Week Ending 12/06/2008
1. 45rpm - David Bowie "The Prettiest Star" Japan 45 RPM EP - $5,100.00 Start: $3,899.99 Bids: 6
2. LP - Pink Floyd "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" Odeon Japan Red Vinyl - $4,828.00 Start: $3,999.00 Bids: 4
3. LP - Walter Strerath "Trio - Quartet - Quntet" Jazz Groove - $3,506.00 Start: $9.00 Bids: 20
4. 45rpm - Tamala Lewis "You Won't Say Nothing" / "If You Can Stand Me" Marton - $3,230.00 Start: $899.99 Bids: 22
5. LP - Elvis Presley "Aloha" Chicken Of The Sea Promo - $2,375.01 Start: $1,500 Bids: 14
Rock gods stomp all over the list this week, with a David Bowie 45 from Japan selling for $5.1k. A first press of the first Pink Floyd LP on red vinyl, also out of Japan, bids up over $4.8k.
In the #3 spot, a rare Jazz LP from Walter Strerath closes a little over $3.5k. A Northern Soul 45 from Tamala Lewis gets more than $3.2k.
And last, the Chicken Of The Sea promo Aloha record given to employees of the company sells for close to $2.4k.
As always, a special thank you to Brian over at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com/ for this great data!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at Gigwise.com's list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album cover art, this time #16 (Gigwise comments in quotes):
16. Roxy Music: 'Country Life' - "Widely regarded as one of their finest works, Roxy Music's 1974 album also featured the most iconic cover - one that has young lads flicking through their Dads' record collection still salivating to this day. Featuring models Constanze Karoli and Eveline Grunwald in their under garments, several countries including the US and (somewhat bizarrely) Holland banned it."
We have seen this album before on the Gigwise list, it also made their controversial list as well.
16. Roxy Music: 'Country Life' - "Widely regarded as one of their finest works, Roxy Music's 1974 album also featured the most iconic cover - one that has young lads flicking through their Dads' record collection still salivating to this day. Featuring models Constanze Karoli and Eveline Grunwald in their under garments, several countries including the US and (somewhat bizarrely) Holland banned it."
We have seen this album before on the Gigwise list, it also made their controversial list as well.
This Date In Music History-December 7
Birthdays:
Bent Fabric ("Alley Cat") is 84.
Tom Waits (1949)
Psychedelic Furs bassist Tim Butler is born in 1958.
They Are Missed:
The late Harry Chapin was born in 1942.
The late Louis Prima was born in 1911.
Dee Clark ("Raindrops") died of a heart attack in 1990.
Richard Taylor of the R&B vocal group, The Manhattans, died at the age of 47 in 1987.
History:
Eric Burdon disbanded the Animals for good in 1968.
The Rolling Stones auditioned bass players at the World's End pub in Chelsea, London in 1962. One candidate was Bill Wyman. He got the job partly because he had tons of cool equipment the band could use.
The Beatles second album 'With The Beatles' started a 21-week run at #1 on the UK album chart in 1963. Also today, all four Beatles appeared on BBC TV's 'Juke Box Dury'. Some of the songs The Beatles judged were “Kiss Me Quick” by Elvis Presley, “The Hippy Hippy Shake,” by the Swinging Blue Jeans and “Where Have You Been All My Life” by Gene Vincent, among others. The group voted Bobby Vinton's "There! I Said It Again" a miss. Ironically, in two months' time they would knock the record out of the #1 spot in the U.S.
"Dominique" by The Singing Nun was the #1 record in North America in 1963, edging out The Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie". The song would eventually sell over 1.5 million copies and win a Grammy Award for the year's best gospel song. Her given name was Jeanine Deckers and she would leave the convent in 1967 before taking her final vows, partly to pursue a recording career, but never repeated her earlier success. In 1985, the center for autistic children in Belgium that she helped to found had closed due to lack of funds. In despair over this failure, the 51 year old Deckers and her friend Annie Pescher committed suicide.
Brian Wilson has a nervous breakdown while on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston in 1964. He decides to stop touring with the Beach Boys.
Linda Ronstadt recorded "You're No Good" in 1974. The song became one of her signature hits, peaking at #1 the following year.
The Eagles held a press conference in 1999 to announce that their first “Greatest Hits” package had become America's best-selling album. Glenn Frey stated, "I hated popularity contests when I was in high school, and I hate them now." No word on if he hated the money he made from being in the band….
In 1967, Otis Redding went into the studio to record “(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay.” The song went on to be his biggest hit. Redding didn't see its release; he was killed three days later in a plane crash.
Carl Douglas started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with “Kung Fu Fighting.” The song was recorded in 10 minutes, started out as a B- side and sold 10 million. His follow-up, "Dance the Kung Fu", would be a total flop. Possibly the worst song in pop music history (or at least a tie with Rick Dees “Disco Duck”). Any more nominations for the worst #1 song in music history?
Inventor Dr Peter Carl Goldmark was killed in a car crash in 1977. Goldmark invented the long-playing microgroove record in 1945 that went on to revolutionize the way people listened to music.
In 1993 - Guns N' Roses announced they would keep the tune written by Charles Manson "Look At Your Game, Girl" on their album, "The Spaghetti Incident?" The decision to keep the song came when the band learned that the royalties would go to the son of one of Manson's victims.
In 2007, Yoko Ono issues a statement encouraging world peace on the eve of the 27th anniversary of husband John Lennon's murder. "Let's not waste the lives of those we have lost," writes Ono. "Let's, together, make the world a place of love and joy."
Bent Fabric ("Alley Cat") is 84.
Tom Waits (1949)
Psychedelic Furs bassist Tim Butler is born in 1958.
They Are Missed:
The late Harry Chapin was born in 1942.
The late Louis Prima was born in 1911.
Dee Clark ("Raindrops") died of a heart attack in 1990.
Richard Taylor of the R&B vocal group, The Manhattans, died at the age of 47 in 1987.
History:
Eric Burdon disbanded the Animals for good in 1968.
The Rolling Stones auditioned bass players at the World's End pub in Chelsea, London in 1962. One candidate was Bill Wyman. He got the job partly because he had tons of cool equipment the band could use.
The Beatles second album 'With The Beatles' started a 21-week run at #1 on the UK album chart in 1963. Also today, all four Beatles appeared on BBC TV's 'Juke Box Dury'. Some of the songs The Beatles judged were “Kiss Me Quick” by Elvis Presley, “The Hippy Hippy Shake,” by the Swinging Blue Jeans and “Where Have You Been All My Life” by Gene Vincent, among others. The group voted Bobby Vinton's "There! I Said It Again" a miss. Ironically, in two months' time they would knock the record out of the #1 spot in the U.S.
"Dominique" by The Singing Nun was the #1 record in North America in 1963, edging out The Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie". The song would eventually sell over 1.5 million copies and win a Grammy Award for the year's best gospel song. Her given name was Jeanine Deckers and she would leave the convent in 1967 before taking her final vows, partly to pursue a recording career, but never repeated her earlier success. In 1985, the center for autistic children in Belgium that she helped to found had closed due to lack of funds. In despair over this failure, the 51 year old Deckers and her friend Annie Pescher committed suicide.
