KOKZ-FM

The Eagles have recently announced a small set of new fall tour dates running for most of the month of October. Some say that even though their shows have the some of the highest ticket prices in the industry, they are doing their fans a favor by selling seats through All-In Ticketing, which does not add any fees or surcharges to the ticket prices like most other concert vendors.

The dates for the fall North American tour:

•10/01 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
•10/02 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
•10/05 - Lubbock, TX - United Spirit Arena
•10/07 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
•10/08 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
•10/10 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field
•10/12 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
•10/15 - Atlanta, GA - Piedmont Park
•10/16 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum Center
•10/19 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
•10/20 - Toledo, OH - Huntington Center
•10/22 - University Park, PA - Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State
•10/24 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Center

The group will also be touring Australia in December.

(courtesy of Robert Benson collectingvinylrecords.blogspot.com/ )
FULL TRACKLISTS AND COVER ART UNVEILED FOR EIGHT ALBUMS REMASTERED FROM LENNON'S ORIGINAL MIXES AND SEVERAL NEW COLLECTIONS TO BE RELEASED ON 4TH OCTOBER

Sweeping Catalogue Initiative Overseen by Yoko Ono and EMI Music Commemorates Lennon's 70th Birthday

LONDON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- EMI Music unveils today the complete tracklists and cover art for a broad selection of remastered John Lennon albums and new collections to be released on CD and digitally on 4 October (5 October in North America). Announced last month, EMI Music's global John Lennon 'Gimme Some Truth' catalogue campaign is being overseen by Yoko Ono and commemorates the music legend's 70th birthday on 9 October, 2010. Featured in the sweeping initiative are eight remastered John Lennon solo albums and new titles including Double Fantasy Stripped Down, Power To The People: The Hits, Gimme Some Truth, and the John Lennon Signature Box.

For the first time, Lennon's classic solo albums and other standout recordings have been digitally remastered from his original mixes. Double Fantasy, 1980's GRAMMY Award winner for Album of the Year, will be presented with a newly remixed 'Stripped Down' version produced by Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas, Lennon's original co-producers for the album. Some Time In New York City has been restored to include the six 'Live Jam' recordings featured on the original album.

The deluxe 11CD and digital John Lennon Signature Box includes 13 previously unreleased home recordings, and Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, and Julian Lennon have each written personal essays for the lavish collection.

The cover art for the new titles includes original drawings by Sean Lennon for Double Fantasy Stripped Down, while the cover of 1974's Walls and Bridges is restored to its original artwork.

John Lennon's life and music will be specially feted this fall with a variety of commemorative releases and events around the world. Please visit www.johnlennon.com for official announcements and updates.

Click Here to view all of the John Lennon cover art images.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE: THE HITS [CD; Digital]

1. Power To The People
2. Gimme Some Truth
3. Woman
4. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
5. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
6. Cold Turkey
7. Jealous Guy
8. #9 Dream
9. (Just Like) Starting Over
10. Mind Games
11. Watching The Wheels
12. Stand By Me
13. Imagine
14. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
15. Give Peace A Chance

POWER TO THE PEOPLE: THE HITS (EXPERIENCE EDITION) [CD/DVD]

CD (tracklist same as above)

DVD

1. Power To The People
2. Gimme Some Truth
3. Woman
4. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
5. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
6. Cold Turkey
7. Jealous Guy
8. #9 Dream
9. (Just Like) Starting Over
10. Mind Games
11. Watching The Wheels
12. Stand By Me
13. Imagine
14. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
15. Give Peace A Chance

GIMME SOME TRUTH [4CD; Digital]

Working Class Hero

1. Working Class Hero
2. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
3. Power To The People
4. God
5. I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die
6. Gimme Some Truth
7. Sunday Bloody Sunday
8. Steel And Glass
9. Meat City
10. I Don't Wanna Face It
11. Remember
12. Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
13. I Found out
14. Isolation
15. Imagine
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
17. Give Peace A Chance
18. Only People

Woman

1. Mother
2. Hold On
3. You Are Here
4. Well Well Well
5. Oh My Love
6. Oh Yoko!
7. Grow Old With Me
8. Love
9. Jealous Guy
10. Woman
11. Out The Blue
12. Bless You
13. Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)
14. My Mummy's Dead
15. I'm Losing You
16. (Just Like) Starting Over
17. #9 Dream
18. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

Borrowed Time

1. Mind Games
2. Nobody Told Me
3. Cleanup Time
4. Crippled Inside
5. How Do You Sleep?
6. How?
7. Intuition
8. I'm Stepping Out
9. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
10. Old Dirt Road
11. Scared
12. What You Got
13. Cold Turkey
14. New York City
15. Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)
16. Borrowed Time
17. Look At Me
18. Watching The Wheels

