Author Archives: TVD HQ

In rotation: 10/8/24

Kansas City, MO | Beloved Missouri Record Store Closing forever after 50 years: There are few record stores in Missouri that are better known than this one and truth be told, it has been much more than a place to find your favorite vinyl. Sadly, it will now be closing its doors forever in November. I saw the Kansas City Star report this week that 7th Heaven which has been a part of the lifestyle of that area for five decades. 7th Heaven has always been a combination of many things—music, smoke shop and really a community that embraced it and made it the special place that it is for many. KSHB in Kansas City spoke with owner Jan Fichman about the decision to close and he seemed to infer that the passing years and friends who have had medical problems and even passed on played a role in his decision to close the doors. Both stories say that 7th Heaven plans to close sometime in November, but no exact date has been decided upon just yet. A lot will depend on how quickly their current inventory can be sold and there is even talk of a big party to celebrate its last day.

Chicago, IL | Music Community Rallies Around Gramaphone Records Owner Michael Serafini After Fall: In less than a week, the Chicago music community has raised over $47,000 to help pay for Serafini’s medical bills. The Chicago music scene is rallying behind Gramaphone Records owner and DJ Michael Serafini after he fell and sustained serious injuries. Serafini was helping his partner move into a new home that was being partially remodeled when he fell through a hole in the floor and landed on concrete in the basement. He suffered multiple rib fractures, spinal fractures and a lacerated skull that required 10 staples. After weeks in the hospital and extensive physical therapy, the medical bills and medication costs added up. Serafini’s sister, Tina Serafini, started a GoFundMe to help pay for Michael’s bills. In just one week, friends in the Chicago music scene, regular customers of the record store and others have raised over $47,000 to help Serafini get back on his feet.

Seattle, WA | Community rallies around West Seattle record shop after flood: A West Seattle staple is recovering after a flood caused potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. A burst pipe in the apartment above Easy Street Records has destroyed an estimated 10,000 records and 500 hoodies, as well as other store merchandise. “We probably had three or four inches here on the floor,” said owner Matt Vaughan. “Then upstairs, that was just that was just raining down.” The pipe burst overnight Thursday into Friday. Vaughan estimates the water was running for several hours, before someone out on the street got a glimpse of it and called 911. “I really got to hand it to the Seattle Fire Department, because they found a way to get in here,” he said. “Busted through without making too much making too much damage, and was able to put tarps on most everything.” Vaughan still estimates the store is looking at roughly $200,000 in damage.

New Brunswick, CA | Longtime N.B. record store owner sells to Halifax-based Taz Records after 43 memorable years: Backstreet Records opened a Saint John shop in 1980, later expanding to Fredericton. Around 43 years ago, Gordie Tufts decided that after years of working in music retail, he was going to open his own used record store in Saint John. So off he went to Halifax to speak with the founder of Taz Records, the late Bob Switzer, and get some advice, as he owned a used record store at the time. And now, everything has come full circle. Tufts has decided to retire, and Taz Records is taking over ownership of the Saint John and Fredericton stores under a new name, Taz Backstreet. “It’s something after all these years to see it go to Taz,” Tufts said. The first Backstreet Records shop opened in 1980 in the Ritchie Building, a few doors from O’Leary’s Pub on Princess Street in uptown Saint John. But the store was destroyed by arson on Christmas Eve 1982. Two months later, Backstreet moved to a compact, 600-square-foot storefront at 124 Germain St., where it has been ever since.

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TVD Radar: On Record book series by G. Brown, Vol. 9: 1992 and Vol. 10: 1983 in stores now

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Vol. 9: 1992 and Vol. 10: 1983 of On Record, a comprehensive series of award-winning books celebrating popular music from 1978 to 1998, have just been published. “I’m thrilled and grateful to see this 21-book series arrive at the halfway point,” says author and Colorado Music Experience director G. Brown.

