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

Import Forthcoming! Including Klaus Schulze, Toots Hibbert And Weather Report!

KLAUS SCHULZE La Vie Electronique Vol.9 - Release Date 25/03/2011

German 3-CD album set featuring the ninth in the series from Klaus' mammoth 'The Ultimate Edition' box set which spanned an epic music career, the 'La Vie Electronique' series began in 2009 with a plan to release all the music from 'The Ultimate Edition' in chronological order, tracklisting is unconfirmed but more details to follow...

 

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS Pressure Drop - Release Date 18/02/2011

European 20-track LP/CD album set featuring an excellent selection from the Reggae outfit's superb back catalogue, includes both Dub and Instrumental Versions of the prison-classic '54/46 Was My Number' as well as the Pressure House Mix of 'Pressure Drop'.

 

WEATHER REPORT Live In Berlin 1975 - Release Date 25/02/2011

German-exclusive CD/DVD album set - Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of Weather Report, the first part of the long-awaited Weather Report live-trilogy features the original tape-recording of the super-band’s performance at the Berliner Jazztage 1975 for the first time! Picture sleeve, full tracklisting and more details to follow...

Launch party press kit for Dark Side Of The Moon + original solid prism label LP

Handed to just three hundred journalists and industry bigwigs in February 1973 at the London Planetarium party for Pink Floyd’s legendary album, this collectable press kit helped launch Dark Side into the stratosphere (and Record books) and remains an important part of classic rock history.

Containing several pictures similar to those later used on the album’s inserts, and complete with a first press EX copy of the vinyl LP with solid prism labels, you won’t see this one again in a hurry!

Wednesday's Top Three including EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND, MOTHERS OF INVENTION and PINK FLOYD..

EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND Edgar Broughton Band

Rare original 1971 UK Harvest label 9-track LP with 'Gramophone Co' perimeter text and great Hipgnosis textured gatefold picture sleeve. The delicate sleeve has some edge scuffing, yet the inside print is unblemished and the vinyl near mint, complete with the original company inner - a great chance to secure a nice copy of this hard to find gem! SHVL791.

MOTHERS OF INVENTION We're Only In It For The Money

1972 UK Polydor marketed issue of the 1967 18-track LP where the little 'censored' backwards part of Harry somehow managed to creep back in ... Great laminated gatefold reverse 'Pepper' parodysleeve & special guest appearance by Eric Clapton who sees god! The sleeve shows minimal wear & the vinyl is in near mint condition.

PINK FLOYD Atom Heart Mother

Rare 1996 US 5-track limited edition Mobile Fidelity 'Ultradisc II' 24-karat GOLD audiophile CD album mastered directly from the original master tapes. Featuring the fantastic Fat Old Sun, 2 suites and more! Unique black & gold bordered picture sleeve & booklet including the complete original artwork and original Ultradisc wraparound! UDCD595.

Tuesday's Top Three including ERIC CLAPTON plus stunning JAPANESE 10CC and NEW ORDER / JOY DIVISION / THE OTHER TWO releases...

ERIC CLAPTON Unplugged

1992 UK Reprise label vinyl LP featuring 13 stripped back acoustic recordings including Tears In Heaven & Layla, housed in a hype stickered glossy gatefold picture sleeve which has minimal storage marks with the vinyl in immaculate condition WX480.

10CC The Greatest Songs And More

Japanese-only Limited 56-track 4-CD box set, housed in a superb custom multi-image rigid slip-case with great 73-page booklet with lyrics and discography in English and Japanese text, complete with original wraparound obi-strip, pristine copy! PHCR-3153~56.

JOY DIVISION / NEW ORDER / THE OTHER TWO Collection

Mega rare 1993 Japanese exclusive promotional 17-track compilation CD, issued exclusively for DJ Radio promotion & never available for retail sale, unique picture sleeve with Japanese text biography. Japanese promotional items are produced in extremely small numbers and therefore seldom surface for sale. This amazing copy is still FACTORY SEALED & unplayed! DCI-3098.