Roots

1. Be-Bop-A-Lula
2. You Can't Catch Me
3. Medley: Rip It Up/Ready Teddy
4. Tight A$
5. Ain't That a Shame
6. Sweet Little Sixteen
7. Do You Wanna Dance
8. Slippin' and Slidin'
9. Peggy Sue
10. Medley: Bring It On Home/Send Me Some Lovin'
11. Yer Blues (Live)
12. Just Because
13. Boney Moronie
14. Beef Jerky
15. Ya Ya
16. Hound Dog (Live)
17. Stand By Me
18. Here We Go Again

JOHN LENNON SIGNATURE BOX [11CD; Digital]

Original Albums [digitally remastered]

- John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
- Imagine
- Some Time In New York City
- Mind Games
- Walls and Bridges
- Rock 'n' Roll
- Double Fantasy
- Milk and Honey

Home Tapes

1. Mother
2. Love
3. God
4. I Found Out
5. Nobody Told Me
6. Honey Don't
7. One Of The Boys
8. India, India
9. Serve Yourself
10. Isolation
11. Remember
12. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
13. I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die

Singles

1. Power To The People
2. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
3. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
4. Cold Turkey
5. Move Over Ms. L
6. Give Peace a Chance

ORIGINAL ALBUMS (REMASTERED) [CD; Digital]

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

1. Mother
2. Hold On
3. I Found Out
4. Working Class Hero
5. Isolation
6. Remember
7. Love
8. Well Well Well
9. Look At Me
10. God
11. My Mummy's Dead

Imagine (1971)

1. Imagine
2. Crippled Inside
3. Jealous Guy
4. It's So Hard
5. I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die
6. Gimme Some Truth
7. Oh My Love
8. How Do You Sleep?
9. How?
10. Oh Yoko!

Some Time In New York City (1972)
DISC ONE

1. Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
2. Sisters, O Sisters
3. Attica State
4. Born In a Prison
5. New York City
6. Sunday Bloody Sunday
7. The Luck Of The Irish
8. John Sinclair
9. Angela
10. We're All Water

DISC TWO

1. Cold Turkey (live)
2. Don't Worry Kyoko (live)
3. Well (Baby Please Don't Go) (live)
4. Jamrag (live)
5. Scumbag (live)
6. Au (live)

Mind Games (1973)

1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

Walls and Bridges (1974)

1. Going Down On Love
2. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
3. Old Dirt Road
4. What You Got
5. Bless You
6. Scared
7. #9 Dream
8. Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)
9. Steel And Glass
10. Beef Jerky
11. Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)
12. Ya Ya

Rock 'n' Roll (1975)

1. Be-Bop-A-Lula
2. Stand By Me
3. Medley: Rip It Up/Ready Teddy
4. You Can't Catch Me
5. Ain't That A Shame
6. Do You Wanna Dance
7. Sweet Little Sixteen
8. Slippin' And Slidin'
9. Peggy Sue
10. Medley: Bring It On Home To Me/Send Me Some Lovin'
11. Bony Moronie
12. Ya Ya
13. Just Because

Double Fantasy Stripped Down (2010) / Double Fantasy (1980)

Stripped Down - Original Album, Remastered

1. (Just Like) Starting Over
2. Kiss Kiss Kiss
3. Cleanup Time
4. Give Me Something
5. I'm Losing You
6. I'm Moving On
7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
8. Watching The Wheels
9. Yes, I'm Your Angel
10. Woman
11. Beautiful Boys
12. Dear Yoko
13. Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him
14. Hard Times Are Over

Milk and Honey (1984)

1. I'm Stepping Out
2. Sleepless Night
3. I Don't Wanna Face It
4. Don't Be Scared
5. Nobody Told Me
6. O'Sanity
7. Borrowed Time
8. Your Hands
9. (Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess
10. Let Me Count The Ways
11. Grow Old With Me
12. You're The One

SOURCE EMI Music :http://www.johnlennon.com/

Record Purists Hold On to their Vinyl Record Albums

Vinyl records have made a comeback and here to stay. “As long as there are music lovers who still long for the old-fashioned vinyl".

(I-Newswire) August 19, 2010 - Doylestown, Pennsylvania (04 August 2010) – Record purists hold on to their vinyl record albums in contrast to thousands of music enthusiasts who have already embraced digital music. Thanks to the Internet, they have now access to an online independent record store called SoundStage Direct. SoundStage Direct covers every musical genre on vinyl LPs in a variety of formats.

