Video: Revived 45 heads for 60th birthday  |
For many musicians, your latest song just hasn't been released until it's been forced on to a small, grooved plastic disc. The Wombats and Franz Ferdinand are among the artists whose seven-inch vinyl records are being made at the factory that used to be owned by EMI in Hayes, on the edge of west London. [more...]
Source: BBC News |
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| Queen honors Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant |
The Queen's New Year's Honours list has bestowed upon Zeppelin singer Robert Plant the considerable honor of CBE. Though he's best known as the swaggering singer of the '70s hard rock juggernaut Led Zeppelin, perhaps Plant's 2007 softer collaboration with bluegrass babe Alison Krauss turned the royal ear. [more...]
Source: The Examiner, Los Angeles |
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| Sunday, January 4, 2009 |
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| Actor says sixties music can help in hard times |
Philip Seymour Hoffman thinks that 60s pop music can help people through the credit crunch. The Oscar-winning actor is convinced his new movie The Boat That Rocked, set in a 60s pirate radio station loosely based on the infamous Radio Caroline, will allow people to forget about the global economic crisis. [more...]
Source: News 24 |
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| Friday, January 2, 2009 |
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| Studio where All You Need Is Love recorded faces closure |
Olympic Studios in West London is where the Beatles recorded All You Need Is Love and Baby You're a Rich Man in 1967. But current owners EMI are likely to close Olympic in 2009 and concentrate all their efforts on Abbey Road. "The fact is that the studios are not profitable, like many British studios," an EMI insider admitted. [more...]
Source: The Independent, UK |
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| Album sales plunge in 2008 while digital downloads rise |
Music sales continued to slump in 2008 as the increased number of downloads of digital tracks failed to make up for a plunge in the sale of compact discs. Year-end sales figures show total album sales, including album equivalents made up of single digital tracks, fell to 428.4 million units, down 8.5 percent from 500.5 million in 2007. [more...]
Source: KNBC TV, Los Angeles |
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| Monday, December 29, 2008 |
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| Guitarist Delaney Bramlett |
Rock guitarist Delaney Bramlett, who collaborated with such artists as George Harrison and Eric Clapton. He was 69. Delaney first gained renown in the late 1960s as part of the southern-fried rhythm and blues combo Delaney & Bonnie. According to Bramlett's biography, he taught George Harrison how to play slide guitar. [more...]
Source: Reuters |
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| Friday, December 26, 2008 |
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| Heaven to vinyl record lovers in San Diego |
Gary's Record Paradise Volume II in Escondido still sells a wide variety of vinyl records along with CDs and tapes. The market for vinyl records is growing, and some bands are releasing new albums on them, because digital music doesn't capture the full quality of the music, the store's owner says. [more...]
Source: San Diego Union Tribune |
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| Saturday, December 20, 2008 |
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| Beach Boys genius still cranking out plenty of good vibrations |
Brian Wilson's newest album That Lucky Old Sun shines a bright light on his abilities as a writer, producer and singer of majesty and warmth. While Wilson will be forever linked to his former band, the Beach Boys, he's now released two wonderful concept albums in the past few years, Smile, in 2004, and now That Lucky Old Sun. [more...]
Source: McAlester News-Capitol, OK |
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| Friday, December 19, 2008 |
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| The return of Rundgren the rocker |
Todd Rundgren has spent the last two decades dabbling in multimedia experiments, techno, and soundtracks. But now, Rundgren returns to classic form. Classic rock, that is. He's picked up his guitar and is wielding it with a revitalized sense of mission. His new CD Arena summons echoes of AC/DC, Boston and Robin Trower. [more...]
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer |
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| Thursday, December 18, 2008 |
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| Old recordings nearly kill Mary Hopkin |
Mary Hopkin tapes says containing all her old songs nearly landed her in hospital. "There were about 30 hefty two-inch tapes weighing heavily on my bedroom ceiling. They had been gathering dust in my loft for many years and one morning I woke up to an ominous creaking sound as a huge crack appeared in the ceiling." [more...]
