Y'know, it's so much fun to hear what you have to say on various subjects. We have, over the last few weeks, and, more largely, over the past 3 years, ran 'express yourself' thoughts with fantastic results. I cannot tell you enough what intelligent comments that we have received over all of this time. Our last commentary was concerning DualDiscs' likely downscale or demise. We'll continue to add thoughts and, I hope, you'll continue to amaze and enlighten me. So, from my heart, a big and warmly felt THANK YOU. You are the best readers in the WORLD!!
I do have a question. If I were to assemble a nice spreadsheet with release dates updated monthly, how many of you would be willing to pay $10/year for the emailed updates in spreadsheet format? We have received a ton of email from people asking for a database of assembled release dates per se, easier to read than our updates, which force you to make notes of releases that might be of interest to you. So I'm testing the waters to see if THAT path might be the one to take. We're also looking for non-intrusive ways of getting support as Mrs TAP and I (who work at the same place) have imminent dismissals at hand. Our company, who we have worked for the last 20+ years have sold the company to another, who has sold the company to yet another. A web, I know, but...we have been looking at ways to pump up the inflow of money. Let me know what you think. Of course, the normal flow of info is always there for you regardless.
We have a review today from Dw Dunphy and will have another for you from him in the next few days. Today he reviews the latest album from Pinetop Seven called Under Confederate Lake.
This is the final day for this contest. On Wednesday's post, the chance to win a copy of P*U*L*S*E will have passed. To get this copy, you only have to email at the link. We'll randomly choose the name and off it will go. Get your email in now.
I've joined the MySpace community (I may be one of the last to do so). You can check it out as I'm going to try to keep it current with interesting stuff. However, I'm experimenting for the time being.
Now here's something exciting AND important. It has been ages, and I do mean ages since we saw non-classical releases in the states issued in SACD format. But Universal, the one label that gave more to us via SACD than the other labels, is reissuing part of the previously reissued Moody Blues titles from Europe. Many of you have had to order overseas to buy into this BECAUSE, and with good reason, you felt that that may be the only way that you'll get hi-rez releases as they come. But now, Universal has 3 of the titles on the slate for release on September 12. The titles include Days of Future Passed, In Search if the Lost Chord, and To Our Children's Children's Children.
  
Interscope Records will release a CD and a DVD for Beck in October. The CD is called The Information and is expected on October 3 while the DVD is called 1st & Hope, expected a week later on October 10. This info will not have escaped nor avoided Beck fans.
Abkco Records will deliver an abbreviated version of its earlier released box, Cameo Parkway, called Cameo Parkway:Greatest Hits. It is expected to release on October 10.
Mercury Nashville will release an LP from Paul Westerberg called Songs From Open Season on September 26.
Universal is planning a release for 216 called The Game Is Life, which will be issued in two versions, PA and Edited. Both will drop on November 14.
Interscope will release R&B band, Young Hot Rod, and their latest called Fast Lane in CD (unedited), CD (edited), and LP. The release is slated for release on November 7.
Geffen has a JumpStart title for new band, Slumber Party Girls called Dance Revolution. Dance Revolution is expected on October 3.
Consequence of Chaos by Al Di Meola wlll be released as an SACD and CD by Telarc on September 26.
Universal Records will release the self-titled debut by Villibillies on September 26.
Concord Records has A Concert in Swing from The Henry Mancini Orchestra Institute expected for a September 26 release date.
August 11, 2006
It is becoming known that DualDiscs are not the success that the labels had hoped they'd be. The sales are diminishing and it is becoming readily apparent that the "at large" music buyers do not care about filmed "making of"s or surround sound mixes. And that makes sense to me. The young buying audience is only interested in songs as opposed to "the next album" by whoemever. And while the sales numbers aren't entirely too bad, the labels will inevitably scale back DualDisc releases in favour of the more easily dispensed Double Disc formats. The last Steve Miller reissue, Fly Like An Eagle offered both CD and an included DVD with all of the extras. This is an outcome that many of us were sure was going to happen since SACD and DVD-As were taken out of the popular music realm and left to continue in the Classical arena. And music marches on. How it inevitably ends up is anybody guess. We have already noted a large decrease in new artists signings by the BIG labels. And with the independents lacking a large effective distribution and recognition model, the potentially great bands are stifled. Why am I frustrated? What's your two cents on this subject?
We have a pair of reviews today for the upcoming release of Lost and Found for famed percussionist, Willie Bobo. It was assembled by his son, Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill fame. We also have the US issue of the 2004 French release from Laïka Fatien called Look At Me Now! Both jazz titles are coming out on August 15.
