In celebration of Friday’s arrival, please join me in bidding a good riddance to this past week. And, as I’m not one to dwell on days of bullshit past, check out my latest very metal roundup of new releases from San Fransisco band Orchid, the pride of Savannah, Black Tusk, and UK band Tracer, and many others over at Curious Tracks. This weekend I’ll also have the pleasure of sharing laffs and good times on The Movies About Girlspodcast. This week we shift our cinema gaze to the boob tube for TV Shows About Girls. Episode #166 has your favorite gang of teenage losers getting nostalgic for the year 1982 while watching the thankfully Chrissy-less Season 7 premiere of Three’s Company, ‘A Night Not To Remember‘. Dig it!
A Friday The 13th documentary, ‘Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th‘ will be out just in time for the end of summer camp season this August. So maybe stay out of the canoe this year. And the lake. And the cabins. And definitely don’t smoke pot, get drunk, or have sex in a hayloft.
If you’re a regular reader of CB.com, you know I am a huge Dio fan. So I could hardly contain the 1986 version of myself while watching this 12 minute clip (above) from the upcoming Dio concert DVD, Finding The Sacred Heart – Live In Philly 1986. Out on May 28th, the film was restored from it’s original 16mm form. As you might imagine, it’s full of giant, green fog breathing dragons, neon red swords, lots of leather, lasers, Craig Goldy, and Ronnie James Dio at the top of his game. True Dio fans, who probably own the original on VHS, will appreciate the huge improvement in image quality, and very metal sound upgrade.
The official 2013 list for Record Store Day came out a few days ago, and I’ve been busy culling some of my picks from the massive list this year. I also put together a metal-centric list for Purple Dog Records, so make sure you check that out as well. Just so you know exactly how big that hole in your wallet will be this time around.
2013′s list is jam-packed with eccentric, colored vinyl, as well as some sweet rarities. Like a couple of truly collectable mix-tape cassette releases. First, a comp from California indie label, Burger Records, A Taste of Burger Records. The second, a sick, out of print, three-cassette box set rarity from Kill Rock Stars will actually make your life better. That is if you manage to get your hands on one of the 500 sets. In addition to the previous non-vinyl recommendations, my top picks for RSD 2013 follows. Don’t forget, RSD is April 20th!
Aerosmith: Reissues of: Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic, and Get Your Wings.
Aerosmith is reissuing three records from their early catalog; their self-titled debut, Toys in the Attic, and Get Your Wings. All on 180 gram vinyl. If you only pick up one, it has to be the bands first raw, blues-riddled release from 1973.
The Black Keys/The Stooges: No Fun Side by Side 7″
This year, Record Store Day is offering something called “Side by Side,” a collection of exclusive RSD 7″ singles that feature a classic recording of a song on Side A, and a cover of the song by another artist on side B. For this one, The Black Keys get to cover the Stooge classic “No Fun”, with The Stooge-y original on side A. There are two versions: one on black splattered vinyl, and one on clear splattered colored vinyl (pictured above).
Earache Records’ contribution to RSD this year is something Earache is calling “The Worlds Shortest Album”. Clocking in at only 83 seconds, the mini-5″ vinyl comes in a 12″ gate fold sleeve. The short, but brutal track listing follows:
Side A: 01. Napalm Death – You Suffer (1.9s) 02. Napalm Death – Dead (2.7s) 03. Napalm Death – Your Achievement (4.2s) 04. Wormrot – False Grind Sodomy (2.5s) 05. Wormrot – You Suffer But Why Is It My Problem (4.0s) 06. Brutal Truth – Collateral Damage (4.0s) 07. A.C. – Howard Wulkan’s Bald (4.0s)
Side B: 01. Lawnmower Deth – Be Scene Not Heard (4.7s) 02. Painkiller – Trailmarker (6.0s) 03. Brutal Truth – Blockhead (7.3s) 04. Morbid Angel – Bil Ur-Sag #2 Lava (6.9s) 05. A.C. – Windchimes Are Gay (9.5s) 06. Insect Warfare – Street Sweeper (13.5s)
David Bowie – Drive In Saturday
Since there is no such thing as “too much David Bowie,” the Thin White Duke has two RSD releases this year. The title track to Bowie’s 1973 ”Aladdin Sane” release, Drive in Saturday, will be pressed into a beautiful picture disc (above). The live version on side B comes from Bowie’s 1973 performance on the Russell Harty Show.