Source: Wales Online, UK |
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| Wednesday, December 17, 2008 |
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| Have Guitar Hero and Rock Band peaked? |
Despite the fact that rock video games are still flying off shelves this holiday season, analysts have begun to wonder whether the the seemingly never-ending number of new games is starting to exhaust consumers. However, the upcoming Beatles game will more than likely be a worldwide smash. [more...]
Source: Rolling Stone |
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| Monday, December 15, 2008 |
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| New book on the history of VOX Amps |
VOX Amplification has been delivering its signature brand of pristine guitar tone to guitarists for over 50 years. Now, a definitive history has been written to bring the complete "creation story" of this heralded brand to life. VOX Amplifiers, The JMI Years chronicles the beginnings of VOX through modern times. [more...]
Source: Sonic State |
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| Immerse yourself in rock's basement |
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex New York City, which opened two weeks ag, is small but intense: 90 minutes of almost overwhelming sensory images from the days before YouTube and Guitar Hero. Everywhere you look, every time you listen, there's a moment, a memory, something you didn't know or hadn't ever heard. [more...]
Source: The Toronto Star |
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| Saturday, December 13, 2008 |
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| Brian Wilson to appear at new Grammy Museum |
On January 15, the Grammy Museum will kick off its series of public programs with "An Evening With Brian Wilson". Wilson will sit down for a rare and intimate conversation, and discuss his early influences, songwriting, the legacy of the Beach Boys, landmark albums like Pet Sounds and Smile, and his new album, That Lucky Old Sun. [more...]
Source: Rock and Roll Traveler |
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| Why Dave Clark turned down an MBE |
While the Beatles were seduced into accepting an MBE from Prime Minister Harold Wilson, a decision that both would later regret, Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five has revealed he was also approached by Wilson. Clark declined, but he is not bitter, not least because he is a rich man. [more...]
Source: The Telegraph, UK |
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| Friday, December 12, 2008 |
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| Making The Monkees revisits a 1960s musical phenomenon |
In 1965, The Monkees quickly became a phenomenon as singles like Daydream Believer rose to the top of the hit-lists, ultimately out-selling The Beatles and Elvis Presley combined in 1967. Their complete story, including recent interviews, is depicted in Making The Monkees, premiering in January on the Smithsonian Channel. [more...]
Source: PR Newswire |
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| Thursday, December 11, 2008 |
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| Cliff Richard wins victory on music royalties |
Cliff Richard wants an extension for song copyrights in the UK. His early songs from the 1950s are now losing their protection. Recordings of the Beatles also come out of copyright in the next few years. Today a British official says there was a "moral case" for performers to continue reaping financial reward from their hits as they enter old age. [more...]
Source: The Telegraph, UK |
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| Wednesday, December 10, 2008 |
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| James Taylor to be featured on SIRIUS XM Radio |
SIRIUS XM Radio (will feature multi-Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor performing and telling stories on Artist Confidential. Taylor will perform classic songs from his own musical career, which began when he was signed to the Beatles' Apple Records in 1968. [more...]
Source: International Business Times |
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| Tuesday, December 9, 2008 |
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| Gerry and the Pacemakers tour New Zealand |
It's been 10 years since Gerry and the Pacemakers last toured New Zealand, much to the delight of their adoring fans, and this time will be even more special. Gerry is celebrating 50 years since he formed the group that rivaled The Beatles in their early career. The band was the second to sign with Brian Epstein. [more...]
Source: Voxy, New Zealand |
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| USC honors Brian Wilson |
Brian Wilson was chosen as this year's recipient of USC's Thornton Legacy Award, and last year's winner, prolific hit songwriter Lamont Dozier, made the presentation to Wilson. After reciting some of the testimonials to Wilson from Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Beatles producer George Martin, Dozier added one of his own. [more...]