Vol. 9: 1992 sees the rise of the grunge movement (Nirvana’s Nevermind) and the continued emergence of hip-hop, plus controversial recordings (from Ice-T’s “Cop Killer” to Madonna’s Erotica) and the performances at MTV’s Unplugged. Also the year in country (the first No. 1s for Wynonna, Collin Raye and Tracy Lawrence) and heavy metal, shoegaze, and riotgrrrl.

Vol. 10: 1983 covers bands at their commercial peak (Genesis, The Police), U2’s first global hit (War) and David Bowie’s biggest success (Let’s Dance), plus acts finally making it big (Prince, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard). Kiss appearing sans makeup (Lick It Up), Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All breaking ground for the thrash-metal genre, and Quiet Riot’s Metal Health becoming the first heavy-metal album to hit No. 1. Also acts of the second British Invasion, plus country, hip-hop and jazz.

Marking more than 50 years as one of America’s foremost popular music writers, G. Brown has interviewed more than 3,000 musicians, ranging from superstars to one-hit wonders in every genre—pop, rock, country and hip-hop to punk, folk, alternative and beyond. Each edition overflows with rare, powerful and informative editorial photographs from Brown’s personal archive of close to 15,000 images amassed over decades. These beautifully crafted, reader-friendly volumes, presented in a lively, engaging style, invite perusing at any point within the book.

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In rotation: 10/7/24

New Hope, MN | New Hope record store specializes in vintage stereo equipment: Music is an elemental part of Shawn Smith’s life. “Music has always been a part of me, like it’s in my blood,” he said. “You just can’t shake it.” Nicknamed “Smitty,” he’s the owner of Twin City Smitty’s Vintage Audio in New Hope. “Tinkering with music and electronics is probably in my genes,” he said. “Music has driven a lot of decisions in my life, especially to open this business.” His shop is nestled in a small industrial building near Medicine Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue. It’s one of the few that still deals in the high-fidelity world of solid-state stereo receivers. There’s a room in the shop dedicated to repair, where a technician revamps the old stereo units that may remind you of your grandparent’s house. Once the stereos are repaired, they sell them in-person and on eBay. They also repair turntables and speaker cabinets. With the resurgence of vinyl records, a younger crowd is discovering the appeal of physical media.

Toledo, OH | Culture Clash launches GoFundMe to save downtown record store: Calling all vinyl enthusiasts, music lovers, and everyone who watched Empire Records on repeat in the ’90s … Culture Clash Records is in trouble. Not unlike the 1995 Liv Tyler movie, a combination of economic woes, building zoning headaches, attorney and architect fees, and other financial maladies have caused Culture Clash owner Tim Friedman to turn to crowdfunding to keep the store, which has operated since 2004, alive. Friedman launched a GoFundMe campaign on Monday, with a fund-raising goal of $30,000. As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $8,500. Friedman took over Culture Clash in 2017 following the death of founder Pat O’Connor, the beloved Toledo businessman who previously ran the legendary Boogie Records. Friedman moved the store from its former location on Secor Road to the former Paula Brown Shop and Gallery, at 912 Monroe St. in 2020.

Kansas City, MO | 7th Heaven announces closure after 50 years of business: ‘Bought my first album there.’ If you ride down Troost Avenue in KCMO, you’re bound to pass by historic Kansas City staples that, for some, will bring back the nostalgia. Go Chicken Go, The Landing Mall, Niecie’s Restaurant and more. Further down, off 76th Street, stands a historic record store that has been a part of the fabric of inner Kansas City. After 50 years, 7th Heaven, a popular music record store, will close its doors in November. The announcement was made recently online and has since received overwhelming support.

Wausau, WI | Business Spotlight: Norwegian Wood. This week we shine a spotlight on Norwegian Wood, a new addition to downtown Wausau, which offers a refreshing blend of casual, affordable fashion, candles and other home goods, and a treasure trove of vinyl records. This unique shop, located in the heart of the city’s River District at 525 N. Third St., carries a thoughtfully curated selection of clothing alongside thousands of new and used records, catering to music enthusiasts and style-conscious shoppers alike. From rare finds in the vinyl bins to comfortable, stylish attire, Norwegian Wood brings together a cozy, laid-back shopping experience for anyone looking to discover something special. Store owners Tristan and Gabrielle Shier describe themselves as a regular couple with a shared dream of opening a welcoming space where all types of people can enjoy a one-of-a-kind retail experience.

