VVN Music

Preview: U22 - U2...Fan Picked Live Album For U2 Subscribers

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:57:00 +0000

Artist: U2
Title: U22
Release Date: TBD
Label: TBD
Format(s): CD

U2 spent a couple of years on the road for the U2360° tour and, as a thank you to their biggest fans, they are releasing a 22-song compilation from the tour.

The limited edition disc will be made available to subscribers of u2.com only.

U2 performed 46 different songs during the U2360° tour spanning nine albums over 30 years and invited fans at u2.com to shortlist them for this release.

“This is really going to be a special CD,” said Adam Clayton tells U2.com. “I wasn’t expecting some of these tunes, it’s a really fresh collection and it’s going to make very interesting listening.”

Track List:

Bad
Where The Streets Have No Name
Magnificent
One
Ultraviolet
Even Better than The Real Thing
With or Without You
Beautiful Day
City of Blinding Lights
The Unforgettable Fire
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
All I Want is You/Love Rescue Me
Moment of Surrender
Until The End of the World
The Fly
One Tree Hill
Stay (Faraway, So Close)
Walk On
Zooropa
Elevation
Out of Control
Mysterious Ways

Dick Kniss, Bassist for Peter Paul & Mary and John Denver, Passes Away at 74

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:38:00 +0000

Dick Kniss, the bassist for two of the biggest folk artists in history, has passed away at the age of 74. Kniss died of chronic pulmonary disease in Kingston, NY near his home in Saugerties.

Kniss began his career playing in jazz bands but, in 1964, was hired by Peter, Paul and Mary to play on their albums and tours. He stayed with them throughout the rest of the decade, recording numerous classics with the trio including the iconic opening of their 1969 hit Leaving on a Jet Plane.

When the group broke up in 1970, Kniss began an eight year working relationship with John Denver including being listed as a co-writer on his number one hit Sunshine On My Shoulder.

In 1978, when Peter, Paul and Mary reformed, he returned to work with them, staying until Mary Travers death in 2009.

Peter Yarrow told the New York Times "Basically he was a jazz bassist who didn’t think in terms of the pop point of view and he really would develop melodic lines to complement our voices."

Paul Stookey added "He had this capacity to weave counter-melodies. He was the master of when to answer. In folk music, we’re telling a story. The guitars would begin it, but Dick was an orchestrator, and his entry often signified a particular turning point in a song."

Brian May Fights Breading Beagles For Experiments

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:08:00 +0000

The esteemed Dr. Brian May of Queen has joined the BUAV campaign against a proposed beagle breeding facility in Yorkshire, England that would provide the dogs for experimentation.

May stated: "Beagles, indisputably, are highly intelligent sentient creatures, friends of Man for centuries. It is completely morally unjustifiable for these animals to be made to suffer in the name of science, and I am shocked to learn of plans to set up a facility in Yorkshire to breed and supply beagles to the research industry. We at SAVE-ME support the BUAV campaign, and I urge The Right Hon, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to listen to the concerns of the British public, and to reject this appeal - thereby preventing this facility from being built."

The proposal to build the farm in Grimston would result in the breeding of thousands of beagles to be used in experiments both in the UK and overseas. Following the BUAV campaign, these plans were initially rejected by the local planning authorities. The applicant, Bantin & Kingman Ltd. (B&K), one of the UK's largest suppliers of animals to laboratories, subsequently appealed the decision which will now be decided by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. A decision is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

In 2010, over 5,000 experiments were carried out on dogs in UK laboratories. Beagles are largely used in toxicity (poisoning) testing both for human and veterinary drugs, as well as agrochemicals. They can be force fed chemicals and drugs in capsules or via plastic tubes inserted through their mouths, directly into their stomach or strapped into a harness for hours at a time while substances are pumped directly into their bloodstream. Animals can suffer adverse effects that result in vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and lethargy. Some dogs may become so ill that they either die or have to be euthanased for welfare purposes.

Preview: The Visitors: Deluxe Edition - ABBA

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:03:00 +0000

Artist: ABBA
Title: The Visitors: Deluxe Edition
Release Date: April 23, 2012
Label:
Format(s): CD/DVD, DD

ABBA fans are about to hear the first "new" music from the group since the Thank You For the Music box set in 1994 with the release of a rare and previously unreleased piece.

From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel was a medley of demos recorded but not used on the final Abba album The Visitors in 1981.

A remastered version of the album was released in 1997 and contained extra tracks but not this one. The new Deluxe edition of The Visitors is scheduled for April 23, 2012.

