New Releases for Tuesday, October 31

Here's a list of new releases by artists of the vinyl era:

• Atomic Rooster - "Loose Your Mind" (United States Distribution)
• Boney M. - "The Magic of Boney M." (MCI Music)
• Jack Bruce - "Bird Alone" (United States Distribution)
• Johnny Cash - "Mastercuts" (Mastercuts)
• Bootsy Collins - "Christmas is 4 Ever" (Shout)
• Desmond Dekker - "In Memoriam: 1941-2006" (Music Video Distributors) and "Mastercuts" (Mastercuts)
• Martin Denny - "Afro-Desia: The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny" (Rev-Ola)
• Sheena Easton - "The Lover in Me" (Cherry Pop) - Bonus Tracks
• John Fogarty - "Long Road Home: In Concert" (Fantasy)
• Buddy Guy - "Can't Quit the Blues" (Silvertone/Legacy) - 3 CDs/1 DVD
• John Lee Hooker - "Hooker" (Shout! Factory) - 4 CD
• Millie Jackson - "It Hurts So Good" (Southbound)
• Jethro Tull - "Catfish Rising", "Little Light Music", "Rock Island" and "Roots to Branches" (all EMI)
• Louis Jordan - "Aladdin X & Vik Recordings 1953-55" (Rev-Ola)
• Judas Priest - "Box Set" (Koch)
• Kinks - "The Arista Years" and "The RCA Years" (Velvel)
• Leadbelly - "Mount Everest of Blues Singers" (Rev-Ola)
• Led Zeppelin - "Jukebox" (Chrome Dreams)
• Jerry Lee Lewis - "Killer Rock and Roll" (Varese)
  
• Barry Manilow - "Greatest Songs of the Sixties" (Arista)
• Johnny Mathis - "Gold: A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration" (Sony)
• Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra - "Blooming Hits" (Collector's Choice)
• Meatloaf - "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose" (Virgin)
• Willie Nelson - "Songbird" (Lost Highway) - Produced by Ryan Adams
  
• Jack Nitsche - "Dance Hits of the Beatles", "St. Giles Cripplegate" and "Chopin '66" (all Collectors' Choice Music)
• Odetta - "Best of the MC Records Years 1999-2005" (Acadia)
• Paris Sisters - "The Complete Phil Spector Sessions" (Varase)
• Johnnie Ray - "Love Me" (El/Cherry Red)
• Chris Rea - "The Road to Hell and Back" (Umvd Import)
• Doug Sahm - "Doug Sahm and Band" (Collectors' Choice Music)
• Sandpipers - "Misty Roses/The Wonder of You" (Collectors' Choice Music)
• Peggy Scott - "She Got It All: Rare 70's Soul" (Shout)
• Sir Douglas Band - "Texas Tornado" (Collectors' Choice Music)
• Sons of Champlin - "The Best of..." (Acadia)
• Sparks - "Indiscreet" (Universal International)
• Bruce Springsteen - "Classic Interviews" (United States Distribution)
• Rick Wakeman - "1984" and "Cost of Living" (United States Distribution)
• Who - "Endless Wire" (Republic)
• Jimmy Witherspoon - "Urban Blues Singing Legend" (JSP)
  
• Various Artists - "The Legendary Sounds of Sun Studios" (Metro) - 65 tracks with Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, Million Dollar Quartet, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Justis, Carl Mann, Charlie Feathers and many more
• Various Artists - "Hi Record Story" (Hi) - Bill Black's Combo, Ace Cannon, Jumpin' Gene Simmons, Charlie Rich, Al Green, Otis Clay and more

Read more...

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominations

Eight acts have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. First time nominees are:

• Van Halen (third year of eligibility but first time nominated)
  
• R.E.M.
  
• Ronettes
  

Those nominated who had been considered in previous years:

• Chic
• Dave Clark Five
• Grandmaster Flash
• Patti Smith
• Stooges
• Joe Tex

Also, for those in the Cleveland area, there are going to be a number of special events at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week in salute of Roy Orbison. Monday will be a showing of the concert film "A Black and White Night" along with other TV appearances. Tuesday is an appearance by Bill Dees who co-wrote "Oh, Pretty Woman" and other Orbison songs. Wednesday there will be a panel discussion on Orbison while Thursday brings Joe Melson who wrote "Only the Lonely", "Crying" and "Blue Bayou." Friday is Fred Foster, producer on many of the singers records and, finally, Saturday is a conference on Orbison's career followed by a concert with Glen Campbell, Patty Griffin, Ricky Scaggs, the Crickets and more.

---

The 5th Dimension are still touring, but only with one original member, Florence LaRue. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. left the group in the mid-70's for a successful solo stint. Lamonte McLemore retired from the group last year. Ron Townson passed away in 2001.

The current lineup is LaRue, Willie Williams, Michael Mishaw, Leonard Tucker and Valerie Davis.

---

Collector's Choice Music will be re-releasing eleven albums by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on January 9th. The albums will be on for single CDs and two double CDs. Music historian Bill Dahl has written new liner notes from interviews with Bob Crewe and Sandy Linzer. The releases will be:

• Folk-Nanny / Born To Wander
• The Four Seasons Entertain You / Love on Stage with the Four Seasons
• Working My Way Back to You / The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette (2-CDs)
• Half & Half / Helicon
• Streetfighter / Hope & Glory (2-CDs)
• Reunited Live

---

There's a good article published today on the Jackson Sun website on one of the original Rockabilly artists, Kenny Parchman. Parchman never found great recognition during the 50's, but has become popular among today's Rockabilly fans, especially in Europe.

---

Marijohn Wilkin passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. Wilkin was little known to the general public, but her influence on country music was immense. Among her accomplishments:

• Wrote such hits as "Long Black Vail", "Waterloo", "P.T. 109", "One Day at a Time" and "Cut Across Shorty"
  
• Founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association
• Credited with discovering Kris Kristofferson
• Award-winning gospel recording artist
• Founded the publishing firm Buckhorn Music who started with "G.T.O." recorded by her son Bucky as Ronny and the Daytonas. Buckhorn was also the first to publish Kristofferson's songs, including "For the Goodtimes."
  
• Was dubbed the Den Mother of Music Row because of all the songwriters she helped over the years.

Wilkin had been ill for a couple of years and requested that she be removed from life support last year. She is survived by her son John Buck Wilkin.

