Archival Posts 2003 September 01-06

September 5, 2003

In case the news of Pink Floyd's long awaited Live at Pompeii got lost in the middle of everything, we'll repeat it again. On October 21, Hip-O Records will release this treasure for a world of Pink Floyd fans. This fabled set should satisfy just about everybody.

Before I move on here, I have another list gripe. It's bad enough that Duane might have to be hooked up to medical equipment. Me? Bill Hunt? We just shake our heads...continuously and collectively. The list in question is Rolling Stone's (of all publications) recent assembling of the Top 100 Greatest Guitarists into a single list. Mistake. I'm not going to waste time rewriting the list and I ain't going to ask you to send in yours (I still remember the wish list). But I will say that Rolling Stone may have been too rolling stoned for their own good. Jann Wenner should have looked at this list closely before allowing it to be printed. Let me throw out some very noticeable and unforgiveable misses:

Andy Powell
Andy Summer
Steve Vai
Robin Trower
Alvin Lee
Tommy Bolin
Al Di Meola
Ron Wood
Steve Miller

This list could go on but the reality is this, that many of the true greats were replaced by three chorders who couldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as the omitted. Another problem was the placing. Van Halen waaay after Kurt Cobain? 'Nuff Said.

We have a few bits of release news before we run off into the weekend doing who knows what. In addition, we have the latest edition of Duane's Pit Stop. Finally, we have a few reviews, starting with my views of Alio Die/Mathias Grassow's collaborative ambient set, Expanding Horizon and John P Dunphy's spin of Misery Index's latest, Retaliate.

Ok, here's the list of upcomings.

Sanctuary's upcoming 2DVD set of Blues Traveler's On the Rocks is scheduled for release on November 4. Sanctuary has a few other titles that may prove interesting to fans. The first is a 7CD Box for Tangerine Dream called The Bootleg Box Set Volume One. This set contains 5 shows performed over the periods of 1974 through 1976, digitally remastered. This box will release on October 21 and list for $49.98. Also from Sanctuary, a 2CD collection from The Undertones called True Confessions: Singles = As + Bs. That one is pencilled for November 4.

Arista's upcoming Toni Braxton title, Ultimate Toni Braxton, have cancelled the 2CD Limited Edition and moved back the date to November 4 for the standard CD issue. Also, Arista has performed the same operation on the upcoming Sarah McLachlan title, Afterglow. It's possible that these special editions may reappear. I'll keep you informed.

Sanctuary also has a Utopia 7CD set, Last of the New Wave Riders, scheduled for November 4. This is likely a live set like the before mentioned Tangerine Dream set. It, too, will list for $49.98. Sanctuary also has a live set, Live Blueswailing: St George's July 1964, coming from The Yardbirds. That is coming on November 4.

We're going to leave something for you to read on Monday so we'll quit here. Regardless, I would still love to read your responses to the Rolling Stone list.

See you Monday.

September 4, 2003

It's a tad bit quiet out there. Of course, we know that this happens now and again so we just wing with it. We have something very interesting here that SHOULD overshadow all the release news that we would post here. What if you were told that at least one of the big 5 labels have lowered their prices for frontline CDs considerably, say to an MSRP of $12.98 from $16.98 thru $18.98. Might that have a bit of an effect? That's the way it's being reported today. What remains to be seen is just what prices the biggies sellers will dish out. This could mean top scale music at prices that begin at $10 or below.

This was done by Universal and will kick in October 1. Watch for the price wars to begin soon. Like airfares, UMG have made a bold and positive approach in the right direction. I'll keep my ears to the ground for sounds of rumbling caused by approaching labels looking to match the deal. Now that's pretty good noise, at least to my ears.

Now, the only real stuff I could drudge up for release that may be of interest to fans is the upcoming DVDs for Guns n Roses. They are Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II and capped with Welcome to the Videos. All of the 3 titles will be made available as standard DVD Amaray casing or DVD Jewel Cases. They should arrive in stores on October 28.

On November 11, Hip-O Records plans to issue some Motley Crue stuff. First, they have a DVD on the list, Greatest Video Hits, one edited, one not. They also have a Box set, Music to Crash Your Car To.

Now I know that you're gonna like this news. It didn't make Hip-O sleep easy knowing that they were going to release Motley Crue videos so they dug in a bit deeper and have marked on the calendar, October 21 to be precise, Pink Floyd's long awaited Live at Pompeii. Yes folks, it's finally coming for real. It will package as amaray or jewel, your choice. Now...tell me how happy you are.

Finally, Tom Jones fans get ready for Reloaded, a Greatest Hits album. This arrives on October 14 and..yes, I'm waiting for that one too.

For the Bruce Cockburn Deluxe Edition reissues arriving from Rounder on October 7, they will all contain restored original LP artwork and will be remastered using 24 bit technology. They will also contain rare and unreleased bonus tracks as well as deluxe packaging. There's more in store for these three Cockburn titles so starting counting coins. Here's a rundown on the extras on the discs:

High Winds White Sky (1971) -
Bonus Cuts - Totem Pole and It's an Elephant World
Humans (1980) -
Bonus Cut - Grim Travellers (Live)
Stealing Fire (1984) -
Bonus Cuts - Yanqui Go Home and Call it the Sundance

We'll see you for the wrap up tomorrow.

Review

Guided by Voices - Earthquake Glue - CD - Matador Records - 09/04 [Dunphy, Dw]

Interview

Art of The Shrooms - 08/25 [Leyva]

September 3, 2003

Someone or something has really turned the heat up here at MusicTAP. We are seeing 10000+ unique visitors a day. It deviates a bit but this is an average that we have been seeing for the last couple weeks. Thanks and whew!!