David Bowie: The Stars Are out Tonight
The second Bowie RSD release comes in the form of a white, 7″, with two tracks from Bowies latest record, The Next Day. Side A has my favorite song from Day, “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”, and side B features the track, “Where Are We Now?”.
Brother Ali – Shadows in the Sun
Shadows in the Sun is the second release from Brother Ali. Originally released in 2003, Shadows in the Sun is getting a pretty deluxe redux for it’s 10th anniversary. Pressed into a truly collectable work of art onto a custom picture disc (pictured above) . It comes with a clear plastic gatefold PVC jacket, as well as a digital download card. I’m a huge fan of Brother Ali, and this record is a great way to become one yourself.
The Cure – Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
Out of print for a decade, The Cure’s 1987 record will be pressed onto appropriately colored red 12″ vinyl.
Dio – Magica Picture Disc
Another Record Store Day thankfully means it’s time for another completely evil Dio picture disc. 2000′s Magica was Dio’s first concept record. I can’t say enough about the art on these Dio discs, except that they are even more amazing in person. Dio’s classic track Holy Diver does double duty, as the chosen cover for another RSD’s 7″ Side by Side with Killswitch Engage. Making this one even more metal is its pressing on opaque, ox-blood red vinyl.
Golden Void – Rise to the Out of Reach b/w Smiling Raven 7″
Both of the tracks on from San Fransisco’s Golden Void 7″ are brand new, and will get their exclusive on Record Store Day. After digging on the band’s 2012 debut (the vocals on the record are very Ozzy/Sabbath era so do the math. Golden Void = Awesome), it’s excellent metal news that more sonic sounds from Golden Void are coming.
Moby/Mark Lanegan: Side By Side “The Lonely Night”
7″ release “The Lonely Night” is an exclusive RSD release of a one-off track collaboration of Mark Lanegan and Moby. Side B contains a remix of the song by electro wizard, Photek.
Public Enemy: Planet Earth–The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Greatest Rap Hits
If for some reason you don’t own any Public Enemy (?), this RSD release will help remedy that. Pressed on picture disc. Track listing follows. And it’s louder than a bomb.
Public Enemy Greatest Hits on picture disc vinyl. Digitally remastered versions of: Welcome to the Terror Dome, Can’t Truss It, 911 Is A Joke, Shut ‘Em Down, Fight The Power, Give It Up, Harder Than You Think, By The Time I Get To Arizona, Everything, Louder Than A Bomb, Lost At Birth, Public Enemy #1, Shut Em Down (Pete Rock), I Shall Not Be Moved, Harder Than You Think (London Radio Edit)
This 7″ picture disc from Testament has the band banging out two very metal covers, from two other equally metal bands. Side A. has Chuck and the boys doing The Scorpions proud, with a cover of the 1980 title track to ”Animal Magnetism“. Side B. features Testament’s take on another title track, this time it’s 1983′s “Powerslave” by Iron Maiden.
This 180 gram vinyl, expanded edition of the only Mad Season record, 1995 ‘s Above, will get it’s exclusive release on RSD as a double-LP. Included on the expanded edition are three songs from the unfinished second Mad Season album with new vocals by Mark Lanegan, as well as a previously unreleased instrumental “Interlude” and a remixed version of John Lennon’s “I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier.”
Another Seattle band in the RSD mix this year is the sadly disbanded, Akimbo. Live to Crush is the final release from the Seattle heavy metal riff masters. The band disbanded in the fall 2012, but recorded one final skull-crushing record, hand-numbered, and limited to a run of 500.
2013 marks the 20th anniversary of Cypress Hill’s second stellar release, Black Sunday. The double LP will be released on two, 12″ 180-gram vinyl, and an individually-numbered gatefold jacket.
