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 Mark Evetts - UK Buyer Friday 29 February 2008 Awards and Autographed items...:  are 2 of the more collectable formats and we have some superb items just in stock, with some award discs from Zep frontman Robert Plant including a BPI certified gold vinyl award for 'Mighty Rearranger' and some autographed Morrissey goodies including a superb framed poster for the 'Ringleader Of The Tormentors' album.
On a personal level, my Rover motor vehicle appears to be trying to bankrupt me single-handedly. Just weeks after needing a new oil sump, (whatever that is), it now requires a new radiator. A Basil Fawlty type thrashing is imminent...
Laura Stoneman - UK and Import Releases Thursday 28 February 2008 OK! OK! Don't H.A.A.R.P. on about it...........: Greetings Muse fans!! I am delighted to finally present you with the details of the eagerly anticipated CD & DVD release of Muse's now-legendary 2 sold-out performances at Wembley Stadium last June.  Over the weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June 2007 MUSE took to the stage at the new Wembley Stadium for two unprecedented sold out shows that are increasingly recognised as amongst the definitive live moments of the year. Muse were the first band to take the stage at the stadium since its redevelopment: now those who were amongst the 150,000 lucky ones and those who couldn't get tickets can relive these events with the release of a brand new CD and DVD of the shows. Released on 17th March, the audio CD is from the Saturday night show and the DVD has the footage from the Sunday night. The Special Edition features as a Box Set containing a set of 3 postcards and also features additional exclusive backstage footage. You can order the Standard Edition HERE and the Special Box Edition RIGHT HERE!!!
Matt Lambert - UK Chart Product & Imports Thursday 28 February 2008 New Audiophile CD format due soon!: The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing, SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. We're expecting titles soon from Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Cream, The Police, The Cure, Van Morrison, John Mayall and may more - STAY TUNED!
Stephen Borkowski - UK Buyer Wednesday 27 February 2008 It's Official!: It has finally been announced after much speculation that the title for the forthcoming Madonna album is 'Hard Candy'. Some tracks have already been leaked onto the net and a NY DJ played a track entitled Candy Store and later publically apologised to Warner Bros and Madonna who was displeased at the track getting a public airing before the albums April 29th release. The first single from the album is called 'Four Minutes' and features Justin Timberlake on the track and in the videos - regardless of how good or bad the song is it's bound to get a LOT of airtime. I just hope it's half as good as the Confessions albums which was one of my suprise albums of '06 and not something I'd normally listen to.
While waiting for the new material why not check out our recent additions to the collectors store..
Laura Stoneman - UK and Import Releases Wednesday 27 February 2008 She Returns.......: Hello there. I would just like to confirm that, despite reports at eil towers last Wednesday suggesting that I'd run off with the Green Giant, I am still very much alive and had just fallen victim to the Medicinal Green Goddess that is 'Night Nurse'... But I do come with an apology as since I took off for a week of birthday celebrations in January, I haven't been very good and brought you all fabulous updates of up & coming releases and gig reviews. Well very quickly, the beginning of February saw me winning a pair of tickets to go to the filming of Channel 4's Album Chart Show at London's KoKo as my beloved Guillemots would be performing, I had a fantastic night and was beyond pleased when I found out they would be performing 3 tracks on the night, I also got to hear the outstanding voice of Duffy live - WOW!! And this past weekend, I travelled upto London to see Mr Mark 'Man-of-the-Moment' Ronson at the Hammersmith Apollo on the last night of tour, his 10-piece band were phenomenal - is there no end to his talents? Next Wednesday, I am off to Alexandra Palace to see the mighty Editors for the 3rd time, so watch this space for more reviews. Anyhow, back to the future as I thought I would give you an insight into some eagerly anticipated debut & comeback albums which will be hitting the shelves soon.  HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR Hercules And Love Affair Hercules & Love Affair is Andrew Butler with Antony [Hegarty of ‘and the Johnsons], Nomi, and Kim Ann. Andrew Butler emerged from making music for college-based dance projects into a fully-fledged recording artist, via the New York art scene. He hooked up with his friends from there and got them to collaborate and sing his songs and Hercules & Love Affair is the result. Antony rose to prominence when he won 2005's Nationwide Mercury Music Prize and this is a major step into a new area... a disco-influenced mix of glamour and melancholy, happiness and clubbing that has sprung out of the mutual worlds of Andrew and Antony, Kim Ann and Nomi. Nomi is a native New Yorker who met Andrew at one of Antony's performances years ago. She has performed with the likes of Debbie Harry and Cocorosie alongside longstanding recording collaborations with various NY DJs and hip hop artists. Her autobiographical debut album 'Lost In Lust' has been compared to a cross between Wu-Tang Clan's RZA on