The vinyl record collecting blog - with news about new vinyl record releases, vinyl record sales, new music releases, album cover art and weekly features
Sarah McLachlan Unveils "Laws Of Illusion" Album Cover
Sarah McLachlan is proud to unveil the cover art for her forthcoming album "Laws of Illusion." The first single from the highly-anticipated new release, "Loving You Is Easy", is now available to download at iTunes, Amazon and all major digital retailers. Leave a comment right here letting Sarah and other fans know what you think of the album cover and remember, "Laws Of Illusion" will be available everywhere June 15th!
======================================
Grave Unveil "Burial Ground" Cover Art
Swedish old school death metal misanthropes Grave recently unveiled the cover art and tracklisting for their eagerly-anticipated upcoming studio album entitled "Burial Ground." The striking imagery was crated by Costin Chioreanu of Twillight13 Media (Ulver, Absu, Summoning, Goreaphobia etc.). "Burial Ground" is scheduled for release via Regain Records this June.
=====================================
Book Talk: Sex, drugs and classic record covers
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - A new book of record covers shows how musicians forged an identity and communicated with fans, using an art form that has sometimes endured longer than the music between the covers.
"The Art of the LP: Classic Album Covers 1955-1995," by Ben Wardle and Johnny Morgan, which will be published in the United States and Britain on Tuesday, groups rock, pop and jazz images by theme: sex, drugs, death, and escape.
The escape theme has cropped up in lyrics and imagery of popular music since the beginnings of rock 'n roll half a century ago.
The imagery on album covers became an important part of the music experience. In the book fans will find Eric Clapton, ABBA, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Tony Bennett and others.
Morgan spoke with Reuters about the images, baby boomers' deep pockets, and why some album covers were more useful than others.
Q&A with Storm Thorgerson, Album-Cover Artist Extraordinaire
LONDON— Storm Thorgerson had been in his London flat when the Pink Floyd dropped by. No surprise there. They all knew each other from Cambridge. “Syd and I were mates in the same gang. Roger wasn’t in our gang. But he was at the same school,” Thorgerson says. Syd Barrett. Roger Waters. This was 1968.
Thorgerson had an artist friend in the flat whom the Floyd had asked to design the cover of their second album, Saucerful of Secrets. “He declined,” Thorgerson says. “I was standing in the doorway.” He mimicked his eager young self. “I’ll do that! I’ll do it!”
So he did. Thorgerson was doing two years in the Royal College’s film school. “I had aspirations of being a filmmaker,” he says. The Saucerful cover changed that. Hipgnosis, the company he started with Aubrey Powell – “Po” – did several other commissions, then established a rep for quirky freethinking with an image of a piebald cow in a field, its majestic rear end pretty much in the viewer’s face, they proposed for the Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother. EMI shuddered; the band loved it. Deal.
Born on this day in 1911, Robert Johnson, blues singer, guitarist. Influenced Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Eric Clapton, (Cream covered 'Crossroads) The Rolling Stones, ('Love In Vain'). Johnson died on August 16, 1938.
Born today in 1943, Danny Whitten, guitarist, singer, songwriter. Member of Neil Young's Crazy Horse and writer of "I Don't Wanna Talk About It," covered by Rod Stewart, Rita Coolidge and Everything But The Girl. The Neil Young song "The Needle and the Damage Done" was written about Whitten’s heroin use (before he died of an overdose on Nov 18, 1972).
UK keyboard player Graham Bond committed suicide in 1974 after throwing himself under a London tube train at Finsbury Park station, (age 36). It took police two days to identify his body which was crushed beyond all recognition. Briefly a member of Blues Incorporated, a group led by Alexis Korner, before forming the Graham Bond Quartet, with a lineup of Bond on vocals and organ, Ginger Baker on drums and Jack Bruce on bass.
Neil Bogart died of cancer in 1982 (age 39). Bogart was the founder of Casablanca Records, with Peter Guber, home of Donna Summer, The Village People, Kiss, T.Rex and Joan Jett.
Born on this day in 1940, Ricky Nelson, (1958 #1 "Poor Little Fool" plus over 30 Top 40 hit singles). Played himself on his parent's US TV The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet.' Nelson died on December 31, 1985.
Born today in 1941, John Fred Gourrier of John Fred and His Playboy Band. He died on April 15, 2005 after a long battle with kidney disease (age 63).
Country artist Eddy Arnold died of natural causes in 2008, one week before his 90th birthday. He sold more than 85 million records and had 147 songs on the US charts, including 28 number one hits on Billboard's Country Singles chart. He was once managed by Colonel Tom Parker (who later managed Elvis Presley).
History:
In 1954, BBC radio in the UK banned the Johnny Ray song "Such a Night" after listeners complain about its 'suggestiveness.' Ray was famous for his emotional stage act, which included beating up his piano, and writhing on the floor.
The Beatles had held the #1 position on the US singles chart for fourteen weeks in 1964 with three #1's in succession. "I Want To Hold Your Hand" for seven weeks, "She Loves You" for two weeks and "Can't Buy Me Love," for five weeks.
Shooting of the promotional film for Bob Dylan’s 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' took place at the side of the Savoy Hotel in London in 1965. Actors in the background were Allen Ginsberg and Bob Neuwirth. The cards that Dylan held up to the camera were painted by Alan Price and Joan Baez.
Gerry And The Pacemakers announced they were splitting up in 1967, recognizing they could no longer keep pace with the rapidly changing UK rock scene.
In 1969, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr signed a business management contract with Allen Klein and his company ABKCO, but Paul McCartney refused to sign, continuing to let the Eastmans represent his interests.
The Beatles twelfth and final album, 'Let It Be' was released in 1970, (it was recorded before ‘Abbey Road’ and originally to be called Get Back). The album came in a deluxe-boxed edition with a Get Back book.
In 1972, Billy Preston became the first rock performer to headline at Radio City Music Hall.
Bad Company’s second album, “Straight Shooter” went gold in 1975.
The Steve Miller Band released, “Take The Money and Run” in 1976.
In 1976, BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Walker announced he was quitting the station after being told he must pretend to like The Bay City Rollers.
Former lead singer of the Lovin Spoonful John Sebastian went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1976 with "Welcome Back," taken from the US TV show 'Welcome Back Kotter.'
Vangelis went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1982 with "Chariots Of Fire."
Tom Waits won $2.5 million in 1990 when a Los Angeles court ruled that Frito-Lay unlawfully used a Waits sound alike in its Doritos ads.
Aerosmith entered the US album chart in 1993 at #1 with 'Get A Grip.' The album went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide as well as winning the band two Grammy awards.
In 1998, the Beatles were awarded tapes from the “Star Club” era. The group and Yoko Ono had gone to court to stop the release of these live, bootleg recordings.
Ricky Martin went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1999 with "Livin' La Vida Loca." The song spent 5 weeks at the #1 position.
