Last-minute Music Gift Guide

With Christmas less than a week away, here are some terrific music-minded gift ideas including a slew of deluxe editions...

Artist: The Beatles
Title: "The Beatles" White Album / Super Deluxe edition (Capitol Records)
Tell me more: This writer considers The Beatles' 1968 album best known as the "White Album" the greatest rock album of all time, so the release of the six-disc Super Deluxe 50th Anniversary edition earlier this year is likely an essential addition to any music lover's collection. The diverse and intoxicating range of brilliant songs include the eloquent "Blackbird," sweeping "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," blistering "Helter Skelter," poignant "Julia," and ethereal "Long Long Long." In addition, it features Ringo Starr's first solo contribution as both singer and songwriter, the wistful "Don't Pass Me By." The inclusion of the acoustic "Escher" demos is a revelation, showcasing early and sparse takes on many of the "White Album" classics. For more casual lovers of the Fab Four, a three-disc version is also available. Information: TheBeatles.com.

Artist: Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Title: "Look Now" / Deluxe Edition (Concord Records)
Tell me more: One of the greatest albums of 2018, Elvis Costello & The Imposter's highly-anticipated return Look Now is a true masterpiece. The Deluxe Edition of Look Now expands the original dozen-track run with four additional gems including the lovely "Isabelle in Tears," French language "Adieu Paris (L'Envie Des Etoiles)" and tender "Final Mrs. Curtain." If you have not picked up "Look Now" yet, get the Deluxe Edition. Information: ElvisCostello.com.

Artist: The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Title: Electric Ladyland - 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Sony Legacy)
Tell me more: Released in early November 2018, the 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of the Jimi Hendrix Experience classic Electric Ladyland is simply amazing. Available as a 3CD/1 Blu-ray or 6LP/1 Blu-ray, the title features a newly remastered version of the original 1968 double album (which was the third and final album released by the Jimi Hendrix Experience), unreleased demos, an unreleased Hollywood Bowl concert recorded on Sept. 14, 1968, and a 5.1 surround sound mix of Electric Ladyland that will thrill any Hendrix fan. The collection also comes with a 48-page book. Information: JimiHendrix.com.

Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Title: Springsteen On Broadway (Columbia)
Tell me more: The audio companion to the acclaimed film currently showing on Netflix, Bruce Springsteen's Springsteen On Broadway features the complete audio recording of the Netflix special. Running the full length of two CDs (or available as a 4 LP vinyl set), Springsteen On Broadway is a mix of intimate performances and spoken stories leading up to the presentation of the songs. The winner of a Tony Award, Academy Award and 20 Grammy Awards, Springsteen brings the rich mix of songcraft and storytelling featured in his autobiography "Born to Run" to his performance captured at the Walter Kerr Theatre featured on Springsteen On Broadway. There is a mix of humor, wit and life's lessons that compel the recording at every turn. Songs include "Growing Up," "My Hometown," "The Promised Land" and "Born to Run." Information: BruceSpringsteen.net.

Artist: The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Title: Merrie Land (Studio 13)
Tell me more: Looking to pick up a really special gift for a modern music lover? The second release from The Good, The Bad & The Queen (featuring Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn and Clash bassist Paul Simonon) is titled Merrie Land and the recently-issued title also happens to be one of the best new albums of 2018. A deluxe edition of Merrie Land comes as a sensational package featuring a 56-page hardback book with the album on audio CD; the book itself features sheet music, lyrics and cool artwork. While the deluxe edition is wonderful casual fans can also pick up the album-only release as a single audio CD disc or digital download. Information: TheGoodTheBadAndTheQueen.com.


Robert Kinsler

Music Books Gift Guide

Those whose interest in music extends beyond merely listening have plenty of choice books to choose from this holiday season. From in-depth explorations of '60s favorites the Monkees and country-western hero Buck Owens to groundbreaking Americana outfit The Band, here is a list of some noteworthy 2016 titles available now.

