Music News & Notes

American Idol's Blake Lewis Announces Special Release

American Idol's Blake Lewis will release his newest album, Heartbreak on Vinyl, on vinyl of course, with a wealthy of new, never before released content, this August.

Lewis, who recently topped Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay Chart and the Dance Club Play Chart at #1 with the title track "Heartbreak on Vinyl," will sign, hand-number and personalize each of the only 500 available Limited Edition Double LP copies sold. The album, pressed in a unique red vinyl, is currently available for pre-order at www.blakelewisofficial.com and will be delivered to customers beginning August 3rd.

In addition to the personalization of each LP, Lewis is offering a slate of new content with each purchase including free instant access to the digital album, 13 remixes of the chart-topping single "Heartbreak on Vinyl," and free membership to his VIP Opendisc site. The VIP Opendisc site offers exclusive content from Lewis including video messages, promo videos and "making of" clips, interactive Q&A sessions, remixes, bonus audio and track by track commentaries and much more. To top it all off, by the time each LP is delivered, those who purchased it will also receive a free MP3 of an unreleased track "'Till We See The Sun."

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Corrosion Of Conformity To Record New Song Featuring Classic Line-Up

Legendary metal act Corrosion Of Conformity have announced plans to release a new 7-inch single titled "Your Tomorrow Pt.1 & 2" through Southern Lord Records. The new recordings features the same line-up from their iconic "Animosity" album. "Your Tomorrow" is to be pressed onto black 180-gram wax vinyl.

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Exhumed Announces Reunion, Plans To Record New Album

American death metal group Exhumed has announced their reformation after a five year hiatus. The band will consist of vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey, guitarist Wes Caley, bassist Leon DelMuerte and drummer Danny Walker. The band will also be recording a brand new album, their first since "Anatomy Is Destiny" in 2003, which is eyeing a Spring 2011 release.

Matt Harvey stated: "I'm totally fucken psyched to be making music with Exhumed again, it's been way too long. After a few years off and away from the death metal scene, I feel rejuvenated and ready to hack, maim and kill once again. I wanted this to be a continuation of what the band was doing and was on its way to doing, not a reunion or some weird nostalgia thing, so the first person I started talking about this with was our guitarist Wes (Caley), who has been writing some great songs for the new album, and once he got the ball rolling with Leon (DelMuerte, bass, vocals) and Danny (Walker, drums), it come together quickly and easier than ever!"

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Atheist Reveals New Album Details

Progressive death metal legends Atheist have revealed details regarding the band's upcoming studio album, the first release from the band in over seventeen years. The album's title has been set as "Jupiter" and is planned for release by mid November, 2010.

Founding member Kelly Shaefer commented by saying:

"we are almost done with guitars and vocals, and we start mixing with the tone goblin himslef Jason Suecof in Orlando, FL on July 15. We have been working our asses off for a year and have taken great strides to make this the record we, as fans, would want to hear from Atheist . It’s ferocious, intelligent, and dead balls heavy as shit! When people hear this they’re going to say, ‘it’s Atheist!”

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Pearl Jam Play 'Last Gig For A Long Time' In Portugal

Pearl Jam are set to take a break from music after playing their last gig in “a long time” in Portugal. The band's frontman Eddie Vedder made the announcement during the band's set at the Optimus Alive festival on Saturday (July 10).

Speaking in Portuguese, he told the crowd: "Thank you for coming to our last show. Not our last ever, but our last in a long time."

Pearl Jam's appearance at Optimus Alive was the last date scheduled on their 2001 tour calender. The group were among the performers at last month's Hard Rock Calling festival in London.

They released their last studio album, 'Backspacer', in 2009.

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DIMMU BORGIR: New Album Title, Complete Artwork Revealed

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have set "Abrahadabra" as the title of their ninth studio album, which will be released in Germany on September 24, in the rest of Europe on September 27, and in North America on October 12 via Nuclear Blast Records.

When asked about the central figure in the artwork and who/what he's supposed to represent, artist Joachim Luetke responds: "I think that's obvious. Since the whole 'setting' is located in an icy, bleak, winter-y, post-industrial era, we're pretty close to H.P. Lovecraft's nameless elder gods. They're represented by the mask's tentacles. In short: the mask/face personifies dominion of powers far beyond mankind. The nameless gods witnessed the birth of our universe and they'll watch it implode. To them, the age of mankind is but a blink of an eye."

Luetke's artwork and layout art also graced two other DIMMU BORGIR albums: 2003's "Death Cult Armageddon", which has sold 130,000 copies in the U.S. (according to Nielsen SoundScan) and debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, No. 10 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and No. 170 on The Billboard 200 chart; and 2007's "In Sorte Diaboli", which has sold over 75,000 copies in the U.S. (according to Nielsen SoundScan) and debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and at No. 43 on The Billboard 200 chart.

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TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK: Debut Album Track listing, Final Cover Art Revealed

Norwegian metallers TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK have revealed the track listing and the final cover artwork for their forthcoming debut album, "34613".

Commented the band: "'34613' has been in the works for the past two and a half years, so it feels real good to complete the tracklist with a new song called 'Ice Mountain'.

"'Ice Mountain' is about one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. It's about how the largest passenger steamship in the world at the time (1912), struck an iceberg and sank.. resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people.

Love the artwork on this one.....









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NIGHTFALL: 'Astron Black' Track Listing, Artwork Unveiled

The cover artwork for "Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants", the new album from reformed Greek metallers NIGHTFALL — featuring frontman and lyricist Efthimis Karadimas alongside Evan Hensley on guitar, Stathis Kassios on keyboards and Jörg Uken on drums — can be viewed below. The CD is scheduled for release on August 31 (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records. The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith (OPETH, DEATH, NEVERMORE, KATATONIA).

Commented the band: "The front cover depicts the sea, the grand opposite of the sky-cum-space, and the means we humans are inventing to explore the unexplored. We are part of this universe and we use its planets to navigate, to tune our lives through the 'time' set by their motion, and who knows, may be to escape to some day in the future."

This Date In Music History - July 12

Birthdays:

Walter Egan ("Magnet & Steel") turns 62.



Christine McVie - Chicken Shack, Fleetwood Mac, Solo (1943)

Wilko Johnson - Dr Feelgood (1947)

John Wetton - King Crimson, U.K., Uriah Heep, Roxy Music, Asia (1949)

Liz Mitchell - Boney M (1952)

Dan Murphy - Soul Asylum (1962)

Tim Gane - Stereolab (1964)

Robin Wilson - Gin Blossoms (1965)

Tanya Donnelly - Belly (1966)

John Petrucci - Dream Theater (1967)

Dominic Howard - Muse (1977)


They Are Missed:

Singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton died of cancer in 1979 (age 31). The Stevie Wonder produced "Loving You" gave Minnie a US #1 single in 1975. She worked at Chess records singing backup for various artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters. She also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. Also a member of Wonderlove in 1973, a backup group for Stevie Wonder.

In 1983, former Traffic member Chris Wood died of liver failure after a lengthy illness. Also played with Jimi Hendrix in 1968, appearing on the Electric Ladyland album and worked with both John Martyn and the Small Faces.

The late Barbara (Mama) Cowsill of the Cowsills was born in 1928 (died January 1985).

Born on this day in 1950, Eric Carr, drums, Kiss. Carr died on November 24, 1991.

Born today in 1960, Ray Gillen, member of Black Sabbath (died 1st December 1, 1993).

Born on this day in 1952, Philip Taylor Kramer, bass guitar, Iron Butterfly. His disappearance on February 12, 1995 caused a mystery lasting four years. On May 29, 1999, Kramer's Ford Aerostar minivan and skeletal remains were found by photographers looking for old car wrecks to shoot at the bottom of Decker Canyon near Malibu, California. Based on forensic evidence his death was ruled as a probable suicide.



In 1996 - Jonathan Melvoin (Smashing Pumpkins) was found dead in a New York City hotel of a heroin overdose.

Saxophonist, composer and arranger Benny Carter died in 2003 (age 95). He worked with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and composed many TV theme's including Ironside and M-Squad.

