in the UK and became their fifth consecutive Top Ten single in that country.
In The Dave Stewart Songbook , Dave Stewart has revealed that the lyrics for the song came after an argument between himself and Lewis; the basic melody had already been established:
“Annie was sitting in my room, and I was playing some little riff on the keyboard sitting on the window ledge, and I was playing these little melancholy A minor-ish chords with the B note in it. I kept on playing this riff, and Annie was looking out the window at the slate grey sky above the New York skyline and just sang spontaneously, 'Here Comes The Rain Again.' And that was all we needed.”
The song was adeptly recorded in an old church that was converted into a studio - except that the studio wasn't finished yet, however, they brought in the orchestra anyway. About 30 string players had to improvise by playing in corridors and even the toilet. The song was mixed blending the orchestra on top of electronic sounds created by a sequencer and drum machine.
The actual running time for the single depended on which release that you were playing, it is about five minutes long but was edited for the LP “Touch,” (it was cut down to four and one half minutes). The song was edited again for its single and video release, but many US radio stations decided to play the full-length version. The five minute version did not appear on any Eurythmics LP until the US edition of “Greatest Hits” in 1991.
A classic AM radio staple in the early 1970s, Albert Hammond’s “It Never Rains In Sothern California,” peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts in 1972. The song was written by Hammond and lyricist Mike Hazelwood, as he explains:
"It never rains... was written in London, before we (Albert and Michael) came to Los Angeles, and we knew we were coming, and I've been telling Mike the story of me in Spain when I started and how I was asking for money outside of the train stations because I had no money to eat and I didn't want to tell my parents. My cousin was on honeymoon then, and he came out of the train station and saw me, and I didn't even know it was him... I just asked him for some money, too. And he said "you should be ashamed, I'm gonna tell your father," and I said "please, don't tell him, he'll go crazy and and stop me doing this!" And then he took me back into the hotel, I had a bath, he gave me some clean clothes and some money. I moved on, but he did tell my father, you know. All these things like "will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it" and all that stuff came from that era of my life when I was struggling, trying to make it, trying to get from Morocco to Spain, from Spain to England, from England to America... That struggle you go through, that's It Never Rains In Southern California, the story of my life."
Although Hammond was never able to duplicate the magic of this song as a solo artist (he did chart one other Top Forty hit for himself, 1974’s “I’m A Train) he was able to become quite an accomplished songwriter, writing nine Top Ten pop hits. Among his hits were: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (#1 in 1974 performed by Starship), “The Air That I Breathe” (#6 in 1974 performed by the Hollies) and “To All The Girls I Loved Before,” written with Hal David and a #5 hit in 1984 for Julio Iglesais and Willie Nelson. Hammond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008.
“I Wish It Would Rain” was a 1967 hit single recorded by the legendary Motown group the Temptations. In a very sad tale of irony, the lyrics were written by Motown staff writer Roger Penzabene, who had just learned that his wife was cheating on him and in his sorrow and pain, penned the lyrics; wishing it would rain - to hide the tears falling down his face because "a man ain't supposed to cry." His tortured feelings were brought to life by David Ruffin and the accompanying mourning vocals of his bandmates Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams.
Penzabene also wrote the follow-up hit “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” (#13 in May of 1968), expressing his pain that he felt in the lyrics of both songs. Sadly, the distraught songwriter committed suicide on New Year’s Eve in 1967; just a week after the song was released.
We had looked at Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘rain’ song ”Have You Ever Seen The Rain” in part one, but now let’s explore another CCR ‘rain’ song called “Who’ll Stop The Rain” (from 1970 album Cosmo's Factory).
The cut is actually the B-side to the single "Travelin' Band," which was of the many CCR singles to stall at #2 on the Billboard charts. (Surprisingly, Creedence Clearwater Revival never had a #1 hit in the US.). Additionally, the line, "I went down Virginia, seekin' shelter from the storm" gave Bob Dylan the idea for the title of his 1975 song "Shelter From The Storm." The song was also used in the 1978 motion picture of the same name starring Nick Nolte as a Vietnam veteran. However, the movie was going to be called “Dog Soldiers,” but when the producers got the rights to use this song, they changed the title to “Who'll Stop The Rain.”