Abba recorded The Visitors between March 16 and November 14, 1981 and released the album on November 30, 1981.

The album was the very first CD pressed at Polygram’s CD plant in Europe.

Since the original 1981 album release, The Visitors has been reissued three times, first in 1997, then 2001 and again in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings.

For the record, Abba never officially broke-up but their last appearance together was on the British TV program The Late, Late Breakfast Show on December 11, 1982. Throughout 1983 and 1984, Anna and Frida still talked about another Abba album but it never happened.

The four members have only been seen together twice since the British TV show, once in 1986 and again for the Mamma Mia movie premiere in Sweden in 2008.

Track List:

CD

Original Album

The Visitors
Head Over Heels
When All Is Said And Done
Soldiers
I Let The Music Speak
One Of Us
Two For The Price Of One
Slipping Through My Fingers
Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

Bonus Tracks

Should I Laugh Or Cry
I Am The City
You Owe Me One
Cassandra
Under Attack
The Day Before You Came

Previously Unreleased Bonus Track

From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel (demos)

DVD

Two For The Price Of One (Dick Cavett Meets ABBA)
Slipping Through My Fingers (Dick Cavett Meets ABBA)
When All Is Said And Done (Original Promo Clip)
ABBA In London, November 1982 (The Late Late Breakfast Show, BBC)
ABBA In Stockholm, November 1982 (Nöjesmaskinen, SVT)
The Visitors TV commercial I (UK)
The Visitors TV commercial II (Australia)
The Singles – The First Ten Years TV commercial I (UK)
The Singles – The First Ten Years TV commercial II (Australia)
International Sleeve Gallery

Short Takes: Merle Haggard, America, Glen Campbell, Peter Hook, Academy of Country Music, Miles Davis

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:17:00 +0000

Merle Haggard is once again out of the hospital and has traveled from Macon, GA to his home in Redding, CA to recuperate. Haggard had been hospitalized twice in the last week in Macon for treatment of pneumonia and a number of other ailments.

Merle will recuperate for a number of weeks before going back on the road in late-February.

America will receive the 2,459th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 6. Gary Beckley and Dewey Bunnell will be honored in front of the Musician's Institute surrounded by the likes of Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Al Jolson and Hal David.

The great Glen Campbell will perform on this year's Grammy broadcast with Blake Shelton and the Band Perry. Glen is a Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient and is currently out on the road with his Goodbye Tour. He recently revealed that he is in the early stages of Alzheimers.

Sergio Mendes, who is up for an Academy Award for best song for Real in Rio from the animated film Rio, says that there will most likely be a sequel to the film. He said on Tuesday "I think the plan is for the movie to come three or four months before the World Cup. Fox has been talking about (it) and it looks like it's going to happen. We're going to have a meeting I think next week and Carlos [Saldanha, the director] is coming to town to tell us the story, and it looks like it's a go."

Peter Hook, formerly of Joy Division, doesn't seem too upset with the whole Disney/Unknown Pleasures T-Shirt controversy. He told Billboard, "It's a funny one. I suppose you would have to say it's a compliment coming from an organization like Disney. When you consider that Joy Division were only together for three years, it's certainly a fantastic compliment 34 years later to still be able to make a splash like this is. The fact that it's sold out is an even greater compliment. I tried to get one but it seems that they're all gone."

CBS, the Academy of Country Music and Dick Clark Productions have announced that they have agreed to a ten year deal that will keep the awards on CBS through 2021. CBS has carried the annual affair since 1998.

Finally, here is the official designs for the Edith Piaf and Miles Davis commemorative stamps we reported earlier this week.

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder Back Together For New Track

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:57:00 +0000

It was thirty years ago that Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder went to the top of the charts with Ebony and Ivory. Now, they've gotten back together in the studio to record one of the original tracks for McCartney's new standards album, Kisses on the Bottom. Only Our Hearts is one of two McCartney originals on the album.

Photo: M.J. Kim

Paul said of working again with Stevie for the album:

Stevie came along to the studio in LA and he listened to the track for about ten minutes and he totally got it. He just went to the mic and within 20 minutes had nailed this dynamite solo. When you listen you just think, 'How do you come up with that?' But it's just because he is a genius, that's why.

The track was recorded at the legendary Capital Records studios in Los Angeles. Look for the album on February 7.

Second Rewind the 80's Festival Announced

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:50:00 +0000

The second Rewind the 80's Festival has been announced in England. For the fourth year in a row, the festival will be at the Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Themes, England. The dates for this year's show are August 17 to August 19.

