Thursday, December 15, 2011

Vinyl Record News & Music Notes

if you love vinyl, you'll love this well written story at nj.com - i am always amazed at the passion that we have for the hobby....

Milltown man turns passion for vinyl into a booming record-dealing business

By Lisa Intrabartola/For the Star-Ledger

"So I was in some guy’s basement..."

Darren Revilla’s stories start with this phrase so often that the Milltown resident could be mistaken for a plumber.

But it’s the music-lover-turned-entrepreneur’s never-ending quest for rare records and audio equipment that leads him on regular descents into the bowels of strangers’ homes.

“One of the best parts of this whole thing is getting into people’s houses, seeing how they live and hearing the stories about the (record) collection and cool old stuff they have,” said Revilla, 39.

“The things they think are garbage, I can take home, clean up and give new life to.”

It was in one such basement — belonging to the widow of a like-minded vinyl fanatic with a 12,000-piece collection — where his online trading business, Revilla Grooves & Gear, came to fruition.

Read the rest of this fascinating look into record collecting at nj.com

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sadly, for every story like the one above, we have these sad stories, this from www.recordnet.com

Music merchant's passion won't end when store closes

By Tony Sauro

Willie Hines recalls the day with fondness and considerable nostalgia.

An elderly couple was quietly exploring the racks of vinyl records and CDs in his Stockton store.

Instead of blasting Frank Zappa, hip-hop or heavy metal at them on the sound system, Hines soothed the scene and mellowed the mood by playing Ludwig van Beethoven's "Eroica" symphony.

"The woman asked me, 'Who is this? I love that,' " said Hines, owner of Stockton's Replay Records. " 'That's one of my favorites.' Hey, I'm not about to bust out Slipknot there. More like (Gustav) Mahler's Fifth (Symphony)."

Thus, a sale was made.

Unfortunately, there haven't been enough of those purchases in recent months and years. So, Hines will be playing his last customer favorite - and making his final sale - some time Jan. 1. Not exactly an ideal way to start a new year. To him, it's more like a death in the family.

On that day, his small, independent store - a reassuring source of recorded music history and savvy with a personal touch and a hangout for vinyl "fanatics like me" - closes after 24 years.

Increased rental costs, steadily decreasing sales - and the mammoth Internet distribution system - have tuned and tapped him out. Independent record stores remain an endangered species. With no protection.

Read the rest at recordnet.com

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not sure about this album cover....

The Ting Tings Reveal New Cover Art

Well, here it is, the Ting Tings cover art for 'Sounds From Nowheresville,' their sophmore follow-up to their energetic debut 'We Started Nothing.' The cover art was created by Milan Abad, who submitted the piece under the band’s "Show Us Yours" campaign that asked young artists to submit photos, video and artwork for the album.

“He produced a piece of artwork that is just amazing, and we fell in love with it, and it became the front cover,” Jules de Martino told Spin. “It’s a totally cool piece, and it kind of transcends everywhere we are at the moment and what our album’s about.”

ummm, ok if you say so.....












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Southern Lord Reissuing Poison Idea Albums

Southern Lord Recordings has recently issued the following announcement about re-releasing albums from Poison Idea:

"Southern Lord Recordings are proud to be officially re-releasing several incredible, seminal titles from Portland, Oregon’s explosive punk/hardcore kings, POISON IDEA in 2012!

"Southern Lord will be releasing CD versions of several POISON IDEA reissues that TKO Records are currently re-releasing on vinyl. All of the material is being re-mastered by Jack Control (World Burns to Death) and each release includes new, extensive liner notes as well as never before seen photos and previously unreleased bonus material.

"This POISON IDEA reissue series kicks off January 31st, with the re-release of Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years. Boasting twenty-nine tracks from the band’s earliest days, the album includes the 100% previously unreleased Boner’s Kitchen demo from 1981, the complete Darby Crash Rides Again demo from 1982, the complete uncut live-on-the-air set from the 1983 KBOO radio benefit, and outtakes from the Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes recording session. Much of this material has either been out-of-print or never before officially released!

"All the recordings have been meticulously restored and mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door Mastering. The booklet contains liner notes, old flyers and tons of previously unpublished photos from the band’s beginnings. This is a complete no-brainer for POISON IDEA fans or any fan of the early days of American hardcore punk.

