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A mind-blowing selection of rare music coming on Saturday
By Mark C. Brown Apr 19, 2012 10:44AM
We told you it was coming, and now it's almost here. Record Store Day is now in its fifth year, and its simple genius has been effective: For one day, sell music unavailable elsewhere only through independent record stores, bringing back the tradition that many music fans grew up with. Many retailers find this to be their best day of the year, and many fans are exposed to music and a shopping experience they'd never had before. Win-wins don't get any better than that.
This year's selection is nearly overwhelming, with music from artists as diverse as Arcade Fire, Buddy Guy, Coldplay, Social Distortion, 311, Esperanza Spalding and dozens more. You can see the full listing here, but we've picked 10 must-have releases. Remember, most of these are limited; if you want them, use the handy record store finder and make sure you get down there at opening time. Here are our picks as the best RSD releases of 2012.
1. The Knack, “Live in Los Angeles 1978”: Just look at that. Just look. Ten-inch splattered-colored vinyl, two live cuts from The Troubadour you’ve never heard before (including, of course, “My Sharona”) and two rehearsal takes of more songs you’ve also never heard before. It sounds as gorgeous as it looks, and every available copy has already been reserved by record stores. If you can’t score this, you’ve got some comfort – a CD of the entire live show is on tap for wider distribution in May. But the two rehearsal songs - "Romeo Eyes" and "Art War" - are available only here.
2. The Flaming Lips, “The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends”: The question has to be asked: Is Wayne Coyne making new music these days because of the music or because he likes to make videos filled with naked women? Be careful, that link is very NSFW. Regardless, one of the most anticipated releases is the “Heady Fwends” two-LP set, featuring collaborations with Chris Martin, Ke$ha, Bon Iver, Nick Cave, Erykah Badu, Yoko Ono and New Fumes.
3. Buck Owens Coloring Book: No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Omnivore Records (the same people who did the Knack release) found a cache of Buck’s coloring books from 1970, and somehow found a pressing plant still able to make flexi-discs in 2012 (look it up, kids – these things used to come free inside magazines and on cereal boxes). It has four songs from a long out-of-print Owens live album (including "Act Naturally"), which will also get a proper, longer release later this year. That's the flexi-disc you see on Buck's chest, along with a digital-download card so you can take the songs anywhere. An amazing, authentic blast from the past.
4. The Clash, “London Calling 2012”: Yeah, the new remix on the A side of this 7-inch single will be cool to hear, but purists will immediately go to the B side, which features a straight-up instrumental version of the Clash classic.
5. Ryan Adams, “Heartbreak a Stranger”/”Black Sheets of Rain”: Ryan Adams doing live versions of Bob Mould classics, taken from a tribute show in Los Angeles last November. Does anything more need to be said?
6. Mynah Birds, “It’s My Time”/”Go on and Cry”: Yes, a 7-inch vinyl single from the early Canadian R&B band that featured Neil Young and Rick James. Neil took Bruce Palmer away and formed Buffalo Springfield; Rick James became Rick James.
7. David Bowie, “Starman”: You get the original version of this Bowie classic, along with a “Top of the Pops” performance of the same song, both on a picture disc in a limited, numbered release. Team that up with Jimmy Fallon’s “Tebowie” Tim Tebow/David Bowie tribute (another exclusive 7-inch release) and it’s a double-Bowie score.
8. Foster the People, “Broken Jaw”/”Ruby”: A couple of outtakes that didn’t make the “Torches” album, it has been available only as a bonus iTunes download. Now you analog fanatics can get a vinyl 7-inch pressing.
9. Miles Davis, “Forever Miles”: A solid LP pressing of a classic album that features an unreleased song, “Directions,” recorded at the Fillmore East in 1970. Davis’ vast archives deserve far more releases than a single track at a time.