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TVD Radar: The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night 60th anniversary white vinyl reissue in stores 10/19

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Today, The Beatles have announced a special 60th anniversary reissue of their third studio album A Hard Day’s Night, in celebration of National Album Day. The limited edition reissue on 180g white vinyl will be released on October 19th.

At a time when popstars either spoke BBC English or tried to emulate the American rockers they so idolised, there was no hiding where The Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—came from: they sang, as they spoke, in a Liverpool accent. Although the demands of the music business meant they soon had to relocate to London, in many ways they never left their city—in song and in story, the group are inextricably, indelibly linked to Merseyside.

Recorded between January and June 1964 and released that July, if ever there was a pointer to what an album could achieve, it’s the 13 songs and 31 minutes of A Hard Day’s Night, the third long-player by The Beatles. It is the sound of a group with the wind in its hair, the confidence that their hard work was paying off. The (partial) soundtrack to their first film, at a time when an LP was a collection of recent singles and cover versions, A Hard Day’s Night was penned solely by Lennon & McCartney. “Can’t Buy Me Love,” the first track from the forthcoming album to be released, topped the US and UK charts in April 1964.

In the 476 days since the release of their debut LP, Please Please Me in March 1963, The Beatles had gone from local to national to international phenomenon. A Hard Day’s Night, both the beloved 1964 film directed by Richard Lester and the album, captured that rocket in a bottle. With songs about working men going home to their loved ones (the title track, “When I Get Home”); the exhilaration of early love (“I Should Have Known Better,” “If I Fell,” “And I Love Her,” “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You”); the ups and downs of relationships (“I’ll Cry Instead,” “Tell Me Why,” “You Can’t Do That”) and, already, a strong sense of time (“Things We Said Today”), on A Hard Day’s Night, Lennon & McCartney put words in the mouths of teenagers around the world.

The 60th anniversary reissue of A Hard Day’s Night will be released on October 19th to celebrate National Album Day.

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TVD Radar: Nancy Sinatra, Sugar & Country, My Way reissues in stores 11/29

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Acclaimed archival label Light in the Attic (LITA) continues their partnership with legendary singer, actress, activist, and icon Nancy Sinatra with the latest two installments off their Nancy Sinatra Archival Series: definitive reissues of the 1967 albums Sugar and Country, My Way.

Sugar was the fourth album recorded by Sinatra in 1966, an uncanny feat considering The Beatles were recording around two albums a year at the time. The album followed on the heels of her hit debut album Boots, her sophomore follow-up How Does That Grab You?, and the Swinging Sixties offering Nancy In London. In 1967, Sinatra would continue her artistic ascent into the pop stratosphere with the James Bond You Only Live Twice theme song, the groovy technicolor television special Movin’ With Nancy, recording one of the most beloved duets of all time, titled “Some Velvet Morning,” and a cross-country pilgrimage to the center of the country music scene to record Country, My Way.

Due out November 29th in vinyl, CD, and digital formats, with both LP editions being offered on classic black wax and special limited-edition color wax (Sugar is available on “Sugar Town Pink” and “Let’s Fall In Love” pink and white swirl; Country, My Way is available on “Bye-Bye Birmingham” blue and “Hello LA” red and white swirl). Sugar and Country, My Way are available to pre-order now.

All formats feature audio freshly remastered from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer John Baldwin. Pressed at Record Technology, Inc. (RTI), both vinyl editions are presented in expanded gatefold jackets accompanied by 20-page booklets (featuring a new Q&A with Sinatra conducted by the reissue’s GRAMMY®-nominated co-producer Hunter Lea, plus never-before-seen photos from the artist’s personal archive). All music configurations, plus limited-edition autographed vinyl, will also be made available at Nancy’s Bootique.