---

Here's a link to a great interview with the Band's Robbie Robertson on the Native American Times website.

---

There is life after the Ramones for drummer Richie Ramone. He will be hitting the road next year playing with various symphonies around the world in celebration of the 50th anniversary of "West Side Story." The highlight of the concerts will be Richie's 20-minute drum solo medley from the show.

Read more...

Queen Plans a New Record

Queen will be entering the studio in the near future to record their first album since the death of Freddie Mercury 15 years ago. Brian May and Roger Taylor will be joined by Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, The Firm) on vocals.

May says they already have some good material and have booked three-weeks of studio time. The trio have been touring since 2005.

---

Fans are wondering why Bob Dylan allowed Twyla Tharp to use his music in the new Broadway show "The Times They Are A-Changin'." The show, based around a story about a struggling circus, has received almost unanimous pans, including the NY Post review headlined "Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven help us door."

Dylan was actually the one who approached Tharp a few years ago after the success of her show "Movin' Out", based on the songs of Billy Joel. That show ran three-years on Broadway and has spawned a touring production.

---

The NME website is reporting a rumor that Van Halen may be reforming next year with original lead singer David Lee Roth for a tour. There are no plans at this time to go in the studio.

---

"Grease" is being revived again for Broadway, but this time with a twist. NBC is producing a reality series called "You're the One That I Want" which will be a search for the actors that will portray Danny and Sandy in the show. The idea was based on a similar show on the BBC called "How Do I Solve a Problem Like Maria" where actresses competed for the role of Maria Von Trapp in a revival of "The Sound of Music."

---

Chart Watch

Vince Gill has the highest debuting album from a Vintage Vinyl artist as his four-disc "These Days" enters the Billboard Top 100 at #17. Aerosmith has the only other debut of note as "Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith" premiers at #33.

Movement within the Top 100 for previously charted albums:

• Rod Stewart's "Still the Same...Great Rock Classics of Our Time" drops from #1 to #6 in its second week.
• Tony Bennett's "Duets: An American Classic" goes from #5 to #9 after four weeks.
• Jimmy Buffett's "Take the Weather With You" moves from #4 to #13 after just two weeks.
• Sting's foray into the classics, "Songs of the Labyrinth" jumps from #37 to #25 in week two.
• Bob Seger's "Face the Promise" goes #21 to #27 in its sixth week.
• Janet Jackson's "20 Y.O." is proving to be a great disappointment as it goes from #19 to #28 after just four weeks.
• Weird Al Yankovic's "Straight Outta Lynwood" drops from #28 to #35 in week four.
• Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" falls from #29 to #39 after eight weeks.
• Lionel Richie's "Coming Home" has reversed directions, going from #45 to #41 in week six. It had initially peaked at #6.
• Ray Charles & the Count Basie Orchestra's "Ray Sings Basie Swings" moves from #31 to #49 in week three.
• Johnny Cash's "The Legend of Johnny Cash" completes a full year on the charts by going from #65 to #74.
• Jerry Lee Lewis' "Last Man Standing: The Duets" drops from #59 to #92 in week four.

On the Billboard Hot 100, Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" drops from #11 to #15.

Finally, on the European Hot 100, Meat Loaf and Marion Raven's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" premiers at #14

Read more...

Buy the Hendrix Music Rights....Get a Free Lawsuit

When a private bidder paid $15 million for the rights to a number of Jimi Hendrix's songs at auction in October, they didn't know that they might be spending more in legal fees. The auction was arranged by the estate of one-time Hendrix manager Michael Frank Jeffrey, but the rights to those songs have been contested by Experience Hendrix, a company owned by the family of the late-guitarist. Experience Hendrix contends that they own all of the music and recordings.

---

Rumors are circulating that one of the big summer tours for 2007 will be a pairing of Yes and Asia. Steve Howe, a member of both groups, would play with both bands.

---

There are more and more Hall of Fames for music around the world. The Doo Wop Hall of Fame of America was created by Harvey Robbins to honor the great groups and artists of the Doo Wop tradition (note that the official name of the organization uses the two "p" version of Wop). Starting in 2001, between four and six artists have been inducted each year. For a listing of past inductees, see the honor roll here.

This years inductees are The Diamonds, The Fleetwoods, Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, the original members of the Five Satins and The Sophmores.

On Friday, November 3rd, Robbins will be presenting the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame of American & Friends Concert at the Plymouth Memorial Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts. On the bill are the Del Vikings, Bobby Lewis, Dave Sommerville (original lead singer of The Diamonds), The Flamingos and The Tune Weavers. All except Lewis are members of the Hall.

A nice story on Dave Sommerville was published Wednesday in the Weymouth News.

---

No matter what you think of Howard Stern, he still manages to get some of the biggest stars on his show. That wasn't the case on Wednesday when Pete Townshend refused to do a scheduled interview after Stern and sidekick Robin Quivers mentioned that they might have to ask Pete about his 2003 arrest on suspected child pornography charges. Townshend was acquitted of any wrong doing and would rather focus on the new music than such tawdry discussions.

Roger Daltry and Pete's girlfriend Rachel Fuller did do the interview, but not without controversy as Stern called Fuller the Who's Yoko Ono. He later apologized to her for the comment.

---

Engelbert Humperdinck has sold almost 150 million records since "Release Me" became a hit almost forty years ago, but at age 70 he still has the drive to make more music. Coming soon will be his 76th album, "Totally Amazing", a live concert that will also be released on DVD. He has also written an autobiography called "What's in a Name." Album number 77 is also in the works, a tribute to great British songwriters.

---

A DVD of Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint's current tour will be released by Hip-O/UME on November 21st. "Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade" will include material from their current collaboration along with a few of Costello's solo works.

Read more...

Dick Clark Memorabilia to be Auctioned

Thousands of pieces of memorabilia collected over the last fifty years by Dick Clark will be hitting the auction block December 5th and 6th in New York. Guernsey's Auction House will be running the show which will include such famous items as Clark's long microphone that he used for over thirty years.

Other historical items in the auction are a Paul McCartney left-handed bass, a Michael Jackson glove, Bruce Springsteen's guitar from The River tour and a John Lennon suit from his Beatles days.

This will be a no-reserve auction, so the highest bid will take each item. Some of the proceeds will go to the T.J. Martell Foundation for the fight against cancer, AIDS and Leukemia.

