The Three O'Clock’s 'Sixteen Tambourines' 40th Anniversary Edition out October 20

Very exciting news with today's announcement that legendary band The Three O'Clock's "Sixteen Tambourines" will be released as a special 40th Anniversary Edition on Oct. 20, 2023 courtesy of Yep Roc Records. On a released note, read my review of The Three O'Clock's memorable concert in Santa Ana, CA in December 2013 HERE. Additionally, the band performed at Coachella in April 2013; read my coverage of that appearance HERE.

The official media release about the forthcoming "Sixteen Tambourines" reissue is below...Robert Kinsler

Yep Roc Records Announces 40th Anniversary Edition of The Three O'Clock’s Sixteen Tambourines Out October 20, 2023 

 

Remastered Album Features Brand-New Double Front Artwork

 

Baroque Hoedown Features Four Songs Not On Original EP Out Now

 

Yep Roc Records celebrates the 40th anniversary of Sixteen Tambourines by The Three O’Clock, one of the core groups in L.A. 's Paisley Underground scene, with a remastered edition of the band’s second album featuring new artwork. 

 

Out October 20 and available on CD and LP (transparent green vinyl), Sixteen Tambourines was remastered by Bill Inglot and Dave Schultz, lacquer cut at Bernie Grundman Mastering, with the vinyl pressed at Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, NC; pre-order here.

 

Blending psychedelic pop with contemporary sounds, Sixteen Tambourines was produced by Earle Mankey, who encouraged the band in their experimentation. The result yielded a college-radio hit, "Jet Fighter," which remains one of the group's most well-known songs. Other standouts include, "A Day In Erotica," "Stupid Einstein," "Fall to the Ground," and their version of the Bee Gees "In My Own Time." 

 

Originally released in October 1983, for the anniversary reissue the band updated the artwork which features a double front cover, meaning no matter which way you view the album, it will always appear like you are looking at the front cover - front cover image with the opening for LP or CD on the right side. The photos used for the new cover(s) are never-before-seen images taken from the era the album was recorded.

 

Remastered by Bill Inglot and Dave Schultz, the 40th anniversary reissue of the band’s seminal debut Baroque Hoedown was released earlier this year and originally available only for Record Store Day. Now available for wide release, the expanded edition of the debut EP features the five original songs with four additional recordings from the era to create a full-length album. One of the new songs is a cover of Pink Floyd's "Lucifer Sam.” The album is available for order here.

 

The Three O'Clock –  Michael Quercio (vocals, bass guitar, percussion); Danny Benair (drums); Louis Gutierrez (guitars, vocals, percussion); and Mark Mariano (keyboards, vocals, percussion); were the quintessential L.A. Paisley Underground band. Lead singer/bassist Michael Quercio coined the term to describe the bands that incorporated their love of various sixties music with more modern sounds, including the Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, and The Bangles.

 

Beginning as the Salvation Army in 1982, and forsaking the name due to a conflict with the actual organization, The Three O'Clock originally included Quercio and guitarist Louis Gutierrez. Their self-titled debut in 1982 featured a garage-y sound. When ex-The Quick drummer Danny Benair and keyboardist Mickey Mariano joined for the follow-up EP, Baroque Hoedown and the LP Sixteen Tambourines in 1983, the band found a more polished, perfect pop sound.

 

In 1985, the band released Arrive Without Travelling for I.R.S. Records, followed by Ever After. Gutierrez departed in 1986. For their Warner Bros./Paisley Park debut (Prince was a fan), Vermillion, Jason Falkner joined to play guitar for what would be the band’s last album release. 

 

After years of turning down offers to reunite, in 2013, the band’s original lineup (minus Mariano, who was replaced by Adam Merrin of the 88) re-formed to play the Coachella Festival. In November 2018, Yep Roc Records released three new recordings by The Three O'Clock as part of a compilation album called 3 × 4, including The Dream Syndicate, The Bangles, and Rain Parade, with each of the four bands covering songs by the other bands (Read my review of the "3 x 4" collection HERE).