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In rotation: 10/4/24

Toledo, OH | ‘Our 20th year in Toledo has been our toughest’: Culture Clash asking for support: Culture Clash Records moved from west Toledo to downtown in August 2020. Culture Clash Records is seeking support from the public after what it said has been its toughest year since opening 20 years ago. In a Facebook post Tuesday, Culture Clash listed a number of ways the public can support its operations. In a linked GoFundMe, store owner Tim Friedman said the store faces mounting costs incurred from expenses related to a building zoning issue after the business moved downtown in 2020. …”The future of Culture Clash has ignited a fire in me for years, and I still believe we are and will be a hub in Toledo’s community for live music, unique events, and the arts,” he said in the video. In the social media post, Culture Clash listed for supporters the ways they can help the business

UK | I’m travelling to every record shop in the UK—here are my 10 favourites: From Orkney to Brighton, independent stores are treasure troves for vinyl hunters and a great way to while away a holiday afternoon. I still remember the excitement of buying my first vinyl aged 11, Duane Eddy’s great 1962 single (Dance With the) Guitar Man, and that bug has been with me ever since. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of digging through the racks and finding that elusive wishlist record. …lately my focus has been on visiting every record shop across the UK—and to buy something at every stop. Established shops close and new ones open on a regular basis and, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), the number of independent record stores in the UK has reached a 10-year high. Last year there were 461, compared with 339 in 2014.

Boise, ID | Historic Idaho music shop keeps rollin’ (and rockin’) with the times: As Idaho’s largest independent music store, The Record Exchange has been tickling the ear drums of music enthusiasts of all kinds since 1977. The company’s founder, Michael Bunnell, worked as a logger in McCall in the mid-1970s and when an accident on the job left him severely injured, he used a small settlement from the logging company to open a record store which was inspired by the store of his youth: The original Tower Records in Sacramento, California. The Record Exchange was born. There are rows of vinyl records and CDs, funky T-shirts and socks, turntables and audio equipment, posters and much more. And what’s coming from the sound system varies from day to day—ranging from R & B, jazz, rock and everything in between.

Charlotte, NC | Charlotte: Some Cool Record Stores: In today’s day and age, we don’t have to go to the store to buy music, records, or anything like that. You can pretty much listen to any song ever online. I grew up in an age where vinyl records were the thing you bought or maybe a cassette tape of an album. I’m a little too young to have purchased 8-tracks, but I will tell you I still buy vinyl records. I sometimes buy new versions of vinyl records that I already have. I love the remastered versions with new liner notes. And I’ll admit it: I like it when they reissue vinyl in a different color. There’s something special about vinyl records. I don’t know if it’s the beginning of the record or when you hear those little pops and ticks before your song starts to play. It’s something I have always loved and continue to love as I listen to those vinyl records. …I did a little digging and found some of those wonderful brick-and-mortar record stores right here in Charlotte.

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TVD Radar: Sun Ra, Lights on A Satellite:
Live at The Left Bank

2LP in stores 11/29

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Resonance Records proudly presents Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank, a blazing set of previously unissued 1978 concert recordings by Sun Ra and his Myth Science Cosmo Swing Arkestra, as a limited two-LP set for RSD Black Friday, November 29. Co-produced by Zev Feldman and Sun Ra archivist Michael D. Anderson (who also played drums on the ’78 concert), the newly unearthed live session is an exciting successor to Sun Ra at the Showcase: Live in Chicago, another archival find that Feldman issued on his Jazz Detective imprint for Record Store Day this April. The new collection will also be released as a two-CD set on December 6.

Prophetic avant gardist Sun Ra’s big band is heard in blistering form—playing repertoire ranging from space-age jazz to interpretations of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and jazz standards by Fletcher Henderson, Miles Davis, and Tadd Dameron—on a dynamic 12-track set recorded at a show mounted by the Left Bank Jazz Society at the Famous Ballroom in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 23, 1978. Those recordings are augmented by two tracks captured at the concert and featured in the classic 1980 film Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise by the acclaimed music filmmaker Robert Mugge, who also provided images for the new package.

