991.com Sleevenotes : A Blog about Collecting Rare Vinyl 7", 12" & LP Records, CDs, Memorabilia & Music

Zakk Wylde offers his opinions to the world

Zakk Wylde – the always outspoken Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist – is shooting his mouth off again, and this time he’s got Aerosmith and Metallica in his sights.

Guitar Wars - Ron versus Gary

Legendary guitarist Ronnie Montrose – of Montrose and Gamma fame – is suing fellow six-stringer Gary Moore.

The reason? Ronnie reckons Gal is in possession of a guitar of his that was nicked back in the early 1970s.

Ronnie claims he had his 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul stolen back in 1972 - two years before the release of Montrose’s seminal debut album (pictured left).

Ronnie was then a member of the Edgar Winter Group, and his guitar was half-inched from an EWG show in Dudley, Massachusetts.

Ronnie says he bought the guitar from J Geils, and used it to record the Edgar Winter Group album They Only Come Out at Night.

Ronnie says he has since hired private detectives to track down the guitar, but with no luck.

Until he saw Gary Moore’s guitar collection in a British guitar magazine. Ronnie is convinced that one of Moore’s pictured Les Pauls is his missing guitar.

Ronnie claims a photo showing a pin-sized hole in the back of the guitar is the proof, as he drills such holes in all of his guitars.

According to US court reports, Moore has not responded to Ronnie’s efforts to establish contact, so Ronnie is suing the Irish axepert. There is no suggestion Moore was behind any claimed theft in 1972.

Reached at his home in Brighton, England, Moore refused to discuss the matter, saying only that the “whole thing is a sham”.

Source: Classic Rock.com

Friday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

LEMONHEADS 'Varshons': [Release Date 15/06/2009]

CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=472255

It makes sense that the new album from The Lemonheads sounds like a mix-tape slipped to you by a music-obsessed friend anxious to turn you on to something new. In fact, the idea for the band's new covers record was inspired by Gibby Haynes, ringmaster of the Butthole Surfers, who for years has made mixes for his longtime friend Evan Dando. "Making a good mix is an art, and Gibby has it down," says Dando. "I thought it would be fun to share these songs with other people like he shared them with me. So I picked the 'greatest hits' from his mixes and covered them, along with a few other songs I always wanted to play". 'Varshons' was produced by Haynes, and features Dando along with Vess Ruhtenburg [bass] and Devon Ashley [drums]. The collection is filled with strange bedfellows - from G.G. Allin to Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt and garage rockers The Green Fuz. The Lemonheads make each track their own, with help from actress Liv Tyler, singing back up on Leonard Cohen's 'Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye', and Kate Moss, who sings over the dance groove of Arling & Cameron's 'Dirty Robot', Also featured on lead guitar and backing vocals throughout most of the album is John Perry, on loan from The Only Ones. 'Varshons' unearths a pair of psychedelic treasures with 'Yesterlove' - a song recorded in 1969 by the group Sam Gopal featuring future Motorhead bassist Lemmy Kilmister - and 'Dandelion Seeds' from July, record collector's Registered Landmark Band. For 'Layin' Up With Linda', the band filters Allin's cold-blooded tale through the swaggering country-honk of The Stones' 'Dead Flowers'. Filled with obscure nuggets, the tracks on 'Varshons' cut a wide swath, jumping from early British psychedelic to Dutch electronica and like all good mix tapes, you never know what is coming next.

Aerosmith Rethinking the Formula for Summer Arena Tour With ZZ Top

Steven Tyler's bout with pneumonia prevented Aerosmith from getting a new studio album out in time for this amphitheater tour, but that just means more room for rarities. "The set lists have been getting stale," says guitarist Joe Perry. "We've talked about doing an album front-to-back — probably one of the first three records. That's my next battle, to see if we can pull it off."

Also sweetening the deal for longtime Aerosmith fans this time out, another formidable act with arena-sized riffs: ZZ Top. "That's just amazing to be able to play with them because it's going to be a kickass show," Perry says.

Source: rollingstone.com

No More Cream Says Clapton

Eric Clapton says that there won’t be any more Cream reunions, saying that “we’ve gone as far as we could with that.”