beats and Sade on vocals. Here Nomi lends her voice to the seductive 'You Belong'. Brooklyn-based Kim Ann Foxmann's career as acid-house DJ, jewellery designer and singer has its roots in the legendary San Francisco club scene of the early/mid-nineties. Shortly after her move to NYC, she started throwing dance music/art parties and gave Andrew his first residency that lasted 3 years. He in turn provided her with her first pair of turntables, which led her to start DJ'ing. They have been regular collaborators ever since, engaging in art activities of all sorts and seeing her become part of NYC's nightlife glitterati with a distinct vocal style. Check out 'Athene' to hear her in full swing. Hercules & Love Affair is 2008's most exciting dancefloor concoction, an arthouse vision of pure pop by way of futuristic electronica and classic dance music, where beautiful, bruising harmonies and tensile rhythms collide in resurgent soundscapes and emotive disco workouts.  VINCENT VINCENT AND THE VILLAINS Gospel Bombs'Gospel Bombs' is the masterfully crafted debut longplayer by Vincent Vincent And The Villains. The long awaited release of this record will come as a welcome relief to the ever growing legions of Villains fans who've been waiting patiently (whilst religiously attending the band's infamous gigs / collecting the limited indie releases) over the last couple of years and a breath of fresh air to new ears that have yet to discover the band. United by a love of great British rock 'n' roll, band members Vincent, Alex, Tom and Will were woven together by Vincent's drive to twist it, modernise it and love it like it were exclusively his own, and together they set about making the album they'd always dreamt of making. After turbulence amongst the personnel and four years of troubled existence, 'Gospel Bombs' may never have happened. But right now that matters not, because they've made a brilliant, unique album that is unapologetic in its resistance to adhere to the prevailing trends that will disappear forgotten in the howling winds of a night very soon. This is an album that is true and bold - 12 very different pop songs, one great rock 'n' roll record.  THE KILLS Midnight BoomThe eagerly anticipated 'Midnight Boom' sees The Kills [rock's most enigmatic duo] offering their most stunning album yet. Their first album, 'Keep On Your Mean Side', won widespread critical acclaim, and gained them their ever passionate and devoted cool cult following. When the band returned in 2005 with 'No Wow', they returned with an edgier, sharper sound that pushed rock 'n' roll boundaries, whilst maintaining their strong ties to the art world. The production on new album 'Midnight Bloom', featuring beats and studio smarts from Spank Rock's producer Alex Epton aka Armani XXXchange, combined with Alison's confidently teasing vocals, creates a truly forward thinking, fresh new sound for the band. Taking inspiration from Pizza Pizza Daddio, a Sixties documentary about kids in inner-city schools in the USA, The Kills' Jamie Hince & Alison Mosshart started building rhythms influenced by the children's dark playground songs, on an old school hand-punched MPC-60 hip hop drum sequencer. The results are shown in some of the hypnotic original tracks on the album, like 'Cheap And Cheerful'.  MGMT Oracular SpectacularMGMT release their much anticipated debut album 'Oracular Spectacular' on March 10th. The album will be preceded by the stellar single 'Time To Pretend' on March 3rd. MGMT are one of the bands of the moment, encapsulating a shift toward intelligent, epic music, of which 'Time To Pretend' is the first marker. One of a select froup of artists tipped by BBC.co.uk for greatness in 2008. 'Time To Pretend' is the sound of a band taking off and leaving everyone else in their vapour trail. Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, for they are MGMT, have described their sound as 'Future 70s'. There is an ambition to the music, as if everything out there is there for the taking. Inspired by duos, the MGMT have absorbed the sounds of the likes of Chrome, Suicide, Spacemen 3 and Hall And Oates on their journey to where they are today. 'Oracular Spectacular' was produced by Dave Fridmann [Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips]. MGMT are the antidote, the saviours, bringing their accessible, universal sound to bear on a world in need of a kick. There's huge swathes of Technicolour as they absorb the limitless possibilities out there. 'Oracular Spectacular' is loaded with future classics and is primed to be the soundtrack to 2008.  WE ARE SCIENTISTS Brain Thrust MasteryWe Are Scientists shocked themselves and impressed many others with their 2005 debut 'With Love & Squalor', which sold 150,000 copies in the UK on the strength of the already-classic singles 'The Great Escape', 'Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt' and 'It's A Hit'. Twenty months of near-constant touring culminated in a sold-out UK tour, including two nights at Brixton Academy in autumn 2006, plus a very pleasant Christmas. The band spent 2007 at weight-loss camps, alcoholics' dry-out facilities, and a race car school, yet also found time to pen, record and road-test their sophomore offering 'Brain Thrust Mastery'. If WAS's first album had been far, far better than it was, and of a far more mature style, and if they had then released a limp, unenjoyable second record, and if 'Brain Thrust Mastery were actually their third album, it would be hailed as a "return to form", as "equal to - in many ways an improvement on - the monumental debut".  