“The music download on a computer isn’t real enough,” said Alan Elam after acquiring a few exclusive releases at the International Speedway Boulevard vinyl vendor. “There is nothing better than holding something in your hand and then listening to it.”

Elam has been passionate about music since he was 13, (now he’s 36), and is the drummer for the local rock band Crash Rockets. "You can't take records anywhere, but the sound of them is far superior to even the most pristinely mastered CD,” added Elam.

Another record purist, Brian Neville of Edgewater has passed on his love for vinyl record collecting to his 11-year-old son Brenden. It seems that vinyl record albums will be here for another generation.

Brenden puts a kick to his dad’s old records through his computer. "They like to take my vinyl, put it through the computer and put it on their MP3 players," Neville said. "They make some really wild mixes."

Vinyl records have made a comeback and here to stay. “As long as there are music lovers who still long for the old-fashioned vinyl, we are here to offer them every vinyl album they are looking for, from new releases to featured vinyl LPs,” says SoundStage Direct.

www.soundstagedirect.com/

Vinyl Revival: Record stores selling more vinyl albums

By Jeremy Essig - Columbia Business Times
Aug 6, 2010

What if vinyl records saved the music industry?

That joke, relayed by Streetside Records manager Nick Soha, has been going around the retail music industry for a few years now. As with any good joke, there lies a kernel of truth — a truth that might help an industry considered on its way to extinction.

With the rise in popularity of compact discs, vinyl records became an antiquated format. Then came the Internet music-sharing craze and online music sales, which further marginalized the old LP format at the beginning of the millennium. Through services such as Apple’s iTunes and Napster, customers could purchase music instantly from the comfort of their own homes. As a result, retail music stores saw a decline in both sales and profits.

Store manager Kate Passis organizes vinyl records at Slackers.

However, rumors of the industry’s decline have been greatly exaggerated, said Soha and Slackers manager Kate Passis. Slackers was founded in Columbia in 1993 and has expanded to Jefferson City and the St. Louis area, where it has nine stores. Streetside, part of a national chain of music stores, has been in Columbia since 1980. Although both managers said sales are not as strong as they once were, they also expressed optimism for the present and future.

Streetside Records, located on Providence Road across from the MU power plant, has had one of its best summers in a long time, Soha said. Part of this success, he said, can be attributed to a revived interest in vinyl records.

Vinyl is “a big part of sales now,” Soha said.

Three years ago, Streetside only stocked about 20 to 30 records, Soha said. The medium was so marginalized that one employee, when registering a sale to a customer who brought a vinyl record to the counter, asked when the store began selling calendars.

Since that time, however, vinyl sales have made an epic comeback.

Vinyl album sales are still less than 1 percent of total album sales, but vinyl sales rose from 1.9 million in 2008 to 2.5 million in 2009, a 33 percent increase, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the entertainment industry’s data information system that tracks point-of-purchase sales. (The data doesn’t account for the used vinyl market.)

Preparing for another migration of the younger generation, Passis said Slackers is planning to place a large order of new vinyl to coincide with the return of MU students for the fall semester.

Passis said the Slackers store on Broadway is also helped by a robust trade-in business. During the economic downturn, she said customers might be less likely to hold onto old CDs and DVDs and more willing to trade them in for store credit. Soha said used media is also a strong seller at Streetside, which allows customers to receive either cash or store credit for used items.

Both managers also said video games and an expanding selection of Blue Ray discs have contributed significantly to their stores’ sales totals. The ability to carry video games and Blue Ray next to more nostalgic media such as vinyl provides what Passis said is one of the best aspects of the modern retail music store.

“We don’t sell anything people need,” she said. “We sell what people want, which is great.”

The vinyl revival is also boosting sales of another retro product: the turntable. Sam Jones, an owner of Pure Audio, said national sales of turntables have increased about 70 percent during the past few years.

Jones attributes the increase to a number of factors. Some customers are rediscovering old vinyl that was never made available in digital format. Others have inherited the record collection of relatives and are looking to play songs they heard at family occasions. The younger generation, Jones said, has also become enamored with the nostalgia factor that vinyl provides.