Yahoo! News quotes an interview in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine, in which the legendary blues guitarist revealed that despite some vague murmurings of a potential reunion, it’s looking increasingly unlikely.

“I think I was clear that I don't think we need to go there again... I think we've gone as far as we could with that,” he told Rolling Stone.

Clapton also revealed that he tried to get his former Blind Faith bandmate Steve Winwood to take part in the reunion shows in 2005, but the idea was shot down. 

"It was not a favourable idea with the other two guys... We would have had to start a new band with a new name."

Todd Rundgren Live!

For immediate release / London, England -

Todd Rundgren - rock’n’roll icon, guitarist, interactive progenitor, singer/songwriter and record producer, will perform his paradigm shifting 1973 album, A Wizard, a True Star in its entirety for the first time ever in Britain on Saturday February 6th 2010 at the London HMV Hammersmith Apollo.  This marks Todd’s only UK concert of the album which is hailed as an influential masterpiece by today’s new bands, including Hot Chip.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale at 9am on Wednesday May 27th.  Tickets are priced £48.50, £45.00, £40.00, £32.00 (Agency and credit card bookings subject to a fee). Ticket Hotline: 08700 603 777, Book Online: www.seetickets.com. 

Although Rundgren's breakthrough 1972 album, Something/Anything? is considered by many to be his masterpiece, the psychedelic impact and bordering-on-disturbing innovation of the follow-up, A Wizard, A True Star is arguably Rundgren's most experimental and influential album and is hailed as one of the most influential and pioneering progressive rock album recordings of all time. 

This will be the first time in Britain that he will perform the whole record live onstage, from start to finish.  The first half of the concert will feature a selection of Rundgren's songs throughout his career, while the second half will consist of the entirety of A Wizard, a True Star. Originally released in 1973, much of the album is an extended medley after the fashion of The Beatles’ late recordings.  The effect of the songs merging one into another was immediate, infectious and dazzling;  the lyrical content was often at once both tongue in cheek and hallucinogenic.

Thursday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

BLACK EYED PEAS The Lowdown [released 6th July 2009]

2-CD: http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=472194

Black Eyed Peas The Lowdown is a deluxe 2 CD set which features a spoken word biography of the group and a second disc featuring interviews with all the group members recorded at different points throughout their career. Destined to become a collectors item of the first order, this set will prove an essential addition to the collections of every one of BEPs millions of fans right across the globe. Back at the top of the charts after almost 5 years away, Black Eyed Peas enormous success is continuing with abandon as they hit the number one spot all over again - and all over the world - with their latest material. Always a joy to listen to and a pure delight to watch, this group defy categorisation and provide a breath of fresh air in an era when truly great pop and soul music has all but disappeared from both the charts and the radio.

Wednesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

MIKE OLDFIELD 'Tubular Bells' [Release Date 08/06/2009]

Deluxe 2CD/1DVD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471980

Ultimate 3CD/1DVD/1LP: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471981

LP: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471982

Mike Oldfield is an artist like no other. Over the last 37 years he has produced timeless, unique and inspirational music that has enthralled listeners the world over. Fans old and new can celebrate the great man's work with a special release of his classic, multiplatinum selling album 'Tubular Bells', out on 8th June through the Mercury Music Group/Universal Music Catalogue. This is the first classic album to be released from Oldfield's back catalogue, which was transferred from Virgin to Mercury/Universal in 2008. It is 35 years since the opening passage was used in the film 'The Exorcist', making the album a global phenomenon. This exciting new version of his 1973 groundbreaking album will not only be repackaged, but Mike himself has also remastered the tracks from his home in the Bahamas. There will be FOUR physical editions of the album, as well as TWO digital versions. All versions will carry a new 2009 stereo mix of the album. The DELUXE EDITION has a 5.1 mix, while the boxed ULTIMATE EDITION, complete with 60 page hardback book with a foreword by Mike Oldfield, poster, plectrums and all manner of Tubular delights, contains all of this as well as previously unheard demo and rough mixes of this epochal recording. For those who like things old school, there is a vinyl version being released as part of the acclaimed Back To Black series. Complete with 60-page hardback book, plectrums, poster, facsimile of Manor Studios recording brochure, gig ticket, postcard, recording information.

Wednesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

GWAR Phallus In Wonderland [released 8th June 2009]

DVD: http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=471858

Gwar, the world's most disturbingly repulsive rock 'n' roll band is in trouble. Representatives of the government, the clergy, and the health care communities have banded together to censor Gwar's activities in America. Their covert organization, the self-appointed morality squad has captured Gwar "member" The Cuttlefish of Cthulu and put it on trial for obscenity. Witness the capture and initiation of a Gwar slave as he follows them from their home in Antarctica on a mission of death and destruction to save their compatriot. Watch as Gwar embraces the decadent lifestyle under the leadership of management Sleazy P. Martini and inadvertently unleash untold horrors on capitalist America in the name of freedom of sexpression.

The Good, The Bad and The really, really bad

Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back - Good!
Phantom Menace, Clone Wars - Bad!
Jaws - Good! Jaws 2, 3 and 4 Very bad!
Revolver - Good!Abbey Road - Good!
Unfinished Music No.1 - Bad! Ringorama -Bad!

Can you see a pattern forming here?  Someone has a great, sometimes earth shattering moment of genius and creates something of unparalleled quality that can never be bettered. That is usually followed by that same someone getting carried away with themselves and before you know it they have created a Frankenstein like catastrophe that the world could quite easily do without.

DJhero is today’s Frankenstein. So how is this nightmare going to unfold? Well, I suspect the little coloured buttons you see in the picture allow the wrecker of vinyl to match up the beats and other such noises similar to how the guitar hero controller works. It will also allow you to create "original mixes" of songs.

By all accounts the music genres being catered for at this current stage of developments are; hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronica and dance.
Nothing for you two-step garage purists I'm afraid and we suspect that R&B mentioned is your bee in a tin kinda whiney, American, crotch grabbing type and not the cool culture defining 60's version.

No date has been set for its release but look out for the finished product around late summer for all major consoles.

You can register your interest here if you so wish. http://www.djhero.com/

McCartney and Dylan to team up

Legendary musicians Bob Dylan and Sir Paul McCartney are to team up in California over the summer, where they are expected to work on new songs as a duo, it has emerged.

The news comes after Dylan declared earlier that he found the idea of working with the former Beatle exciting.

McCartney's spokesman then declared their man would be very interested in a collaboration.

Paul has a home in California not too far from Bob's so the idea is for the two to meet when Paul is in California over the summer. They'll obviously want to work in privacy and it's felt one of their homes will be the best bet, The Daily Express quoted a source, as saying.

Meanwhile, Dylan recently topped the charts with his album "Together Through Life" and McCartney created waves with his last release musical alter ego The Fireman.

Getting these two together for any length of time is difficult schedule-wise but they both want this to work out. The music that comes out of this will be fascinating to hear, the (unconfirmed) source added.

Source: maccareport

Brian May explains the American Idol rumours

After Adam Lambert’s killer performance with Queen on Wednesday night’s season finale of American Idol, rumors flew that he had already been offered a job singing with the band. That’s slightly premature, according to the band’s guitarist, Brian May. “Amongst all that furor, there wasn’t really a quiet moment to talk,” May tells Rolling Stone in an e-mail interview. “But [drummer Roger Taylor] and I are definitely hoping to have a meaningful conversation with him at some point. It’s not like we, as Queen, would rush into coalescing with another singer just like that. It isn’t that easy. But I’d certainly like to work with Adam. That is one amazing instrument he has there.”

May, whose band recently ended a four-year-long partnership with singer Paul Rodgers, is comfortable with Idol as a launching point for the careers of rock singers. “You’d have to define ‘legitimate’ first,” he writes. “The long-term answer has to be that, if you have enough talent and enough will to succeed, you will get there by whatever route presents itself. Once you have scaled the castle walls, with the sword in your hand, it matters little how you got there. I’ve not always been positive about shows like this, but there is no doubt that it offers a door to some real genuine talent along the way.”

“Both those boys are well worthy of big success,” May continues, in regard to Lambert and Idol winner Kris Allen. “So it’s pointless for someone like me to stand on the sidelines jeering. I’m confident Adam will make great use of this wonderful opportunity. I hope I’m there to see it.”

rollingstone.com

Thunder Classics Reissued

Thunder’s classic albums Back Street Symphony and Laughing On Judgement Day are to be reissued in deluxe expanded form on 6 July.

