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

Dinosaur...

I feel kinda old reading this article 'the golden age of infinite music' but if there's one thing that will make

me catch up with the rest of the world regarding digital music, it's being able to legally listen to stuff for

nothing and Spotify's free service sounds just the job. Apparently it 'makes iTunes look pathetically

 old-fashioned' - What's iTunes...? 

Friday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

THEM CROOKED VULTURES ‘Them Crooked Vultures’ [Release Date 16/11/2009]

CD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=489188

LP:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=489191

Them Crooked Vultures (aka Dave Grohl [Foo Fighters, Nirvana], Joshua Homme [Queens of the Stone Age] and John Paul Jones [Led Zeppelin]) has confirmed November 16 as the release date of its eponymous debut album on Columbia Records in the UK.

The self-produced 13-song record will feature the debut of the studio versions of the material Them Crooked Vultures unveiled at its August 9 debut at Chicago's Cabaret Metro and played on a first series of shows throughout a handful of UK and European shows.

Google unveil the OneBox music service

With music being one of the most popular searches on the web and following the success of Apple and Spotify in the online market, the BBC announce that Google are set to offer a new service for US customers when it comes to finding and buying your music online...

Wednesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

SNOW PATROL ‘Up To Now’ [Release Date 09/11/2009]

2CD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488847

2CD/1DVD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488848

Snow Patrol have just announced details of 'Up To Now', a collection of the band's best loved songs, as well as 3 new tracks including forthcoming single 'Just Say Yes'.

Snow Patrol are one of the biggest and boldest bands of the past decade. Over fifteen years and five studio albums, the part Scottish, part Irish five piece have sketched heart-bruised ballads ('Set Down Your Glass') and arm-around-your-best-mate festival anthems ('Run'); radio hits ('Chasing Cars') and moments of painful introspection ('You Could Be Happy'). All of these have been gathered together for 'Up To Now' - a thirty track, double album of singles, cover versions, rarities, album tracks and a handful of new songs as well as compositions by the Reindeer Section – an indie supergroup featuring members of Scotland's guitar elite - Belle and Sebastian, Idlewild and Teenage Fanclub among many others – and co-ordinated by Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody.

Released on the 9th November 'Up To Now' will be available on a two disc CD featuring thirty tracks, and a three disc digipack with an additional DVD which offers two exclusive documentaries, 'The Lightning Strike' animated film and previously unseen live footage.

A Sgt. Pepper's sleeve you don't see very often

The Guardian report news of one of the rarest Beatles covers recently sold...

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

SUGABABES ‘About A Girl’ [Release Date 09/11/2009]

C5:  http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488811

On 9th November the Sugababes, the UK's most successful girl-band, release the second fabulous single 'About A Girl' from their forthcoming seventh album 'Sweet 7' out November 16th. It follows the huge smash 'Get Sexy' which is still in the charts and burning up dance floors a month after its release.

'About A Girl' also introduces a new chapter in the Sugababes' incredible history with the exciting introduction of stunning new member Jade Ewen. 'About A Girl' was written by Makeba [famous for her work with Beyonce, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, and Janet Jackson] and produced by Red One [Lady GaGa, Rihanna]. For the Sugababes, 2009 shaped up as a vintage year, and now with the brand new line up the girls are looking forward to releasing the Sugababes seventh album.

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

QUEEN ‘The Complete Review’ [Release Date 09/11/2009]

2DVD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488714

Its close to 20 years since the tragic death of Freddie Mercury, meaning that Queen [at least the version that mattered] have been absent longer than they ever existed as the quite extraordinary group who made so much incredible music between 1973 and 1991. Featuring contributions from friends and close colleagues of Queen, and with comment and critique from some of the finest rock journalists in the world, plus much rare and classic footage - including seldom seen performances of their finest tracks - news reports, location shoots, photographs from private collections, a host of other features, and a multitude of extras, this package will prove a delight to the millions of fans who to this day worship one of the very few rock group to have earned the accolade of truly great band.

Coming Soon - Queen in Lego Rock Band!

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and MTV Games have announced that LEGO® Rock Band™ will feature the likeness of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and multi-platinum selling group Queen. Appearing in the game as LEGO minifigures, front man Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor will be seen jamming to their hit anthems “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions.”

Guitarist Brian May said: “This is IT!  I wanna play!  When do I get my toy LEGO man?”

The game is scheduled for release in time for Christmas - Kerrrrrching!