American singer Earl Nelson (Earl Lee Nelson) died in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2008. One half of the duo, Bob And Earl, (recorded ‘Harlem Shuffle’ in 1963). Nelson sang background vocals on "Rockin' Robin," a #2 for The Jackson Five in 1972.


History:

In 1954, 19 year-old Elvis Presley signed a recording contract with Sun Records. He also gave in his notice at his day job at The Crown Electric Company. Sam Phillips from Sun Records originally wanted to use the 19 year-old to make demos of songs meant for other artists, but soon realized that here was the man who could bridge the gap between white and black performances.

Frankie Lymon, the Everly Brothers and Connie Francis starred on Alan Freed's first official "Big Beat" TV show on ABC in 1957 (it had two previous "test runs").

In 1962, the Rolling Stones made their live debut at the Marquee Jazz Club, London, with Dick Taylor on bass and Mick Avory on drums. The band were billed as The Rollin' Stones. They were paid around $25 for the gig.

In 1964, the Beatles appeared at the Hippodrome Theatre in Brighton with The Fourmost and the Shubdubs (whose drummer, Jimmy Nicol, would later fill in for an ill Ringo Starr on The Beatles' world tour). Also in the US, The Ed Sullivan Show re-broadcast The Beatles' first live television appearance on the Sullivan show (from February 9). On the way to tonight's gig George Harrison was involved in a minor crash in his brand new E-Type Jaguar in Kings Road, Fulham, London. Passing pedestrians collected bits of broken glass as souvenirs.

The Beach Boys recorded "Sloop John B" in 1965.

Also in 1965 - The Beach Boys released their home state tribute, “California Girls.” The song only gets to #3 but it immortalizes west coast talent.

One hit wonders Zager and Evans started a six week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1969 with "In The Year 2525, (Exordium And Terminus)."



In 1969, Elvis Presley was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents.

In 1969 - Blind Faith began their one and only tour with a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The Hues Corporation recorded "Rock The Boat" in 1973.



In 1979, Chicago Rock DJ Steve Dahl’s “disco demolition” promotion was held between games of a Chicago White Sox double-header at Comiskey Park. Disco records were blown up in center field. The damage to the field and the riot that followed caused the second game to be cancelled, with Chicago forfeiting. Sorry folks, disco still sucks.

Simply Red scored their first US #1 single in 1986 with 'Holding Back The Years."

In 1988, Michael Jackson arrived in the UK for his first ever-solo appearances. He performed a total of eight nights to 794,000 people.

Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses) was arrested at New York's JFK airport in 1992 on a warrant from St. Louis, MO. Rose was wanted on charges stemming from a 1991 Guns N' Roses concert.

In 1996, Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was charged with drug possession after the death of the bands keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin in his New York Hotel room.

DMX was arrested in Trinidad in mid-concert in 1999 for using obscene language.

In 1999, Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) was arrested in St. Paul, MN, for allegedly kicking a local securit guard in the head during the band's performance. Nice.

A statue erected in memory of John Lennon was unveiled in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2000.

Metallica and Napster settle their copyright dispute in 2001. Unfortunately, it comes too late to help either party. Metallica’s lawsuit disillusions fans and Napster ceases being what it was.

New Orleans names its suburban airport after Louis Armstrong in 2001.

In 2004, nearly four decades after their major hit "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," two former members of the Electric Prunes, vocalist James Lowe and bassist Mark Tulin, filed separate suites against their record label and music publisher claiming $1 million in owed royalties.



The Moondance Jam festival took place in Walke, MN in 2006. The four day camping and music event features Heart, the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Alice Cooper, ex-Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung, former Santana singer-keyboardist Gregg Rolie and Ted Nugent.

In 2007, the E Street Band's Steven Van Zandt was named the head of an advisory group to decide what music appears in the Rock Band video game (from Harmonix). The Who, Metallica, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Rush, Bon Jovi, Mountain and Blue Oyster Cult are included.

Also in 2007, the Rolling Stones were paid $5.5 million (or $67,500 per minute) to perform a 14 song set at a private Deutsche Bank party for top-level employees held at the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain.

In 2008, Rolling Stone Ron Wood left his wife of 23 years and moved in with an 18-year-old Russian cocktail waitress. The 61 year-old dad-of-four had met the teenager while out drinking and had taken her away to his luxury pad in Ireland. Real smart....

Also in 2008, Beatles producer George Martin was honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences as the most successful producer of all time.

A brawl with drunken bar patrons in 2009 caused members of Collective Soul to be banned from Myrtle Beach, SC, for one year. The fight spilled out into the streets before the "cops came and escorted everyone away," reported guitarist Dean Roland. Cool....

This Date In Music History - July 10

Birthdays:

Sandy Stewart (1937)

Ian Whitcomb (1941)

Jerry Miller - Moby Grape (1943)

Arlo Guthrie (1947)

Dave Smalley - Young Rascals, Raspberries (1949)

Greg Kihn (1950)



Neil Tennant - Pet Shop Boys (1954)

Martyn P Casey - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (1960)

Graham Lambert - Inspiral Carpets (1964)

Peter DiStefano - Porno For Pyros (1965)

Jason Orange - Take That (1970)

Gary LeVox - Rascal Flatts (1970)

Jessica Simpson (1980)


They Are Missed:

Producer and record company executive John Hammond died in 1987. He brought Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen to Columbia Records. Hammond also worked as a producer with Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman and Count Basie.

Born on this day in 1959, Sandy West, drummer, founding member of US all girl group The Runaways. West died on Oct 21, 2006.

Born today in 1949, Ronnie James Dio, vocals, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio. Died on May 16, 2010, after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old.




History:

1900 - ‘His Master’s Voice,' was registered with the U.S. Patent Office. The logo of the Victor Recording Company, and later, RCA Victor, shows the dog, Nipper, looking into the horn of a gramophone machine.

1936 - Billie Holiday recorded "Billie’s Blues" in 1936.

The movie "Go, Johnny, Go," with Jimmy Clanton and Chuck Berry (with performances by Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran and Jackie Wilson) opened in 1959.

Bobby Lewis started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1961 with "Tossin' and Turnin," the longest running #1 single of 1961.

In 1964, 200,000 Liverpudlians took to the streets to celebrate The Beatles return to Liverpool for the northern premiere of the group's first film 'A Hard Days Night.' The group were honored in a public ceremony in front of Liverpool Town Hall and as The Beatles stood on a balcony looking at the large crowd gathered below, John Lennon, gave a few Nazi "Sieg Heil" salutes. Not everyone appreciated his sense of humor.

The Beatles started a six week run at #1 on the US album charts in 1965 with 'Beatles VI,' the group's fifth #1.

Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" was released in 1965.

The Rolling Stones started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1965 with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," the group's first US #1. Some US stations cut out the last verse believing it referred to women's 'time of the month.'



In 1966, Johnny Tilotson, The Jive Five, The Tymes, The Shangra-Las and local band The Castiles (with Bruce Springsteen on vocals) all appeared at the Surf ‘n See Club in Seabright New Jersey.

Kenny Rogers left the New Christy Minstrels in 1967 (the next day he helps form the First Edition).

Bobbie Gentry recorded "Ode to Billie Joe" in 1967.

In 1968, Eric Clapton announced that Cream would break-up after their current tour.

Also in 1968, The Nice were banned from appearing at London's Royal Albert Hall after burning an American flag on stage.

The funeral of Rolling Stone Brian Jones took place in his home town at Hatherley Road Parish Church, Cheltenham in 1969. Canon Hugh Evan Hopkins read Jones' own epitaph, 'Please don't judge me too harshly'. Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts from The Stones attended the funeral.

Three Dog Night's "Liar" was released in 1971.



Gladys Knight's NBC-TV summer variety series begins in 1974.

One hit wonders Starland Vocal Band started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1976 with the silly song "Afternoon Delight."

A 16 year-old girl was stabbed to death at a Yes concert in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1976.

In 1977, Cher gave birth to a baby girl Elijah Blue. Allman Brother Gregg Allman was the father.

Rolling Stone Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious after falling from the stage during a Stones concert at the Coliseum, St Paul, Minnesota in 1978.