The band’s first two albums have been remastered and expanded by a tonne of extra material, including live tracks, B-Sides and rarities.

Backstreet Symphony, Thunder’s classic debut album, was originally released in March 1990. Now expanded to 2 CDs, it’s bolstered by a number of bonus tracks, including rare studio and live b-sides. It also includes their March 1990 Town & Country Club gig, available in its entirety on CD for the first time. The sleeve also features out takes from the original photo session, memorabilia and a newly written sleevenotes by Classic Rock’s Dave Ling.

Laughing On Judgement Day, Thunder’s classic second album, was originally released in 1992, entering the charts at No.2 (and only kept off the top spot by Kylie Minogue's Greatest Hits!) This expanded edition now includes a bonus CD featuring studio and live b-sides from the album’s now rare and out of print singles.

Here’s the bonus CD contents:

Back Street Symphony
1.   An Englishman On Holiday (Live)
2.   Girl’s Going Out Of Her Head (Live)
3.   Until My Dying Day (Live)
4.   Another Shot Of Love (Live)
5.   Don’t Wait For Me (Live At Donnington)
6.   Backstreet Symphony (Live At Town & Country Club)
7.   She’s So Fine (Live At The Town & Country Club)
8.   Until My Dying Day (Live At Town & Country Club)
9.   Higher Ground  (Live At Town & Country Club)
10.  Don’t Wait For Me  (Live At Town & Country Club)
11.  Fired Up  (Live At Town & Country Club)
12.  Dirty Love  (Live At Town & Country Club)

Laughing On Judgement Day
1.   She’s My Inspiration
2.   With A Little Help From My Friends
3.   Low Life In High Places
4.   Everybody Wants Her
5.   Dirty Love (acoustic version)
6.   Higher Ground (acoustic version)
7.   Like A Satellite (live version)
8.   Gimme Shelter
9.   The Damage Is Done
10.  Higher Ground (Live)
11.  Lazy Sunday (Live)
12.  Bigger Than Both Of Us

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

DEPECHE MODE 'Peace' [Release Date 15/06/09]

2-CD Single Set: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471707

Limited 7": http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471708

Multi Format Bundle: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471709

Depeche Mode follow the release of their Sounds Of The Universe album with a new single, 'Peace', on June 15th. Formats include a host of 'Peace' remixes from Hervé, Sander Van Doorn, Japanese Popstars, Sid LeRock, Justus Köhncke and SixToes, and the limited, numbered, marbled white vinyl 7" is backed by a remix of album track 'Come Back' by Jón Þór Birgisson of Sigur Rós.

It's good to talk

One of the great things about talking to our regular customers is the huge depth of knowledge and enthusiasm they have for their favourite music.  The time they spend combing the internet for the latest news of the artists they’re passionate about is something we couldn’t hope to replicate and they can often pass on rumours and titbits of information about forthcoming releases long before we hear anything official from the label.

For example, on Thursday we discovered that Mariah Carey had announced via Twitter that her forthcoming album will be titled Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, the news reaching us by a dedicated fan and avid collector.  An autumn release date is expected, along with a lead single in August and tour dates in 2010, so the end of the year promises to be an exciting time for fans of the best-selling songstress.

So next time you hear some exciting news about your favourite artist, why not drop us a line?  We’re always happy to talk about all kinds of music and who knows?  Thanks to your tip off we might be able to hunt down all manner of rare promos...

Posted by Matt Bowden Sales Team

Friday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

FAT MATTRESS Fat Mattress [released 29th June 2009]

CD: http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=471660

Recorded in 1969, Fat Mattress was the eponymous debut album by the band formed by JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE bass guitarist NOEL REDDING. Recorded in late 1968 / early 1969, the album evoked the influences of the time, touching upon styles pioneered by groups such as TRAFFIC (whose member CHRIS WOOD guested on the record). A superb piece of Psychedelic rock in its own right, FAT MATTRESS failed to get the attention it deserved at the time of release (despite a tour as support act to the HENDRIX EXPERIENCE) but has subsequently been hailed as a classic of the era * This Esoteric reissue has eight bonus tracks comprising non-album singles, mono mixes, studio out-takes and an unreleased solo single by FAT MATTRESS Jim Leverton. * EXTENSIVE BOOKLET WITH PHOTOS & LINER NOTES * REVIEWS IN UNCUT, MOJO, RECORD COLLECTOR & CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINES * COVERAGE ON RELEVANT WEBSITES & FANZINES