As with the sister show in Perth, Scotland (July 20 to 22), the organizers are occasionally playing a little loose with what they consider artists of the 80's (e.g., Kool & the Gang) but there is no doubt that the lineups are stellar.

Saturday, August 18

Bangles
Kool & the Gang
Grandmaster Flash
Rick Astley
Soul II Soul
5 Star
Starship
Heather Small
Jimmy Sommerville (Bronski Beat)
Sinnita
Right Said Fred
Doctor & the Medics

Sunday, August 19

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Lightning Seeds
Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals)
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
Straits
Wang Chung
Marc Almond (Soft Cell)
John Parr
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Christians
T'Pau
Special Guest T.B.A.

Rory Gallagher's First Six Albums Being Reissued by Sony

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:35:00 +0000

Rory Gallagher's first six albums are being remastered released by Sony Music in association with Capo Records and Legacy.

Each of the six milestone albums were released during Rory's most prolific years (1971-74), when he recorded and produced them in the short space of three years. The albums are re-released in digipack form, with newly restored original cover art. The audio has been re-mastered from the original ¼” inch tapes, true to how Rory intended it to sound. Each album includes exclusive sleeve notes personally written by Rory’s brother and former tour manager Donal Gallagher, journalist Roy Hollingworth, and legendary rock photographer Mick Rock.

As Daniel Gallagher, Rory’s Nephew and producer of the re-issues states, “It's fantastic that 40 years since the original release of these albums the interest in Rory's music is still so strong and vibrant that we can celebrate the man's music by re-issuing his first six classic solo albums. We've aimed to release them in the spirit of the original release by going back to the vinyl artwork and original 1/4" tapes so that they look and sound exactly as Rory intended. It's also great to see in a digital world that the demand for a physical copy of Rory's music means we can release these albums on vinyl for the first time in over 30 years.”

The albums are:

Rory Gallagher (1971)
Deuce (1971)
Live! in Europe (1972)
Blueprint (1973)
Tattoo (1973)
Irish Tour '74 (1974)

Preview: Older Than My Old Man Now - Loudon Wainwright III

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:26:00 +0000

Artist: Loudon Wainwright III
Title: Older Than My Old Man Now
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Label: 2nd Story Sound Records
Format(s): CD, DD

Loudon Wainwright III will release his 22nd album on April 17. Older Than My Old Man Now will be issued by 2nd Story Sound Records.

The title is reference to the fact that Wainwright, at 65, has reached an age that his father never attained. "Contemporaries of mine have recently taken to writing memoirs and autobiographies. I decided I would try to tell the story of my swinging life in a 3 and a 1/2 minute song," says Loudon of The Here & the Now, the album's first track.

Truly a family affair, Older Than My Old Man Now features contributions from all four of Loudon's children - Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche and Lexie Kelly Wainwright - as well as two of their three mothers, Suzzy Roche and Ritamarie Kelly. Also included are recitations of passages written by Loudon Wainwright Jr., Loudon's father and famous LIFE Magazine columnist, and a recording of Over The Hill, the only song Loudon co-wrote with his first wife, the late great Kate McGarrigle.

"One voice singing a lot about death n' decay can be a bit wearing so I brought in other singers to help with the heavy lifting," says Loudon. Other guests include Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dame Edna Everage, John Scofield and Chris Smither.

Loudon was awarded a GRAMMY for his 2009 release, High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project. He is also an accomplished actor and has appeared in films directed by Martin Scorsese, Judd Apatow, Tim Burton, and Cameron Crowe.

Track List:

The Here & the Now
In C
Older Than My Old Man Now
Double Lifetime
Date Line
All in a Family
My Meds
Interlude
Over the Hill
Ghost Blues
I Remember Sex
Somebody Else
The Days That We Die
10
Something’s Out to Get Me

Recording of New AC/DC Album Delayed by Band Member Illness

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:10:00 +0000

We don't know who it is, but Brian Johnson has told an American radio program that the recording of a new AC/DC album has been delayed due to the illness of a band member.

Johnson spoke with The Cowhead Show out of St. Petersburg, FL, saying "One of the boys is a little sick and I can't say anything, but he's getting better. He's doing wonderful. Full recovery fully expected."

Brian also talked about the joy of getting back to work with the rest of the band. "It's a wonderful thing when we get in a room. Whenever the boys get back together, I get all excited. The boys, after a while, pick the guitars up, Phil will make his way to the drums, Cliff will pull his bass out and then all of a sudden this noise comes out and I sit there with just this big old grin on my face."