The deluxe Resonance packages include an essay by noted jazz critic J.D. Considine (who attended the ’78 show); reminiscences from Anderson, Mugge, Left Bank member John Fowler, critic Dan Morgenstern, and Arkestra veteran and latter-day bandleader Marshall Allen; and thoughts on Sun Ra’s artistry from musicians Gary Bartz and Craig Taborn.

Feldman says of this newest discovery, “It was very exciting to learn from Sun Ra archivist Michael D. Anderson that these recordings from the Left Bank in 1978 even existed. Filmmaker Robert Mugge was also very kind to us by allowing us to borrow the music he had recorded for his film, which is presented here as bonus tracks. Also thanks to Mr. Mugge, we’ve included various high-resolution screen captures from his film that help capture the energy of what it was like to be there at the Famous Ballroom that night.”

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TVD Radar: The Animals, The Animals yellow vinyl reissue in stores 10/18

VIA PRESS RELEASE | The Animals announce a 2CD reissue of their classic debut album The Animals which features the full album in both mono and stereo with bonus track “House of the Rising Sun,” to be released on 18th October. Pre-order here. Alongside this, The Animals will be available on exclusive yellow vinyl as part of this year’s National Album Day on 19th October.

Originally released in 1964, this groundbreaking record introduced the world to the raw energy of British rock fused with deep American blues. It features a mixture of blues, R&B, traditional folk covers and covers of songs written by John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino. Produced by Mickie Most, The Animals featured Eric Burdon on lead vocals, Hilton Valentine on guitar, Alan Price on keyboards, Chas Chandler on bass guitar, and John Steel on drums.

The 2CD reissue includes “House of the Rising Sun.” Initially a traditional folk song, The Animals’ cover went to number one in the UK, US, and Canada and has since been dubbed as the “first folk rock hit.”

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TVD Radar: B.B. King,
In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival 2LP in stores 11/29

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Deep Digs, in cooperation with the B. B. King Estate, Universal Music Enterprises and INA France, will issue a sensational, previously unreleased B.B. King album, In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival, as a limited two-LP set for RSD Black Friday on Nov. 29.

The powerful set, featuring a dynamic, stops-out performance by the masterful blues singer-guitarist and his potent seven-piece band, which will be heard on record for the first time, will see release as a two-CD set on Dec. 6.

The collection, released in cooperation with the B.B. King Estate, was recorded at the titular festival by the Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (ORTF), France’s national radio agency. It succeeds Deep Digs’ widely acclaimed debut release, gospel singer-guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s Live in France, which was drawn from ORTF’s archives at INA for the imprint’s Record Store Day bow this April.

Award-winning archival producer Zev Feldman, whose Deep Digs titles are released in partnership with Jordi Soley and Carlos Agustin Calembert of Spain’s Elemental Music, says, “I’ve been a lifelong fan of B.B. King, and it brings me so much joy to make this truly remarkable document captured at a wonderful period of B.B. King’s career available for the world to hear.”

The LP edition of the collection will be issued on 180-gram vinyl and mastered and cut by Matthew Lutthans at the Mastering Lab. LP and CD editions will both include liner notes by French writer Jean Buzelin, author of books about Tharpe, Skip James, Memphis Minnie, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, and photos from the Nancy, France, performance by Jean-Marc Birraux, plus other vintage shots by Jean-Pierre Leloir and Ozier Muhammad.

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In rotation: 10/3/24

Record Store Day announces special Black Friday drops from Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and more: Record Store Day has announced its exclusive releases for sister event Black Friday 2024, including very special vinyl offerings from superstars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and Noah Kahan. Record Store Day Black Friday returns on 29 November from 8am, with a line-up of vinyl releases exclusive to indie record shops up and down the UK. To find your local indie record store participating in Record Store Day Black Friday, click here. …Record Store Day’s Black Friday releases are intended to put a fresh spin on the bargain-bin chaos you often see on the day, and instead create special, collectible editions of stunning releases for music lovers to enjoy.