---

Elvis Presley is no longer the highest earning dead guy. Last year, Kurt Cobain earned $50 million dollars to Elvis' $42 million. Much of Cobain's income came when Courtney Love sold a 25 percent stake in his music catalog to a New York publishing House.

Forbes has published the list for the last six years. This is the first time that Elvis did not top the list. At third was Charles Schultz ($35 million), John Lennon ($24 million) was fourth and Albert Einstein was fifth ($20 million) on the strength of the licensing deal for the "Baby Einstein" series. Ray Charles and Bob Marley were farther down the list.

---

In deja vu all over again, Andy Taylor has once again quite Duran Duran.

---

BBC News has reported that Terry Chimes, drummer for The Clash, is now a chiropractor in Essex, U.K. Here is a link to the article. There is also currently a major exhibit on The Clash at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

---

The three members of Black Sabbath that aren't Ozzy Osbourne are hitting the road with Ronnie James Dio under the name of Heaven and Hell. Dio had previously had two runs with Sabbath, including the one in the 80's that produced an album of the same name as the new group.

Ozzy does say that he plans on getting the band together later next year for a real Sabbath tour.

---

There are rumors that Universal Pictures is producing a biography of Dusty Springfield titled "Son of a Preacher Man." The film will revolve around her career in the 1960's up to the time she recorded "Dusty in Memphis." Initial reports have Jessica Sharzer directing and Kristin Chenoweth starring as Springfield. Chenoweth's involvement was first reported earlier in the year, but there does not seem to be too much movement on the production to date.

A bit more firm is "Gospel According to Janis" being directed by Penelpe Spheeris ("The Decline of Western Civilization", "Wayne's World") and starring Zooey Deschnel ("Failure to Launch", "Elf") as Joplin. Instead of a straight forward bio-pic, this film will follow a Rolling Stone writer who tours with Joplin during the height of her career to gather information for a story.

---

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has just finished a tour in the U.S. playing with various symphony orchestras and smaller groups. The extensive two-hour plus set mixed pieces from Mozart, Bach and others with Tull standards such as "Living in the Past", "Thick as a Brick" and much of the "Aqualung" album. During November he will be touring Scandinavia with violinist Ann Marie Calhoun.

---

Evelyn "Champagne" King, who topped the Disco charts in the late 70's with "Shame", is in the process of recording a new album for the RNB Entertainment Group. Preston Glass will be producing the album. Glass has had numerous R&B and pop hits with artists like Aretha Franklin and George Benson.

---

Flashback

October 26, 1961

Forty-Five years ago today, Bob Dylan signed with Columbia Records. Columbia A&R man John Hammond had read a good review of Dylan's performance at Gerde's Folk City and immediately set out to find him and sign him to the label. The first album, "Bob Dylan" was released in March of 1962 and, although it only contained two Dylan originals ("Talkin' New York" and "Song to Woody"), it was the start of one of the most influential and celebrated careers of the last fifty years.

Read more...

New Releases for Tuesday, October 24

New releases of note from artists of the vinyl era:

• 10CC - "10 Out of 10" (Universal Japan - Import)
• Asia - "Live in Nottingham" (Renaissance)
• Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - "Straight Ahead" (Fuel 2000) - Bonus Tracks
• Barclay James Harvest - "Concert for the People", "Eyes of the Universe", "Face to Face", "Live Tapes" and "Welcome to the Show" (Eclectic)
• George Benson & Al Jarreau - "Givin' It Up" (Concord)
• Mars Bonfire - "Faster Than the Speed of Life" (Fallout)
• Climax Blues Band - "Sense of Direction" (Fuel 2000)
• Joe Cocker - "Colour Collection" (Umvd Import)
  
• Cozy Cole - "Cozy Cole" (Collectibles)
• Bobby Darin - "You're the Reason I'm Living/18 Yellow Roses" (Collectibles)
• John Denver - "Annie's Song: A Collection Of His Greatest Recordings" (Music Club Deluxe)
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Pomp & Ceremony: Live" (Music Club Deluxe)
• Peter Frampton - "Colour Collection" (Umvd Import)
• Millie Jackson - "Soul Circuit Retrospectives" (DM)
• James Gang - "Live in Concert" (Universal Special Products)
  
• George Jones & Merle Haggard - "Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones: Kickin' Out the Floodlights...Again" (Bandit)
• King Crimson - "Collector's King Crimson, Volume 1" (Discipline)
• John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - "Bluesbrakers with Eric Clapton" (Umvd Imports)
• Meat Loaf - "Bat Out of Hell: Special Edition" (Sony)
• Pure Prarie League - "Firin' Up" (Umvd Special Markets)
• Brian Setzer - "13" (Surfdog)
• Paul Stanley - "Live to Win" (New Door)
• Cat Stevens - "Cat Stevens Box Set" (A&M)
• Temptations - "...to Be Continued" (Umvd Special Markets)
• Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - "Legends of Country Music: The Best of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys" (Sony) - 4-Disc Box
• Bill Wyman - "Bill Wyman" and "Stone Alone" (Castle US) - Bonus Tracks
• Glen Yarbrough - "Come Sit By My Side" (Collectibles)
• Yes - "Stories: Group and Solo Tales" (Music Club Deluxe)
  
• Frank Zappa - "Trance Fusion" (Zappa)
• Various Artists - "The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited" (Shout! Factory) - David Johanson, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Elvis Costello, Geoff Muldaur, Van Dyke Parks, Marianne Faithful, Lou Reed, More

Read more...

Missing Hank Williams Notebook Found

A notebook originally owned by Hank Williams that disappeared from a Sony office has turned up in the hands of two collectors. The notebook, with a value estimated at $250,000, contains roughed out lyrics to a number of songs never completed by Williams.

Steven Shutts and Robert Reynolds who run the touring Honky Tonk Hall of Fame obtained the notebook from and older Nashville woman last summer and have had it on display. The two are not being investigated for any wrong doing.

---

Sandy West, drummer for The Runaways, passed away on Saturday after a long battle with lung cancer.

West, Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie formed the band in 1975 with the help of promoter Kim Fowley. The true brilliance of the groups sound was lost to the press in the early days as Fowley insisted on marketing the then teens in a "jail-bait" style. Though never a real commercial success in the U.S., the band did obtain a following overseas and many critics who dismissed them at the start now admit the lasting impression the group made.

Sandy West was 45.

