Black Cashmere

My nephew's (Nate Caplan, bass guitar) band, Black Cashmere, rocking their school talent contest:

Pink Floyd Wins Court Battle to Control Sales of Albums

It is reported today that Pink Floyd won a lawsuit against EMI that will ensure that Pink Floyd's albums will not be sold on a track by track basis. Their argument was that the albums are complete artistic works and EMI only had a contract to sell Pink Floyd's work in album form. Also there was an issue regarding royalties that was taken up in private and there is no news as to any settlement.

In many cases, the iTunes revolution of downloading an artist's work as individual tracks has destroyed the concept of an artist selling an album as a cohesive work. The other argument is that with CDs being up to eighty minutes in length many artists have too much filler and music buyers therefore would rather not pay for what is perceived to be less than excellent work.

In my mind the answer is simple. Artists should put together an album as the concept that they envision and then sell it at a reasonable price. A new album should retail for no more than $8.99 to $9.99. The new Broken Bells album is an excellent example as to the artists coming up with an album of excellent material that is an enjoyable listen from beginning to end; but it is only thirty seven minutes and thirty two seconds long. Yet at the local independent record store the CD is sale priced at $12.99 - too much. I can purchase movies that cost millions and millions and millions of dollars to make for something around $16.99. I realize that this is comparing apple to grapes, or some other fruit, but to consumers this must be an issue when it come to spending their hard earned money for for entertainment. A price reduction would also cut piracy way down.

I guess nothing is going to happen until the music business completely crashes and burns and the market can sort things out. Meanwhile landmark independent record stores all over the world have closed and the ones still operating have to be running on fumes.

It is amazing to me how, over my lifetime, I have seen the music business at its zenith and see it now as a withering shell of itself, essentially meaningless and incapable of functioning.

Click here for an article about the Pink Floyd court case.

And, here is Pink Floyd's album Animals for your listening enjoyment.

Animals - Pink Floyd

Ron's Music Stuff March 2010 8 Tracks Mix

George Harrison's Birthday

Today, February 25th, is George Harrison's Birthday. Harrison lived a life rich with spiritual awareness.

Sharing his life's outlook through his well conceived albums, Harrison's solo output, while not as commercially successful as Lennon's or McCartney's, never disappointed.

I vividly remember heading to the record store the day any George Harrison record hit the racks. I couldn't get home fast enough to rip the plastic off of the cover, run the discwasher brush over the pristine vinyl surface and set the needle into the groove and listen to the magic coming out of the speakers.

George Harrison, The Quiet Beatle...

Abbey Road - A "Listed Building"

The BBC is reporting that Abbey Road Studios has now been made a listed building which will protect it from any plan to radically alter it. Abbey Road has been given Grade II status because of its historical merit.

It sure is good to see that all of this is working out well and a significant piece of contemporary history will be preserved as well as continue to be utilized.

Johnny Cash - American VI

Today "American VI: Ain't No Grave" is released. The album is comprised of the last recordings of John Cash.

From the press release: During these sessions, in May of 2003, less than four months before he passed, Cash lost his wife June Carter Cash due to surgical complications. According to Rubin, "Johnny said that recording was his main reason for being alive. I think it was the only thing that kept him going."

I will have more to say about the record after I've had a chance to digest it. Outside of Cash's original Sun Recordings, I have found Cash's American Recordings produced by Rick Rubin to be the strongest work of his career.

From "American VI: Ain't No Grave," here is A Satisfied MInd written in 1955 by J.H. "Red" Hayes and Jack Rhodes.

Elizabeth Fraser - Moses

Here's a terrific tune to get the week started...

Elizabeth Fraser (formerly of the Cocteau Twins) makes a comeback with her new single, Moses.

I just cannot get enough of this song. The song's layers interweave to create a beautiful soundscape that supports Fraser's inescapable vocals. The vinyl 12"EP is released as a limited edition of only 500 copies.

Here's hoping the release of Moses is an indication of more to come from this incredible artist.

EMI Denies Abbey Road Studios to be Sold

Great news! Public pressure has caused EMI to back off the sale of Abbey Road Studios. From an article by AFP EMI says, "In mid-2009, we did receive an offer to buy Abbey Road for in excess of 30 million pounds (34 million euros, 46 million dollars) but this was rejected since we believe that Abbey Road should remain in EMI's ownership," EMI said in a statement.