We also have the new Pit Stop by Duane Leyva. At this point, we'd like to bring up a writer's favourite charity. Duane will be walking the Wiggle Waggle Walk to help raise some cash for the Pasadena Humane Society and the SPCA. You can access this page by clicking on the paws logo below.
Lindsay Planer's As The Disc Spins will be not be produced this week but will come back next week.
Annnnd, since we have the review now up, we present a contest, something that we haven't had for a while, for a copy of P*U*L*S*E. To get this copy, you only have to email at the link. We'll randomly choose the name and off it will go. Get your email in now. We'll run this for a week.
I've joined the MySpace community (I may be one of the last to do so). You can check it out as I'm going to try to keep it current with interesting stuff. However, I'm experimenting for the time being.
The upcoming R.E.M. 'best of' from their IRS years, The Best of The IRS Years: And I Feel Fine - 1982-1987, is nigh upon us. Planned for a September 12 release, the two intended configurations will feature a load of IRS tunes. There will be 21 tracks on the standard CD issue while the Collector's Edition Bonus CD will offer an additional 21 songs, some previously unreleased. And here's the breakdown. On the standard CD, the following songs will be available: Begin The Begin / Radio Free Europe / Pretty Persuasion / Talk About The Passion / (Don't Go Back To) Rockville / Sitting Still / Gardening at Night / 7 Chinese Bros / So Central Rain (I'm Sorry) / Driver 8 / Can't Get There From Here / Finest Worksong / Feeling Gravity's Pull / I Believe / Life and How To Live It / Cuyahoga / The One I Love / Welcome To The Occupation / Fall On Me / The Perfect Circle / It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).
The bonus CD will contain Pilgrimage (Mike's Pick) / These Days (Bill's Pick) / Gardening At Night (slower electric version - Previously Unreleased) / Radio Free Europe (Hib Tone Version) / Sitting Still (Hib Tone Version) / Life and How To Live It (Live - Holland 9/14/87 - Previously Unreleased) / Ages of You (Live - Paradise Boston 7/13/83 - Previously Unreleased) / We Walk (Live - Paradise Boston 7/13/83 - Previously Unreleased ) / 1,000,000 (Live - Paradise Boston 7/13/83 - Previously Unreleased) / Finest Worksong (Other Mix) / Hyena (Demo - Previously Unreleased) / Theme From Two Steps Onward (Previously Unreleased) / Superman (Band Pick) / All The Right Friends (Outtake) / Mystery To Me (Demo - Previously Unreleased) / Just a Touch (Live in Studio) / Bad Day (Session Outtake - Previously Unreleased) / King of Birds (Last Song Cut From CD1) / Swan Song H (Acoustic Version) / Disturbance at the Heron House (Peter's Pick) / Time After Time (Michael's Pick).
 
From what I can discover, thus far, is that there WILL be a Special Limited Edition with bonus DVD for the upcoming Bob Seger title, Face The Promise. this will include a collector's booklet with exclusive photos, an interview with Bob Seger, and previously unreleased historical concert performances. It is available on September 12.
Check out the single stream from Face the Promise below.
Bob Seger - Wait For Me
Windows Media
Real Audio
V2 Records will issue the new Sugarcult disc called Lights Out on September 12.
Rhino has Here's To the Heroes by The Ten Tenors arriving on September 12.
Wind-Up Records will release The Open Door from Evanescence, pencilling in for an October 3 date.
Nuclear Assault will release their DVD, Louder Harder Faster, on October 10. The DVD will feature 3 hours of concert footage and be sound-aided for both 2.0 and 5.1 Surround. Nuclear Assault is the vehicle for ex-Anthrax bassist, Danny Lilker. the DVD will also feature videos, slide shows, vintage live footage, in-studio footage, unreleased songs, and interviews with Lilker and Glenn Evans.
Year of The Witch DVD from Seven Witches will be released on September 26. The DVD will include recent and classic live footage from the band as well as bonus features that include Story of the Witch / Interview With Jack (Frost) and Mike / The Man Behind the Music / Journey Through Camelot / Archived Concert Footage.
Capitol Records will release the anticipated debut of Saosin with their self-titled streeting on September 26.
August 09, 2006
There has been a confusion arise from the lack of a scheduled Journey remaster album, namely Departure. Due to a packaging error, Departure has been relegated to the next batch of Journey catalogue remasters expected on October 3. Joining the pushed back Departure album will be Captured (Live), Frontiers, Raised On Radio, and Trial By Fire.
