Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Bob Dylan gets his Nobel Prize medal this weekend

It has been unclear whether Bob Dylan will come to Sweden to collect his Nobel Prize medal and if he will hold his Nobel Prize lecture. 
Now the Swedish Academy has received a message from Dylan that he will meet the Academy the coming weeked to receive the Nobel Prize diploma and medal. 
A suitable arrangement since Dylan is giving two concerts in Stockholm.
Sara Danius, secretary of the Swedish Academy, writes on her blog that there will be a small and intimate meeting and that no press will be present.

What about Bob Dylan's Nobel Lecture then?
Sara Danius puts it like this:
"The Academy has reason to believe that a taped version will be sent at a later point. (Taped Nobel lectures are presented now and then, the latest of which was that of Nobel Laureate Alice Munro in 2013.) At this point no further details are known."

Bob Dylan, laureate of Nobel Prize in literature 2016, has to hold his Nobel Prize lecture no later than June 10 to get the award money (about US$900,000).

Friday, March 24, 2017

More Zappa albums available

...on CD, download or via streaming. 
Two dozen rare Frank Zappa recordings will be made widely available around the world when UMe assumes distribution of the albums as part of their global partnership with the Zappa Family Trust.
So, this is actually a re-release of these albums. The thing here is that nine of the albums have never been available for download or streaming.

Radio Dupree's recommendations:
If you're Spotify listener or CD consumer and do not really know which new Zappa albums to check out, (since there are just so many titles out there and how on earth will you find something as accessible as Apostrophe ('), Sheik Yerbouti or Freak Out!), we have listed five albums that you should give a listen:

A Token Of His Extreme (Zappa Records, 2013) CD 
In August 1974, Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention taped two legendary sets at KCET TV Studios in Hollywood, CA. This popular footage was used by FZ in a number of different edits originally intended as a TV special and eventually featured in the home video release The Dub Room Special (1982). A Token Of His Extreme was officially issued on DVD in 2013 along with the release of the soundtrack on CD. If you like the albums Roxy & Elsewhere and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 (The Helsinki Concert), you will love this one.

Frank Zappa Plays The Music of Frank Zappa (Barking Pumpkin, 1996) CD 
A CD with three Zappa signature guitar pieces: “Black Napkins,” “Zoot Allures” and “Watermelon In Easter Hay” in their original released form (remastered) with added live versions that predate the issued masters. Also included is “Merely A Blues In A: from Paris ’74.
If you're into Frank's solos from the mid 70's, this one's for you.

Joe’s Corsage (Vaulternative Records, 2004) CD 
An excellent collection of recordings by the original the Mothers of Invention before their first record contract in early 1966. Surprisingly tight! Not as much insanity as on Freak Out! A mystery why Frank did not release this himself on his You Can't Do That On Stage series for instance.

Philly ’76 (Vaulternative Records, 2009) 2 CD 
Here Zappa went on the road with a totally new band. Only drummer Terry Bozzio had been around for the three previous tours. New players were Patrick O'Hearn (bass), Eddie Jobson (keys/violin), Ray White (guitar/vocals) and Lady Bianca (vocals/keys). It's a joy to hear Lady Bianca sing. How sad that she quit the band in the mid of the tour. This is one of the absolutely best Zappa albums released after his death.

Buffalo (Vaulternative Records, 2007) 2 CD 
Buffalo captures an entire concert recorded live at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, NY on October 25, 1980. At the time some fans may have missed the percussion from the previous tours, but this is a hell of a band. Vince Colaiuta: drums, Steve Vai: guitar, Arthur Barrow: bass, Tommy Mars: keys/vocals, Ray White & Ike Willis (both lead vocals & rhythm guitar), Bob Harris (keys, vocals, trumpet).

Entire list of albums here: http://www.zappa.com/news/rare-frank-zappa-recordings-set-physical-release-and-streaming

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Rock legend Chuck Berry dies

Chuck Berry was one of the most influental rock & roll artists from the 1950's. He wrote songs that quickly became classics, as Roll Over Beethoven and Johnny B. Goode. He died at the age of 90.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39318602

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Steely Dan & The Eagles part of two new festivals

Two veteran acts share the stage for four shows this summer. The Eagles and Steely Dan will perform at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles July 15 and 16 plus at Citi Field in New York July 29 and 30.

According to Billboard the four days are part of what's being called the Classic West and Classic East Festivals with additional bands like Journey and Earth, Wind & Fire part of the proceedings.

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

Donald Fagen on Todd Rundgren's new album

Todd Rundgren's new album White Knight will be released May 12 and this is what the cover looks like:



The track listing have more than one guest appearing and it'll be fun to hear the songs. From an industry ad:

Veteran producer, pioneering performer and legendary songwriter Todd Rundgren returns with a brand new album featuring a stellar line-up of all star guest performers!
White Knight showcases Rundgren's diverse range of styles from Soulful art-rock to ambient synth pop and include performances from Rundgren equally diverse musical companions such as Trent Reznor, Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan), Joe Walsh (of the Eagles), Daryl Hall, Dam Funk, Joe Satriani, Robyn and more!

  1. Come
  2. I Got Your Back (featuring KK Watson with Dam Funk)
  3. Chance For Us (featuring Daryl Hall with Bobby Strickland)
  4. Fiction
  5. Beginning Of The End (featuring John Boutte)
  6. Tin Foil Hat (featuring Donald Fagen)
  7. Look At Me (featuring Michael Holman)
  8. Let's Do This (with Moe Berg)
  9. Sleep (with Joe Walsh)
  10. That Could Have Been Me (featuring Robyn)
  11. Deaf Ears (featuring Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
  12. Naked & Afraid (featuring Bettye LaVette)
  13. Buy My T
  14. Wouldn't You Like To Know (featuring Rebop Rundgren)
  15. This Is Not A Drill (featuring Joe Satriani with Prairie Prince & Kasim Sulton)

Sunday, March 05, 2017

All Hipgnosis album covers collected in new book

All 373 album sleeves by art design group Hipgnosis is collected in the upcoming book, "Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art".
Hipgnosis designed their first album cover in 1968, Pink Floyd's A Saucerful of Secrets. They have created art for albums by Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project and many more. Many of the album covers have became iconic.

Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art is being published on April 13 by Thames & Hudson.

http://thevinylfactory.com/news/vinyl-album-cover-art-hipgnosis-book/

Saturday, March 04, 2017

Teen skipped school and ended up on stage with Springsteen

An Australian teenage boy skipped school to go to a Bruce Springsteen concert in Brisbane on February 16. 
He held up a sign reading "Missed school, in the s--- now, can I play Growin' Up with you?" Springsteen took him up on stage and, yes, the kid (Nathan Testa) could perform.