The Virginian-Pilot
© March 11, 2010
By Carrie White
Correspondent
In Neil Friedman's beautiful Norfolk home is a room that makes his wife, Abby, roll her eyes.
Two large speakers, a turntable and several other pieces of pricey electronic equipment are the focal points. Vinyl record albums - some 30 years old, some brand new - are stacked up against the wall and lie all over the floor. In the center of the controlled chaos is an easy chair, just begging for someone to sit in it.
In that room, after setting the stylus down on a favorite album - be it Meatloaf; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; Pink Floyd; or Fleetwood Mac - Friedman obliges the chair and wiles away an evening, the bass resonating so deeply that the carpet vibrates. Closing his eyes, he lets the music wash over him and envisions the musicians onstage.
A few years ago, Friedman, 65 and co-founder of Friedman Associates Insurance Planning, rediscovered vinyl records, and he experiences them in his "music room."
Vinyl is making a comeback. Nationwide, vinyl record sales in 2009 were 2.5 million, the highest sales level since Nielsen SoundScan started keeping track in 1991. That figure also is up 33 percent from 2008.
Barry Friedman (no relation to Neil), owner of Birdland Records, Tapes and Discs in Virginia Beach, has enjoyed the upturn.
"People first started buying vinyls again for collectibility," he said. "They would pull the album out and frame it and the cover. But there has been a big jump in the last two to three years. When the economy started going south, I noticed people were pulling out their turntables. They could buy used vinyl for $2 in places. You bring in a 20 dollar bill and walk out of here with ten albums."
Doug Crane, owner of American Oldies Records in Newport News, said: "This is really the second resurgence. The first one was 15 years ago with rap and hip-hop - scratching and sampling records. The vinyl scene exploded then."
American Oldies Records has always sold a lot of vinyl, he said, and even its sales have increased 10 percent from two years ago. "People are coming back in droves."
CDs and other forms of digitalized music offer clarity and convenience, said Barry Friedman, who has owned Birdland for 32 years and has been in the music business for 40. CDs and MP 3 players don't have pops or skips. They don't warp, scratch or wear out as easily as vinyl. They are portable and can be played almost anywhere, and they can play music almost endlessly - no need to flip them over for the B-side.
However, vinyl lovers such as Neil Friedman say records have a warmth and tonality lacking in CDs. "It fills up all the senses," Friedman said. "My best thoughts come when I'm listening to music (on vinyl) because everything else is blocked out."
J.R. Salomonsky, a 13 -year-old student at Great Bridge Middle School, agrees. "Vinyls have a better tone. With CDs, the instruments sound distant. On the turntable, the instruments sound like they are in the living room. I used to think I knew the music, but when I listened to something on vinyl, I heard so much more. For instance, in the Beatles' 'White Album,' in 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill,' there is a Spanish guitar in the beginning, but I'd never heard it. On a CD, it just got lost when they remastered it."
Neil Friedman explained that with a vinyl record, using analog recording technology, the smooth arc of the original sound waves can be reproduced. However, digitalized music is chopped up. I t re-creates the original sound wave in tiny increments - like stair steps.
"Digitalized music is harsh," he said. "If you play it loudly, after listening to it for more than an hour, you'll get a headache. But it's not really a headache, but an earache. You don't get that with vinyl."
Vinyl listeners also talk about the "Zen" of listening to vinyl.
Barry Friedman said: "It's slowing life down. It's sitting down with the record, taking it out of its sleeve, using cleaner on it, putting it on the turntable and watching it spin around. It's kind of a neat thing to do."
J.R. said: "It's more comforting. You don't see a CD spinning when you play it. Looking at the turntable is relaxing."
Neil Friedman said the occasional pops and the white noise between cuts on vinyl are part of the experience. They are strangely evocative, making listening to vinyls a visceral experience.
Caring for vinyls also is part of the hobby. He recently lugged several boxes of vinyls from his attic. He is looking forward to organizing them and remembering the exact details of their purchase and his history with them. Some of the newly discovered albums are slightly warped, and he has found a recipe online for "baking" out the warps in the oven, with the vinyl pressed between two pieces of heavy glass.
Two basic types of listeners are responsible for the vinyl renaissance, Barry Friedman said: audiophiles, such as Neil Friedman, and teens and 20 -somethings into classic rock, such as J.R.
Audiophiles tend to be older listeners who finally have the income needed to pursue what can be an expensive passion.
"I've been working since I was 13 and never had the time or money when I was young for listening to music seriously," said Neil Friedman, who described himself as "an old rocker" with a taste for classic rock.
"I'd been wanting to do this for years, but with two kids in college, I couldn't. Now I can." Friedman called his own system "on the very low end of high end." He spoke of one of his audiophile friends whose sound system costs $180,000.
The resurgence among teens is a little different, Crane said. "Vinyl is hip and cool. The packaging is fun. A lot of young people are into it now. It's a collectible that you can play."
In terms of total music sales, vinyl is still a drop, Barry Friedman said. Vinyls, new and used, comprise about 5 percent of his total sales, "which is up from 0 percent two or three years ago! It's a big jump, but it won't supersede anything."
J.R. said few of his friends appreciate vinyl. "Friends who don't understand vinyl only know that rappers scratch it," he said. "They ask me, 'Dude, can I scratch your records?' "
His answer is a resounding "No!"
Neil Friedman agreed: "No one really understands this. There are only a few people who enjoy music the way I do."
He doesn't despair that he won't convert his friends, though. He plans to add a second chair in his music room.
Copyright 2010 http://hamptonroads.com/ Reprinted By Permission
Saturday, March 20, 2010
“Money, It’s a Hit” - Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’
Released this month in 1973, ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ remains one of the most enduringly popular albums ever. Here’s our look at the legendary album:
Pink Floyd convened in Abbey Road studios in the summer of 1972 as a band reinvented. After replacing key member Syd Barrett with Dave Gilmour four years earlier, the band had re-grouped and moved away from the psychedelic leanings of the Barrett-led era and entered a period of their career which many would later look back on as one of the most creative and influential of all time.
Barrett-era Pink Floyd
During the Sixties, Pink Floyd had been at the forefront of the Psychedelic movement, and had released a clutch of classic singles including ‘See Emily Play‘ and ‘Arnold Layne‘. However, by the time the group’s second album ‘A Saucerful Of Secrets‘ had been released in June 1968, Barrett had left Pink Floyd, with the band citing his erratic behaviour and use of drugs as the reason for his departure.
As the band released ‘Atom Heart Mother‘ in 1970, their gradual change of direction was becoming apparent, but they struggled to gain any genuine critical acclaim during this period. It wasn’t until the release of ‘Meddle‘ in October 1971 that the band truly began to find their feet as they moved into what became known as Progressive Rock. With all the band contributing new ideas in the studio ‘Meddle‘ showed to the world that Pink Floyd had a future, and even though reviews remained mixed, the group was well on it’s way to the sound and mind-set which would see Pink Floyd become one of the biggest bands in the world. It was undoubtedly ‘Meddle‘ which pointed the way to ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘.
The first seeds of ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘ were sown when the group began tentative rehersals in a studio borrowed from the Rolling Stones in Bermondsey, London. As Roger Waters would later recall, the sessions were relaxed to say the least, but despite the laidback approach, the wheels for Pink Floyd’s next studio album had been set in motion. After the foundations had been laid, the band moved on for rehersals at the Rainbow Theatre, and they subsequently took their new work out on the road before taking it into the studio.
Abbey Road studios
As with the trend set on their previous LPs, when the group began work on their new material in Abbey Road it was very much a collaborative effort. All members contributed to the desire to explore new sounds and ways of recording. The pattern of experimentation mirrored the work done by The Beatles in the same studios during their ‘Sgt.Pepper‘ sessions five years previously. As with that record, there was a collective will to try new things, to push boundaries, and to make use of everything that became available to them in the studio. The band’s plan to have a central idea running through the record also echoed the efforts of The Beatles, or more accurately Paul McCartney, while recording ‘Sgt.Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band‘. But unlike The Beatles, Pink Floyd saw the idea through, and the unified themes running throughout the album, an idea first mooted by Roger Waters in the earliest meetings regarding the new LP, make it recognised as one of the first fully realised concept records.
Recording began on the 1st of June with ‘Us and Them‘, and it soon became clear that the band were willing to try virtually anything to achieve the sound they wanted. So it was that Roger Waters used recordings of him throwing coins into a food mixing bowl on ‘Money‘, while the band and engineers spent hours getting clocks to chime in sequence while recording ‘Time‘. Use of synthesisers and other early electronic equipment also dominated the sessions, and became a prominent part of the resultant album.
After a break, they returned to the studio in January 1973 for more recording sessions. During this final period, the band enlisted the help of four female singers, Doris Troy, Lesley Duncan, Liza Strike and Barry St.John, who recorded backing vocals on ‘Brain Damage‘, ‘Eclipse‘ and ‘Time‘. Alongside Clare Torry’s improvised take on ‘The Great Gig In The Sky‘, the singers added further layers to the LP and, together with the famous harmonising and double-tracking of Richard Wright’s and Dave Glimour’s vocals, helped to give the album it’s distinctive rich quality.
Dark Side Of The Moon’s iconic status was further enhanced by the choice of sleeve, which is now one of the most recognisable covers in history. Under strict instructions from the band to produce something ’smarter’ than their previous efforts, the group’s long-term art design team Hipgnosis were again picked to work on the packaging. One of the group’s members, Storm Thorgerson, is credited with the famous Prism design, after being inspired by a photograph that he had been shown during discussions regarding the artwork. In the end, Pink Floyd were presented with seven ideas for the album’s cover, and all were immediately unanimous in picking the Prism. With the songs, production and now brilliant sleeve design all finished, ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘ was ready to hit the shelves.
The 'classic' Pink Floyd line-up: (l-r) Nick Mason, Dave Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright
With much stronger support from their record label, ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘ was released initially in the US and later in the UK to a much more positive response from critics and became an immediate smash hit. It went Gold in the UK shortly after it’s release, and hit the top spot in the US just over a month later. As Capitol Records continued to push the album in the US, backed by radio-edits of ‘Us and Them‘ and ‘Time‘ as well as the single ‘Money‘, which perfectly displayed the quirkiness of the album, the units continued to pile up. Famously, the album went on to spend an incredible 741 weeks on the Billboard Top 200, and is now one of the best selling of all time, with total world-wide sales estimated at over 45 million.
As the accolades continued, the four members of Pink Floyd began to feel uneasy with the runaway sales of ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘, a mood which would be addressed on the 1975 follow-up ‘Wish You Were Here‘, and they struggled to come to terms with their sudden world-wide fame and commercial status. Later, Richard Wright would recall his thoughts on the record’s achievements:
“…the only criterion we have about releasing music is whether we like it or not. It was not a deliberate attempt to make a commercial album. It just happened that way. We knew it had a lot more melody than previous Floyd albums, and there was a concept that ran all through it. The music was easier to absorb and having girls singing away added a commercial touch that none of our records had.”
Released at the height of Glam Rock, ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘ brought so-called Prog Rock into the mainstream and ushered in an era of huge experimentation, and ultimately over-indulgence, from a succession of bands throughout the Seventies. When the Prog Rock era is looked back on today, it’s clear one of the triumphs of ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘ is that it stays on the right side of the line, and is able to experiment and use heavy themes without slipping into the over-blown, self-gratifying state which would later dominate Prog, and keeps in touch with the basic requirements of quality and melody. These are ideals which were quickly lost on their peers, and which would lead to the explosion of Punk Rock just four years after ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘, when young bands rebelling against the bloated state of Prog replaced 30 minute keyboard solos with 30 minute LPs.
With ‘Dark Side Of The Moon‘, Pink Floyd achieved that very rare feat - marrying innovation and creativity in the studio with phenomenol commercial success. It’s a combination which makes this album one of the great success stories in rock history.
(Dave Smith)
Copyright 2010 http://www.live4ever.uk.com/ Reprinted By Permission
Music News & Notes
At The Gates Announce Limited Edition Live Album on CD and Vinyl
Swedish death metal pioneers At The Gates recently released "The Flames of the End", a three-disc DVD set including the band's 2008 Wacken performance, through Earache Records. Now, Earache is due to release "Purgatory Unleashed - Live at Wacken", a standalone CD and vinyl LP release of the same iconic Wacken show, on Monday, March 22nd.
The set features 18 live tracks of classic At The Gates songs from the band's legendary performance at the Wacken festival in Germany in 2008. Mixed by TUE MADSEN (VADER, WINDS OF PLAGUE), "Purgatory Unleashed" sees AT THE GATES in possibly their best form yet and bowing out at the top of their game.
The limited edition first pressing of the "Purgatory Unleashed - Live at Wacken" CD includes a free AT THE GATES woven patch, plus a free band member signature guitar plectrum, and comes housed in a special slipcase.