Brian Wilson has a nervous breakdown while on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston in 1964. He decides to stop touring with the Beach Boys.
Linda Ronstadt recorded "You're No Good" in 1974. The song became one of her signature hits, peaking at #1 the following year.
The Eagles held a press conference in 1999 to announce that their first “Greatest Hits” package had become America's best-selling album. Glenn Frey stated, "I hated popularity contests when I was in high school, and I hate them now." No word on if he hated the money he made from being in the band….
In 1967, Otis Redding went into the studio to record “(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay.” The song went on to be his biggest hit. Redding didn't see its release; he was killed three days later in a plane crash.
Carl Douglas started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with “Kung Fu Fighting.” The song was recorded in 10 minutes, started out as a B- side and sold 10 million. His follow-up, "Dance the Kung Fu", would be a total flop. Possibly the worst song in pop music history (or at least a tie with Rick Dees “Disco Duck”). Any more nominations for the worst #1 song in music history?
Inventor Dr Peter Carl Goldmark was killed in a car crash in 1977. Goldmark invented the long-playing microgroove record in 1945 that went on to revolutionize the way people listened to music.
In 1993 - Guns N' Roses announced they would keep the tune written by Charles Manson "Look At Your Game, Girl" on their album, "The Spaghetti Incident?" The decision to keep the song came when the band learned that the royalties would go to the son of one of Manson's victims.
In 2007, Yoko Ono issues a statement encouraging world peace on the eve of the 27th anniversary of husband John Lennon's murder. "Let's not waste the lives of those we have lost," writes Ono. "Let's, together, make the world a place of love and joy."
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Cover Art Revealed
JOE BONAMASSA - The Ballad Of John Henry Tracklisting, Cover Art Revealed
Nightwatcher's House Of Rock reports that the tracklisting and cover art for hard rockin' blues guitarist JOE BONAMASSA's upcoming studio album The Ballad Of John Henry has been revealed.
Featuring 12 tracks, the Kevin Shirley produced follow up to 2007's Sloe Gin, the album consists of 6 Bonamassa originals coupled with six cover versions, including Tom Waits' 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon', British soulstress Sam Brown's 'Stop!', the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse penned 'Feelin' Good' (covered throughout the years by artists as diverse as Black Cat Bones, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Traffic, Muse and George Michael amongst others), Ike And Tina Turner's 'Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter' and Tony Joe White's 'As The Crow Flies' (famously recorded by the late, great Irish blues guitar legend Rory Gallagher).
The Ballad Of John Henry is tentatively scheduled for release in February 2009 via J&R Adventures worldwide. Bonamassa's last studio album Sloe Gin spent over 10 consecutive weeks at # 1 on Billboard's Blues Album Charts.
The complete tracklisting: 'The Ballad Of John Henry', 'Stop!', 'Last Kiss', 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon', 'Story Of A Quarryman', 'Lonesome Road Blues', 'Happier Times', 'Feelin' Good', 'Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter', 'The Great Flood', 'From The Valley', 'As The Crow Flies'.
Nightwatcher's House Of Rock reports that the tracklisting and cover art for hard rockin' blues guitarist JOE BONAMASSA's upcoming studio album The Ballad Of John Henry has been revealed.
Featuring 12 tracks, the Kevin Shirley produced follow up to 2007's Sloe Gin, the album consists of 6 Bonamassa originals coupled with six cover versions, including Tom Waits' 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon', British soulstress Sam Brown's 'Stop!', the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse penned 'Feelin' Good' (covered throughout the years by artists as diverse as Black Cat Bones, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Traffic, Muse and George Michael amongst others), Ike And Tina Turner's 'Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter' and Tony Joe White's 'As The Crow Flies' (famously recorded by the late, great Irish blues guitar legend Rory Gallagher).
The Ballad Of John Henry is tentatively scheduled for release in February 2009 via J&R Adventures worldwide. Bonamassa's last studio album Sloe Gin spent over 10 consecutive weeks at # 1 on Billboard's Blues Album Charts.
The complete tracklisting: 'The Ballad Of John Henry', 'Stop!', 'Last Kiss', 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon', 'Story Of A Quarryman', 'Lonesome Road Blues', 'Happier Times', 'Feelin' Good', 'Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter', 'The Great Flood', 'From The Valley', 'As The Crow Flies'.
Motown Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
written by Robert Benson
As this historic record label commemorates its 50th year in the
music industry, let's learn more about the history of this iconic
music leader:
"One of the principles we had at Motown was that success will come,
but that is not enough," founder Berry Gordy explained. "You had to
be proud of yourself in order to achieve true happiness. And if you
do it right, not only will you be successful, you'll be happy. And
at Motown, we're the happiest people in the world."
His feelings on the meaning of Motown border on the mystical.
"Motown is a magical something that has never been seen before and
will never be seen again. Because the world has changed for the
worse. And to have a company like that is probably impossible now.
It was too simple to be believed."
Berry Gordy is indeed a happy man. He formed the Motown Record
Corporation in 1960 after a year of being called Tamla Records.
And now, fifty years later, the world will help celebrate the
legendary record label with a series of gala events.
Berry Gordy actually started his career in the music industry as a
songwriter for local Detroit musicians such as Jackie Wilson and The
Matadors. In fact, Wilson's single, "Lonely Teardrops" became a
huge hit, but Gordy did not feel that he made as much money as he
deserved and soon Gordy realized that the more lucrative part of the
music industry was in producing and owning the publishing rights.
So, with an $800 loan from family members, Gordy started Tamla
Records, signing his first act, The Matadors (who changed their
name to The Miracles). In fact, The Miracles lead singer, Smokey
Robinson became vice president of the company and many of Gordy's
family also assumed roles in the company.
In 1959, Gordy purchased property that would eventually become
Tamla's "Hitsville U.S.A."studio. The property was modified into
a small recording studio with Gordy moving into the second floor
living quarters. Over the next few years, Motown would go on to own
several more neighboring houses, with administrative offices, mixing
and mastering studios and rehearsal studios.
Success came quickly for the new record label, the first hit single
was Barretts Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" in 1959 (#2 on
Billboard R&B charts) and the first #1 R&B hit was "Shop Around," by
The Miracles in 1960 (which also peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot
100 and was Motown's first million-dollar selling record).
From 1961-1971, Motown Records had 100 Top Ten Hits from such music
artists as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye,
the Four Tops and the Jackson 5, among others. In addition, the
company operated several other record labels (besides releases on
the Tamla and Motwon labels) including "Gordy," which featured such
acts as the Temptations, the Contours and Martha & the Vandellas,
“V.I.P,” which released music by the Velvelettes and the Spinners.
Another label, "Soul" released recordings by Jr. Walker & the All
Stars, Jimmy Ruffin and Gladys Knight & the Pips. Other labels
included "Workshop Jazz" (which released Jazz music), Mel-o-dy
(country music) and "Rare Earth,” which focused on rock recordings.