Top Ten Vinyl Albums in 2009

Title Artist Units Sold

Abbey Road……………………………………………..The Beatles………………………………… 34,800

Thriller……………………………………………………. Michael Jackson…………………………… 29,800

Merriweather Post Pavilion …………………….AnimalCollective…………………………14,000

Wilco………………………………………………………. Wilco……………………………………………13,200

Fleet Foxes…………………………………………… Fleet Foxes…………………………………… 12,700

Backspacer………………………………………………Pearl Jam……………………………………… 12,500

Veckatimest…………………………………………… Grizzly Bear…………………………………… 11,600

Appetite For Destruction…………………………Guns N’ Roses……………………………… 11,500

Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King………Dave Matthews Band……………………… 11,500

In Rainbows……………………………………………. Radiohead……………………………………… 11,400

Source: Nielsen SoundScan

8/8/10

I was in Cedar Rapids last night for a Bluesfest known as Bluesmore (a non-profit fest) ! It's on the grounds of the National Registry's Landmark Museum known as Brucemore Mansion http://www.brucemore.org/ (also a non-profit organization).

Not a bad shindig at all! I'm a bug fan of the blues as is most of my family. I grew up hearing it played on teh stereo from my dad, but also hearing it performed by my father and mother as well.

I play some guitar, but my 12 year old, David, is quite good for his age. He was asked by Gary "Bubba" Gibson to play at the fest on the Brucemore porch stage with another young man named Ben Bollwitt, 14, from Monticello on drums!

It was a blast to see these two young men, who'd only met at three o'clock that day, gig together for the first time and learn from each other. Both of them were paying special attention to each other, to keep the rhythm chugging along. very professional characteristics from these early teens. A back-up band helped them along and filled out the sound with keyboards, bass, horn and clarinet known as Krewe Osgood, a New Orleans style Jazz band.

On main stage were acts from all over the blues world! The Avey Brothers, from the Quad Cities, are a blues trio that had some great blues covers such as Stevie Ray Vaughn's "WILLIE THE WIMP" (one of my all-time favorites).

Next on the stage was a band out of Wisconsin with a rather large following called Reverened Raven and the Chain-smoking Altar Boys! Amazing band with a saxophonist that could make you shake it without worry of breaking it.... Did some covers of the late Albert Collins, like "TOO MANY DIRTY DISHES" and and some original tunes as well.

Headliner was Deana Bogart. A multi-talented blues-WOMAN that my parents have seen before... Great voice, amzing pianist, and sexy sax, or as some say SAXUALITY!

When it comes to collectibles, is John Lennon 'bigger than' The Beatles?

As Lennon and the Fab Four impress at auction, we compare their potential for investment

In a time of great uncertainty in traditional investment markets, it's sometimes reassuring to know that some things in the collectables market will never lose their value. Whether it's an investment in collecting rare stamps, coins or even The Beatles memorabilia, collectibles won't lose you thousands overnight.

In fact, the Fab Four have been making a big impression at auction sales for over twenty years now, thanks in part to the scarcity of John Lennon collectibles, following his death in 1980.

Recent years have seen the two remaining members of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, announce that they would no longer be signing memorabilia, creating a scarcity of Beatles memorabilia for sale.

With this news in mind, when it comes to investing in collectibles, is John Lennon now bigger than The Beatles?

Whilst The Beatles may lead the way in album sales, with 600 million worldwide, eclipsing the figure achieved by Lennon and the other members' solo careers, when it comes to investing in memorabilia from Beatles and Lennon album covers, it's a very different story.

At Bonhams in Los Angeles in 2004, four rare Beatles worn suits from the debut album cover "Please Please Me" and the singles "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love you," went up for auction, fetching £71,350 ($110,500).

John Lennon's Talisman Necklace

In comparison, a leather collar worn by Lennon in 1968-1969 and described as his talisman came up to buy at auction in May 2008.

The piece featured on Lennon's naked body for the "Unfinished Music No1 - Two Virgins" album cover and sold to a private collector for £340,900 ($528,000) having previously sold for £117,250 ($210,347) at a Christie's auction in London in 2004.

That's an increase in value of 143.8% in just four years. Not a bad short term investment.

According to the PFC Autograph Index, The Beatles have seen big price increases for autographs in the last decade.

The value of an autograph, signed by the four members of The Beatles, has gone from £2,950 ($4,560) in 2000 to £8,500 ($13,150) in 2010, that's an increase in value of 188.1%.

In comparison, a John Lennon autograph that was worth £695 ($1,075) in 2000 is today worth £5,950 ($9,210). Anyone investing in this signed Lennon collectible would have seen an increase in the value of their investment of 756.1%.

Handwritten lyrics from both The Beatles and John Lennon have also impressed at auction. The relative privacy of McCartney has led to only a limited amount of his contributions, coming to the auction block.

In November 2006, a page of lyrics written by McCartney for the song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" sold for £124,000 ($192,000) in New York. The song was significant to collectors, given that it was one of the last ever recorded by the band.