Turning Japanese - new collection just in!

Our man in Japan continues to supply us with top-end Japanese rarities we seldom see on our travels across the UK, but this time the tables have turned. Minus the air jet, we have just acquired a rather substantial lot of choice Japanese-only goodies right here in the UK - deluxe CD box sets, vinyl, promo-only packages, 3" CD snap-pack singles - many still sealed (and unsnapped!) - and lots more beside. We’re talking blue chip goodies like The Beatles CD Singles Collection, Depeche Mode’s rare X1 and X2, a Yellow Magic Orchestra 10-CD Cubic set…

Still looking for that seriously difficult to find Japanese item of your favourite band or artist? Keep checking our latest arrivals here

2011 has already seen the release of some big debut albums, and there are still some to come over the next few weeks.. Which new acts are you liking?

The Joy Formidable 'The Big Roar': CD album
David Lynch 'Good Day Today': CD album / 2LP + CD album
Esben & The Witch 'Violet Cries': CD album / Vinyl LP
Jonny 'Jonny': CD album / Vinyl LP
Funeral Party 'The Golden Age Of Nowhere: CD album
James Blake 'James Blake': CD album / Vinyl LP
Chapel Club 'Palace': CD album / Deluxe 2CD Set / 2-LP Vinyl Set
Ben Ottewell 'Shapes And Shadows': CD album
Yuck 'Yuck': CD album / Vinyl LP
The Secret Sisters 'The Secret Sisters': CD album
Frankie & The Heartstrings 'Hunger': CD album / Vinyl LP
Beady Eye 'Different Gear, Still Speeding': CD album / Deluxe CD/DVD / 2-LP Vinyl Set
Jessie J 'Who You Are': CD album
Clare Maguire 'Light After Dark': CD album

Monday's Top Three including a MOTLEY CRUE 12" boxset, an extremely rare BOB SEGER promotional vinyl LP and a rare 1990 promotional MADONNA CD...

MOTLEY CRUE You're All I Need

1987 UK limited edition 4-track 12" box set including Home Sweet Home, Wildside & Looks That Kill. Also contains Tour Pass, Harley Davidson patch & superb poster all housed in a superb picture stickered 12" x 12" box - this copy is in superb near mint condition EKR65TB.

BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND Seger Classics

Extremely rare 1979 UK limited edition promotional only 23-track double vinyl LP compiled by radio DJ Paul Gambaccini, custom individually numbered gatefold picture sleeve printed by Garrod & Lofthouse. Obtained from a former EMI Promotions executive, this is a hard item to find in ANY condition [only 1000 copies made, of which this is Number 83], the sleeve is in great condition and both discs appear to be unplayed - a fantastic copy! PSLP271/2.

MADONNA I'm Breathless

Rare official 1990 Japanese Sire 12-track promotional-only CD 'strictly for in-house promotional use'. Custom tracklisting printed disc and unique white custom sleeve with red title print and 6-10 '90 release date text PCS-48.

New JEFF BECK tribute to LES PAUL live release coming SOON...

JEFF BECK 'Rock N Roll Party: Honoring Les Paul' [Release Date 21/02/2011]

CD I DVD I BLU-RAY

Jeff Beck paid fitting Tribute to Les Paul last summer, celebrating what would have been the pioneering guitarist's 95th birthday by playing his friend and mentor's music, along with classic tunes from the era, in the same Times Square nightclub that Paul played every Monday for 14 years before his death in August 2009.

Sponsored by Gibson Guitar and billed as "A Celebration of Les Paul," Beck was joined by The Imelda May Band at the Iridium Jazz Club in June 2010. Other guest performers joining Beck onstage included Brian Setzer, Gary 'US' Bonds, and Trombone Shorty.

"Les was my inspiration," says Beck. "For years I had always wanted to do something for Les to show him how much I respected and admired what he had done. Les used to play every week at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, so for me it was the obvious and fitting place for a 'Salute' to him."