Bruce Springsteen was at #1 on the US album chart in 2005 with 'Devils and Dust' his 13th #1 studio album.
In 2006, the two Australian miners were rescued after spending nearly two weeks trapped more than a half-mile underground. What’s that got to do with Rock History? The miners passed the time listening to the Foo Fighters on their iPods. As a result, lead Foo Fighter David Grohl promised, "there's two tickets to any Foo's show, anywhere, and two cold beers waiting for you."
Also in 2006, Apple Corps, the label owned by the Beatles' members and/or their families, lost a trademark-infringement lawsuit against Apple Computer. A London court ruled that the computer company did not breach a ‘91 contract involving the "Apple" name and logo, because its iPod and iTunes services were involved in selling music rather than creating it.
A two-disc reissue of David Bowie's ‘75 "Young Americans" hit the stores in 2007. It has a remastered version of the original eight-song disc with three bonus recordings, and a DVD that features the CD's 11 tracks in 5.1 Surround Sound and video footage from Bowie's December ‘74 appearance on The Dick Cavett Show.
Here is the month in review of the top selling ebay vinyl record sales, on a weekly basis, for March of 2010. First and foremost, a special thank you to Norm and Jane at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com/ and Vinyl Record Talk for putting together this interesting data.
Our top seller for the month of March 2010 is a familiar one, The Beatles "Please Please Me" (Parlophone UK Gold Black label 1st Stereo) sold for an astonishing price of $13,496.38. (A second LP sold for $5,349.05 at the end of the month).
Next up is an Elvis Presley 45 rpm "That's All Right" / "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" (Sun 209) which sold for an even $10,000; followed by an LP by Billy Nichols "Would You Believe" (Immediate UK Pressing) which sold for $9,700.
Two classical music 10 inch records by Geroges Enesco ("Beethoven Sonate a Kreutzer" Columbia FC 1058 Mono) sold for $4,050 and $3,300 respectively. An EP by Black Flag ("Nervous Breakdown" SST 1st Press SEALED) sold for $4,200 and a 78 rpm record by Ed Bell ("Frisco Whistle" / "Mean Conductor Blues" Paramount) sold for just under $3940.
Interestingly, two David Bowie 45 rpm singles made the list, "Rock N' Roll With Me" / "Panic In Detroit" (Canadian Pressing), which sold for $3,050 and "Can't Help Thinking About Me" / "And I Say To Myself" (UK Promo w/ Press Photo), which sold for a shade under $2,300.
Stay tuned to Collecting Vinyl Records Blog for the weekly sales results!
Week Ending 03/06/2010
1. 78 - Ed Bell "Frisco Whistle" / "Mean Conductor Blues" Paramount - $3,938.88
2. LP - The Beatles "Mono Collection" Box Set - $3,500.00
3. 45 - David Bowie "Rock N' Roll With Me" / "Panic In Detroit" Canadian Pressing - $3,050.00
How bad were the original Beatles CDs issued back in 1987? So bad that even the clueless conditioned to believe that CDs represented an automatic sonic step up from vinyl noticed something was terribly wrong.
Amusing to some observers was the nature of the complaints: “they sound tinny,” “they sound flat,” “they sound thin and bright,” “they’re harsh and edgy,” “where’s the warmth?” etc.
Why did it take The Beatles for these folks to notice how bad almost every attempt at re-mastering great analog recordings to CD sounded?
I can’t name a single CD reissue back then that sounded as good as the original LP version, never mind any that sounded better, yet the same folks who chucked their LPs and were happily munching on their crispy CDs somehow heard all of the problems with the 1987 Beatles CDs they might have heard with all of their CDs had they paid more attention.
Leave it to the mythical Beatles to pull down the CD format’s digital pants and expose its, er, shortcomings. Not surprising since the group has held a special place in the hearts, minds and souls of generations and not surprising considering how well recorded the albums were—even the “primitive” early ones, thanks to the EMI studios, engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick and of course producer George Martin.
Add low rent, almost dismissive packaging for such hallowed musical ground and the curious decision to issue the first four in mono only, when both mono and stereo versions would have fit on a single disc and you have a truly shitty reissue program, one that thumbed EMI’s corporate nose at both the surviving Beatles and especially the group’s fans.
The New Remasters
As reported elsewhere on this site and all over the media, this time EMI was determined to do a much better job and by any standard they have, both in terms of the sonics and especially the packaging.
The stereo box is deluxe in every way, with gatefolded digi-pak style jackets, original label artwork, previously unseen photos and Quick-Time mini-documentaries accompanying each disc. An additional disc holds all of the documentaries so you can watch all of them without having to go through the individual discs. In addition to the original releases, the set includes a double CD of singles and EPs not appearing on the original UK sets, which usually omitted the singles.
One curious move was the decision to use George Martin’s 1987 re-mixes of Rubber Soul and Help! instead of the original stereo mixes. These were digitized at 16 bit/44.1K resolution using what today would be considered stone aged A/D converters.
So if anyone tells you that the “new” Rubber Soul and Help! reissues sound so much better than the 1987 issues, ask them what they weren’t smoking. Surely, mood enhanced they’d notice they were listening to the same mixes, only perhaps a bit louder and punchier due to the touch of compression applied to all of these stereo reissues.
Ironically, if you want to hear the original stereo mixes of Rubber Soul and Help! transferred without compression you’ll need to buy the mono box! Yes, the producers chose to tack the original stereo mixes onto the mono CDs of these two albums. More about that later.
The compression applied is so minor it’s not worth worrying about. Yes, these reissues do sound a bit “punchier” and “louder,” but overall the reissue producers have not messed around much with what was on the tapes that they transferred at 192K/24 bit resolution, with one notable exception: clearly they’ve boosted the bass on every one of these stereo masters and I don’t write that simply because I’m used to the LPs and perhaps the LPs had their bass slightly rolled off. I’ve heard the master tape of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and there’s more bass on these reissues than I remember hearing on that tape.
On a full range playback system, one that’s reasonably flat to 20Hz, the added bass, though tastefully done, can become oppressive after a while, but for most listeners both the added bottom and the “pop” provided by the compression will sound like pleasing “fresheners” instead of deal breakers. Don’t worry: these reissue do not sound like the “modernized” abomination that was 1.
What excites most listeners about the new reissues is the return of the tactile, warm sound, or some of it at least, found on the original LPs. These CDs do sound really good, with some expression of instrumental textures, depth and inner detail resolution. For folks who grew up on the ’87 CDs and who haven’t touched base with the original vinyl (or any vinyl since 1987), these CDs are a revelation.
They are as good as one can expect from CDs but surely the process of reducing 192k/24 transfers to 44.1k/16 has taken a toll on various aspects of the sound because the original UK vinyl still beats these CDs in most ways, by a narrow margin in some and by a much wider one in others.