AC/DC's last album was 2008's Black Ice. You can hear the entire interview at the Cowheed Show website.

Johnson, himself, will be practicing another one of his passions on January 28 when he runs in the 50th Rolex 24 Auto Race at Daytona Speedway. Shortly afterwards, he will be undergoing wrist surgery.

Journey's Deen Castronovo Arrested for Assaulting Girlfriend

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Deen Castronovo, the drummer for Journey for more than a decade, was arrested last Saturday in Salem, Oregon after an argument with his girlfriend got physical.

According to TMZ, Castronovo not only had the altercation, but received additional charges when he took the phone away from the woman while she was trying to call her father. He was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges that included assault in the 4th degree, criminal mischief in the 2nd degree, harassment, coercion and interfering with making a report. Bail was set at $52,500.

A source told the site that Castronovo believes it was "a misunderstanding that should not have been escalated to such a level in the first place."

Castronovo has played on albums from a multitude of artists including Bad English, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai and Social Distortion. He has been on all five of Journey's albums released since 2000.

Academy of Country Music Announces Nominations

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:15:00 +0000

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards nominations were announced on Thursday morning via a digital press conference introduced by Reba McEntire and fearturing announcements by Lionel Richie, Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls), Nancy O'Dell (Entertainment Tonight) and Michael Ausiello (TVLine.com).

Kenny Chesney lead the way with nine nominations including Entertainer of the Year which he has previously won four times. Jason Aldean was second with six followed by Lady Antebellum with five, Brad Paisley with four and Toby Keith, Taylor Swift (the current Entertainer of the Year), the Eli Young Band and the normally not very country Grace Potter with three.

As happened with the rival CMA Awards, nominations for veteran performers were few and far between in the major categories. Vince Gill and Amy Grant are up for Song of the Year for Threaten Me With Heaven (recorded by Gill) and Alabama is up for Vocal Event of the Year for Old Alabama which they recorded with Brad Paisley.

Where veterans do shine is behind the scenes as producers, engineers and, especially, instrumentalists. They have 23 nominations in those "off-camera" categories, just over 50% of all of the nods.

Two awards, Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year are voted on by the public at the ACM Awards site (VoteACM.com). The first round of New Artist voting has already begun with the second round and Entertainer voting scheduled to start on March 19.

The awards will be aired on CBS on Sunday April 1 at 8 PM and will be hosted once again by Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton.

The nominees with veteran artists in bold:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Chris Young

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Love and Theft
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Chief – Eric Church
Four The Record – Miranda Lambert
Hemingway's Whiskey – Kenny Chesney
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
Don't You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith
Tomorrow – Chris Young
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

SONG OF THE YEAR

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band - Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose
Home – Dierks Bentley - Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum - Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Threaten Me With Heaven – Vince Gill - Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O'Brian, Will Owsley
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter - Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Homeboy – Eric Church
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Mean – Taylor Swift
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith
Tattoos On This Town – Jason Aldean

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Country Boy – Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones & Charlie Daniels
Don't You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
Old Alabama – Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama
Remind Me – Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Rhett Akins
Dallas Davidson
Ben Hayslip
Luke Laird
David Lee Murphy

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Mark Bright
Buddy Cannon
Nathan Chapman
Jay Joyce
Frank Liddell

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Balding
Derek Bason
John Kelton
Mills Logan
Justin Niebank

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mike Brignardello
Kevin "Swine" Grantt
Mark Hill
Michael Rhodes
Jimmy Lee Sloas

PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Matt Chamberlain
Chad Cromwell
Shannon Forrest
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Glen Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Larry Franklin
Joe Spivey
Jonathan Yudkin

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

J.T. Corenflos
Kenny Greenberg
Jay Joyce
Brent Mason
Adam Shoenfeld

PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tony Harrell
John Hobbs
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Michael Rojas

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Eric Darken
Aubrey Haynie
Ilya Toshinsky
John Willis
Jonathan Yudkin

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Paul Franklin
Mike Johnson
Greg Leisz
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders

Reg Presley of the Troggs Announces Cancer Diagnosis, Retirement From Music

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:34:00 +0000

Reg Presley, lead singer of the Troggs, has announced that he is suffering from lung cancer and retiring from the music business.

On the group's official website, Presley wrote:

As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. During my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad.

However I’ve had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years.

A big thank you to Jackie for running the fan club and keeping you all up to speed, and a huge and special thank you to Chris, Pete and Dave.

I shall miss you all.

Lots of Love

Reg.