 

Sixteen Tambourine Tracklisting: 

Side A

1.Jet Fighter

2. Stupid Einstein 

3. And So We Run 

4. Fall to the Ground 

5. A Day in Erotica

Side B

1.Tomorrow

2. In My Own Time

3. On My Own

4. When Lightning Starts

5. Seeing Is Believing

 

Baroque Hoedown Tracklisting:
Side 1

1.With A Cantaloupe Girlfriend

2. I Go Wild

3. Marjorie Tells Me

4. Lucifer Sam

 

Side 2

1.Sorry 

2. In Love In Too

3. All In Good Time

4. Feel A Whole Lot Better

5. As Real As Real

James McCartney's new single 'Unicorn' out today; artist set to launch 2016 U.S. tour at The Coach House

I want to kick things off today with news about James McCartney's forthcoming album and new infectious rock single "Unicorn." I might add that McCartney will kick off his upcoming U.S. tour with a date at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday, May 10. Make sure to check out my review of McCartney's strong May 2012 performance at the Orange County, CA venue on The Orange County Register Web site here. I also got to interview James McCartney leading up to his performance at Coachella in April 2013, and you can read that article posted on the Music News Nashville site here.

James McCartney's releases new single "Unicorn" today

"Unicorn" Available Today For Instant Download

 With Album Pre-order

     

On Monday, March 21, 2016, The Los Angeles Times exclusively premiered singer-songwriter James McCartney's new single, "Unicorn," from his upcoming album, The Blackberry Train. The record was engineered by Steve Albini, (Nirvana, The Pixies and PJ Harvey) and will be released worldwide on Friday, May 6, 2016 on James' own Magybenot label (via Kobalt Label Services). Today, fans can pre-order the album and get an instant download of "Unicorn".

The Blackberry Train features James' signature aesthetic of melding smart hooks and feral alt-rock with the grandeur and spiritual centeredness of psychedelic music, which has won him press plaudits and a strong fan-base. He's garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and The Daily News. He's built a robust international profile through tirelessly touring the US, Europe and the UK, playing bigger and bigger shows with each go around. This summer James McCartney will be sharing tracks from his new release as he tours the U.S. in the summer.

"It's all been an evolution," James says. "This set of songs definitely has a harder edge, but it's a continuation of the last album. The main thing for me is to not conform or compromise."
 

                                                          

Pre-order the record here. 

US tour dates can be found here.

For more information on James McCartney: 

www.jamesmccartney.com 

www.facebook.com/JamesMcCartneyMusic/ 

www.twitter.com/jamesmccartney_ 

www.instagram.com/jamesmccartneyofficial/ 

http://smarturl.it/jmccartneyyoutube 

http://smarturl.it/jmccartneyspotify 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESa_c_PrUxM 

Robert Kinsler

Flying high with Vintage Trouble courtesy of 'Live at 35'

Vintage Trouble, from left, Rick Barrio Dill, Nalle Colt, Richard Danielson and Ty Taylor. 

I've interviewed and covered countless music events over the years, but my opportunity to go on a unique and exciting "Live at 35" adventure with the band Vintage Trouble on Friday, May 24 certainly ranks as one of the most memorable and exciting. Check out this video which chronicles my adventure and also provides you a chance to hear from members of the Los Angeles-based rock 'n' soul band, which offered up one of the standout performances I caught at Coachella Weekend 2 last month. It was that concert in Indio, as well as an invitation from the good folks at Taylor Guitars and Southwest Airlines that allowed me to cover this one-of-a-kind concert flight.

Music Worth Buying episode: Coachella and Stagecoach 2013 - New Discoveries

On the latest episode of Music Worth Buying, I share some of my favorite discoveries from the recent Coachella and Stagecoach festivals staged in Indio, California.

Coachella Weekend 2 - afternoon of Day 2: The Colourist, Vintage Trouble, Allen Stone

I have reposted a review of the first part of day 2 of Coachella Weekend 2 I completed for The Orange County Register on Saturday, April 20, 2013 below.