Chuck Berry was sentenced to five months in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion in 1979.

Bob Marley and the Wailers began what would be Marley's last ever UK tour when they appeared in Dublin, Ireland in 1980.

The song "Poplife," by Prince, was released in 1985.

Girl trio SWV started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1993 with "Weak."

Diana Ross' "reunion" tour with two Supremes she never recorded with was cancelled in 2000 for poor ticket sales.

Dolly Parton launched a 13-city tour in 2002. It was her first tour in decades.

In 2005, the four members of Led Zeppelin were voted the UK's ideal supergroup after 3,500 music fans were asked to create their fantasy band for Planet Rock Radio. Jimmy Page won best guitarist, followed by Guns N' Roses' Slash and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore. John Paul Jones was named top bassist, with John Bonham, who died in 1980, winning best drummer and Robert Plant beat the late Freddie Mercury to best singer.

George Strait was at #1 on the US album chart in 2005 with 'Somewhere Down In Texas', the US country singers third #1 album.

In 2008, the drum skin used on the cover of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album sold for a cool $1million at Christie's Memorabilia auction in London. Other items sold included John Lennon's lyrics for "Give Peace a Chance" which sold for $832,257 and a pair of tinted prescription sunglasses belonging to Lennon, which he wore for the cover of the single "Mind Games," sold for $79,000. A rare 1/4 inch reel to-reel master tape recording of the Jimi Hendrix Experience performing at the Woburn Music Festival in 1968 went for $95,000, a Marshall amplifier used by Hendrix in concert fetched $50,000 and a pair of his stripy flared trousers made $49,000.

Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant received a Commander of the British Empire medal from England's Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2009.

In 2010, Prince’s “20Ten” CD is available via inserts in England's Daily Mirror, Scotland's Daily Record and Belgium's Het Nieuswsblad. The album, not available in stores or online, is also in the German edition of Rolling Stone 12 days later.

Michael Fremer Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW:
Them Crooked Vultures (new release)
Them Crooked Vultures


DGC/Interscope B0013785-01 2 180g LPs+MP3 download


Produced by: Them Crooked Vultures
Engineered by: Alan Moulder
Mixed by: Alan Moulder
Mastered by: Brian Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Lacquer cutting: "i"

Review by: Michael Fremer
2010-07-01



This “supergroup” trio side project featuring Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age Joshua Homme and Led Zep bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones is sure to please lovers of classic rock and heavy metal, not to mention Led Zep fans of all ages. They’ve even got a logo.

The music is old fashioned, guitar-driven heavy rock that pays homage to Zep, Aerosmith and the Jack Bruce wing of Cream among other rock heavyweights. Grohl has apparently been working to form the group since back in 2005.

The best part about the project is that the group has been gigging live and plans a second album. Your first listen to this will tell you why they’re taking this beyond a one shot knock-off: they are having fun and making exciting music.

The staccato beats are heavy but there’s more exuberance than dark brooding or pretense. While the sound is dense, it’s carefully constructed, skillfully layered and leaves sufficient space around the notes to produce body and substance instead of thickets of unrelenting noise. These are well arranged, carefully conceived of tunes, not sloppy jams.

If this doesn’t have you rocking to the beat (even if you can’t make out more than a few words to each song without reading the lyrics), you’re either brain dead or a geriatric case.

The three sound invigorated and it’s hard to imagine that JPJ isn’t thrilled to be playing with the nextgen youngsters who so clearly love the history and the music he helped create so many years ago.

Even the engineering, production and mixing are “old fashioned” in the best sense of the expression. Dynamics aren’t squashed, frequency range isn’t limited and excruciating brightness has been avoided. You can crank it up, which you should, and instead of pain, you’ll find stomach-crunching pleasure.

The lyrics are not as clever or thoughtful as Led Zep’s and kind of disposable and beside the point and they are recorded that way: recessed and difficult to decipher. It’s all about the shifting rhythms and textures.

That said, don’t expect much more than short term entertainment. This is fun to listen to and well crafted but it won’t be talked about in a few years or next year and self indulgence creeps through on a couple of tunes, but still, it’s guaranteed to get the old adrenaline flowing and better house cleaning music you’re not likely to find.

The 320kbs MP3 download is sourced from the vinyl and the packaging is also great in the old fashioned sense of the expression: gatefold, black, white and red, with color inserts and artwork on the labels.

Not for everyone but those who will dig this know who they are, especially if your system can taking cranking up and putting out.

Thanks to Michael over at http://www.musicangle.com/  for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.

 

Copyright © 2008 MusicAngle.com & Michael Fremer - All rights reserved Reprinted by Permission

Music News & Nootes

Apple Records to release remasted albums from back catalog

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music have announced they will release 15 remastered albums from Apple Records’ back catalog, an outlet originally started by the Beatles in 1968 for their own recordings as well as other artists of their choosing. The fact that the majority of the artists brought to Apple Records were hand picked by the Beatles, who at the time had worldwide fame, subsequently launched each of their careers.

Many of the releases after the label formed in 1968 included appearances by The Beatles such as James Taylor’s “Carolina on my Mind,” which features Paul McCartney and George Harrison. McCartney also produced Welsh singer Mary Hopkin’s debut single “Those Were the Days” and Badfinger’s “Come and Get It.”

All of the albums being re-released were digitally remastered at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London by the same crew that recently engineered The Beatles’ remastered catalog released last year. All 15 albums will be released October 26 on both CD and digital download, a first for Apple Records recordings.

James Taylor (1968)

Badfinger – Magic Christian Music (1970)

Badfinger – No Dice (1970)

Badfinger – Straight Up (1972)

Ass (1974)

Mary Hopkin – Post Card (1969)

Mary Hopkin – Earth Song, Ocean Song (1971)

Billy Preston – That’s The Way God Planned It (1969)

Doris Troy (1970)

Jackie Lomax – Is This What You Want? (1968)

Modern Jazz Quartet – Under The Jasmin Tree (1968) & Space (1969)

John Tavener – The Whale (1970) & Celtic Requiem (1971)

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IMMOLATION 'Unholy Cult' Vinyl Picture Disc Exclusive

For the first time ever, Immolation's 'Unholy Cult' is be available on picture disc vinyl this 17th July. The double-sided picture disc features the classic tracklisting and is a worldwide release limited to 500 pieces only with an exclusive cover art.

'Unholy Cult' is truly a masterpiece. Once again Immolation has reinvented itself to create a darker, heavier and even more menacing atmosphere, with intensity and feeling like no other! From militant and twisted rhythmic marches to all-out monstrous assaults, this album will sink into your very foundation! The emotion and passion are strong in the lyrics and the vocal delivery, as they thunder massively through the heavens!

A must-have for any death metal fan.

Immolation performing the song "Unholy Cult" live at Stonhenge Festival 2009



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NEUROSIS To Release 'Live At Roadburn 2007' In August

NEUROSIS, which is cited as one of the most influential bands of heavy music's experimental underworld, will release a new live album, "Live At Roadburn 2007", on August 30 via Neurot Recordings.

The first release from NEUROSIS since 2007's "Given to the Rising", this new live CD was recorded that same year in Tilburg, Holland, at the annual Roadburn festival where NEUROSIS headlined to a diehard audience. The album expertly captures as much of the band's live experience as one possibly could on a physical recording, harnessing the monolithic flow and power of the band's well-known sonically devastating live performances.

"Live At Roadburn" will be made available on August 30 alongside the reissue of NEUROSIS' groundbreaking 1993 release "Enemy Of The Sun". The "Roadburn" album features the iconic artwork/layout skills of visionary artist/NEUROSIS live visual master Josh Graham, also responsible for the redesigned "Enemy Of The Sun" layout. Both albums will be released on CD as part of this year's celebration of the 25th anniversary of the legendary act.

Already have my vote for album cover of the year (so far)

South Hillside record shop specializes in good ol' vinyl

BY JOE STUMPE
Eagle correspondent


Ed Swarts remembers his first record — a 45 rpm of Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World."

"I played it every day," he said.

Swarts is now in the business of peddling similar memories through his used-records store, Spin It Again Records on South Hillside.