The group formed in 1964 and had a series of hits in both the U.S. and Britain including Wild Thing, With a Girl Like You, I Can't Control Myself and Love is All Around.

Short Takes: Joy Division, Bachman-Turner, Miles Davis, Alice Cooper

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +0000

Disney has pulled the T-Shirts that they released in their stores and on their website on Monday with a variation on Joy Division's album Unknown Pleasures. The shirt depicted Mickey's head with the waves produced by a pulsar from space.

A Disney spokesman said "As soon as we became aware there could be an issue, we pulled it from our shelves and our online store to review the situation further."

Randy Bachman and Fred Turner (aka Bachman-Turner) will appear in the upcoming Will Farrell/Zach Galifianakis film Dog Fight. The pair play themselves at a political celebration playing their classic Takin' Care of Business.

The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a commemorative stamp for jazz great and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Miles Davis. The stamp will be part of a joint release with the French Postal Service whose stamp will feature Edith Piaf.

Lee Barham, chairman of the steering committee for the Miles Davis Jazz Celebration, said "Miles Davis was one of the greatest jazz musicians and trumpet players in the world. Before Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley, there was Miles Davis."

Alice Cooper makes a guest appearance on his son's band's new EP. Dash Cooper is part of the group Runaway Phoenix and their new EP has Dad playing on the opening track Tug of War.

Iggy Pop Named the Official Ambassador for Record Store Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:05:00 +0000

Iggy Pop has been named ambassador for Record Store Day 2012. The annual event, this year falling on April 21, is used to publicize and drive business to independent record stores who continue the fight against internet sales.

Pop said of his new "position:"

A person should have a personality. You won't get one dicking around on a computer. It helps to go somewhere where there are other persons. Persons who are interested in something you are. That's how a record store or any shop that's got some life to it should work. It's not about selling shit.

I got my name, my musical education and my personality all from working at a record store during my tender years. In the 50s and 60s the teen kids used to gather after school at these places to listen free to the latest singles and see if they liked the beat. You could buy the disc you liked for 79 cents and if you were lucky meet a chick. Clerks in these places became managers, (like Brian Epstein), label heads (Jack Holzman) and Faces on album covers (like me).

Personally I feel best in a store that, while staying small and socially relaxed, still keeps a complete variety of music types and non musical recordings on offer… All of this is cool and has a much bigger future than most people realize today.

As Record Store Day Ambassador for 2012 I feel like a representative from some exotic jungle full of life and death and sex and anger, called upon to wear a leopard skin and translate joy to the world of the dead.

Review: Stage Whisper - Charlotte Gainsbourg

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:59:00 +0000

by Andy Snipper

Many of the studio tracks on this ‘half and half’ release are from the IRM sessions where she was produced by and collaborated with Beck among others. The tracks are an extension of that album but here seem to have their own identity and the album is a thing of ethereal beauty but without the fragility that that word often implies.

Gainsbourg’s voice is light and airy, almost breathy, but she has a very French air of distractedness so that the music follows her vocal and not the other way around and I for one find it to be quite charming.

Terrible Angels pounds with an electro-beat while the vocals reach you from the bottom of a well of sound while Paradisco comes at you like an eighties disco dream, heavy bass, angular guitars and skittering drums but that wonderful voice keeping your focus – this is Gainsbourg as Bowie and very wonderful. White Telephone is arresting and dark, very slow, almost funereal in pace, and using a harp, cello and harpsichord to give real texture behind her monotone vocal.

You can hear influences of many years in the album but what you get more than anything else is a vocalist or real self-identity, a million miles away from the ‘daughter of a famous artist’ that she could have become.

She has made her own name in films as well as music and the fact that she has a life away from the press and fame, coupled with the infrequency of her releases keeps her music fresh and rare. A French Kate Bush maybe?

Kylie Minogue Kicks Off Her K25 Celebration For 25 Years in the Business

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:55:00 +0000

Kylie Minogue starts her 25th anniversary in the industry on Thursday (January 26) with a new campaign dubbed K25.

The year-long event marks a quarter century since the pop starlet’s first single Locomotion was released in 1987 and will feature a bunch of “gifts” released to her fans via kylie.com.

To kick off the celebrations, a newly recorded acoustic version of her 1992 song Finer Feelings will hit the site. It’s the first in a series that were all recorded at London’s famous Abbey Road Studios. Fans can expect to see the rest of the records (it’s not mentioned how many) released periodically throughout the year.