SUPERGRASS Diamond Hoo HaThe mighty Supergrass are back with their brand new album 'Diamond Hoo Ha' released on 24 March. Recorded in Berlin's legendary Hansa studios over a 3 week period with producer Nick Launay [Arcade Fire, Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs] 'Diamond Hoo Ha' captures the energy and enthusiasm of a band firing on all cylinders, none more evident than on opening track 'Diamond Hoo Ha Man' [released as a limited edition 7" in January and achieving single of the week status in NME and The Fly]. To quote one review, "the beefy, stomporific riffs are back on board". A notable departure from 2005's more pastoral and reflective [yet still critically acclaimed] 'Road To Rouen', 'Diamond Hoo Ha' features a handful of rocking tracks debuted last summer when Supergrass were hand-picked as main support for the Arctic Monkeys at their Old Trafford shows. Tracks such as 'Rough Knuckles' and future singles 'Bad Blood' and 'Rebel In You' are welcome additions to the band's already impressive cannon of classic songs like 'Caught By the Fuzz', 'Richard III', 'Moving' and 'Pumping On Your Stereo'. 13 years into their career and with 5 albums and a 'Best Of' already under their belts, Gaz, Danny, Mick and Rob are sounding fresher than ever. Since finishing the album the band have played 2 Christmas homecoming shows at Oxford Town Hall, as well as the XFM Winter Wonderland show at Brixton Academy with Bloc Party. Not to mention a series of "hush hush" club dates from Gaz and Danny under the not-so-secret identity of the Diamond Hoo Ha Men.  THE YOUNG KNIVES SuperabundanceFollowing on from their critically acclaimed debut album, 'Voices Of Animals And Men', Young Knives release their hotly anticipated follow up 'Superabundance'. A muscular clatter of pulsing guitars, head-spinning percussive thuds and harmonic, brotherly vocals provide the backbone to a rich throng of giddy, excited ideas and ageless, wry lyrical themes.  GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY Searching For The Hows And WhysCo-produced by Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and Nitin Sawnhey, 'Searching For The Hows And Whys' is the follow up to the twenty one year old’s 2006 debut album 'The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager' which was a massive hit with fans and critics alike. Searching For The Hows And Whys', recorded at south London's Spirit Dance Studios, eclipses the scale and ambition of everything that Get Cape Wear Cape Fly has done before. In addition to tracks such as 'Window Of Your Mind' and 'Find The Time' which were road-tested during riotous live shows this year, the album also features a collaboration with long-time touring friend Kate Nash who appears on the track 'Better Things'.  NEON NEON Stainless StyleNeon Neon's debut album 'Stainless Style' is a highly imaginative slice of conceptual power-pop inspired by the incredible life of playboy automobile impresario, John DeLorean (the maker of the car in 'Back To The Future' / busted for cocaine dealing / burnt down his factory / dated Raquel Welsh amongst other supermodels). On 'Stainless Style' Super Furry Animals front man and solo star Gruff Rhys and LA based producer Boom Bip unite pop, electro, rock, crunk, hip-hop and italo disco, whilst exploring a range of subjects and events relevant to DeLorean's life. Album guests include Spank Rock, Yo Majesty, Har Mar Superstar, Fab from The Strokes, Magic Numbers, Fat Lip and more. Follows the two sold out, limited 12" picture disc releases 'Raquel' and 'Trick For Treat' featuring Spank Rock and the preceding single 'I Lust U'.  BE YOUR OWN PET Get AwkwardMaking 'Get Awkward' presented new challenges for Be Your Own Pet's Jonas, Jemina, Nathan, and John, and yielded some surprises. The songs remain fast and loud, totally wired and tantalizingly brief. Applying the dubious word 'mature' is open for heated debate – string arrangements and soppy ballads are blessedly absent – but the music definitely reflects a sharp increase in experience. Working once again with producer and Redd Kross veteran Steve McDonald, the quartet savoured the recording experience more on the second pass; overdubs and screaming matches were in shorter supply. As for the title – "We called it 'Get Awkward' for a reason," concludes Nathan. "There has been some definite awkwardness in learning what being in a band is about". Graduating from basement parties to touring with Arctic Monkeys, or dividing press time between homemade fanzines, Rolling Stone, and a million blogs. Where the music is concerned, though, any growing pains have only served Be Your Own Pet well. This UK edition of the album contains four exclusive tracks compared to the US version  OPERATOR PLEASE Yes Yes VindictiveTHE pop album of 2008 featuring tracks with such startling song writing and precociousness, you've got a band that is ready to erupt in 2008. Operator Please release the album 'Yes Yes Vindictive', which features the underground smashes 'Leave It Alone', 'Just A Song About Ping Pong' and forthcoming latest single 'Get What You Want'. CD features a link to exclusive online content including access to two bonus tracks – 'Rocking Horse' and 'One Yellow Button'.  TEENAGERS Reality CheckWhen Parisian trio The Teenagers burst into our lives with the 'Homecoming' EP in 2007, with its no holds barred lyrics set to a gentle lo-fi backdrop, we all fell in love. Not just with them, but with everything they see [and you see] through their teen-tinted glasses.