---

Brian May of Queen was on his was to a doctorate in Astronomy when he decided that being a star was better than studying them. Now he has returned to his first love with the release of the book "Bang! The Complete History of the Universe" which he co-wrote with Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott. Per May, astronomy and music aren't that different. They are both abstract in there own ways and you can lose yourself in thought while studying either.

---

Canada has their own preservation group that names important works in television, radio, film and music as Canadian MasterWorks. Last Thursday, the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust named twelve new works to their archives. Among those works was the Rush album "2112." The 1976 album was their fourth and, for the first time, merged both sides of the Rush spectrum, progressive and heavy rock. Previous music enshrined includes Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and Moe Koffman's "Swingin' Shepherd Blues"

---

Don Henley is also being honored with the 2007 MusicCares Person of the Year. His honor comes due to his activism in environmental issues and musician's rights. He will receive the award on February 9th as part of annual lead-up to the Grammy Awards.

---

...and yet other awards news. Jimmy Buffett, Hugh Prestwood and Jim Weatherly have been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Buffett was inducted in the songwriter-artist category while Prestwood and Weatherly were in the songwriter category (even though Weatherly had a hit with "The Need to Be").

Prestwood's catalog includes Trisha Yearwood's "The Song Remembers When", Shandendoah's "Ghost in This House" and Michael Johnson's "That's It." Weatherly wrote "Midnight Train to Georgia", "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye" and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me", all hits for Gladys Knight and the Pips.

---

Sean Lennon is hitting the road starting on October 29th in support of his new album "Friendly Fire." At this time, he is scheduled for 14 appearances in North America in mostly club and small theater settings.

---

Last week we reported that Yoko Ono had filed suit against Capitol/EMI for back royalties on the Beatles catalog. It now comes out that she only filed a short three-page brief meant to preserve her rights while discussing the situation with the label and not a full lawsuit.

Read more...

George Jones Breaks Wrist in Fall

George Jones broke his right wrist on Friday when he struck the awning support of a building he was entering and fell down the stairs. He will undergo surgery on Monday to ensure proper healing of the wrist. He has cancelled concerts scheduled for the weekend with future appearances dependent on the outcome of the surgery.

---

Olivia Newton-John's new album, "Grace & Gratitude", is only available through Walgreen stores. Newton-John had already parterned with the store for a line of women's health products and approached the head of the company on a companion CD that would compliment her message of healing and wellness. The executive was suitably impressed and made the pairing happen.

---

Barbra Streisand will be releasing a 2-CD set on December 5th of her opening night concert from the current tour.

---

Kiss fans should check out the October 31st edition of MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) for an appearance by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. They will be promoting the new album "Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977."

---

Tony Bennett's current duets album is being turned into an NBC special to air on November 21st. He'll be performing tracks from the album with his duet partners in a series of short films that reflect different periods in his career. Guests are expected to include Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Christine Aguilera, Stevie Wonder and John Legend.

---

Chart Watch

Vinyl era artists have a couple of big debuts on the album chart this week as Rod Stewart's "Still the Same...Great Rock Classics of Our Time" debuts at #1 and Jimmy Buffett's "Take the Weather With You" starts at #4 (premiered at #1 on the Country album chart). Sting's foray into early music, "Songs from the Labyrinth" premiers at #27 which is actually quite good for an album of this type from a classical label (Deutsche Gramophone).

Janet Jackson's new album, "20 Y.O." seems to be having major sales problems as it drops form 9 to 19 in its third week of release. Tony Bennett's "Duets: An American Classic" drops to #5 in its third week on the chart. Weird Al Yankovic's "Straight Outta Lynwood" goes #19 to #28 after the same time period while Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" goes #25 to #29 it its 7th week, Bob Seger's "Face the Promise" goes #18 to #21 in its 5th week, Ray Charles' "Ray Sings Basie Swings" drops from #23 to #31 after only two weeks of release and Jerry Lee Lewis' "Last Man Standing: The Duets" goes #41 to #59 after three weeks.. All of these drops from the heights of the charts after so few weeks points to great interest in releases by classic vinyl artists upon initial release, but not lasting sales. It will be interesting to see how Stewart and Buffett fare over the next few weeks.

One artist that apparently is bucking the trend is Johnny Cash. After 51 weeks of release, his "The Legend of Johnny Cash" goes from #72 to #65. It was announced this week that a second "Legend" volume is forthcoming.

On the singles side, Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" seems to have peeked at #9 and as it drops to #11 after three weeks.

Read more...

Vintage Motown Performances Coming to DVD

November 21st is the release date for two new DVDs that will present vintage performances by a couple of Motown's greatest.

"Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances 1963-1987" has 14 full-length performances ranging from the Apollo Theater in 1963 to a number of TV performances. There are also interviews with Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers and Pete Moore. Two of the performances ("Crusin'" and "Just to See Her") come from Robinson's solo career.

"The Supremes: Reflections" has performances from Hullabaloo and the Ed Sullivan Show along with other rare clips and a 1966 promo film for "You Keep Me Hanging On."

---

Yoko Ono has sued Capitol Records for $10 million claiming that they owe his estate back royalties. The filing accuses Capitol/EMI of not only under-reporting royalties but also dishonesty in their accounting.

Capitol/EMI spokesperson Adam Grossberg is not discussing the specifics of the case but did state that it is not unusual for an artist to ask for an accounting of their royalties and Capitol would cooperate fully. Per Grossberg, in 99 out of 100 cases, the dispute is settled out of court.

---

Pete Townshend says he wouldn't bother to go see himself play at his current age. In a Rolling Stone interview, Townshend said he doesn't want to watch "old guys in their self-congratulatory mode."

"I don't want to go out and see Bob Dylan. I don't want to go out and see Bob Dylan. I don't want to go out and see the Stones. I wouldn't pay money to go see the Who, not even with new songs..."

Of course, this is the same man that, in a 1980's interview in Rolling Stone, stated that he felt ABBA was a lot more rock-n-roll than The Beatles.

---

In other comments from older rockers on the state of current music, Sting says that it's stagnant which is why he's singing 16th century ballads on his new album. "Rock music has come to a standstill -- it's not going forward any more, it only bores me..."

---

Bob Seger is scheduled to sing "America the Beautiful" before the first game of the World Series Saturday night in Detroit. Anita Baker will be doing the National Anthem on Sunday.