Inverness, UK | Union Vinyl: How an obsession for collecting records cued up a business opportunity in Inverness: The Inverness shop also led to a vinyl and vintage clothing outlet in Nairn. As a youngster, Nigel Graham’s pocket money inevitably found its way to a record shop on Market Brae Steps in Inverness. The obsession for collecting vinyl later turned into a business located just a few yards from his early album hunting ground. Union Vinyl is the city’s only independent dedicated vinyl record store and a treasure trove for the serious collector or casual browser. A collector by the age of 10. Nigel set up the business buying and selling vinyl records in 2014, initially in Union Street (hence the name) before moving to the current spot seven years ago. His musical taste was influenced by his older brother whose 70s punk records fascinated the then six-year-old. By the age of 10 he was a collector, David Bowie’s 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) being the first purchase.

Raleigh, NC | In Record Time: Vinyl records are all the rage in Raleigh. Here’s where to find them. Step down, Spotify. Try as they may, digital music formats are never going to fully extinguish the analog experience. In fact, vinyl is vibing higher than ever—with a whopping $1.4 billion spent on records in 2023—thanks to immersive sound quality and that cool aesthetic (it’s giving Alexa Chung). Clearly, the modish medium easily tops Shazaming a song any day—never mind you can make a whole day out of picking out new albums. So, channel your inner Tom Cruise a la Risky Business, take those old records off the shelf and spin up some freshly pressed wax tunes to your collection via these local selects.

San Diego, CA | Top 5 Vinyl Record Shops in San Diego: San Diego’s music scene is buzzing, and its record stores offer a goldmine of music for collectors. From rare finds to classic rock, there is something for everyone. Let us dive into the top five vinyl record shops in the city! Here is list of BEST Vinyl Record Stores in San Diego, CA. Lets explore each Vinyl Stores of san diego in more details. Vinyl Junkies Record Shack: Vinyl Junkies Record Shack is a must-visit for music lovers in South Park. With a stellar selection of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, including rare finds, it is the perfect spot to discover new music. Plus, their snug, mid-century-inspired interior and knowledgeable staff makes it a welcoming place to hang out. Do not miss their live performances on the back patio! FeeLIT: FeeLIT is a cozy downtown music shop with a wide range of new and used vinyl, imports, cassettes, and merchandise. They are active in the local scene, hosting events and special-ordering hard-to-find records…

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TVD Radar: Bush, Sixteen Stone 30 anniversary reissues in stores 11/22

VIA PRESS RELEASE | Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed, sold-out summer headline tour, Bush is set to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album Sixteen Stone with a special vinyl reissue. This milestone release marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership with Craft Recordings, a label renowned for its dedication to preserving and amplifying iconic music. The multi-Platinum LP, a cornerstone of the ’90s post-grunge era, is set to arrive on November 22nd and is available for pre-order.

Alongside a wide release, fans can get their hands on six limited-edition colored pressings: “Opaque Red” (available wide), “Silver” (exclusive to Independent Record Stores), “Translucent Lemonade” (via Best Buy), “Sepia” (via Barnes & Noble), and “Highlighter Smoke” (available at Revolver), plus a “Fog” pressing exclusive to the band’s Spotify followers.

Released on December 6th, 1994, Sixteen Stone propelled Bush into the international spotlight, selling millions of copies in the US—the album recently certified 7X Platinum by the RIAA—and producing a string of hit singles. With its blend of heavy guitar riffs and introspective lyrics, the album helped define the alternative-rock sound of the ’90s, cementing Bush as one of the era’s most successful bands.

Upon release, Sixteen Stone debuted at No.4 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for more than 70 weeks. The album’s runaway success was driven by its singles, including the chart-topping hits “Glycerine” and “Comedown,” both of which exploded at radio peaking at No.1 in Billboard’s Alternative Airplay charts and No.1 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Other fan-favorites on the album include “Machinehead,” “Everything Zen,” and “Little Things.” The enduring popularity of these tracks has kept the album resonance for new generations of listeners, while its influence on modern rock remains undeniable.