Helix Poeticus on the move. Photo: Robert Kinsler

Coachella 2013: The Colourist, Vintage Trouble heat up Weekend 2, Day 2

It may have been noticeably hotter today, but that didn't stop some young bands from making the most of their early afternoon spots here to start Day 2 (April 20, 2013).


Take O.C. quartet the Colourist: By the time they performed set-ending track "We Won't Go Home," a sizeable crowd inside the Gobi tent was going nuts, swept up in the group's big catchy choruses. Singer/drummer Maya Tuttle was especially strong, though the entire band (including singer/guitarist Adam Castilla, bassist/keyboardist Justin Wagner and guitarist/bassist Kollin Johannsen) collectively delivered a memorable 30-minute set.

Of the two retro-soul acts on the bill Saturday, Vintage Trouble had the bigger challenge, performing under a merciless sun at 2:25 p.m. (The band was moved to that slot after Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro canceled earlier in the week.) But make no mistake, the L.A. outfit blended rock 'n' soul with all the fierceness of nature's furnace today, so strong that I saw few of the thousand or so who braved the heat for their 35-minute set leaving in search of shade.

Singer Ty Taylor danced, sang, even waded into the crowd to keep the show moving at all times. He also tore his white suit pants, yet never missed a beat. Meanwhile, guitarist Nalle Colt offered a tasty display on his guitar, whether it was expounding on Chuck Berry-ish riffs with full-on blues rock chops, jazz runs or hard-edged slide work. The band (also featuring bassist Rick Barrio and drummer Richard Danielson) performed blistering tunes such as "Blues Hand Me Down" as well as tender ballads ("Nancy Lee" comes to mind) with equal conviction.

Soul singer Allen Stone's 45-minute set didn't reach the depths of Vintage Trouble's more artistically satisfying turn, but he sure transformed a well-packed Gobi tent into a bona fide party as Coachella Weekend 2 reached its halfway point. With his far-reaching tenor often extending into a pleasing falsetto, he and his seven-member band impressed on original material ("Celebrate Tonight," "Unaware") and his entirely reworked version of Bob Marley's "Is This Love."

Coachella Weekend 2 - day 1: Blur, Band of Horses, Jake Bugg, Johnny Marr and more

Sunset is always magical at Coachellafest. Photo: Robert Kinsler

My coverage of Coachella 2013 (Friday-Sunday, April 19-21, 2013) was originally posted on the Orange County Register Web site. This post also includes some additional notes on Blur and Johnny Marr. A special thank you to Kelly A. Swift for the use of several of her outstanding photographs.

Helix Poeticus joins the fun watching Divine Fits. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Coachella 2013: Starting the second weekend with Skinny Lister, White Arrows

NOTE FROM BEN WENER: Coachella Weekend 2 opened just like the first, with a chance to catch swarms of young artists all across the well-trod field at the Empire Polo Club in Indio – including several our rotating Soundcheck crew missed last weekend.

Walked in right around noon to find Skinny Lister on the main stage, and was immediately impressed by the British outfit's blend of Celtic folk and punk energy. Despite the fact that gates had been open only an hour or so, a large crowd had gathered to cheer on the band as if they were headliners. I also glimpsed a couple tunes from IO Echo, a Southern California-based indie band whose '80s-esque synth-pop produced feel-good vibes for anyone chilling in the Gobi Tent.

White Arrows, on the Outdoor Theatre stage, produced a sound right at home with the burgeoning blending of kinetic indie rock and electronica with melodic pop influences. The L.A. quintet's accessible approach went over well with those soaking up sun and breezy sounds, and right from the start, when they opened with the energetic, keyboard-heavy "Roll Forever," off Dry Land Is Not a Myth. From there, the set grew heavier, thick with guitar-driven grooves.

Equally successful at getting arriving crowds moving and dancing was the nine-member Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, who nonetheless took a while to hit their stride on the biggest stage. The large Japanese ensemble mixed up ska, rock and jazz effectively but never elevated its many talents (a smart repertoire, virtuoso chops) into an artful whole – although their version of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" in the manner of Booker T was an interesting offering.