John Lennon lyrics for
A Day in the Life

More recently in the news, the lyrics to "Hey Jude" were expected to star at a Christie's auction, but were prevented from making it to the auction block, following a late intervention from McCartney, who had questioned the provenance of the piece.

Any handwritten lyrics from McCartney are hard to come by and could have huge potential for any investor.

All of this has contributed to Lennon leading the way in unique signed memorabilia.

The autographed lyrics to John Lennon's song "A Day in The Life" written for The Beatles "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band" album came up for sale at Sotheby's in New York in June 2010.

Featuring crossing outs and corrections, the piece sold for £776,500 ($1,202,500).

In terms of collecting instruments, investors may also wish to compare those collectibles relating to the Beatles, with those from Lennon himself.

A rare Gibson SG guitar used by George Harrison and John Lennon on "Revolver" and "White Album" sold for £370,000 ($567,500) at Christies in New York in 2009. In comparison, John Lennon's Steinway piano, was sold for $2,100,000 in 2000 to George Michael.

That's nearly four times the price paid for the guitar last year. Given the rise in value of John Lennon collectibles over the past decade, George Michael's $2,100,000 investment, could potentially be doubled, if he were to sell to another collector on the market, which could lead to a world record price.

The current top auction prices for Beatles and John Lennon memorabilia make for impressive reading to any potential investor.

The hand painted decorative drum, used as the centrepiece of the "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album" sold for a £710,300 ($1,100,000) in 2008, setting a world record price for Beatles memorabilia.

The painted drum from "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

In terms of John Lennon collectibles, the world record price instead belongs to the famous hand painted Rolls Royce Phantom V which sold for $2,230,000 in 1985. The car remains at a world record price for a Lennon collectible, some 25 years since its sale, if it were to come onto the market today, it could set a new record for music collectables as we know them.

These auction results clearly demonstrate the potential returns for investing in rare collectibles from both The Beatles and John Lennon. Lennon's death had an effect on both the value of his and the Beatles collectibles.

Yet while Lennon's signed memorabilia will continue to rise in value, thanks to his role in the group and the so called "James Dean" effect of his death, the market price rises for memorabilia relating to The Beatles, may have only just begun.

The next decade could see further developments, in terms of health and public appearances from the remaining members of the group.

Buying into their collectibles now may prove a good move for collectors, before more investors flock to the market looking to buy anything Beatles related and drive prices up even further, at which point a previously purchased collectible can be sold for a profit.

Furthermore, the next twenty years could see the release for auction of other hand written lyrics from Paul McCartney, who has until now kept much of his collection in private.

The Beatles once sang about "a revolution" - they could soon prove a revelation to collectors and investors alike.

Thanks to Paul Fraser Collectibles for this fine story: http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/

KISS – Sings THE BEATLES - Rare find from a soundcheck!
(courtesy of Robert Benson http://collectingvinylrecords.blogspot.com/ )

TMD unearths a rare audio clip from 1990 of legendary rock act KISS doing an interview in a New York City rehearsal studio right before the start of the band’s infamous “Hot In The Shade” tour. At the start of the clip is Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons trying their hand at some classic songs by THE BEATLES. The first one is “Help!” and the second is “Please Please Me”. In the KISS lineup at this point in time was Bruce Kulick on lead guitar and the late great Eric Carr on drums.

Nostalgia, sound quality of new vinyl records have sales on the rise

By Doug Zellmer • of The Northwestern • July 11, 2010

Nathan Wolff can kick back and listen to the Beatles from the comfort of his apartment in downtown Oshkosh.

He has options.

Besides a CD, an mp3 player or other digital means, the 32-year-old can choose to listen to the famous band from England on something baby boomers would recognize in a heart beat — vinyl records.

Wolff has a turntable to play his vinyl records and a receiver (amplifier) — once a staple for decades before the advent of the digital era. It's all that he needs to play his ever-growing collection of vinyl.

Vinyl record sales reached 1.9 million units nationwide in 2008 and then grew to 2.5 million in 2009, according to industry tracker Nielsen SoundScan. CD sales, meanwhile, have dipped, being replaced by downloading services such as iTunes. Nielsen estimates sales dropping about 20 percent in 2009.

Wolff has about 90 records, including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan in his collection of long play albums. He has more than a dozen LP Beatles albums in vinyl, including one from 1962.

Wolff also has some .45 rpm vinyl records from the Beatles that include "No Where Man," I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "A Hard Day's Night."

He also has ones of jazz greats John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery.

"I don't have that large of a collection, but it is concise," Wolff said.

He said a lot new vinyl records from new artists come with digital downloads to put on mp3 players, such as iPods.

Kate Cody, manager of The Exclusive Co., in downtown Oshkosh, said she's noticed a steady increase in vinyl sales since the beginning of the year.