"EMI confirms that it is holding preliminary discussions for the revitalisation of Abbey Road with interested and appropriate third parties."

Danny Federici, Member of the E Street Band

Satch and I were lucky enough to witness the extraordinary performance of Danny Federici playing again with the E Street Band while fighting melanoma. It happened on the night of March 20, 2008, but it still feels like yesterday.

The performance of Sandy included here was magical and, near the end of the song, it felt like the entire fieldhouse was choking back tears of joy. He also played on Spirit in the Night and The Promised Land.

Danny again joined the band for the encore. Kitty's Back - t ripped right out of the box, but then it went higher and higher until it felt like we were witnessing the band jamming together back in 1974. They were playing for each other, in a public concert, in a way that I'd never witnessed any band perform. The music transcended performance and went to a place where the player's histories, hearts and minds connect in a way that is indescribable. (And I've been going to Springsteen shows since 1976.)

Danny passed away less than a month after the performance. Springsteen wrote a beautiful eulogy for Danny.

Abbey Road Studios - BBC Radio 2 and The Independent

The furious fire about the potential sale of the Abbey Road Studios continues to burn.

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 on February 18 was dedicated to the music made at Abbey Road Studios. Listen to the show here. Scroll down and listen to chapter three for the latest information about The National Trust purchasing the studios.

And today The Independent published an article, "Abbey Road's Greatest Hits" where some leading figures talk about their favorite music that was recorded at Abbey Road.

David Gilmour - Mihalis

I've been in a prog rock mood lately. Going back and listening to the solo albums made by members of Pink Floyd is always enjoyable and often times yields fine rewards. I'm still in search of Richard Wright's album, Wet Dream. Here's "Mihalis" from David Gilmour's first solo LP.

Abbey Road Studios - FOR SALE

As previously noted, EMI is on its last legs. And, as most entities these days businesses only care about the cash and couldn't care less about their legacy. That there is even the possibility that Abbey Road Studios could be sold and redeveloped into something other than what is has been since 1929.

The history of Abbey Road Studios is rich and incredibly important. Many pop/rock artists have recorded seminal albums in these hallowed studios. Best known for being the studio where the Beatles recorded their magic, the studio has produced an incredible amount of classical music and film scores.

The latest word is that The National Trust may purchase the studio. The trust had seen "an astonishing outpouring of public emotion" after word got out that EMI was going to sell the property.

Also, Paul McCartney mentioned, on BBC's Newsnight, that there was a possibility that a bid might be coming forward to purchase Abbey Road Studios, "There are a few people who have been associated with the studio for a long time who were talking about mounting some bid to save it. I sympathise with them. I hope they can do something, it'd be great. I have got so many memories there with the Beatles.

"It still is a great studio. So it would be lovely if somebody could get a thing together to save it."

BTW, a great read about the magic of the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios is Geoff Emerick's book, Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles.

John Hiatt - The Open Road

As many of you know, I'm a big and huge fan of John Hiatt. Way back in the mid 1970s, I first got hooked while playing Hiatt's album, Overcoats, on WEAX (then Tri State U's radio station) .

John's career has taken a lot of twists and turns. Taking off out of Indianapolis before finishing high school*, Hiatt headed south in search of a life in music. He has become a national treasure, a troubadour commenting on politics, relationships and life's journey. He continues to hone his craft - he has become an accomplished guitarist and an excellent singer. He's had the songwriting thing figured out for a while now (<-sarcasm), but he continues to plow ahead with new ideas and he hasn't lost his perspective on the world in which we live. John truly is one of America's great songwriters.

I'm really looking forward to Hiatt's new album, The Open Road, which is being released on my birthday, March 2, 2010. He's teamed up with a new "combo" - Kenny Blevins (former Goner and Sonny Landreth) on drums, Patrick O'Hearn on bass and Doug Lancio on guitars. (I'll always be partial to John's work with the Goners and the Nashville Queens.) The Open Road is the second outing with this "combo" so I'm hoping that they have gelled and the new record is classic Hiatt. Hiatt's first album, Same Old Man, with this combo was somewhat uneven and, compared to past albums, felt uninspired.

The first single, the title cut from the album, indicates that Hiatt is back with a real keeper.