For instance, on the cover of Buddy Holly’s “Words of Love,” there’s a particular ring to the high pitched electric guitar lines that one hears live and on the original LPs that just doesn’t register on the CD. The ring should jump out at you as it does live and on the LP. On the CD it remains boxed in physically and is tonally truncated. And yes, you can be an aging boomer whose hearing may not be what it once was, and yet still hear it.
The handclaps sound very good but they just don’t sound fleshy-real as they do on the LP, nor do they inhabit the separate space they do on the LP. Nor do the vocals project into 3D space. The harmonies, so easily split into separate voices on the LP fuse into one on the CD. John Lennon’s voice has a chilling quality that cuts through you on LP throughout the Beatles catalog. It’s lacking on the CD. You can feel Lennon alive on the other side of the mic on the LPs, you don’t derive the sensation on the CDs good as they are.
The CDs are genuinely pleasing to listen to physically and intellectually, the LPs sound even better and they take you for an emotional roller coaster ride the CDs just don’t. That’s not just my reaction: it’s what everyone who’s listened here heard, including people who don’t have an analog axe to grind.
On the other hand, the closer the digital comes to the analog—and these CDs come closer than most—the more the differences between the two formats assert themselves, for better or worse. Listening to these excellent sounding CDs with their jet black backdrops and ultra-cleanliness means that when you put the records on, while they do sound better, you just wish you could have the superior sound of one and the pristine perfection and black backdrops of the other! Previously, what was there on the CDs was so bad sounding, the black backdrops were hardly compensatory.
So, will a Blu-ray set mastered at full 192K/24 bit resolution (maybe with the bass turned down a bit too?) produce near perfection and sound superior to clean original LPs? I don’t know, nor are we likely to find out as such a release has not been announced.
LPs are supposedly coming next year and since Sean Magee and Steve Rooke, two of the engineers who worked on the project also are expert lathe operators (they’ve cut for Pure Pleasure, Warner Brothers, Steve Albini and others) and since Abbey Road has a very good sounding DMM lathe and since the full resolution files are right there, why wouldn’t they use the 192K/24 bit masters to produce the LPs? As The Doors box proved, once you’re at that resolution, it’s almost analog.
In the case of The Doors, the deteriorated tapes made a one pass digital transfer a necessity. The Beatles tapes are in excellent condition and the original tapes could be used to cut from analog but at this point in time you can be the powers that be prefer consistently across format lines to religious purity, so don’t expect AAA, though we can hope, as we can hope for fold-over laminated cover art as well done as the fold-over, laminated mini-LP CD sleeves complete with facsimiles of the original inner sleeves found in the mono box.
The Mono Masters
Given a choice of one box or the other, I’d opt for the mono box. For one thing, the transfers were apparently done without compression or augmented equalization. They are what’s on the tape, though again, the 192k/24 bit masters have been squeezed through the redbook CD sausage machine. The mono packaging is more authentic as well. The Beatles for instance, features a miniature duplicate of the laminated, double gatefold “top loader” fold-over jacket complete with black inner sleeves, individual color portraits and fold-open poster.
The “stereo’ mixes of the first two albums, with vocals on one side and instruments on the other, produced that way to allow for vocal/instrumental balance to be adjusted later, sound interesting on the stereo box, but they sound fuller and whole in mono.
A Hard Day’s Night sound better in stereo than mono in my opinion but the mono mix is fine too. I prefer Help in stereo too (the original mix found on the mono box for sure!) but not everyone agrees with that. For Sale is preferable in stereo too, but again, the mono mix offers its own pleasures.
As for Rubber Soul and Revolver the complexities of the arrangements required track bouncing. Track bouncing made a true stereo mix difficult so you a lot hard/left right stuff as on the first few albums, so overall the original mono mixes really are preferable but nostalgiacs whose genes are now encoded with the stereo mixes will probably stick with those, though the original stereo mix of Rubber Soul found on the mono box is preferable.
The mono mixes are strikingly different from the stereo ones, particularly on the later, more complex productions as anyone who has them on vinyl knows. More than just mix differences, are differing takes and parts that are highlighted in the accompanying booklet, though most of those are on the earlier albums. Some people revel in hearing and exposing these difference, like where John fluffs a lyric on one version and not the other, but that kind of thing has never excited me so you’ll have to look elsewhere for a catalogue of those.
Not many Beatles fans have heard Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or The Beatles in mono. These are the mixes upon which the band members lavished their full attention and that will be obvious when you hear them—not that there’s anything whatsoever wrong with the stereo mixes. When I compared the original stereo Parlophone LP with the new stereo CD, it wasn’t even close: the record is richer, fuller and far more tonally pleasing. Ditto the mono LP vs the new CD.
Oh, and you also get the original stereo mixes of Rubber Soul and Help! transferred from analog at 192k/24 bit, which you don’t get in the stereo box. Needless to say those two sound much better than the remixes found on the stereo box.
The Verdict
Both the packaging and sound of these two sets (the stereo albums are available separately) are digitized editions finally worthy of The Beatles. The packaging is superb, great care went into the mastering, which attempted to bump up the sound for modern ears without ruining the ride for those used to the original sound. In that the team has mostly succeeded.
The packaging of both boxes is truly deluxe and any Beatle fan, even those who own all of the original UK vinyl, will want to have these sets for the packaging enhancements alone.
Hopefully higher resolution digital and/or analog will follow. Sure, I’d prefer new vinyl cut from the analog originals and we can all lobby for it, but I doubt it will happen.
American heavy metal outfit Lamb Of God has revealed some more details regarding their forthcoming new compilation release, "Hourglass." The career retrospective will be released in several different formats including CD, digital, vinyl and two special editions. The releases include:
Hourglass: Vol 1 - The Underground Years: 13 of the most choice Lamb of God songs from their early years. Culled from their first album "Burn the Priest," their debut as Lamb of God, "New American Gospel," and their breakthrough album, "As The Palaces Burn."
Hourglass: Vol 2 - The Epic Years: 13 of the most choice Lamb of God songs from their career on Epic Records to this point. Both Grammy nominated songs "Redneck" and "Set To Fail" are surrounded by fan favorite anthems and other songs from "Ashes Of The Wake," "Sacrament" and 2009's #2 debut "Wrath."
Hourglass: The 3 CD Anthology: The ultimate Lamb of God retrospective. 44 tracks on 3 CDs. Vol 1 and 2 join Vol 3 containing 18 rare or never heard before songs. Included are Japanese issued bonus tracks, multiple rehearsal demos, along side the 8 songs recorded prior to Burn The Priest.
Hourglass: The Vinyl Box Set: All 6 Lamb of God Studio albums for the first time on 180 Gram vinyl in a Linen-wrapped collector’s box. Includes "Burn The Priest," "New American Gospel," "As The Palaces Burn," "Ashes of the Wake," "Sacrament," and "Wrath."