Spin It Again specializes in the vinyl albums that dominated the music market until CDs came along, along with smaller selections of 8-track tapes, singles and VHS versions of music videos.

The rock/pop section features artists from Abba to ZZ Top. Country, jazz, classical and "various" — think "Gold Fever Sounds" by the '70s-era Wichita State Shocker band — get their own bins as well.

Music posters adorn the walls. Record players stand ready to let customers listen before they buy.

Although Swarts is a lifelong music fan, he says the inspiration to open the store came from the knowledge that he was about to be laid off from his job of 20-plus years at the Skyline manufactured-home plant in Halstead, which closed last year. He said he knows of only one other such business in the area, Rewound Sounds in Delano.

Since he'd lost his own stash of albums in a theft years before, his first step was to start combing the area for collections that were in good shape and reasonably priced.

"Usually it's a wife telling her husband, 'You're got to get rid of all those records,' " he said.

Swarts, who had installed and tested various mobile home parts for Skyline, has put that background to work. He built the shelves for the shop and repaired a jukebox that spins records in one corner. Rather than spend $600 on a machine designed to clean records, he rigged his own system out of a turntable and a vacuum cleaner. He also replaces parts in most 8-track tapes before reselling them.

Most albums are priced in the $6-to-$10 range. A few, like a 1960 George Jones salute to Hank Williams in near-perfect condition, cost up to $100.

Swarts said he prices albums according to a trade industry guide called Goldmine. So far, the average customer has been leaving with about $40 to $50 in albums, he said.

His record and 8-track players are also for sale, along with accessories like record cleaners, the plastic "spiders" that fit inside 45s and an old device that allows cassettes to play in 8-track players. He's made a few clocks and ashtrays out of albums and may sell those in the future as well.

People collect vinyl records for a number of reasons, Swarts said. Some albums contain music that hasn't found its way onto CDs. Older customers may be trying to fill out a portion of a collection they started years before; younger customers buy "because their father listened to it and they like it." Then there are the album covers, considered works of art themselves.

Most of all, Swarts says, is the "warmer, purer" sound that vinyl records offer.

"I don't have anything against CDs, but to get the real sound of somebody like Grand Funk Railroad, you've got to play it on a record," he said.

SOURCE: http://www.kansas.com/

Vinyl Gets Groovy

By Suanshu Khurana

Before Blu-Rays, iPods and iTunes, there was gramophone, and you grooved to the black vinyl. In the long-playing (LP) records, you chanced upon the manic genius of Pink Floyd, moved with four Liverpudlians with bangs and traced the sadness in the lower octaves of KL Saigal. If you have missed those times when there was an entire tactile ritual associated with music — flipping through your stack of records, finding the One, admiring its artwork briefly, slipping the cover off, feeling the record under your fingertips, placing it on the gramophone and then moving away a little further and waiting for the music — then here is news: the LP is back in India.

EMI has brought out the first LPs in south India, with other music companies expected to follow suit. Later this month, 78 rpms of Pink Floyd, the Eagles, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin will be stacked in Delhi’s music stores.

Anand Srinivasan, label manager with EMI, says vinyl records have a future in India.

“Customers always respond well to LPs. Over the past couple of years, the West proved to be a really good market for LPs. Now people are buying our LPs in cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore. We think they will work well here.”

The company shut down its only LP manufacturing unit in Kolkata in 1988.

“But it is not just the market. There is also much nostalgia associated with bringing LPs back,” says Srinivasan. EMI will be importing LPs from the US.

Apart from Pink Floyd and Zeppelin who are associated with the golden age of LPs, there will be vinyls of the iTunes generation that includes Norah Jones, Arctic Monkeys and Animal Collective.

“Unlike a CD where music is digitised, an LP delivers you pure analog,” says Atul Marwah, a Delhi-based private collector. Another good thing about these LPs is that they come with a host of merchandise like posters, stickers and artist cards. But they come with a price tag. The LPs are priced between Rs 495 and Rs 5,000. A box set of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon with four LPs will cost Rs 4,000. “The prices are high because of import duties,” says Srinivasan.

SOURCE:   http://www.indianexpress.com/

This Date In Music History - July 8

Birthdays:

Jerry Vale (1932)

Steve Lawrence (1935)

Jaimoe Johanson - Allman Brothers Band (1944)

Ricky Wolf - The Flowerpot Men (1945)

Andy Fletcher - Depeche Mode (1960)

Graham Jones - Haircut 100 (1961)

Toby Keith (1961)

Joan Osborne (1963)

Beck David Campbell (Beck) (1970)

Neil Mavers - The La's (1971)

Tavis Werts - Reel Big Fish (1977)

Jamie Cook - Arctic Monkeys (1985)

They Are Missed:

none today!

History:

Today in 1957, the song "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks.

In 1958 - The first gold record album was presented by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The award went to the soundtrack "Oklahoma!"

Freddie & the Dreamers recorded "I'm Telling You Now" in 1963.



In 1965, the Dave Clark Five had their movie, 'Catch Us If You Can,' premiere in London. The film was renamed to 'Having a Wild Weekend' for its US release. Songs featured by the group in the movie included "Catch Us If You Can," "Having a Wild Weekend" and "I Can’t Stand It."

The Beatles released the ‘Nowhere Man’ 4 track EP in the UK in 1966, which included: "Drive My Car," "Michelle" and "You Won't See Me."

In 1967, the Monkees began a 29-date tour with The Jimi Hendrix Experience as the supporting act. Hendrix was dropped after eight shows after being told his act was not suitable for their teenybopper audience. Ya think?

Pink Floyd kicked off their first 20-date North American tour at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago in 1968.

Just as the Byrds are about to embark on a South African tour in 1968, multi-instrumentalist Gram Parsons quits stating he does not want to perform in the racially segregated country.

In 1969, Marianne Faithfull collapsed on the set of 'Ned Kelly' after taking a drug overdose. She was admitted to a Sydney Hospital, (she was later dropped from the movie).

The Everly Brothers Show', started an eleven-week prime time slot on ABC- TV in the US in 1970.

Bill Withers started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1972 with "Lean On Me," his only #1 hit.



The Concert 10 Festival was held at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania in 1972. Quite the eclectic array of music, for sure. Acts performing included: Claire Hamill, The Groundhogs, Edgar Winter, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Faces with Rod Stewart, Humble Pie, The J. Geils Band and Three Dog Night. (Black Sabbath and Badfinger were scheduled to appear, but canceled)

Gerry Rafferty's album 'City To City' went to #1 on the US chart in 1978, knocking off 'Saturday Night Fever,' which had been at the top of the charts for almost six months.

Exile's "Kiss You All Over" was released in 1978.

The B-52's made their UK live debut at London's Lyceum Ballroom in 1979.

In 1985, "Playboy" and "Penthouse" magazines went on sale with nude pictures of Madonna.

In 1988, Stevie Wonder announced his intention to run for mayor of Detroit (he never does).

The Fine Young Cannibals scored their second US #1 hit in 1989 with "Good Thing."



TLC started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1995 with "Waterfalls," the group's second US #1 hit.

The Spice Girls debut single "Wannabe" was released in Great Britain in 1996. The music world was thrilled!

Alicia Keys went to #1 on the US chart in 2001 with her debut album 'Songs In A Minor.'

In 2002, Michael Jackson spoke out against the music industry's treatment of artists, alleging that the business was rife with racism. Speaking at a civil rights meeting in New York, Jackson claimed there was a 'conspiracy' among record companies, especially towards black artists. A spokesman for Jackson's record label said the remarks were 'ludicrous, spiteful and hurtful.'

In 2004, Mark Purseglove known as the world’s ‘biggest bootlegger’ was sentenced to 3 years 6 months jail by Blackfriars Crown Court. Purseglove had built up a £15 million pirate CD empire by bootlegging live concerts of some of the world's biggest stars including The Beatles, David Bowie and Pink Floyd. Should have gotten more time.......

Nelly Furtado was at #1 on the US album chart in 2006 with ‘Loose,’ the Canadian singers third album.