Band of Horses on Friday night. Photo:Robert Kinsler

Band of Horses lift the mood after sundown; Jake Bugg impresses again

Weekend 2 offered some solid music-making early in the day, but the class of potent and memorable stuff that draws thousands to the desert every spring stepped up in a big way via emerging British star Jake Bugg's performance in Mojave on Friday afternoon.

Showcasing the 19-year-old Nottingham native's already potent skills as singer, songwriter and guitarist, there was an electric buzz throughout his sterling 45-minute set. I watched the first half near the stage, then positioned myself further back for the last half, and the enthusiasm for Bugg's authentic blend of spirited '70s folk-rock was palpable even in the furthest reaches of the large tent.

The up-tempo "I've Seen It All" and an astounding take on "Simple as This" were among the impressive highlights, the latter in a fantastic arrangement that began with the newcomer in full acoustic mode before his band came in.

Damon Albarn of Blur. Photo: Robert Kinsler

In a day that included excellent turns from Blur and Johnny Marr on stages large and small, there also were rousing sets from several acts at the Outdoor Theatre. Of Monsters and Men had the good fortune of starting at 5:45, when the day was cooling and many in the crowd were finally ready to come alive.

Naturally, the seven-member Icelandic troupe's 50-minute performance centered on the jubilant tracks from last year's My Head Is an Animal, opening with its opener (the riveting "Dirty Paws") and closing with its closer (the cascading "Yellow Light"). The dynamic "Six Weeks" sounded as if Sigur Rós and Mumford & Sons had joined forces. Those pieces alone guaranteed a winning set, but adding the tender "King and Lionheart" and lush "Lakehouse" provided moments of resounding wonder, the otherworldly vocals, trumpets, keyboards, acoustic guitars and other instruments painting marvelous soundscapes.

Band of Horses turned in a similarly triumphant appearance for its equally timed turn. Whether it was because Beach House's preceding dream-pop was too hushed and dialed to a lone emotional tone, the South Carolina transplants from Seattle were the perfect lift to fill the large expanse in front of the Outdoor Theatre, giving the night a fine jolt.

Singer-guitarist Ben Bridwell did little talking beyond a few sincere words of thanks to fans, photographers in the pit ("they have to put up with tour managers") and Coachella itself, but he led the quintet through a rundown ideally suited to the vibe that spreads across the Empire Polo Club field after dark. "The Great Salt Lake" and "Is There a Ghost" provided depth early in the set, with the more powerful, Crazy Horse-like "Laredo," the gorgeous "Infinite Arms" (title track of their third album, from 2010) and a set-ending "Am I Good a Man?," a rocker with shades of country and R&B that illustrates BofH's wide aesthetic reach.



Johnny Marr at Coachella on April 19. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

 Finally, I can't let my recap of day 1 end without noting two of my favorite performances. Johnny Marr was simply amazing, performing a mix of songs from his recently-issued The Messenger and several Smiths classics. Another great artist I got to see for the first time was Britpop pioneer Blur. As was the case when I caught Marr in the early afternoon, when catching Blur I put away from notepad (since George A. Paul was reviewing for the band for The Register) and simply made my way close to the main Coachella stage to enjoy the set.

The last two songs of Blur's set fully helped illustrate the range of material that makes the band so special. "The Universal" is a genre-defying melodic gem with an inspired chorus and the song builds in ways that sweep up listeners. The band than turned on a dime and raged artfully through its powerful and potent hit "Song 2" as the crowd around me jumped up and down in a frenzy. Even after a long day (and night) of mostly standing and running around the Empire Polo Club, I was ready for Saturday.

Music Worth Buying episode: Jordan Corey and Johnny Marr

On the latest episode of Music Worth Buying my co-host TJR champions Jordan Corey's Do Me Wrong while I can't stop celebrating Johnny Marr's The Messenger.

James McCartney talks Coachella, new album

My original story was posted on The Orange County Register's Soundcheck blog on April 17, 2013. James McCartney performs an acoustic set at Coachella this afternoon.