Hourglass: The USB Box Set: All 6 Lamb of God studio albums on individual USB drive in a cigarette box shaped collectors package. Includes "Burn The Priest," "New American Gospel," "As The Palaces Burn," "Ashes of the Wake," "Sacrament," and "Wrath."
Hourglass: The Deluxe Set: The collectors set including The 3 CD Anthology, The Vinyl Box set, The USB Box Set, and a Linen bound 144 page book of the art of Lamb of God as created by K3n Adams including designs for tour passes, albums, t-shirts, and his commentary on them.
Hourglass: The Super Deluxe Set: The limited edition definitive collectors set including The 3 CD Anthology, The Vinyl Box Set, The USB set, the Book, a Mark Morton Signature Series Jackson Dominion D2, A 4’x6’ Pure American metal Flag, an Hourglass sticker, and a signed 8x10 in a personalized Lamb of God Coffin Case
===================================
ASPHYX: Vinyl Collector's Edition Of 'The Rack' Due In June
Ibex Moon Records has just announced the upcoming release of the special collector's vinyl edition of all-time classic, death metal masterpiece "The Rack" from the mighty Dutch outfit ASPHYX.
The release will only be available from Ibex Moon Records and Abyss Records mailorder. The first 25 copies sold through either http://www.ibexmoonrecords.com/ or http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/ will be autographed by band members Martin Van Drunen and Bob Bagchus. It is limited to 666 copies on blue vinyl and includes new liner notes with commentary by journalists, fans, fellow musicians, and the bandmembers themselves. The album also comes with an 18" x 24" ASPHYX poster.
"The Rack" defines "brutality" with its abrasive chainsaw guitars, doom churn to death romp tempos, and a sickening vocal style from Martin Van Drunen that sounds like he was being tortured during the recording of the LP.
"The Rack" will ship on June 8, 2010.
===================================
Antony and the Johnsons Announce New Album/Book Swanlights
Antony and the Johnsons will release their new album, “Swanlights”, on October 4th in Europe and the UK via Rough Trade, and October 5th in the US via Secretly Canadian. Abrams Image will simultaneously release a special edition of “Swanlights” which will include the CD inside a 144 page art book containing Antony’s paintings, collages, photography and writing.
“Swanlights” is the fourth Antony and the Johnsons album and the follow up to the critically acclaimed smash “The Crying Light” which topped year-end best of lists across the globe in 2009.
Other information:
The Chicagoland Record Collectors Show is the perfect place for vinyl enthusiasts and collectors searching for vintage albums and 45’s. A wide range of records and CD’s straight from the dealer to you will be available, including Rock, Jazz, Soul, R & B, Country, Folk and many others. 50-60 dealers with up to 80 tables per show will be at the Holiday Inn in Hillside to offer a plethora of records, not be equaled at any other Midwest show.
What makes us different from other record shows is that the dealers are reputable. They consistently have great records to sell and are helpful in filling customer requests.
New dealers are pre-screened and referenced before they are allowed to sell at the show. To ensure that you get the best quality of merchandise available at the show, no bootleg or counterfeit sales are allowed.
There are record players available for testing and reviewing at the show to help all customers find exactly what they are looking for. Many dealers participate in the Search & Find service for the customers, making the search for certain titles an easier one.
The Chicagoland Record Collectors Show has 75-80 tables (8’) available per show. Tables are $45 and the customer early bird admission is $10.00. Dealer setup begins 2 hours before showtime and chairs will be provided.
Born on this day in 1950, Robbie McIntosh, Average White Band. He died on August 23, 1974.
Born today in 1920, singer, actress, Peggy Lee. She worked with Benny Goodman, Randy Newman, Quincy Jones. She was nominated for 12 Grammy Awards, winning Best Contemporary Vocal Performance for her 1969 hit "Is That All There Is?" She died on January 21, 2002.
Songwriter and producer Otis Blackwell died from a heart attack in 2002. He wrote the classic songs "All Shook Up," "Return To Sender," "Don't Be Cruel," "Great Balls Of Fire" and "Fever." Over the years, Blackwell's songs have sold more than 185 million copies.
The Go-Betweens singer, songwriter Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane, Australia, in 2006 (age 48).
In 2009, Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans died at his residence in Columbia, MS., after a battle with cancer. He joined Skynyrd in ’01 replacing the late Leon Wilkenson. "Ean did a lot of great stuff in his life . . . did what he loved to do," says Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant. "Not many people can say that." Evans was 48.
History:
Today in 1950 the song "The Third Man Theme" by Guy Lombardo topped the charts and stayed there for 11 weeks.
Chuck Berry recorded his classic cut "Rock & Roll Music" in 1957.
In 1965, in their Clearwater, Florida hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards worked out the opening guitar riff of "Satisfaction," following Richard's purchase of a Gibson fuzz-box earlier that day.
James Brown recorded the epic cut "I Got You (I Feel Good)" in 1965.
In 1966, working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded overdubs on "I'm Only Sleeping" and worked on various mixes of the track.
In 1971, Ike & Tina Turner earned their only gold record for their cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary.”
The Tyrannosaurus Rex double album 'Prophets, Seers And Sages And The Angels Of The Ages / My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair But Now Their Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows' went to #1 in the UK in 1972. It was the longest title of an album ever at the time!
Elton John's "Rocket Man" was released in 1972.
In 1973, Paul Simon set out on his first tour without partner Art Garfunkel, using The Jesse Dixon Singers as a back- up group on stage. Simon's tour of America and Europe was recorded and released as 'Live Rhymin'.
The Boomtown Rats played their first gig in England in 1977 when they appeared at Studio 51, London.
Dolly Parton made her New York singing debut in 1977.
In 1977, Led Zeppelin set a new record for the largest audience at a single-act concert. 76,229 people were at a show in Pontiac, MI.
The soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever started an 18 week run at #1 on the UK album chart in 1978, also #1 in the US. The album, which featured seven Bee Gee songs, went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide.
Fictional group Spinal Tap played a gig at New York's CBGB's in 1984.
IRS agents seize possessions from Jerry Lee Lewis' home in 1993 over $1.6 million in unpaid taxes.
Pearl Jam filed a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department against Ticketmaster in 1994. The charge was the company had a monopoly on the concert ticket business.
Janet Jackson went to #1 on the US album chart in 2001 with 'Janet'.
In 2002, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen was voted the UK's favourite single of all time in a poll by the Guinness Hit Singles book. "Imagine" by John Lennon was voted in at #2 and "Hey Jude" by the Beatles #3, "Dancing Queen" by Abba was fourth and Madonna "Like A Prayer" was in fifth place.
John Lennon memorabilia was auctioned by Christie's in 2004. Lennon art work, a Vox Kensington guitar and a leather collar are sold. The total value exceeds $400,000.