In 2007, Prince was forced off stage by police halfway through his set at the First Avenue nightclub during a late-night gig in his home town of Minneapolis. The club was only allowed to stay open until 3.am but Prince took to the stage at 2:45 am. Prince had already played two concerts in Minneapolis before his late-night club appearance; His first performance was at a department store, where he promoted his new cologne with a nine-song, 45-minute set.

“Bon Scott -- The Early Years,” with pre-AC/DC material, rolled out in 2008.

Also in 2008 - Billy Joel's “The Stranger” gets a 30th anniversary reissue. The album is packaged with a previously unreleased concert CD, “Live At Carnegie Hall 1977.” A DVD also contains videos and other performances.

Sharing in the Vinyl Groove

It's easy to get swept back into the world of analog by adding turntables and a slew of cheap records to your audio rig.


by Arlen Schweiger   

This website (http://www.electronichouse.com/) is usually for discussing new technology. Recently, though, I rediscovered an old technology that still qualifies as new for many readers, and one that I can’t recommend enough as an addition to your audio system, especially if you consider it mid-to-high end: vinyl.

A Sony turntable I bought 10 years ago served me well at the time but had long been removed from my theater system when I got lazy about replacing its bum needle. Plus I’d become enamored with surround sound. But thanks to some electronics and speaker upgrades, and reading constant vinyl evangelism from Stereophile’s thirtysomething (my age) blogger Stephen Mejias and his “Elements of Our Enthusiasm,” the analog bug began biting again.

(Click here to see a slideshow of some analog goodness: 

http://www.electronichouse.com/slideshow/category/9043/1257
But aren’t turntables, cartridges and needles the kind of pricey gear that only so-called “audiophiles” invest in, you’re thinking? Yes, there are many types of ’tables, and cost can quickly escalate well into the thousands.

This time around, I figured I’d start at the very entry level. After a $50 Technics turntable find on Craigslist and $100 Cambridge Audio phono preamplifier purchase (you’ll need one if your processor or receiver lacks a phono stage), I wasn’t into the vinyl experiment for much money.

Plus, there are several respectable turntables in the sub-$400 range should I decide to upgrade. In fact, Mejias moderates the Stereophile forums, including an “Entry Level” thread with a sticky post called “Since this comes up a lot. Turntables under or $1,000” with all kinds of great turntable suggestions.

As much as I enjoyed spinning records 10 years ago, the analog epiphany really cold-cocked me this time. Perhaps my job as a custom electronics writer/editor has given me a greater appreciation of sound quality (especially when it comes to hearing demos at tradeshows), but listening to old LPs through this new setup was nothing short of nirvana. It didn’t matter that some albums crackled more than Rice Krispies—the instruments also snapped and popped a whole lot better, too.

Even while lacking the “golden ears” of some reviewers, it was easy for me—and my wife—to hear the differences between CD and vinyl versions of songs. The vinyl soundstage was wider, instrumentation was more defined, bass was tighter, hi-hat drum cymbals were thicker and livelier, and dynamic range was fuller. “I wonder if more people would the like music they say they hate if they listened to it this way,” my wife said after I forced Yes’ prog classic Roundabout on her.

And record hunting is almost as fun as record playing. I’ve bought LPs purely for the artwork; some include fancy lyrics booklets; Bookends came with a giant Simon and Garfunkel poster! You can discover gems at flea markets, tag sales, the Salvation Army and, if you’re fortunate, a local record shop. At Divinyl Revolution in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this weekend I picked up 14 albums for $24.99, the majority of which cost $1—or the equivalent of a single, compressed song download from iTunes.

Not to mention that when I went to the Craigslist seller’s home to pick up the turntable, he gave me a small stack of records, including perhaps the most listened-to LP of all-time, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, with a sweet Dark Side pyramids poster up its sleeve. How’s that for good karma?

We know records have been making a comeback in recent years, to the point where Best Buy has added shelf space for vinyl and artists are appealing to younger-generation listeners by releasing vinyl albums that include free digital downloads of the same in MP3 format.

Of course, it’s places like Divinyl Revolution that predominantly keep the format alive and well. Even in summer tourist destinations like Saratoga, record shopping is a year-round excursion. “This is the only place like it, for about 40 miles in each direction,” explained super-cute shop proprietor Brittany Nasser, who’s kind of the anti-Jack Black in High Fidelity. “We have a bunch of loyal customers who can’t wait to hear what just came into the store.”

I’ll look forward to visiting again next summer.


SOURCE:  http://www.electronichouse.com


Special thanks to author Arlen Schweiger for the exclusive rights to reprint this article.

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine
Arlen contributes product news items to www.electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 5, 2010


DEAR JERRY: By my count, Chubby Checker made at least five hit songs with a twist theme: “The Twist”; “Let's Twist Again”; “Twistin' USA”; “Twist It Up”; and “Slow Twistin'” (with Dee Dee Sharp).

This got me wondering if anyone ever had more different hit records using the same specific topic.

A certain dance would be okay, but not dancing in general. Also excluded should be limitless generic themes, such as love; kiss; blues; summer; Christmas; etc.
—Elise Marsh, Patterson, N.J.

DEAR ELISE: Even though you shortchanged Chubby a bit, missing “Teach Me to Twist” (with Bobby Rydell) and “The Twist (Yo, Twist)” (with the Fat Boys), his seven twist hits are but a proverbial drop in the bucket compared to Cal Stewart's dominance in this interesting challenge.

For more than a quarter-century (1898 - 1924), this famed singer-storyteller entertained the nation with his homespun humor.

Most of Stewart's tunes and tales involved the endless adventures of Uncle Josh (Weathersby), a made-up character from the imaginary New England town of Punkin Centre.

By the time Cal told his last “Uncle Josh” story, his body of work included over 150 different 78 rpm records, 30 of which appeared in the Top 10. That fact alone is astounding. In the past 60 years, only three artists made more appearances in the Top 10: Elvis (38); Madonna (37); and the Beatles (34).

Since Uncle Josh is the recurring topic, and his name is always included in the titles, he is the specific theme that makes Cal Stewart the answer to your question.

We can't list them all, but here are a few examples selected from Cal's amazing body of work:

“Uncle Josh and the Fire Department”; “Uncle Josh and the Lightning Rod Agent”; “Uncle Josh's Arrival in New York”; “Uncle Josh at a Baptizing”; “Uncle Josh at a Baseball Game”; “Uncle Josh at a Camp Meeting”; “Uncle Josh at Delmonico's”; “Uncle Josh at the Circus”; “Uncle Josh at the Dentist”; “Uncle Josh at the Opera”; “Uncle Josh at the White House”; “Uncle Josh Buys a Victrola”; “Uncle Josh Buys an Automobile”; “Uncle Josh Has His Photo Taken”; “Uncle Josh's Huskin' Bee Dance”; “Uncle Josh in a Cafeteria”; “Uncle Josh in a Chinese Laundry”; “Uncle Josh in a Department Store”; “Uncle Josh in an Auction Room”; “Uncle Josh in Police Court”; “Uncle Josh in Society”; “Uncle Josh on a Bicycle”; “Uncle Josh on a Fifth Avenue Bus”; “Uncle Josh on a Street Car”; “Uncle Josh on a Trip to Boston”; “Uncle Josh on a Trip to Coney Island”; “Uncle Josh on a Visit to New York”; “Uncle Josh on the Radio”; “Uncle Josh on Wall Street”; “Uncle Josh Patents a Rat Trap”; “Uncle Josh Playing Golf”; and “Uncle Josh Takes the Census.”


DEAR JERRY: I just watched a wonderful show called “Sisters of Swing,” about the Andrews Sisters: Patty, Maxene and LaVern.

I know LaVern died first, but when did the other two pass away?
—Connie Davidson, York, Pa.

DEAR CONNIE: Not being familiar with “Sisters of Swing,” I have no idea whether or not they gave the impression all three sisters are deceased. If so, they are mistaken.

LaVerne Sophia Andrews, a contralto, was the first-born of the girls. Born July 6, 1911, she succumbed to cancer May 8, 1967.

Soprano Maxene Angelyn Andrews, born January 3, 1916, died October 21, 1995 after a massive heart attack.

The sole surviving sister is 92-year-old Patricia Marie Andrews.