Earlier this month, Beck's latest album 'Emotion & Commotion' was nominated for five Grammy awards including Best Rock Album, Best Rock Instrumental Performance ('Hammerhead'), Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals ('I Put A Spell On You' with Joss Stone), Best Pop Instrumental performance (‘Nessun Dorma’), and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (for Steve Lipson). Beck is also nominated in the Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals category for ‘Imagine’, his collaboration with Herbie Hancock, Pink, India Arie, Seal, Konono No 1 & Oumou Sangare.

This marks the most nominations ever for Beck in a single year and makes him the most nominated artist in the Rock field in addition to being the most nominated British artist for this year’s awards. Beck has previously won five Grammy awards.

PJ Harvey to be offered chance to become 'official war song correspondent'

Imperial War Museum in London keen to work with singer following album featuring songs inspired by recent conflicts

The avant-garde rock star PJ Harvey is being given the chance to travel to conflict zones where the British army is fighting by the Imperial War Museum.

The songs on Harvey's New Album 'Let England Shake, reflect her strong emotional response to living through a period of war in the Middle East and to other people's memories of previous campaigns. The 41-year-old singer from Dorset composed her album by imagining she had already been given the job of
"official war song correspondent".

Already tipped to win the Mercury prize, Let England Shake, which is released tomorrow, includes the track The Words That Maketh Murder. The album's first single, its lyrics include a serviceman's recollection: "Soldiers fell like lumps of meat, blown and shot out beyond belief, arms and legs were in the trees". Another track, This Glorious Land, depicts a countryside ploughed up "by tanks and feet marching". "We are certainly interested in working with PJ Harvey," said Roger Tolson, the museum's head of collections. "It is something we can take forward as we have never commissioned anybody in that capacity.

We have other kinds of works of art using sound, like the art of Susan Philipsz, who won the last Turner prize, but we have never sent a musician out to a conflict zone."

Click here for the full story on the Guardian.

Out NOW... Including PJ Harvey, Gruff Rhys, Mogwai and more...

PJ Harvey 'Let England Shake': CD album / Vinyl LP
Gruff Rhys 'Hotel Shampoo': CD album / Vinyl LP
Mogwai 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will': 2CD album set / 2-LP Vinyl Set / Limited Boxset
Jim O'Rourke & Christoph Heemann 'Plastic Palace People Vol. 1': CD album
The Twilight Singers 'Dynamite Steps': CD album / 2-LP Vinyl Set
Bright Eyes 'The Peoples Key': CD album
Heart 'Night At Sky Church': DVD / Blu-Ray
Rob Zombie 'Hellbilly Deluxe 2': CD/DVD album set

Japanese Forthcoming! Including Joe Bonamassa, Beady Eye, Derek And The Dominos, Duffy, Robbie Robertson And The New York Dolls!

JOE BONAMASSA Dust Bowl - Release Date 09/03/2011

Japanese 12-track CD album - Multi-talented blues-rock guitar hero, singer-songwriter, and member of Black Country Communion, Joe Bonamassa is back with his twelfth full-length solo long player, produced by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley [Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin] making it their sixth collaboration in five years! Picture sleeve + obi-strip.

 

NEW YORK DOLLS Dancing Backward in High Heels - Release Date 23/03/2011

2011 Japanese 12-track CD album featuring the triumphant return of the 'Dolls with their fifth long player, featuring original members David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain, the album was recorded in Newcastle, England and produced by Louis XIV’s Jason Hill, picture sleeve with obi-strip.

 

ROBBIE ROBERTSON How To Become A Clairvoyant - Release Date 23/03/2011

Japanese 12-track CD album, Robertson's fifth solo album and his first record in more than 10 years. Guitar virtuosos Eric Clapton (who co-wrote three tracks with Robertson), Tom Morello and Robert Randolph guest on the album, which Robertson co-produced with Marius de Vries. Bonus tracks expected for the Japanese-issue, picture sleeve + obi-strip.