Audioslave became the first American rock group to perform a free outdoor concert in Cuba in 2005. An estimated 50,000 attended the event.
In 2005, coffee shop chain Starbucks banned the sale of Bruce Springsteen's latest album 'Devils and Dust 'over concerns about its adult content. The retailer - which stocked CDs at its branches in the US - said it would be promoting other albums instead.
A memorial stone in honor of the late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott was unveiled in his birthplace of Kirriemuir, Scotland in 2006. Local bands perform at the town hall in conjunction with the commemoration. Fans come from as far away as Hungary to honor the singer, who died in 1980. "The whole community has been quite behind this," says the chairman of the town's community council.
DEAR JERRY:From the time Willie Nelson teamed with Waylon Jennings in the 1970s, it seems he was onto something. After Waylon, he went on to have hit after hit by doing duets with numerous other performers.
Can you name the artists Willie sang with over the years? —Morgan Desmond, Cudahy, Wisc.
DEAR MORGAN: Yikes! It might be easier to list those folks who have not yet sung with Willie.
In early 1962, over 13 years before hooking up with Waylon, Willie Nelson & Shirley Collie dueted their way into the Top 10 with “Willingly” (Liberty 55403). About a year later, Willie and Shirley exchanged wedding vows, willingly of course.
In order of release, here are most of those on Willie's infinite duet roster, with one of their titles:
1962: Shirley Collie (“Willingly”)
1974: Tracy Nelson (no relation) (“After the Fire Is Gone”)
1975: Waylon Jennings (“Good Hearted Woman”)
1977: Darrell McCall (“Lily Dale”)
1977: Mary Kay Place (“Something to Brag About”)
1978: Hank Cochran (“Ain't Life Hell”)
1979: Leon Russell (“Heartbreak Hotel”)
1979: George Jones (“I Gotta Get Drunk”)
1980: Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass (“Night Life”)
1980: Ray Price (“Faded Love”)
1980: Dyan Cannon (“Loving You Was Easier”)
1981: Jody Payne (“There's a Crazy Man”)
1982: Roger Miller (“Old Friends”)
1982: Webb Pierce (“In the Jailhouse Now”)
1982: Dolly Parton (“Everything's Beautiful [In Its Own Way]”)
1983: Merle Haggard (“Reason to Quit”)
1983: Brenda Lee (“You're Gonna Love Yourself [In the Morning]”)
1984: Julio Inglesias (“To All the Girls I've Loved Before”)
1984: Hank Wilson (Leon Russell) (“Wabash Cannonball”)
1984: Kris Kristofferson (“How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around”)
1984: Ray Charles (“Seven Spanish Angels”)
1985: Lacy J. Dalton (“Slow Movin' Outlaw”)
1986: David Allen Coe (“I've Already Cheated on You”)
1992: Chieftains (“Goodnight Irene”)
1997: Mel Tillis (“Texas on a Saturday Night”)
1998: Johnny Cash (“[Ghost] Riders in the Sky”)
2000: Francine Reed (“Milk Cow Blues”)
2000: Keb' Mo (“Outskirts of Town”)
2000: Dr. John (“Black Night”)
2000: Johnny Lang (“Rainy Day Blues”)
2000: Susan Tedeschi (“Crazy”)
2000: B.B. King (“The Thrill Is Gone”)
2000: Kenny Wayne Shepherd (“Texas Flood”)
2002: Vince Gill (“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”)
2002: Rob Thomas (“Maria [Shut Up and Kiss Me]”)
2002: Ryan Adams (“The Harder They Come”)
2002: Matchbox 20 (“Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”)
2002: Patty Griffin (“Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”)
2002: Aaron Neville (“Stardust”)
2002: Brian McKnight (“Don't Fade Away”)
2002: Lee Ann Womack (“Mendocino County Line”)
2002: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms”)
2002: Trick Pony (“Whiskey River”)
2003: Kimmie Rhodes (“Picture in a Frame”)
2003: Lil' Black (“Back on the Road”)
2003: Shania Twain (“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”)
2003: Toby Keith (“Beer for My Horses”)
2004: Paul English (“Forgiving You Was Easy”)
2004: Toots and the Maytals (“Still Is Still Moving to Me”)
2005: Bellamy Brothers (“Guardian Angel”)
2006: Larry Butler (“Heavy Hank”)
2007: Don Cherry (“It's Magic”)
2007: Emmylou Harris (“One Paper Kid”)
2007: Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks (“One More Cowboy”)
2007: Marty Dread (“Laws of Nature”)
2007: Sheryl Crow (“If I Were a Carpenter”)
2008: Wynton Marsalis (“Bright Lights, Big City”)
2008: Kenny Chesney (“That Lucky Old Sun”)
2008: Sandy Kelly (“Against the Wind”)
2009: Shawn King (“I Give”)
2009: Asleep at the Wheel (“Corrine Corrina”)
2009: Norah Jones (“Baby, It's Cold Outside”)
2009: Charlie Louvin (“This Darn Pen”)
2009: Ziggy Marley (“This Train”)
2010: Bill Anderson (“The Lord Knows I'm Drinkin'”)
IZ ZAT SO? Two years before his first hit record as a singer, Willie wrote a gospel song titled “Family Bible,” which he sold to Claude Gray for fifty bucks.
Willie's tune not only became Gray's first chart record (D 1118), but wound up in the Top 10. “Family Bible” kick-started a nice career for Claude, whose next two singles made the Top 5: “I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I'll Go)” and “My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About).” Yes, Claude Gray liked subtitles.
Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column.
65daysofstatic - Crash Tactics (vinyl)
a-ha - The Singles 1984-2004 (remastered)
Air Supply - Mumbo Jumbo
Alvin Stardust - I Love Rock N Roll
Ashford & Simpson - Come As You Are
Ashford & Simpson - Gimme Something Real
Ashford & Simpson - Is It Still Good To Ya
Ashford & Simpson - Performance
Ashford & Simpson - So So Satisfied
Ashford & Simpson - Stay Free
Asia - Omega
Atlanta Rhythm Section - Underdog / Boys from Doraville (2 CDs)
Barry White - I've Got So Much to Give
Billie Holiday - Rough Guide: Billie Holiday (2 CDs)
Billy Ocean - Very Best of
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Uni-5: The World's Enemy
Booka Shade - More!