However, it’s not all about Kylie giving to her fans. You’ll have to work for some of the gifts. You see, each of these songs has a video to go along with it. If you want to see the first one the twitter hashtag #k25fans has to pop up 25,000 times. That’s a lot, yes, but if you tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and they… well, you get the idea.

Here's a preview:

Riot's Mark Reale Passes Away at 57

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:46:00 +0000

Mark Reale, guitarist for Riot, passed away early Wednesday from complications of Crohn's disease. He was 57.

The final cause of death was most like the Crohn's complications and a brain hemorrhage that he had suffered almost two weeks ago. His webmaster had posted yesterday that he had the hemorrhage on January 11 and had been in a coma since.

Reale's official website now contains four verses from the bible and the following tribute:

Our brother Mark Reale went home to be with our Lord this day January 25th 2012 after a long battle and complications from Crohns disease. He is survived by his father Anthony Reale and was precede in death by his mother Frances Reale. Mark was born June 7th 1955 in Brooklyn new York at a time when rock and roll was flourishing with many new sounds. Early in his life, his first interest had been the movies. ever curious, he had shown an interest in film. But then, songs he heard on the radio began to change that. He quickly began to love music from the Beatles and Cream. Mark lists George Harrison and Eric Clapton as great influences. When he was 7 years old his grandfather bought him his first basic guitar to practice on and later his father bought him a new guitar and amp. the passion had begun.

In the early to mid 70's his influences included the likes of Edgar Winter, Ronnie Montrose and Rick Derringer. He also loved a range of bands and artists from Al Di Meola to Deep Purple. In 1975 Mark formed the heavy metal band RIOT, then at a block party Mark's father found vocalist Guy Speranza. Marks guitar style and his passion for writing songs that told stories that were so deep and moving had made a real connection with those who would become life long fans. The fans felt so connected to Mark because the lyrics in RIOTS songs were extremely close to the stories of their own lives. His song writing style could weave tales of anything from old lore to battle fields and warriors, personal loss and triumph. And heavy metal anthems that will be with us for decades to come.

The brethren of brothers that mark spent his life long career in music with and whom he leaves behind or joins in heaven are, Guy Speranza, L.A Kouvaris, Kip Leming, Peter Bitelli, Rhett Forrester, Rick Ventura, Jimmy Iommi, Sandy Slavin, Tony Moore, Don Van Stavern, Mike Flyntz, Pete Perez, Bobby Jarzombek, Mike Di Meo, John Macaluso, Bobby Rondinelli, Mike Tirelli, Frank Gilcrest and Damon Di Bari who was always like the "6th" member of the band being Riots lighting director / production manager / tour manager and Marks personal assistant. Marks final days were spent with Damon at his hospital bedside, sharing the bands fans thoughts, well wishes and prayers. Even though Mark began his career in New York, San Antonio was a special place he loved and not only lived here for awhile but had planned on moving back here to make San Antonio his permanent home.

With heart felt thanks to the fans around the world, the United States, Japan, Europe and all points in between. The RIOT army ment everything in the world to Mark., it's what kept him going. The loyalty and love of the bands fans fueled his passion and desire to continue making music for as long as possible. Please keep the mighty tor in your hearts and the memory of Mark alive within you for as long as you can.

Shine on Mark shine on!

6th Member

Etta James Shooting Back Up the Charts; Charts Career Best Position on the Albums Tally

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:53:00 +0000

As often happens, people have gone on a buying binge right after an artist passes away. Whether it is a way to comfort or that their music gets placed more in the forefront of news and entertainment broadcasts, their catalogs take a big jump in sales.

Such is the case this week with the music of Etta James who passed away on January 20. According to Billboard and Soundscan, 118,000 downloads have been purchased of James' songs in the last week, up 1,091% from the previous week, and 30,000 albums, up 378%.

Her catalog is also making huge leaps up the charts or recharting for the first time in years. 20th Century Masters: The Millenium Collection: The Best of Etta James jumped from number 162 to 46 on sales of 8,000 copies. That is the highest that any album by the singer had ever been on the Top 200, surpassing the number 68 peak that At Last! reached in 1961.

In addition, two other albums entered the chart, Her Best at number 59 (7,000 sold) and At Last! at 96 (5,000 sold).

That's not Etta's only move on the charts. Her signature song, At Last, debuts at number 29 on the Digital Songs Chart with 63,000 downloads.

Watch: Is This the New Red Hot Chili Peppers Video or An Episode of Cribs

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Here's the new video for the third single from the Red Hot Chili Pepper's album I'm Into You (after The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie and Monarchy of Roses). The four principles in the group are each in a separate room from Josh Klinghoffer's nearly empty space to Flea's "apartment."

