Record Store Day 2009 Newswire: Matador Wants You to Redesign Belle and Sebastian's 'BBC Sessions' Cover

Even though Record Store Day 2009 is close to four months away, we're more than pleased to take note of some of the early attendees to the dance. And last night came word of a pretty cool spin on what we here call the 12" x 12" canvas: Matador thinks that one savvy graphic designer has what it takes to redesign the cover to Belle and Sebastian's new 'BBC Sessions'--and they're sponsoring the contest to make that happen in celebration of Record Store Day, 2009.

From the Matador Matablog: " You’ve worked hard at it… Aping that monochromatic vibe for mixtapes…. Copped the twee girl clutching some Kafka on flyers for your weekly DJ night…. you work hard. You’re never lazy about it.

And now is not the time to let the laziness set in.

We are giving you the once in a lifetime chance to design the front cover image for a limited edition of The BBC Sessions that will be sold in stores nationwide. That’s right, an actual commercial edition of a Belle album (in nostalgic compact disc format) will feature your creative work if the band so deems it worthy."

Full details on the contest can be found right here. And already there are oh, ten that are just perfect. The band chooses the winner too...

TVD wonders - is there a Photoshop twee filter?

TVD Plugs | For the Week of December 22, 2008

What to do with all of those email alerts we get that we simply can't do justice throughout the week? Why, it's condense them right here in our new weekly bulletin board, 'plugs.'

We don't care where you are or what city you're in--if you've got something you wanna promote or think we should be listening to or seeing or reading, this is the place to put it. Got a band? A photo exhibit? DJing some place? A good cause worth promoting? This is the spot for it. (And if you've checked that little widget waaay down there bottom left, this is a global forum, indeed.)

We'll be posting what lands in our in-box right here daily as well as welcoming your tips, and we'll be refreshing it once a week to stay on top of what we're both up to.

So, clue us in right here in the comments section to these posts. Weekly.

TVD's Parting Shots

Oh, it's a slow moving day over here at TVD HQ, but we're finally up and around. (Barely.) Now, what's the one thing that could get us back on our feet and out the door to do it all over again? Hm. I wonder...?

Bram Tchaikovsky - Girl of My Dreams (Mp3)
The Lotus Eaters - German Girl (Mp3)
Romeo Void - A Girl In Trouble (Mp3)
Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl (Mp3)
Donny Osmond - Go Away Little Girl (Mp3)
Holly and The Italians - Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Mp3)
Icehouse - Hey Little Girl (Mp3)
Pernice Brothers - Working Girls (Mp3)
Split Enz - Message To My Girl (Mp3)
Wire - Surgeon's Girl (Mp3)

TVD Holiday Party Aftermath

Godspeed You Black Emperor - Hung Over As The Oven In Maida (Mp3)

TVD's Beatles Fanclub Records | '69 & Greetings from Jock & Yono, 1970

Pretty cool cover to the '69 Beatles Fanclub Record, huh? Designed by none other than Ringo himself. Who knew?

(Tonight's the TVD Christmas Party. What are the odds at about say, 8:15 or so, that yours truly will be seeing things per Sir Starkey's visual up there?)

The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1969 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1969, Outtake One (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1969, Outtake Two (Mp3)
John & Yoko Christmas Greetings, 1970, One (Mp3)
John & Yoko Christmas Greetings, 1970, Two (Mp3)
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) Demo (Mp3)
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) Early Take (Mp3)

TVD First Date With... | Juliette Commagere

Many years ago as a young kid I was prone to fevers. I guess we all were but I seemed to get them more often than not. I recall after one particular episode lying in bed just sweltering while the (black and white!) TV thumped away. Too weak to get up to change the channel (because you had to then, right?) I let 'Hee Haw' and its southern sass rattle my fevered brain.

But something happened...as I was lying there in bed watching Charley Pride croon his way into the Opry...the fever broke! It was like light on/light off. There was a palpable sense of a lifting or cooling of the fever and in one tangible millisecond, I felt a million times better! And as the years went on, every time I'd see Charley Pride, I silently recall his countrified bedside manner that placed a metaphoric cool rag on my blazing brow. (And I'm not making this up - totally true. I felt like I've owed him one for years.)