Source: Los Angeles Times |
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| Wednesday, December 3, 2008 |
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| Cher to record Sixties covers album |
Pop superstar Cher is going back in time for her first studio LP in eight years, she will release an album of Sixties covers in 2009. Cher will take inspiration for her next disc from her favourite era of music. "I want to pay tribute to a time when I used to listen to music on my little transistor radio or on my AM radio in my Ford Mustang." [more...]
Source: Yahoo! Music |
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| Monday, December 1, 2008 |
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| Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in NYC is fun for all |
The newly opened Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC at 76 Mercer St. in SoHo is not solely about New York's music scene. But it pays special attention to it with locator maps of local music landmarks. In its 25,000 square feet, it highlights significant moments in music. [more...]
Source: Washington Post |
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| Brits Prefer Tunes on Phones |
Mobile phones are more popular than CD players when it comes to listening to music, says the Entertainment Retailers Association. According to the ERA in the past two years, 44 million mobile phones that feature MP3 capability have been sold, compared to just 8 million CD players in the same period. [more...]
Source: PC World |
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| Saturday, November 29, 2008 |
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| Rare early Rolling Stones photos go on sale |
Rare photographs of The Rolling Stones in their early days have gone on sale. Some of the black-and-white images, which were taken by Philip Townsend, who also took pictures of The Beatles, were used to secure the Stones' first-ever recording contract on the Decca label. The limited edition collection went on sale on Friday. [more...]
Source: Kent News, UK |
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| Friday, November 28, 2008 |
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| Oasis digging into Beatles riffs again |
OK, let's all admit that Oasis appropriates ideas from giant hitmakers of the past, most notably the Beatles, and turns them into new anthems for a generation that doesn't know or doesn't care whom Noel and Liam Gallagher are ripping off. It's once again the Beatles who resurface on nearly every song on "Dig Out Your Soul." [more...]
Source: Chicago Tribune |
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| Wednesday, November 26, 2008 |
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| UK Musicians urge copyright change |
A video message on behalf of 38,000 UK musicians has been sent to Great Britain Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging him to back an extension of their copyright protection. Under current copyright laws, royalties will soon dry up for session musicians who played on classic tracks released in the 1960s. [more...]
Source: BBC News |
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| Friday, November 21, 2008 |
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| Layla looks back through a lens |
Pattie Boyd, muse to Clapton and Harrison, is now on tour with revealing photo exhibit. The photos have been locked away since they were taken and unearthed only four years ago at the behest of friends who were scouting for previously unseen images of pop's glory years for an exhibit. "Pictures are so powerful," Pattie said. [more...]
Source: The Toronto Star |
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| Tuesday, November 11, 2008 |
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| 40th anniversary screening of Head in Hollywood on Wednesday |
Forty years ago, the Monkees' only feature film, "Head," hit theaters, and people have been scratching their heads ever since. On Wednesday, the American Cinematheque's '60s-centric "Mods and Rockers" series will present a 40th anniversary screening of "Head," featuring Peter Tork and Davy Jones in person. [more...]
Source: Las Angeles Times |
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| Saturday, November 8, 2008 |
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| Life sunny again for former Beach Boy |
Brian Wilson is known for his reclusiveness. But Brian's a musician, and where it matters, onstage and on record, he still has a gift to delight listeners with his melodies, innovative harmonies and layered arrangements. He demonstrates that again on That Lucky Old Sun, his new album, and the strongest original album from his solo career. [more...]
Source: South Bend Tribune |
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| Friday, October 31, 2008 |
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| How Kenny Everett changed radio |
The BBC has unearthed some rare archive material for a new documentary about Kenny Everett's place in broadcasting history. His extraordinary approach to his work came to the attention of The Beatles, who later invited him to produce their 1968 and 1969 Christmas records. "Here's Kenny" will air on BBC Radio 4 at 8pm on Saturday November 22. [more...]
Source: Chortle, UK |
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