Title: The Monkees, Head and the 60s (Jawbone Press)
Author: Peter Mills
Paperback: 336 pages
Tell me more: When four young actors were cast to portray an aspiring rock band on "The Monkees" TV series in 1965, it isn't likely anyone would have believed the enduring power of not only the group's hit NBC show, but the lasting appeal of the quartet's musical recordings and influence of their 1968 film "Head." Peter Mills' The Monkees, Head, and the 60s is a serious and thoughtful look at how Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones went from being an imaginary band to becoming a bona fide music outfit and ultimately establishing the blueprint for how the music industry uses marketing and the media to establish the career of a mainstream artist. This is an essential book for not only Monkees fans, but those who want to understand the myriad of forces that often determine why an artist is successful. Information: jawbonepress.com.

Title: Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece (Backbeat Books)
Author: Donald Brackett
Softcover: 272 pages
Tell me more: Amy Winehouse's life itself was tragic; she died of alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27. And while much of the focus on Winehouse over the past five years has focused on her battles with drug and alcohol addiction, author Donald Brackett's Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece puts the focus on her second and most brilliant album, Back to Black. The 2006 release spawned a number of hits and has had a lasting impact with the subsequent success of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Adele. The songs, producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi and musicians who contributed to that album are the focus of the important and fast-moving study. Information: backbeatbooks.com.



Title: Buck 'Em! The Autobiography of Buck Owens (Backbeat Books)
Authors: Buck Owens with Randy Poe
Paperback: 360 pages
Tell me more: During the late 1990s, singer-guitarist-songwriter Buck Owens recorded nearly 100 hours of his memories onto cassette tapes in what would ultimately provide the text for Buck 'Em! The Autobiography of Buck Owens. Now available in paperback, the autobiography covers his years as a hit maker (he was the biggest country music star of the 1960s), host of the country TV show "Hee Haw," influence on greats such as Dwight Yoakam (who wrote the books preface) and his legendary business acumen. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll! The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business (Backbeat Books)
Author: Kenny Aronoff
Hardcover: 320 pages
Tell me more: Kenny Aronoff is among the greatest and most influential drummers of his generation, having recorded and performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, and many more. Now Aronoff's first-person account of his one-of-a-kind tale is documented in Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll! The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business. In colorful and conversational language, Aronoff details events throughout his rich life; the lesson here is ultimately about having a dream and working everyday to make it come true. The book's forward was penned by drummer-author Neil Peart of the band Rush. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: The Band FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Fathers of Americana (Backbeat Books)
Author: Peter Aaron 
Paperback: 400 pages
Tell me more: The musical landscape explored by The Band in the late 1960s and early '70s somehow fused folk, blues, gospel, country, soul and rock 'n' roll in ways never heard before. Often cited as creators of the roots rock genre and arguably the first Americana rock ensemble, The Band's profound influence and terrific legacy is highlighted throughout The Band FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Fathers of Americana. Author Peter Aaron digs deep into the individual and collective contributions of Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson, the names behind classic songs including "The Weight," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up On Cripple Creek." Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: The Clash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Clash City Rockers (Backbeat Books)
Author: Gary J. Jucha
Paperback: 400 pages
Tell me more: One of punk rock's earliest and most important champions is celebrated throughout The Clash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Clash City Rockers. The book provides all kinds of interesting and informative information on the English band that was founded by guitarist Mick Jones and fronted by the late Joe Strummer. The band's complex history is explored clearly, with the group's changing lineup, tours and legendary concert dates, bootlegs and official releases revisited during the 400-page run. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: A Perfect Union of Contrary Things (Backbeat Books)
Author: Sarah Jensen with Maynard James Keenan
Hardcover: 274 pages
Tell me more: Life is as much about the decisions we make as those we don't. The authorized biography of Tool lead singer-songwriter Maynard James Keenan (A Perfect Union of Contrary Things) is a story of hard work and good luck, passion and friendships, music and wine beautifully told by author Sarah Jensen. Even those with little knowledge of Tool or A Perfect Circle will want to read this volume cover to cover. The edition includes a number of photos from his childhood and his music career. Information: backbeatbooks.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Sights and Sounds: Elbow, The Clash's Paul Simonon and Mick Jones, Vevo streaming iTunes Festival at SXSW

Elbow has a new album out today that will likely prove to be one of the best discs of 2014.

Good morning everybody. Here is a short (but important) roundup of music stuff pulled from my stuffed inbox...

Firstly, Elbow's terrific new album is out today. I can't stop listening to this outstanding album, and it is truly one of the greatest albums in memory. Read my review of The Take Off And Landing of Everything on the Music News Nashville site. For more information on the band, visit their official Web site here.