Patty, a mezzo-soprano and lead singer of the trio, was born February 16, 1918.





IZ ZAT SO? Though they have no hit records to their credit since the summer of 1951, the Andrews Sisters continue to rank as the all-time top-selling female pop vocal group.

The exact numbers vary depending on the source, but estimates of about 600 recordings made, resulting in approximately 100 million records sold, are probably not far off.

Just in the U.S., this trio of Greek-Norwegian ancestry hit one chart or another with around 125 hits, more than anyone in the modern era except Elvis Presley, with at least 165.

Along the way, Patty, Maxine, and LaVern found time to appear in 17 feature films, a silver screen output that tops any other singing group, female or otherwise.


Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. 
Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368
E-mail: jpo@olympus.net
Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com 
All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.

Copyright 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission

Music News & Notes

Incubus' Brandon Boyd Releases Solo Album, The Wild Trapeze

Incubus Heads Back Into The Studio

NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With a career that's spanned almost two decades, six albums, a handful of EP's and DVD's and a Greatest Hits album which has chronicled it all under his belt as lead singer of the multi-platinum selling band Incubus, Brandon Boyd and Epic Records are pleased to announce the July 6th release of Brandon's first solo album entitled, The Wild Trapeze. Fans can purchase a limited edition CD that ships with a personal letter and T-shirt featuring hand drawn artwork by Brandon at www.thewildtrapeze.com. The album is also exclusively available digitally on the iTunes Store.

"This group of songs was born of a very different process than the many my band and I have been employing for our almost two decades at work now. The Wild Trapeze began as pot induced meanderings on my dusty acoustic guitar while Incubus was off of the road, and has slowly been morphing into things that I originally could never have imagined," says Brandon Boyd. "So much of my identity, both personally and creatively has been attached to and related to Incubus. For better or worse! And I do believe that every person in every corner of the world asks themselves at some point on their ride, 'Who am I ... today?' The Wild Trapeze is an exercise in self reliance."

In keeping with Brandon's vision to make this album his very own and what Brandon calls "Music for Music's Sake", he controlled the making of The Wild Trapeze. Brandon penned every track off the album and performed practically every instrument heard. He designed the album's artwork and co-directed the video for track, "Runaway Train" (available at music.AOL.com today) with esteemed photographer Brantley Gutierrez. When it came to producing the album, Brandon could think of no one better suited for the task than renowned producer, Dave Fridmann (MGMT, The Flaming Lips) and set forth to record the album in Upstate NY over the past few months.

Up next for Brandon Boyd, another Incubus studio album. The quintet that is Incubus (vocalist Brandon Boyd, guitarist Mike Einziger, bassist Ben Kenney, DJ Chris Kilmore and drummer Jose Pasillas) will head back into the studio later this summer to begin writing and recording a new studio album, tentatively scheduled for a 2011 release.

http://www.enjoyincubus.com/

http://www.thewildtrapeze.com/

SOURCE Epic Records

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Avenged Sevenfold Releasing 'Nightmare' Vinyl on Old Label

Who says rock stars forget where they came from? Orange County modern metal marvels Avenged Sevenfold have chosen their old label Hopeless Records to release exclusive vinyl editions of the band's new record, 'Nightmare,' which comes out July 27. Back in 2002, Hopeless issued Avenged Sevenfold's debut album, 'Sounding the Seventh Trumpet.'

The vinyl edition of 'Nightmare' is available in six formats, ranging from a standard black double LP set for $18 to a deluxe blood-red colored LP and a T-shirt emblazoned with the band's 'deathbat' logo for $42. The deluxe editions feature blood red 180 gram vinyl in a double gatefold and are limited to 2,500 copies, each individually numbered.

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Stone Sour reveals new album cover art

US hard rockers Stone Sour have unveiled the cover art for their new album, 'Audio Secrecy'. The new studio release, and follow-up to 2006’s ‘Come What(Ever) May’ is due to hit stores on September 7 through Roadrunner Records.

Stone Sour premiered a new song entitled ‘Mission Statement’ last month, which can still be heard on the group’s MySpace page.









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Billboard Chart Topping Artist Blake Lewis Releases Vinyl Format Of Recent Album, Heartbreak On Vinyl

A Limited Edition Set of Personalized Vinyl to Be Made Available with Exclusive Content

American Idol alum and beat-boxing sensation Blake Lewis will release his newest album, appropriately named Heartbreak on Vinyl, on the highly popular vinyl format with a wealthy of new, never before released content, it was announced this week. Lewis, who recently topped Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay Chart and the Dance Club Play Chart at #1 with the title track “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” will sign, hand-number and personalize each of the only 500 available Limited Edition Double LP copies sold. The album, pressed in a unique red vinyl, is currently available for pre-order at http://www.blakelewisofficial.com/  and will be delivered to customers beginning August 3rd.

In addition to the personalization of each LP, Lewis is offering a slate of new content with each purchase including free instant access to the digital album, 13 remixes of the chart-topping single “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” and free membership to his VIP Opendisc site. The VIP Opendisc site offers exclusive content from Lewis including video messages, promo videos and “making of” clips, interactive Q&A sessions, remixes, bonus audio and track by track commentaries and much more. To top it all off, by the time each LP is delivered, those who purchased it will also receive a free MP3 of an unreleased track “’Till We See The Sun.”

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Hendrix Digital Bootlegs

Rare Jimi Hendrix bootleg catalog has gone digital. Here is the announcement: Experience Hendrix LLC today announced that releases on its official 'bootleg' Dagger label are now available for digital download for the first time in the company's history.

Dagger Records was founded in 1998 by Experience Hendrix to provide fans of the legendary guitarist with exciting, never before released studio recordings, home demos, rare interviews and unforgettable live performances. Each album in the acclaimed series provides new insights into Jimi's remarkable creativity.

Experience Hendrix LLC CEO Janie Hendrix encapsulated the label's history, "With my late father's blessing, Dagger Records was devised as an avenue to fulfill the requests of the 'deep' Jimi collectors and worshipers for recordings beyond the 'core releases' such as Electric Ladyland, Are You Experienced and the recent Valleys of Neptune. Dagger material is certainly of great historical significance but might not have been recorded most optimally, a situation that mandated the establishment of a specialty imprint to ensure that consumers are treated as fairly and as honestly as possible."

Prior to Dagger's founding, an underground market existed for Jimi Hendrix recordings that was rife with expensive, poorly annotated bootlegs, often of questionable quality. Dagger releases offer inspired live performances and revealing home and studio recordings that are highly valued by Hendrix cognoscenti. As has been the case with physical releases since its inception in 1998, Dagger's digital assets will be available exclusively at www.jimihendrix.com Dagger's digital catalog of 11 albums is offered in high resolution (320kpbs) MP3 format that are DRM free.

Janie Hendrix recalled, "Before we were able to get back the rights to Jimi's music, I used to see a lot of bootleg albums and I, too, was one of the victims of high prices and shabby product. It really made no sense [considering] that we have a whole vault full of Jimi Hendrix material to not make much of it available to enthusiasts on our own terms in a transparent way. Obviously, not all of the material is of the commercial and sonic quality of the core titles so Dagger was devised as a means to market these recordings honestly to offer new insights into Jimi's creative process for those who are most interested. Our alliance with Sony Legacy launched very successfully with the release of Valleys of Neptune and the re-issue of classic Jimi Hendrix Experience titles earlier this year so it seemed like the appropriate time to take the Dagger catalog into the digital domain."

Dagger Records Catalog releases to date:

Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At The Oakland Coliseum
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At Clark University
Morning Symphony Ideas
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Ottawa
Jimi Hendrix: Baggy's Rehearsal Sessions
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Paris 67 / San Francisco 68
Hear My Music
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At The Isle Of Fehmarn
Burning Desire
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Paris/Ottawa 1968
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At Woburn

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'Whole Lotta Love' Cover Artwork Unveiled

SplitScreen Entertainment has revealed the cover art of its upcoming tribute album "Whole Lotta Love: An All-Star Salute To Fat Chicks". Inspired by the art of 19th century painter William Rimmer, the cover is based on Rimmer's most famous work, "Evening (The Fall of Day)". In place of the winged male in the original is a classically Rubenesque female figure, gracefully floating over a tranquil seascape.