"Vinyl is between six and nine percent of our music sales and we're expecting it to keep building. Five years ago it was maybe two to three percent," she said. "It seems college students are buying them. It's cool for them to buy vinyl."

Cody said vinyl records are also popular with older people.

"There's a nostalgic twist to it. We definitely get people in their 40s and 50s still buying vinyl," she said.

Oshkosh resident Tyler Darling, 20, said he has about 200 vinyl records in his collection. He inherited some of the vinyl from family members and then added to the collection.

"It's like real music to me, compared to the digital stuff that is nice and convenient, but it doesn't feel real compared to how it used to be," Darling said.

Some artists are putting their newest releases on records. Aisles at many record stores hold new records — from classic rock to the vinyl versions of recently released tunes such as popular artists such as Lady Gaga.

Wolff, who has played in several area bands, said the new vinyl records being produced are of superior sound quality to his iPod.

"They are of a very high quality vinyl, which makes the sound much richer and deeper than on an iPod,' he said.

6/30/10
(courtesy of Robert Benson http://collectingvinylrecords.blogspot.com/ )

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!!!!

JOHN LENNON ALBUMS REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MIXES AND NEW COLLECTIONS COMPILED FOR GLOBAL “GIMME SOME TRUTH” CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING IN OCTOBER

THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ALBUM 'DOUBLE FANTASY' WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE IN A NEWLY REMIXED 'STRIPPED DOWN' VERSION PRODUCED BY YOKO ONO AND JACK DOUGLAS

Sweeping Catalogue Initiative Overseen by Yoko Ono and EMI Music Commemorates Lennon’s 70th Birthday

Eight of John Lennon’s classic solo albums and other standout recordings have been digitally remastered from his original mixes for a global catalogue initiative commemorating the music legend’s 70th birthday, which falls on October 9.

Overseen by Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” campaign will launch on 4 October (5 October in North America) with the worldwide release of eight remastered studio albums and several newly-compiled titles.

Double Fantasy, 1980’s GRAMMY Award winner for Album of the Year, will be presented in a newly remixed 'Stripped Down' version remixed and produced by Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas, co-producers of the original mix with John Lennon. The new stripped down version of the album comes in an expanded 2CD and digital edition pairing the new version with Lennon’s original mix, remastered.

The campaign’s other new collections include:

• A hits compilation in two editions titled Power To The People: The Hits
• A 4CD set of themed discs titled Gimme Some Truth
• A deluxe 11CD collectors box with the remastered albums, rarities, and non-album singles, titled the John Lennon Signature Box

All of the remastered albums and collections will be available on CD and for download purchase from all major digital service providers

YOKO ONO said: “In this very special year, which would have seen my husband and life partner John reach the age of 70, I hope that this remastering / reissue programme will help bring his incredible music to a whole new audience. By remastering 121 tracks spanning his solo career, I hope also that those who are already familiar with John’s work will find renewed inspiration from his incredible gifts as a songwriter, musician and vocalist and from his power as a commentator on the human condition. His lyrics are as relevant today as they were when they were first written and I can think of no more apposite title for this campaign than those simple yet direct words 'Gimme Some Truth'.”

The albums have been digitally remastered from Lennon’s original mixes by Yoko Ono and a team of engineers led by Allan Rouse at EMI Music’s Abbey Road Studios in London and by George Marino at Avatar Studios in New York. All of the remastered titles will be packaged in digisleeves with replicated original album art and booklets with photos and new liner notes by noted British music journalist Paul Du Noyer. The albums to be reissued are:

• John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
• Imagine (1971)
• Some Time In New York City (1972)
• Mind Games (1973)
• Walls and Bridges (1974)
• Rock ‘n’ Roll (1975)
• Double Fantasy Stripped Down (2010) / Double Fantasy (1980)
• Milk and Honey (1984)

YOKO ONO added: “Double Fantasy Stripped Down really allows us to focus our attention on John’s amazing vocals. Technology has advanced so much that, conversely, I wanted to use new techniques to really frame these amazing songs and John's voice as simply as possible. By stripping down some of the instrumentation the power of the songs shines through with an enhanced clarity. Double Fantasy Stripped Down will be complemented by the original album in the 2CD format. It was whilst working on the new version of this album that I was hit hardest emotionally, as this was the last album John released before his passing."

Power To The People: The Hits gathers 15 of Lennon’s most popular songs, and will be available as a 15-track single-disc and digital package, and as an Experience Edition with additional content. Both versions will be packaged in digisleeves with booklets including a new liner note essay by Du Noyer.