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
Chely Wright - Lifted Off The Ground
Chris Barber - Folk Barber Style
Christopher Cross - Definitive
Chuck Prophet - Dreaming Waylon's Dreams (reissue)
Court House Hounds [Dixie Chicks' Martie Maguire & Emily Robison] - Court House Hounds
Daniel Johnston - Beam Me Up (vinyl)
Darlene Love - Sounds of Love: The Very Best of
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Dickie Betts - Great Southern / Atlanta Burning
Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis (vinyl)
Dokken - Greatest Hits
Dolly Parton - Letter to Heaven: Songs of Faith & Inspiration
Dolly Parton - Original Album Classic
Donny Osmond - Entertainer (CD/DVD)
Doug Sahm - He's About a Groover: An Essential Collection (2 CDs)
Drifters - First Loves: The Complete Drifters Singles 1972-1980
Earth Wind & Fire - Boogie Wonderland: Best Of
Enid - Stand 1985 Vol. 2
Extreme - Take Us Alive: Boston 2009
Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips And Stardeath And White Dwarfs With Henry Rollins And Peaches Doing Dark Side Of The Moon (Retail Release)
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma (vinyl)
Foals - This Orient Pt. 1 (vinyl)
Foals - This Orient Pt. 2 (vinyl)
Frank Sinatra - Sinatra/Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings
Free Energy - Stuck On Nothing (vinyl)
Future Islands: In Evening Air (vinyl)
George Benson - Top Of The World: Best Of
Gil Scott-Heron - Winter In America (remastered)
Godsmack - The Oracle
Goldfrapp - Head First (vinyl)
Greg Laswell: Take a Bow (vinyl)
Harry Chapin - Heads & Tales (Extra Tracks)
Harry Chapin - Portrait Gallery
Hawkwind - Church of Hawkwind (with Bonus Tracks)
Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
Hot Chip - I Feel Better (vinyl)
Iggy & The Stooges - Jesus Loves the Stooges (vinyl reissue)
Infantree - Food For Thought
Jackyl - When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide
James Taylor & Carole King - Troubadour Reunion (CD/DVD)
Jeremy Messersmith - The Reluctant Graveyard
Jim Reeves - Welcome To My World: Best Of (2 CDs)
Joe South - So the Seeds Are Growing / A Look Inside
Jose Feliciano - And The Feeling's Good
Jose Feliciano - Compartments
Jose Feliciano - Encore! Jose Feliciano's Finest Performances
Jose Feliciano - Just Wanna Rock "n" Roll
Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away (vinyl)
Justin Currie - Great War
Kenny G - Songbird: Best Of (2 CDs)
Kinks - Arthur (2-LP vinyl reissue)
Kinks - Something Else (2-LP vinyl reissue)
Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society (2-LP vinyl reissue)
Lazer Crystal - Mcmlxxx (vinyl)
Lee Scratch Perry - Sun Is Shining
Lisa Papineau - Red Trees
Marina & the Diamonds - I Am Not a Robot
Michael Bolton - One World, One Love
Mike Patton - Mondo Cane
Minus the Bear - Omni (2-LP vinyl)
Modern English - Stop Start
Moody Blues - Live At The Royal Albert Hall With The World Festival Orchestra
Muddy Waters - Rough Guide: Muddy Waters (2 CDs)
Nathaniel Rateliff - In Memory Of Loss
New Pornographers - Together (vinyl)
New Young Pony Club - Optimist
Papa Roach - To Be Loved
Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation (Vinyl)
Phil Manzanera - Firebird VII
Pointer Sisters - Goldmine: The Best Of (2 CDs)
Rainbow - Live in Munich (2 LPs)
Reckless - No Frills
Rene Lopez - People Are Just People
Robert Cray - Authorized Bootleg: Austin Texas 5/25/87
Seasick Steve - Man from Another Time
Slowdive - The Shining Breeze: The Slowdive Anthology (2-CDs)
Snowglobe - Little More Lived in
Stereo Total - Baby Ouh!
Steve Harley - Stranger Comes to Town
Steve Howe - Homebrew 4
Steve Mason - Boys Outside
Steve Poltz - Dreamhouse
Steve Young - Solo Live / Switchblade of Love
Stone Roses - The Lowdown
Tarantel - You Cant Hide Your Love Forever (vinyl)
Temptations - Still Here
Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt - I Love You! I Love You & I Am in Love With You
The Big Pink - Tonight (vinyl)
The Fall - Your Future Our Clutter
The Joy Formidable - Balloon Called Moaning (vinyl)
The Letter Black - Hanging on By a Thread
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio (vinyl)
The Shondes - My Dear One
Toni Braxton - Pulse
Tonic - Tonic
Trina - Amazin'
UFO - Let It Roll (4 CDs)
Ultravox - Return to Eden: Live at the Roundhouse: Deluxe
Various Artists - Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour: The Best Of The Third Series
Various Artists - Kristina: At Carnegie Hall (2 CDs) (Written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA)
Wake Up Lucid - Look Alive People
Walter Schreifels - An Open Letter To The Scene
Whitsundays - Saul
Willie Nelson - On The Road Again: Best Of (2 CDs)
Wishbone Ash - 40th Anniversary Concert: Live in London (2 CDs)
Wishbone Ash - Sometime World: An MCA Travelogue (Import Version)
Woods -At Echo Lake (vinyl)
Zac Brown Band - Pass The Jar - Zac Brown Band and Friends Live from the Fabulous Fox Theatre In Atlanta
It was a great day for recorded music as sales surged during America’s third annual Record Store Day on April 17th. Compared to the prior week, overall U.S. album sales in the independent sector increased 12% including a whopping 119% vinyl sales jump for the weekend and 529% growth in vinyl single sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Acts from the Black Keys to Soundgarden to Bruce Springsteen released exclusive vinyl singles, part of the nearly 175 limited vinyl and CD releases offered in the U.S. for Record Store Day. Overall album sales were up 3% on a year-over-year basis, while chain music stores saw a 7% Record Store sales gain this year. 1,400 stores worldwide including 800 in U.S. participated.
Let's hope that more acts climb aboard the Record Store Day train next year!
Nick Fortuna of the Buckinghams ("Don't You Care") is 64
Peggy Santiglia of the Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back") and Dusk ("Angel Baby") is 66
Ed Cassidy - Spirit (1923)
Nicholas Ashford - Ashford and Simpson (1942)
George Wadenius - Blood Sweat & Tears (1945)
Zal Cleminson - Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1949)
Bruce Day - Santana (1951)
Jackie Jackson - Jackson Five (1951)
Mick Mars (real name Bob Deal) - Motley Crue (1951)
Country singer Randy Travis (1959)
Mike Dirnt - Green Day (1972)
Lance Bass - *NSYNC (1979)
They Are Missed:
In 1987, American blues vocalist, harmonica player Paul Butterfield, who fronted The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, died at his home in North Hollywood, California, of drug-related heart failure, he was 44. Gained international recognition as one of the early acts performing during the Summer of Love, at The Monterey festival and Woodstock festival.
Born on this day in 1942, Ronnie Bond, drummer, The Troggs. Bond died on November 13, 1992.
Clement Seymour Dodd died in 2004 (age 72). Producer and major force in the development of ska and reggae, made the first recordings of Bob Marley.
History:
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps recorded "Be Bop A Lula" in 1956. The track was written three days before the session. The songs became a 1956 US #7 hit single spending 20 weeks on the US chart.