Friday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

WET WILLIE 'Keep On Smilin' / 'Dixie Rock': [Release Date 01/06/2009]

2-on-1CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471357

* These are Wet Willie's third and fourth studio releases, originally on the Capricorn label. Unusual among Southern boogie bands of the 70's, Wet Willie included a strong R&B element in its music. * Quote From AMG: "Wet Willie was, after the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd, the hardest-rocking of the Southern bands to come to attention in the early 1970s. For seven years, from 1971 until 1978, they produced an enviable array of albums awash in good-time music, rollicking high-energy blues-rock, and white Southern soul, and for their trouble they racked up just one Top Ten hit 'Keep On Smilin' - and a lot of admirers". * 'Keep On Smilin' is the definitive Wet Willie studio album. Produced by Tom Dowd, who was responsible for producing / engineering some of the greatest records to come out of Atlantic Records as well as scores of rock albums, including Cream's 'Disraeli Gears' and Derek & The Dominos' 'Layla'. * 'Dixie Rock', the follow-up album, included the band's new backing group the Williettes, adding a gospel flavour to proceedings. Sublime slide work from Ricky Hirsch and Jimmy Hall's mournful harp help make this one of the band's most cohesive works.

Thursday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

HOT CHOCOLATE Every 1's A Winner [released 1st June 2009]

CD: http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=471382

Making its debut on CD is the fourth studio album by Hot Chocolate, first released in 1978. * Includes the UK No.1 hit single So You Win Again (No.31 in the USA, No.6 in Germany, No.3 in Australia) * Also features the hit singles Every 1s A Winner (UK No.12, USA No.6, Germany No.16, No.9 in Australia), Put Your Love In Me (UK No.10, Germany No.7) and Put You Together Again (UK No.13, Germany No.15) * Every 1s A Winner is used to this day on TV for numerous adverts * As with all our Hot Chocolate reissues this comes with detailed liner notes by Phil Hendriks, original LP artwork and lots of European picture sleeves.

Thursday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

BLACKBUD 'Blackbud': [Release Date 08/06/09]

CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=471164

Blackbud have already received massive acclaim from their debut EP 'Heartbeat', produced by Youth [The Verve, Primal Scream], their debut album 'From the Sky' produced by David Bottrill [Muse, Peter Gabriel, Tool] and have toured and played shows with the likes of Hope Of The States, Elbow, Kaiser Chiefs, Editors and Babyshambles. 'Blackbud' the album, is a wonderfully warm and ambitious album which pieces together a patchwork of emotional and bluesy, modern infused folk, epic and ambitious, mile high melodics and driving guitar work. The album brings to mind 'Pink Moon' era Nick Drake, 'Rumours' era Fleetwood Mac, early Cream and even the confidence and introspection of modern acts like Elbow and Radiohead. 'Blackbud' feels like a grown up and mature piece of work, an album that reflects a band whose musical and personal growth and development was very important to them.

The Beatles imake it to the iphone before itunes.

With The Beatles Rockband coming this Autumn along with the complete series of remastrred albums you'd be thinking that it will only be a matter of time before the Fab Four hit itunes. Well, don't hold your breath. However, until then why not console yourself with this brand new and official app for the iphone.

The Little Black Songbook Of The Beatles lets you download professionally transcribed music, lyrics and chord boxes to over 160 Beatles' songs...and that's not all! You also get audio-visual guitar chords at a touch... backing tracks to help you sing or play along, and even a few video lessons to help you learn the songs. 

The Little Black Songbook Of The Beatles is a legal and fully licensed product. All content is publication quality - an amazing bargain when you consider how much the print version of all these songs costs. Also the interactive elements are in the best tradition of iPhone music apps—simple, useful and really fast to access once downloaded. 

The Little Black Songbook Of The Beatles is available from www.apple.com/uk/iphone/appstore/ and costs £3.99