Joe Walsh to Release "Analog Man" in May or June

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:30:00 +0000

Joe Walsh is done with his new solo album, Analog Man, and is looking to set a release in May or June. It's his first solo set since 1992's Songs for A Dying Planet.

Not that he's been sitting around those twenty years. There was the Eagles' comeback album, Hell Freezes Over and the very successful Long Road Out of Eden plus the numerous tours with the group, but Walsh is ready to put out a bit of his own work.

Walsh talked to Dave Good of the San Diego Reader about the upcoming album and the state of the union. Even though the album is called Analog Man, the world has gone decidedly digital. "I just decided I better get with it. After all, it is the digital age. Back when it was all analog, we used to go in the studio, and studios had knobs. We used to turn knobs and say, let’s see what this does. Now, we have a mouse. We [the members of the Eagles] spend hours yelling at our computers. My son comes in and he says, Dad, you’re really stupid."

He's obviously not a big fan of the digital age and what it has wrought. "I was at a Laker’s game last night, and everybody there was texting. Now and then they’d look up and check the score."

Walsh also ranted about the current situation in the U.S. "First of all, there is no more money. We have spent it all. Why is everybody waiting for things to get better? They’re not gonna get better, and that’s screamin’ at me. Thirty thousand vets are comin’ home and nobody gives a fuck.

"Congress is corrupt. There are players inside who are more powerful than the federal government, and they are calling the shots. Partisan politics is out of control. And we’re pretending there is more money and there isn’t."

Check out more of Walsh's comments at the San Diego Reader.

New Releases by Veteran Artists for January 24, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:48:00 +0000

The full list of new releases by veteran artists is after the cut:

CDs

Glen Campbell	Live In Japan
Joe Cocker	Hard Knocks
Dion	Tank Full Of Blues
Doors	L.A. Woman: 40th Anniversary Edition
Girlschool	Hit & Run Revisited
Grateful Dead	Dick's Picks Vol. 32: Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI 8/7/82	2 CDs
Grateful Dead	Dick's Picks Vol. 33: Oakland Coliseum Stadium, Oakland, CA 10/9 & 10/10/76	4 CDs
Evelyn Champagne King	Face to Face	Import
John Lydon	Psycho's Path	Import
Mantronix	King Of The Beats (Anthology 1985-1988)	2 CDs
Meat Puppets	Up On The Sun
Bill Medley	100% Soft and Soulful
Jody Miller	Complete Epic Hits
Public Image Ltd.	9	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Compact Disc	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Flowers of Romance	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Greatest Hits So Far	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Happy	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Live in Tokyo	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Paris in the Spring: Live	Import
Public Image Ltd.	Public Image	Import
Public Image Ltd.	That What is Not	Import
Public Image Ltd.	This Is What You Want This Is What You Get	Import
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles	Tears of a Clown: The Collection	Import
Maggie & Terry Roche	Seductive Reasoning
Scorpions	Comeblack
Shalamar	I Can Make You Feel Good: The Best of	Import
Sham 69	Hurry Up Harry: the Collection	Import
Various Artists	Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Various Artists	Re-Edits & Remixes	2 CDs, Import

DVD

Doors	Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman
U2	Achtung Baby: Classic Album Special Edition	2 CDs
U2	From The Sky Down
Van Halen	Bottoms Up: Broadcast Archives

Blu-Ray

Doors	Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman
U2	From The Sky Down

David Byrne and Laurie Anderson to Participate in A Room For London Series

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:22:00 +0000

David Byrne and Laurie Anderson are among the artists set to perform live in A Room for London series.

Sounds From a Room is Artangel's year long programme of international musicians taking up residence and then performing live from A Room for London, a one-bedroom architectural installation perched on top of Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on the River Thames. This intimate temporary new venue for the capital will broadcast a series of live 'bedroom gigs', starting this January with Andrew Bird and also including Heiner Goebbels, Amadou & Mariam and Imogen Heap, with more names to be announced later in the year. Each musician's performance will be streamed live on www.aroomforlondon.co.uk and relayed onto screens at Southbank Centre.

Andrew Bird says: "I have this history of playing non-traditional venues: former bank lobbies, Odd Fellows Halls and a few boats, but nothing quite like a boat stranded in the heart of London. Seems like my kind of thing. I also like the look of the other guests."

Laurie Anderson will become resident in A Room for London in March, exploring the city and its secrets to produce a new sound piece; and David Byrne will stay in February, using the space to record a special soundwork for podcast later the same month.