---

ABBA is joining the Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson in releasing an album of "Number Ones" on November 21st. There will be a CD and a DVD releases with the only difference being the song "Ring, Ring" which will only be on the DVD.

This release by ABBA is a bit of an oddity, at least in the United States, as ABBA really only had one #1 with "Dancing Queen." They were, however, much bigger in almost every other country in the world, so I would presume that the track listing (below) reflects songs that hit the top in at least one country.

• "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
• "Summer Night City"
• "Dancing Queen"
• "Waterloo"
• "Money, Money, Money"
• "Mamma Mia"
• "The Winner Takes It All"
• "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
• "Take a Chance on Me"
• "S.O.S."
• "Chiquitita"
• "Fernando"
• "Super Trouper"
• "Knowing Me, Knowing You"
• "The Name of the Game"
• "Voulez-Vous"
• "I Have a Dream"
• "One of Us"

---

Bert Jansch is one of the most influential musicians in the history of British folk music. His first two solo albums in the mid-1960's influenced many future rockers such as Jimmy Page.

Jansch released a new album under-the-radar back on September 18th called "Black Swan." The twelve tracks on the album covers blues, Celtic and both American and traditional British folk. Appearing with him on the album are Beth Orton, Noah Georgeson (who also produced) and son Adam Jansch.

Read more...

The Beatles in 5.1 Surround

Some say the Beatles sound their best in Mono. Other's prefer Stereo, as long as it isn't artificially channeled. Now, you can hear some of their best remixed in 5.1 surround on the soundtrack to the Cirque Du Soleil/Beatles show "Love," due November 21. The complete track list (including two mashups):

• "Because"
• "Get Back"
• "Glass Onion"
• "Eleanor Rigby"
• "Julia (Transition)"
• "I Am the Walrus"
• "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
• "Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing"
• "Gnik Nus"
• "Something"
• "Blue Jay Way (Transition)"
• "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter"
• "Help!"
• "Blackbird/Yesterday"
• "Strawberry Fields Forever"
• "Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows"
• "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"
• "Octopus's Garden"
• "Lady Madonna"
• "Here Comes the Sun"
• "The Inner Light (Transition)"
• "Come Together/Dear Prudence"
• "Cry Baby Cry (Transition)"
• "Revolution"
• "Back in the U.S.S.R."
• "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
• "A Day in the Life"
• "Hey Jude"
• "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"
• "All You Need Is Love"

---

Multi-talented producer, writer and singer Lee Hazlewood is suffering from Cancer at the age of 77. Last Sunday, the Guardian Unlimited printed an in-depth interview with Hazlewood by fellow performer Richard Hawley. See the interview at the Guardian website.

---

The U.K. Music Hall of Fame will induct seven new members on November 14th. The inductees are James Brown, Bon Jovi, Brian Wilson, Dusty Springfield, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart and George Martin.

---

For those who forgot to send him a card, Chuck Berry turns 80 tomorrow (Wednesday). Berry plans an intimate dinner with family and friends followed by a late-night performance at the Duck Room where he has played one night a month for the last ten years.

---

Stanley Mitchell, who sang with Billy Ward & the Dominos, the Hamptones (for Lionel Hampton's band) and Stanley & the Tornadoes died last Saturday at the age of 71. His stint with the Dominos started after Clyde McPhatter was fired from the group. In his final years, he stayed around his hometown of Detroit and recorded an album with the Motor City R&B Pioneers with Joe Weaver and Kenny Martin.

Read more...

New Releases for Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Here's this weeks list of notable new releases and re-releases from artists of the vinyl era:

• ABBA - "Arrival" (UMVD Import) - 2 CD Remaster with Bonus Tracks
  
• Aerosmith - "Devil Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith" (Sony)
• Davie Allan & the Arrows - "Cycle Breed" (Sundazed)
• April Wine - "Stand Back" (Wounded Bird)
• Eddy Arnold - "Wanderin'" (Country Stars)
• Atomic Rooster - "Atomic Rooster" (Elektra)
  
• Ginger Baker Trio - "Falling Off the Roof" (Wounded Bird)
• Black Oak Arkansas - "The Definitive Rock Collection" (Rhino)
• Clarence Gatemouth Brown - "Dirty Works at the Crossroads 1947 - 1954" (Acrobat)
• Canned Heat - "Very Best of Volume 2" (Friday Music)
• Dick Dale & the Del-Tones - "Surfer's Choice" (Sundazed)
• Duane Eddy - "$1,000,000 Worth of Twang" (Jamie/Guyden)
• Everly Brothers - "36 Unreleased Recordings from the Late 50's and Early 60's" (Varese)
• Five Blind Boys of Alabama - "Collection 1948-1951" (Acrobat)
• Foghat - "The Definitive Rock Collection" (Rhino) and "Night Shift" (Wounded Bird)
• Robben Ford - "The Inside Story" (Wounded Bird)
• Merle Haggard - "Ten Top Tens Live" (Intersound)
• Tim Hardin - "Tim Hardin 3 Live in Concert" (Lilith)
• Harmonizing Four - "1943 - 1954" (Acrobat)
• Holy Modal Rounders - "Indian War Whoop" (ESP)
• Bert Jansch - "Black Swan" (Drag City)
• George Jones - "A God's Country: George Jones and Friends" (Category 5)
• Junior Wells - "Live at Theresa's 1975" (Delmark)
• Ramsey Lewis - "Don't It Feel Good" and "Salongo" (Wounded Bird)
• Love - "The Definitive Rock Collection" (Rhino)
• Memphis Slim - "Tribute to Big Bill Broonzy" (Candid)
• Mott the Hoople - "Drive On" (Wounded Bird)
• Willie Nelson - "54 Songs: The Songwriter Sessions" (DBK Works)
• Orleans - "Still the One Live: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective" (Friday Music)
• Robert Palmer - "Best of" (Capitol)
• Pearls Before Swine "Balaklava" and "One Nation Underground" (ESP)
• Wilson Pickett - "Hey Jude" (DBK Works)
• Jerry Reed - "Let's Git it On" (R2k)
• Todd Rundgren - "The Definitive Rock Collection" (Rhino)
• Otis Rush - "Otis Rush Live and In Concert from San Francisco" (Blues Express)
• Dan Seals - "Harbinger" and "Stones" (Wounded Bird)
• Troy Shondell - "This Time: The Best of Troy Shondell" (Acrobat)
• Rex Smith - "Sooner or Later" (Wounded Bird)
• Sweet - "Sweet Chronology: Anthology" (Friday Music)
• Twisted Sister - "Twisted Christmas" (Razor & Tie)
• Vanilla Fudge - "Mystery" (Wounded Bird)
• Link Wray & His Ray Men - "White Lightning: Lost Cadence Sessions '58" (Sundazed)
  

Read more...