So yea, I've been feeling kind of crappy this week and the lackluster posts probably give that away. Juuust not feeling Christmassy. And not that she intended it, I'm sure, ...but Juliette just pulled a Charley Pride on me.

Don't believe me? Play 'Overcome' real loud like I just did and try to tell me it's not like someone just opened up the widow real wide and set something free.

And we got her on the record(s) too:

"I heard recently that vinyl is “making a comeback”. I don’t really know what this means but nonetheless it’s reassuring to know that in our digital age, where people’s attention spans are now proven to be getting shorter from so much high paced internet stimulation, that people are trying hold onto a medium from a time when listening to a record was kind of like reading a book. People actually listened to an album from start to finish and contemplated its entirety as opposed to shuffling a mix of songs individually bought on itunes on their ipods. That’s not to say I don’t love technology (the freedom and independence my laptop has given me to create music has changed my life), but I think human beings will always have a need to hold onto beauty. I’ve seen bands now selling their records on vinyl which includes a digital download thingy, and this makes a lot of sense—jewel cases are not beautiful, but records are. Also, the mere fact that they’re so much larger than cds makes them that much more of an experience—that much more of a world you can create as an artist and that much more of a world to get lost in as a consumer. And of course everyone knows they sound better too. I would love to release my records on vinyl and fantasize about it all the time. For now cds are more practical for indie labels, but really all it takes is money--which I’m hoping to have inordinate amounts of someday!"

Juliette Commagere - Overcome (Mp3)
Juliette Commagere - Queens Die Proudly (Mp3)

TVD's Beatles Fanclub Records | '67 & '68

Y'know, this could be the best time you'll ever have in your life. Would you be able to recognize it as such?

"Christmastime is here again, Christmastime is here again..."

The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1967 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1967, Alternate (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1968 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1968, Outtake One (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1968, Outtake Two (Mp3)

TVD's Beatles Fanclub Records | '65 & '66

Police Investigate Shooting in Northwest D.C.
Pregnant Woman Is Stabbed

I was going to get on here this morning and bemoan my lack of Christmas spirit to date. Not sure just what it is, really...I'm jittery. Unsettled. It's just not coming despite the big ol' tree in the living room and the cats having a blast batting the ornaments around just like every year.

Pr. George's Man Charged in NW Shooting Death
Attack at Metro Linked to Area Violence

...Can you blame me if I hark back to a 'sweeter time'?
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1965 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1965, Outtake One (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1965, Outtake Two (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1966 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1966, Excerpts (Mp3)

(...600th post. Man, am I tired.)

TVD's Beatles Fanclub Records | '63 & '64

These files have been sitting on my computer for over a year now. Around the Fourth of July this past year I gave a listen to the lads funning it up for the holiday to come--and talk about out of sync. I was sweltering in shorts and the boys were conjuring all the Mersey Merriment that is/was Christmas. So, it's a delight to hear 'em in context which we will all this week (along with some miscellaneous outtakes...) to kick your holiday fully into gear.

Merry Crimble, indeed!

The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1963 (Mp3)
The Beatles at The Playhouse Theatre, London, 12/1963 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1964 (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1964, Outtake One (Mp3)
The Beatles Christmas Fanclub Record, 1964, Outtake Two (Mp3)

TVD's Parting Shots

...in fond memory of the notorious Bettie Page.

Milkshakes - Ambassadors Of Love (Mp3)
The Jags - Back Of My Hand (Mp3)
Plan B - Backside Grind 2 (Mp3)
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Bad Reputation (Mp3)
Bent - Beautiful Otherness (Mp3)
The Flatmates - I Could Be In Heaven (Mp3)
Paul Collins' Beat - Rock 'N Roll Girl (Mp3)
The Records - Starry Eyes (Mp3)
Life Without Buildings - The Leanover (Mp3)
The Pale Fountains - Just A Girl (Mp3)

We're guessing you'll think twice about leaving those records just lying around:

TVD's '70's | 1972

So, that's a wake n' bake, right?

Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze (Mp3)
America - A Horse With No Name (Mp3)
Jim Croce - Operator (Mp3)
Elton John - Rocket Man (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Without You (Mp3)

(...a pretty punk set for your Friday morning, huh?)

TVD's 70's | 1970

Mick and I were having a bit of a back and forth in the comments a little while ago in reference to Phil Spector's production work on The Beatles' 'Let It Be'. Mick's of the opinion that Spector schmalted up the recording and he's hardly alone. McCartney's been unequivocal in his dismay regarding Phil's 'contributions' to the LP and the 'Let It Be - Naked' collection, stripped of Spector's flourishes, was released to set the record straight as it were.

At the time I reluctantly agreed with Mick's opinion. . .but now I might be reconsidering. Just TRY singing 'The Long And Winding Road without the "...dum dum..." right before "...thaaat's leads/to your dooor..." cuz you can't. When I put on the 'Naked' LP I actually miss that bit right there. Phil was onto something. Dare I go out on a limb and suggest that the initial release is truly the definitive release--regardless of Paul's misgivings? I just may...

A note about the updated hand-colored cover to the rerelease of George's 'All Things Must Pass'...normally I'm averse to such retooling. The criteria here at TVD tends to favor the original releases...but this charms me for some reason. Maybe it's because George himself was behind the reimagining of the cover. Maybe because George was AROUND when this came out.

...All things must pass indeed.

The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road (Mp3)
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord (Mp3)
Carpenters - Close To You (Mp3)
BJ Thomas - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (Mp3)
Partridge Family - Think I Love You 70's (Mp3)

Mix Magazine Talks With Bob Ludwig, Longtime Mastering Engineer

In the December issue of Mix, mastering engineer Bob Ludwig chats with editor Sarah Jones about changing technologies, the loudness wars, and more than four decades of musical inspiration.

One focus of our December mastering issue is preparing for a variety of release formats. Are you seeing an increase in particular formats, such as vinyl?
I did vinyl mastering my whole career. Several years ago I sold my lathe; I sold it to Sony, and now I’ve heard they’ve just sold it to Sterling.

Gateway was the first independent mastering studio to be open without a working lathe, because we didn’t need it. In ’93, when we opened up, it really looked like LPs were just going to die completely. And then it was kind of hanging in there, so at some point we assembled the lathe that we had bought, and we cut a bunch of records. But back then, the record companies weren’t quality-controlling it. We did this one record, and I never got a test pressing or anything like that, and Michael Fremmer, who’s an analog vinyl guy, called me up and said, “Gee, Bob, I’ve got this pressing that says you did it, and it doesn’t sound like you did it; it’s kind of dull sounding.” I said, “Wow, well, I never heard what happened,” and I got a copy of the pressing, and sure enough the thing did come out dull. That’s the problem with vinyl; lots can go wrong with it. So I called the record company and said, “Who approved this?” and she said, “We don’t even have a turntable in our A&R department.” I said, “So nobody listened to it before it was pressed?” And she said, “No, the UK department listened to it,” and I said, “Well, what were they comparing it to?” And she said, nothing, it “just sounded good” to her. Literally, at that moment, I decided to sell the lathe. Because vinyl’s so difficult, as far as quality control goes, that I didn’t want something with my name on it out there that wasn’t quality controlled. Now that there’s been this kind of funny resurgence in vinyl, the record companies are paying more attention to it.

When we do vinyl projects, we just send equalized masters to whomever the record company is using or to certain disk cutters that we like—with the approval of the record company—so they cut from high-resolution files. So, theoretically, the vinyl releases of most of our stuff should have another octave of top end on them that the CD doesn’t have, even though it’s in a supersonic area. [Laughs]

What do you think is driving the resurgence in vinyl? I’d like to think it’s a backlash against…
Supercompressed MP3s?

I’d like to think it is.
Well, I think part of it is. The kids who have grown up in this generation have never experienced having a vinyl record in their hands, with that big artwork; it’s so tactile, so physical. It’s really such a different kind of a creature than a cold MP3 file. You know, if it’s coming over an Internet connection and it goes in your ears; there’s nothing to feel with your hands. A lot of it might be that.
(Read the rest with the Mastering Master right here.)