Listen to a new track in which The Clash's Paul Simonon and Mick Jones team up with Frank Ocean and Diplo. The song, titled "Hero," marks the first time the two ex-Clash mates have released music together since they appeared on Gorillaz’s Plastic Beach in 2010.

Vevo, the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform, has announced it will live stream this week’s iTunes Festival at SXSW.

From Tuesday, March 11 - Saturday, March 15, Vevo iOS and Apple TV viewers<http://vevo.com/platforms>, as well as Mac Safari users, can live stream performances from Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Pitbull, Keith Urban and many more directly from Austin. That’s 5 nights each devoted to a specific genre of music. Select performances will be available on demand following the stream.

Read more at: http://www.vevo.com/c/EN/US/news/itunes-festival-at-sxsw

US Festival 1983: Days 1 - 3 coming to iTunes, DVD

It was just more than 30 years ago that I attended my first-ever outdoor music festival. I attended the third and final day of the May 1983 US Festival held at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino. It was the day I first caught U2 and was immediately blown away, becoming a big fan of the Irish rockers. It was a true warm-up for my future Coachellafest experiences, especially because of the intense heat and endurance skills to stand all day (and night).

Amazing, but now highlights of the sets I caught from U2, Missing Persons, Stevie Nicks and even Quarterflash are all finally coming to iTunes and DVD. Read on...

US Festival 1983: Days 1 - 3

 on iTunes November 19th 

and on DVD December 3rd

Featuring U2, the Clash, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Scorpions, INXS, Men at Work, Stray Cats, Triumph, Missing Persons and more 

 

Exclusive clip of U2 "Sunday Bloody Sunday" at RollingStone.com

The US Festival (US is an acronym for "Unite Us In Song") held on Memorial Day of 1983 was a massive three-day celebration of music and culture sponsored by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple Computer. Wozniak financed the entire thing himself (approx. 10 million dollars), and his motivation quoted as "to throw a big party in the middle of nowhere" is quite an understatement. This festival was a follow up to 1982 Labor Day inaugural Us Festival events. The festivals were intended to be the celebration of evolving technologies; a marriage of music, computers, television and people.

Us Festival 1983: Days 1 - 3 includes the 3 days of New Wave, Heavy Metal and Rock in 1983 with performances from U2, the Clash, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Scorpions, INXS, Men at Work, Stray Cats, Triumph, Missing Persons and more. This includes the legendary U2 performance of Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Clash's final performance with Mick Jones, a seminal performance for INXS in the US, and many other landmark moments in music history. It is estimated that over 670,000 fans attended.

The festivals included large air-conditioned tents featuring the US Festival Technology Exposition a dazzling display of then-cutting edge computers, software, and electronic music devices. Also making a debut were installations of "out-door rain", perforated pvc nozzles that sprayed water to fight the fierce hundred-degree heat.

The US Festival interest remains strong 30 years later in pop culture with mentions in The Simpsons, Malcom In The Middle, Dharma & Greg and other popular TV shows. US Festival 1983 is produced by Icon Television Music, Inc. and Unuson Corporation with the cooperation of Steve Wozniak. This is the only Unuson sanctioned official release of US Festival 1983 at iTunes and on DVD. 

US Festival 1983 is directed by award winning filmmaker and music biographer Glenn Aveni and includes insight from Mark Goodman, one of the original VJ's that covered the Us Festival in 1983 for the newly launched MTV Channel.

US Festival 1983 Days 1 - 3 are available on iTunes for $9.99 each: itunes.com/USFestival1983    

Order DVD: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5946D

Track Listing:

INXS - The One Thing

Divinyls - Boys in Town

English Beat - Jeanette

Stray Cats - Rock This Town

Stray Cats - Please Make Up Your Mind

Men At Work - It's A Mistake

Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now

The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go

Judas Priest - Breaking The Law

Judas Priest - You've Got Another Thing Comin'

Triumph - Magic Power

Triumph - Fight The Good Fight

Triumph - Lay It On The Line

Triumph - A World Of Fantasy

Scorpions - The Zoo

Scorpions - Can't Get Enough

Berlin - Sex

Quarterflash - Find Another Fool

U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday

U2 - The Electric Co.

Missing Persons - Words

Stevie Nicks - Stand Back

Stevie Nicks - Outside The Rain