James McCartney

James McCartney, son of Sir Paul and the late Linda, has rapidly earned accolades for his powerful mix of accessible melodic songs and experimental rock introduced via two EPs, 2010's Available Light and 2011's Close at Hand. An impressive 16-song set at the Coach House last year also proved he can be a formidable live talent, although he's had to fight to be heard as a solo acoustic act at Coachella.

He returns to the Indio festival for a second helping Friday afternoon, just after he wraps a two-night stand at the Hotel Cafe in L.A. McCartney's full-length debut, Me, is due in late May.

I caught up with him via email a few weeks ago for this interview.

Soundcheck: I was impressed by the range of material on your Complete EP collection, from melodic power pop to more experimental rock. Could you talk a bit about your growth as a songwriter since those songs were recorded and how that influenced the process of making Me?

James McCartney: That's nice, thanks so much. Well, I wanted to show a progression. My favorite artists are definitely ones that grow, and I want to be one that does too. The songs on my first two EPs were written over a broad period of time. Some songs were older and some brand new. All of the songs on the new album are new, so this is much more of a snapshot of where I'm at right now. It's a real singer-songwriter record, with an emphasis on lyric writing and melodies. I worked with David Kahne on the recording, which was lovely.

When I saw you perform last year you were backed by a band, but now you are performing alone. What led to that decision?

In keeping with the album title, this tour is, in fact, "me." I did a solo show last year at NYC's Rockwood Music Hall and it went great. It gave us the idea of doing the same thing on a national scale, in listening rooms around the country. Just me and an audience, and of course these new songs. No distractions. I'm really looking forward to it.

What was it like going on your first U.S. tour last year?

It was amazing. I love America and it was my first chance to see it as a touring musician. Meeting fans after the show, seeing the cities, it was great.

Will you approach Coachella different than playing a more intimate club?

I don't plan to ... I'll do it just the same. I think the way I'm doing these songs will work very well, even in that bigger setting. I haven't played the festival before, so it will be quite an experience. And quite a way to kick off the tour!

You've noted that your favorite artists are those who evolve over time. In what ways do you explore on the new album that you didn't on the EP collection?

It's really just an evolution, as we all go through. This album and these songs are the next steps for me, just as Close at Hand was the net step from Available Light. I think there's even more depth in the writing and singing on this record, and since the last batch of songs I've continued to learn who I am ... as we all continue to learn about ourselves.

How has David Kahne and any other producers or artists you've worked with helped shape the sound of the new album?

Well, David Kahne, primarily, is who I worked with. I've recorded the previous EPs with him as well so we have a great working relationship. He's also worked with my dad, of course. Dad was a part of the recording, too, and of course he's an influence. My band from the U.K. is on the album, (NYC singer) Kate Davis appears on the album, as does Steven Isserlis and Shawn Pelton. Just a great group of people, and a great time in making the album.

Coachella update: Blur to headline on Friday; Biffy Clyro forced to pull out of Coachella and current U.S. tour

Blur is now slated to headline on Friday night and will take the main stage at 11:35 p.m.

All kinds of quick updates today while I continue to prepare to cover the second weekend of Coachella for The Orange County Register this weekend.

Two big news items to report as they relate to this weekend.

Friday night Britpop pioneers Blur and Stone Roses are swapping places for the second weekend. Last week, Blur delivered one of the best sets at weekend #1, with the Stone Roses then taking the stage but attracting a significantly smaller crowd for their night-ending set on the Coachella Stage. This time around (April 19), Blur is scheduled to take the final spot. Here is a link to an article in the Los Angeles Times that has a few more details.

On a sadder note, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro will not be returning to Indio to perform this weekend. Here is the official release from Warner Bros. Records I received yesterday (April 17):

BIFFY CLYRO FORCED TO CANCEL REMAINING NORTH AMERICAN SHOWS



Biffy Clyro have today been forced to cut short their North American tour and return to the UK immediately; Simon Neil has been struggling with a serious respiratory problem on the shows, including two nights supporting Muse at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday of this week, and was advised by doctors that he was endangering his long term health if he chose to continue performing on this run. Thus, further dates with Muse across the US and Canada, plus a second weekend performance at the Coachella Festival this coming Saturday, have now been cancelled.