Gordy utilized the slogan "The Sound Of Young America" and Motown
acts enjoyed widespread popularity with both black and white
audiences.
The "Motown Sound" is what made the music appealing. This was a
unique combination of tambourines to accent the back beat, prominent
and melodic electric bass lines, distinctive chord structures and a
call and response singing style that had its origins in gospel
music. Add to this the use of orchestral string sections, bluesy
horns and carefully arranged background vocals and the recipe was
complete.
Gordy also surrounded himself with some of the best songwriters and
producers in music at the time, including the songwriting trio of
Holland-Dozier-Holland (brothers Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont
Dozier), Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie
Simpson, Frank Wilson and many others.
The Motown Sound also had a profound influence on other musicians
of the time including Dusty Springfield and the Foundations, among
others. In the UK, the Motown Sound was the basis of the "Northern
Soul" phenomenon.
Adding to Motown's worldwide appeal was Gordy's practice of using a
group of select studio musicians, collectively known as the "Funk
Brothers,” who would record the instrumental tracks for the songs.
Included in this ensemble were keyboard players, Earl Van Dyke,
Johnny Griffith and Joe Hunter, guitarists Joe Messina, Robert
White, and Eddie Willis, percussionists Eddie "Bongo" Brown and
Jack Ashford, drummers Benny Benjamin, Uriel Jones and Richard
"Pistol" Allen and the bass playing of James Jamerson and Bob
Babbitt. Much of the Motown Sound was made by the use of over
dubbing instrumentation and the use of two drummers to go along with
three or four guitar lines.
Gordy was also a master marketer, his acts were well-groomed, well-
dressed and their appearances were expertly choreographed. Gordy's
reasoning was that Motown artists were ambassadors for other African-
American artists who sought broad market appeal and thought that
they should act accordingly.
By 1969, Motown began its gradual move from Detroit to Los Angles,
with its main objective to branch out into the television and
motion picture industries. Gordy formed Motown Productions which
provided some very memorable TV specials including TCB with Diana
Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations, Diana! (with Diana Ross) as
well as "Goin' Back to Indiana," with the Jackson 5. Additionally,
after the loss of the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland
(who left because of royalty payment disputes), the company loosened
its productions rules allowing some of the longtime acts the
opportunity to write and produce their own material. The result
was the release of some classic albums such as Marvin Gaye's "What's
Going On"(1971), and "Let's Get It On"(1973) and three fantastic
LP's from Stevie Wonder, "Music Of My Mind" in 1971, "Talking Book"
in 1972 and "Innervisions" in 1973.
In addition to establishing branch offices in New York City and Los
Angles, Motown also produced several hit films, including "Lady
Sings The Blues" and "Mahogany," both starring Diana Ross. Other
Motown films included "Thank God It's Friday" in 1978, "The Wiz," in
1978 and Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon" in 1985.
Motown continued with its successful musical acts in the late 70's
and into the 80's with acts such as Lionel Richie, The Commodores,
Rick James and DeBarge, among others. Despite this success, by the
mid-1980's Motown was losing money and consequently Gordy sold his
ownership rights in Motown Records to Music Corporation of America
(MCA) and Boston Ventures in June 1988. In 1989, Gordy sold the
Motown Productions operations to Motown executive Suzanne de Passe,
who renamed the company de Passe Entertainment.
Despite major recording starts such as Boys II Men, among others,
during the 1990's the company remained in a state of turmoil.
Numerous executives were appointed by MCA and a multitude of legal
issues plagued the company. But by 1999, Motown was again a driving
force in the music industry with such acts as 702, Brian McKnight,
and Erykah Badu.
Motown's (which has merged with Universal Records to become
Universal Motown Records Group) current roster includes many R&B
super stars such as India Arie, Mya, Kem, Yummy Bingham, Badu, pop
superstar Lindsay Lohan, reggae stars Damien and Stephen Marley and
many more. Additionally, Universal Motown Records Group has
retained Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and the
Temptations.
In Motown, Berry Gordy was able to adeptly blend R&B and Soul with
mainstream pop music to create a "super" record label. This
template can never be duplicated, but the world of music is by far
a better place because of Berry Gordy's visions and unique management.
For more information visit: http://www.motown50.com/
As this historic record label commemorates its 50th year in the
music industry, let's learn more about the history of this iconic
music leader:
"One of the principles we had at Motown was that success will come,
but that is not enough," founder Berry Gordy explained. "You had to
be proud of yourself in order to achieve true happiness. And if you
do it right, not only will you be successful, you'll be happy. And
at Motown, we're the happiest people in the world."
His feelings on the meaning of Motown border on the mystical.
"Motown is a magical something that has never been seen before and
will never be seen again. Because the world has changed for the
worse. And to have a company like that is probably impossible now.
It was too simple to be believed."
Berry Gordy is indeed a happy man. He formed the Motown Record
Corporation in 1960 after a year of being called Tamla Records.
And now, fifty years later, the world will help celebrate the
legendary record label with a series of gala events.
Berry Gordy actually started his career in the music industry as a
songwriter for local Detroit musicians such as Jackie Wilson and The
Matadors. In fact, Wilson's single, "Lonely Teardrops" became a
huge hit, but Gordy did not feel that he made as much money as he
deserved and soon Gordy realized that the more lucrative part of the
music industry was in producing and owning the publishing rights.
So, with an $800 loan from family members, Gordy started Tamla
Records, signing his first act, The Matadors (who changed their
name to The Miracles). In fact, The Miracles lead singer, Smokey
Robinson became vice president of the company and many of Gordy's
family also assumed roles in the company.
In 1959, Gordy purchased property that would eventually become
Tamla's "Hitsville U.S.A."studio. The property was modified into
a small recording studio with Gordy moving into the second floor
living quarters. Over the next few years, Motown would go on to own
several more neighboring houses, with administrative offices, mixing
and mastering studios and rehearsal studios.
Success came quickly for the new record label, the first hit single
was Barretts Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" in 1959 (#2 on
Billboard R&B charts) and the first #1 R&B hit was "Shop Around," by
The Miracles in 1960 (which also peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot
100 and was Motown's first million-dollar selling record).
From 1961-1971, Motown Records had 100 Top Ten Hits from such music
artists as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye,
the Four Tops and the Jackson 5, among others. In addition, the
company operated several other record labels (besides releases on
the Tamla and Motwon labels) including "Gordy," which featured such
acts as the Temptations, the Contours and Martha & the Vandellas,
“V.I.P,” which released music by the Velvelettes and the Spinners.
Another label, "Soul" released recordings by Jr. Walker & the All
Stars, Jimmy Ruffin and Gladys Knight & the Pips. Other labels
included "Workshop Jazz" (which released Jazz music), Mel-o-dy
(country music) and "Rare Earth,” which focused on rock recordings.
Gordy utilized the slogan "The Sound Of Young America" and Motown
acts enjoyed widespread popularity with both black and white
audiences.
The "Motown Sound" is what made the music appealing. This was a
unique combination of tambourines to accent the back beat, prominent
and melodic electric bass lines, distinctive chord structures and a
call and response singing style that had its origins in gospel
music. Add to this the use of orchestral string sections, bluesy
horns and carefully arranged background vocals and the recipe was
complete.