"Following Darby Crash Rides Again in January, Southern Lord will also re-release The Fatal Erection Years (Pick Your King/Record Collectors are Pretentious Assholes), War All The Time, Ian Mackaye, Feel The Darkness, We Must Burn and Last Will & Testament throughout 2012."

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not a huge fan of her music, however, i like her moxy, give credit where it is due.....

Madonna and Live Nation Entertainment Confirm Three Album Licensing Deal with Interscope Records

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Madonna will have a new album out in late March; it was officially confirmed today by Interscope Records. In one component of a very broad plan developed by long time manager Guy Oseary and Live Nation Entertainment, the Material Girl has signed a three album deal with Interscope Records. The new album, her first in five years, has been completed. "Gimme All Your Luvin," the first single from the album, will be released the last week in January prior to her upcoming Bridgestone Halftime Superbowl appearance on February 5th.

In 2007, Madonna signed a multi-faceted deal with Live Nation that includes new studio albums, touring, merchandising, fan club/website, DVDs, music-related television and film projects and associated sponsorship agreements. "We look forward to a great partnership," commented Live Nation Entertainment's Chairman of Global Music & CEO, Global Touring Arthur Fogel. Oseary was equally enthusiastic: "We couldn't be happier to work with Jimmy Iovine, Lucian Grainge (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group) and the entire Interscope team. We anticipate a very bright future at our new home," added Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M. "Very rarely does an opportunity like this come around. We would like to thank Madonna, Guy and Live Nation for their belief in us."

In other Madonna news, her upcoming film, "W.E." which she directed and co-wrote is scheduled for a wide release on February 3rd.

Over the course of her extraordinary three decade career, Madonna has sold over 300 million albums and holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. She is a nine time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, producer and is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last CD, "Hard Candy," debuted at No. 1 in 27 countries including US, UK, Canada, France and Australia.

SOURCE Live Nation Entertainment

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Legacy Recordings Celebrates Scorpions With Stateside Release of Two Essential New Titles: Comeblack, the New Studio Album of Covers & Classics From Germany's Seminal Metal Band, and Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D, a Mind-blowing State-of-the-art Blu-ray Disc Capturing the Group's On-going Goodbye Tour

Both Releases Available Tuesday, January 24

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the domestic release of two essential new titles from the seminal metal band Scorpions: Comeblack, a new album of classic rock covers and fresh performances of signature repertoire recorded earlier this year, and Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D, available on Blu-ray disc, an 11-camera 3-D concert film recorded in Saarbrucken, Germany on April 15, 2011 during Scorpions current farewell tour.

Launched by guitarist Rudolf Schenker in 1965, Scorpions forged metal, rock and pop into a sound that's come to signify an entire genre through hard rock anthems like "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and hits like "Send Me An Angel," "Wind of Change" and "Still Loving You," selling more than 100 million records in the process.

Last year, Scorpions announced that the group's Get Your Sting and Blackout tour, an epic ongoing worldwide rock 'n' roll odyssey in support of 2010's Sting in the Tail, would be the group's last before retirement. The tour is slated to run through 2012 with a string of historic farewell blowouts and festival performances scheduled Europe culminating with shows at the Wacken Open Air festival (August 4, 2012) and Munich's Olympiahalle (October 13, 2012).

Wanting to create a truly memorable concert film to do justice to power of the live show and the high energy emotional impact of the final tour, Scorpions chronicled the sold-out concert on April 15, 2011 in Saarbrucken, Germany with a state-of-the-art 3D production. Helmed by director Gerd F. Schultze (who's worked on 3D films with Michael Jackson, Bryan Adams, Joe Cocker, Carlos Santana and German superstar Peter Maffay), Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D puts the viewer into the VIP box at the ultimate Scorpions concert. In addition to 100 minutes of pure Scorpions music, Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D includes more than half-an-hour of behind-the-scenes bonus material.

"The preview audience was absolutely euphoric and stunned by the intensity and the never-before-witnessed power and intimacy in which they were able to experience the Scorpions' fantastic concert," said Gerd Schultze following a theatrical screening of the film. "The people left the screening with a completely new and never-before-seen concert experience and wanted to watch it all over straight away. Part of the reason is, that we have managed to create an unbelievable 3D depth with a specially developed method, which is very pleasant to watch. Using the new camera technology, we managed to translate 3D in the cut and montage technique in a style that will meet the expectations of a first class product even in ten years time. It makes you feel like you're sitting in the VIP lounge amidst the audience through this 11 camera 3D concert staging and its monstrous 5.1 surround and stereo sound. At the same time, The Scorpions perform their unbelievably powerful and visually unique show with all their hits live in your living room. This is pure dynamite ... fasten seat belts and take off... into the third dimension."