The band wish to express how sorry they are that they aren't able to carry out the full run of shows, and hope to confirm a new run of North American shows shortly. All UK and European dates this Summer should, however, remain unaffected.

Biffy Clyro have been out on tour supporting their new double album Opposites, which gave the band their first ever UK No1 in early February. Since the release, the band have been on an almost uninterrupted run of arena shows including a triumphant UK tour that culminated at the O2 in London last week.

Sigur Rós soars in Phoenix

Bassist Georg Hólm and singer-guitarist Jónsi. Photo: Kim Kinsler

Who: Sigur Rós
Where: Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, AZ
When: Friday, April 12, 2013


I don't think that in this age of fragmented music - where styles range from Americana to Zydeco and everything in between - it's truly possible to single out any artist as the best in the world in 2013. But I can certainly proclaim that no single act is better than Sigur Rós.

On the eve of the Icelandic band's performance at the first weekend of the highly anticipated Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Sigur Rós performed a stunning concert at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. And what a concert it was.

Jónsi  led Sigur Rós during a magical night on April 12.

The trio of original members has been joined on the 2013 tour by a group of eight other musicians who are able to fully bring the Reykjavik-spawned troupe's lush and symphonic sound to its full glory in the live setting. Such was the case for close to two hours in Phoenix, where Jónsi used his glorious and far-reaching falsetto tenor vocals and distinctive style of playing his bowed guitar against a sonic backdrop of swirling sea of strings and horns, thundering drums, keyboards, driving bass and other instruments to create a sound that masterfully blended neo classical and experimental rock together in something otherworldly and spiritual in its power and pure beauty.

While there were some dimwits in the audience (you know the rude types, where they scream for no reason during quiet or particularly potent moments in a show), the concert itself was mesmerizing. I'll have more to say about the show in Phoenix as well as the forthcoming appearance by the band after they perform in Indio on Saturday night, April 20 at the second weekend of Coachella 2013. I'm still amazed that at a show where only a handful of words were ever spoken and little (or no) lyrics were sung in English, the audience was consistently moved by the emotive sounds of the 11-member ensemble for its entire length.

Sigur Rós (whose lineup also includes long-time core members Orri Páll Dýrason on drums and Georg Hólm on bass guitar) performed a mix of classic and new material. Several songs set to be included on the group's forthcoming album Kveikur (due on June 18, 2013) were also performed. You can see a photograph of the set list taken at the concert on the left.

Despite the fact that original member Kjartan Sveinsson has left the band, there is no doubt that Sigur Rós' future remains strong.

I can't wait to see the band perform again at Coachella in Indio late next Saturday night (April 20th). I won't be at all surprised to see if magic strikes again.




Sigur Rós celebrates at the end of a memorable concert.

 

Sights and Sounds: Coachella & Stagecoach festivals, Record Store Day, Rick Springfield

Since I have been busy prepping for my coverage of both Coachella and Stagecoach festivals out in Indio, I have not had much time to posting much this past week. Yesterday I had a chance to listen (and re-listen) to music from many of the fine acts I hope to catch at Coachella including New Order and Phoenix. I thought I'd quickly post a few things here before I get back to my listening...

Record Store Day always lands on the Saturday I'm at Coachella and this year is no different. As we get closer to April 20, I'll make sure to post as much news as I can on the special event. Here is the latest news release highlighting some of the day's special releases. 

Astralwerks Records will celebrate its own 20th anniversary in connection with the day. Founded in 1993 in New York City, Astralwerks Records began as an independent boutique label releasing visionary records that helped ignite two explosive waves of musical creativity: first with Electronica in the '90s, and more recently with EDM in the new millennium. Over the last 20 years, the label has become one of America's pre-eminent homes for unique and forward-thinking artists, nurturing a roster of genre-bending musicians and bands.