Gordy also surrounded himself with some of the best songwriters and
producers in music at the time, including the songwriting trio of
Holland-Dozier-Holland (brothers Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont
Dozier), Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie
Simpson, Frank Wilson and many others.
The Motown Sound also had a profound influence on other musicians
of the time including Dusty Springfield and the Foundations, among
others. In the UK, the Motown Sound was the basis of the "Northern
Soul" phenomenon.
Adding to Motown's worldwide appeal was Gordy's practice of using a
group of select studio musicians, collectively known as the "Funk
Brothers,” who would record the instrumental tracks for the songs.
Included in this ensemble were keyboard players, Earl Van Dyke,
Johnny Griffith and Joe Hunter, guitarists Joe Messina, Robert
White, and Eddie Willis, percussionists Eddie "Bongo" Brown and
Jack Ashford, drummers Benny Benjamin, Uriel Jones and Richard
"Pistol" Allen and the bass playing of James Jamerson and Bob
Babbitt. Much of the Motown Sound was made by the use of over
dubbing instrumentation and the use of two drummers to go along with
three or four guitar lines.
Gordy was also a master marketer, his acts were well-groomed, well-
dressed and their appearances were expertly choreographed. Gordy's
reasoning was that Motown artists were ambassadors for other African-
American artists who sought broad market appeal and thought that
they should act accordingly.
By 1969, Motown began its gradual move from Detroit to Los Angles,
with its main objective to branch out into the television and
motion picture industries. Gordy formed Motown Productions which
provided some very memorable TV specials including TCB with Diana
Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations, Diana! (with Diana Ross) as
well as "Goin' Back to Indiana," with the Jackson 5. Additionally,
after the loss of the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland
(who left because of royalty payment disputes), the company loosened
its productions rules allowing some of the longtime acts the
opportunity to write and produce their own material. The result
was the release of some classic albums such as Marvin Gaye's "What's
Going On"(1971), and "Let's Get It On"(1973) and three fantastic
LP's from Stevie Wonder, "Music Of My Mind" in 1971, "Talking Book"
in 1972 and "Innervisions" in 1973.
In addition to establishing branch offices in New York City and Los
Angles, Motown also produced several hit films, including "Lady
Sings The Blues" and "Mahogany," both starring Diana Ross. Other
Motown films included "Thank God It's Friday" in 1978, "The Wiz," in
1978 and Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon" in 1985.
Motown continued with its successful musical acts in the late 70's
and into the 80's with acts such as Lionel Richie, The Commodores,
Rick James and DeBarge, among others. Despite this success, by the
mid-1980's Motown was losing money and consequently Gordy sold his
ownership rights in Motown Records to Music Corporation of America
(MCA) and Boston Ventures in June 1988. In 1989, Gordy sold the
Motown Productions operations to Motown executive Suzanne de Passe,
who renamed the company de Passe Entertainment.
Despite major recording starts such as Boys II Men, among others,
during the 1990's the company remained in a state of turmoil.
Numerous executives were appointed by MCA and a multitude of legal
issues plagued the company. But by 1999, Motown was again a driving
force in the music industry with such acts as 702, Brian McKnight,
and Erykah Badu.
Motown's (which has merged with Universal Records to become
Universal Motown Records Group) current roster includes many R&B
super stars such as India Arie, Mya, Kem, Yummy Bingham, Badu, pop
superstar Lindsay Lohan, reggae stars Damien and Stephen Marley and
many more. Additionally, Universal Motown Records Group has
retained Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and the
Temptations.
In Motown, Berry Gordy was able to adeptly blend R&B and Soul with
mainstream pop music to create a "super" record label. This
template can never be duplicated, but the world of music is by far
a better place because of Berry Gordy's visions and unique management.
For more information visit: http://www.motown50.com/
50 Years of Motown
This Tuesday, a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Motown records kicks off with the release of Motown: The Complete Number Ones, a 10-disc set with every record that the label and its subsidiaries put at the top of any music chart around the world. What will follow will be a flurry of reissues, salutes, books, documentaries and even a Broadway musical.
The man doing the most celebrating, Barry Gordy, founded the label with an $800 loan from his family on January 12, 1959. Gordy talked to Billboard magazine on what it means to him. "I've been fighting to protect the legacy for 50 years, and now it seems that after 50 years we can go and talk about the real deal, what really happened ... and how it happened, my story and everything that goes with it. And I'm just thrilled that I'm here to enjoy now what I couldn't enjoy while I was doing it."
Included in the new material will be a documentary made by Gordy and Suzanne DePasse, who was responsible for the label's 25th anniversary special. "It's about me and ... not only what I did and how I did it but how I felt doing it and what it was that happened, from my standpoint."
Also look for online podcasts from Universal Music, who is in charge of Motown's older material, special events at the Motown museum in Detroit and that Broadway musical, which should hit the stage in 2010.
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at Gigwise.com's list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album cover art, this time #17 (Gigwise comments in quotes):
17. Die Toten Hosen: ‘Reich & Sexy’ - "At first glance the cover art is just yet another photo of a group of naked models, but then you realise that the band have been interspersed between them. The juxtaposition of the beauties and slightly beastly Die Toten Hosen sets the image off perfectly."
Friday, December 5, 2008
Music News & Notes
Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special. It was December 3, 1968 when the special aired on NBC and started Presley's return the top of the music charts. The program ended up the highest rated entertainment show of the year, pulling in 42% of the viewing audience.
Shortly after the special, If I Can Dream went up to number 12, followed by In the Ghetto and his first number one in over seven years, Suspicious Minds.
===================================================
There are rumors that Faith No More may be readying a reunion tour. U.K. venues have had dates put on hold for the band in the spring, although bassist Bill Gould isn't confirming anything. “If anything like this were to happen, it would have to come from the band, and I haven’t spoken with any of them in over a year. So as far as I know, there isn’t anything to talk about, and I’m pretty sure that if you were to contact Patton, he would tell you the same thing.”
===================================================
The Specials are finally going to go on the reunion tour that they originally discussed earlier this year. It's the first time the ska band has performed together since 1981. The initial set of dates are in the U.K. and run from late-April through mid-May with additional shows expected.
===================================================
George Michael put on what was called his farewell show in Abu Dhabi on Monday night with less than steller ticket sales. Many of the 35,000 seats went unsold and the promoters ended up giving tickets away before the show.
A source told Britain's Sun that “a lot of the youngsters here aren’t interested in his music — they’re into up-to-date stuff. It was embarrassing.”
===================================================
Bryan Adams has had to get the London police involved over fears of being stalked by an obsessed mother and son. They first approached the singer in a restaurant but have now started showing up at his west London home. According to a source, "He doesn't want them to get in any serious trouble, but he really wants to be left alone by them."
===================================================
Eagle Rock Records has announced a February 3 release date for six of Ted Nugent's albums. On the schedule are Full Bluntal Nugity, Nugent, Penetrator, Little Miss Dangerous, If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em and Spirit of the Wild.