Lonnie Donegan quit Chris Barber's Jazz Band to form his own skiffle group in 1956.
Alan Freed's "Rock 'n' Roll Revue" TV show premiered on ABC television in 1957 with the Dell-Vikings, the Clovers, Guy Mitchell, Sal Mineo and "Screamin'" Jay Hawkins. It was the first prime-time network rock show.
The first Grammy Awards were given out in 1959 ("Volare" is Record of the Year).
Andy Williams started a 16-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1963 with 'Days Of Wine And Roses'.
The Moody Blues formed in Birmingham, England in 1964.
The Young Rascals started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1967 with "Groovin."
The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV's 'Top Of The Pops' in 1967.
In 1968, model Twiggy recommended Mary Hopkin to Paul McCartney (who eventually produces her first record).
In 1970, four students at Kent University were killed and eleven wounded by National Guard troops at a campus demonstration protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War. The incident inspired Neil Young to compose "Ohio" which became a hit for Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
Led Zeppelin opened their 1973 North American tour, which was billed as the 'biggest and most profitable rock & roll tour in the history of the United States.' The group would gross over $3 million from the dates, flying between gigs in 'The Starship' a Boeing 720 passenger jet, complete with bar, shower room, TV and video in a 30' lounge and a white fur bedroom. Big deal back then.....
Grand Funk Railroad started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with their version of the Little Eva hit "The Loco- Motion." It was only the second time that a cover version had been a #1 as well as the original.
The film soundtrack to 'The Sting' by Marvin Hamlisch started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1974.
KISS performed their first concert in their hometown of New York City in 1976.
The Patti Smith Group, David Johansen, Dead Boys, Blondie, Suicide and Richard Hell & The Voidoids all appeared at a Punk Benefit at CBGB's in New York City in 1977.
In 1989, Stevie Ray Vaughan set out on what would be his last ever tour at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia. The guitarist was killed in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1999 after a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin, after playing 107 of the 110 dates.
Madonna played the first night of the North American leg on her 57-date Blond Ambition World Tour at The Summit in Houston, Texas in 1990.
In 1994, the RIAA certified that the Gin Blossoms album 'New Miserable Experience' has sold over four million copies. The album, released three years earlier, has "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You."
“Evil Empire,” Rage Against The Machine’s sophomore album, was #1 in the US in 1996, selling 250,000 copies in the week of its release.
Mariah Carey started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1996 with "Always Be My Baby," her 11th US #1 hit.
Today in 1996, the song "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.
In 1997, Courtney Love placed an advert in The Seattle Times selling the house she had shared with Kurt Cobain. The five bedroom four bathroom house was on the market for $3m. The carriage house where Kurt Cobain died had been knocked down during refurbishment.
Sean Paul started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2003 with "Get Busy."
Madonna was at #1 on the US album chart in 2003 with ‘American Life’, the singers fifth US #1.
Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger punched a man in the face outside a Vancouver, BC, nightclub in 2007. According to reports the "victim" harassed Kroeger by shouting "Nickelback sucks." Well, that's just wrong and the "victim" got what he deserved.......
Bruce Springsteen was one the 15 inaugural members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame (along with Frank Sinatra and actress Meryl Streep) in the Arts & Entertainment category in 2008.
Also in 2008, thieves broke into the childhood home of Motown star Martha Reeves and stole about $1 million worth of uninsured recording equipment, including speakers, microphones and karaoke machines. A suspect was arrested at his home later in the day after he tried to sell the goods to a pawnshop for $400.
Godsmack issues their fifth studio album, "The Oracle” today (2010) The 10-track set was produced by Dave Frontman.
Also in 2010, the Hold Steady roll out “Heaven Is Whenever.” Dan Neustadt is on keyboards replacing Franz Nicolay who left the band earlier in the year. Also, New Pornographers fifth album, “Together,” and Paul Weller’s tenth solo effort, “Wake Up The Nation,” arrive. The latter features contributions by My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields and The Jam’s Bruce Foxton.
HAWKWIND will release their first new studio album for five years on June 21st
The new album called "Blood Of The Earth" will be released in three formats, a standard single disc edition, double CD edition (featuring bonus live tracks) and a double vinyl edition.
The tracklisting is as follows...
01. Seahawks
02. Blood Of The Earth
03. Wraith
04. Green Machine
05. Inner Visions
06. Sweet Obsession
07. Comfey Chair
08. Prometheus
09. You’d Believe It
10. Sentinel
11. Starshine (bonus song)
Record company Eastworld Recordings are also planning to reissue Hawkwind's back catalogue on colored vinyl.
Each release will be limited to 1,000 copies.
=================================
Slayer and Megadeth Road Music
Slayer and Megadeth are on the road together this summer on the American Carnage Tour and have announced they will each perform their 1990 albums 'Seasons in the Abyss' and 'Rust in Peace' in their entirety during their respective sets.
Seasons in the Abyss peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Album chart while Rust in Peace went to number 23. Both are considered landmarks of early-90's metal
=================================
Metallica Vinyl Coming Soon
Metallica will be re-releasing their sixth album, 'Load,' on vinyl. The release is scheduled for May 18 and will come in two editions, a two-LP gatefold cover and a 4-LP box pressed at 45 R.P.M. for maximum fidelity.
=================================
Ozzfest News
Ozzfest has announced their lineup for this year's six-date run. On the main stage will be Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Halford, Devildriver and Nonpoint. The second stage will have Black Label Society, Drowning Pool, Kataklysm, Kingdom of Sorrows, Goatwhore, Saviors and Skeletonwitch.
=================================
Del-Viking Gone
Norman Wright of the Del-Vikings passed away on Friday at the age of 72. Wright was a member of the original group when it formed by a group of U.S. Air Force members. Their first major hit, "Come Go With Me," had Wright singing lead while he took the bass part on their only other big one, "Whispering Bells."
Because of their military commitments, the group broke up soon after the records became hits but reformed in 1970 and were able to get a rerecorded version of "Come Go With Me" played on some stations. Wright would perform with the group on and off through the 90's.
Session drummer Benny Benjamin died in 1969. One of 'The Funk Brothers' played on many Tamla Motown hits including, The Four Tops, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. The film 'Standing In The Shadows Of Motown' released in 2003 features his work.
Born on this day in 1904, Bing Crosby, US singer who recorded an estimated 2,600 songs in his lifetime including "White Christmas," which was written by Irving Berlin. Crosby had 317 other hits in the US. He died of a heart attack on a golf course in Madrid, Spain, on October 14, 1977.
Marvin Gaye, Jr. was born today in 1939. On April 1, 1984 - one day before his 45th birthday - Gaye was shot and killed by the Reverend Marvin Gay, Sr. in the aftermath of a heated argument.