"Saarbrucken was a very good choice," wrote the band in a press statement, "our fans were simply sensational and gave us the chance to thank them for their many years of support."

Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D - Blu-ray
The Set List:
Intro
Sting In The Tail
Make It Real
Bad Boys Running Wild
The Zoo
Coast To Coast
Loving You Sunday Morning
The Best Is Yet To Come
Send Me An Angel
Holiday
Raised On Rock
Tease Me, Please Me
Dynamite
Kottak Attack
Blackout
Six String Sting
Big City Nights
Still Loving You
Wind Of Change
Rock You Like A Hurricane
When The Smoke Is Going Down

At some point during the Get Your Sting and Blackout tour ("We can't remember the day, the month or the hour"), Scorpions, enjoying the success of Sting in the Tail and the emotional rejuvenation of the farewell tour ("Screaming fans everywhere we went!") decided to record one last classic album. "The idea to go back to the studio was born out of pure excitement," said the band who cut an album mixing covers of rock 'n' roll standards that informed and inspired the Scorpions alongside new productions and performances of the songs in the band's core catalog that have proved the most meaningful to the members.

The result, Comeblack, is, according to the band, "an encore for our die-hard fans, to thank them for all the support for so many years. At the same time, this is a tribute to legendary bands from the sixties, like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, who have inspired us to follow our dreams. We hope you like it as much as we do... Rock on and ... Comeblack."

Scorpions - Comeblack - tracklisting
Rhythm of Love
No One Like You
The Zoo
Rock You Like A Hurricane
Blackout
Wind of Change
Tainted Love (Gloria Jones/Marc Almond)
Children of the Revolution (T. Rex)
Across the Universe (The Beatles)
Tin Soldier (Small Faces)
All Day and All of the Night (The Kinks)
Ruby Tuesday (The Rolling Stones)

www.the-scorpions.com
www.legacyrecordings.com

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

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Peter Gabriel Asks For Fan Input For Reissue

Mr. Gabrie is enlisting his fans help in putting together the 25th anniversary edition of his classic LP ‘So.’ Here is the statement from his website:

Share Your Memories of 'So'

We are in the 25th anniversary year of So and in 2012 will be celebrating one of the most important albums of Peter’s career with a special edition release. We want you to help us build the story of So with your own memories. We would love to see your memorabilia from back in 1986. Do you have any original So merchandise, posters and tickets for the So tour? Your photos relating to the album release or the concerts? Even a diary entry from 25 years ago which tells a special story about the album release or So tour?

We may ask to include your images in the new re-issue or on Peter’s website, but to start with please send us your photos and scans in a small file size (maximum of 2mb) plus your contact details.

Please send us your memories and souvenirs by the next Full Moon on January 9 2012.

Submit your memorabilia here

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CORROSION OF CONFORMITY: New Album Details Revealed

Candlelight Records has set a February 28, 2012 North American release date for the self-titled new album from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY. Recorded at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California, the CD was produced by the band in cooperation with longtime collaborator John Custer. It was mixed by John Lousteau (FOO FIGHTERS) and features artwork by Seldon Hunt (MELVINS, HIGH ON FIRE).

"Corrosion Of Conformity" will be available on standard CD, deluxe digipak, and two exclusive vinyl formats.

Read the rest at our friends at Blabbermouth

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album cover art of the day:

SKINEATER: Debut Album Artwork Unveiled

Swedish death metallers SKINEATER have revealed the cover artwork for their debut album, "Dermal Harvest". The CD is scheduled for an early 2012 release via Pulverised Records. The band states, "There are some guitars and bass left to record. Some vocals, too. No big deal! This will be a really brutal release!!"

Read the rest at our friends at Blabbermouth

















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and in music history for the day:

In 1943, keyboardist/blues singer/composer Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller died of pneumonia at the age of 39.

In 1944, a single-engine plane carrying bandleader U.S. Army Maj. Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris. The true fate of the plane and its passengers remains unknown.