We have a few reviews today (4 of 'em) that include my ultra highly rated Babyshambles review of Down In Albion. I continue with a review of The Unstruck Melody by Eric Mantel, and the Projekt anthology of Rajna entitled Black Tears. John Dunphy slips in with a high-rated review of the upcoming album by Lacrimae Profundere called Filthy Notes For a Frozen Heart.
Lindsay Planer's As The Disc Spins will be not be produced this week but will come back next week.
Annnnd, since we have the review now up, we present a contest, something that we haven't had for a while, for a copy of P*U*L*S*E. To get this copy, you only have to email at the link. We'll randomly choose the name and off it will go. Get your email in now. We'll run this for a week.
I know that we've been on this road before but surely Amoeba cannot be the ONLY store of magnificence in the world!! No. Tell me where your favourite is and why it's a favourite . I should catalog these for everybody to have at.
I've joined the MySpace community (I may be one of the last to do so). You can check it out as I'm going to try to keep it current with interesting stuff. However, I'm experimenting for the time being.
Arista Records plan a Sarah McLachlan title, Mirrorball: The Complete Concert, on September 26. More info as we get it.
To rightfully accompany those Journey remasters, recent and upcoming, are a batch of Steve Perry titles that include For The Love of Strange Medicine, Street Talk, and The Very Best of Steve Perry. I think that it is great that Legacy and Columbia revisits the music from one of Rock's premier voices. Those titles will arrive at the same time as the next batch of Journey reissues arrive [see first paragraph in Today on TAP...], which is October 3.
Legacy also has If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It from Fats Waller and His Rhythm. It arrives on September 26.
There are several George Winston albums in the works that include the upcoming issue, Complete Solo Recordings - 1972-2004, and the upcoming Ballads and Blues. Both albums will street on October 3.
There are a few setbacks that include movements for Fisherman's Blues (Collector's Edition) by The Waterboys (moving to August 29), a Blondie collection called The Very Best of Blondie (moving to October 3), and Live at the Palace from Blind Melon (moving to October 17.)
I have some more info on the upcoming September 19 Expanded and Remastered Pogues reissues. They break down as follows:
- Red Roses for Me (1984) will feature six rare bonus tracks that include "The Leaving of Liverpool," "Muirshin Durkin," "Repeal of the Licensing Laws," "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda," "Whiskey, You're The Devil," "The Wild Rover."
- Rum, Sodomy, and The Lash (1985) will produce six bonus tracks, "A Pistol For Paddy Garcia," "London Girl," "Rainy Night In Soho," "Body of An American," "Planxty Noel Hill," and "The Parting Glass."
- If I Should Fall From Grace With God (1988) will complete the circle with 6 bonus tracks that include "The Battle March (Medley)," "The Irish Rover," "Mountain Dew," "Shanne Bradley," "Sketches of Spain," and "South Australia."
- Peace and Love (1989) fill up the disc with "Star of the County Down," "The Limerick Rake," "Train of Love," "Everyman Is a King," "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah," and "Honky Tonk Women."
- Hell's Ditch (1990) adds "Whiskey In the Jar," "Bastard Landlord," "Infinity," "Curse of Love," "Squid Out of Water," "Jack's Heroes," and "Rainy Night In Soho."
All Pogues titles will have updated and expanded booklets that include essays and new liner notes adds, and best of all, will be offered at a Saver Price ($11.98 - likely found cheaper). Masterpieces all, especially Rum, Sodomy, and The Lash.
  
 
Norma Jean, wrappign up their OzzFest appearances will put the finishing touches on their upcoming new album, Redeemer, on September 12. You can hear two new tracks from this album on their MySpace page.
MVD Visual, in conjunction with Secret Records, will release two new DVDs on October 10 that include Warhead: 25th Anniversary Live at Marquee from U.K. Subs and 35th Anniversary Concert from Fairport Convention.
Zebrahead will release their next album, Broadcast To The World, on October 24 through indie label Icon Music Entertainment. This album follows up their third release, MFZB.
We're hearing that Lindsay Buckingham is wrapping up an acoustic solo album, expected out on October 3 with a likely solo tour to follow.
A Deluxe Edition, remastered and expanded, is planned for Hysteria, the classic fourth album from Def Leppard, sometime in September in the UK. There is no news on the eventual US release but you can bet it will soon be here. Watch these pages for more details. Thanks to TAP reader Robert Brothen for the heads up.
