Springsteen's "Magic" Gets Vinyl Release Week Before CD

Bruce Springsteen's new album, "Magic," is expected to be released on vinyl a week before its CD version hits stores in order to qualify it for 2007 Grammy consideration. The vinyl is due Sept. 25 via Columbia, while the CD will arrive Oct. 2; Sept. 30 is the cut-off for Grammy eligibility.

A handful of major releases have appeared on vinyl prior to CD; Pearl Jam released its 1994 album, "Vitalogy," on vinyl two weeks early, prompting a premature No. 55 debut on The Billboard 200.

The first single from "Magic," the driving rocker "Radio Nowhere," is due to hit U.S. radio outlets on Sept. 4 but has begun making the rounds online in the past 24 hours.
Springsteen and the E Street Band are widely expected to play some live shows in the U.S. around the album's release, but dates have yet to be announced.
(via Billboard)

Third World - 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mp3)
Jimmy Cliff - Johnny Too Bad (Mp3)
Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Black Panta (Mp3)
Musical Youth - Pass the Duchie (12 Inch Version) (Mp3)
Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution (Mp3)
Peter Tosh - Coming in Hot (Mp3)
Bob Marley - Punky Reggae Party (Mp3)
Bunny Wailer - Rise And Shine (Mp3)
Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number (Mp3)
Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come (Mp3)
(...weekend spliff edition. shh.)

...and so brings a close to Nilsson Week. Thanks for hanging in (if you did!) and indulging us. Thanks must go again to harrynilsson.com and For the Love of Harry for the background info and for filling in some blanks. Tell 'em we sent ya'.

Along the way we were accused of riding the coattails of the aforementioned sites and I politely have to disagree with that notion. They have their audience and we have ours -- and it's one that may have missed Nilsson along the way. We hope we've broadened the horizons of the uninitiated and encouraged some new folks to seek out Harry's catalog. They'll be well rewarded.

Let it not be said however that we're against any critique or criticism, cuz we ain't! Let us know how you feel in any regard...more of this, less of that - we're all ears. Chime in and participate...and thanks!

LP
RCA
CPL1-0570
1974
Harry Nilsson - Many Rivers To Cross (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Don't Forget Me (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Old Forgotten Soldier (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - All My Life (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Save The Last Dance For Me (Mp3)

Famously produced by John Lennon during his "Lost Weekend" period in 1974, Pussy Cats is often regarded as one of Nilsson's weaker albums, but it turns out to be one of my favorites. Just imagine, behind the drum kit alone for all the tracks on the LP are Ringo Starr, Keith Moon and Jim Keltner. Klaus Voorman shows up on bass. Jesse Ed Davis, Danny Kootch, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Jim Horn and Bobby Keyes all sneak in there too.

And oh, yea -- Harry's on vocals. But if you've been following along all week, you'll note a distinct change in those vocals. Harry injured his vocal cords during the recording sessions which give some of these tunes an extra special resonance...gone is the sugar coating, in place of a whiskey-soaked rasp. And it was to stay that way for the rest of his recording career. A lost weekend, indeed.