The album is also available on limited edition double vinyl LP, which comes housed in a gatefold sleeve and includes a free AT THE GATES poster. The vinyl version is available in the following, strictly limited colours:
Black and Green mix vinyl - 100 copies
Yellow vinyl - 200 copies
Light Blue vinyl - 300 copies
Black vinyl - 1400 copies
=========================================
U2 To Release New Remixes Album
Irish supergroup U2 have unveiled plans for a new album of remixes called ‘Artifical Horizon‘, it is due to be released on May 14th. The limited edition triple-vinyl album features 13 songs remixed by some of today's top DJs and producers, including Influx, Justice and Hot Chip. Even Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor makes an appearance with a new version of 'Vertigo.' The collector's set is similar to 1995's 'Melon: Remixes for Propaganda,' which was a fan club exclusive.The record will feature mixes of three unreleased tracks, which are ‘I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Live U2360 Remix)’, ‘City Of Blinding Lights (Hot Chip 2006 Remix)‘ and ‘Get On Your Boots (Fish Out Of Water Mix)‘.
Full tracklisting:
‘Elevation (Influx Mix)’
‘Fast Cars (Jacknife Lee Mix)’
‘Get On Your Boots (Fish Out Of Water Mix)’
‘Vertigo (Trent Reznor Remix)’
‘Magnificent (Falke Radio Mix)’
‘I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Live U2360 Remix)’
‘Beautiful Day (David Holmes Remix)’
‘Staring At The Sun (Monster Truck Remix)’
‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Danny Saber Mix)’
‘Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix)’
‘City Of Blinding Lights (Hot Chip 2006 Remix)’
‘If God Will Send His Angels (Grand Jury Mix)’
‘Staring At The Sun (Brothers in Rhythm Ambient Mix)’
=========================================
Ryan Adams To Release Heavy Metal Album
Alt-country singer Ryan Adams has announced plans to release a heavy metal album and end his year-long hiatus in order to issue the record this month. Adams also uploaded "Electrosnake," a taste of the forthcoming full-length LP and asked fans to vote on whether they would consider buying the LP.
He wrote: "We're going to begin pressing Orion - my most legit Metal record - on vinyl next week. Have a listen to the song below and let us know if you'd be interested in purchasing one."
Following over 70,000 votes last weekend from fans affirming that they would buy the album, Adams posted an update on his Facebook page.
He said: "Unreal, 69,567 people want a copy. That's too many, but still... It's so cool getting to figure out what the manufacture numbers are before you go to press. The future, y'all!"
Adams has released two books of poetry and short fiction during his extended break from music.
=========================================
fun. Free Download and New Single
New York based three-piece fun. are set to release their double A-side debut single ‘Walking The Dog’ / ‘Be Calm’ as a limited edition 7” vinyl, on March 29th through Friends Vs Records. These two tracks are taken from their forthcoming album 'Aim & Ignite.' 'Aim & Ignite' will be released on Hassle Records with exclusive bonus content on May 31st. Download a preview track from the album at www.hasslerecords.com/free_download/fun/ - ‘At Least I’m Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)’.
=========================================
GORGOROTH's 'Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt' Finally Released On Vinyl
GORGOROTH's latest album, "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt", is now finally available on vinyl, in two different versions! The regular vinyl edition, which includes a poster, is released by Regain Records, whereas the picture disc version is released by Forces of Satan Records. Both versions are strictly limited pressings.
The regular vinyl edition should be available from all major retailers. As for the picture disc, information on how to get hold of this will be posted in due time at this location. http://www.myspace.com/forcesofsatanrecords
=========================================
Early Neil Young albums re-released on vinyl
Neil Young's first four albums, "Neil Young" (1969), "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "After the Gold Rush" (1970) and "Harvest" (1970), have been re-released in a limited pressing.
Warner Bros. is selling them as a limited-edition box set for $150. Only 3,000 will be sold worldwide, according to a Warner Bros. Records Web site (http://neilyoungseries.warnerbrosrecords.com/), and they are pressed on 180 gram vinyl at Pallas FG/Germany, described by Warner Bros. as the world's premier record pressing plant. Each album and box are individually numbered in gold foil stamp.
Also available for the less costly $85: a gold limited-edition numbered CD box set of the four albums. Only 3,500 of those will be sold, Warner Bros. says.
Swedish death metal pioneers At The Gates recently released "The Flames of the End", a three-disc DVD set including the band's 2008 Wacken performance, through Earache Records. Now, Earache is due to release "Purgatory Unleashed - Live at Wacken", a standalone CD and vinyl LP release of the same iconic Wacken show, on Monday, March 22nd.
The set features 18 live tracks of classic At The Gates songs from the band's legendary performance at the Wacken festival in Germany in 2008. Mixed by TUE MADSEN (VADER, WINDS OF PLAGUE), "Purgatory Unleashed" sees AT THE GATES in possibly their best form yet and bowing out at the top of their game.
The limited edition first pressing of the "Purgatory Unleashed - Live at Wacken" CD includes a free AT THE GATES woven patch, plus a free band member signature guitar plectrum, and comes housed in a special slipcase.
The album is also available on limited edition double vinyl LP, which comes housed in a gatefold sleeve and includes a free AT THE GATES poster. The vinyl version is available in the following, strictly limited colours:
Black and Green mix vinyl - 100 copies
Yellow vinyl - 200 copies
Light Blue vinyl - 300 copies
Black vinyl - 1400 copies
=========================================
U2 To Release New Remixes Album
Full tracklisting:
‘Elevation (Influx Mix)’
‘Fast Cars (Jacknife Lee Mix)’
‘Get On Your Boots (Fish Out Of Water Mix)’
‘Vertigo (Trent Reznor Remix)’
‘Magnificent (Falke Radio Mix)’
‘I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Live U2360 Remix)’
‘Beautiful Day (David Holmes Remix)’
‘Staring At The Sun (Monster Truck Remix)’
‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Danny Saber Mix)’
‘Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix)’
‘City Of Blinding Lights (Hot Chip 2006 Remix)’
‘If God Will Send His Angels (Grand Jury Mix)’
‘Staring At The Sun (Brothers in Rhythm Ambient Mix)’
=========================================
Ryan Adams To Release Heavy Metal Album
Alt-country singer Ryan Adams has announced plans to release a heavy metal album and end his year-long hiatus in order to issue the record this month. Adams also uploaded "Electrosnake," a taste of the forthcoming full-length LP and asked fans to vote on whether they would consider buying the LP.
He wrote: "We're going to begin pressing Orion - my most legit Metal record - on vinyl next week. Have a listen to the song below and let us know if you'd be interested in purchasing one."
Following over 70,000 votes last weekend from fans affirming that they would buy the album, Adams posted an update on his Facebook page.
He said: "Unreal, 69,567 people want a copy. That's too many, but still... It's so cool getting to figure out what the manufacture numbers are before you go to press. The future, y'all!"
Adams has released two books of poetry and short fiction during his extended break from music.
=========================================
fun. Free Download and New Single
New York based three-piece fun. are set to release their double A-side debut single ‘Walking The Dog’ / ‘Be Calm’ as a limited edition 7” vinyl, on March 29th through Friends Vs Records. These two tracks are taken from their forthcoming album 'Aim & Ignite.' 'Aim & Ignite' will be released on Hassle Records with exclusive bonus content on May 31st. Download a preview track from the album at www.hasslerecords.com/free_download/fun/ - ‘At Least I’m Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)’.
=========================================
GORGOROTH's 'Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt' Finally Released On Vinyl
The regular vinyl edition should be available from all major retailers. As for the picture disc, information on how to get hold of this will be posted in due time at this location. http://www.myspace.com/forcesofsatanrecords
=========================================
Early Neil Young albums re-released on vinyl
Neil Young's first four albums, "Neil Young" (1969), "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "After the Gold Rush" (1970) and "Harvest" (1970), have been re-released in a limited pressing.
Warner Bros. is selling them as a limited-edition box set for $150. Only 3,000 will be sold worldwide, according to a Warner Bros. Records Web site (http://neilyoungseries.warnerbrosrecords.com/), and they are pressed on 180 gram vinyl at Pallas FG/Germany, described by Warner Bros. as the world's premier record pressing plant. Each album and box are individually numbered in gold foil stamp.
Also available for the less costly $85: a gold limited-edition numbered CD box set of the four albums. Only 3,500 of those will be sold, Warner Bros. says.
This Date In Music History-March 20
Birthdays:
Jimmie Vaughan - Fabulous Thunderbirds (1949)
Carl Palmer - Emerson Lake and Palmer/Asia (1951)
Poison Ivy, (Kristy Wallace) - The Cramps (1953)
Blues singer Marcia Ball (1954)
Jimmy Seales - Shenandoah (1954)
Slim Jim Phantom - Stray Cats (1961)
Tracy Chapman (1964)
Adrian Oxxal - James (1965)
Shelly Poole - Alisha's Attic (1972)
Alex Kapranos - Franz Ferdinand (1972)
Chester Bennington - Linkin Park (1976)
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1937, Jerry Reed, country guitarist, (1971 US #8 single "Amos Moses"). Worked with Chet Atkins, Bobby Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. He died on Sept 1, 2008.
History:
"Your Hit Parade" made its debut on radio in 1935.
Bobby Rydell made his first TV appearance, on "American Bandstand" in 1959.
In 1960, Elvis Presley started his first recordings since being discharged from the US Army. A 12 hour session in a Nashville recording studio produced his next #1 single, "Stuck On You." Scotty Moore and Bill Black, who had quit Presley's touring band in 1957, were in the studio with him for the last time.
Elvis Presley started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Surrender," his fifth #1 of the 60's. It also went to #1 in the UK. The song was based on the 1911 Italian song, "Return To Sorrento."
Ricky Nelson recorded "Hello Mary Lou" in 1961 (his father, Ozzie plays tenor guitar on the record while celebrating his 55th birthday).
In 1964, the Beatles appeared live on the UK television program Ready Steady Go! miming to "It Won't Be Long," "You Can't Do That" and "Can't Buy Me Love." They were also presented with a special award from US magazine Billboard, in recognition of The Beatles having the top three singles on the chart simultaneously.
A parade was held in London in 1965 before Martha Reeves headlined the first Motown tour of England (also featuring Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and the Temptations).
In 1968, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Richie Furay and Jim Mesina, were arrested in Los Angeles for 'being at a place where it was suspected marijuana was being used.' Clapton was later found innocent, the others payed small fines.
In 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono at the British Consulate Office in Gibraltar. They spent their honeymoon in Amsterdam campaigning for an international "Bed-In" for peace. They planned another "Bed-in" in the United States, but were denied entry. The couple then went to Montréal, and during a "Bed-in" at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel recorded "Give Peace a Chance." Lennon also detailed this period in The Beatles' "The Ballad of John and Yoko," recorded by Lennon and McCartney on April 14, 1969.
In 1971, at their own expense The Rolling Stones placed full page advertisements in all the UK's music papers disclaiming any connection with the release of the Decca album 'Stone Age' saying 'in our opinion the content is below the standard we try to keep.'
Also in 1971 - The Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” slipped off the Billboard album chart after a 138 week run.
Janis Joplin started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1971 with the Kris Kristofferson's "Me And Bobby McGee." Joplin died the year before on 4th October (age 27).
Ringo Starr released "Back Off, Boogaloo" in 1972.
Lou Reed was banned from appearing The London Palladium in England in 1977 because of his punk image.
T Rex played their final ever gig when they appeared at The Locarno in Portsmouth, England in 1977.
In 1980, 28 year-old Joseph Riviera held up the Asylum Records office in New York and demanded to see either Jackson Browne or The Eagles. Riviera wanted to talk to them to see if they would finance his trucking operation. He gave him-self up when told that neither act was in the office at the time.
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1982 with "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." The song had been a B-side from 60's bands The Arrows.
Gloria Estefans tour bus was rammed by a tractor-trailer on the way to a concert in 1990. Emilio Estefan and their son Nayib were injured; Gloria suffered a serious back injury, which required an operation two days later.
In 1991, Eric Clapton's four year old son, Conor, fell to his death from the 53rd story of a New York City apartment after a housekeeper who was cleaning the room left a window open. The boy was in the custody of his mother, Italian actress, Lori Del Santo and the pair were visiting a friend's apartment. Clapton was staying in a nearby hotel after taking his son to the circus the previous evening. The tragedy inspired his song "Tears in Heaven."
Michael Jackson signed a $1 billion contract with Sony in 1991, the richest deal in recording history.
While on tour in Peru in 2006, Carlos Santana slams the United States' decision to wage war in Iraq. "I try to present a dimension that brings harmony and healing. My concept is the opposite of George W. Bush," says Santana. "There is more value in placing a flower in a rifle barrel than making war." That would make them hard to shoot....
In 2007, founding Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship singer-guitarist Paul Kantner was sued for trademark infringement by former band mate Grace Slick and ex-manager Bill Thompson. Kantner, who often performed with fellow Airplane/Starship member Mary Balin, used the Jefferson Starship moniker in apparent violation of a '85 settlement. Slick and Thompson let it slide until Kantner’s band crossed the line, at least according to the plaintiffs, by signing a lucrative sponsorship deal involving Microsoft.