U2ube

Planet Rock announce that, "in a world's first", U2 are to stream the entirety of their forthcoming live show at California's Pasadena Rose Bowl this weekend on Youtube, with their manager confirming it as "the perfect opportunity to extend the party beyond the stadium"...

Friday's Forthcoming Releases [Part II]

BEE GEES ‘The Ultimate Bee Gees’ [Release Date 02/11/2009]

2CD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488362

2CD/1DVD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488363

'The Ultimate Bee Gees' is a career retrospective featuring the group's many hits and chart-topping singles, performances of a selection of hit songs they wrote for others, and liner notes by Sir Tim Rice. The third disc is a DVD of previously unreleased footage.

This year marks the golden anniversary of the Bee Gees' musical beginnings. Since then, the trio has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, won both the Lifetime Achievement (2000) and Legend Awards (2003) from the Recording Academy, seven Grammy® Awards, BMI Icon Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 BRIT Awards.

Friday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

MADNESS ‘The Liberty Of Norton Folgate’ [Release Date 09/11/2009]

CD/DVD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488420

2009 has been Madness' year, celebrating 30 years since their first release and also releasing 'The Liberty Of Norton Folgate', considered by some to be their finest album to date. 2009 has also seen the TV advertised release of their greatest hits album 'Total Madness', with the 30th year special reissue of their debut album 'One Step Beyond'. This bonus DVD comes complete with legendary director Julien Temple's film adaptation of the album, plus live performance footage from London's Hackney Empire stage directed by Luke Cresswell (of 'Stomp' fame), entwined with Victorian London re-enactments from members of the band.

Reformation = Money

Loads of bands have jumped on the reunion/reformation bandwagon in the last few years, Cream, Genesis, Take That and The Police among the most high profile, but the one band I thought I'd never see live (again) is Spandau Ballet.

 After a decade together and a very acrimonious split which led to all the band members fighting in the high court they remained one of the bands that people though would not share a stage together again. So why 19 years after they split are they back together? The answer MONEY!

The Police toured the World, publically showing solidarity whilst on stage but behind the scenes the old tensions were clearly still there as revealed recently by Copeland in an interview. I wonder what the atmostphere is like off stage in the Spandau Ballet camp?

These bands reform for one reason only, the huge amount of money they make from the tour, the merchandise and the obligatory live DVD, while we (the audience) attend mainly for nostalgic reasons, remembering a time when the band's music was new and exciting, glossing over the fact that the band are now either fat, bald, old or just weren't as good as we remembered.

The Spandau Ballet gig last night at the O2 was for me a trip down memory lane but a lot of the material hasn't aged well. Of course there were classics and the band executed every song professionally - Hadley can still hit the notes and sang them in the same key as he did back in the 80's, but as I left the venue I saw the advert for the DVD (which will be released in just 5 weeks) and realised I'd been suckered into attending another money making exercise for a band that belonged in the 80's and perhaps should have stayed there. But that's just my opinion, they have after all sold out 3 nights at a 20,000 seat arena in London and numerous other citys accross Europe.

I vow to (try) and stay away from reformed, washed up recently reformed 70's and 80's bands from now on - unless someone can persuade Mr Weller that a Jam reunion might be good?!

991.com is proud to be working in partnership with ART VINYL!

991 is now an official distributor for Art Vinyl, the original way to display your favourite music and vinyl record art. This is something new for music enthusiasts and is an original interior design concept.

 

Use the Play & Display Flip Frame to create an original display with vinyl records you already own and buy,and get more pleasure from your favourite music and artists.

 

Changing your Art Vinyl display is very easy as the Flip Frame has a unique quick release system allowing you to instantly change your Art Vinyl record display as often as you like.

 

The Play & Display design gives the owner the ability to stylishly display one record cover and its contents on the wall. The unique design of the Flip Frame allows the owner to change over the display within seconds without having to remove the frame from the wall. All it takes is a simple one-finger touch that flips the front of the frame open so that the record can be changed.

 

The Play & Display Flip Frames are designed especially to compensate for any differences in thickness of album or 12” record. This is done by the unique “sponge finger” system on the back of the Flip Frame, which will ensure that any record can fit comfortably against the front display panel.

 

The frames are available in neutral black and stunning white, and they come fully assembled and beautifully packaged ready to use. 

 

We think these are the perfect Christmas present for vinyl lovers, or put them on your own Christmas list!

 

FREE POSTAGE to the UK!