===================================================
Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 will release their second album, Goodnight Oslo, on February 17. The group is made up of Hitchcock, R.E.M's Peter Buck on guitar, Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, R.E.M.) on bass and drummer Bill Rieflin (Ministry, R.E.M.).
===================================================
Grandmaster Flash has announced that he will release his first album in twenty years on February 23. The Bridge: Concept of a Culture will feature guest appearances from Snoop Dog, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Big Daddy Kane and others.
===================================================
Another rock biopic may be on the way. Eddie Martin is planning a film on the life of AC/DC's Bon Scott. According to Martin, the film is still in the research stage.
===================================================
Queen + Paul Rodger's The Cosmos Rocks did not exactly burn up the charts, but that doesn't mean the collaboration is over. An Austrian website recently claimed that a local concert was to be their last, but Brian May takes issue with the statement. “Well, I don’t know where anyone got that idea. Roger and Paul and myself haven’t made any decisions whatsoever about the future. We just need a rest!”
===================================================
Sonic Youth and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones have collaborated on a dance piece to be performed by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
Shortly after the special, If I Can Dream went up to number 12, followed by In the Ghetto and his first number one in over seven years, Suspicious Minds.
===================================================
There are rumors that Faith No More may be readying a reunion tour. U.K. venues have had dates put on hold for the band in the spring, although bassist Bill Gould isn't confirming anything. “If anything like this were to happen, it would have to come from the band, and I haven’t spoken with any of them in over a year. So as far as I know, there isn’t anything to talk about, and I’m pretty sure that if you were to contact Patton, he would tell you the same thing.”
===================================================
The Specials are finally going to go on the reunion tour that they originally discussed earlier this year. It's the first time the ska band has performed together since 1981. The initial set of dates are in the U.K. and run from late-April through mid-May with additional shows expected.
===================================================
George Michael put on what was called his farewell show in Abu Dhabi on Monday night with less than steller ticket sales. Many of the 35,000 seats went unsold and the promoters ended up giving tickets away before the show.
A source told Britain's Sun that “a lot of the youngsters here aren’t interested in his music — they’re into up-to-date stuff. It was embarrassing.”
===================================================
Bryan Adams has had to get the London police involved over fears of being stalked by an obsessed mother and son. They first approached the singer in a restaurant but have now started showing up at his west London home. According to a source, "He doesn't want them to get in any serious trouble, but he really wants to be left alone by them."
===================================================
Eagle Rock Records has announced a February 3 release date for six of Ted Nugent's albums. On the schedule are Full Bluntal Nugity, Nugent, Penetrator, Little Miss Dangerous, If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em and Spirit of the Wild.
===================================================
Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 will release their second album, Goodnight Oslo, on February 17. The group is made up of Hitchcock, R.E.M's Peter Buck on guitar, Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, R.E.M.) on bass and drummer Bill Rieflin (Ministry, R.E.M.).
===================================================
Grandmaster Flash has announced that he will release his first album in twenty years on February 23. The Bridge: Concept of a Culture will feature guest appearances from Snoop Dog, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Big Daddy Kane and others.
===================================================
Another rock biopic may be on the way. Eddie Martin is planning a film on the life of AC/DC's Bon Scott. According to Martin, the film is still in the research stage.
===================================================
Queen + Paul Rodger's The Cosmos Rocks did not exactly burn up the charts, but that doesn't mean the collaboration is over. An Austrian website recently claimed that a local concert was to be their last, but Brian May takes issue with the statement. “Well, I don’t know where anyone got that idea. Roger and Paul and myself haven’t made any decisions whatsoever about the future. We just need a rest!”
===================================================
Sonic Youth and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones have collaborated on a dance piece to be performed by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at Gigwise.com's list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album cover art, this time #18 (Gigwise comments in quotes):
18. The Black Crowes: ‘Amorica’ – "The sexually ambiguous pubis on show in the cover of The Black Crowes’ 1994 album ‘Amorica’ caused trouble for the band’s label, Universal, who later changed it for a blacked out image. The artwork originated from the cover of the adult magazine Hustler, pubic hairs and all."
My God, whats a few curly hairs? The album is quite good, the band didn't need to resort to album cover gimmicks to sell their music.
Track Listings
1. Gone
2. A Conspiracy
3. High Head Blues
4. Cursed Diamond
5. Nonfiction
6. She Gave Good Sunflower
7. P.25 London
8. Ballad In Urgency
9. Wiser Time
10. Downtown Money Waster
11. Descender
18. The Black Crowes: ‘Amorica’ – "The sexually ambiguous pubis on show in the cover of The Black Crowes’ 1994 album ‘Amorica’ caused trouble for the band’s label, Universal, who later changed it for a blacked out image. The artwork originated from the cover of the adult magazine Hustler, pubic hairs and all."
My God, whats a few curly hairs? The album is quite good, the band didn't need to resort to album cover gimmicks to sell their music.
Track Listings
1. Gone
2. A Conspiracy
3. High Head Blues
4. Cursed Diamond
5. Nonfiction
6. She Gave Good Sunflower
7. P.25 London
8. Ballad In Urgency
9. Wiser Time
10. Downtown Money Waster
11. Descender
This Date In Music History-December 5
Birthdays:
John Rzeznick (The Goo Goo Dolls-1965)
Little Richard ("Lucille") turns 76.
Andy Kim ("Be My Baby"-1946)
Jim Messina (member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Loggins & Messina) is 61.
Reclusive guitar picker J.J. Cale was born in Oklahoma City in 1938.
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1899, Sonny Boy Williamson, US blues singer. Van Morrison, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds and Moody Blues all covered his songs. He died on May 25, 1965.
Billy Maybray, bassist / drummer / vocalist for The Jaggerz, died of cancer at the age of 60 in 2004. Billy played drums on the band's 1970, Billboard #2 hit, "The Rapper" and wrote and sang their debut single, "Baby I Love You.”
Jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk died in 1977.
In 1993, Doug Hopkins from Gin Blossoms died of self-inflicted bullet wounds (age 32).
History:
Alan Freed's "Rock Rock Rock" film (with Connie Francis dubbing in the singing for Tuesday Weld) was released in 1956.
Rocker Gene Vincent ("Be-Bop-A-Lula") met TV producer Jack Good upon his arrival in England in 1959. Good convinced Vincent to adopt an outlaw image and dresses him completely in black leather, creating an enduring rock 'n' roll icon.
1968- The Rolling Stones' launch party at London's Queensgate Hotel for the now classic album, “Beggars Banquet,” soon degenerated into a near-riot. Waitresses served food dressed as medieval wenches. During the dessert course, a custard pie fight began, with most of the pastries aimed at record label execs who had vetoed the Stones' toilet cover art. Brian Jones, about to be fired by the band, delivered a few well-placed pies directly into Mick Jagger's face.
In 1980, John Lennon gave his final Rolling Stone interview to Jonathan Cott. Mark David Chapman leaves Honolulu to fly to New York, where he will shoot John Lennon three days later.