In 2009, Smashing Pumpkins announce that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has left the group. The departure leaves frontman Billy Corgan as the only remaining original member. "I can no longer commit all of my energy into something that I don't fully possess," Chamberlin writes online. "I won't pretend I'm into something I'm not. I won't do it to myself, you the fan or my former partner [frontman Billy Corgan]." A Pumpkins' statement says, "Corgan will continue to write and record as Smashing Pumpkins."
Jimmie Vaughan - Fabulous Thunderbirds (1949)
Carl Palmer - Emerson Lake and Palmer/Asia (1951)
Poison Ivy, (Kristy Wallace) - The Cramps (1953)
Blues singer Marcia Ball (1954)
Jimmy Seales - Shenandoah (1954)
Slim Jim Phantom - Stray Cats (1961)
Tracy Chapman (1964)
Adrian Oxxal - James (1965)
Shelly Poole - Alisha's Attic (1972)
Alex Kapranos - Franz Ferdinand (1972)
Chester Bennington - Linkin Park (1976)
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1937, Jerry Reed, country guitarist, (1971 US #8 single "Amos Moses"). Worked with Chet Atkins, Bobby Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. He died on Sept 1, 2008.
History:
"Your Hit Parade" made its debut on radio in 1935.
Bobby Rydell made his first TV appearance, on "American Bandstand" in 1959.
In 1960, Elvis Presley started his first recordings since being discharged from the US Army. A 12 hour session in a Nashville recording studio produced his next #1 single, "Stuck On You." Scotty Moore and Bill Black, who had quit Presley's touring band in 1957, were in the studio with him for the last time.
Elvis Presley started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Surrender," his fifth #1 of the 60's. It also went to #1 in the UK. The song was based on the 1911 Italian song, "Return To Sorrento."
Ricky Nelson recorded "Hello Mary Lou" in 1961 (his father, Ozzie plays tenor guitar on the record while celebrating his 55th birthday).
In 1964, the Beatles appeared live on the UK television program Ready Steady Go! miming to "It Won't Be Long," "You Can't Do That" and "Can't Buy Me Love." They were also presented with a special award from US magazine Billboard, in recognition of The Beatles having the top three singles on the chart simultaneously.
A parade was held in London in 1965 before Martha Reeves headlined the first Motown tour of England (also featuring Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and the Temptations).
In 1968, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Richie Furay and Jim Mesina, were arrested in Los Angeles for 'being at a place where it was suspected marijuana was being used.' Clapton was later found innocent, the others payed small fines.
In 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono at the British Consulate Office in Gibraltar. They spent their honeymoon in Amsterdam campaigning for an international "Bed-In" for peace. They planned another "Bed-in" in the United States, but were denied entry. The couple then went to Montréal, and during a "Bed-in" at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel recorded "Give Peace a Chance." Lennon also detailed this period in The Beatles' "The Ballad of John and Yoko," recorded by Lennon and McCartney on April 14, 1969.
In 1971, at their own expense The Rolling Stones placed full page advertisements in all the UK's music papers disclaiming any connection with the release of the Decca album 'Stone Age' saying 'in our opinion the content is below the standard we try to keep.'
Also in 1971 - The Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” slipped off the Billboard album chart after a 138 week run.
Janis Joplin started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1971 with the Kris Kristofferson's "Me And Bobby McGee." Joplin died the year before on 4th October (age 27).
Ringo Starr released "Back Off, Boogaloo" in 1972.
Lou Reed was banned from appearing The London Palladium in England in 1977 because of his punk image.
T Rex played their final ever gig when they appeared at The Locarno in Portsmouth, England in 1977.
In 1980, 28 year-old Joseph Riviera held up the Asylum Records office in New York and demanded to see either Jackson Browne or The Eagles. Riviera wanted to talk to them to see if they would finance his trucking operation. He gave him-self up when told that neither act was in the office at the time.
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1982 with "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." The song had been a B-side from 60's bands The Arrows.
Gloria Estefans tour bus was rammed by a tractor-trailer on the way to a concert in 1990. Emilio Estefan and their son Nayib were injured; Gloria suffered a serious back injury, which required an operation two days later.
In 1991, Eric Clapton's four year old son, Conor, fell to his death from the 53rd story of a New York City apartment after a housekeeper who was cleaning the room left a window open. The boy was in the custody of his mother, Italian actress, Lori Del Santo and the pair were visiting a friend's apartment. Clapton was staying in a nearby hotel after taking his son to the circus the previous evening. The tragedy inspired his song "Tears in Heaven."
Michael Jackson signed a $1 billion contract with Sony in 1991, the richest deal in recording history.
While on tour in Peru in 2006, Carlos Santana slams the United States' decision to wage war in Iraq. "I try to present a dimension that brings harmony and healing. My concept is the opposite of George W. Bush," says Santana. "There is more value in placing a flower in a rifle barrel than making war." That would make them hard to shoot....
In 2007, founding Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship singer-guitarist Paul Kantner was sued for trademark infringement by former band mate Grace Slick and ex-manager Bill Thompson. Kantner, who often performed with fellow Airplane/Starship member Mary Balin, used the Jefferson Starship moniker in apparent violation of a '85 settlement. Slick and Thompson let it slide until Kantner’s band crossed the line, at least according to the plaintiffs, by signing a lucrative sponsorship deal involving Microsoft.
In 2009, Smashing Pumpkins announce that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has left the group. The departure leaves frontman Billy Corgan as the only remaining original member. "I can no longer commit all of my energy into something that I don't fully possess," Chamberlin writes online. "I won't pretend I'm into something I'm not. I won't do it to myself, you the fan or my former partner [frontman Billy Corgan]." A Pumpkins' statement says, "Corgan will continue to write and record as Smashing Pumpkins."
Friday, March 19, 2010
MICHAEL FREMER ALBUM REVIEW:
Child is Father to the Man
Columbia/Sundazed LP 5278 180LP or Columbia Speakers Corner CS 9619 18
Produced by: John Simon
Engineered by: Fred Catero
Mixed by: Fred Catero
Mastered by: Bob Irwin (LP cut by "WG/NRP") or Maarten de Boer
Review by: Michael Fremer
2010-03-01
The first Blood, Sweat and Tears group led by Al Kooper and including his former Blues Project bandmate Steve Katz, was the sophisticated assemblage that produced but one album. This one.
It remains a stunning example of jazz-rock sophistication that has never been matched in my opinion by any of the follow-up horn bands like Chicago or Mom’s Apple Pie (just kidding) and certainly not by the David Clayton Thomas led BS&T, though that one was far more commercially successful and though it included five of the original crew that perform here, Randy Brecker left and Al Kooper was only involved on two tracks.
Some may still dig “Spinning Wheel,” the great reworking of Traffic’s “Smiling Phases,” and the rest of the second album, and I have to admit that for pop dross it’s awfully good (though the passage of time really exposes David Clayton Thomas as little more than a facile lounge singer), but if that’s where you got to know the group and are either afraid to dig further back, or wonder whether this record can possibly live up to that one, have no fear.
Everything about this production reeks of quality— from John Simon’s producer credit to Fred Catero’s engineering and the BS&T string section made up of N.Y.C.’s best ‘60s session men that included Harry Lookofsky, whose son wrote “Walk Away Renee” for his group The Left Banke. The playing is suave and the arrangements sophisticated.
The smartly chosen covers are Tim Buckley’s “Morning Glory,” Goffin-King’s “So Much Love,” Harry Nilsson’s suave and deboner “Without Her” done as a bossa-nova and Randy Newman’s “Just One Smile.” But better than the covers are the dark blues/funk originals from Kooper among which are “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know,” “My Days Are Numbered” and “I Can’t Quit Her.”
The A&R work produced a dark album. Perhaps that’s why the album is sprinkled with unnecessary “humor” that detracted some when the album was first released and detracts more now. Fortunately there’s not much of it, but it includes manic cackling behind Al Kooper’s lovely “Overture” and a “zany” “House in the Country” by Kooper that has its compositional strengths and sketch-like weaknesses.
I remember buying this album upon its initial release. I’d gone down to New York to visit friends and stopped in at Sam Goody’s. The bizarre cover got me and then I noticed it was Kooper and Katz from The Blues Project and I bit. I also bought Steppenwolf’s debut for the aluminum foil cover before I’d heard “Born to Be Wild,” and The Moody Blues’ Days of Future Past again, just because the cover looked cool and what was on the back was so damn pretentious and ambitious.
Anyway, the original “360 Sound” edition of this record sounds fantastic. It’s a high quality Columbia studio recording, with vivid harmonics, impressive transparency and dynamics, shimmering highs and tight extended bass. The soundstage is expansive and the images tightly presented.
I’m not sure it can get much better than the original given how well-pressed Columbia records were in those days, especially if you have a clean original. That said, unlike the second BS&T album this one wasn’t all that popular so I’m not sure what’s out there in the used market. There are two reissues of this. One is from Sundazed and there’s a far more expensive one from Speakers Corner. The duplication that’s currently underway between domestic and overseas pressings seems to be growing as vinyl gains popularity and it confuses the marketplace.
The Speakers Corner reissue, which uses the wrong label art is pressed at Pallas and consequently it’s quieter and better finished overall. However, the Sundazed copy I got was very well finished and reasonably quiet, but not as quiet.
On the other hand the Speakers Corner version was somewhat more hyped up at the frequency extremes and cut somewhat hotter, but not objectionably so. The Sundazed sounds somewhat closer to the original overall, so for half the price, you do the math!
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 & Notes
Roadrunner's Best Cover Art
Getting back to the Roadrunner album cover art feature, MACHINE HEAD's 'The Blackening' Is One Of 'Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History'
Since 1910 musicians have associated visual arts with their sonic output in the form of the almighty album cover. And since 1987, Roadrunner Records has been a source of some visually stunning and visually disturbing images in the wide world of album art, nevertheless honoring the tradition. Whether using an image to set the tone for what's to follow on your speakers, or as a means of branding in forever associating a picture with a title, there is no question as to the power of the album cover — which is why the label took a look at every album released on Roadrunner Records U.S. to find the greatest covers in its celebrated history.
Voted on by the Roadrunner worldwide staff, showcasing the iconic vs. the blasphemous, the painted vs. the photographed, as well as the found art vs. the commissioned art, we give you the "Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History" — one at a time.
Check back at http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ every day as the label counts down to number one.
=============================================
Methusalem Preview New Album
The Dutch Heavy Metal band Methusalem has set the release for their new album "Unite and Conquer" on March 26, 2010. This self-financed album will be distributed by Rock Inc.
When the band decided that it was time for a new, full-length album, they threw overboard all biases about how heavy metal should sound and listened very carefully to what producer Arno Krabman from Graveland Studios had to say about their current style. The result is an album that features a bunch of songs that are all miles apart, some more traditional, some more modern, yet all fitting perfectly into Methusalem's philosophy. That philosophy is still to rock the world with hard rock and heavy metal, but in stead of living in the past, they've now made an album that remembers the past.
The album was mastered by an international mastering professional, Darius van Helfteren, who had also previously worked with Judas Priest and the Scorpions. He gave the album that last edge that it needed to sound truly great. Finnish graphic designer Jan Yrlund was asked to create the artwork and succeeded in capturing the overall lyrical theme of the album in the cover artwork.
=============================================
Five Jimi Hendrix Albums Land In The Top 100
Valleys of Neptune, the long-awaited album of previously unavailable Jimi Hendrix studio recordings, has debuted on the Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart at #4, while four additional Hendrix catalog titles -- Are You Experienced (#44), Electric Ladyland (#60), First Rays of the New Rising Sun (#63), and Axis: Bold As Love (#67) -- have returned to the Billboard 200 four decades after their original release dates, a testimony to the enduring vitality and importance of the trailblazing artist-guitarist-performer.
A newly curated album of 12 fully realized studio cuts, more than a hour's worth of previously unheard Jimi Hendrix music, Valleys of Neptune, the centerpiece of the historic 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project, rocketed to #1 on Amazon in anticipation of its release. The album debuted at #1 at Barnes & Noble, B&N.com, Borders, J&R Music World, Newbury Comics, Fred Meyer, Easy Street (Seattle), Bull Moose; #2 at Amoeba and Music Monitor; #3 at Target and Best Buy. Approximately 20% of first week's sales have been in the digital realm.
"The consumer response to Valleys of Neptune and the Jimi Hendrix catalog has been phenomenal," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. "It reminds us that his spirit still speaks to so many and inspires and motivates fans of all ages."
"It's really gratifying to know that my brother's music is still playing as vital a role in the culture today as it did when he recorded these tracks," said Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC. "The acceptance of Valleys of Neptune and the classic catalog albums underscores the fact that his innovation and creative force are truly transcendent."