10. Bruce Springsteen, “Rocky Ground”: The song from his new album, “Wrecking Ball,” is already available on the vinyl release of that album. What hardcore fans are truly going to want is the B side – a live version of “The Promise” taken from a private performance around the time Springsteen released the vintage song with his remastered "Darkness on the Edge of Town" box set.Singer airlifted to hospital to treat head injury
By percy thrillington Fri 3:07 PM
That seems to be the only logical conclusion to draw from the news that 49-year-old pop singer George Michael was airlifted to a hospital after a Range Rover in which he was riding (though possibly not driving—his representative's statement was purposefully vague on this point) crashed on the M-1 motorway near St. Albans, Hertfordshire, about 20 miles north of London.
Yesterday, pop singer George Michael was airlifted to a hospital after he was involved in a car crash. According to the BBC, the 49-year-old singer suffered a head injury, though his spokesperson insists he's doing "fine" and only suffered "superficial cuts."
Details on the crash remain unclear, but Michael's rep, Connie Filippello, stated that he was a passenger in a Range Rover that crashed on the M1 motorway near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. "No third party was involved. We have no further comment at this time," she said. No arrests have been made following the crash, though police are still investigating what happened.
This marks another in a long line of driving-related incidents for the former Wham! singer. In 2010, he was sentenced to eight weeks in jail after driving his Range Rover into a Snappy Snaps photo store while stoned, which also resulted in a five-year driving ban. The year before that, he was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed into the back of a truck. In 2006, police found Michaelslumped over the wheel of his parked Mercedes, and he pled guilty to driving under the influence of drugs the following year.
Legendary songwriter will receive Gershwin Prize
By percy thrillington Fri 2:59 PM
Though the Obama administration continues to struggle with crisis after crisis, one thing they seem to do pretty well is honoring worthy musicians. Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Hal David have all performed at the White House concert series since the President took office in 2008. And now, according to a stor in today's Hollywood Reporter, Carole King will be honored with the 2013 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at a White House concert next Wednesday, May 22. According to the announcement, she will perform in the East Room, alongside James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Billy Joel, and others, after being praised both for her astonishing accomplishments as a songwriter and recording artist, and for her long-time commitment to Democratic activism by President Obama.The event will be streamed live beginning at 3pm Pacific at www.whitehouse.gov/live. She is the first female artist to be given the Gershwin Prize.
The night before, King will be honored at an invitation-only ceremony and concert at the Library of Congress’ Coolidge Auditorium featuring performances by King, her daughter Louise Goffin, Patti Austin, Colbie Caillat, Michael Feinstein, Siedah Garrett, Shelby Lynne, Gian Marco and Arturo Sandoval.
Mini-commercial for "Magnetic" goes up to give the fans a taste
By Mark C. Brown Fri 12:17 PM
Rock anthems? Check. Wistful ballads? Present and accounted for. Must be the new Goo Goo Dolls album.
The Goo Goo Dolls return June 11 with their latest work, "Magnetic." And in this time of trying to figure out how to get heard, they've actually gone and put together nearly four minutes of excerpts from the new songs to give fans a taste without giving the whole store away ala David Bowie or Daft Punk.
Of course, it's not like Johnny Rzeznik and crew have kept everything under wraps. The single "Rebel Beat" is out there since January, with the official video going up last month.
They're doing a few dates but the touring schedule really heats up in late June, when they begin a trek across the country and back with Matchbox Twenty (after Rzeznik takes a bit of time off to get married).
After a layoff, she's back strong and sure
By Mark C. Brown Thu 4:46 PM
Despite a music career that was taking off in the late '90s, California singer/songwriter Susan James decided to put her music on hold to raise her daughter. Little did she know that her hiatus would see the collapse of the music industry, the rise of the Internet and legal/illegal downloading and general panic as the old system totally disintegrated.So when she returned with "Highway, Ghosts, Hearts and Home" last year and her latest, "Driving Toward the Sun," she knew everything was different. And she was ready for it. For the latest album she teamed up with her neighbor and friend, Ryan Ulyate, a producer/engineer who has Tom Petty, George Harrison, the Traveling Wilburys, Electric Light Orchestra and other credits under his belt. They recorded in his high-tech home studio but the approach was strictly old-school: Eight tight, fully realized songs that told an adult tale of heartache and redemption, from the stirring title cut to sad, resigned songs such as "U-Haul in the Driveway." Critical acclaim quickly followed, with No Depression quickly naming it one of the best albums of the year so far.
