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

Exclusive Interview with Right Said Fred

Last week I interrupted Richard and Fred Fairbrass better known as multi million selling chart toppers Right Said Fred for a quick chat about the new album, the music business, celebrity and what the future holds for the band.

 

Wednesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND 'Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King': [Release Date 01/06/2009]

CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470939

On June 1st, Warner will release Dave Matthews Band's 'Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King', the group's seventh studio album and their first since 2005's 'Stand Up'. With its celebratory spirit and lyrical ruminations on fragile mortality, 'Big Whiskey' pays tribute to the band's saxophonist, LeRoi Moore, and features some of his last recordings. Moore passed away in the summer of 2008, halfway through the making of the album. New York Magazine praised lead single 'Funny the Way It Is' as "pure muscle - it's got a bulletproof groove and the type of bounce that has marked the band all along" while Rolling Stone hailed 'Big Whiskey' as the group's "heaviest album yet, both musically and emotionally".

Rumors that a "Macca Rarities" 4 CD box set is in the works for 2010

The fantastic Paul McCartney site run by Jorie Gracen the Macca Report recently ran the rumour of a 4 cd box set of McCartney rarities and outtakes possibly heading our way next year.

Obviously this is just a rumour at the moment but Jorie rarely gets it wrong. So keep your eyes peeled and checking back with 991. As soon as we have any confirmed details you will be of course the first to know.

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part III]

WHITE LIGHT PARADE 'House Of Commons': [Release Date 25/05/2009]

CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470659

Bradford's finest White Light Parade kick off 2009 with details of their eagerly anticipated debut album 'House Of Commons' released through Split Records on 25th May 2009. The album will be preceded by the band's bright and beautiful single 'Wake Up' - a sunny blast of optimism that should blow away the winter-y cobwebs. Recorded in Devon with Pete Miles, 'House Of Commons' is the sort of album you can easily see uniting a small army of believers. Encompassing the snarling three-chord anger of the Pistols, the anthemic choruses of Oasis and the vintage melodies of The Kinks, White Light Parade from their urban disillusionment into perfectly crafted catchy rock tunes.

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

ISLAND RECORDS 'Meet On The Ledge: An Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology' [Release Date 25/05/09]

3CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470157

This lavish 3CD box set celebrates the golden age of folk music at the Island label and charts the journey from folk into folk-rock featuring the very best from Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Traffic and many more. Compiled by, and with sleeve notes by, the redoubtable David Suff, Fledg'ling Records supremo.

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

EELS 'Hombre Lobo': [Release Date 01/06/09]

CD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470810

CD/DVD: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470812

"That rarest thing in contemporary pop: a unique sound." -The New Yorker Vagrant Records will release EELS' seventh studio album Hombre Lobo on June 1st. EELS is the ever-changing project of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett [aka E]. The band's first record since 2005's critically acclaimed 'Blinking Lights and Other Revelations', 'Hombre Lobo' was recorded entirely at E's studio in Los Angeles with Koool G Murder [bass, keyboards and guitar] and Knuckles [drums and percussion]. The album's first single, 'Fresh Blood', is currently streaming at www.myspace.com/eels and is available for purchase as a package with the b-side 'Devil's Dog' on iTunes from April 28. "I wanted to write a set of songs about desire," says E. "That dreadful, intense want that gets you into all sorts of situations that can change your life in big ways." Regarding the album, E continues: "I was thinking, 'What happens when the young Dog Faced Boy (of 2001's 'Souljacker album') grows up?' He tries to function in society. But he can't get past the fact that he's still likened to an animal... I figured the best he could do was to become a dignified old werewolf." The record contains a hint of autobiography, however "I didn't want to write a bunch of blatantly autobiographical songs about a lonely old indie rocker, so I thought it would be more interesting if it came from this character," concludes E. E has embarked on a number of projects since the release of 2005's 'Blinking Lights and Other Revelations' including his acclaimed autobiography 'Things the Grandchildren Should Know' and the BBC produced multiple-award winning 'Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives' documentary film about E and his quantum physicist father, Hugh Everett III, which was broadcast on PBS' Nova series in the U.S., fall of 2008. "All this time during the making of all these other projects, I was always writing and recording music," says E. "Every time I branch out and try something else, I think it will be some kind of relief to take a break from music. But I always come back with my tail between my legs, because there's nothing I enjoy more than making music. The other projects have been great experiences for me, but this is what I love to do."