We have need to keep things short. We have a hint of a batch of DVD-Audios coming from BMG that should juice your day. Here are the expected titles along with their expected release dates. Stay with us as we have confirmation coming quick. Titles are:

Dave Matthews Band - Next Album - RCA - October 28

Foo Fighters - One by One - RCA - November 4

Jean Wyclef - The Preacher's Son - J Records - October 7

Alicia Keys - TBD (To Be Determined) - J Records - November 4

Annie Lennox - TBD - J Records - November 4

Rod Stewart - TBD - J Records - November 4

Luther Vandross - TBD - J Records - November 4

Keep your fingers crossed on this issue as it shows BMG waking up to the formats. Cool!!

In other news, RCA will issue Clay Aiken's album, Clay Aiken, on October 14.

Arista has a Toni Braxton set being prepped for release on November 4. The styles will include a Limited Edition w/ bonus DVD, the standard CD, and cassette.

In addition to the DVD-Audio and standard CD issues, RCA will release a DVD for The Dave Matthews Band on December 4. RCA also has a scheduled DVD for the Foo Fighters on December 4. Jane's Addiction's 3 Days DVD has been rescheduled for October 7.

RCA/ATO Records has a great set arriving from a great band, Gov't Mule. The 2CD set, The Deepest End, includes a bonus DVD and will release on October 7. ATO Records will also release Jem's 5-track, It All Starts Here on October 7.

Moby's upcoming 18 B-Sides has a date change to November 18.

Sanctuary Records has a Jonathan Richman DVD, Take Me to The Plaza, is expected on October 7.

The Strokes new album, Room on Fire, is scheduled for October 21 in both CD and LP formats. Anxious?

Closing down here. I've also realized that I haven't done The Telly for a week. What's wrong with me? Hmmm....a question best left for another day.

September 2, 2003

Here it is, folks. We're into the final 4 months of the year. From here on out will be a schedule loaded with music destined for holiday sale. even so, we'll get looks into what is creeping up for next year,a year I feel will be hi-rez intensive. I don't know for a fact but I just get a feeling.

I hope that everyone had a great three days, holidays not withstanding. I attended a film, The Weather Underground, with Bill Hunt. The politics of that time (60s and 70s) was interesting, especially in the beliefs patterns of many. It was certainly a pivotal time. We also visited a street fair. All in all, we've enjoyed life over the weekend.

Bummer about the summer movies being a bomb. I'm usually a movie fan but this summer has really sucked. Of course, there has been a few good ones but otherwise pretty dull.

We have an interview with Art of The Shrooms, a punk band from LA. That's from Duane Leyva of Pit Stop. We also have a cool set of upcoming releases, closing with hints of upcoming releases that still have to be clarified but the titles are exciting none the less. Ohh, and we have a date for you for the upcoming Aerosmith SACD, Toys in the Attic. So, zero in folks...here we go.

Columbia Records issues the long awaited Aerosmith SACD Multi-Channel/Stereo (not Hybrid) title, Toys in the Attic on October 7. Other SACDs on the calendar are Jennifer Lopez's J.Lo as SACD Multi-Channel/Stereo expected on December 30 and Ozzy Osbourne's delayed Live at Budokan as SACD Multi-Channel/Stereo, also on December 30. Want more? The delayed Heathen Chemistry SACD Multi-Channel/Stereo (Non-Hybrid) from Oasis will be released on December 30.

Columbia will issue David Bowie's upcoming title, Reality, in a few weeks on September 16. The Hybrid SACD Multi-Channel version will be released on October 21.

Epic is completing its overhaul of AC/DC's catalog by issuing the entire batch as vinyl LPs. For turntable fans, this should come as very pleasant surprise. You can expect these titles to made available to you on October 7.

Columbia Records is issuing a Barry Manilow live set, 2 Nights Live! for release on November 11.

As for live stuff, Neil Diamond fans will be incredibly happy with the 'round the corner' release of Stages. Stages represents performances by Neil from a wide period of time, 1970 up to 2002. This live box set contain 6 discs, one of them a DVD. On the five CDs, there are 83 tracks, most previously unreleased stuff with the fifth disc containing Neil's Christmas performances from between 1978 and 1999. On the DVD, there are highlights of 12 songs from a Dublin show in 2002 as well as a video documentary. There will be a 52 page book and plenty of good ole Neil Diamond. This material is to be made available to fans on September 30.

There are a batch of very recognizeable titles that will be released on October 28 although given the amount of titles on a single date, it wouldn't surprise me to see them become splintered as time approaches. I don't know the reasons for these releases as of yet but as soon as I do know, I'll inform you. But it wouldn't surprise me if these re-released CD reissued titles see their day as SACDs in the not too distant future. Although some of these have been released as SACD, well...we'll see what we get. Here are the titles:

Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

Barbra Streisand - The Broadway Album

Billy Joel - Piano Man

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

Carole King - Tapestry

Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual

Dave Brubeck - Time Out

Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power

Janis Joplin - Pearl

Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow

Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison

Lauryn Hill - Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

Marvin Gaye - Midnight Love

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Original Broadway Cast - A Chorus Line

Pearl Jam - Ten

Robert Johnson - King of The Delta Blues Singers

Sade - Love Deluxe

Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Steve Tyrell - This Guy's In Love

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

System of a Down - System of a Down

The Clash - London Calling

Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger

There is an Allman Brothers Band title in the works from Epic Records, Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival, July 3 & 5, 1970. You can pencil in this gem in for October 21.

Finally, Sony Classical has a Philip Glass title, Glassworks, in their Expanded Edition series being prepared for release on September 30.

We'll see you tomorrow.