In 1998, Japanese rock star Hideto Matsumoto was found hanged in the bathroom at his Tokyo apartment and died in hospital a short time later at the age of 33. His funeral, held on May 7th, was attended by over 70,000 people and required 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats and helicopters. 21 people were hospitalised for injuries caused by the massive crowd at his funeral.
Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli) died in a hotel room in Frankfurt, Germany in 1998.
Born today in 1935, Link Wray, surf guitarist. Wray was credited with inventing 'fuzz' guitar after punching a hole in a speaker giving him a distorted sound. Wray died on Nov 5, 2005 (age 76).
Born on this day in 1945, Randy Cain, The Delfonics. Died on April 9, 2009 at the age of 63
History:
In 1956, Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” and Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” appear simultaneously on the pop and R&B charts. Presley and Perkins also occupy the #1 and #2 positions, respectively on the Country & Western charts.
Also in 1956 - The Biggest Rock and Roll Show of ’56 packs ‘em in with Bill Haley & His Comets and Bo Diddley, among other acts. The caravan tour starts in Hershey, PA.
In 1957, Elvis Presley recorded the Leiber and Stoller song "Jailhouse Rock" as featured in his third motion picture of the same name.
Ben E. King leaves the Drifters and signed a solo contract with Atco Records in 1960.
Ray Peterson records "Tell Laura I Love Her" in 1960.
Dick Clark testified before a Congressional committee investigating payola (and was cleared) in 1960.
In 1963, the Beatles were at #1 on the UK singles chart with "From Me To You," the group's first #1 and the first of eleven consecutive #1's. The title of the song was inspired from a letters column called From You To Us that ran in the British music newspaper, The New Musical Express.
“The Beatles Second Album,” with “She Loves You” tops the US album chart in 1964 just two weeks after its release. It makes it to #1 faster than any other album to date. Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones self-titled debut rules the U.K. album chart displacing “With The Beatles.”
The Beach Boys recorded "I Get Around" in 1964.
Freddie & the Dreamers recorded "Do The Freddie" in 1965.
Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic in 1967.
The Beatles finished recording the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1967.
The Beach Boys abandon their “Smile” project in 1967. Numerous bootlegs circulate before songs created for the album get an official release.
Elvis Presley's film career ends along with the filming on his last theatrical movie, "Change Of Habit" in 1969.
The Beatles recorded a re-make of the new George Harrison song "Something" at Abbey Road Studios in London in 1969. They recoded 36 takes of the song, which included Billy Preston on piano.
Pink Floyd appeared at Manchester Chamber Of Commerce, England in 1969. The show was recorded for the forthcoming album ‘Ummagumma.
In 1972, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.
Eric Clapton recorded "Wonderful Tonight" (written by Eric about Pattie Boyd) in 1977.
Stevie Wonder’s tribute to Duke Ellington, "Sir Duke," was released in 1977.
The Who’s film “Quadrophenia” premiered in London in 1979. Also that same year, the Who perform for the first time with new drummer Kenney Jones. The ex-Faces drummer replaces Keith Moon who died the previous year.
In 1980, Joy Division played what would be their last gig with singer Ian Curtis when they appeared at Birmingham University, England. Curtis committed suicide two weeks later.
Scottish singer Sheena Easton started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1981 with "Morning Train (9 to 5)." The title of the song was changed to avoid any confusion with the Dolly Parton hit "9 to 5," in the same year.
The Prince album "Sign O' The Times" was released worldwide in 1987.
In 1989, a security guard alerted the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walked into Zales Jewellers, California. Three squad cars arrived and police detained the man, who turned out to be Michael Jackson in disguise.
In 1991, the video for the R.E.M. song "Losing My Religion," was banned in Ireland because its religious imagery was seen as unfit for broadcast.
Also in 1991, Nirvana booked into Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California for 16 days. On a budget of $65,000 and with Butch Vig producing the band started recording what would become the ‘Nevermind’ album.
In 1992, little known UK duo Nirvana filed a suit against the American band of the same name claiming that they had been using the name since 1968. The dispute was settled out of court in the British bands favor.
In 1998, a new wing opened at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cleveland, OH.
In 2004, Total Guitar magazine's readers voted Guns N' Roses' anthem "Sweet Child O' Mine" as the greatest guitar riff ever ahead of Nirvana's grunge anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" came third, followed by Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water."
In 2005, Eric Clapton joined former Cream members drummer Ginger Baker and bass player Jack Bruce for the first of four nights at London's Royal Albert Hall 36 years after they had split up. Tickets were changing hands for more than £500 on eBay and fans had flown over from the USA to witness the reunion, which Clapton aged 60, is said to have agreed to because of the failing health of the other former members of the band.
In 2006, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was released from hospital in New Zealand after the 62 year-old suffered "mild concussion" when he fell out of a coconut tree while on holiday in Fiji. He was airlifted to Auckland's Ascot Hospital for observation, where he underwent a brain scan. No brain was found.....
In 2007, almost 2,000 musicians gathered in the Polish city of Wroclaw to play a rock anthem by Jimi Hendrix. The guitarist's were aiming to set a new Guinness World Record by gathering 1,876 guitarist's in the city's market square to play "Hey Joe." Organizers say it was the biggest guitar ensemble in recorded history.
Bon Jovi make their first-ever appearance at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2009. It’s the Jazz Fest’s 40th anniversary.
In 2009, a rare Motown seven-inch single sold for $38,378, setting a new world record. Kenny Burrell, from Fife in Scotland, put the unreleased 1965 single "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson up for auction; the single was one of only two in the world. Motown boss Berry Gordy had all other copies destroyed after Wilson moved into songwriting and producing. British Record dealer John Manship, who organized the sale, said the buyer wished to remain anonymous. Wilson went on to write hits for The Supremes and The Four Tops.
Also in 2009, Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed with other Beatles tourists during a minibus tour to John Lennon's childhood home. He was one of 14 tourists to examine photos and documents in the National Trust-owned home, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. Dylan who was on a day off on a European tour paid £16 for the public trip to the 1940s house in Woolton, Liverpool.
Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack went to #1 on the US album chart in 2009. The album featured songs by Miley Cyrus (as both Hannah Montana and herself), Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and Rascal Flatts.
Seems as I have made it through the migration and can continue my blog. I have to apologize for not posting since Monday, but I have been ill and bedridden since last Monday night and this is the first time at the computer since that time.
I have knee problems (besides my disability) and I went to see the doctor on Monday because one of my knees was swollen and flaring up on me. I took a cortisone shot and by Monday night I could no longer put any weight on the leg (or straighten it). So I have been bedridden since and on Thursday had my knee drained of fluid (they had to do it twice). I would not wish this on my worst enemy, as the pain was unbearable at times. Anyway, I hope to get back into the swing of things ASAP, starting tomorrow with "This Date In Music History" and then continue with the regular features and vinyl record news.