In 1955, Johnny Cash released the Sun Records single "Folsom Prison Blues," which peaked at #4 on the Country chart but did not break into the Billboard top pop list. Cash included the song in his repertoire for decades. He performed it at Folsom Prison itself on January 13, 1968 and this "live" version was eventually released by Columbia on the "At Folsom Prison" album the same year, and as a single that reached #32 on the pop chart. It became one of Cash's signature songs.

Cash was inspired to write this song after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force. Cash recounted how he came up with the "Reno" line: "I sat with my pen in my hand, trying to think up the worst reason a person could have for killing another person, and that's what came to mind."

Cash borrowed the melody for the song and many of the lyrics from Gordon Jenkins's 1953 Seven Dreams concept album, specifically the song "Crescent City Blues." Jenkins was not credited on the original record, which was issued by Sun Records. In the early 1970s, after the song became popular, Cash paid Jenkins a settlement of approximately $75,000.

In 1956, Elvis Presley gave his final performance on the "Louisiana Hayride" after 50 appearances on the radio show, a weekly broadcast from KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana.

In 1957, columbia Records executive Mitch Miller and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. disparaged rock 'n' roll as "the comic books of music" during a radio talk show hosted by Davis. Another guest on the radio show, Arnold Maxim, president of the MGM record label, disagreed with them saying he saw no end to the fad in the near future.

In 1959, the Everly Brothers recorded "Let It Be Me" in New York City. It was the first time they recorded outside of Nashville and the first time they recorded with strings.

In 1964, for the crime of performing in front of a multiracial audience at a show near Cape Town, singer Dusty Springfield was deported from South Africa.

In 1964, the Beatles released the album 'Beatles '65.' It was the band's fifth Capitol release, but seventh American album. It was released in mono and stereo versions. The album was also issued in Germany on the Odeon label. Beatles '65 includes eight of the fourteen songs from Beatles for Sale (omitting "Eight Days a Week", "Words of Love", "Every Little Thing", "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party", "What You're Doing", and the "Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey" medley, all of which showed up later in Beatles VI). It picked up "I'll Be Back" from A Hard Day's Night and includes the single "I Feel Fine"/"She's a Woman". These latter two songs were remixed into "duophonic" [fake] stereo and drenched in reverb by Capitol Records' executive Dave Dexter, Jr to cover up the use of the mono mixes sent from England.

The mono versions of both "I Feel Fine" and "She's A Woman" were also remixed with added echo and reverb for the single and mono album release. The stereo version of "Mr. Moonlight" has a longer fadeout than the UK versions.

In the US the album was a blockbuster hit, and jumped from number 98 straight to number one, making the biggest jump to the top position in the history of the Billboard Album Charts up to that time. It remained at number one for nine straight weeks, starting on 9 January 1965.

All tracks written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney (Lennon–McCartney), except where noted.

Side one

1."No Reply" – 2:15
2."I'm a Loser" – 2:31
3."Baby's in Black" – 2:02
4."Rock and Roll Music" (Chuck Berry) – 2:32
5."I'll Follow the Sun" – 1:46
6."Mr. Moonlight" (Roy Lee Johnson) – 2:35

Side two

7."Honey Don't" (Carl Perkins) – 2:56
8."I'll Be Back" – 2:22
9."She's a Woman" – 2:57
10."I Feel Fine" – 2:20
11."Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" (Perkins) – 2:24





In 1967, the Who released 'The Who Sell Out," a concept album formatted as a collection of unrelated songs interspersed with faux commercials and public service announcements.

The cover is divided into panels featuring a photograph by David Montgomery of each of the band members, two on the front and two on the back. On the front is Pete Townshend applying Odorono brand deodorant from an oversized stick, and Roger Daltrey sitting in a bathtub full of Heinz baked beans (holding an oversized tin can of the same). Daltrey claims to have caught pneumonia after sitting for a prolonged period in the bathtub, as the beans had been frozen. On the back is Keith Moon applying Medac from an oversized tube, and John Entwistle in a leopard-skin Tarzan suit, squeezing a blonde woman in a leopard-skin bikini with one arm and a teddy bear with the other (an ad for the Charles Atlas course mentioned in one of the album's faux commercials).