To celebrate this 20-year anniversary, Astralwerks is proud to announce the release of a strictly limited edition box set entitled Astralwerks: Music in 20/20, produced exclusively for Record Store Day on April 20, 2013. The box set spans 20 artists, over 20 years, and includes 20 tracks pressed onto retro-groovy vinyl flexi discs. Included are exclusives or rarely heard bonus tracks from Air,Diamond Rings, Hot Chip, Kings Of Convenience, Kraftwerk and The Kooks. Astralwerks General Manager Glenn Mendlingerobserves “Astralwerks is proud to celebrate this important milestone for the label and to document our history in artist development and ground-breaking music.  It is incredible to be a driving force in electronic music and DJ culture for 20 years starting with The Future Sound Of London, The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, leading into such iconic legends as Kraftwerk and Pet Shop Boys and landing where we are today with David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia.”  He adds, "This anniversary box set is really only a snapshot, when compared to the entire canon of extraordinary artists we have worked with. The tracks included are a mix of staff and fan favorites, commercial highlights and unsung rarities."

In the Summer of 1993 Astralwerks released its first album - Tales Of Ephidrina by Amorphous Androgynous - a pseudonym of the legendary Future Sound of London, and catalyst for the sub-genre known at the time as 'ambient techno'. A landmark series of compilations called Excursions in Ambience followed, as did Big Beat, Breaks and the early progenitors of tech-house, subsequently spawning classics by some of the most groundbreaking electronic artists of the era - Future Sound Of London, Photek, Spacetime Continuum, and µ-Ziq, to name just a few. As the new millennium dawned, the label added luminaries such as The Beta Band, Beth Orton, doves, Hot Chip, Kings of Convenience, Phoenix and Placebo to its roster, as well as releasing Tour De France, the first new album in 12 years from legendary electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, as well as re-issuing their fabled catalogue.

This box set celebrates many important milestones for the label: Fatboy Slim's You've Come A Long Way Baby was the first DJ album to go platinum in the USA. The Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats" was the first track by an electronic artist to win a Grammy® and crack the Alternative Top 40 Chart.  Astralwerks continued to break new ground by establishing David Guetta as a major mainstream artist in America selling over 11 million singles from the smash album Nothing But The Beat.   The label continues to break uncharted territory as evidenced by its partnership with Swedish House Mafia who became the first-ever DJ artists to sell out Madison Square Garden (in an incredible 10 minutes).

So here we are, 20 years on, and Astralwerks has successfully launched the U.S. careers of many new artists - including Gold Fields, Diamond Rings, Empire of the Sun, NERVO, Eric Prydz, and Swedish House Mafia. As a label, it continues to look to the future, not only within the resurgence of electronic dance music but amidst a continually morphing array of musical genres and artists who continue to break new ground.

Astralwerks: Music in 20/20 Tracklisting:

1: Future Sound of London - The Far Out Son Of Lung And The Ramblings Of A Madman (Original 12" Version)

2: The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats

3:  The Beta Band - Dry The Rain

4: Fatboy Slim - Praise You

5: Cassius - Cassius 1999

6: Doves - The Cedar Room [Promo-only version previously unreleased in the US]*

7: Kings of Convenience - Winning A Battle, Losing The War (J-Walk Remix) [Previously unreleased in the US]*

8: Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At

9:  Royksopp - Poor Leno

10: Sia - Breathe Me (Four Tet Remix)

11: Hot Chip - My Shit's On Fire Right Now [First ever commercial release]*

12: The Kooks - Put Your Back to My Face [Previously unreleased in the US]*

13:  Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

14: David Guetta - Sexy Bitch (feat. Akon)

15: Air - Indian Summer [Previously unreleased in the US]*

16: Kraftwerk - Die Roboter [German language version of "The Robots." Previously unreleased in the US]*

17:  Eric Prydz - Allein

18: Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child (feat. John Martin)

19: Diamond Rings - Put Me On (Diamond Dance) [Previously unreleased]

20: Gold Fields - Dark Again

*Exclusive tracks

About Record Store Day: Record Store Day is managed by the Department of Record Stores and is organized in partnership with the Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.www.recordstoreday.com

Rick Springfield is returning (briefly) to General Hospital in connection with the show's 50th anniversary. Check out writer George A. Paul's post on his Music Minded blog to learn more.