"I wanted an album that sounded like me and my sound and my past without sounding dated. It's honest in sound and it could be from any era," James said.
And rather than worry about technology marching on, James embraced it. She did old-school radio promotion with NPR and legendary California station KPIG, as well as Spotify, Emusic, iTunes, Amazon and plain old touring and getting the word out. James and Ulyate took a few minutes to talk about the collaboration and where she goes from here.
Twitter-phobic singer/felon launches app
By percy thrillington Thu 5:47 AM
Breezy held his first "broadcast" Wednesday (May 15) in a sienna-tinted shot of him in front of his piano, welcoming everyone.
Along with the backstage access you'd expect from the new site, fans can do things like check out his closet, see him play b-ball in a mall, go on a roller coaster ride with him and even watch him light up. The site, which also has a mobile app version, collects photos, status updates and videos that CB posts straight to his followers, pushing his authenticity.
"Now all you guys can see me at all times of the day, keep up with what I'm doing... really," Brown said in the 13-second clip. "I appreciate you guys, man. I love you."
The app trailer claims the "channel" will give users more entry to the star's life than his Facebook, Twitter or Instagram — and given Brown's track record with Instagram and Twitter, he might need a social-media upgrade anyway.
A best-of compilation on the long lost show is set for release
By Mark C. Brown Wed 11:49 AM
What was "Fridays," you ask?Good question, as the show was on for just a couple of years starting in 1980. And the name tells you everything: It aired on Fridays and yes, it was a shameless rip-off of "Saturday Night Live."
The only way it surpassed SNL was in its more-adventurous musical bookings. And you're finally going to get to see them (other than on YouTube) when Shout Factory releases "The Best of Fridays" in August, including plenty of musical performances. Sure, the show wasn't totally groundbreaking with its musical bookings (the Kenny Loggins episode proves that). But it embraced new wave in a way that SNL never did, booking The Clash, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Graham Parker and the Rumour, The Cars, Devo and more.
Other musical performances due on the disc include Dire Straits, the Bus Boys, KISS, former Eagle Randy Meisner and the Silverados, Kim Carnes, Stray Cats, Pat Benatar and more (yes, it's quite the odd time capsule).
No word on exactly what performances will be released -- as with SNL, each artist got two songs per episode - but here are a few of the better ones from the era.
Canadian astronaut covers Bowie's 'Space Oddity' IN SPACE
By percy thrillington Tue 6:28 AM
No one could accuse Chris Hadfield of taking the intuitive path to a music career. First, he became an astronaut, and then Commander of the International Space Station. Along the way, he learned to play the guitar and waited for his big moment. That moment came yesterday, when he recorded himself, in orbit, playing the only song you could ever really play in this situation: David Bowie's "Space Oddity," resulting in the first music video shot in outer space. And, sure, he plays with the lyrics and blah blah blah, but guess what! HE'S IN SPACE! SINGING DAVID BOWIE! IT'S FANTASTIC!
Hadfield is scheduled to return to Earth to-DAY-hay-ay. Bon voyage.
New song caps off a collection of his iconic cuts
By Mark C. Brown Mon 12:03 PM
George Thorogood and Eric Clapton rarely get mentioned in the same sentence, but maybe it's time for that to change. Both bluesmen dusted off classic songs from forgotten bluesmen and brought them to the attention of the general public. Thorogood merely put a wry, funny twist on songs by Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Brownie McGhee and more (as well as his own self-penned classics such as "Bad to the Bone").A bunch of those classics are rounded up on "Icon," the new compilation from Lonesome George, due in stores on Tuesday. Not only does it pull together his best work, but there's a new song on there, "Do the Do." In an MSN exclusive, you can hear the new song below.
Consider this a starting point for those of you unfamiliar with the depth and breadth of Thorogood's work. While "Bad to the Bone" and "I Drink Alone" have become ubiquitous, his albums always delve into the blues much further. Here's a personal favorite that didn't make the new disc -- Thorogood's sublime cover of Hooker's "One Way Ticket."
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