The LP also contains the top ten hit "I Can See for Miles," which was released as a single and peaked at #10 in the UK and #9 in the US. Original vinyl copies of Sell Out end with an audio oddity that repeats into a locked groove. The music in the locked groove is an instrumental version of what was originally intended to be a vocal jingle for The Who's UK label Track Records. The opening "Radio London" (Days of the Week) jingle makes use of a device called the Sonovox.

When the LP was released on Track Records in the UK in 1967 (Track 612 002 Mono & Track 613 002 Stereo), a poster was included inside the first 1000 copies (500 stereo and 500 mono). They came with sticker on the front cover stating 'Psychedelic Poster Inside'. Due to its rarity, first pressings with poster and sticker have sold for more than £600, and have been known to sell for much more.

A single LP was re-issued on 140 Gram Clear blue vinyl as a Special Edition in 2008, by Lilth Records LTD Manufactured in the EU. A two-disc Deluxe Edition of the album was released on 16 March 2009 in the UK and 2 June 2009 in the US. In 2003, the album was ranked number 113 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.



In 1967, the Beach Boys met Maharishi Yogi in Paris and learned transcendental meditation. ohmmmmmmm

In 1968, after performing "Crown of Creation" on CBS-TV's "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick, already in partial blackface, brought controversy to the show by giving the "black power salute." The gesture had been made infamous when two African-American athletes at that year's Olympics raised their fists instead of putting their hands over their hearts during the U.S. National Anthem.

In 1969, UNICEF held a "Peace For Christmas" charity concert at the Lyceum Ballroom in London that featured the live performance debut of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band (featuring George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Keith Moon, and Delaney & Bonnie, among others). It turned out to be Lennon's last stage appearance in Britain. The Rascals and Desmond Dekker & the Aces also performed.

In 1973, Aerosmith lip-synced "Dream On" on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."

In 1977, two days before they are due to appear on NBC'S Saturday Night Live and start their first US tour, The Sex Pistols are denied visas to enter the country. Johnny Rotten was refused because of a drug conviction, Paul Cook and Sid Vicious because of 'moral turpitude' and Steve Jones because of his criminal record.

In 1984, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" entered the UK chart at #1, where it will stay for five weeks. The Bob Geldof produced song, specifically written to raise money for relief of famine in Ethiopia, was recorded by leading Irish and British musicians, including Phil Collins, Bono, George Michael, Sting, David Bowie, Boy George and Paul McCartney. The record would sell more than three million copies in Britain alone and enjoy similar success around the world.

In 1988, James Brown was sentenced to a six-year jail term for leading police on a late-night, two-state car chase. He was released on February 27, 1991.

In 1997, the surviving members INXS released a tape of an interview in which they talk about the life and death of the group's late vocalist Michael Hutchence. The band members had been reluctant to give interviews until this release.

In 2001, R&B singer/songwriter (Walking The Dog) Rufus Thomas, who had been a popular Memphis disc jockey from 1953 to 1974, died following a heart attack at age 84.

In 2006, the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang tour re-captured the title of top-grossing tour ever from U2's Vertigo and was the top grossing tour of the year, according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore. The Stones took in about $437 million since the previous November.

In 2008, as part of the settlement in their divorce that was finalized three weeks earlier, Madonna paid former husband Guy Ritchie around £50 million (about $78.6 million US).

In 2008, a modest, one-story, red-brick house in St. Louis where Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Chuck Berry lived for eight years in the 1950s was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Berry, who now lives in Wentzville, Mo., about 40 miles west of St. Louis said "Many of my favorite songs came about while in that house. It's good to know that my music and now that house will always be a part of St. Louis' history."

In 2008, singer/guitarist (Psychotic Reaction) John "Sean" Byrne, lead vocalist of the Count Five, died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 61.

In 2009, with U2 leading the way by making over 311 million dollars, several classic rockers were among the top earning touring acts of the year, including Madonna ($222 million), Bruce Springsteen ($156 million), AC/DC ($135 million), Billy Joel and Elton John ($90 million) and Tina Turner ($86 million).

birthdays today include (among others): Ken Knox (Chairman of the Board) (60), Paul Simonon (Clash) (56), Cindy Birdsong (Supremes) (72), Carmine Appice (Vanila Fudge, Beck, Bogert & Appice) (65), Doug Phelps (Kentucky Headhunters) (71) and Dave Clark (Dave Clark Five) (69)