1. The Open Road 4:33
2. Haulin’ 4:06
3. Go Down Swingin’ 3:38
4. Like A Freight Train 5:59
5. My Baby 4:10
6. Homeland 4:46
7. Wonder of Love 3:52
8. What Kind Of Man 3:50
9. Movin’ On 4:43
10. Fireball Roberts 4:27
11. Carry You Back Home 3:36

Here's a preview of The Open Road (30 sec. snippets)

*In 2006 John Hiatt completed his High School Diploma at his daughter's high school.

Video - Bob Dylan - Blood In My Eyes

For some reason I'm in the mood for this song to set the tone for today.

Bob Dylan at the White House - Video

Ron's Music Stuff 8 Tracks Mix for February 2010

Photography Exhibit

The Monroe Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe is holding and exhibit entitled "The Art of Sound."

From their website: "(the exhibit is) an extensive survey of more than 50 classic photographs portraying iconic personalities from the field of music as captured by renowned photographers. All genres of music are represented including opera, pop, jazz, classical and rock."

This looks to be an excellent exhibit with a very nice cross-section of artists and images. Check it out online or in person in Santa Fe. Man, I wish I was in Santa Fe...


Bob Dylan, 1975, Ken Regan

Dylan at the White House

Bob Dylan performed The Times They Are A-Changin' as a part of "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement."

In performing The Times They Are A-Changin,' Dylan's chose to convey one of his most direct messages to those in political power.

Today as the United States sits at a political crossroads, Dylan singing this song in the White House, the symbol of the world's greatest political power, is relevant, poignant and appropriate. The only problem is that many of the politicians that heard the message probably think Dylan is singing about somebody else...

Audio - Bob Dylan - White House 2010

Super Bowl Sunday - The Who!

Being a native Hoosier and living all but nine months of my life in the greater Indianapolis are, one would think that I'd be writing all about the Colts and today's Super Bowl.

But rather than that I thought that I'd write a little about the halftime entertainment. Pete and Roger have their hands full of playing up to last years twelve minutes of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's powerhouse. I think they can handle it.

The Who are iconic. Nobody has done more to stretch the art form of Rock and Roll than has Pete Townshend. Roger Daltrey's vocal prowess is beyond compare. Entwistle's playing has inspired generations of bassists. Keith Moon's controlled wild abandon gave rock and roll drumming a dimension bigger than just holding down the beat. Many claim The Who cannot be The Who when half of the original members are gone. I say balderdash. Pete and Roger have carried on and made great music, much of it underrated by the "critics."

The story goes that Pete wasn't too keen on reforming The Who after they "retired" back many years ago. He had plenty of dough coming in from song writing royalties but Roger and John were hurting financially. And, Pete had a small string of excellent solo albums under his belt. Finally Pete agreed to give the band a go and they've been going at it, albeit off and on since. This is just a guess, but I believe that after Pete heard and felt the power of The Who and their music he realized the importance of what they had created. And, pre-recession, the big money major acts were bringing in wasn't bad either.

This evening, for twelve minutes, on arguably the world's biggest stage, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will defy their age and deliver the message and promise of Rock and Roll.

From a Billboard article, here is Pete Townshend on the Super Bowl setlist:

"We're kinda doing a mashup of stuff," the guitarist tells Billboard. "A bit of 'Baba O'Riley,' a bit of 'Pinball Wizard,' a bit of the close of 'Tommy,' a bit of 'Who Are You,' and a bit of 'Won't Get Fooled Again.' It works -- it's quite a saga. A lot of the stuff that we do has that kind of celebratory vibe about it -- we've always tried to make music that allows the audience to go a bit wild if they want to. Hopefully it will hit the spot."

Bob Dylan Covers The Rolling Stones

Here's Dylan covering Brown Sugar from the early show at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 5, 2002.

This was an amazing evening of music where Dylan played two shows and only six songs were repeated.

Charlie Sexton was pretty sick that evening but gave it everything. The band from this leg of the "Never Ending Tour" is still my favorite contemporary Dylan back-up band. Charlie and Larry Campbell were a guitar tour de force.

Making this evening even more memorable, we were actually able to briefly meet Dylan after the show. Even scored an autograph!

Bob Dylan - Brown Sugar