August 07, 2006
ARTHUR LEE - Remembering
Sometimes we fall out of the loop as pertains to news. When you do that, the law of Murphy says that something will happen to make you "pay" for that moment of lack. On Thursday, one of the most original rock artists leading into the psychedelic era of the 'late '60s passed on to join that magnificent band of legend in the afterlife. But, before we let Arthur Lee join, we have a few words of sorrow to pass on to you.
In the days of beginnings, the movement of Rock from infancy to its teen years, Arthur Lee brought Love to our world. With all of the accoutrements of cool at his disposal - coloured round wireframed glasses, leather clothings with pants so tight you'd need a funnel to pour into them, and outrageousness as a tool of the trade - Arthur Lee advanced Rock before even Jimi Hendrix. But looks and outrageousness wasn't all that made Arthur Lee's world in music. As leader of Love, he made contributions that musically that resonate even to this day. With blends of sounds, Love set a stage for themselves that influentially moved many other bands forward into the wild wilderness of Rock. All we at TAP can say at this point is to say Forever Changes. Not only the name of their great album of music but also a statement that rings true right now, with the temporal loss of Arthur Lee, our Forever Changes. Arthur...Rock On!!
[Thanks to Tim Merrill for giving a slap upside the head. I needed it.]
Arthur Lee
1945 - 2006
Have you ever had those moments where you have a million things to say, all accumulated individually over spaces of time...but you're in the theatre, shopping, a forkful of something about to be shoved into your mouth, or you've just woke up? Yeah, we all have those. This weekend, I had a whole lot of stuff to put on the front page but here I am, remembering none of it. Ohhhhh well....
Ahhh, what the hell. We're coming off a weekend, I WILL eventually get those thoughts back, and besides, we have other, more important stuff to talk about. We have some great news for Pogues fans as well as other neat stuff coming from labels. And here we go with them.
I've come across an interesting piece of news AFTER I have posted for the day. It seems that Warner Music is planning to use the DVD as the new format of physical musical distribution. Much is unclear but what it basically means is that there will be more room to store music (hi-rez adds?). Developing...
[Wall Street Journal]
We have a 'lost' issue of Lindsay Planer's As The Disc Spins, making it a bonus issue this week. The music reviewed in it include the CD/DVD Box for Bruce Hornsby called intersections 1985-2005, and Replay X3, a DVD title from Rush.
Annnnd, since we have the review now up, we present a contest, something that we haven't had for a while, for a copy of P*U*L*S*E. To get this copy, you only have to email at the link. We'll randomly choose the name and off it will go. Get your email in now. We'll run this for a week.
I know that we've been on this road before but surely Amoeba cannot be the ONLY store of magnificence in the world!! No. Tell me where your favourite is and why it's a favourite . I should catalog these for everybody to have at.
I've joined the MySpace community (I may be one of the last to do so). You can check it out as I'm going to try to keep it current with interesting stuff. However, I'm experimenting for the time being.
Deutche Grammophon will release Songs From The Labyrinth from Police vocalist and popular solo artiste, Sting. This is planned for October 10.
Yeaaaa...Abkco makes a reappearance after a nice hiatus by planning a release of The Best of Charlie Gracie: 1956-1958. This will be in stores on October 3.
UMe Imports continue to release updated beauties from the past with a few Paul Weller (Jam) solo discs that include the self-titled Paul Weller (1992) and Live Wood (1994.)
UMe Imports will also release two Dusty Springfield titles, Living Without Your Love (1979), and White Heat (1982) on September 26.
Vagrant Records will release The Lemonheads album entitled The Lemonheads on September 26.
Hip-O Records will release a Universal series title, Millennium Collection: 20th Century Masters for Creedence Clearwater Revival on September 19.
Now for the big Pogues announcements, Rhino Records will release Expanded and Remastered titles for The Pogues that will include the following, Hell's Ditch; If I Should Fall From Grace With God; Peace & Love; Red Roses For Me; and yes, the classic Elvis Costello produced, hard to find, Rum, Sodomy, and The Lash with the classic cover, "Dirty Old Town." All of these titles will be reissued on September 19. NOT to be missed.