 

DUFFY Endlessly - 23/03/2011

Japanese 20-track CD album - Duffy returns with her long-awaited follow-up to 2008's 'Rockferry'. Recorded in New York, London and Spain, 'Endlessly' represents the next chapter and clearly establishes Duffy as one of the biggesttalents in music today. Alongside the funk driven single 'Well, Well, Well', album highlights include the catchy soul-disco track 'My Boy', the heartbreaking, 'Too Hurt To Dance'. A Duffy personal favourite is 'Don't Forsake Me', a song filled with emotion and longing. The irresistible title song 'Endlessly' shows the Welsh songstress at her lyrical best. Bonus tracks expected for the Japanese issue, picture sleeve + obi-strip.

 

BEADY EYE Different Gear, Still Speeding - Release Date 23/02/2011

2011 Japanese-issue 13-track CD album - Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye present their debut album. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, 'Different Gear, Still Speeding' was was recorded at RAK Studios in Summer 2010 and includes the singles 'Four Letter Word', 'Bring The Light' & 'The Roller', bonus tracks expected for the Japanese pressing, picture sleeve + obi-strip.

 

DEREK AND THE DOMINOS Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs - Release Date 30/03/2011

Japanese 27-track 2-SHM CD album [Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players], - originally released in 1970 by the short lived collective with a classic blues rock sound featuring hallmark guitar playing from both Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, featuring a second bonus disc with rare and hard-to-find tracks as well as remastered Live performances and Remixed tracks, picture sleeve + obi-strip. Also available in Limited Super Deluxe Edition!

“From the New World”

 Whilst in the UK Dvorak’s 9^th symphony (sometimes referred to as the 5^th symphony) has become irrevocably associated with a certain Hovis bread advert, it still remains one of the most familiar pieces of classical music in the world today and is certainly Dvorak’s most famous work.

When it was premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1893 was met with rapturous applause after every movement leaving the composer feeling obliged to take a bow each time, which apparently embarrassed him hugely.

Dvorak claimed that he was greatly influenced by Native and Afro-American spiritual music during his time in America.  In the 9^th Symphony he melds elements of these traditions with bohemian folk music to create a truly multinational composition – which may go some way towards explaining the work’s enduring popularity.

As you might expect, we have a great many different copies of the New World Symphony in stock, each offering a different take on Dvorak’s masterpiece – you can find them all in our Dvorak catalogue, but here are just a few examples;

 

     

The Weekend's Top Three including a platinum GARTH BROOKS award, a limited edition FEAR FACTORY boxset plus TORI AMOS 'A Piano' collection

 GARTH BROOKS Garth Brooks

Official RIAA Certified US 6 x PLATINUM Award issued to commemorate American album sales in excess of 6,000,000 copies. This nicely framed and glazed award measures 18" x 26" in size, features the album artwork with sixcopies of the album [three either side] with a '6,000,000 Sales' cassette shell in the middle above the authentic, custom engraved dedication plaque, in the top left corner is a 'Liberty Records RIAA Certified' plaque with the RIAA 'R' stylehologram in the top right corner - all mouned on a green background with black surround and in a black coated wooden frame

 

FEAR FACTORY Mechanize

2010 UK Super Limited Fan Box Edition 11-track CD album - 'Mechanize' is a full-fisted blast of passion and innovation that sounds like the missing link betweens 1995's groundbreaking 'Demanufacture' and 1998's moretexturally nuanced Obsolete. Songs like 'Industrial Discipline' and 'Powershifter' are crushing and colossal, melding fast and precise rhythms with vocals that pinwheel from raw and scathing to hauntingly melodic while 'Fear Campaign', whichfeatures harrowing spoken word passages, quickly segues into a showcase of punishing beats, rapid fire riffs and ghostly keyboards. While 'Mechanize' is instantly reminiscent of Fear Factory's most potent moments of discovery, it's hardly a stroll down the old assembly line. Be it the orchestral keyboard swells of 'Christploitation', the keyboard-infused dirge of 'Final Exit', the taped screams and radio transmissions of 'Controlled Demolition' or the last gasp-under-shattered-glass samples of 'Metallic Division', the combination of technological advancements and experience of Fear Factory have evolved like a computer virus, constantly reconfiguring itself to maximize its destructive impact. This edition includes the Bonus Recording 'Crash Test', and comes presented in a digipak picture sleeve, which itself will be housed in a Tool Box complete with carpenter pencil, hammer, screwdriver, calliper, folding rule, measuring tape, patch [12cm x 5cm], poster, certificate with serial number and sticker!.