Lead singer Quentin Delafon, guitarist / synth man Dorian Dumont and bassist Michael Szpiner remind us what it's like to be young. Between the three of them they shared a broad breadth of interests, including Slayer, M83, Weezer, Jacques Le Cont, Nirvana, Dillinger Escape Plan, Madonna and Beverley Hills 90210. Now set to unleash their debut album, 'Reality Check', we can all have a piece of their nostalgic humorous world. Featuring new single 'Love No', The Teenagers continue with their cleverly crafted brand of synth-pop with candid lyrics about everything you say – but never hear on a record. Stay tuned..... CLICK HERE to see our complete forthcoming release list....
Richard Austin - UK Office Wednesday 27 February 2008 Dr Livingstone, I presume ?: The dust settles ...
Slowly a hunched figure rises from the murk as motes dance in the dagger of light piercing the darkness like the opening of an ancient tomb that has been sealed for thousands of years.
Still grasping the treasures of a bygone era, the figure stumbles into the light.
"Coffee", he croaks, his parched throat layered with the dust of ancient days.
Having worked his way as far back as rack three, he was feared lost for some time until a small movement revealed his presence and a rescue bid was started.
Following a trail of small chocolates, he was lured back out of the darkness once again to rejoin his colleagues.
But the search must go on. "I have to go back", he cried, "There is so much more to do".
Revitalised by human contact once more (& several cups of coffee), the figure turns to return to the nether-world that has become his existence over the past two weeks.
This time, he wisely unravels a golden thread behind him so that, hopefully, his colleagues will be able to trace his path into the darkness.
"That Lora Munro album MUST be here somewhere", he mused ...
Michael Cambridge - UK Northern Office Wednesday 27 February 2008 Earthquake anyone??: It seems that the shaking sensation I felt in my chair at 12.55am this morning wasn't my gas recliner about to explode, but the countries largest earthquake in 24 years. It measured 5.2 on the Richter Scale.. Credit crunch, Government in crisis, Earthquakes, Global warming - What next!!!!
Saul Watson - Product Promotion Tuesday 26 February 2008 Save Planet Rock!!: 
Not Sure Why Planet Rock is For Sale?
You've not heard the sad news that UK classic rock station PLANET ROCK may close, because it has been put up for sale by its owner GCap Media. If they are not able to secure a buyer, it is has been agreed that Planet Rock will close on 28 March 2008. Current listening figures show Planet Rock has over 560,000 listeners, more than Radio 6. Showing the station has popular support makes it more attractive to a new buyer. So come on, make sure that the music you love doesn't disappear to leave the airwaves saturated with yet more maufactured, pop clones, or navel gazing indie soundalikes.
Michael Cambridge - UK Northern Office Monday 25 February 2008 Vinyl Beauties: A variety of vinyl beauties to tempt you this week, from rare 1976 Japanese Black Sabbath It's Alright promo sample 7" to The Who Pinball Wizard promo 7" with a sprinkling of deleted 12" singles from the past 20 years throw in. But if CD is more your thang (80's expression) why not try a slice of Radiohead's - The Bends Pink Pop edition double CD.
Keep checking back at my latest arrivals for more goodies...
Mark Evetts - UK Buyer Monday 25 February 2008 Vinyl offerings...:  A veritable feast of choice vinyl items have been added recently ranging from box sets (including a Who singles box), limited edition picture discs (including Nirvana), coloured vinyl (including Pulp) and sealed audiophile albums (including Rolling Stones LP's).
See my latest arrivals page for all the latest additions.
Tonight i will be watching the latest edition of the marvellous 'Life in Cold Blood' programme. To see some other wonderful Creatures, click here.
Peter Fenton - North American Office Saturday 23 February 2008 The Graphic Arts:   Hi Everyone. You can live and breathe music, but our customers know that there is often more to the entire collecting experience than just the music, alone. Part of the "artistry" of a musical career involves the material manifestation of a performer's musical vision, more so now than ever before. When GUNS N ROSES exploded on the scene with their MASSIVE album APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION in 1987, they paired their in-your-face musical style with an EXTREMELY in-your-face album cover in America, meant to provoke, disturb, and incite. It wasn't long before the offensive imagery was withdrawn, and replaced with something far more benign. In the process, the original album in question became an instant collectable, and we have it available still MINT and SEALED from new, 21 years after it disappeared from store shelves. Coveted for an entirely different reason, original animation cells are highly collectable, one-of-a-kind snippets of an artist's bigger picture, literally! We are proud to offer for sale this amazing PINK FLOYD super-rarity: an ORIGINAL ANIMATION CELL FROM THE WALL, which features THE WARLORD character with his wings fully spread, and comes professionally mounted and framed... PLUS, I've reduced the price substantially in order to move it off our wall and onto yours, where it belongs! Whether art provokes, calms or inspires you, we have LOADS of MEMORABILIA for you to peruse and enjoy, so feel free to browse at will. Have a great week, everyone!