EXCLUSIVE TO 991

 

Buy 9 frames for £250 - save £47 against the cost of a triple pack:

 

EXCLUSIVE 9 FRAME OFFER [white] [black]

 

Buy a triple pack of frames for £99 - save £18 against a single frame purchase:

 

TRIPLE FRAME PACK [white] [black]

 

Buy a single frame for £39:

 

SINGLE FRAME [white] [black]

 

All in stock and ready to ship today!

 

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The Ultimate version of the Ultimate Live Album?

 

A bold claim perhaps, but check this monster out before you scoff!!

On 3rd November, Abcko are issuing a Super Deluxe Collectors Edition of the Rolling Stones' classic live album, 'Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!' - so what do you get for your moolah?

* 3 180gram audiophile quality vinyl LPs - LP 1 features the original 1970 LP, recorded live at Civic Center, Baltimore on 26th November 1969 and Madison Square Garden, New York on 27th & 28th November 1969, LP 2 features 5 previously unreleased recordings from MSG, while LP 3 includes 12 previously unreleased tracks from supporting artists BB King and Ike & Tina Turner!

* 3 CD albums replicating the vinyl content

* Bonus DVD which features footage from Madison Square Garden, backstage footage, scenes of Keith Richards in the studio and footage of the album cover shoot, all shot by Albert and David Maysles

* 56-page collectors book & postcard

* Free download of the live version of 'I’m Free' for Guitar Hero 5 

All wrapped up in a super groovy 13" x 13" box! Click here for more info and to reserve a copy!

Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany

What made Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Bowie flock to former West Berlin in the 70s?

Travel back to the future of rock and synthesized music this Friday night for BBC4's one hour documentary on the German modernist movement, which paved the way for the cutting edge of art and electronics into pop we know today. Expect Neu!, Can, Faust and Kraftwerk to rear their progressive heads with rare footage and interviews, and you just might find out!

Wednesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

STING ‘If On A Winter's Night’ [Release Date 02/11/2009]

CD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488182

CD/DVD:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488183

LP:   http://991.com/Buy/ProductInformation.aspx?StockNumber=488184

'If on a Winter's Night' presents an arc of songs that conjure the season of spirits, the eerie silences of the snow; days of solitude and reflection for some, a time of re-birth and celebration for many.

With traditional music of the British Isles as their starting point, Sting and his guest musicians draw the listener in through a collection of songs, carols, and lullabies spanning the centuries - such as 'The Snow it Melts the Soonest' (traditional Newcastle ballad), 'Soul Cake' (traditional English "begging" song which has its roots in Halloween/All Souls Day), 'Gabriel's Message' (14th century carol), as well as two of Sting's own compositions - 'Lullaby for an Anxious Child' and 'The Hounds of Winter'. Also featured on the album is 'urdy Gurdy Man' - a musical reworking and English translation (by Sting) of Der Leiermann from Schubert's classic winter song-cycle Winterreise.

Tuesday's Forthcoming Releases [Part I]

OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN ‘Christmas Wish’ [Release Date 26/10/2009]

CD: Produced by Amy Sky, 'Christmas Wish' is the superb album from the four-time Grammy Award Winner Olivia Newton John.

As well as featuring Christmas classics such as 'Little Star Of Bethlehem', and 'Come All Ye Faithful', the album includes Newton John collaborating with some great artists such as Jon Secada Michael McDonald and Barry Manilow.

Journey To The Dark Side

It's an album countless modern bands have drew inspiration from and syncs with either Wizard Of Oz and The Book Of Revelation depending on where your head's at - in recent years, Easy Star All-Stars released a dub version of the Pink Floyd masterpiece, a hit here in the office and no mere gimmick, now Oklahoma's finest indie-psych band The Flaming Lips claim to have recorded their track by track tribute. In typically weird Lips fashion, local Oklahoma band Stardeath and the White Dwarfs, Henry Rollins and Peaches all star.

Ladies & Gentlemen live once more in its entirety

Though I didn't manage to secure tickets myself, reviews look good for Spiritualized's double header several days ago at the Royal Festival Hall, as Jason Pierce et al performed their 1997 masterpiece in its full glory again. Surely one of the greatest albums of the nineties and certainly my favourite, so much so maybe balcony tickets at the Barbican for the December gigs don't seem like such a bad idea after all...

Spiritualized present Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Barbican Hall Wed 16 Dec 2009 & Thu 17 Dec 2009

Sky launch their online music service

Offering an attractive "dip in dip out" subscription service, Sky are set to go head to head with Apple's iTunes in the digital download market. Read all