 

TORI AMOS A Piano: The Collection

Deleted 2006 UK issue US manufactured 5-CD set containing a total of 86 tracks bringing together a career spanning collection highlights selection from her studio albums plus b-sides, alternate mixes and previously unreleased recordings, presented in a unique and deluxe package resembling a piano keyboard, which comes complete with extensive booklet offering revealing track by track commentary penned by Amos, who discusses the inspiration behind each song. This copy has a deletion mark through the barcode, but remains sealed!

Friday's Top Three including a rare Japanese ENYA set, a promotional FACES vinyl LP plus DAVID BOWIE's 'Absolute Beginners'...

ENYA The Enya Collection

Rare 1996 Japanese-only limited edition 3-CD box set featuring The Celts, Watermark & Shepherd Moon CD albums, all housed insides a superb 6" x 6" x 2" cream coloured textured and embossed title box with 64-page embossedbooklet featuring biography and discography information with Japanese only insert! This copy comes with a special promo only drawstring white high quality PVC outer carrying bag reproducing the box artwork! WPCR-891~3.

THE FACES Long Player

Original 1971 US Warner Bros promotional 9-track stereo vinyl LP with custom printed white title labels, housed in a textured die-cut retro style picture sleeve which is different to the UK version with radio station timingstrip across the front. The sleeve and sticker are in near mint condition. The vinyl has only a few light surface marks with beautifully bright, clean labels - a great copy! WS1892.

DAVID BOWIE/VARIOUS Absolute Beginners

1986 US 10-track vinyl LP from the soundtrack to the motion picture 'Absolute Beginners', also features tracks by Sade, Ray Davies and The Style Council. Presented in a vibrant colour picture sleeve with adeletion punch hole in the top right corner and remains factory sealed in the original hype stickered shrink and therefore is MINT unplayed condition SV-17182.

Thursday's Top Three including rare releases from GREGG ALLMAN and DEPECHE MODE plus some Italian Prog from PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI...

GREGG ALLMAN Just Before The Bullets Fly

Rare 1988 US 11-track promotional only CD including the bonus recording 'One Way Out' live WMMR Broadcast in Philadelphia on the 30th June 1987 which is commercially unavailable, complete with a custom picture sleeve and tracklisting back insert ESK1183.

DEPECHE MODE X1 and X2

Rare 1991 set of the 2 Japanese-only box sets each including 4 CD's and 2 booklets - Box 1 contains 3 CDs of Twelve Inch Mixes and 1 CD of Strange Mixes [33 mixes]. Box 2 contains Instrumentals CD, B-Sides, Live One CD & Live Two CD, [46 tracks]. Overall this set contains a whopping 79 tracks in total and is housed inside 2 fabulous black linen covered boxes complete with titled obi strips - A hard to find set!!! ALCB201-204/205-208.

PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI Photos Of Ghosts

Original 1973 UK Manticore label 7-track LP by the Italian proggers, housed in a fully laminated gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows minimal wear and the vinyl is excellent. Great copy! K43502.

Wednesday's Top Three including METALLICA, KYLIE MINOGUE and COIL...

METALLICA Master Of Puppets

Classic 1986 UK Music For Nations label 8-track LP, featuring The Thing That Should Not Be, Welcome Home [Sanitarium] and Orion, housed in a glossy picture sleeve with original picture/lyric inner and merchandise insert. The sleeve on this copy shows minimal signs of age with light scuffing on the corners, the vinyl only has a few light surface marks and plays without any problems - still a great copy MFN60.