In 1964, Lorne Green became the second Canadian (after Paul Anka) to have a #1 hit on the Billboard singles chart, when his spoken word recording about a Western gun fighter named Ringo reached the top. The star of NBC-TV's hit show Bonanza would record seven albums for RCA.
In 1964, RCA announced that "Elvis' Christmas Album" had sold over 800,000 copies since being released in 1957.
Elvis Presley started a ten-week run at No.1 on the US album chart in 1960 with “G.I. Blues.”
The Beatles played their last ever show in their hometown of Liverpool in 1965, when they appeared at The Liverpool Empire during the group's final UK tour. Only 5,100 tickets were available, but there were 40,000 applications for tickets.
Beatles lyrics handwritten by Sir Paul McCartney (an early version of Maxwell's Silver Hammer) sold for $192,000 at an auction in New York in 2006. A guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix fetched $168,000, a notebook containing lyrics written by Bob Marley sold for $72,000 and a poem penned by the Doors Jim Morrison made $49,000 at the Christie's sale.
Graham Nash quits the Hollies (later forms Crosby, Stills & Nash) in 1968.
1975- Fleetwood Mac's tenth album goes gold and will eventually reach platinum status. This is the first album by the regrouped band, including founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, veteran Christine McVie and newcomers Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. The album contains the tunes "Rhiannon", "Say You Love Me" and "Over My Head".
John Rzeznick (The Goo Goo Dolls-1965)
Little Richard ("Lucille") turns 76.
Andy Kim ("Be My Baby"-1946)
Jim Messina (member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Loggins & Messina) is 61.
Reclusive guitar picker J.J. Cale was born in Oklahoma City in 1938.
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1899, Sonny Boy Williamson, US blues singer. Van Morrison, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds and Moody Blues all covered his songs. He died on May 25, 1965.
Billy Maybray, bassist / drummer / vocalist for The Jaggerz, died of cancer at the age of 60 in 2004. Billy played drums on the band's 1970, Billboard #2 hit, "The Rapper" and wrote and sang their debut single, "Baby I Love You.”
Jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk died in 1977.
In 1993, Doug Hopkins from Gin Blossoms died of self-inflicted bullet wounds (age 32).
History:
Alan Freed's "Rock Rock Rock" film (with Connie Francis dubbing in the singing for Tuesday Weld) was released in 1956.
Rocker Gene Vincent ("Be-Bop-A-Lula") met TV producer Jack Good upon his arrival in England in 1959. Good convinced Vincent to adopt an outlaw image and dresses him completely in black leather, creating an enduring rock 'n' roll icon.
1968- The Rolling Stones' launch party at London's Queensgate Hotel for the now classic album, “Beggars Banquet,” soon degenerated into a near-riot. Waitresses served food dressed as medieval wenches. During the dessert course, a custard pie fight began, with most of the pastries aimed at record label execs who had vetoed the Stones' toilet cover art. Brian Jones, about to be fired by the band, delivered a few well-placed pies directly into Mick Jagger's face.
In 1980, John Lennon gave his final Rolling Stone interview to Jonathan Cott. Mark David Chapman leaves Honolulu to fly to New York, where he will shoot John Lennon three days later.
In 1964, Lorne Green became the second Canadian (after Paul Anka) to have a #1 hit on the Billboard singles chart, when his spoken word recording about a Western gun fighter named Ringo reached the top. The star of NBC-TV's hit show Bonanza would record seven albums for RCA.
In 1964, RCA announced that "Elvis' Christmas Album" had sold over 800,000 copies since being released in 1957.
Elvis Presley started a ten-week run at No.1 on the US album chart in 1960 with “G.I. Blues.”
The Beatles played their last ever show in their hometown of Liverpool in 1965, when they appeared at The Liverpool Empire during the group's final UK tour. Only 5,100 tickets were available, but there were 40,000 applications for tickets.
Beatles lyrics handwritten by Sir Paul McCartney (an early version of Maxwell's Silver Hammer) sold for $192,000 at an auction in New York in 2006. A guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix fetched $168,000, a notebook containing lyrics written by Bob Marley sold for $72,000 and a poem penned by the Doors Jim Morrison made $49,000 at the Christie's sale.
Graham Nash quits the Hollies (later forms Crosby, Stills & Nash) in 1968.
1975- Fleetwood Mac's tenth album goes gold and will eventually reach platinum status. This is the first album by the regrouped band, including founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, veteran Christine McVie and newcomers Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. The album contains the tunes "Rhiannon", "Say You Love Me" and "Over My Head".
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sleevefacers Become The Album Cover
Jolie Myers/NPR
December 1, 2008 · British DJ Carl Morris was just "horsing around," when he held up a Paul McCartney record to his face, grafting the famous Beatle's head to his body.
Since then, he's perfected the art of "sleevefacing" or melding one's body with an album cover. His little experiment has flourished into a Web site and book that includes photos of people sleevefacing across the world.
He tells Alex Cohen that the best creations involve "happy accidents as much as the planning" and breaks down the evolution of this unique art trend. (See photos below).
Source: http://www.npr.org
Ummm, this is not an original idea, just look at this 1976 release from ELO (Ole') who perfected the art a long time ago. It is an amusing concept, but it has been done before.
If you want to look at more of the silliness, you can visit a website that has been set up. There are some very creative images, it is good for a laugh.
http://www.sleeveface.com/
December 1, 2008 · British DJ Carl Morris was just "horsing around," when he held up a Paul McCartney record to his face, grafting the famous Beatle's head to his body.
Since then, he's perfected the art of "sleevefacing" or melding one's body with an album cover. His little experiment has flourished into a Web site and book that includes photos of people sleevefacing across the world.
He tells Alex Cohen that the best creations involve "happy accidents as much as the planning" and breaks down the evolution of this unique art trend. (See photos below).
Source: http://www.npr.org
Ummm, this is not an original idea, just look at this 1976 release from ELO (Ole') who perfected the art a long time ago. It is an amusing concept, but it has been done before.
If you want to look at more of the silliness, you can visit a website that has been set up. There are some very creative images, it is good for a laugh.
http://www.sleeveface.com/
Vinyl records begin a comeback
By Andrew Steadman
Collegian Staff Writer
http://www.collegian.psu.edu
Jesse Ruegg is a music fan.
So much so, in fact, he runs a concert series in downtown State College (Roustabout!) and owns a venue equipped for hosting rock shows (Chronic Town).
So it should come as no surprise he has a strong opinion about his music.
"Fans who are really passionate about their music want the best they can have, they want the best sound quality," Ruegg said.
For Ruegg, that quality can only be achieved through one medium: the vinyl record.
"When you buy a vinyl record, you actually have something unique," Ruegg said. "You can't download it; it's tangible. You have a nice canvas for cover art, a sleeve with liner notes on it, and the actual physical act of playing a record is a very tactile experience. It's almost ceremonial."