=============================================
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: New Album Artwork Unveiled
The cover artwork for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' first new album in nine years, due on May 25 via Atlantic Records, can be viewed below.
According to The Pulse of Radio, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS unveiled the new CD at a private listening party on February 23 in New York City. The entire band was in attendance at the event, with The Pulse of Radio's reporter on the scene saying that singer Scott Weiland "looked the best he's looked in a long time." All 12 tracks from the album were aired, with The Pulse of Radio reporter calling the record "a natural, melodic progression for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, with BEATLES-esque harmonies, a lot of in-your-face, hard-rocking tracks, plenty of guitar solos and some astounding singing from Weiland."
=============================================
Smashing Pumpkins Set EP Release and In Store Performance
Teargarden by Kaleidyscope finds Billy Corgan and his Smashing Pumpkins releasing the 44-song project as free digital downloads. Periodically, the band will release bundles of these tracks as limited edition EPs. The first EP, Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor", is set for release on May 25th. This very limited edition collectors EP will be packaged in a beautiful collector's silk-screened wooden box. Each box will contain a 4-song CD, a vinyl 7" and a hand-carved obelisk.
Exclusive Black Light Poster w/ Preorder! Starting April 17th (Record Store Day), fans who preorder the EP from their local indie record stores will get an exclusive black light poster!
The pre-order is exclusive to independent record stores.
=============================================
Dead Weather Set New Album Release
Antiquiet had this big news for Jack White fans: There have been a few rumors surrounding The Dead Weather's new album (some of which was spurred by Jack White himself on The Vault), but now we have what seems to be an official word on the title, release date and at least a taste of the first single. The first single will be called "Die By The Drop," and it will be released next week, March 23rd, with a b-side cut called "Old Mary."
=============================================
R.E.M Star To Take Part In Alex Chilton Tribute At SXSW 2010
The remaining members of Big Star are set to perform a musical tribute to their late bandmate Alex Chilton at the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival on Saturday. The singer and guitarist passed away at a hospital in New Orleans on Wednesday, suffering from heart problems. He was 59.
Big Star, who had been booked to perform at the festival in Texas before Chilton's death, will be joined by a host of special guests. These include Mike Mills of the band R.E.M, who have spoken in the past about Chilton's impact on their music.
"It'll be just a cool way for us to all share that music Alex was part of," Big Star's Jody Stephens told Billboard.
The drummer added that he was “grateful” for the interest people have shown in the band in the days since Chilton's death. Born in Memphis, Tennessee in December 1950, Chilton originally found fame as a teenager with the Box Tops. But it was with Big Star where he became a hero for musicians around the world.
=============================================
Elton John & Leon Russell Complete New Album,
It's being reported that Elton John and Leon Russell have completed the recording of their upcoming album together and it is about to go to the mixing phase. According to songwriter Bernie Taupin's website, the album is expected to be released in the fall and will be a total of 16 tracks. Guests include Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Brian Wilson, Robert Randolph and Jim Keltner. T-Bone Burnett is producing.
According to the site:
The trio has cut fifteen songs [now reported at sixteen] ranging from Stones like rockers, Country tinged ballads, Gospel and even a Sinatra like weepy similar to something torn from the grooves of “In the Wee Small Hours” As reported before it’s varied in scope and drenched in a rich tapestry of atmospherics. Don’t expect to hear the old EJ/BT sound; this is organic recording unlike anything you’ve heard from our duo before.
=============================================
Album Cover: Erykah Badu – ‘New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh’
Erykah Badu keeps an open mind on the cover of her fifth studio album, New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, coming into bloom March 30. The artwork was illustrated by artist EMEK, who designed the cover for its predecessor. The soul sister will make appearances on “The Wendy Williams Show” (3/25), “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (3/30), “The Wanda Sykes Show” (4/3), and “Chelsea Lately” (4/5) to promote the album.
Getting back to the Roadrunner album cover art feature, MACHINE HEAD's 'The Blackening' Is One Of 'Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History'
Voted on by the Roadrunner worldwide staff, showcasing the iconic vs. the blasphemous, the painted vs. the photographed, as well as the found art vs. the commissioned art, we give you the "Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History" — one at a time.
Check back at http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ every day as the label counts down to number one.
=============================================
Methusalem Preview New Album
The Dutch Heavy Metal band Methusalem has set the release for their new album "Unite and Conquer" on March 26, 2010. This self-financed album will be distributed by Rock Inc.
When the band decided that it was time for a new, full-length album, they threw overboard all biases about how heavy metal should sound and listened very carefully to what producer Arno Krabman from Graveland Studios had to say about their current style. The result is an album that features a bunch of songs that are all miles apart, some more traditional, some more modern, yet all fitting perfectly into Methusalem's philosophy. That philosophy is still to rock the world with hard rock and heavy metal, but in stead of living in the past, they've now made an album that remembers the past.
The album was mastered by an international mastering professional, Darius van Helfteren, who had also previously worked with Judas Priest and the Scorpions. He gave the album that last edge that it needed to sound truly great. Finnish graphic designer Jan Yrlund was asked to create the artwork and succeeded in capturing the overall lyrical theme of the album in the cover artwork.
=============================================
Five Jimi Hendrix Albums Land In The Top 100
Valleys of Neptune, the long-awaited album of previously unavailable Jimi Hendrix studio recordings, has debuted on the Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart at #4, while four additional Hendrix catalog titles -- Are You Experienced (#44), Electric Ladyland (#60), First Rays of the New Rising Sun (#63), and Axis: Bold As Love (#67) -- have returned to the Billboard 200 four decades after their original release dates, a testimony to the enduring vitality and importance of the trailblazing artist-guitarist-performer.
A newly curated album of 12 fully realized studio cuts, more than a hour's worth of previously unheard Jimi Hendrix music, Valleys of Neptune, the centerpiece of the historic 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project, rocketed to #1 on Amazon in anticipation of its release. The album debuted at #1 at Barnes & Noble, B&N.com, Borders, J&R Music World, Newbury Comics, Fred Meyer, Easy Street (Seattle), Bull Moose; #2 at Amoeba and Music Monitor; #3 at Target and Best Buy. Approximately 20% of first week's sales have been in the digital realm.
"The consumer response to Valleys of Neptune and the Jimi Hendrix catalog has been phenomenal," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. "It reminds us that his spirit still speaks to so many and inspires and motivates fans of all ages."
"It's really gratifying to know that my brother's music is still playing as vital a role in the culture today as it did when he recorded these tracks," said Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC. "The acceptance of Valleys of Neptune and the classic catalog albums underscores the fact that his innovation and creative force are truly transcendent."
=============================================
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: New Album Artwork Unveiled
According to The Pulse of Radio, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS unveiled the new CD at a private listening party on February 23 in New York City. The entire band was in attendance at the event, with The Pulse of Radio's reporter on the scene saying that singer Scott Weiland "looked the best he's looked in a long time." All 12 tracks from the album were aired, with The Pulse of Radio reporter calling the record "a natural, melodic progression for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, with BEATLES-esque harmonies, a lot of in-your-face, hard-rocking tracks, plenty of guitar solos and some astounding singing from Weiland."
=============================================
Smashing Pumpkins Set EP Release and In Store Performance
Teargarden by Kaleidyscope finds Billy Corgan and his Smashing Pumpkins releasing the 44-song project as free digital downloads. Periodically, the band will release bundles of these tracks as limited edition EPs. The first EP, Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor", is set for release on May 25th. This very limited edition collectors EP will be packaged in a beautiful collector's silk-screened wooden box. Each box will contain a 4-song CD, a vinyl 7" and a hand-carved obelisk.
Exclusive Black Light Poster w/ Preorder! Starting April 17th (Record Store Day), fans who preorder the EP from their local indie record stores will get an exclusive black light poster!
The pre-order is exclusive to independent record stores.
=============================================
Dead Weather Set New Album Release
Antiquiet had this big news for Jack White fans: There have been a few rumors surrounding The Dead Weather's new album (some of which was spurred by Jack White himself on The Vault), but now we have what seems to be an official word on the title, release date and at least a taste of the first single. The first single will be called "Die By The Drop," and it will be released next week, March 23rd, with a b-side cut called "Old Mary."
=============================================
R.E.M Star To Take Part In Alex Chilton Tribute At SXSW 2010
The remaining members of Big Star are set to perform a musical tribute to their late bandmate Alex Chilton at the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival on Saturday. The singer and guitarist passed away at a hospital in New Orleans on Wednesday, suffering from heart problems. He was 59.
Big Star, who had been booked to perform at the festival in Texas before Chilton's death, will be joined by a host of special guests. These include Mike Mills of the band R.E.M, who have spoken in the past about Chilton's impact on their music.
"It'll be just a cool way for us to all share that music Alex was part of," Big Star's Jody Stephens told Billboard.
The drummer added that he was “grateful” for the interest people have shown in the band in the days since Chilton's death. Born in Memphis, Tennessee in December 1950, Chilton originally found fame as a teenager with the Box Tops. But it was with Big Star where he became a hero for musicians around the world.
=============================================
Elton John & Leon Russell Complete New Album,
It's being reported that Elton John and Leon Russell have completed the recording of their upcoming album together and it is about to go to the mixing phase. According to songwriter Bernie Taupin's website, the album is expected to be released in the fall and will be a total of 16 tracks. Guests include Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Brian Wilson, Robert Randolph and Jim Keltner. T-Bone Burnett is producing.
According to the site:
The trio has cut fifteen songs [now reported at sixteen] ranging from Stones like rockers, Country tinged ballads, Gospel and even a Sinatra like weepy similar to something torn from the grooves of “In the Wee Small Hours” As reported before it’s varied in scope and drenched in a rich tapestry of atmospherics. Don’t expect to hear the old EJ/BT sound; this is organic recording unlike anything you’ve heard from our duo before.
=============================================
Album Cover: Erykah Badu – ‘New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh’
Oxfam shops propel new Arctic Monkeys single to success
Following the phenomenal success of 'Crying Lightning' and 'Cornerstone', the 7" and 10" of which were available exclusively through Oxfam shops, Arctic Monkeys are once again teaming up with the charity for the follow-up single 'My Propeller'.
The single marks the first time a charity has distributed a series of releases by a major artist, and reflects the changing face of music distribution over the last few years.
The limited-edition 'My Propeller' 10" goes on sale exclusively in 148 Oxfam shops across the UK on Monday 22 March. The record is the third single from the recent number one album Humbug, and features new track ‘Joining The Dots’ as well as exclusive B-sides 'The Afternoon’s Hat' and 'Don’t Forget Whose Legs You’re On'.
The 'Crying Lightning' 7" sold approximately 10,000 copies in just a few weeks, making it one of the biggest-selling vinyl singles so far this century. Sales of 'Crying Lightning' bucked the industry trend for 7" sales, which have more than halved since 2007, and currently command just a 0.4 per cent market share¹.
'Cornerstone' sold out in Oxfam shops and online in just a couple of weeks.
The 'My Propeller' 10" costs £4.99, and each single comes with a download code allowing fans to get an MP3 version of the songs for free.
Domino and Arctic Monkeys are also calling on music fans to bring any unwanted albums or singles to their local Oxfam shop to help Oxfam keep turning yesterday’s hits into vital funds for years to come.
David McCullough, Oxfam’s director of trading, said:
"The partnership with Domino and Arctic Monkeys has broken new ground for us, and we’re delighted to be continuing it.
"But 'My Propeller' isn’t the only music exclusive in Oxfam shops – every shop has its own unique stock of music. As everyone from DJs to vinyl aficionados knows, our shops are one of the best places on the high street to pick up hidden treasures."
Oxfam has an illustrious musical history spanning decades:
More than 600 Oxfam shops across the country sell second-hand music – double the total number of independent record shops in the UK².
The charity sells approximately £6 million of music every year, enough to fund its entire programme in Indonesia for a year, buy 187,000 emergency shelters, or provide safe water for eight million people.
Oxfam sells around 1.8 million CDs and records every year, all donated by the British public. The largest single donation was of 4,000 vinyl albums to an Oxfam shop in Devon in 2008.
The charity’s Oxjam festival has raised more than £1 million through 3,000 events featuring more than 36,000 musicians, including Jarvis Cocker, Fatboy Slim, and Hot Chip.
To find your nearest Oxfam shop stocking ‘My Propeller’, or to order a copy online, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/arcticmonkeys
The Arctic Monkeys are currently on tour in the USA and Mexico, with dates running until 22 April.
¹ According to BPI figures for vinyl sales 1999-2008.
² There are 305 independent record shops in the UK, according to 2008 figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association.
The single marks the first time a charity has distributed a series of releases by a major artist, and reflects the changing face of music distribution over the last few years.
The limited-edition 'My Propeller' 10" goes on sale exclusively in 148 Oxfam shops across the UK on Monday 22 March. The record is the third single from the recent number one album Humbug, and features new track ‘Joining The Dots’ as well as exclusive B-sides 'The Afternoon’s Hat' and 'Don’t Forget Whose Legs You’re On'.