Saul Watson - Product Promotion Thursday 21 February 2008 Brits 2008: Our Brit award page has now been updated with a full report of last nights show. You can also see how we did in predicting the outcome of the major gons that were handed out. Let's just say that a career as an astrologer does not beckon for yours truly. If you have any comments or opinions ont he show ro the winners and losers let us know. Click here for the Brits page.
Stephen Borkowski - UK Buyer Tuesday 19 February 2008 Jazz.....Nice: Just a quick update from me today as I've been out on the road most of the day.
Not usually one for buying Jazz, I've just returned from purchasing a small Jazz collection comprising entirely of audiophile pressings. So if your tastes are Miles Davis Prestige Recordings mastered by Steve Hoffman, released on DCC gold compact disc, or Tubby Hayes Japanese reissue vinyl, then you should keep an eye on my latest arrivals over the next couple of days.
Also noteworthy from recent visits is an 80's-tastic collection of 12" and LP's containing some top tunes that remind me of youth club discos in my dim and distant past (We Call It Acieeed anyone?), lots of FGTH items (which make the directors here get misty eyed) and of course no 80's collection would be complete without Madonna.
Check my latest arrivals NOW!
Mark Evetts - UK Buyer Monday 18 February 2008 Brits on tour...:
There's been various 'incidents' over the years, which have been generally more entertaining than the award winners themselves but pride of place must surely go to the legendary KLF who in 1992 threatened to throw buckets of blood over the audience, settled for a 'mock machine-gunning' of them instead, dumped a dead sheep on the steps of the venue before sending a motorcycle courier to collect their award!
You can't imagine Take That putting on a similar performance can you...
Messers Drummond & Cauty, you are sorely missed (though probably not by the 'music biz').
Michael Cambridge - UK Northern Office Monday 18 February 2008 Are You In Control??: Finally saw the Joy Division biopic Control on DVD this weekend and what a wonder of film-making it was, a delight of cinematic splendour, tastefully portaying the demise of one of the greatest songwriters ever. The sort of movie that even makes you want to form a band again - Even Mrs C liked it!! The performance of Sam Riley [Ex 10,000 Things] and the rest of the band was incredible, especially considering the guys playing Hooky, Bernard and Stephen etc hadn't even picked up an instrument before - superb!!
Peter Fenton - North American Office Saturday 16 February 2008 From Austria to Israel... and Beyond:        Hi Everyone. It's fair to say that we have a large and varied selection of rarities to offer the collectors of QUEEN, THE BEATLES, MADONNA, U2, and THE ROLLING STONES. But when it comes to lesser known, or perhaps lower profile artists, we try to stay on top of our customers' desires in that arena, as well. Yes, it's indeed true that OFRA HAZA once asked me to marry her, but it was only meant for one song while she was performing live in San Francisco in 1992, and I foolishly declined! Sadly, this week marks the 8th anniversary of her untimely death, though her voice will live on through her vast back catalogue of albums sung in both English and Hebrew, and from her famous guest vocal appearances on projects by artists as diverse as PAULA ABDUL, SISTERS OF MERCY, PAUL ANKA, and of course ERIC B & RAKIM, who notoriously sampled Ofra's international hit IM NIN'ALU on their groundbreaking single Paid In Full in 1987. We have but one copy in stock of Ofra's 1992 CD Single from Japan, DAW DA HIYA, which has the added distinction of featuring a spoken narration by none other than IGGY POP! It's heartbreaking to think Ofra would now have been a vital 50 years old -- such a gifted talent cut short in this life. This week would have also marked the 51st birthday of another supreme talent, FALCO, who sadly died 10 years ago this month, and whose legacy still inspires countless musicians in Germany, Austria and beyond. More than just the artist most famous for ROCK ME AMADEUS, Falco's nine studio albums brilliantly and unapologetically expressed his artistry, national pride, political views and his public persona. Ofra Haza and Johann "Falco" Hölzel are two of my all-time favorite artists, and I urge you to explore their musical legacies. Have a great week, everyone!
Mark Evetts - UK Buyer Friday 15 February 2008 Gee Gees...:
Right, a minor rant. If one more person on tv (usually news/interview programmes) uses the word 'robust', i shall personally go round and insert a large garden gnome in them.
Generally used by incompetent, good for nothing, middle managers whilst trying to squirm their way out of a situation of their own making, it's becoming the 'buzz' word of the moment.
You know the sort of thing - 'So Mr Useless, why did all those people in your filthy hospital die of MRSA?'
'Well, i'm satisifed that our procedures are robust...'
Grrrrr. Go away.
Saul Watson - Product Promotion Wednesday 13 February 2008 Planet Rock News::  More U2 Remasters Due: Following the success of the band’s re-released Joshua Tree last year, U2 are set to release three more of their classics as “deluxe” editions.