Gimme Some Truth, to be packaged in a slipcase with rare photos and a new liner notes essays by respected American music journalist and author, Anthony DeCurtis, presents 72 of Lennon’s solo recordings on four themed CDs:

• ‘Roots’ – John’s rock ‘n’ roll roots and influences
• ‘Working Class Hero’ – John’s socio-political songs
• ‘Woman’ – John’s love songs
• ‘Borrowed Time’ – John’s songs about life

The John Lennon Signature Box is a deluxe 11CD and digital collection of the eight remastered albums, a disc of rare and previously unreleased recordings, and an EP of Lennon’s non-album singles. The CDs will be housed in digisleeves within a deluxe box including a collectible limited edition John Lennon art print and a hardbound book featuring rare photos, artwork, collages, poetry, and new liner notes by DeCurtis.

One of the world’s most celebrated songwriters and performers of all time, John Lennon was killed at the age of 40 on December 8, 1980. Lennon has been posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award and two special BRIT Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him in the Top 5 of the magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time” list.

In celebration of his 70th birthday on 9 October, 2010, John Lennon’s life and music will be specially feted with a variety of commemorative releases and events around the world.

6/29/10
(courtesy of Robert Benson http://collectingvinylrecords.blogspot.com/ )

Furnace MFG Gets its Mojo Working for Vinyl Release of Tom Petty’s New Album

Furnace MFG was selected by Warner Brothers to press Tom Petty's latest album - "Mojo" on audiophile-quality 180 gram vinyl. The records were pressed at Pallas Group, in Diepolz, Germany and then inspected and assembled at Furnace MFG's Fairfax, VA facility. The two LP set includes a card enabling customers to download the entire album on their choice of digital formats.

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) June 29, 2010 -- Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ incendiary performances on the May 15th 2010 Saturday Night Live season finale stoked fan anticipation for the release of “Mojo,” the group’s 12th studio album.

The band scorched the stage with two tunes off the album: “I Should Have Known It” and “Jefferson Jericho Blues,” demonstrating from the first note how to get the job done and in the opinion of many, topping every other act that hit the season 35 stage.

For the much anticipated double vinyl release due June 29th, Warner Brothers chose Furnace MFG to oversee the pressing and production of the follow up to Petty’s monumental 7 LP Live Anthology series that Furnace MFG also produced for the label.

Obtaining pressing perfection on a 7 LP set is a most difficult, some would say impossible task, but Furnace MFG, the exclusive North American partner of Diepolz, Germany based Pallas Group, one of the world’s premier vinyl pressing plants, like Petty on SNL, showed how to get that job done.

“Mojo” was mastered by Chris Bellman at famed Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles from uncompressed 24 bit 48kHz files and the lacquers were over-nighted to Pallas for plating, stamper preparation and pressing on audiophile-grade 180 gram virgin vinyl.

The records were then sent to Furnace’s Virginia facility for careful inspection before insertion into the gatefold, double pocket “old school” case-wrapped jackets along with a very “new school” extra: a card containing a code for downloading the album at 320Kpbs MP3 resolution, or at higher quality Apple Lossless or full resolution FLAC.

“Furnace MFG has a strong reputation for special edition, multiple component vinyl packaging and for producing the highest quality single and double record sets” says Eric Astor, Furnace MFG’s CEO. “With our exclusive partnerships with world-class vinyl pressing plants and our experience in exacting and difficult assembly and configuration, more and more customers are turning to Furnace MFG for both one of a kind and standard projects produced at the world’s highest quality levels.”
About Furnace MFG: In business since 1996, Furnace MFG (www.furnacemfg.com/vinyl ) is a recognized leader in CD and DVD duplication, replication, and vinyl record manufacturing and packaging.

There are dozens of record stores across the country hanging on as chain stores fall all around them. In the vinyl business, it’s survival of the smartest.

Here's the usual scenario. A boomer has a vinyl collection he's amassed over the last 30 years that is so big it takes up a part of his basement. The kids are gone, he and the wife are renovating or downsizing to a condo, and he's discovered there's a whole new generation interested in his collection of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd records. It's time to unload the collection.

It so happens that there are tons of boomers across the country retiring their beloved vinyl, which has enabled used record stores to keep afloat. Add to that the record industry trend toward new vinyl releases, and business gets even better. Not great — but good enough to keep going, which is all that a record store can ask these days.

The independent record store is an ode to rock 'n' roll nostalgia that has somehow managed to survive an obstacle course of new technology, Internet downloading, economic downturns and an aging market.

It's a relic that's seen better days, but there are dozens across the country hanging on. The vinyl record is an important component.