Freddy Fender (1937 - 2006)

As we reported Thursday, Freddy Fender was released from the hospital to his home although he remained in grave condition. Word now comes that Fender succumbed to lung cancer on Saturday in his Corpus Christie, Texas home at the age of 69.

Fender's career started in the 1950's on the Falcon label using his real name, Baldemar Huerta. His Spanish-language versions of "Don't Be Cruel" and "Jamaica Farewell" were big hits in the Latin American Market. In 1960, he released an early version of "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" which found some popularity, but his burgeoning fame was cut short by a three-year prison sentence for marijuana possession.

It wasn't until 1975 that he once again found success with the number one hit "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and the number eight remake of "Wasted Days." While those were his only major pop hits, he topped the Country charts four times with "Secret Love", "You'll Lose a Good Thing" and his two cross-over records. Other country hits included "Since I Met You Baby", "Vaya Con Dios", "Living It Down" and "The Rains Came."

In 1990's he played with the Texas Tornadoes and Los Super Seven and acted in Robert Redford's movie "The Milagro Beanfield Wars."

---

The legendary club CBGB has only a couple of weeks left before it closes due to a rent dispute with their landlord. To commemorate what the club has meant for her career, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein played an acoustic set to a standing-room only crowd on Saturday night. The concert included many of Blondie's hits along with covers like the Ramone's "I Want to Be Your Boyfriend." Patti Smith is doing the last show at the club tonight (Sunday).

On a trivia note, CBGB's real name is CBGB & OMFUG which stands for Country, bluegrass, Blues and other music for uplifting Gormandizers.

---

Barry Manilow is still mending from his hip surgery, but that isn't stopping him from starting rehearsals for shows in Atlantic City and Chicago.

---

Tuesday will see the release of "One Train Later" by Andy Summers (St. Martin's Press). The autobiography covers his five decades in the music business, including the historic but relatively short career of the Police.

---

Classic vinyl artists are making some impact on this weeks Billboard charts. On the singles side, Weird Al Yankovic's "White and Nerdy" goes from 28 to 9. In albums, George Strait premiers at #3 with "It Comes Natural", Tony Bennett drops from 3 to 4 with "Duets", Janet Jackson drops from #2 to 9 with "20 Y.O.", Bob Seger's "Face the Promise" drops to #18, Weird Al's "Straight Outta Lynwood" drops to #19 after premiering last week at #10, Ray Charles & the Count Basie Orchestra premiers at #23 and Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" drops to #25. Other premiers include Lindsay Buckingham "Under the Skin" at #80 and Gladys Knight's "Before Me" at #93. Also of note, Elton John's "The Captain & the Kid" premiered three weeks ago at #18 and has already fallen to 89.

Read more...

New Record by ??? and Tammi Terrell

What do you do when you find an old Tammi Terrell track in the archives and you just can't figure out who is singing with her? You take it to the people who have made it their business to know by being fans of the music.

Motown has contacted DJ Russ Winstanley who is the founder of the Wigan Casino Northern Soul All Nighter foundation in Wigan, Lancashire, England. The Wigan Casino was well known from the early-1970's on as a dance house specializing in Northern Soul music. These days, Winstanley hosts soul nights at the Litten Tree in Litten, England. He'll be playing the song at his next couple of gigs and is confident that, with the knowledge of the music in the area, someone will be able to ID the mystery singer.

---

"Polk Salad Annie, the gators got your granny, chomp, chomp, chomp." Those that remember this great swamp rock hit from 1969 by Tony Joe White might find this article interesting. White has also recorded a new album called "Uncovered" with the help of Eric Clapton, Michael MacDonald, J.J. Cale, Mark Knopfler and, in one of his last sessions, Waylon Jennings.

---

The Stooges are back in the studio recording their first album since 1973. Per Iggy Pop, "All the same passions and problems are there" but age has muted them a bit. They expect to go on tour next year after the release.

---

Also back in the studio for a new album after a decade is Belinda Carlisle who has signed with Rykodisk. All of the tracks on "Voila" are sung in French and focuses on classic pop songs of France with a contemporary feel. Brian Eno is contributing keyboards and Fianchna O'Braonain of the Hothouse Flowers in on guitar.

---

The New York Dolls are going back out on the road for the first time in thirty-years on November 6th. Frontman David Johansen says he's thrilled to be out performing high-energy music again. The tour supports their new album "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This"

---

On the DVD front, Capitol/EMI has announced the release of the final Crowded House show from November 1996 on the DVD/CD combo "Farewell to the World", due on January 14th.

In addition, A&E has announced that they will be releasing a DVD of the opening concert of Paul McCartney's 2005 "Us" tour. Expected date for "The Space Within US" is November 14th with a one-hour special airing on A&E on October 27th.

---

Duets, duets and more duets. This time it's Dionne Warwick who will be going that route with "My Friends and Me" scheduled for release on November 7th from Concord. On this one, Warwick reprises some of her biggest hits with help from a variety of older and new artists. Among the tracks are "Walk on By" with Gloria Estefan, "Message to Michael" with Cyndi Lauper, "I'll Never Love Like This Again" with Gladys Knight, "Wishin' and Hopin'" with Olivia Newton-John, and "I Say a Little Prayer" with Reba McEntire.

---

French rock fans and guitarists can now see footage and guitars from some of the greats at the Cite de la Musique in Paris. A film shown at the exhibition includes footage of everyone from Pete Townshend and Dick Dale to Django Reinhardt and Andres Segovia. Instruments are on display from Townshend (I guess one of the few he didn't smash), Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmore, John Lee Hooker and many more. The exhibition lasts through January 14th.

---

Jackson, Tennessee, hometown of such heavyweights as Isaac Hayes, Sonny Boy Williamson and Carl Perkins, is currently building Rockabilly Park, which will include a performing arts stage and is right next to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. They are currently looking for about $70,000 in donations to complete the project.