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TVD Radar: Animal Collective, Sung Tongs 2LP & Sung Tongs Live at the Theatre at Ace Hotel 2LP in stores 10/4

VIA PRESS RELEASE | “Perhaps more than any other record of the decade, [Sung Tongs] foresaw where indie hearts, ears, and minds would go in the next five years… the magic of this record was that it was both innovative and utterly, peerlessly beautiful.”Pitchfork

Animal Collective will release a Canary Yellow and Ruby Red colored 2xLP vinyl repress of their beloved fifth studio LP, 2004’s Sung Tongs, in honor of the album’s 20 year anniversary. The new edition marks the first time the album has been available on color vinyl. Also available digitally and on color vinyl will be the new live album Sung Tongs Live at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, a recording of the 2018 concert in Los Angeles where Avey Tare and Panda Bear performed the album in full. All formats will be out October 4 via Domino.

Sung Tongs marked the beginning of a prolific five-year period in which Animal Collective went on to release their game-changing albums Feels (2005), Strawberry Jam (2007), and Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009). At the time of Sung Tongs’ release, Rolling Stone called it “one of the more creative and accomplished records you’ll hear this year,” adding, “Their songs cackle with soulful eccentricity while dazzling you with deceptive chops and improvised manipulations.”

Pitchfork later named it one of the best albums of the 2000s, raving, “Sung Tongs is an emotionally thrilling record, impossibly giddy and fully-charged with big, raucous enthusiasm: Acoustic strums and wild, flailing voices (including some mind-blowing harmonies by vocalists Avey Tare and Panda Bear) coalesce into something sublimely weird and undeniably beautiful.”

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TVD Radar: The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins documentary streaming 11/5

VIA PRESS RELEASE | The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins, a documentary film that tells the story of the prolific virtuoso session pianist Nicky Hopkins, will be released in North America November 5th on TVOD/PPV on Amazon Prime, additional major platforms and will also be available on DVD in late 2024.

Featuring commentary from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Peter Frampton, Pete Townshend and more, The Session Man explores the legendary 30-year career of Nicky Hopkins and his contributions to over 250 albums, including John Lennon’s Imagine, The Who’s My Generation, and countless iconic songs like “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker, “Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones, and “Revolution” by The Beatles. Directed by Mike Treen, The Session Man has been shown at festivals in a number of countries, winning awards in London, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Los Angeles, and Paris. It is scheduled to be screened in The New Zealand Indie Film Festival and The Albuquerque Film Festival at the end of September.

“Nicky Hopkins was a dear friend and iconic piano player. No one had his wonderful touch, feel and choice of notes. I was lucky to have him play on my Somethin’s Happening record. I miss him and listen to him often. He taught me plenty.” –Peter Frampton

The Session Man film is not a Hollywood biopic, rather a homage to a virtuoso and prolific session pianist. There is a sad irony in that Nicky Hopkins was unknown to the greater public but amongst his peers, he was treated as Rock Royalty. The sheer volume of albums and singles that he contributed on and the testimonials from the star-studded list of interviewees in the film allows me the right to say that Nicky’s story deserves to reach a wide audience worldwide. As Bob Lefsetz succinctly put it, The Session Man is a link in your education. It fills holes in your mental history of rock and roll. Which revolutionized society, impacted an entire generation, music was the coolest medium, it drove the culture and Nicky was there, not on the periphery, but audible on some of your favorite records.’” —Director Mike Treen

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In rotation: 10/2/24

Penticton, CA | Penticton Business Celebrates 34 Years of Grooviness: Spinning Records Helps Join Together the Generations. Any music lover will tell you that simple grooves cut into a vinyl disc can translate to smile-cracking memories or revive life-altering good times. Of course, the grooves we are talking about are on a vinyl record, and Penticton’s Grooveyard Records is the perfect place to recall old memories or create new ones. After all, Grooveyard represents 34 years of curating an extensive collection of all things music. …Many customers who drop by the Grooveyard store on Main Street are there to dig into the past for long-lost memories—or pick out the perfect pop album for a young, burgeoning music lover. Grooveyard is ideal for finding meaningful gifts because its products cross all demographics. They carry everything from tee-shirts and posters to records and curios, but it is the vinyl that is their bread and butter.