The new rendition was created by eminent pop artist Les Toil, known for his bold and beautiful "big-girl" pin-up art (as well as concert posters for the likes of Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette, and cover art for albums featuring NOFX, GREEN DAY and BLINK-182). In addition to serving as the cover of the tribute, the new artwork is also being offered on posters and T-shirts available from SplitScreen Entertainment.

"Whole Lotta Love: An All-Star Salute To Fat Chicks" is scheduled for an August 31, 2010 release and is now available for pre-order directly from SplitScreen Entertainment. The first 500 pre-orders will receive a free instant digital download of "Fat Bottomed Girls", as well as a bonus mini-print of the cover art upon delivery of the album.




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ALL ENDS: New Album Artwork, Release Date Revealed

Swedish hard rock band ALL ENDS will release its sophomore album, "A Road To Depression", on October 15 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD marks the recording debut of the group's new singer, Jonna Sailon, who replaced Emma Gelotte (sister of IN FLAMES guitarist Björn Gelotte) in March 2009.












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Ringo Starr Calls For 'Peace And Love' On 70th Birthday
He wants fans to make V-sign...

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has told fans around the world to make the peace sign to mark his birthday today (July 7). Starr, who has turned 70, wants people no matter where they are to make the V-sign at 12pm.

“If you are on a bus or on a boat, at noon just put your fingers in the air and say ‘peace and love’ just for me, that is your birthday gift to me, and this is my gift to you, peace and love,” he said.

At 70, Starr is the oldest surviving Beatle. Singer Sir Paul McCartney recently celebrated his 68th birthday.

Starr is due to perform a special concert at the Radio City Music Hall in New York tonight.

The rich sound of a vinyl revival

Bertrand Marotte

For hard-core vinyl enthusiasts, this must surely be hallowed ground.

The shop floor of RIP-V is tucked away inside a nondescript industrial building in a quiet South Shore suburb of Montreal. It’s hot, and there is the mild, not unpleasant odour of heated vinyl in the air. A bulky old industrial machine that once worked overtime in New Jersey churning out Rolling Stones and other mass-market pop records during the LP’s heyday is now doing duty stamping out a limited vinyl run of indie band Arcade Fire’s new album The Suburbs.

Tiny black PVC pellets are poured into a funnel at one end of the machine, run through an extruder and melted into a hot patty. Aided by 10 tons of hydraulic pressure, nickel-plated stampers squish the blob – complete with paper labels – into a 12-inch grooved platter. The excess vinyl that oozes out is trimmed and the record is left to cool.

The Arcade Fire pressing is for up to 20,000 vinyl copies of the eagerly anticipated double album by the Montreal alt-rock-music stars. Three other machines are standing by and another two are ready to be started later this summer as other work arrives.

Philippe Dubuc and his technician, Richard Quirion, work the pressing machine in an easygoing manner, pausing every now and then for quality checks.

Launched last year, RIP-V bills itself as Canada’s only vinyl-pressing facility. It is one of fewer than a dozen companies in North America riding the global vinyl revival after rumours of the phonograph record’s impending death turned out be greatly exaggerated.

“People are looking for something more than just downloads,” says Mr. Dubuc, a former National Bank Financial investment banker who knew nothing about record pressing before deciding to take the plunge with his Saint-Lambert neighbour, indie-label distributor Iain Walker, and Mr. Walker’s wife Renée Papillon.

(RIP stands for Renée, Iain and Philippe; the V is for vinyl, and RIP is also meant as a sly wink at the presumed death of the product.)

“I think there has been a reaction to the absence of texture in the digital sound of CDs and iPods,” says Mr. Dubuc, 43, and the father of three.

There is, of course, the core group of older music lovers, audiophiles and collectors who never abandoned vinyl, but the past few years have seen a younger, indie music crowd flocking to the low-tech analog medium, he says.

Many small record labels now also offer with each vinyl record sold a coupon that contains a download code for a free, high-quality MP3 version of the album, an added incentive for younger buyers. Adding to the allure is the large-format artwork and liner notes that come with LP-sized albums.

Aficionados, too, are adamant in their claim that vinyl provides a warmer, richer sound than digital.

Vinyl accounts for only about 2 per cent of the North American recorded-music market, but it has been on a tear in terms of growth – in stark contrast to CDs, which have seen sales drop dramatically over the past few years. Digital downloads, meanwhile, continue to climb.

New vinyl sales in the United States hit close to three million last year, up from 1.88 million in 2008, according to data from Nielsen SoundScan.

Mr. Dubuc stumbled into the business – which he characterizes as highly gratifying and good for the soul, never mind the fact that RIP-V is already turning a profit – following a turn of professional bad luck.

Rocked by the asset-backed commercial paper meltdown in 2007, National Bank Financial ended up cutting staff and Mr. Dubuc – a 15-year veteran – was one of the casualties.

At that point, he was ready for something else, he says.

“I felt like building something. I didn’t feel that, in investment banking, you really end up leaving your mark.”

When Mr. Walker proposed starting up a vinyl-pressing company, Mr. Dubuc was initially hesitant but warmed to the idea after his research indicated they could make a go of it, given robustly growing demand for the niche product.

He found himself searching the Web for used equipment, including an industrial boiler to supply the steam used in the pressing process. In the end, 14 pressing machines dating from the mid-1970s were purchased, eight of which are in storage and ready to be fired up as business expands.

He and his partners put up their own cash, in the $500,000 to $1-million ballpark, says Mr. Dubuc, wearing scruffy shorts and an orange T-shirt printed with the outline of a blue turntable, a far cry from his former investment banking uniform.

RIP-V’s first release was the Tragically Hip’s We Are The Same, a 12,000-copy run in early 2009.

Key to his business model from the outset was a modest, low-key start – before the recent hiring of Mr. Quirion, Mr. Dubuc was the only one on the shop floor – and building a word-of-mouth following, based on attention to quality and detail, he said.

“This place is run lean,” he says proudly. “But we don’t cut corners.”

Among the high-profile companies on RIP-V’s customer list are well-regarded independent U.S. labels Epitaph Records and Merge Records.

Mr. Dubuc confesses to not having entirely shed the urge to check the Bloomberg website every now and then for business and finance news.

Getting the vinyl business off the ground has been tough but he said he doesn’t miss his previous career a bit.

“This is a noble product. It’s worth all the effort. If it had been plastic pens, I would have walked away.”


SOURCE:   http://www.ctv.ca/

Music News & Notes

Guided by Voices reveal 'classic line-up' for reunion show

Robert Pollard and co will play for old label Matador

Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard says he has enlisted the band's "classic line-up" for a reformation show in honour old record label Matador in October. The band, who last played together in 2004, will play Matador's 21st birthday at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. The three-day event takes place on October 1-3.

Pollard has now revealed which line up of the band will be playing.

"We got the band back together. Not the original line-up - the classic line-up," he told Spinner. "It's better than the original line-up. Tobin Sprout and Mitch Mitchell [guitars], Kevin Fennel [drums] and Greg Demos [bass]."

Pollard added that the band will be "performing songs from the albums 'Propeller', 'Bee Thousand', 'Alien Lanes' and 'Under The Bushes Under The Stars' as well as from singles and EPs from that era".

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DEATH ANGEL - New Album Art Available

Album released on September 3rd in Europe and the 14th in North America

San Francisco Bay Area thrash legends, DEATH ANGEL, have uploaded the album cover art by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY,CARNIFEX, WHITECHAPEL) for their upcoming release entitled Relentless Retribution, to their official Myspace page www.myspace.com/DeathAngel

Relentless Retribution is a full return to the bands thrash roots and will be released on September 3rd in Europe and the 14th in North America. The album was recorded at Audio Hammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with production genius Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITE CHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER).










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Video: Bobby Vee Discusses Upcoming Rarities Album

Bobby Vee will release a two-disc, 60-song collection of rarities in October. At this point, Rare and Unreleased Gems from the EMI/Capitol Vaults will only hit the stores in Europe, however, the album should be available in the U.S. via Amazon.