To celebrate Sub Pop’s 25th Anniversary, the label is putting out a limited-edition comp of what they feel are some of the most vital, cutting-edge artists from around the world. All tracks are previously unreleased, and exclusive for RSD. The LP also includes an 11″x11″ booklet, a MP3 download coupon, and cover art by Nathan Fox. Track listing follows.
Side A His Electro Blue Voice – Kidult Chancha Via Circuito – Lacandona Protomartyr – French Poet Lori Goldston – Tangled North Iron Lung – A Victory For Polio
Side B Soldiers Of Fortune – Money Peaking Lights – Subterranean Brainblow Ed Schrader’s Music Beat – Radio Eyes My Disco – Guided Starred – Doomed”
I’m currently typing this post, one day late, from a secluded spot on the Oregon coast. I have three things to say about my experience so far. One, vacation is awesome. Two, Oregon makes great beer. Three, vacation is awesome.
Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal” a very metal book by rock journo’s rock journalists Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman, contains very metal confessions from Axl Rose, Ronnie James Dio, and Ozzy, among others. Due out on May 14, 2013.
Ever wanted to know what it’s like touring with Motorhead? The new book by Pep Bonet called Röadkill, details the photographers intimate experience touring with Motorhead back in 2006. And since I know you don’t like to read, and because Bonet is a photographer, there are lots of pictures.
*(Editors note: Paul Stanley asked the 1988 version of me if he could “feel my boobs”. For the record, I was not backstage, a groupie, but the producer of the radio show he and the band were visiting, promoting “Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits”. I said no, but still had Stanley sign my Double Platinum gatefold. The End.) *
Iron Maiden set to release 1988′s “Maiden England” on DVD.
According to an interview with Blairing Out (via Classic Rock), Ronnie James Dio’s widow Wendy said that the hospital that treated Dio after his cancer diagnosis has received an $11 million dollar grant to fund gastric cancer research. Dio succumbed to the disease in May of 2010.
With our seed money ($117,000) they (the M.D. Cancer Center in Houston) were able to go to the government and say, ‘We’ve got funding for this.’ The government gave them a grant of $11 million. That was amazing.
To date, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund has raised approximately $600,000. In September of this year, the US House of Representatives introduced Resolution 800 which, if passed, will make November National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, and hopefully help raise more funds for gastric cancer research.
But don’t get too excited my fellow Dio worshipers. According to Dio’s long-time drummer Simon Wright, the tracks might never see the light of day. Wright says that decision is up to Dio’s ex/manager Wendy Dio. Still, it’s exciting to know that maybe someday we might get hear something “new” from the late, great Ronnie James Dio.
Read the full interview with Wright, who now keeps time with the RJD tribute outfit, Dio Disciples, via Classic Rock Revisited.
Welcome to My Nightmare, Ronnie James Dio covering the classic Alice Cooper track.
You can expect to hear a lot of Halloween inspired music on the blog this month. Today’s Daily Earwig is a little know gem of a cover from Ronnie James Dio. Dio recorded the classic Alice Cooper track “Welcome To My Nightmare” for the 1999 Cooper tribute, Humanary Stew: A Tribute To Alice. The track also appears on the equally metal 2010 comp, Heavy Metal Halloween.
Ronnie James Dio “Stand Up and Shout” candle by Bath Sabbath. $13.
This very metal candle by Etsy shop, Bath Sabbath (why didn’t I think of that?!?), features the lyrics to the Dio classic, “Stand Up and Shout.” Bonus? The equally metal artist behind the candle, Virginia Giordano, donates a portion from each candle to the the Ronnie James Dio Stand up and Shout Cancer Fund. I’m also a huge fan of Bath Sabbath’s studded bath soap. It’s a must for any metal head that actually showers.
George Harrison’s fan appreciation letter to Dio. May 21, 1981.
Is it real? Or just a favor for a very metal friend of Beatles guitarist, George Harrison? Either way, this maybe long-lost fan letter from Harrison, to the late Ronnie James Dio just made my day.