"We have seen an increase in new vinyl sales, absolutely," says Matt Flook, a manager at Toronto's Sonic Boom Music. "We have opened a whole second area of our store, dedicated to vinyl. We are getting new vinyl several times a week, large shipments. I think it's a reaction to the digital age of music — people are getting rid of CDs and making copies of them, but still there is a large portion of music buyers who want to own the record."

In Vancouver, Zulu Records is an institution. Owner Grant McDonagh has made vinyl a bigger priority due to demand.

"We converted our bins around the New Year — as it stands now, half our store is CDs, the other half vinyl, new and used on each side.

"We get tons of old vinyl traded in and we do quite well with it. It just depends on if it is a classic band that younger fans still care about."

The old-time record store, with its collection of vinyl records and rock posters, is one of the few music shrines left for music fans. The only other physical place left would be the burned-out club or venue that is stained and smelly from years of concert debauchery. Most every other place to purchase or learn about music has gone online — which simply doesn't have the same romanticism with everyone in the virtual community hidden behind their keyboards. It's that "music nerds only" feeling of belonging that makes the record store a draw, and successful record store owners know that.

It's also a sanctuary for music nerds who have turned the vinyl record into a pretentious antidote to new music formats like iTunes and file sharing. An MP3 file, they argue, doesn't have the same warm play of a vinyl record. For them, to listen to Pink Floyd's The Wall any way other than as it was intended, on vinyl, is like pouring 25-year-old single malt whiskey over ice cream. You'd be missing the point and losing out on the flavour, big time.

It's this appreciation for the finer things in life that has kept the beleaguered record store hobbling along. Many mom and pop record stores across Canada have definitely lost the good fight and have had to close shop.

"For example, record stores in the suburbs that just focus on used CDs, that would be a tough thing to do," says Flook. "It's tough to expect to float just on that. We wouldn't be able to do that — we need vinyl just to survive."

But others have managed to carve out a niche market and keep afloat, sort of like a Darwinian distillation of the most resourceful, forward thinking and brave. When times get tough, the toughest really do survive. And as we've seen from the fall of the corporate giant record chain, small is sometimes a good thing.

"I think the difference is the smaller store is easier to adapt," says McDonagh. His store even expanded several years ago. "And the people who run these stores know quite a bit about music," he adds. "That's what it's about, the music. That's why a few stores do quite well."

Flook concurs that the independent record store must be staffed with employees who know a lot about music and how to appraise old records. Music knowledge is part of the draw — certainly not a major focus of the corporate record store.

Last year, Virgin Records closed shop, including the one in Manhattan — the highest-volume music store in all of America. Considering that CD sales fell 20 per cent between 2007 and 2008, it's not surprising that the industry would be especially hard hit by the economic downturn that followed in 2008 and 2009.

Flook says that the independent record store industry might have benefited from the fall of the corporate giant.

"A lot of those people are having to come to our stores, and realizing it's a whole different thing than those corporate stores."

And CDs, too, just aren't useful anymore. The compact disc never had that prized authentic quality but it was easier to use than a vinyl LP. By the late '80s, the CD had revolutionized the record market, almost entirely replacing the vinyl record in every major store. The CD had a strange too-perfect sound and was less destructible than the vinyl record, which was always getting scratched or warped. Sure, they all but destroyed the art form that is album cover art, but music fans were willing to make the trade-off for a format that didn't take up so much space on their shelves.

In the last five years, however, CDs have gone the way of the tape cassette. Digital downloading has become the favourite method of obtaining music, not only because it's often free (and often illegal), but because it's just so easy and accessible, and hey who doesn't own an MP3 player?

While the Internet has been the kiss of death for big music retailers, it's no big threat to the vinyl record. The vinyl record has always managed to hold onto its cool, and hipster kids and old boomers both understand that no serious music fan would be without a turntable.

The artists are also getting in on the act. There is even such a thing as Record Store Day to celebrate record store independence. Every year in April, small stores celebrate with in-store performances and the release of special editions, such as this year's cover of Dark Side of the Moon by Flaming Lips, or Neko Case's new album released on clear vinyl.

As these indie stores have proven, diversity is the key to survival. Many of the successful stores have in-store performances, featuring local or visiting artists, usually with a record to promote. Artists love to support indie record stores. Billy Bragg recently played Zulu and stuck around to sign autographs.

"You have to keep people shopping in your store," says Flook. "We have concerts, we carry T-shirts and video games, all kinds of CDs and DVDs, Blue Ray, all that stuff.

"We try to make it a place to come and you can see music, hear music and buy music."

SOURCE: http://money.ca.msn.com