TVD First Date With... | Carrigan

This week TVD sits down with Brooklyn-based experimental noise rocker Carrigan (aka Zack Martin) to get the story behind the tracks he's selected for his turn here at TVD. And wouldn't you know, he's got vinyl on his mind as well.

"'Valladolid' was a staple of the ever growing two-piece live set. I had many lyrical changes until I settled on those that were inspired by a trip through Mexico. Valladolid is a quaint little town in the Yucatan, just outside a group of impressive Mayan ruins, The lyrics were inspired by the drive through the sierra mtns, on route to the Yucatan, sipping on cheap Mexican beer in the back seat with my head out the window which eventually led to a stay in Valladolid literally cut out of the jungle.

'Sunshine Through the Waves' was written long after most of the songs from 'Young Men'. As a predominately acoustic song we decided to use it to give some dynamics to the record.

Since, roughly, grade school I have had a love for vinyl. It is the only format that has held it's unique personality through the many changes in music format. Nothing sounds like it and nothing ever will. My first two records were a Pavement album, I had heard on the UVM college radio station, and an old Corrosion Of Conformity album that some grizzled ex punk told me to buy. "It's fukin raunchy man" he said and I was to embarrassed to put it back on the shelf in front of him. So it goes..." - Zack Martin

Carrigan - Valladolid (Mp3)
Carrigan - Sunshine Through The Waves (Mp3)

TVD's 70's | 1976

So, earlier in the week I was bemoaning what really is a very common occurrence, the sheer lack of time--free time, that is--to ...I dunno ...read for pleasure ...organize my records ...watch that DVD that's been on my shelf for ages (a great JAM video compilation, or so I'm told.)

But it seems that it's very possible that I'm alone with that quandary when I read stuff like this:

Japanese DJ software offers perfect excuse for buying a second iPhone
As the club DJ transition from vinyl turntables to CD turntables to dual iPods has progressed audiences have become more accepting of the changing dynamic. But some DJs still long for the old school vinyl aesthetic. Japanese design and software group Delaware has unveiled a solution to remedy such longings called Record001 for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

The application allows you to backspin, pause and scratch records as you would with a tradition record player and even allows you to pick up and drop the needle anywhere on the record while it's playing with complete accuracy. You can see video of the app in action. . . and pick up your copy of the app on the iTunes store for just $1.99. . .

On your PHONE. Sheez.

So, what's next? "Japanese Software Perfects Masturbatory Techniques" ...because THAT we ALL have time for, riiight?

Now, where was I? Oh, yea--'76:
Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do (Mp3)
Elvin Bishop - Fooled Around And Fell In Love (Mp3)
Hall & Oates - Sara Smile (Mp3)
Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right (Mp3)
Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat (Mp3)

TVD's 70's | 1974

So, what are we bloggers supposed to do each year on this anniversary of Lennon's death? One doesn't want to appear repetitious, but what do you do if you still feel the exact same way as you did last year?

I guess on a week when we're again recalling the 70's, I guess I prefer to recall John in context--vital and on the radio.

John Lennon - Whatever Gets You Through The Night (Mp3)
Elton John - Bennie And The Jets (Mp3)
Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet (Mp3)
Steely Dan - Rikki Don't Lose That Number (Mp3)
Joni Mitchell - Help Me (Mp3)

TVD Recommends | The Caribbean, Free In-Store Performance at Crooked Beat Records

Crooked Beat Records continues their in-store performance series with guitar-pop purveyors The Caribbean appearing this Thursday night (12/11). Opening are DC's The Cut-Ups. The show kicks off at 7:30pm and is absolutely FREE and ALL AGES! So, you've got no excuse to not be there, right?

The Caribbean - Bees Their Vision And Language (Mp3)


The Go From Tactical - The Caribbean from georgia perris on Vimeo.

TVD's 70's | 1978

Take a look at this. That's right--click it and come back, I'll wait. (It's very SFW, don't worry.)

Remember those? I do. More than I care to admit in yet ANOTHER way that brings me right back to childhood. Y'know - that formative period in life where nothing and everything happens at once. How was it that I was able to while away hours upon hours reading Scholastic's finest, and now I barely have time to read the paper each day?