In 2007 during a concert, Fogerty said the following about the song:
“ Well this next song has a bit of a fable surrounding it. A lot of folks seem to think I sang this song at Woodstock way back when. No. I was at Woodstock 1969… I think. It was a nice event. I’m a California kid. I went up there and saw a whole bunch of really nice young people. Hairy. Colorful. It started to rain, and got really muddy, and then (yelling) half a million people took their clothes off!!! (Normal voice again) Boomer generation making its presence known I guess. Anyway then I went home and wrote this song.”
Here are the words to the second verse:
Heard the singers playin', How we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, Tryin' to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin', Fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder, Still I wonder Who'll stop the rain.
In part four of our series, we will wrap up our series about ‘rain’ songs.
Music News & Notes
Ozzy Wants Part Ownership Of Black Sabbath Name
Lawyers representing Ozzy Osbourne have filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against the heavy metal icon’s Black Sabbath bandmate, Tony Iommi, claiming the man responsible for some of the genre’s most memorable riffs illegally assumed sole ownership of the Black Sabbath name.
According to the New York Post, Osbourne’s suit seeks a 50 percent stake in the “Black Sabbath” trademark. Furthermore, the filing claims Osbourne is entitled to a portion of the profits Iommi has generated through use of the band name, and suggests it was Osbourne’s “signature lead vocals” that helped propel the band’s “extraordinary success.” The suit also points out that Sabbath’s popularity took a nosedive during Ozzy’s absence during 1980 and 1996, when former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio took over behind the mike stand.
=========================
Cheap Trick New Music
Cheap Trick is stepping outside of the label world to release its next studio album, "The Latest," itself.
The veteran rock group will start taking pre-orders for the 13-track set, which it recorded during the past year mostly in Los Angeles with producer Julian Raymond, on Friday via its official web site, www.cheaptrick.com, and at Amazon.com. Those who pre-order will receive "The Latest" on June 23, the day Cheap Trick starts it summer tour with Def Leppard and Poison in Camden, N.J. Amazon will have exclusive rights for one month, and the album will also be available in limited LP and 8-track editions.
Dave Frey of Red Light Management tells Billboard.com that via Amazon and other database information, anyone who's purchased Cheap Trick music, merchandise or concert tickets in the recent past will be notified about the album. Those buying tickets for the tour will also be able to purchase "The Latest" at a slight discount.
The group is also planning to release some sort of document from its various live performances of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" but is not ready to announce it yet.
Lawyers representing Ozzy Osbourne have filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against the heavy metal icon’s Black Sabbath bandmate, Tony Iommi, claiming the man responsible for some of the genre’s most memorable riffs illegally assumed sole ownership of the Black Sabbath name.
According to the New York Post, Osbourne’s suit seeks a 50 percent stake in the “Black Sabbath” trademark. Furthermore, the filing claims Osbourne is entitled to a portion of the profits Iommi has generated through use of the band name, and suggests it was Osbourne’s “signature lead vocals” that helped propel the band’s “extraordinary success.” The suit also points out that Sabbath’s popularity took a nosedive during Ozzy’s absence during 1980 and 1996, when former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio took over behind the mike stand.
=========================
Cheap Trick New Music
Cheap Trick is stepping outside of the label world to release its next studio album, "The Latest," itself.
The veteran rock group will start taking pre-orders for the 13-track set, which it recorded during the past year mostly in Los Angeles with producer Julian Raymond, on Friday via its official web site, www.cheaptrick.com, and at Amazon.com. Those who pre-order will receive "The Latest" on June 23, the day Cheap Trick starts it summer tour with Def Leppard and Poison in Camden, N.J. Amazon will have exclusive rights for one month, and the album will also be available in limited LP and 8-track editions.
Dave Frey of Red Light Management tells Billboard.com that via Amazon and other database information, anyone who's purchased Cheap Trick music, merchandise or concert tickets in the recent past will be notified about the album. Those buying tickets for the tour will also be able to purchase "The Latest" at a slight discount.
The group is also planning to release some sort of document from its various live performances of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" but is not ready to announce it yet.
Ten things to help keep your records sounding great
By Jeff Dorgay
Publisher, TONE Audio Magazine
Now that you’ve been hanging out here at SoundStageDirect.com and buying lots of records, we’d like to help you take good care of them, so they will still sound great years from now.
When my Grandfather used to bounce me on his knee, he used to always say “take care of your tools and they will take care of you!” What does this have to do with records? Cleanliness is the key. Many people get really grumpy about vinyl and they complain about noise; clicks, pops, etc. But I’ll let you in on a big secret, if you keep your records really clean, they will be very quiet and in many cases be just as quiet as CD’s!