Byrne says: "My decision to be involved with A Room for London stems from my relationship with Artangel. Though there might have been a great temptation to squat in a house filled with poisonous crystals or one with strange twins, a view of the Thames seems a lot more sensible, more comfortable and private. I have some pretty good ideas about what I'll do up there, but I suspect there'll be room to react to the boat itself and the surroundings - so there'll be some improvising as well."

Sounds from a Room Performance Schedule:

January 28 2-3pm The Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall (via screen)
Chicago based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird's seventh solo album Break it Yourself will be released this March and other than his sold out Barbican gig, this will be the only opportunity to see him live in the UK this spring.

February 26 6-6.45pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Front Room (via screen)
The German composer Heiner Goebbels, known for his compositions for ensembles and large orchestras, will produce a musical response to Joseph Conrad's 1890 journal Up-River Book. He will be joined by Senegalese Griots Sira and Boubakar Djebata (voice and kora), the French musician Xavier Garcia (electronics) and the actor Andre Wilms.

March 25 5-6pm Spirit Level Blue Room, Royal Festival Hall (via screen)
Visual artist and musician Laurie Anderson has released numerous acclaimed albums, films, books and exhibited her art in musuems and galleries around the world. For Sounds from a Room, Anderson will be creating and performing a new sound piece.

Performances, featuring two husband and wife duos, will follow on April 26 with Swedish band Wildbirds and Peacedrums and Amadou & Mariam from Mali on May 23; and Imogen Heap will be writing a new song while in residence for performance on June 22.

Mick Jagger Pulls Out of Prime Minister Event Charging Political Motivations

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:29:00 +0000

Mick Jagger has pulled out of an event hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron, saying that his appearance was politically motivated.

The Rolling Stones frontman had been invited to the Davos tea party in Switzerland to join other celebrities and politicians reported Sky News.

The annual event is an elite gathering of government and business leaders to forward political and ecomomical matters.

A statement issued by Sir Mick's camp said: "During my career I have always eschewed party politics and came to Davos as a guest, as I thought it would be stimulating.

"I have always been interested in economics and world events. I now find myself being used as a political football and there has been a lot of comment about my political allegiances which are inaccurate. I think it's best I decline the invitation to the key event and curtail my visit."

The musicians withdrawal from the World Economic Forum is embarrassing for the Government.

A senior government source has denied that Sir Mick's involvement in the tea party had been in any way 'politicised'.

"Clearly we are disappointed that Sir Mick doesn't feel he can support a non-political event that promotes Britain," the source said.

"At no point was there ever any suggestion that Sir Mick was a Conservative. He understandably wishes to remain apolitical. This is not a political event. This is simply an event that promotes British creativity abroad."

Short Takes: Deep Purple, Bad Religion, the Originals, Donny Osmond, Mary Ford

noreply@blogger.com (VVN Network) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +0000

Deep Purple will forego touring this summer so they can work on a new album. Singer Ian Gilliam commented "We know we will disappoint some of our fans this summer. However, we look forward very much to our autumn/winter tour and continuing our worldwide tour with our new album in 2013."

This will be the group's first album since 2005's Rapture of the Deep.

Brett Gurewitz, one of the founding members of Bad Religion, will receive NARM's Independent Spirit Award on May 9 in Los Angeles.

NARM president Jim Donio said "Brett personifies the independent spirit, inspiring countless punk and indie bands through his work in Bad Religion and helping many of them reach their full potential at Epitaph Records, including The Offspring, Rancid and NOFX. His creative entrepreneurship and commitment to thinking outside the box make him a strong player in today's music industry. We look forward to seeing what he does next."

Walter Gaines, baritone for the 70's Motown group The Originals, passed away on Tuesday, January 17 after a long illness. The group scored hits with The Bell and Baby, I'm For Real.

Donny Osmond will be one of the keynote speakers at this year's National Association of Broadcaster's (NAB) Radio Luncheon on April 17 in Las Vegas. Osmond not only performs nightly with his sister, Marie at the Flamingo Hotel but also hosts two syndicated radio programs.

On a recent episode of the History Channel's Pawn Stars, the nephew of Mary Ford brought in one of guitars, a 1961 Gibson SG. After some negotiations, the instrument sold for the seller's original asking price of $90,000.

Hits Daily Double has reported that catalog releases are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the music market. Each of the last two weeks, new records have been set with 52.7% of sales the week of January 8 being catalog product and 54.5% during the week of January 15.