It's getting political, really.

Yes, I live inside the Beltway and yes, I'm inundated with politics and politicos enough to have rendered me tone deaf. But now I'm ready to take up arms.

Just what does it take to have time on my hands again...like back when these were in heavy rotation?
Nick Gilder - Hot Child In The City (Mp3)
Sweet - Love Is Like Oxygen (Mp3)
Randy Newman - Short People (Mp3)
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing (Mp3)
Meat Loaf - Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad (Mp3)

Record Store Day 2009 and The Vinyl District announce exclusive partnership

Record Store Day 2009 returns next year on April 18th and TVD is proud to announce our exclusive partnership with the Record Store Day team whose efforts underscore the unique phenomenon that is the brick and mortar, mom and pop, and independent music stores around the globe.

The Vinyl District will be the official one-stop for Record Store Day 2009 news, events, and promotions leading up to that third Saturday in April. Look to TVD for exclusives as they develop--and already there is plenty to announce. To mark the occasion, Radiohead plans exclusive vinyl pressings of EPs and tracks never before available on vinyl. The Doors are opening up their archives to release completed, but unreleased tracks exclusively for Record Store Day. And they too will be pressed on vinyl.

On the home front, DC's own independent music retailers (those guys to the left) are at work planning a Record Store Day that will hold its own share of surprises. Additional details to be announced right here.

April 2008 marked the first Record Store Day event to great success with over 300 stores participating, not only stateside, but overseas as well. Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Henry Rollins, Shelby Lynne, Tech N9ne, Raheem DeVaughn and scores of other artists and music industry luminaries all offered votes of confidence to Record Store Day which spiked revenue for indie retailers and inspired coverage in such media outlets as National Public Radio, the New York Times, Rolling Stone, the BBC, and even American Idol. In addition, retailers hosted in-store appearances and performances by both top name and local artists, including Metallica, (who started it all with the announcement of the Record Store Day vinyl re-issue of some of their classic albums, along with an in-store signing session), Panic At The Disco, Dresden Dolls, Regina Spektor, Steve Earle, and Billy Bragg.

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) the leading trade association for music retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and record labels, has already confirmed it will sponsor Record Store Day 2009. Other event organizers include the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Music Stores (AIMS) and Newbury.

Keep your browsers set to TVD for all the breaking Record Store Day 2009 news and updates as we get them in. We welcome feedback and discussion from all of you who plan to participate and patronize this significantly worthwhile event.

Weller's style councillor

Record sleeves by the Modfather's favourite designer have been brought together in a new book about the former Jam frontman. Ian Burrell looks at the career of Simon Halfon, who has also worked with Oasis

When a young Simon Halfon, then one of only three mods at Durham University, went backstage to meet The Jam at a gig at Bridlington Spa Pavilion, he didn't think he was forging a relationship that would define his career.

But the conversation with Paul Weller in 1979 stood him in good stead. After Halfon dropped out of university, and returned to his native London to pursue a career in the music business, the Modfather remembered him. A quarter of a century later he is sitting on a portfolio of record-sleeve designs that span Weller's career from The Jam, via The Style Council, to his solo work.

In an era when record shops are closing in droves, as sales plummet in the face of digital downloading, smart design plays a vital role in slowing that decline. Halfon's work is so distinctive that he has been sought out by Noel Gallagher to produce Oasis covers, and has also worked for The Who and George Michael.

Certainly it is something that Weller himself takes seriously. He has deployed Halfon's services on solo albums As Is Now, Heavy Soul, Modern Classics, Stanley Road and Days of Speed. The same designer composed the artwork for The Style Council's Café Bleu and Our Favourite Shop, and for The Jam greatest hits album Snap!.

"Artwork for me is very important, and it's only a shame that it's becoming less important to people in the era of downloading," Weller says. "I've worked with Simon for decades, and he's a stickler for detail and has an excellent eye for order and interpretation." Much of this work has been included in A Thousand Things, a photography-based book on Paul Weller's career in which the musician and designer have worked closely with music specialists Genesis Publications.
(Via the Independent. Read the rest here.)