---

If you watch SpongeBob SquarePants, you may find a character named Lord Royal Highness sounds oddly familiar. David Bowie has voiced the part for an episode that will air next year.

---

VH1 is holding the Classic Rock 'n' Roll Poker Tournament on November 2nd at the Flamingo in Los Angeles. Playing from the rock side is Ace Frehley of KISS, Dusty Hill of Z.Z. Top, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Vinnie Paul of Pantera and Sully Erna of Godsmack. Representing the pro Poker players are Phil Hellumuth, Annie Duke and Antonio Esfandiari. First place is $25,000 donated to a favorite charity. Look for it on VH1 early next year.

---

We reported awhile ago that Freddy Fender was battling cancer. It is now known that he has released to his home on Thursday but remains gravely ill.

Read more...

New Releases for Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Here are new releases of note for Tuesday, October 10th from artists of the vinyl era:

• Lynn Anderson - "Country Rose" (American Legend)
• Atomic Rooster - "Lose Your Mind" (United States Distribution)
• Burt Bacharach & Friends - "Gold" (Hip-O)
• Mike Bloomfield - "Celebrating the Blues" (Music Avenue)
• Jack Bruce - "Bird Alone" (United States Distribution)
• Jimmy Buffett - "Take the Weather With You" (RCA)
• Eric Burdon - "Tobacco Road" (United States Distribution)
• Soloman Burke - "Soul Lucky" (Music Avenue)
• George Clinton - "Take It To the Stage" (Music Avenue)
• Roger Daltrey - "Gold" (Hip-O)
• Spencer Davis Group - "Old Friends, Familiar Faces, and New Acquaintances" (Music Avenue)
• Deep Purple - "Live at Montreux 1969" (Purple UK)
• Earth Wind & Fire - "Rio After Dark" (Snapper UK)
• Fleetwood Mac - "Madison Blues" (Recall)
• Funkadelic - "Mastercuts" (Apace/Mastercuts)
• Marvin Gaye - "Soul Immortal" (American Legends)
• Mickey Gilley - "Urban Cowboy" (American Legends)
• Charlie Gracie - "Best of 1956 to 1958" (Abko)
• Great Speckled Bird - "Great Speckled Bird" (Collectors' Choice Music)
• Hawkwind - "Welcome to the Future" (Recall)
• Hot Tuna - "Pair a Dice Found" (Acadia)
• Elton John - "Elton John's Christmas Party" (Hip-O)
• King Crimson - "Collector's King Crimson, Volume 1 (Discipline)
• Kiss - "20th Century Masters - The Millenium Collection, Volume 3" (Island)
• Barry Manilow - "Barry Manilow", "One Voice" and "This One's For You" (Arista) - All with bonus tracks
• John Mayall - "Private Collection" (Recall)
• Curtis Mayfield - "Greatest Hits" (Silver Star/Zyx)
• Bette Midler - "Cool Yule" (Sony)
• Maria Muldaur - "Songs for the Young at Heart" (Music for Little People)
• Dolly Parton - "Acoustic Collection 1999-2002" (Sugar Hill)
• Righteous Brothers - "20th Century Masters: Millenium Collection" (Polydor)
• Mitch Ryder - "Devil with the Blue Dress Off" (Music Avenue)
• Savoy Brown - "Hellbound Boogie" (Music Avenue)
• Soft Machine - "Middle Earth Masters" (Cuneiform)
• Bruce Springsteen - "Classic Interviews" (United States Distribution)
• Rod Stewart - "Best of Rod Stewart" (WEA International) and "Still the Same: Great Rock Classics of Our Times" (J-Records)
• Sting - "Songs From the Labrynth" (Deutsche Grammophon)
• Johnny Thunders - "Too Much Junkie Business" (Recall)
• Troggs - "Wild Things: Godfathers of Punk" (Music Avenue)
• Ike & Tina Turner - "Mastercuts" (Mastercuts)
• Various Artists - "Cameo Parkway: The Greatest Hits" (Abko) - Chubby Checker, Dovells, Bobby Rydell, Orlons, Tymes and more
• Johnny Winter - "Black Cat Bone: Live at the Texas Pop Festival" (Music Avenue)
• Bobby Womack - "Across 110th Street" (Snapper UK)
• Betty Wright - "I Love the Way You Love Me" (Water)
• Tammy Wynette - "The Ways to Love a Man/Tammy's Touch" (Raven)
• Yardbirds - "Rave Up With the Yardbirds" (United States Distribution)

Read more...

Bear Family Records: Imports That Present the Eclectic

It's great to collect the vinyl versions of classic music, but sometimes it's impossible to find or just too expensive. True music collectors and connoisseurs have known for years about an import label out of Germany called Bear Family Records. While still expensive to import into the US, the albums they release are some of the most thoroughly researched and presented available in any market.

A new series that they have recently released is creating a real stir among R&B fans. "Blowing the Fuse" is a series of 16-CDs, each one covering a year in music from 1945 to 1960. The difference here is that they really researched the music to give the listener a true feeling for R&B in each particular year. Not only are their hits, but many other tracks of significance. Plus, each CD comes with a book reviewing the year and each of the tracks with many historical pictures. These books aren't just the ones that fit into the CD case, but a larger format that makes Bear Family have to house each release in its own digipacks.

For example, on the 1956 release there are 30 tracks that include many of the big R&B hits of the year ("Speedo" by the Cadillacs, "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard) but also lesser known records such as "Pretty Thing" by Bo Didley, "Try Rock 'n' Roll" by Bobby Mitchell and "You've Got Me Dizzy" by Jimmy Reed.

Truly great stuff that isn't always easily available.

---

Tower Records is no more. A federal bankruptcy judge has awarded the chain to Great American Corp. for $134.3 million and they plan on liquidating the chain. Interestingly, Trans World's bid was just $500,000 less and they would have left part of the chain running, but the judge chose to shut the long-time retailer down.

---

Pete Seeger is 87 years old and his voice is a bit worn from the years, but he's still revered by those who remember him from many years as a folksinger and activist. Here's an article from the Washington Post on his performance at the recent Woody Guthrie tribute concert.