MPs to do something right for a change

MPs Eye Live Music Law Change

Legal restrictions on live music should be relaxed according to a group of MPs, who say that pubs and smaller venues should be exempt from the live music licence, says the committee.

The BBC reports that the Licensing Act 2003, which came into play in 2005, has been criticised for reducing the number of places where artists can play, especially to small audiences. But the Culture Media and Sport select committee, led by Conservative MP John Whittingdale, expressed "concern at the linkage of live music and public order issues".

The report said music should not be treated as a "disruptive activity, which will inevitably lead to nuisance and disorder".

The Form 696 scheme was introduced in 2005, when police became concerned about gun crime at clubs. Music promoters are expected to submit the completed form to police, 14 days before an event.

High profile campaigners against the document include the head of UK Music and former Undertones singer, Feargal Sharkey, and Jon McClure of indie band Reverend and The Makers.

Thursday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

   

QUEEN LP REISSUES: [Release Date 25/05/2009]

Queen: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470402

News Of The World: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470403

Flash Gordon: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470404

A Kind Of Magic: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470407

Innuendo: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470408

EMI Music are re-releasing the entire Queen studio album catalogue on heavyweight vinyl. The album packaging will include every detail of the original releases in their original 12" format. All the unique content of the original albums will be faithfully reproduced. The next 5 albums include the very first album, Queen, along with News Of The World, Flash Gordon, A Kind of Magic and Innuendo, with successive releases coming approximately every 6 months. In a deliberate move, the albums are not being released chronologically but instead sequenced over the twenty-two year period of release allowing buyers wider choice with each new batch of releases.

John Lennon New York Years Exhibition

One of the last things visitors will see when “John Lennon: The New York City Years” opens to the general public Tuesday (May 12th) at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Manhattan almost didn’t make the exhibit, which was curated by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, and Jim Henke from the Rock Hall. It is perhaps the most striking of the items that will be on display through late fall.

It’s a small canvas bag from New York’s St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, and it’s wrapped in plastic. It contains the clothing Lennon was wearing the night he was murdered, and Ono says she thought long and hard before making the bag the exhibit’s parting shot.

Read more on the exhibition at Rolling Stone.com http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/11/yoko-ono-helps-rock-hall-explore-john-lennons-new-york-years/

Exclusive 991.com Festival Stores Are Now OPEN!

The 2009 Festival ccollectors stores are now open for business.

Whether its Download, Reading, V or Hyde Park that is calling you and your tent this summer take a dip into our festivals tore where we have laid on the rarest and most desirable cds, vinyl and memorabilia for the artist performing.

Download Festival  http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Festival/Download+Festival.aspx

Glastonbury  http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Festival/Glastonbury+Festival.aspx

Hyde Park Calling  http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Festival/Hyde+Park+Calling.aspx

Reading & Leeds  http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Festival/Reading+and+Leeds.aspx

V Festival  http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Festival/V+Festival.aspx

Isle Of Wight  http://991.com/CollectorsStores/Festival/Isle+Of+Wight+Festival.aspx

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

RAY CHARLES Blues Is My Middle Name [Released 1st June 2009]

CD: http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=470174

* Ray Charles proved that the best music crosses all boundaries and reaches all denominations; this double album highlights his early blues affections. * Breaking down the barriers between sacred and secular music in the process, Ray Charles, the innovative singer, pianist and bandleader, displayed his genius by combining elements of gospel and blues into a highspirited style that would come to be known as soul music. But he didn't stop there: over the decades his music absorbed elements of country & western and big-band jazz as well. * Charles was one of the greatest and most complete musical talents of the 20th century. * In his productive career, Ray Charles won 12 Grammys, earned three Emmy nominations, received eight honorary doctorates, scored the Kennedy Center Honors, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts and inductions into the Rock, Jazz and Rhythm and Blues halls of fame * Charles not only left behind a lengthy list of hits and awards, but also the musicians he influenced are as diverse in genre as the music he wrote, arranged, performed and recorded himself.

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

BLACK EYED PEAS 'Boom Boom Pow' [Release Date 25/05/2009]

C5: http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=470089

After a four-year break, the three-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling Black Eyed Peas are back with their new single 'Boom Boom Pow', available in the UK from 25 May.