The 'Crying Lightning' 7" sold approximately 10,000 copies in just a few weeks, making it one of the biggest-selling vinyl singles so far this century. Sales of 'Crying Lightning' bucked the industry trend for 7" sales, which have more than halved since 2007, and currently command just a 0.4 per cent market share¹.
'Cornerstone' sold out in Oxfam shops and online in just a couple of weeks.
The 'My Propeller' 10" costs £4.99, and each single comes with a download code allowing fans to get an MP3 version of the songs for free.
Domino and Arctic Monkeys are also calling on music fans to bring any unwanted albums or singles to their local Oxfam shop to help Oxfam keep turning yesterday’s hits into vital funds for years to come.
David McCullough, Oxfam’s director of trading, said:
"The partnership with Domino and Arctic Monkeys has broken new ground for us, and we’re delighted to be continuing it.
"But 'My Propeller' isn’t the only music exclusive in Oxfam shops – every shop has its own unique stock of music. As everyone from DJs to vinyl aficionados knows, our shops are one of the best places on the high street to pick up hidden treasures."
Oxfam has an illustrious musical history spanning decades:
More than 600 Oxfam shops across the country sell second-hand music – double the total number of independent record shops in the UK².
The charity sells approximately £6 million of music every year, enough to fund its entire programme in Indonesia for a year, buy 187,000 emergency shelters, or provide safe water for eight million people.
Oxfam sells around 1.8 million CDs and records every year, all donated by the British public. The largest single donation was of 4,000 vinyl albums to an Oxfam shop in Devon in 2008.
The charity’s Oxjam festival has raised more than £1 million through 3,000 events featuring more than 36,000 musicians, including Jarvis Cocker, Fatboy Slim, and Hot Chip.
To find your nearest Oxfam shop stocking ‘My Propeller’, or to order a copy online, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/arcticmonkeys
The Arctic Monkeys are currently on tour in the USA and Mexico, with dates running until 22 April.
¹ According to BPI figures for vinyl sales 1999-2008.
² There are 305 independent record shops in the UK, according to 2008 figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Music News & Notes
Roadrunner Records to Unveil Top 10 Album Covers Via Website
Like heavy metal and album cover art? Then head on over to Roadrunner's official site and take a look at the iconic hard rock/metal label's feature on the Top 10 Roadrunner-released album covers of all time (as selected by their staff). Each day for the next week-and-a-half, a new cover will be unveiled, counting down from 10. There have been iconic, blasphemous, painted, photographed, found and commissioned artworks used for these album covers and several of the artists comment on the artwork and its place in time and what it means or meant, looking back. An interesting project, it should have some great album cover art to explore!
Check out their first installment here:
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/Ten-Greatest-Album-Covers-in-Roadrunner-History-10-21075.aspx
================================================
Passion Pit To Reissue Debut Album
The band Passion Pit is reissuing their 10-month old debut 'Because Of Course They Are.' The reissued version, due out on April 13, will feature the original album with new artwork, two "stripped-down" tracks ("Sleepyhead" and "Moth's Wings") and a cover of the Cranberries' "Dreams," which the band plays live all the time.
================================================
Teenage Fanclub Announce Comeback Album 'Shadows'
It has been almost five years since alt-rockers Teenage Fanclub released their LP 'Man-Made,' but their hiatus is about to come to an end. The Scottish band are set to release a new album called 'Shadows' later this year, which they have been working on over the past couple of years and will be released on their own PeMa label. The group began recording the album as far back as August 2008, so fans have had to wait patiently for this record to transpire. This is only the second proper Teenage Fanclub album in the past 10 years - making news of a new record an increasingly rare event.
Fortunately, it looks like the band is getting behind 'Shadows,' and has already announced a short tour of the U.K. in May and June to promote the record. The chances of a few North American dates don’t look promising—it’s not even clear yet who will be releasing the album on this side of the Atlantic—but U.S. fans will no doubt be keeping their fingers crossed.
================================================
LCD Soundsystem confirm their third album will be their last
It's being reported that LCD Soundsystem's upcoming third album will be their last. James Murphy has made good on a string of earlier comments, confirming plans to wrap up the project "and then go do something else".
"It just [seems] perfect," Murphy told BBC Radio's Zane Lowe in an interview this week. "We'll make this the last record and we'll do exactly what we want and go out happy." Murphy's use of the first person plural is telling. Although most see LCD Soundsystem as the DJ's solo project, it's a group involving several consistent collaborators, including Pat Mahoney, Al Doyle and Nancy Whang.
"I feel good about it and really positive," Murphy said. "I think that it's nice to feel like it's the last one and we'll tour really hard and then go do something else."
We already have some hints of Murphy's future plans. "[James] is quite keen to do a disco thing," band-mate Al Doyle said in 2008. Murphy is also about to release a soundtrack album for director Noah Baumbach's film, Greenberg. The soundtrack includes seven songs with vocals, Murphy told Pitchfork, inspired by the 1970s home-recording techniques of Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson.
LCD Soundsystem's third album will be released on 17 May. Their next – and possibly last – UK/Ireland tour begins 20 April.
================================================
Cauldron Black Ram Releases New Album, To Play Black Mass Ritual III This Fall
Adelaide’s Cauldron Black Ram released their new album, 'Slubberdegullion,' in Australia on March 14th.! Copies will be available through The Cave Distro and Abysmal Sounds Distro, with the vinyl release available soon through Blood Harvest. The band will also be appearing at the Black Mass Ritual III in Helsinki, Finland in October.
================================================
Behemoth Frontman Nergal Facing Prison Time Over Bible Tearing Incident In Poland
Gazetaprawna.pl has reported front man Nergal (Adam Darski) of Polish death metal band Behemoth has officially been charged with insulting the Roman Catholic Church, which is a crime in Poland that carries a penalty of up to two years in prison. The charge stems from an incident in 2007 when Nergal tore a bible apart on stage and referenced the church as being a murderous cult. A video of the concert that caused the charge can be viewed below. Nergal has stated that tearing apart the Bible was part of his artistic work and was not meant to offend religious sensibilities. More details on the case will be announced as they are made available.
Personally, although I am not an overly religious man, this isn't "artistic work," but rather a very sad attempt at gaining some PR for the band. Come on, you knew that it would offend somebody!
================================================
Escape The Fate To Release Special Edition Album
Las Vegas rockers Escape The Fate will release a deluxe edition of their album 'This War Is Ours' on April 27 via Epitaph Records. The two disc collection will include the standard album with two new unreleased tracks, "Bad Blood" and "Behind The Mask," an acoustic version of "Harder Than You Know" and an unreleased remix, "This War Is Mine," by Clown of Slipknot, as well as a DVD containing an explosive new music video for "This War Is Ours (Guillotine Part II)," videos for "Something," "10 Miles Wide" and "The Flood," a world tour documentary, and a behind the music feature.
================================================
Guns N Roses Announces New Chile, Argentina Dates
Guns N Roses was forced to cancel their March 14th show in Rio De Janeiro at Apoteose Stadium due to the stage collapsing as a result of heavy rains. The collapse resulted in injuries from both our camp and Rio crews and a truck with part of Sebastian Bach's band's gear rolled on the trip from Sao Paulo to Rio.
In related news, the Argentina and Chile shows have new dates announced:
MAR 20th Santiago @ Movistar Arena
MAR 22nd Buenos Aires @ Estadio Velez Sarsfield
================================================
Phish Announce Tour and Phish3D Film
Phish will kick off an extensive summer tour on June 11th at Toyota Park in Chicago, IL. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 2nd.
The band performed Genesis' "Watcher of the Skies" and "No Reply at All" this week at the 25th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio had the privilege of inducting the group.
After the sold-out summer tour last year, Phish delved into another ambitious undertaking: Festival 8. Held October 30th, 31st and November 1st at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, it was the band's eighth festival and attracted over 40,000 fans. Highlights from the celebration are captured in the new film, Phish 3D, which will be released in theatres this April.
The group played eight sets over the course of the weekend, including its first-ever full acoustic set and, reviving a longtime Phish tradition, a Halloween set that featured them donning a "musical costume," covering a full album by another band. This year's selection was a double album - the Rolling Stones' 1972 classic, Exile On Main Street. Complete ticketing and theatre information for Phish3D will be announced shortly. Here are some of the tour dates:
6/11 Chicago, IL Toyota Park
6/12 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
6/13 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
6/15 Portsmouth, VA nTelos Pavilion at Harbor Center
6/17 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
6/18 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
6/19 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/20 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/22 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center
================================================
James Taylor and Carole King Announce Live Album and DVD, Add New Tour Dates
In November of 1970, James Taylor and Carole King first performed together at the Troubadour on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Taylor had just released his debut album for the Beatles' newly-formed Apple Records and King was finding her way as a first-time solo performer even though by then she was a famous songwriter with a string of hits for other artists. When they returned to the club for a two-week co-headlining run in 1971, their lives were somewhat different. That summer Taylor's "Fire and Rain" was topping the charts and King's landmark Tapestry was on its way to making her a music superstar. Thirty-six years later, in November 2007, James Taylor, Carole King and members of their renowned original band "The Section" (featuring guitarist Danny Kortchmar, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Russell Kunkel) returned to the Troubadour for a three-night, six-show run to celebrate the venue's 50th anniversary. Those historic shows are documented in Live at the Troubadour, a special 2-disc CD/DVD available May 4th from Hear Music/Concord Music Group.
This remarkable recording, culled from these unforgettable string of shows, features 15 songs and 75 minutes of pristine video and audio, including stunning performances of the pair's most beloved hits such as Carole King's "So Far Away," "It's Too Late," and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?," as well as James Taylor's "Carolina in My Mind," "Sweet Baby James," and "Fire and Rain," to name just a few.
The return to the intimate Troubadour--the fertile ground that served as the unofficial home to a some of the era's defining musicians such as the Eagles, Elton John, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell--rekindled King's and Taylor's love for making music together. Variety enthused at the time, "Taylor and King reminded us about the intensity of the song, that the artistically-rich and commercially-viable are not mutually exclusive and how one tiny club continues to be a birthing room for some of this city's most memorable music." The experience was deeply felt by everyone - the musicians on stage, the fans in attendance, as well as the project's technical crew: audio producer Peter Asher (an instrumental figure throughout Taylor's career) and Emmy-winning video director, Martyn Atkins. Live at the Troubadour is captured in sterling 5.1 stereo and state-of-the-art high definition video.
In the album's liner notes, Taylor states: "The Troubadour in 1971 wasn't the beginning, but it was a big step into the light for both of us. When we reunited for the Troubadour's 50th Anniversary celebration in 2007, it felt like yesterday. It was, and still is, all about the music and the celebration of performing together." King adds, "What's even more remarkable is that James's and my musical connection and friendship continue to transcend time and place. Whenever we're together, there we are. I feel a tremendous gratitude to be able to share this experience with James, with this fine band, and most of all, with the fans."
This memorable event was also the inspiration for the recently-announced 60-concert "Troubadour Reunion" world tour that will kick off in Melbourne, Australia on March 26th and will travel to New Zealand and Japan before coming to North America starting in May. For the Troubadour Reunion tour, King and Taylor will once again be joined on stage by Kortchmar, Sklar and Kunkel. The tour has so far generated an overwhelming response exemplified by numerous sold-out shows including multiple nights at The Hollywood Bowl on May 13th, 14th and 15th, New York's Madison Square Garden on June 15th, 16th and 30th and Tanglewood on July 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Live at the Troubadour track listing:
1. Blossom (James Taylor)
2. So Far Away (Carole King)
3. Machine Gun Kelly (Danny Kortchmar)
4. Carolina in My Mind (James Taylor)
5. It's Too Late (Carole King - Toni Stern)
6. Smackwater Jack (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
7. Something in the Way She Moves (James Taylor)
8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
9. Country Road (James Taylor)
10. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
11. Sweet Baby James (James Taylor)
12. I Feel the Earth Move (Carole King)
13. You've Got a Friend (Carole King)
14. Up on the Roof (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
15. You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor)
Here are a few of the latest Dates according to Carole King's Website:
Mar 26, 2010 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, AUS
Mar 27, 2010 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, AUS
Mar 29, 2010 Entertainment Centre Adelaide, AUS
Mar 31, 2010 Entertainment Centre Brisbane, AUS
Apr 1, 2010 Entertainment Centre Brisbane, AUS
Apr 3, 2010 Hope Estate Hunter Valley, AUS
Apr 5, 2010 Entertainment Centre Sydney, AUS
Apr 6, 2010 Entertainment Centre Sydney, AUS
Apr 8, 2010 Westpac Arena Christchurch, NZ
Apr 10, 2010 Vector Arena Auckland, NZ
Apr 14, 2010 Nippon Budokan Tokyo, JPN
Apr 16, 2010 Nippon Budokan Tokyo, JPN
Apr 17, 2010 Yokohama Pacifico Yokohama, JPN
================================================
Robert Randolph Announces New Album Plus Experience Hendrix Tour
Robert Randolph & The Family Band's new album 'We Walk This Road' is scheduled for release this June on Warner Bros. Records.
Produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett, the album continues the Sacred Steel tradition for which Randolph has earned wide praise. Accompanied by his Sacred Steel mentors, Randolph will embark on the "Experience Hendrix Tour" beginning March 10 in San Francisco. The tour also features Los Lobos, Ernie Isley, Joe Satriani, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and others.
Throughout the recording of 'We Walk This Road,' Randolph and Burnett worked closely together as archivists, discovering songs—decade by decade—from the 20th century American music canon.
The songs they uncovered, ranging from blues and rock to field recordings and gospel, serve as the inspiration for the 11 songs on 'We Walk This Road.' Recorded at the Village Recorders and Electro Magnetic Studio, the album includes "If I Had My Way" (featuring Ben Harper), "Salvation" (featuring Leon Russell), and reinterpretations of Prince's "Walk Don't Walk," Bob Dylan's "Shot Of Love," (featuring Jim Keltner, who played drums on the original version) and John Lennon's "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama" (featuring Doyle Bramhall II).
Of the album, Randolph says "T-Bone and I drew a lot from the past while we were making this record, but I think it really is a record for these times. I think the fact that I, as a young guy who likes hip-hop and gospel, am reaching back into this rich history of American roots music will appeal to people who are fifteen, and people who are seventy-five years old. T-Bone opened my eyes to great archival music. He's a link between the past and the present."
*"Experience Hendrix Tour"
†Featuring B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert Lee, The Allman Brothers Band and more
March 10 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA*
March 11 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA*
March 14 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO*
March 16 Uptown Theatre Kansas City, MO*
March 17 Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN*
March 18 Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL*
March 20 Fox Theatre St. Louis, MO*
March 21 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI*
March 23 Civic Theatre Akron, OH*
March 24 Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ*
March 25 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ*
March 27 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA*
May16 First Flush Festival Wadmalaw Island, SC
June 13 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA
June 26 Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Bridgeview, IL
================================================
Infected Mushroom - Killing Time Remix EP
Infected Mushroom have announced their participation in this year's official Record Store Day with the exclusive import of the Killing Time Remix EP, a five-song collection of brand new versions of the track "Killing Time" from their latest album LEGEND OF THE BLACK SHAWARMA. Featuring hypnotic vocals from alt-rock trailblazer Perry Farrell, "Killing Time" is a bare, slow-burning anthem that epitomizes INFECTED MUSHROOM's brand of electronic rock, mixing heavy synths and digitized drums.
The Killing Time EP features remixes from music giant Paul Oakenfold (whose Perfecto Records released Legend of the Black Shawarma), Israeli psy-trance artist Astrix, English trance producer John "00" Fleming, and INFECTED MUSHROOM themselves. The EP, an exclusive import from the band’s native Israel, will be available at numerous independent record stores participating in Record Store Day Saturday, April 17, a day before the band is set to take the stage at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, where they will appear in the Sahara tent (INFECTED MUSHROOM also appeared at Coachella in 2007). For a list of participating record stores where the Killing Time Remix EP will be available, visit: www.recordstoreday.com/Venues
================================================
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Fountain
British post-punk legends Echo & The Bunnymen are launching their first US tour in support of their acclaimed new album, 'The Fountain.' The shows are hot on the heels of the band’s recent tour celebrating their landmark album Ocean Rain that included orchestral performances at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Their highly anticipated appearance at the Coachella Festival will kick off the tour.
'The Fountain' started to come together in 2007 when frontman Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant started working on new songs. For the next year, the group brought the album together in Liverpool’s Parr Street Recording Studios. McCulloch calls 'The Fountain' “the best thing we’ve done since Ocean Rain.” The press has been raving about the record with Alternative Press praising its “brisk, vibrant pop songs” and Filter calling it “ replete with shimmering, flaw-repellant pop, all glorious melodies and gorgeous atmospherics”
Echo & The Bunnymen Tour Dates
4/16/10: Indio, CA @ Empire Polo Grounds (Coachella Festival)
4/18/10: Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga’s Nugget
4/19/10: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
4/21/10: Chicago, IL @ Metro
4/23/10: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
4/25/10: Glenside (Philadelphia), PA @ Keswick Theatre
4/26/10: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
4/27/10: Fairfield, CT @ Fairfield Theatre Company
4/28/10: State College, PA @ State Theatre
4/30/10: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
5/1/10: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
================================================
Record Store Day Vinyl Reissue of Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica
New pressing from 2004 master.
Modest Mouse and vinyl were made for each other. Albums from the Pac-NW rock legends tend to be long and sprawling, and breaking them across a few sides is the way to go. Their 2000 major-label debut, 'The Moon & Antarctica,' which we named the #6 record of the decade, has been out of print on vinyl for some time. But that's going to change next month.
For the LP's 10th anniversary, Epic/Legacy are re-issuing Moon on vinyl. The set, due on April 17 for Record Store Day, has been remastered using the band's preferred 2004 master, but it contains the original tracklisting, without the extras found on the expanded edition. It also features the original artwork and contains the locked groove found at the end of the first side.
Like heavy metal and album cover art? Then head on over to Roadrunner's official site and take a look at the iconic hard rock/metal label's feature on the Top 10 Roadrunner-released album covers of all time (as selected by their staff). Each day for the next week-and-a-half, a new cover will be unveiled, counting down from 10. There have been iconic, blasphemous, painted, photographed, found and commissioned artworks used for these album covers and several of the artists comment on the artwork and its place in time and what it means or meant, looking back. An interesting project, it should have some great album cover art to explore!
Check out their first installment here:
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/Ten-Greatest-Album-Covers-in-Roadrunner-History-10-21075.aspx
================================================
Passion Pit To Reissue Debut Album
The band Passion Pit is reissuing their 10-month old debut 'Because Of Course They Are.' The reissued version, due out on April 13, will feature the original album with new artwork, two "stripped-down" tracks ("Sleepyhead" and "Moth's Wings") and a cover of the Cranberries' "Dreams," which the band plays live all the time.
================================================
Teenage Fanclub Announce Comeback Album 'Shadows'
Fortunately, it looks like the band is getting behind 'Shadows,' and has already announced a short tour of the U.K. in May and June to promote the record. The chances of a few North American dates don’t look promising—it’s not even clear yet who will be releasing the album on this side of the Atlantic—but U.S. fans will no doubt be keeping their fingers crossed.
================================================
LCD Soundsystem confirm their third album will be their last
It's being reported that LCD Soundsystem's upcoming third album will be their last. James Murphy has made good on a string of earlier comments, confirming plans to wrap up the project "and then go do something else".
"It just [seems] perfect," Murphy told BBC Radio's Zane Lowe in an interview this week. "We'll make this the last record and we'll do exactly what we want and go out happy." Murphy's use of the first person plural is telling. Although most see LCD Soundsystem as the DJ's solo project, it's a group involving several consistent collaborators, including Pat Mahoney, Al Doyle and Nancy Whang.
"I feel good about it and really positive," Murphy said. "I think that it's nice to feel like it's the last one and we'll tour really hard and then go do something else."
We already have some hints of Murphy's future plans. "[James] is quite keen to do a disco thing," band-mate Al Doyle said in 2008. Murphy is also about to release a soundtrack album for director Noah Baumbach's film, Greenberg. The soundtrack includes seven songs with vocals, Murphy told Pitchfork, inspired by the 1970s home-recording techniques of Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson.
LCD Soundsystem's third album will be released on 17 May. Their next – and possibly last – UK/Ireland tour begins 20 April.
================================================
Cauldron Black Ram Releases New Album, To Play Black Mass Ritual III This Fall
Adelaide’s Cauldron Black Ram released their new album, 'Slubberdegullion,' in Australia on March 14th.! Copies will be available through The Cave Distro and Abysmal Sounds Distro, with the vinyl release available soon through Blood Harvest. The band will also be appearing at the Black Mass Ritual III in Helsinki, Finland in October.
================================================
Behemoth Frontman Nergal Facing Prison Time Over Bible Tearing Incident In Poland
Personally, although I am not an overly religious man, this isn't "artistic work," but rather a very sad attempt at gaining some PR for the band. Come on, you knew that it would offend somebody!
================================================
Escape The Fate To Release Special Edition Album
================================================
Guns N Roses Announces New Chile, Argentina Dates
Guns N Roses was forced to cancel their March 14th show in Rio De Janeiro at Apoteose Stadium due to the stage collapsing as a result of heavy rains. The collapse resulted in injuries from both our camp and Rio crews and a truck with part of Sebastian Bach's band's gear rolled on the trip from Sao Paulo to Rio.
In related news, the Argentina and Chile shows have new dates announced:
MAR 20th Santiago @ Movistar Arena
MAR 22nd Buenos Aires @ Estadio Velez Sarsfield
================================================
Phish Announce Tour and Phish3D Film
Phish will kick off an extensive summer tour on June 11th at Toyota Park in Chicago, IL. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 2nd.
The band performed Genesis' "Watcher of the Skies" and "No Reply at All" this week at the 25th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio had the privilege of inducting the group.
After the sold-out summer tour last year, Phish delved into another ambitious undertaking: Festival 8. Held October 30th, 31st and November 1st at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, it was the band's eighth festival and attracted over 40,000 fans. Highlights from the celebration are captured in the new film, Phish 3D, which will be released in theatres this April.
The group played eight sets over the course of the weekend, including its first-ever full acoustic set and, reviving a longtime Phish tradition, a Halloween set that featured them donning a "musical costume," covering a full album by another band. This year's selection was a double album - the Rolling Stones' 1972 classic, Exile On Main Street. Complete ticketing and theatre information for Phish3D will be announced shortly. Here are some of the tour dates:
6/11 Chicago, IL Toyota Park
6/12 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
6/13 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
6/15 Portsmouth, VA nTelos Pavilion at Harbor Center
6/17 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
6/18 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
6/19 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/20 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/22 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center
================================================
James Taylor and Carole King Announce Live Album and DVD, Add New Tour Dates
In November of 1970, James Taylor and Carole King first performed together at the Troubadour on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Taylor had just released his debut album for the Beatles' newly-formed Apple Records and King was finding her way as a first-time solo performer even though by then she was a famous songwriter with a string of hits for other artists. When they returned to the club for a two-week co-headlining run in 1971, their lives were somewhat different. That summer Taylor's "Fire and Rain" was topping the charts and King's landmark Tapestry was on its way to making her a music superstar. Thirty-six years later, in November 2007, James Taylor, Carole King and members of their renowned original band "The Section" (featuring guitarist Danny Kortchmar, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Russell Kunkel) returned to the Troubadour for a three-night, six-show run to celebrate the venue's 50th anniversary. Those historic shows are documented in Live at the Troubadour, a special 2-disc CD/DVD available May 4th from Hear Music/Concord Music Group.
This remarkable recording, culled from these unforgettable string of shows, features 15 songs and 75 minutes of pristine video and audio, including stunning performances of the pair's most beloved hits such as Carole King's "So Far Away," "It's Too Late," and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?," as well as James Taylor's "Carolina in My Mind," "Sweet Baby James," and "Fire and Rain," to name just a few.
The return to the intimate Troubadour--the fertile ground that served as the unofficial home to a some of the era's defining musicians such as the Eagles, Elton John, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell--rekindled King's and Taylor's love for making music together. Variety enthused at the time, "Taylor and King reminded us about the intensity of the song, that the artistically-rich and commercially-viable are not mutually exclusive and how one tiny club continues to be a birthing room for some of this city's most memorable music." The experience was deeply felt by everyone - the musicians on stage, the fans in attendance, as well as the project's technical crew: audio producer Peter Asher (an instrumental figure throughout Taylor's career) and Emmy-winning video director, Martyn Atkins. Live at the Troubadour is captured in sterling 5.1 stereo and state-of-the-art high definition video.
In the album's liner notes, Taylor states: "The Troubadour in 1971 wasn't the beginning, but it was a big step into the light for both of us. When we reunited for the Troubadour's 50th Anniversary celebration in 2007, it felt like yesterday. It was, and still is, all about the music and the celebration of performing together." King adds, "What's even more remarkable is that James's and my musical connection and friendship continue to transcend time and place. Whenever we're together, there we are. I feel a tremendous gratitude to be able to share this experience with James, with this fine band, and most of all, with the fans."