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MEET THE MASTERMINDS BEHIND PINK FLOYD AND LED ZEPPELIN ALBUM COVERS AT SAN FRANCISCO ART EXCHANGE


Storm Thorgerson presents 50 works of art including rare originals at his August show

SAN FRANCISCO – Storm Thorgerson, album cover artist for Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, is presenting 20 never before seen pieces of art at the San Francisco Art Exchange for his August show. The show will also feature Storm’s classic collection of surreal images and album covers. Storm himself is visiting San Francisco Art Exchange on Saturday, August 14 at the invite only reception celebrating the opening night of his show

Also attending the reception is Storm’s design partner, Aubrey Powell. The two visionaries created Hipgnosis, the design company that produced album covers for some of rocks biggest musicians and bands including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Steve Miller Band, Alan Parsons, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Mars Volta, Muse, The Cranberries, The Scorpions, Black Sabbath, Phish, and many more.

San Francisco Art Exchange is the world’s leading dealer of Storm Thorgerson’s artwork. The gallery is honored to work with an artist of such legendary status, worthy of Pink Floyd’s praise.

“Storm’s images were created without any of the software that we take advantage of now,” said San Francisco Art Exchange co-owner Theron Kabrich. “The content of most of his amazing images were constructed scenes, assembled or built in real time as on a movie set. Long before programs like Adobe Photoshop were ever dreamt of, Storm was visualizing and developing images that boggled the mind and provoked the imagination. This leads me to believe those who invented such programs most likely would have been inspired by the imagery Storm created.”

San Francisco Art Exchange has been the world’s leading dealer of popular icon art and photography since 1983. It is the home of pin-up artist Alberto Vargas’ collection of drawings and paintings. SFAE has developed relationships with legendary artists, photographers and celebrities around the world and has represented the art of Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stones guitarist since 1987. In addition to imagery of and by well-known personalities, SFAE has also enjoyed long relationships with famed album cover artists Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin), Roger Dean (Yes, Asia), and Stanley Mouse (Grateful Dead) and some of the most significant rock and celebrity photographers in the world. All unique artwork and rare photographs can be viewed in the gallery located in Union Square at 458 Geary Street between Mason and Taylor, and online at www.sfae.com. Gallery Hours: Mon-Wed 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Thu-Sat 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sun 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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Press inquiries contact Nikki Sulon, nsulon@sfae.com (nsulon@sfae.com)

www.sfae.com (http://www.sfae.com)

San Francisco Art Exchange LLC

458 Geary Street San Francisco CA, 94102

(415)441-8840 (800)344-9633 Fax (415)673-3697

This Date In Music History - July 6

Birthdays:

Della Reese (1931)

Gene Chandler (1937)

Jet Harris - Shadows (1939)

Rik Elswit - Dr Hook (1945)

Mike Shrieve - Santana (1949)

Nanci Griffith (1954)

John Keeble - Spandau Ballet (1959)

Tim Bricheno - All About Eve (1963)

50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) (1975)


They Are Missed:

LaVerne Andrews - The Andrews Sisters (July 6 1911- May 8, 1967)

Jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader, Louis Armstrong died in 1971. Had many hits including the 1964 US #1 "Hello Dolly!" 1968 UK #1 "What A Wonderful World" plus "When The Saints Go Marching In," "Ain't Misbehavin" and "We Have All the Time in the World." He made frequent use of laxatives as a means of controlling his weight, resulting in Armstrong appearing in humorous, advertisements for laxative product Swiss Kriss; the ads bore a picture of him sitting on a toilet, as viewed through a keyhole, with the slogan "Satch says, 'Leave it all behind ya!"




Singer, producer songwriter, Van McCoy died from a heart attack in Englewood, New Jersey in 1979. Van McCoy and the Soul City had the US #1 single "The Hustle." Worked with Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin and David Ruffin.

Born on this day in 1925, Bill Haley, (William John Clifton Haley), singer, guitarist, 'The first Rock 'n' Roll star.' As Bill Haley and his Comets he had the 1955 US #1 single "Rock Around The Clock." Haley was one of the earliest acts to bring rock and roll to the attention of white America and the rest of the world. He sold over 60 million records during his career. Haley died on February 9, 1981.



Skip Battin bassist and songwriter with The Byrds died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in 2003. Also played with New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers.

R&B, soul singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright died in 2004, after a two-year battle with bone cancer (age 58). Teamed up with Billy Preston on the 1980, #1 US hit "With You I'm Born Again." Once worked as a secretary at Motown Records and married Stevie Wonder in 1970..


History:

In 1954, WHBQ in Memphis became the first radio station to play an Elvis Presley record ("That's Alright Mama").

Still on Sun Records, Elvis Presley’s “Baby, Let’s Play House” appeared on the national pop charts. It peaked at #10 on Country & Western charts in 1955.

In 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men were appearing. As The Quarry Men were setting up for their evening performance, McCartney eager to impress Lennon picked up a guitar and played "Twenty Flight Rock" (Eddie Cochran) and "Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Gene Vincent). Lennon was impressed, and even more so when McCartney showed Lennon and Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they'd been paying someone else to do for them.

Essex started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1963 with "Easier Said Than Done."

James Brown went to #2 on the US album chart in 1963 with 'Live At The Apollo'. The album spent a total of 33 weeks on the chart.

The Beatles film 'A Hard Days Night' premiered at The Pavilion in London in 1964.

Jefferson Airplane was formed in 1965.

Jackie Wilson recorded "Higher & Higher" in 1965.

The Rolling Stones scored their fifth US #1 single in 1968 when "Jumpin Jack Flash" hit the top of the charts.

Queen released their first single, "Keep Yourself Alive" in 1973.

The Hues Corporation went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with "Rock The Boat."



In 1975, Rolling Stone Keith Richards was arrested by the highway patrol in Arkansas on charges of reckless driving and possessing an offensive weapon, a seven-inch hunting knife.

The Damned made their London debut supporting The Sex Pistols at the 100 Club in 1976.

In 1984, The Jacksons kicked off their North American Victory tour at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Over 2 million people attended the 55 concerts which grossed over $75 million. Michael Jackson donated $5 million to various charities.

Phil Collins went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1985 with "Sussudio," his third US #1.

Van Halen started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1991 with 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'.

The Prodigy went to #1 on the US album chart in 1997 with 'The Fat Of The Land'.

In 2002, George Harrison's widow Olivia put the couple's home up for sale for £20m saying she couldn't bear to live with the memories of the attack by schizophrenic Michael Abram who broke into the house in 1999.

In 2004, Paul McCartney celebrated the 40th anniversary of "A Hard Day's Night" with the film’s cast and crew at a special screening. The film shows the Beatles going through a series of adventures as they prepare for a TV appearance. "Yes, it takes me back," says McCartney. "It`s very sad that George and John aren`t around to see it."



Alsao in 2004, nearly a quarter-century after its release, AC/DC`s classic 'Back In Black' album was certified double diamond by music-industry for shipment of 20 million units. The disc moved its first 10 million copies by 1990. The album was the group`s first with Brian Johnson, who replaced original singer Bon Scott - after his alcohol-related death in 1979.

Grammy award winning Rap star Lil' Kim who was convicted of perjury and conspiracy in March 2005, was sentenced to a year in jail for lying to a grand jury to protect friends. Kim told the court "I testified falsely to the grand jury and during the trial. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do. Now I know it was wrong." Lil' Kim, (real name Kimberley Jones), was also fined $50,000. Charges were brought against her after a gunfight erupted outside a New York radio station in 2001 as a rival rap group was arriving.

In 2007, Britney Spears apologized for attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella earlier this year. Pictures of the 25-year-old lashing out appeared in several newspapers shortly after photos emerged of her shaving her head in a hair salon. In a message on her website, she said: "I apologize to the pap for a stunt that was done four months ago." She said she got "carried away" preparing for a film part but added that she did not get the role.

In 2007, Ozzy Osbourne was the first celebrity honored with a plaque on Birmingham, England's Walk of Stars. "This means more to me than any f***ing Hollywood thing," says Ozzy of the hometown tribute. He also has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. "I am absolutely knocked out."