George Harrison "mystery lyrics" on display

A previously unseen George Harrison lyric, found by author and collector Hunter Davies, goes on display at the British Library today (8 May). Written in early 1967 when George was aged 23 or 24, the untitled song was penned at a time when The Beatles had stopped touring to spend more time in the studio to work on what would arguably become their most famous record, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Beatles are still one of the world's greatest bands, almost 40 years after their split.

Monday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

THE CAROLYN HESTER COALITION The Carolyn Hester Coalition [Released 1st June 2009] http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=470084 [CD]

THE CAROLYN HESTER COALITION Magazine [Released 1st June 2009] http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=470085  [CD]

Though she's best known for her prominent role in the folk boom that swept America in the early 1960s, and her involvement with Bob Dylan, Carolyn Hester also recorded two superb albums of psychedelic folk-rock in 1969, along with her band, The Coalition. Sunbeam is delighted to announce their long-awaited authorised reissues, produced with Carolyn's full participation. Both come complete with booklets detailing the band's history and featuring rare photographs, and are sure to appeal to all fans of high-class US psychedelia.

Motorhead At Top Shop!!

The fad for the fahisonistas and clubbers to adorn themselves in “classic rock chic” is one that has been escalating for the last 18 month or so. And I don't like it!

 

To be able to walk in to Top Shop or

Burton

s to find Guns N’ Roses, Motorhead, Zeppelin and AC/DC t shirts hanging next to slim fit jeans and cardigans. Bloody cardigans of all things, is as far from rock as I am from winning the Euro millions.

 

Next time you see someone wearing a “distressed” Led Zep t shirt who doesn’t look like they belong in it go and ask them what there favourite track is? Or is Bonham better than Moon? And see what kind of bemused look you get before they ponce off with a “Whatever!” trailing after them.

 

To these people Physical Graffiti is just energetic Vandalism.

 

There should be a test before these shirts are sold to ascertain the level of rock contained within the wearer.

 

You don’t like the music, you don’t like the fashion so don’t think you can put a few rhinestones around the AC/DC logo and it’s ok.

 

Fans of pop, dance and hippdy hop music are very fickle. Their favourite band is only their favourite until the next one comes along with the next lot of insipid ringtone fodder. Rock fans are different and treat their bands, albums, logos and image as almost sacrosanct and not something to be played around with.

 

Trust me, everyone will be looking at you thinking you’re a dick as you strop off with you cardy, low slung jeans (for god sake I don’t want to see your pants), and Lady GaGa or similar toss hissing out form your mobile phone. Which is another thing; it’s a phone. I do not want to have to put up with you using it like a non-personal stereo walking down the street or on the train thanks all the same.

 

Anyway enough said for this week.

Friday's Forthcoming Releases...

ROGER CHAPMAN 'Hide Go Seek' Release Date OUT NOW!!

2CD -http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=469691
The double CD, close on 2 hours long, is very diverse, featuring a collection of previously unreleased songs, demo's and alternative versions of tracks already featured on other albums. Asking Roger about the work that had to be carried out to turn what was already 'in the can' into 'Hide Go Seek', he explained: "There were no 'Added Extras', just cleaning up stuff. i.e. 'topping & tailing' tracks. Being demos they would have all kinds of stuff on - beginnings & ends, count ins, rough fades, F'ing & blinding, piss takes etc. Then of course came the difficult job - the running order. Gee whizz, what a marathon trying to put 28 tracks in order, drove me mad. Played the real thing yesterday & still want to change it! The record company made me stop 'cos I was going on & on - as is my want of course. All the Cregan stuff, except for 'Devil & Wings' which we did a couple of years ago, we did together in L.A. about 14/15 years ago. Get this, we were trying to write a 'Family Theme' album, but then as managers moved on we moved on. 'Naked Hearts' was actually written for a movie about Loch Ness but missed the boat. We wrote it over the phone, London to LA, me humming & Jim writing. He then recorded the back track in his studio in LA, sent it to me where I recorded the vocals in London while recording the 'Wicked B's' & 'Bring me Your Love' demos. Anyway, it was a writing thing really, I went there for 3 weeks especially for that reason, to meet up with Jim for a serious writing session. As you'll know some came out on 'Kiss' & some on 'Stone'. The rest contain hours and years of me & Stevie in various studios and houses around London. There are also out takes from sessions as far back as 'Chappo'. Also obvious ones from 'Cat'. I just hope they're enough for people to enjoy & have an idea of what goes into our making music. It's not just write something, record it, wham bam, there's so much more to it. Whole life changes, thought processes & styles for people through so many years."