Good old Rhino is planning a 'best of' for our favourite, Jane's Addiction. The collection will be called Up From The Catacombs: The Best of Jane's Addiction. This will be released on September 19 and will contain 16 tracks that include Stop/Ocean Size/Whore/Ted, Just Admit It.../Ain't No Right/Had a Dad/Superhero/Been Caught Stealing/Just Because/Three Days/I Would For You/Just Because/Classic Girl/Summertime Rolls/Mountain Song/Pigs In Zen/Jane Says (Live.) The set will feature remastered songs. Later this year, Perry Farrell will unleash his Satellite Party while Perkins and Navarro unveil their new band, Panic Channel and their debut, One.
Barenaked Ladies will release their Barenaked Ladies Are Me on September 12.
Nonesuch releases Magic Potion by The Black Keys; These Four Walls by Shawn Colvin; and Metheny Mehldau by Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau. All come forth on September 12.
Reprise Records will release Blood Mountain by Mastodon, also on September 12.
Alan Parsons fans, you'll want to take note of this piece of info. TAP reader known as Craiger directs us to a link that intimates that Alan Parsons is working on a 3CD compilation of his work, which will be released primarily in Italy and Holland later this year. An edited, scaled back set will be released in the rest of the world in January of 2007. However, the better news is that Parsons is working on remastering the Arista catalogue of his work beginning with 1977's I Robot and ending with 1987's Gaudi. They will NOT be surround mixes, however. There will be revamped booklets with uncovered photos of the period, and perhaps some found bonus tracks from the various periods. Much thanks goes to 'craiger' and The Avenue Online for the news.
Finally, a series arises from WEA called Definitive Pop, most of which will be 2CD compiles. The first wave include Sonny & Cher; Tommy James & The Shondells; Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons; America; Dr. John; and The Everley Brothers. All 2CD sets will street on September 12.
August 04, 2006
Before I go a step further, I have to say a giant 70th-sized 'appy Birthday to Mum TAP. She hit the magic age yesterday and is going strong. We're proud of you, Mum. Keep the faith!!! And while we're being congratulatory, we want to say goodbye and good luck to one of TAP's favourite PR folk, namely Andrew Warren from Special OPs. He has decided to pursue a career elsewhere and we're not going to let him go until we send him off with a BIG TAP Thanks!! When you head off into the gloom (yeah, I stole that from Night Watch/Day Watch) be sure to watch for the evil ones in the second level (copped that one too, same place). Keep in touch, we're going to miss you, buddy.
We have some pieces of news that should keep you happy INCLUDING a new As The Disc Spins (Journey titles), a batch of reviews by myself, and a review of P*U*L*S*E from new contributor Ron Fleischer, who is a Pink Floyd aficionado in every sense of the word and is also a noted Pink Floyd historian. He has completely evaluated the 2DVD set and gives his thoughts for you to help make those smart buying decisions. We're very pleased and proud to have Ron give us his insights.
Annnnd, since we have the review now up, we present a contest, something that we haven't had for a while, for a copy of P*U*L*S*E. To get this copy, you only have to email at the link. We'll randomly choose the name and off it will go. Get your email in now. We'll run this for a week.
I review discs that include sophomore effort, Bird On a Wire by Toby Lightman, as well as the newly reissued Echo Passage from vidnaObmana and Alio Die as offered by Projekt Records.
Lindsay Planer checks in with his latest As The Disc Spins, which reviews the very recently released Journey remasters that include Infinity (1978); Evolution (1979); Departure (1980); Escape (1981); and an upgraded Greatest Hits (1988). Also, he reviews the DVD Box set for Hip-O Records called Pure '80s: The Ultimate DVD Box.
We also have a new Duane's Pit Stop for you today. It would appear that his medication is allowing him to think more fluidly than the psycho-babble he had been spouting between straitjackets.
Alan Parsons fans, you'll want to take note of this piece of info. TAP reader known as Craiger directs us to a link that intimates that Alan Parsons is working on a 3CD compilation of his work, which will be released primarily in Italy and Holland later this year. An edited, scaled back set will be released in the rest of the world in January of 2007. However, the better news is that Parsons is working on remastering the Arista catalogue of his work beginning with 1977's I Robot and ending with 1987's Gaudi. They will NOT be surround mixes, however. There will be revamped booklets with uncovered photos of the period, and perhaps some found bonus tracks from the various periods. Much thanks goes to 'craiger' and The Avenue Online for the news.
For those who don't already know, we have also been told that there is a Robert Plant CD/DVD Box coming on September 12, which will also contain a DVD. The Box will be called Plant's Nine Lives and will contain 10 discs, 9 of them are his solo work, remastered and possibly with some bonus tracks. Rhino is in charge of the restoration and compilation of Plant's music.
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