This memorable event was also the inspiration for the recently-announced 60-concert "Troubadour Reunion" world tour that will kick off in Melbourne, Australia on March 26th and will travel to New Zealand and Japan before coming to North America starting in May. For the Troubadour Reunion tour, King and Taylor will once again be joined on stage by Kortchmar, Sklar and Kunkel. The tour has so far generated an overwhelming response exemplified by numerous sold-out shows including multiple nights at The Hollywood Bowl on May 13th, 14th and 15th, New York's Madison Square Garden on June 15th, 16th and 30th and Tanglewood on July 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Live at the Troubadour track listing:
1. Blossom (James Taylor)
2. So Far Away (Carole King)
3. Machine Gun Kelly (Danny Kortchmar)
4. Carolina in My Mind (James Taylor)
5. It's Too Late (Carole King - Toni Stern)
6. Smackwater Jack (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
7. Something in the Way She Moves (James Taylor)
8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
9. Country Road (James Taylor)
10. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
11. Sweet Baby James (James Taylor)
12. I Feel the Earth Move (Carole King)
13. You've Got a Friend (Carole King)
14. Up on the Roof (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
15. You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor)
Here are a few of the latest Dates according to Carole King's Website:
Mar 26, 2010 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, AUS
Mar 27, 2010 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, AUS
Mar 29, 2010 Entertainment Centre Adelaide, AUS
Mar 31, 2010 Entertainment Centre Brisbane, AUS
Apr 1, 2010 Entertainment Centre Brisbane, AUS
Apr 3, 2010 Hope Estate Hunter Valley, AUS
Apr 5, 2010 Entertainment Centre Sydney, AUS
Apr 6, 2010 Entertainment Centre Sydney, AUS
Apr 8, 2010 Westpac Arena Christchurch, NZ
Apr 10, 2010 Vector Arena Auckland, NZ
Apr 14, 2010 Nippon Budokan Tokyo, JPN
Apr 16, 2010 Nippon Budokan Tokyo, JPN
Apr 17, 2010 Yokohama Pacifico Yokohama, JPN
================================================
Robert Randolph Announces New Album Plus Experience Hendrix Tour
Robert Randolph & The Family Band's new album 'We Walk This Road' is scheduled for release this June on Warner Bros. Records.
Produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett, the album continues the Sacred Steel tradition for which Randolph has earned wide praise. Accompanied by his Sacred Steel mentors, Randolph will embark on the "Experience Hendrix Tour" beginning March 10 in San Francisco. The tour also features Los Lobos, Ernie Isley, Joe Satriani, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and others.
Throughout the recording of 'We Walk This Road,' Randolph and Burnett worked closely together as archivists, discovering songs—decade by decade—from the 20th century American music canon.
The songs they uncovered, ranging from blues and rock to field recordings and gospel, serve as the inspiration for the 11 songs on 'We Walk This Road.' Recorded at the Village Recorders and Electro Magnetic Studio, the album includes "If I Had My Way" (featuring Ben Harper), "Salvation" (featuring Leon Russell), and reinterpretations of Prince's "Walk Don't Walk," Bob Dylan's "Shot Of Love," (featuring Jim Keltner, who played drums on the original version) and John Lennon's "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama" (featuring Doyle Bramhall II).
Of the album, Randolph says "T-Bone and I drew a lot from the past while we were making this record, but I think it really is a record for these times. I think the fact that I, as a young guy who likes hip-hop and gospel, am reaching back into this rich history of American roots music will appeal to people who are fifteen, and people who are seventy-five years old. T-Bone opened my eyes to great archival music. He's a link between the past and the present."
*"Experience Hendrix Tour"
†Featuring B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert Lee, The Allman Brothers Band and more
March 10 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA*
March 11 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA*
March 14 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO*
March 16 Uptown Theatre Kansas City, MO*
March 17 Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN*
March 18 Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL*
March 20 Fox Theatre St. Louis, MO*
March 21 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI*
March 23 Civic Theatre Akron, OH*
March 24 Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ*
March 25 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ*
March 27 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA*
May16 First Flush Festival Wadmalaw Island, SC
June 13 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA
June 26 Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Bridgeview, IL
================================================
Infected Mushroom - Killing Time Remix EP
Infected Mushroom have announced their participation in this year's official Record Store Day with the exclusive import of the Killing Time Remix EP, a five-song collection of brand new versions of the track "Killing Time" from their latest album LEGEND OF THE BLACK SHAWARMA. Featuring hypnotic vocals from alt-rock trailblazer Perry Farrell, "Killing Time" is a bare, slow-burning anthem that epitomizes INFECTED MUSHROOM's brand of electronic rock, mixing heavy synths and digitized drums.
The Killing Time EP features remixes from music giant Paul Oakenfold (whose Perfecto Records released Legend of the Black Shawarma), Israeli psy-trance artist Astrix, English trance producer John "00" Fleming, and INFECTED MUSHROOM themselves. The EP, an exclusive import from the band’s native Israel, will be available at numerous independent record stores participating in Record Store Day Saturday, April 17, a day before the band is set to take the stage at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, where they will appear in the Sahara tent (INFECTED MUSHROOM also appeared at Coachella in 2007). For a list of participating record stores where the Killing Time Remix EP will be available, visit: www.recordstoreday.com/Venues
================================================
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Fountain
'The Fountain' started to come together in 2007 when frontman Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant started working on new songs. For the next year, the group brought the album together in Liverpool’s Parr Street Recording Studios. McCulloch calls 'The Fountain' “the best thing we’ve done since Ocean Rain.” The press has been raving about the record with Alternative Press praising its “brisk, vibrant pop songs” and Filter calling it “ replete with shimmering, flaw-repellant pop, all glorious melodies and gorgeous atmospherics”
Echo & The Bunnymen Tour Dates
4/16/10: Indio, CA @ Empire Polo Grounds (Coachella Festival)
4/18/10: Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga’s Nugget
4/19/10: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
4/21/10: Chicago, IL @ Metro
4/23/10: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
4/25/10: Glenside (Philadelphia), PA @ Keswick Theatre
4/26/10: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
4/27/10: Fairfield, CT @ Fairfield Theatre Company
4/28/10: State College, PA @ State Theatre
4/30/10: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
5/1/10: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
================================================
Record Store Day Vinyl Reissue of Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica
New pressing from 2004 master.
For the LP's 10th anniversary, Epic/Legacy are re-issuing Moon on vinyl. The set, due on April 17 for Record Store Day, has been remastered using the band's preferred 2004 master, but it contains the original tracklisting, without the extras found on the expanded edition. It also features the original artwork and contains the locked groove found at the end of the first side.
This Date In Music History-March 18
Birthdays:
Charlie Pride (1938)
John Hartman - Doobie Brothers (1950)
Irene Cara (1959)
Grant Hart - Husker Du (1961)
Vanessa Williams (1963)
Jeff LaBa - Cinderella (1963)
Jazz musician Courtney Pine (1964)
Jerry Cantrell - Alice In Chains (1966)
Queen Latifah (1970)
Stuart Zender - Jamiroquai (1974)
Adam Levine - Maroon 5 (1979)
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1947, Barry J Wilson, drums, Procol Harum, (1967 US #5 single "Whiter Shade Of Pale"). Wilson died after spending several months in a coma following a car accident on October 8th 1990. he was 43.
In 2001, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter John Phillips of Mamas and The Papas died of heart failure (age 65). The Mamas and The Papas scored the US #1 "Monday, Monday." Phillips was married to Michelle Gilliam, they had one child together, Chynna Phillips, vocalist of the 1990's pop trio Wilson Phillips. His second solo album was released on Rolling Stones records and featured Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood.
The late Wilson Pickett ("Funky Broadway") was born in 1941. He died on January 19, 2006.
One-time Steppenwolf guitarist, Kent Henry, died in Portland, OR in 2009. He was a member of Blues Image (“Ride Captain Ride”) prior to replacing Larry Byrom in Steppenwolf. He was 60.
History:
In 1902, Enrico Caruso recorded 10 arias for the Gramophone Company. He was the first well-known performer to make a record.
The first opera by a US composer performed at the Met in New York City in 1910.
In 1939, Frank Sinatra made his first recording, a song called "Our Love," with the Frank Mane band.
In 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis became the first artist to sing three songs on an episode of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" (and he sings, not lip-synchs them).
EMI Records in the UK announced in 1959 that it had now stopped all production of 78 rpm discs.
The Everly Brothers recorded "Cathy's Clown" in 1960.
In 1965, the Rolling Stones were each fined $8.50 for urinating in a public place. The incident took place at a petrol station after a gig in Romford, Essex, England.
John Lennon gave his friend and ex-Quarry Man Pete Shotton £20,000 to open Hayling Supermarkets in 1965. Lennon, George Harrison and Shotton became joint directors of Hayling Supermarkets Ltd.
The Standells appeared on an episode of NBC-TV's "The Munsters" in 1965.
Pink Floyd signed to EMI Records in the UK in 1967.
The Beatles scored their 13th US No.1 single in 1967 with "Penny Lane."
Neil Young started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1972 with "Heart Of Gold."
The Film 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' featuring David Bowie premiered in London in 1976.
The Clash released their first single “White Riot” in 1977.
The Bee Gees had the Top 3 on the US singles charts in 1978, "Night Fever" at #1, "(Love is) Thicker Than Water," by brother Andy at #2, co-written by Barry Gibb and "Emotion" by Samantha Song written and produced by The Bee Gees at #3.
Aerosmith, Santana, Heart, Dave Mason, Ted Nugent and Mahogany Rush all appeared at the California Jam II festival, Ontario, California in 1978. Over 250,000 people were in attendance.
Driving home from a basketball game in Philadelphia in 1982, soul singer Teddy Pendergrass crashed his Rolls Royce severely injuring his spinal cord.
In 1989, a radio station in California arranged to have all it's Cat Stevens Records destroyed by having a steamroller run over them in protest of the singer's support of Ayatollah Khomeni.
In 1994, four guns and 25 boxes of ammo were confiscated from Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) after his wife, Courtney Love, called police fearing he was going to commit suicide. He did commit suicide about 3 weeks later.
In 1997 - Yanni became the first western composer/performer to play at the Taj Mahal in India.
Michael Jackson and his son went shopping at a toy store in Munich, Germany in 1998. Jackson was dressed as an Arab woman.
In 2000, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 20-cent stamped postcard that featured the historic Ryman Auditorium, the home of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 30 years.
Crazytown went to #1 on the US singles chart in 2001 with "Butterfly."
In 2002, The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam and close friend of the Ramones. The ceremony took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Courtney Love exposed her breasts during an appearance on David Letterman's TV talk show in 2004. The singer, who had her back to the audience, flashed at the presenter while singing the song "Danny Boy." After the show, she went on to perform a surprise gig at the Plaid night-club in Manhattan where she was alleged to have injured a man by throwing a microphone stand into the crowd. Love was charged with assault and reckless endangerment.
R&B singer Ne-Yo was at No.1 on the US album chart in 2006 with his debut album ‘In My Own Words.’
‘07’s "Raising Sand," Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant's collaborative album with Bluegrass performer Alison Krauss, was certified platinum (one million sales) by music-industry organization RIAA in 2008.
Charlie Pride (1938)
John Hartman - Doobie Brothers (1950)
Irene Cara (1959)
Grant Hart - Husker Du (1961)
Vanessa Williams (1963)
Jeff LaBa - Cinderella (1963)
Jazz musician Courtney Pine (1964)
Jerry Cantrell - Alice In Chains (1966)
Queen Latifah (1970)
Stuart Zender - Jamiroquai (1974)
Adam Levine - Maroon 5 (1979)
They Are Missed:
Born on this day in 1947, Barry J Wilson, drums, Procol Harum, (1967 US #5 single "Whiter Shade Of Pale"). Wilson died after spending several months in a coma following a car accident on October 8th 1990. he was 43.
In 2001, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter John Phillips of Mamas and The Papas died of heart failure (age 65). The Mamas and The Papas scored the US #1 "Monday, Monday." Phillips was married to Michelle Gilliam, they had one child together, Chynna Phillips, vocalist of the 1990's pop trio Wilson Phillips. His second solo album was released on Rolling Stones records and featured Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood.
The late Wilson Pickett ("Funky Broadway") was born in 1941. He died on January 19, 2006.
One-time Steppenwolf guitarist, Kent Henry, died in Portland, OR in 2009. He was a member of Blues Image (“Ride Captain Ride”) prior to replacing Larry Byrom in Steppenwolf. He was 60.
History:
In 1902, Enrico Caruso recorded 10 arias for the Gramophone Company. He was the first well-known performer to make a record.
The first opera by a US composer performed at the Met in New York City in 1910.
In 1939, Frank Sinatra made his first recording, a song called "Our Love," with the Frank Mane band.
In 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis became the first artist to sing three songs on an episode of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" (and he sings, not lip-synchs them).
EMI Records in the UK announced in 1959 that it had now stopped all production of 78 rpm discs.
The Everly Brothers recorded "Cathy's Clown" in 1960.
In 1965, the Rolling Stones were each fined $8.50 for urinating in a public place. The incident took place at a petrol station after a gig in Romford, Essex, England.
John Lennon gave his friend and ex-Quarry Man Pete Shotton £20,000 to open Hayling Supermarkets in 1965. Lennon, George Harrison and Shotton became joint directors of Hayling Supermarkets Ltd.