Details are a little scarce at the moment, but it seems that the band’s three albums Boy, War and October are set to be remastered and re-released sometime in May. According to sources the band will be releasing each of the albums in a deluxe format along with a bonus CD (not unlike the deluxe edition of the Joshua Tree at the tail end of 07). Who New Album?:Pete Townsend has revealed that the band are in the initial stages of preparing a brand new album. In his latest blog on thewho.com, Townsend says that both he and Roger Daltrey are prepping ideas for a brand new record. He said that: "Roger is working on his own idea for an album for us, with the producer T-Bone Burnett, who is an old friend of mine. I am hoping to come up with some songs for a more conventional Who record." Townsend also added that they will be looking to play some live dates this year – maybe at some festivals.
REM Announce UK Date: REM have confirmed the first batch of dates for their forthcoming Summer tour in Europe. The band will kick off with a very special show at the Royal Albert Hall in London – the first time they’ve ever played the venue. The London gig will take place on 24 March and is at the moment the only UK date announced. However, more concerts and festivals are planned for later in the year.
Stephen Borkowski - UK Buyer Tuesday 12 February 2008 Sealed Beatles Originals......: During my recent trip to the States I was fortunate enough to find some original 1960's Beatles albums. No surprise there really, they were pretty popular in the USof A too you know but what makes these particular items of interest is that each one remains factory sealed in original shrinkwrap! True time warp copies like these don't crop up very often, after all these albums are in most cases more than 40 years old and have (so far) remained unopened, mint and unplayed. We only have one copy of each of these albums and once they're gone they're gone so if you miss out this time you could find yourself waiting a long time for the next sealed copy to hit the market! Some titles have already been added to the site but a couple more are still left to be added. The titles include... 1. Meet The Beatles
2. Beatles '65
3. Beatles VI
4. Something New
5. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
6. Help!
7. Yesterday & Today
8. Abbey Road
9. Let It Be
10. Yellow Submarine
Also, we have a couple of Beatles titles left from the sealed Mobile Fidelity collection I bought last month. Check out my latest arrivals or our Collectors Store to see which ones are still available....
Michael Cambridge - UK Northern Office Monday 11 February 2008 Gems from Japan: Greetings bloggers - I have a superb selection of Japanese rarities to feast your obsession on:- An incredible Black Sabbath Paranoid LP with unbelievably rare Vertigo OBI plus rare Rolling Stones 1971 Golden History 5 x LP box set or even a 2007 limited edition CD box set by The Allman Brothers. Oh and the boat is still marooned on the beach!!
Peter Fenton - North American Office Saturday 09 February 2008 Divas... Las Vegas!!:   Hi Everyone. DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOVE, and DID I EVER TELL YOU YOU'RE MY HERO? We here in Las Vegas have bid a fond farewell to CELINE DION, following her record breaking five year run at Caesar's Palace. When it came time to pick a replacement for Celine, it seems that one Diva was not enough, so starting later this month, The Divine Miss M, herself -- BETTE MIDLER -- will bring her THE SHOWGIRL MUST GO ON extravaganza to town for 100 performances per year. Beginning in May, CHER will stop saying farewell, and instead back up her DUMP TRUCK OF SEQUINS onto the same stage for an extended stay, and for an alleged $60,000,000 payout! If you are a fan of both performers -- and WE KNOW YOU ARE -- please check out all of the latest items we have available to purchase from our CHER COLLECTORS CATALOGUE and our BETTE MIDLER COLLECTORS CATALOGUE. Among the top new additions I'd like you to consider are this cool CHER CHRONICLES CD SET and these amazing EXPERIENCE THE DIVINE official tour itineraries from Bette's spectacular 1994 Tour, available for the FIRST LEG, SECOND LEG, and THIRD LEG of the North American portion of her concert schlep. Have a great week, everyone!
Julian Thomas - UK Office Friday 08 February 2008 Pangram-tastic: Well, we've done it.
A to Z, via 26 randomly-picked magnetic letters. Appropriately, today was 'F',
or Frankie Friday. I'd forgotten quite how good an album Liverpool is - not
great, but it's stood up quite well and isn't as embarrassing as some of the
relics we've inflicted upon one another since Mark introduced our daily aural
alphabet routine. The rules are now well established, and despite the occasional
challenge and some necessary bending to include jazz Quartets and Quintets in
preference to Queen, we have pretty much got it sussed.
My offerings today
consisted of FGTH, A Flock of Seagulls and the much-overlooked, then & now,
Fuzzy Duck. We were all apprehensive when Richard cued Robert Fripp & the
League of Gentlemen's God Save The King, but it's really very good - and now I
want a copy. And whatever happened to the Fun Lovin' Criminals..? Aretha
Franklin, Focus and a very bluesy, authentically crackly vinyl copy of
Fleetwood Mac's debut album all came courtesy of Steve. Come Monday we start it
all again. It really is a great way to discover new music; we're an eclectic
bunch with diverse musical tastes but we have all found new musical avenues to
explore & keep the daily journey interesting.