Miami, FL | Indie Record Store Profile: Sweat Records in Miami: Iggy Pop’s favorite record shop bills itself as the largest selection of new and reissued titles in Miami and specializes in “global sounds.” In 2008, Lolo Reskin found out Iggy Pop was a fan of her record store. It was roughly three years since Sweat Records in Miami had opened its doors and the news of Iggy Pop’s appreciation came via a segment on CNN. The Stooges legend was showing the news channel around his favorite places in his hometown and took a moment to pose in front of Sweat’s mural, which, over the years, has included Prince, Grace Jones, David Bowie, Dolly Parton and Iggy himself. At the time, Reskin tells Billboard, “We were like, ‘Oh my god. He knows we exist.’” Iggy’s appreciation for the shop meant a lot to Reskin, who has lived and breathed music her whole life. Her grandmother, Joan Field, was a violin soloist who recorded and toured through the 1930s and ’40s. Her father went to Juilliard and was a working musician his whole life.

Southampton, UK | Review: Shed Seven instore Vinilo Record Store, Southampton: Shed Seven made a triumphant return to Southampton’s Vinilo Record Store this afternoon (30/9/24) for a brief but brilliant set ahead of signing their new album, which is on course to take the number one spot this Friday. The band were in town to promote Liquid Gold, and played a brief four song giglet (like a gig but smaller), complete with banter, singalongs, and some solid, stadium-worthy belters before the crowd of grown up indie kids—and a few of their offspring—formed an orderly queue to enjoy a 1-1 encounter with the band and the chance to get their own album signed. The venue was packed out—tickets for the matinee event had sold out almost immediately—and the crowd was buzzing as the band took to the stage.

Kansas City, MO | After 50 years, iconic Kansas City counterculture shop is closing; sales are underway. 7th Heaven, a thrumming hub of Kansas City’s counterculture for the past half-century, will close later this year. Owner and founder Jan Fichman said Monday that he plans to shut down the music store and head shop “sometime in November, probably,” though he hasn’t yet set a closing date. “It depends on how quickly we move through the inventory,” Fichman said. “We have something like 36,000 used records in the store. All our smoking accessories and used music are marked down to half price, and new vinyl is 20% off. If you came in and wrote a check for a couple hundred thousand dollars today, we’d close it by Thursday.” Fichman founded 7th Heaven in 1974. Raised in south Kansas City, he started out in the music business selling bootleg eight-track tapes at gas stations, truck stops and swap meets.

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TVD Radar: Hans-Joachim Roedelius, 90 4LP box set in stores 10/25

VIA PRESS RELEASE | In the 40 years I’ve known him, Hans-Joachim has joked countless times about the “hundreds of kilometers” of reel-to-reel tapes in his archives.

The word “archives” conjures images of underground vaults and white-gloved curators, but in Achim’s case it consists of a stack of cardboard boxes in his back room in Baden, bulging with hundreds of reels—some marked with cryptic notes, most not. If “hundreds of kilometers” seems a bit of a stretch, in Achim’s case it isn’t far off. If my math is correct, 80 hours of tape running at 7 ½ to 15 inches per second totals at least 75 kilometers—a pretty significant aural autobahn, even for a prolific 90-year-old.

The first epic step in preserving this sonic legacy—before age and decay rendered these delicate tapes unplayable—landed in the lap of Achim’s selfless friend Klaus Becker. For weeks on end, Klaus painstakingly spooled up one reel after another and saved to a hard drive the 2-track tapes Achim had made from 1968 until the mid-80’s on his trusty Revox A77 and B77 recorders.

A few years later, I carted home to the US the 40 or so reels that Achim had recorded in the ’80s and ’90s on an 8-channel Fostex machine. With the generous support of our dear friend Christopher Chaplin, we procured the vintage gear needed to digitize these multi-track tapes. Many shared a problem common to that era—the binding agent responsible for adhering magnetic particles to the polyester base had softened over time, rising to the surface.

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  • SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL INDIE SHOPS SINCE 2007


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