Ruegg's opinion may sound like old-fashioned nostalgia, but there is growing evidence he is certainly not the only one who feels so strongly about the mystique of the vinyl LP (long-playing record). Though the CD supposedly supplanted vinyl as the musical medium of choice back in the '80s, the sale of recorded music has struggled mightily in recent years. Yet, despite the drop in CD sales, vinyl has continued to sell. In fact, record album sales have thrived. And it's not just vintage vinyl; consumers are buying new records by current bands as well.
"With music sales going down, vinyl's actually going up," Ruegg said. "It doesn't seem to make sense."
The Evidence
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Among other things, the RIAA is responsible for keeping track of recorded music sales figures as well as protecting the intellectual property of the artists it represents. The RIAA's 2007 year-end statistics show vinyl records experienced a 36.6 percent sales increase from 2006 to 2007. When compared to CD sales, which dropped 17.6 percent over the same period of time, it's quickly apparent something is happening in the music industry.
Liz Kennedy, deputy director of communications at the RIAA, said the group is hesitant to see the increase as a significant shift in consumer opinion.
"Our 2007 numbers do point to about a 30 percent increase over the year before," Kennedy said. "Any resurgence in sales is good news, but I don't think we'd be able to speculate on the future."
A statement the RIAA released to the media gives the group's official opinion on the matter: "The music industry offers a multitude of options to satisfy the many ways fans prefer listening to music, from classic vinyl to innovative digital services. Any way in which consumers can discover and enjoy legal music is ultimately a great thing for fans and the music community alike."
Others in the industry agree a single year's sales figures aren't enough to prove that vinyl's revival has any staying power. Richard Laing, who works in sales and marketing at Seattle-based independent label Sub Pop Records, said his company is cautiously encouraged by the increase.
"It still remains to be seen if it's a short-term trend," Laing said.
Sub Pop was the label responsible for the grunge movement of the late '80s and early '90s, when its stable of bands included Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney. It continues to be one of the most influential indie labels with bands like The Postal Service and The Shins. Though RIAA's 2008 figures have not yet been released, Laing said Sub Pop has seen a continued increase in vinyl sales throughout the year.
Greg Gabbard, owner of State College's City Lights Records, said independent record stores like his own have benefited the most from the resurgence. He said some owners of smaller record stores who were discouraged by declining album sales decided to stay in business as a result of the sudden interest in vinyl.
"The increase was dramatic in the past couple years," Gabbard said.
Gabbard said independent stores were best prepared for the sudden interest, because the smaller stores were the ones that were still stocking vinyl records as well as buying used vinyl. Laing said the bigger outlets are catching on, with Best Buy and Amazon.com starting to stock new LPs.
The Theories
There are many differing opinions on the exact reason for vinyl's success in the face of the recorded music industry's recent struggles. Ruegg is willing to suggest what the RIAA will not: The resurgence is a reaction against poor business practices by the major labels. He said the major record labels have lost the trust of consumers for a number of reasons, which has contributed to an increase in vinyl record purchases.
"It's almost like a response to the music industry being like a stick in the mud," Ruegg said. "They're totally missing the point of pop music. I'm talking about the major labels here. Eighteen dollars for a CD is ridiculous, charging that much for crappy music."
Another reason for vinyl's recent success may be sound quality. It's common knowledge that digital music formats like MP3 suffer from a significant decrease in quality, but the vinyl faithful also believe part of the music is lost in translation to CD. Audio purists have long argued over which medium is superior, with many holding the opinion that vinyl records better recreate the live music experience.
"I personally think that music mixed and mastered for vinyl and played on vinyl records is the pinnacle of analog sound," Ruegg said. "If I have the choice between listening to something on CD and listening to it on vinyl, I'll go with vinyl every time."
Ben Sneeringer, a Penn State Berks student who is a member of a vinyl appreciation group on Facebook, said vinyl is less convenient than modern portable options like the iPod, but that he still prefers the sound of vinyl.
"I like the sound of vinyl better. It's much fuller and is far less compressed than MP3s," Sneeringer said. "I just think the sound quality is better on a record, if you have the opportunity, as opposed to MP3s or even CDs."
The final theory for the renewed love of vinyl is harder to quantify, vinyl enthusiast Joseph Lacombe, Class of 2008, said.
"What I like about vinyl is its physicality," Lacombe said. "I like the process of sliding a record out of its sleeve and laying it down, then placing the needle and hearing that first little audible crackle as it begins to spin."
Nostalgia, album art, liner notes and the actual act of playing the record all factor into the power of the vinyl record. Laing compared the phenomenon to the desire to actually own something one enjoys, such as a favorite book or, in this case, a record.
"A lot of people are buying records because they like the sound," Laing said. "But they also like to have the actual piece, the physical artifact."
The Response
Chronic Town, the hookah bar and concert venue Ruegg co-owns with Jeff Van Fossan, has begun buying and selling used and new records. The store is joining several other places to buy records in State College, including Gabbard's City Lights Records on College Avenue and Josh Ferko's Stax of Trax, a record store contained within Webster's Bookstore Café on Allen Street.
Ruegg said the decision to sell records was influenced by his own appreciation for vinyl as well as the wants of his establishment's patrons. He's a vinyl fan and he realized many of the patrons of his store were also vinyl fans, so it made sense.
"Sixty to 75 percent of our collection is vintage stuff, used vinyl," Ruegg said. "Stuff that's not in print anymore and stuff you can't buy anymore."
Selling records originally started as a way for Ruegg and Van Fossan to supplement the musical aspect of Chronic Town. They started by buying a few copies of LPs from bands that played Roustabout! and selling them in the store, but it has since grown beyond their expectations.
"We've actually sold more records than I ever thought we would," Ruegg said.
Even so, vinyl records won't be dethroning CDs just yet. Laing said vinyl records are more expensive to produce than CDs, which means Sub Pop and other record companies must gauge how well a record will sell before deciding to release it on vinyl.
"People still have their listening environments based around the CD," Laing said. "It's a different group of people who buy a record."
Laing said his company has begun offering records packaged with coupons redeemable for a free MP3 download of the album, which stimulates traffic to Sub Pop's Web site as well as meeting the demands of consumers in the digital age.
"The fact that we include a download eliminates some of the shortcomings of vinyl," Laing said. "It's relatively cost effective to do. Plus, to redeem the coupon, you have to come to our Web site."
Despite the innovations, vinyl records still account for only about 10 percent of Sub Pop's total sales. For now, it looks like vinyl will continue to flourish but still maintain a sort of counterculture status to the dominant music media.
And for Ruegg, part of vinyl's attraction is its separation from the ordinary.
"I don't need to hear any more Jessica Simpson. I don't want to hear any more American Idol bands. I want to hear something real," Ruegg said. "The bands that are doing that sort of thing are putting their stuff on vinyl."
Collegian Staff Writer
http://www.collegian.psu.edu
Jesse Ruegg is a music fan.
So much so, in fact, he runs a concert series in downtown State College (Roustabout!) and owns a venue equipped for hosting rock shows (Chronic Town).
So it should come as no surprise he has a strong opinion about his music.
"Fans who are really passionate about their music want the best they can have, they want the best sound quality," Ruegg said.
For Ruegg, that quality can only be achieved through one medium: the vinyl record.