As we've used all 26 letters I thought I'd end with a pangram. But the one we all know best references a fox, which would have me reaching for the gun yet again, so I found this little gem far more appealing. "Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs." Can't say fairer than that. Have a great weekend.
Julian Thomas - UK Office Friday 08 February 2008 Save our pop heritage, says Pete Townshend's daughter: Here's an interesting article from last week's Times newspaper, written by Emma Townshend. Clicky link here.
Michael Cambridge - UK Northern Office Thursday 07 February 2008 Stricken Ship Update: As the overturned ship is now the number one tourist attraction in the sleepy town of Cleveleys, the roads are still blocked and people are travelling miles and miles with eager anticipation of disaster. These are presumably the same kind of people who stop to a crawl when they see an accident on the motorway.
Latest news is that thousands of Mcvities biscuits have shipwrecked themelves on the beach..
God help us if we ever have a plane crash...
Richard Austin - UK Office Wednesday 06 February 2008 Speaking of Rats ...:
Off home now to buy a flak jacket to protect myself from Roosters with guns :-)
Julian Thomas - UK Office Wednesday 06 February 2008 From rats to roosters: Since Richard has brought up the subject of Tori, I thought it might be a good time to mention that 'tori' means Rooster, in Japanese. Coincidentally, I was born in the year of the rooster. Apparently that means I'm a deep thinker and am always busy and devoted to my work. I always want to do more than I am able, and if I undertake a task beyond my abilities, I get disappointed. Rooster people have a habit of speaking out directly whenever they have something on their minds. Perhaps my birth certificate is a forgery! 2008 is the year of the Rat, or 'nezumi'. Unfortunately, as mentioned in one of my blog entries last year, I've had enough of bloody rats. And if I find a rooster in my attic the rafters will be ringing to the sound of a 12-bore. As it is, the rooster in my garden is on borrowed time!
Richard Austin - UK Office Wednesday 06 February 2008 A ?:  A is for Parrot which we can plainly see ...... and also for Adom, Axiom Funk, Augie March, Animals That Swim, Altan, Andwella's Dream, The Artwoods, Kevin Ayers
&, of course, the ever wonderful :
As a consequence, needless to say, my spin of the decks has been thwarted at every turn. I've heard excuses & goalpost moving statements today that would have made many a career politician blush.
You try your best to further the musical education of your colleagues, only to have your good intentions thrown back at you by acts of sabotage, subterfuge & selective rule bending - or is that all the same thing ?
I only bought in FOUR Tori CDs as well - how was that, in any way, unreasonable ?
(Still, managed to play the whole of the Funkronomicon [Axiom Funk] while their backs were turned!)
Saul Watson - Product Promotion Wednesday 06 February 2008 Planet Rock News:: Jimi: A Life Through The Lens: A major new Jimi Hendrix photo exhibition is set to open this week.
The photo exhibition features work by an eclectic range of photographers that met the guitarist during his life – including legendary snappers Eddie Kramer, Barry Levine and Dominique Tarle. If you want to head to this great looking show then go to the Blink Gallery in London between 8 February and 8 March. For more info about the show or the gallery then click here http://www.blinkgallery.com/main.htm
“For 35 Years, we have prided ourselves in our opening: YOU WANTED THE BEST, YOU GOT THE BEST, THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD. We are throwing down the gauntlet. Let those who are faint of heart, take heed. We will take no prisoners” – Gene Simmons "I've always prided myself in living up to and beyond the legend. I can tell you we are ready to seize the moment and add to that legend. We remain KISS to our souls, and that truth will be deafeningly clear this June." – Paul Stanley
Stephen Borkowski - UK Buyer Tuesday 05 February 2008 New & Exciting - Backstage Passes:  So February already, needless to say January passed by in a blur, especially the last 2 weeks. I enjoyed a week away from the office and ended up doing so many odd jobs around the house I was glad to come back to the office for a rest! The last week of January I spent with Peter in LA and San Diego. The trip was unbelievable in many ways - Peter's driving still suprises me, even now I am amazed at how he can use his iPod and his phone during a blizzard and still manage somehow not to kill the pair of us. Food was good, as always, though it wasn't until the last day we realised we hadn't managed a Thai meal in a week - shame on us. Stock wise - I'm speechless. The stock arrived in the UK on Thursday 31st January and if you've been checking either Peter's or my latest arrivals there have been some absolute killer items added already with plenty more to come.One appointment we did resulted in a large quantity of original unused Backstage Passes, Tour Itineraries and Crew clothing. Backstage Passes are a relatively new area for us to be dealing in and therefore many of you may be unfamiliar with the collectability of these beauties. Let me bring you up to speed....
Over the past 30 + years, collecting authentic concert backstage passes has become increasingly popular among concert enthusiasts and memorabilia collectors. There are many benefits to the collector, aside from being interesting, nice and very limited there are usually many designs to collect from a specific tour, however due to their size they don't take up as much room as larger memorabilia and are in most cases quite affordable.