But it’s going to take some work. The best thing about CD’s is that they require precious little if any maintenance to sound great and you don’t have to worry about a stylus breaking or wearing out and there is no setup involved with a CD player. Just drop that little shiny disc in and go. Keeping LP’s sounding great is a ritual; it’s up to you if you want to participate!
Contrary to popular belief, even new records can benefit from a good cleaning, so we’ll start simple and work our way up:
1- The basic Discwasher system. This will only set you back about $19.99 and will keep the heavy chunks off of your records. It consists of a foam pad with some fluid that is applied to said pad. You brush the record while it spins and some of the surface dirt and dust will come up off the record.
2- Carbon fiber brush. This is a dry brush that works similarly to the Discwasher brush, but without the fluid. Used in conjunction with a can of compressed air, it too can keep the surface nasties off of your records but you will need to go further if you want your records to be super quiet.
3- Stylus cleaning system. We could write a book here, but there are a number of great stylus cleaning systems that won’t break the bank. Remember, any of them that use a brush, always go from the back of the cartridge to the front, NEVER the other way around or you will break the stylus right off! This is one of the most overlooked aspects of record care and the dirtier your stylus gets, the more it gets ground into the LP. Where did you think all that gunk on the record ends up anyway?
4- Vacuum cleaning machine. If you really want to get serious about keeping your records sounding pristine, you need one of the vacuum cleaning systems from Nitty Gritty, VPI, Clearaudio or other manufacturers. These allow you to spread a cleaning fluid on the record (another whole article in itself), scrub it in a bit and then vacuum it off the record, taking the dirt along with it. This is by far the best way to get the most dirt off of your records, and if you ever buy any used LP’s an invaluable tool.
5- Record cleaning fluid. This will go along with your cleaning machine and there are quite a few different formulas out there. Rather than argue the merits of the many excellent cleaners, I’ll just give you my favorite: Vinyl Zyme, which you can get from Todd the Vinyl Junkie . VZ comes in regular or extra strength versions and if you are buying mostly new or very clean used records, will be all you ever need. The extra strength is great for used records that look pretty scummy and have a lot of fingerprints. It’s easy to use too. Just spray it on with the applicator bottle, lightly scrub in and let it sit for a minute or two to let the enzymes do their job. Then, fire up the record cleaner and suck all the crud out of your grooves!! If you have really dirty records, spray on a little extra VZ and let it soak before the vacuum operation.
6- Record sleeves. This one’s easy. Once you have those LP’s nice and clean, now’s the time to slip them into a nice, clean, archival sleeve. These will protect your records much better than the paper or cardboard sleeve it came with.
7- Outer sleeves. These don’t really affect how your records will sound, but they do keep the jackets looking nice and crisp like the day you brought them home and it completes the ritual that is vinyl collecting. A small price to pay to keep everything looking good.
8- Here’s a few mini-tips that don’t require spending any money, just a little bit of common sense. Never store your records any way other than vertical. Leaving them on an angle will eventually lead to warps that could make your LP’s unplayable. Again, order and cleanliness is your friend and the key to great sound from your vinyl. Put those records back in those sleeves after you went to the trouble to clean them and keep your hands as clean as possible when handling your records. Wash your hands after eating snacks and before touching records!
9- Get your turntable tuned up. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, get a friend or your dealer to give your table a checkup. Make sure your cartridge is correctly adjusted and that your stylus is not worn. If you have a belt drive turntable that’s more than a couple of years old, get a new belt. Now might even be a good time to trade up to a better cartridge or even a better turntable!
10- Be on the level. This is the easiest, yet most often overlooked aspect of turntable setup and anyone can handle this one! Get an inexpensive bubble level and make sure your turntable is level on more than one axis. More than likely your turntable has adjustable leveling feet on the bottom, and it probably won’t take much to get fully level. Even if you have a table worth thousands of dollars, this tweak will give you better sound, guaranteed! It should only take 5-10 minutes.
So, there you have it. Follow these instructions and with a little care and effort, your record collection will still sound good 20 years from now. Enjoy!!
Publisher, TONE Audio Magazine
Now that you’ve been hanging out here at SoundStageDirect.com and buying lots of records, we’d like to help you take good care of them, so they will still sound great years from now.