"When you buy a vinyl record, you actually have something unique," Ruegg said. "You can't download it; it's tangible. You have a nice canvas for cover art, a sleeve with liner notes on it, and the actual physical act of playing a record is a very tactile experience. It's almost ceremonial."
Ruegg's opinion may sound like old-fashioned nostalgia, but there is growing evidence he is certainly not the only one who feels so strongly about the mystique of the vinyl LP (long-playing record). Though the CD supposedly supplanted vinyl as the musical medium of choice back in the '80s, the sale of recorded music has struggled mightily in recent years. Yet, despite the drop in CD sales, vinyl has continued to sell. In fact, record album sales have thrived. And it's not just vintage vinyl; consumers are buying new records by current bands as well.
"With music sales going down, vinyl's actually going up," Ruegg said. "It doesn't seem to make sense."
The Evidence
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Among other things, the RIAA is responsible for keeping track of recorded music sales figures as well as protecting the intellectual property of the artists it represents. The RIAA's 2007 year-end statistics show vinyl records experienced a 36.6 percent sales increase from 2006 to 2007. When compared to CD sales, which dropped 17.6 percent over the same period of time, it's quickly apparent something is happening in the music industry.
Liz Kennedy, deputy director of communications at the RIAA, said the group is hesitant to see the increase as a significant shift in consumer opinion.
"Our 2007 numbers do point to about a 30 percent increase over the year before," Kennedy said. "Any resurgence in sales is good news, but I don't think we'd be able to speculate on the future."
A statement the RIAA released to the media gives the group's official opinion on the matter: "The music industry offers a multitude of options to satisfy the many ways fans prefer listening to music, from classic vinyl to innovative digital services. Any way in which consumers can discover and enjoy legal music is ultimately a great thing for fans and the music community alike."
Others in the industry agree a single year's sales figures aren't enough to prove that vinyl's revival has any staying power. Richard Laing, who works in sales and marketing at Seattle-based independent label Sub Pop Records, said his company is cautiously encouraged by the increase.
"It still remains to be seen if it's a short-term trend," Laing said.
Sub Pop was the label responsible for the grunge movement of the late '80s and early '90s, when its stable of bands included Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney. It continues to be one of the most influential indie labels with bands like The Postal Service and The Shins. Though RIAA's 2008 figures have not yet been released, Laing said Sub Pop has seen a continued increase in vinyl sales throughout the year.
Greg Gabbard, owner of State College's City Lights Records, said independent record stores like his own have benefited the most from the resurgence. He said some owners of smaller record stores who were discouraged by declining album sales decided to stay in business as a result of the sudden interest in vinyl.
"The increase was dramatic in the past couple years," Gabbard said.
Gabbard said independent stores were best prepared for the sudden interest, because the smaller stores were the ones that were still stocking vinyl records as well as buying used vinyl. Laing said the bigger outlets are catching on, with Best Buy and Amazon.com starting to stock new LPs.
The Theories
There are many differing opinions on the exact reason for vinyl's success in the face of the recorded music industry's recent struggles. Ruegg is willing to suggest what the RIAA will not: The resurgence is a reaction against poor business practices by the major labels. He said the major record labels have lost the trust of consumers for a number of reasons, which has contributed to an increase in vinyl record purchases.
"It's almost like a response to the music industry being like a stick in the mud," Ruegg said. "They're totally missing the point of pop music. I'm talking about the major labels here. Eighteen dollars for a CD is ridiculous, charging that much for crappy music."
Another reason for vinyl's recent success may be sound quality. It's common knowledge that digital music formats like MP3 suffer from a significant decrease in quality, but the vinyl faithful also believe part of the music is lost in translation to CD. Audio purists have long argued over which medium is superior, with many holding the opinion that vinyl records better recreate the live music experience.
"I personally think that music mixed and mastered for vinyl and played on vinyl records is the pinnacle of analog sound," Ruegg said. "If I have the choice between listening to something on CD and listening to it on vinyl, I'll go with vinyl every time."
Ben Sneeringer, a Penn State Berks student who is a member of a vinyl appreciation group on Facebook, said vinyl is less convenient than modern portable options like the iPod, but that he still prefers the sound of vinyl.
"I like the sound of vinyl better. It's much fuller and is far less compressed than MP3s," Sneeringer said. "I just think the sound quality is better on a record, if you have the opportunity, as opposed to MP3s or even CDs."
The final theory for the renewed love of vinyl is harder to quantify, vinyl enthusiast Joseph Lacombe, Class of 2008, said.
"What I like about vinyl is its physicality," Lacombe said. "I like the process of sliding a record out of its sleeve and laying it down, then placing the needle and hearing that first little audible crackle as it begins to spin."
Nostalgia, album art, liner notes and the actual act of playing the record all factor into the power of the vinyl record. Laing compared the phenomenon to the desire to actually own something one enjoys, such as a favorite book or, in this case, a record.
"A lot of people are buying records because they like the sound," Laing said. "But they also like to have the actual piece, the physical artifact."
The Response
Chronic Town, the hookah bar and concert venue Ruegg co-owns with Jeff Van Fossan, has begun buying and selling used and new records. The store is joining several other places to buy records in State College, including Gabbard's City Lights Records on College Avenue and Josh Ferko's Stax of Trax, a record store contained within Webster's Bookstore Café on Allen Street.
Ruegg said the decision to sell records was influenced by his own appreciation for vinyl as well as the wants of his establishment's patrons. He's a vinyl fan and he realized many of the patrons of his store were also vinyl fans, so it made sense.
"Sixty to 75 percent of our collection is vintage stuff, used vinyl," Ruegg said. "Stuff that's not in print anymore and stuff you can't buy anymore."
Selling records originally started as a way for Ruegg and Van Fossan to supplement the musical aspect of Chronic Town. They started by buying a few copies of LPs from bands that played Roustabout! and selling them in the store, but it has since grown beyond their expectations.
"We've actually sold more records than I ever thought we would," Ruegg said.
Even so, vinyl records won't be dethroning CDs just yet. Laing said vinyl records are more expensive to produce than CDs, which means Sub Pop and other record companies must gauge how well a record will sell before deciding to release it on vinyl.
"People still have their listening environments based around the CD," Laing said. "It's a different group of people who buy a record."
Laing said his company has begun offering records packaged with coupons redeemable for a free MP3 download of the album, which stimulates traffic to Sub Pop's Web site as well as meeting the demands of consumers in the digital age.
"The fact that we include a download eliminates some of the shortcomings of vinyl," Laing said. "It's relatively cost effective to do. Plus, to redeem the coupon, you have to come to our Web site."
Despite the innovations, vinyl records still account for only about 10 percent of Sub Pop's total sales. For now, it looks like vinyl will continue to flourish but still maintain a sort of counterculture status to the dominant music media.
And for Ruegg, part of vinyl's attraction is its separation from the ordinary.
"I don't need to hear any more Jessica Simpson. I don't want to hear any more American Idol bands. I want to hear something real," Ruegg said. "The bands that are doing that sort of thing are putting their stuff on vinyl."
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