Bono Writes a Poem for Elvis Presley

http://www.spinner.com A poem Bono wrote about Elvis Presley will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 next week as part of a 15-minute "soundscape." The U2 frontman originally penned the poem, titled 'Elvis: An American David' in 1995 for a fan magazine dedicated to the band.

The BBC broadcast -- slated for 11pm on May 13 -- will mesh Bono's recorded verse with snippets of Elvis songs and archived news items on Presley as an "atmospheric and artistic feature."

"Some lines are purposefully quintessential Elvis clichés while others make listeners view Elvis in a new light," the network said in a statement. "Throughout the poem there are images of people, musicians, films, places, politicians, actors and religious icons."

Thursday's Forthcoming Releases At 991.com

ERIC CLAPTON & STEVE WINWOOD

 

'Live From Madison Square Gardens' 2CD / 2DVD Release Date 18/05/2009

http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=469646

http://991.com/buy/productinformation.aspx?StockNumber=469652

Rock legends Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood reunited for three extraordinary sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden last year. These shows - the first full Winwood-Clapton concerts in forty years - are documented on the double CD / double DVD set 'Live From Madison Square Garden' that will be released by Reprise on May 18th. 'Live From Madison Square Garden' features a string of classic songs including 'Presence of the Lord' and 'Can't Find My Way Home' from the duo's legendary supergroup Blind Faith as well as Clapton's 'After Midnight' and 'Tell The Truth' and Winwood's 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' and 'Glad'. As well as two live CDs and one live DVD, 'Live From Madison Square Gardens' features a second DVD of extra material. It includes the exclusive documentary 'The Road To Madison Square Garden' that features new interviews with Clapton and Winwood illustrated with rare footage and photography of Cream, Traffic and Blind Faith. In addition, it also includes footage of the preparation for the three performances, highlighted by Clapton's acoustic soundcheck performance of the Robert Johnson standard 'Rambling On My Mind'. The DVD is completed three bonus Madison Square Gardens performances of 'Low Down', 'Kind Hearted Woman' and 'Crossroads'. Clapton and Winwood's musical paths connected in 1969 with the formation of Blind Faith, whose fusion of rock and blues resulted in a highly acclaimed eponymous debut album. The band's only brief tour commenced at Madison Square Garden on July 12th that same year and concluded in Hawaii on August 24th. Steve Winwood's most recent album was 2008's 'Nine Lives'. Released by Columbia Records, the album featured a guest appearance by Eric Clapton on the track 'Dirty City'. Eric Clapton's two-disc compilation 'Complete Clapton' was released in 2007 and peaked at #2 in the UK.

Beatles Rock band Guitars unveiled

They are without question the most influential rock band of all time, having covered virtually every sub-genre of rock music and even going as far as creating a psychedelic sound that nobody can ever match. The Beatles are the world's most famous rock quartet, and perhaps the biggest music license in the industry. So, last year, when rumours began to circulate that EA, MTV, and Harmonix were able to secure a license from Apple Corps., the hype train began rolling. Following on the trails of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and the very hot trails of Guitar Hero: Metallica, The Beatles: Rock Band will launch September 9th, and it looks fantastic.

Signed Hendrix Single Discovered

We have just gone through some of our boxes and discovered this absolute gem. We are gobsmacked.

 

http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=469586

 

JIMI HENDRIX Hey Joe

 

 

1967 German wide centred 7" vinyl single also featuring Stone Free. This copy is rather special in that the textured title sleeve has been clearly AUTOGRAPHED by Jimi across the front in a large & unhurried manner. The autograph was obtained by Michael Hoffman on 16th April 1969 in New York while Jimi was on a break from his US Tour, between gigs at The Spectrum in Philadelphia on 12th April & The Ellis Auditorium in Memphis on 18th April.

 

The large autograph itself extends over the entire of the red 'Hey Joe' text & looks to be in black ball point. Mercifully unfaded, even after forty years - a really wonderful piece!