When my Grandfather used to bounce me on his knee, he used to always say “take care of your tools and they will take care of you!” What does this have to do with records? Cleanliness is the key. Many people get really grumpy about vinyl and they complain about noise; clicks, pops, etc. But I’ll let you in on a big secret, if you keep your records really clean, they will be very quiet and in many cases be just as quiet as CD’s!
But it’s going to take some work. The best thing about CD’s is that they require precious little if any maintenance to sound great and you don’t have to worry about a stylus breaking or wearing out and there is no setup involved with a CD player. Just drop that little shiny disc in and go. Keeping LP’s sounding great is a ritual; it’s up to you if you want to participate!
Contrary to popular belief, even new records can benefit from a good cleaning, so we’ll start simple and work our way up:
1- The basic Discwasher system. This will only set you back about $19.99 and will keep the heavy chunks off of your records. It consists of a foam pad with some fluid that is applied to said pad. You brush the record while it spins and some of the surface dirt and dust will come up off the record.
2- Carbon fiber brush. This is a dry brush that works similarly to the Discwasher brush, but without the fluid. Used in conjunction with a can of compressed air, it too can keep the surface nasties off of your records but you will need to go further if you want your records to be super quiet.
3- Stylus cleaning system. We could write a book here, but there are a number of great stylus cleaning systems that won’t break the bank. Remember, any of them that use a brush, always go from the back of the cartridge to the front, NEVER the other way around or you will break the stylus right off! This is one of the most overlooked aspects of record care and the dirtier your stylus gets, the more it gets ground into the LP. Where did you think all that gunk on the record ends up anyway?
4- Vacuum cleaning machine. If you really want to get serious about keeping your records sounding pristine, you need one of the vacuum cleaning systems from Nitty Gritty, VPI, Clearaudio or other manufacturers. These allow you to spread a cleaning fluid on the record (another whole article in itself), scrub it in a bit and then vacuum it off the record, taking the dirt along with it. This is by far the best way to get the most dirt off of your records, and if you ever buy any used LP’s an invaluable tool.
5- Record cleaning fluid. This will go along with your cleaning machine and there are quite a few different formulas out there. Rather than argue the merits of the many excellent cleaners, I’ll just give you my favorite: Vinyl Zyme, which you can get from Todd the Vinyl Junkie . VZ comes in regular or extra strength versions and if you are buying mostly new or very clean used records, will be all you ever need. The extra strength is great for used records that look pretty scummy and have a lot of fingerprints. It’s easy to use too. Just spray it on with the applicator bottle, lightly scrub in and let it sit for a minute or two to let the enzymes do their job. Then, fire up the record cleaner and suck all the crud out of your grooves!! If you have really dirty records, spray on a little extra VZ and let it soak before the vacuum operation.
6- Record sleeves. This one’s easy. Once you have those LP’s nice and clean, now’s the time to slip them into a nice, clean, archival sleeve. These will protect your records much better than the paper or cardboard sleeve it came with.
7- Outer sleeves. These don’t really affect how your records will sound, but they do keep the jackets looking nice and crisp like the day you brought them home and it completes the ritual that is vinyl collecting. A small price to pay to keep everything looking good.
8- Here’s a few mini-tips that don’t require spending any money, just a little bit of common sense. Never store your records any way other than vertical. Leaving them on an angle will eventually lead to warps that could make your LP’s unplayable. Again, order and cleanliness is your friend and the key to great sound from your vinyl. Put those records back in those sleeves after you went to the trouble to clean them and keep your hands as clean as possible when handling your records. Wash your hands after eating snacks and before touching records!
9- Get your turntable tuned up. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, get a friend or your dealer to give your table a checkup. Make sure your cartridge is correctly adjusted and that your stylus is not worn. If you have a belt drive turntable that’s more than a couple of years old, get a new belt. Now might even be a good time to trade up to a better cartridge or even a better turntable!
10- Be on the level. This is the easiest, yet most often overlooked aspect of turntable setup and anyone can handle this one! Get an inexpensive bubble level and make sure your turntable is level on more than one axis. More than likely your turntable has adjustable leveling feet on the bottom, and it probably won’t take much to get fully level. Even if you have a table worth thousands of dollars, this tweak will give you better sound, guaranteed! It should only take 5-10 minutes.
So, there you have it. Follow these instructions and with a little care and effort, your record collection will still sound good 20 years from now. Enjoy!!
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