Authentic passes are difficult to obtain due the fact that they are used as security credentials by the Artists to gain backstage, onstage and dressing room access.
Backstage passes first first appeared in the late 1960's but were very basic but as printing technology has advanced over the years, backstage passes became more detailed with various colours, graphics and holographic foils to prevent any unauthorized individuals from duplicating them. There are basically three (3) styles of passes today; a Tour Laminate which is typically issued by the band’s production team or management company and used by the Band & Crew. The Tour Laminate usually gets you wherever you want to go in a venue. There is also a Laminate which is typically issued for a single event or function and may have a date printed on it. Lastly, there is the Satin Backstage Pass which is stamped or printed with the specific date of issue. There are numerous types of Satin Backstage Passes issued today; which include; Working, VIP, All Access, Photo, Meet & Greet, After Show and others. Today, there are only a few niche companies in the industry that make backstage passes and associated supplies for the concert touring industry, they include; Tour Supply Inc. Perri, OTTO, Cube, Arnett Design, All Access Pass & Design and Diablo Passes. ALL our satin and laminate passes are guaranteed as genuine and unless stated are unused with the original peelable backing. To start you all off - Rather than buying each pass individually we are currently able to offer sets of passes containing a cross section of what was available for that tour. An up to date list can be found here but there are A LOT of passes to add to the site over the next week to ten days so keep checking back. 
Mark Evetts - UK Buyer Monday 04 February 2008 Can i have a 'P' please Bob...:  was the hilarious phrase on Blockbusters many moons ago and today's playlist letter has so far been rather poor with predictable efforts from the likes of Pink Floyd and Prince. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
The wonderful Pixies livened it up for a bit along with PIL and that's before i get another chance with either Peter & The Test Tube Babies, The Psychedelic Furs, Lee 'Scratch' Perry or Tom Palmer. Check them all out kiddies. It's good for your soul...
Meanwhile, lock up your sheep - The Welsh have won at Twickenham for the first time in a generation!
The latest in the line of great English sporting failures...
Richard Austin - UK Office Monday 04 February 2008 Oi !!! You !!!!: Yep - YOU. Bored with the same old music ? Fed up with that constant Boom-boom-boom through your botty as you drive to work ? Had enough of those endless 'widdly-widdly-weeee' guitar solos ?
We have the solution !!
Get some Sax appeal, impress your friends with some sensitive horn blowing, get your head round the 'Philly lick' !
JAZZ !!
Sign up HERE for news, views & cool bloose & bebop your Lula.
Michael Cambridge - UK Northern Office Monday 04 February 2008 The ultimate sinking ship!!: The whole world seems to be descending to the beach 100 yards from my home where a ferry boat has beached in highwinds. Awake all night Friday with helicoptors circling through to the small hours was a real joy. Absolute chaos with gridlocked traffic and roads closed due to the amount of nosey buggers who are bored on a Sunday, stood for hours with cameras - Get a life!!
Peter Fenton - North American Office Friday 01 February 2008 February Jams and Pearls of Wisdom:       Hi Everyone. February... ALREADY?? January was a bit of a blur for me -- too much work, too much coffee, and not enough time to sleep. February is starting out quite the same, but that means MORE rare records, MORE cool CD's, and MORE interesting memorabilia to send out into the world. It seems that there's still as much a demand for PEARL JAM rarities today as there was 10 years ago. Their fans are loyal and true! This week I was able to secure a few copies of the six most coveted, official Pearl Jam fanclub-only releases: SONIC REDUCER (1992), ANGEL (1994), HISTORY NEVER REPEATS (1995), OLYMPIC PLATINUM (1996), SOLDIER OF LOVE (1998), and STRANGEST TRIBE (2000). There's only a couple of each on our shelves, so they're not going to hang around long -- they never do! ...and neither do I, so away I go to drive another 1,000 miles, drink another gallon of coffee, and buy another truckload of amazing records! Have a nice week, everyone.
Mark Evetts - UK Buyer Friday 01 February 2008 This is the BBC...:  and for your televisual pleasure tonight, there are some cool musical choices.
On BBC 2 there's the 200th edition of Later with Jools Holland which includes a performance from Radiohead (which reminds me that i really must get round to playing the new 'In Rainbows' album from my £40.00 box set) amongst others.
Seems a decent chap does Jools if a tad irritating at times. My favourite story about him/the show is when the legendary Fall appeared on the programme only after it was agreed in their contract that the host would not be allowed to play any 'boogie-woogie piano' during their set!
Mark E Smith strikes again...
On BBC 4 for the more refined amongst you, there's a night dedicated to jazz, featuring pianist Oscar Peterson and acclaimed trumpeter turned radio host Humphrey Lyttleton.
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It's that time of year again with the annual 
To commemorate the anniversary of the passing a dear departed friend, a group of us visited 