---

The National Endowment for the Arts has named seven new "Jazz Masters". Included in this year's class are:

• Ramsey Lewis (piano) who had four top 40 hits in the 60's with songs like "The In Crowd" and "Walk on the Water."
• Toshiko Akiyoshi (big-band leader)
• Jimmy Scott (vocalist)
• Curtis Fuller (trombone)
• Frank Wess (tenor saxophone and flute)
• Phil Woods (alto saxophone)
• Dan Morgenstern (director of jazz studies at Rutgers and author)

Their awards include a $25,000 endowment and will be presented on January 12th, 2007 in New York. For a complete list of the Jazz Masters and information on the award, go to the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship website.

---

Brian Setzer is continuing his back-to-basics trend with his new album "13", being released on Surfdog records on October 24th. With no big bands in sight, Setzer plays Rockabilly, instrumental blues and straight-ahead rock-and-roll.

---

Natalie Cole is also going back to her style before her standards period with "Leavin'", her 20th studio album. Along with some classic R&B sounds, she's also mixed in some pop and rock from such artists as Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, Sting and Shelby Lynn. Here's a short interview with her from the site Monsters and Critics.

---

Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris will be releasing a CD/DVD combo of their late-June concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. "Real Live Roadrunning" will be released by Nonesuch/Warner Brothers on June 28th and will feature songs from the duo's album "All the Roadrunning" along with a few of their solo songs.

---

Even before his "Greatest Songs of the 60's" hits stores on October 31st, Barry Manilow is predicting that he will be following it up with "Greatest Songs of the 70's." He evidently forgot that he already did an album of all 70's songs about five years ago. Soon he'll be up to "Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop."

Read more...

David Gest (Yes, THAT David Gest) to Produce London Soul Spectacular

Back before his days with Liza with a Z, David Gest was well known worldwide for producing numerous music spectaculars for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.

Gest has just announced that he will be producing a three-day soul spectacular on December 29th through the 31st in London's Cadogan Hall and is planning on making this a yearly event. Included in the first year's concerts are artists like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Billy Paul, Candi Staton, Peabo Bryson, Russell Tompkins Jr and the New Stylistics, Dorothy Moore, William Bell, Freda Payne, Carl Carlton, Bonnie Tyler and Deniece Williams.

Here's hoping David can find someone to record what sounds like a great event.

---

Prentiss Barnes, the man with the deep voice in the Moonglows, was killed this past Saturday in a traffic accident at the age of 81.

Barnes was a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and is a Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer. The Moonglows topped the R&B charts in 1955 with "Sincerely" and were also known for hits like "Most of All", "See Saw" and "Ten Commandments of Love."

---

BMI, the music performance group, gave its Icon Award on Tuesday to Kinks frontman Ray Davies. The award is given to artists who have had an enduring influence on music. Davies is also a Commander of the British Empire and a member of both the British and the American Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.

---

James Taylor was also honored this past weekend with the 2006 Carolina Performing Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. He grew up in Chapel Hill where he was presented with the award at the University of North Carolina. Appropriately, he performed "Carolina On My Mind" with the North Carolina Symphony during the program.

---

In what may or may not be a bastardization of a rock classic, Eric Clapton has started performing "Cocaine" again during his current tour. Clapton says he is now seeing it more as an anti-drug song and his band shouts out "Dirty Cocaine" at a number of points during the song. Somehow this seems like good material for an SNL skit.

---

Barbra Streisand hits the stage on Wednesday night to start only the second tour of her career. She'll perform in 16-cities with what is being called a stripped down stage show ("only" a 57-piece orchestra) and will mix hits with never performed live songs. Ticket prices range from $100 to $750 with the average being $275.

---

The Supreme Court has refused to hear Vinnie Vincent's case on the dismissal of his lawsuit against KISS. Vincent stated he was owed royalties for contributing to the album "Lick it Up."

---

Finally, George Michael was arrested for suspicion of marijuana possession. Wait, didn't I write this line before?

Read more...

New Releases for October 3, 2006

This Tuesday's new releases for artists of interest to the vinyl collector. We limit this list to those albums that have solid release information and track listings.

• Bobby Bare - "20 Bare Essentials" (Music Mill)
• Lindsay Buckingham - "Under the Skin" (Warner Brothers)
• Tim Buckley - "Best of" (Elektra)
• Captain Beefheart - "Doc at the Radar Station" & "Ice Cream for Crow" (Astralwerks)
• Ray Charles - "Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation" (Medialink Enter)
• Ray Charles & the Count Basie Orchestra - "Ray Sings/Basie Swings" (Concord) - This is the album that takes Charles voice tracks from 1973 and sets them over new backing tracks from the current day Count Basie Orchestra
• Chicago - "Chicago 16" and "Chicago 17" (WEA International/Rhino) - With Bonus Tracks
• Desmond Dekker - "This is Desmond Dekker" (Trojan) - With Bonus Tracks
• Earth Wind & Fire - "In the Name of Love" (Kalimba)
• Peter Hammill - "Chameleon in the Shadow of Night", "In Camera", "Nadir's Big Chance", "Silent Corner and the Empty Sky" (all EMI)
• Humble Pie - "As Safe as Yesterday Is" & "Town & Country" (both JVC Japan)
• Jethro Tull - "Catfish Rising", "Little Light Music", "Rock Island" & "Roots to Branches" (all EMI)
• Journey - "Captured", "Frontiers", "Raised on Radio" & "Trial by Fire" (all Sony) - Bonus tracks on last three
• John Kay & Steppenwolf - "Live in London" (Rainman)
• Gladys Knight & the Saints Unified Voices - "A Christmas Celebration" (Many Roads)
• Sean Lennon - "Friendly Fire" (Capitol)
• Manhattan Transfer - "Acapella Christmas" & "Symphony Sessions" (both Rhino)
• Nazareth - "Bad Bad Boys: The Best of" (Music Club International)
• NRBQ - "Ludlow Garage 1970" (Sundazed)
• Buck Owens - "Down on the Corner of Love" (DBK Works)
• Steve Perry - "For the Love of Strange Medicine", "Greatest Hits" & "Street Talk" (Sony) - All with Bonus Tracks
• Esther Phillips - "Atlantic Years" (WEA International)
• Pink Floyd - "Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd" (Capitol)
• Elvis Presley - "Elvis Christmas"
• Pretenders - "Pretenders" & "Pretenders II" (Rhino)
• Various Artists - "What is It!: Funky Soul & Rare Grooves" (Rhino) - 80 Tracks from the known (Aretha Franklin, Commodores, Rufus Thomas) to the less known (Southshore Commission, Noble Knights, Houseguests)

Read more...