KYLIE Wouldn't Change A Thing

Scarce original 1989 UK PWL label 3-track CD single, also including Your Thang and Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi - Revolutionary Remix, colour picture sleeve with lyrics printed inside PWCD42.

 

COIL How To Destroy Angels

Rare 1988 Belgian 3rd Version single sided LP featuring an astonishing seventeen minute piece How To Destroy Angels, which is described as 'ritual music for the accumulation of male sexual energy', picture sleeve. Thevinyl has the hand scratched message Shut Up, It's Good For You in the run off area. The B-side, although crediting Absolute Elsewhere is non-grooved & intentionally unplayable! Both sleeve & vinyl are in fantastic condition LAY5.

George Harrison Signature + Beatles Photo

As the Beatles continue to shift units by the millions well into the digital age, this is a perfect show piece for the collector looking to get their hands on something physical: a spot on example of George Harrison's signature, no less.

Signed in blue ink circa late 1970s across a blank piece of paper and carefully mounted alongside a black & white picture of the Fab Four in concert, what better time to invest, as this week marks 50 years since The Fab Four played their first gig at The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

As the Beatles continue to shift units by the millions well into the digital age, this is a perfect show piece for the collector looking to get their hands on something physical: a spot on example of George Harrison's signature, no less.

 

Signed in blue ink circa late 1970s across a blank piece of paper and carefully mounted alongside a black & white picture of the Fab Four in concert, what better time to invest, as this week marks 50 years since The Fab Four played their first gig at The Cavern Club in Liverpool

End of the road for the car tape deck

Demise of the cassette continues as cars manufactured in the US in 2011 will no longer be fitted with tape decks.

Never mind the end of the Sony Walkman, here is further proof of the demise of the cassette: RIP the car tape deck. As 2011 models roll off production lines and on to American sales lots, not one is factory-equipped with a cassette player, according to the New York Times. The next question for car manufacturers, explained one researcher, is "how long has the CD got to go?"

If the car cassette player has an epitaph, it is the 2010 Lexus SC 430. This was the last new car to be factory-equipped with a way to play your old mixtapes, the New York Times reports. "Lexus was the last holdout," explained Phil Magney, an analyst for IHS iSuppli, a technology research firm. For the 2011 model year, tape players are not available as standard – or even as an option – on any new cars sold in the United States." If you wan to listen to the decaying hiss of your cherished tapes, you will either
have to buy a used vehicle or install a third-party cassette player.

Here at 991.com we think it is a shame that car manufacturers are removing the equipment to play this much loved format.  If you are in need of a classic cassette to listen to in the car, we have a massive archive of material, from Bowie to U2. Check out the web site for 'the one' you are missing.

Click here to read more about the end of an era at Guardian.co.uk

Charlotte Church and kids almost killed by a deadly gas leak in new home

Charlotte Church and her two children were almost killed by a deadly gas leak at her new home.


The 24-year-old singer ' who has three-year-old daughter Ruby and son Dexter, two, with ex-fiance Gavin Henson ' had been suffering from headaches and only became aware she was being poisoned when her concerned grandfather suggested she install a carbon monoxide detector at the £1.3 million mansion in South Wales.

A source said: 'Charlotte was terrified when she found out what had been happening and said she feels lucky to be alive. She had been complaining of headaches for weeks but had no idea why.

Click here to read the full story on Music-News.com

Love Kylie? You Will Do After This Japanese-only Compilation!

KYLIE MINOGUE 'Love Kylie - Best Of Kylie Minogue'

Release Date 16/03/2011

Released for the Aussie pop princess' upcoming tour of Japan, this 'Best Of' sets to span Kylie's immense career with 20-tracks of pure pleasure designed to give her Japanese fans many a sleepless night! This collection will make a fantastic addition to any collection and is available in the Regular and Deluxe Editions! So Don't Be 'Slow' and Pre-order yours Now!