The Standells appeared on an episode of NBC-TV's "The Munsters" in 1965.
Pink Floyd signed to EMI Records in the UK in 1967.
The Beatles scored their 13th US No.1 single in 1967 with "Penny Lane."
Neil Young started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1972 with "Heart Of Gold."
The Film 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' featuring David Bowie premiered in London in 1976.
The Clash released their first single “White Riot” in 1977.
The Bee Gees had the Top 3 on the US singles charts in 1978, "Night Fever" at #1, "(Love is) Thicker Than Water," by brother Andy at #2, co-written by Barry Gibb and "Emotion" by Samantha Song written and produced by The Bee Gees at #3.
Aerosmith, Santana, Heart, Dave Mason, Ted Nugent and Mahogany Rush all appeared at the California Jam II festival, Ontario, California in 1978. Over 250,000 people were in attendance.
Driving home from a basketball game in Philadelphia in 1982, soul singer Teddy Pendergrass crashed his Rolls Royce severely injuring his spinal cord.
In 1989, a radio station in California arranged to have all it's Cat Stevens Records destroyed by having a steamroller run over them in protest of the singer's support of Ayatollah Khomeni.
In 1994, four guns and 25 boxes of ammo were confiscated from Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) after his wife, Courtney Love, called police fearing he was going to commit suicide. He did commit suicide about 3 weeks later.
In 1997 - Yanni became the first western composer/performer to play at the Taj Mahal in India.
Michael Jackson and his son went shopping at a toy store in Munich, Germany in 1998. Jackson was dressed as an Arab woman.
In 2000, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 20-cent stamped postcard that featured the historic Ryman Auditorium, the home of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 30 years.
Crazytown went to #1 on the US singles chart in 2001 with "Butterfly."
In 2002, The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam and close friend of the Ramones. The ceremony took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Courtney Love exposed her breasts during an appearance on David Letterman's TV talk show in 2004. The singer, who had her back to the audience, flashed at the presenter while singing the song "Danny Boy." After the show, she went on to perform a surprise gig at the Plaid night-club in Manhattan where she was alleged to have injured a man by throwing a microphone stand into the crowd. Love was charged with assault and reckless endangerment.
R&B singer Ne-Yo was at No.1 on the US album chart in 2006 with his debut album ‘In My Own Words.’
‘07’s "Raising Sand," Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant's collaborative album with Bluegrass performer Alison Krauss, was certified platinum (one million sales) by music-industry organization RIAA in 2008.
Smith ~ Baby It's You
This from my vinyl friend Shawn over at http://isontheair.blogspot.com Thanks Shawn, one of my favorite bands from the era:
Smith were a one-hit wonder American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1969. They had a blues based sound and had a Top 5 hit in 1969 with a cover of the song "Baby It's You", with the lead vocals sung by Gayle McCormick. This disc, released in July 1969 had, by October, sold over one million copies, and received a gold record awarded by the R.I.A.A.
Smith were discovered by 1960s rocker Del Shannon in a nightclub in Los Angeles. McCormick had started her career singing songs by Tina Turner, Etta James and others of that ilk. Shannon arranged "Baby It's You" for the group and got them signed to the ABC-Dunhill Records label. Smith released an album titled, A Group Called Smith, which spent 11 weeks in the Top 40 album listings of the since-called Billboard 200 record chart. On the album, vocals were split amongst Rich Cliburn, Jerry Carter and McCormick. Smith recorded a second album titled Minus-Plus with lesser success. Smith's version of "The Weight" was included on the epochal Easy Rider soundtrack because The Band's version, which appeared in the movie, was not available for contractual reasons. Most of their material consisted of covers of popular rock and R&B tunes. The band broke up after a couple of albums, although their singles "What Am I Gonna Do" (co-written by Carole King) and "Take a Look Around" made the middle of the charts. The band's hit "Baby It's You" was also featured in Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse film, Death Proof.
McCormick went on to record three solo albums, Gayle McCormick, Flesh And Blood and One More Hour after the group disbanded. "It's A Cryin' Shame" was a minor hit for her from the first of these, reaching #44 on the charts in 1971.
Smith were a quintet of one woman and four men:
Gayle McCormick- lead vocals - from St. Louis, Missouri
Larry Moss - organ and kazoo
Jerry Carter - bass
Robert Evans - drums
Rich Cliburn - lead guitar
Smith were discovered by 1960s rocker Del Shannon in a nightclub in Los Angeles. McCormick had started her career singing songs by Tina Turner, Etta James and others of that ilk. Shannon arranged "Baby It's You" for the group and got them signed to the ABC-Dunhill Records label. Smith released an album titled, A Group Called Smith, which spent 11 weeks in the Top 40 album listings of the since-called Billboard 200 record chart. On the album, vocals were split amongst Rich Cliburn, Jerry Carter and McCormick. Smith recorded a second album titled Minus-Plus with lesser success. Smith's version of "The Weight" was included on the epochal Easy Rider soundtrack because The Band's version, which appeared in the movie, was not available for contractual reasons. Most of their material consisted of covers of popular rock and R&B tunes. The band broke up after a couple of albums, although their singles "What Am I Gonna Do" (co-written by Carole King) and "Take a Look Around" made the middle of the charts. The band's hit "Baby It's You" was also featured in Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse film, Death Proof.
McCormick went on to record three solo albums, Gayle McCormick, Flesh And Blood and One More Hour after the group disbanded. "It's A Cryin' Shame" was a minor hit for her from the first of these, reaching #44 on the charts in 1971.
Smith were a quintet of one woman and four men:
Gayle McCormick- lead vocals - from St. Louis, Missouri
Larry Moss - organ and kazoo
Jerry Carter - bass
Robert Evans - drums
Rich Cliburn - lead guitar
Alex Chilton of the Box Tops/Big Star Dead at 59
Chilton was born in Memphis and played both bass and rhythm guitar in area groups while still in high school. One of those groups, the DeVilles, caught the eye of producers Chips Moman and Dan Penn who had them signed to Bell, changed their name to the Box Tops and had them record the song "The Letter." The record, one of the shortest in chart history at under two minutes, went to the top of the U.S. charts and stayed there for four weeks making it the biggest hit of 1967.
Chilton and Big Star had been scheduled to play Saturday as part of the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Book Review and Author Interview: The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
A special thank you to Tarie at http://peteredmundlucy7.blogspot.com (Into the Wardrobe: an international blog on literature for the young and young at heart) for the permission to reprint the book review. Addditionally, a special thank you to Yvonne Prinz for allowing the reprint. Stop by her site and pick up her fascinating book. www.thevinylprincess.com He is a link to the original post http://peteredmundlucy7.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-and-author-interview-vinyl.html
"He asks me about an LP and I know exactly when I got it, where I got it and even whose collection it originally came from. I know the artist's musical background and I know if they played in any other bands, even if it was only as a sideman, even if it was only for fifteen minutes. Music, to me, is one giant puzzle, and collecting music is about finding all the pieces and trying to fit them together."
That's Allie. Allie is sixteen years old and she lives with her mom in Berkeley, California. For the summer she is working full-time at Bob & Bob Records. When not working at the record store, Allie is blogging about music at http://www.thevinylprincess.com/ . She also writes a music zine.
The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz (HarperTeen, 2009) is about Allie (a.k.a. the Vinyl Princess) and her love for music, specifically her love for vinyl records. The Vinyl Princess is also about changes, summer, and seeking a community of people who share your passions.
Allie, her best friend Kit, her mom, her grandmother, and all the other characters in the novel seem very real. They are all unique, VERY interesting, and flawed (read: realistic). Their relationships are great to read about and their Berkeley setting is solidly established. Allie's narration of events is very convincing.
I love reading about a character with a creative passion. I loved whenever Allie obsessed over her blog and zine. I loved reading her musings and conversations with other characters about music. A well-written main character with a creative passion is always entertaining and inspiring to read.
The Vinyl Princess is one of those quiet YA novels. It isn't very dramatic or angsty or really emotional. But it's still very much about the ups and downs of being sixteen and I really enjoyed reading it.
Below is my quick Q&A with the author Yvonne Prinz, who is also the cofounder of Amoeba Music, the world's largest independent music store! I just had to know more about the woman behind this cool YA novel!
What is your strongest or favorite memory from when you were Allie's age (16)?
Like Allie, I worked in a record store, but it was in Edmonton, Canada. I remember being crazy for music. I went to my first Rock Concert that year- HEART and RUSH. It was such a thrill. I hated High School and couldn't wait to get out of there.
What was your favorite book and favorite music album when you were Allie's age? What is your favorite book and favorite music album now?
My favorite book was In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It was sitting on my parent's bookshelf and I picked it up and started reading it. I was hooked. My favorite record? I had so many. I think I was still pretty into The Beatles White Album, although my record collection was vast. Right now, today, my favorite record is Howlin' Wolf, Ridin' in The Moonlight. That will change tomorrow, I guarantee it. The last book I read that I loved was The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster.
Why do you write for teen readers?
I like writing for teens because it's such a confusing time. I remember how excited I was at that age, when I found a book where the writer seemed to know about those years. I want to be that person now.
What do you think is the importance of quality books specifically for teens?
I think reading is a great way to learn about the world. It seems that there are more YA books now than ever before especially if you're into Vampires. Quality books are a little harder to find but if teens are reading, I'm happy.
Who are your favorite authors? How have they influenced your own writing?
Cormac McCarthy, Lorrie Moore, A.M. Holmes, John Cheever, Tobias Wolf. Dan Chaon. Good writers always inspire me to write. There is something magical about a well told story. All of these writers are brilliant storytellers.
What was your writing/research/creative process for The Vinyl Princess? Do you have any writing rituals?
I have terrible writing habits but for The Vinyl Princess I rented a studio in Berkeley and I went to "Work" every day. I became very disciplined because I had a very good agent's interest and I wanted to present her with my best work. I had a boom box and a kettle for tea and a desk. My view was College Avenue, right near my character's house. It was perfect.
That's Allie. Allie is sixteen years old and she lives with her mom in Berkeley, California. For the summer she is working full-time at Bob & Bob Records. When not working at the record store, Allie is blogging about music at http://www.thevinylprincess.com/ . She also writes a music zine.
The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz (HarperTeen, 2009) is about Allie (a.k.a. the Vinyl Princess) and her love for music, specifically her love for vinyl records. The Vinyl Princess is also about changes, summer, and seeking a community of people who share your passions.
Allie, her best friend Kit, her mom, her grandmother, and all the other characters in the novel seem very real. They are all unique, VERY interesting, and flawed (read: realistic). Their relationships are great to read about and their Berkeley setting is solidly established. Allie's narration of events is very convincing.
I love reading about a character with a creative passion. I loved whenever Allie obsessed over her blog and zine. I loved reading her musings and conversations with other characters about music. A well-written main character with a creative passion is always entertaining and inspiring to read.
The Vinyl Princess is one of those quiet YA novels. It isn't very dramatic or angsty or really emotional. But it's still very much about the ups and downs of being sixteen and I really enjoyed reading it.
Below is my quick Q&A with the author Yvonne Prinz, who is also the cofounder of Amoeba Music, the world's largest independent music store! I just had to know more about the woman behind this cool YA novel!
What is your strongest or favorite memory from when you were Allie's age (16)?
Like Allie, I worked in a record store, but it was in Edmonton, Canada. I remember being crazy for music. I went to my first Rock Concert that year- HEART and RUSH. It was such a thrill. I hated High School and couldn't wait to get out of there.
What was your favorite book and favorite music album when you were Allie's age? What is your favorite book and favorite music album now?
My favorite book was In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It was sitting on my parent's bookshelf and I picked it up and started reading it. I was hooked. My favorite record? I had so many. I think I was still pretty into The Beatles White Album, although my record collection was vast. Right now, today, my favorite record is Howlin' Wolf, Ridin' in The Moonlight. That will change tomorrow, I guarantee it. The last book I read that I loved was The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster.
Why do you write for teen readers?
I like writing for teens because it's such a confusing time. I remember how excited I was at that age, when I found a book where the writer seemed to know about those years. I want to be that person now.
What do you think is the importance of quality books specifically for teens?
I think reading is a great way to learn about the world. It seems that there are more YA books now than ever before especially if you're into Vampires. Quality books are a little harder to find but if teens are reading, I'm happy.
Who are your favorite authors? How have they influenced your own writing?
Cormac McCarthy, Lorrie Moore, A.M. Holmes, John Cheever, Tobias Wolf. Dan Chaon. Good writers always inspire me to write. There is something magical about a well told story. All of these writers are brilliant storytellers.
What was your writing/research/creative process for The Vinyl Princess? Do you have any writing rituals?
I have terrible writing habits but for The Vinyl Princess I rented a studio in Berkeley and I went to "Work" every day. I became very disciplined because I had a very good agent's interest and I wanted to present her with my best work. I had a boom box and a kettle for tea and a desk. My view was College Avenue, right near my character's house. It was perfect.
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