omnipop = pop culture blog

Rare! Buckingham Nicks!

2012-01-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

Track Listing
01 Crying In The Night
02 Stephanie
03 Without A Leg To Stand On
04 Crystal
05 Long Distance Winner
06 Don't Let Me Down Again
07 Django
08 Races Are Run
09 Lola (My Love)
10 Frozen Love

Remastered
LP Catalog Number: Polydor PD-5058
LP Release Date: 09/1973
Recorded: 1973
Production & Session: Information

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Rare! Dusty Springfield - Longing!

2012-01-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

Track Listing
01 Exclusively For Me
02 Beautiful Soul
03 Home To Myself
04 Angels
05 Corner of the Sky
06 In The Winter
07 Make The Man Love Me
08 I Am Your Child
09 Turn Me Around
10 A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)

Intended Catalog Number: ABC-Dunhill DSD-50186
Intended Released Date: 11/1974
Recorded: 07-09/1974.
Production & Session: Information

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Rare! Dolly Parton - The Monument Years!

2011-08-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

Track Listing
Disc One: Hello, I'm Dolly - Debut Monument Album
01 Dumb Blonde
02 Your Ole Handy Man
03 I Don't Wanna Throw Rice
04 Put It Off Until Tomorrow
05 I Wasted My Tears
06 Something Fishy
07 Fuel To The Flame
08 The Giving And The Taking
09 I'm In No Condition
10 The Company You Keep
11 I've Lived My Life
12 The Little Things

Disc Two: As Long As I Love - Second Monument Album
13 Why, Why, Why
14 I Wound Easy
15 I Don't Want You Around Me Anymore
16 Hillbilly Willy
17 This Boy Has Been Hurt
18 Daddy Won't Be Home Anymore
19 As Long As I Love
20 A Habit I Can't Break
21 I'm Not Worth The Tears
22 I Don't Trust Me Around You
23 I Couldn't Wait Forever
24 Too Lonely Too Long

Disc Three: Don't Drop Out - Rare & Unreleased
25 What Do You Think About Lovin' (B Side of Mon 869)
26 Happy, Happy Birthday Baby (A-Side of Mon 897)
27 Busy Signal (A Side of Mon 913)
28 I Took Him For Granted (B Side of Mon 913)
29 Don't Drop Out (B Side of Mon 922)
30 Ping Pong (B Side of Mon 1047)
31 I've Known You All My Life*
32 Send Me No Roses*
33 Wanted*
34 I Keep Intending To Tell You*
35 You Made A Woman Of Me Too Soon*
36 Only Me And My Hairdresser Know*
37 Not From My World*
38 You Never Took The Time*

*Previously unreleased track. All tracks recorded 1965-1967.

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Rare! Nikka Costa - Flipsides!

2011-03-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

I have great news! I have readers now and I've been getting notes from them. One such reader (who I won't mention by name but hey *waves*) asked if I had anymore rare Nikka Costa to share.

This is a collection of rare Nikka Costa I put together entitled Flipsides. I hope you enjoy it and will let me know what you think in the comments.

Track Listing
01 Hey Joe
02 Right On To You
03 Some Love
04 When My Man Cries
05 Miss Celie's Blues
06 Skin
07 I Don't Want To Be The Rain
08 Heaven Sinner
09 Call Me
10 La La La
11 What Comes Around Goes Around
12 Stranger's Way
13 I Don't Think We've Met (Clean Radio Edit)
14 Till I Get To You (UK Edit)
15 Midday On Mars
16 Mean Sleep (with Van Hunt)
17 The Denial Twist
18 Maybe Baby
19 The Rules of the Road
[Bonus Track] Till I Get To You (112 BPM Mix)

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Rare! Tori Amos - The Bee Sides!

2011-03-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Tori Amos in some form or another since I was about 16 years old. I had just started driving when I bought the first CD I ever purchased by her, a limited edition single Winter, taken from her debut album Little Earthquakes.

For those of you who weren't young enough to understand the physical single available at a place to buy music that just sold music and not dog food and toliet paper, I shall explain.

You would go to the record store (Remember those?) and see what exclusive track or tracks were on your favourite artist's latest single. These tracks or B-Sides were generally quite rare and were usually deleted for all time after the single went out of print in a few months or in some cases a few weeks after it's release.

The term "B-Side" is a nod to the 45 RPM Vinyl 7" single which had an A & a B side. The promoted song was the A side and the B side sometimes turned out to be better than the main song. Probably the most famous B-Side ever was Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive which actually was the flip side of a song few remember now called Subsitute.

Tori Amos, ladies and gentleman, was the QUEEN of the B-Side or in her case she released a piano book called The Bee Sides. Music critics claim she has over 60 hard-to-find or alternate tracks floating about in the world, of which I probably own 50. I was lucky enough to get into her before her music was sold for rediculous prices on eBay. I would hear of a new import single and casually go down to Sam Goody and order it out of the Phantom Imports book and in a few weeks it would be in my hot little hands and ears.

I feel sorry for kids today who don't understand the thrill of the B-Side or who upon seeing my CD collection proclaim, "HOW DO YOU HAVE THIS?! THIS IS THE GRAIL!!" Simple, I bought it when it came out. HAHA

So, a few years ago upon hearing the sad sound quality of mp3s currently being passed around as Tori's rare recordings, I set about putting together a collection of the most rare recordings she ever commited to disc and make them sound as good as possible. I remastered this collection, The Bee Sides, in 2005 in Atlanta, GA with the help of a gentleman who used to be an engineer to Shawn Mullins. I provided the music and he helped tweak them, teaching me a lot in the process.

It's 2011. Several of these are still not easily found online sounding great. I got several requests for Rare Tori after I discovered the preview player of her forthcoming new album to which I feel it's almost my obligation to share. These songs shouldn't be lost for good in some vault. They are some of the ladies' best work and after the botched up mess she made of her own box set a few years back, I feel what would help her best is her turning over the duty of compiling these songs to someone who knows what the people want, all the original rarities, sounding great!

I had a great time putting this collection together. I hope you enjoy the work that went into the sound, especially Mountain which only appeared as an audio stream on her long deleted website, Scarlet's Web. Enjoy!

Track Listing
01 Song For Eric
02 Here. In My Head
03 Mary (1992 Version)
04 Sugar
05 Flying Dutchman
06 Take To The Sky
07 Humpty Dumpty
08 Sweet Dreams (1992 Version)
09 Black Swan
10 Ode To The Banana King (Part One)
11 Baltimore
12 If 6 Was 9
13 Thoughts
14 The Pool
15 I'm On Fire
16 Landslide
17 Upside Down
18 Amazing Grace (Edit)
19 Famous Blue Raincoat
20 Strange Fruit
21 Honey (Demo)
22 A Case If You
23 Ring My Bell
24 Mountain
25 Etienne (Edit)

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Rare! Alanis Morissette - Rarities - 2011!

2011-03-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

Alanis Morissette - Rarities - 2011 Version
01 That I Would Be Good (Demo)
02 Uninvited (Demo)
03 Thank U (Demo w/ Alternate Lyrics)
04 Unsent (Demo w/ Alternate Lyrics)
05 Ironic (Demo)
06 You Oughta Know (Demo)
07 Superstar Wonderful Weirdos (JLP Outtake)
08 These Are The Thoughts (B-Side)
09 So Unsexy (Alternate Version)
10 Uninvited (White Label)
11 Hands Clean (White Label)
12 London (Live B-Side)
13 Pollyanna Flower (B-Side)
14 Unsent (Radio Remix)*
15 Your House (Band Version)
16 Awakening Americans (B-Side)
17 Crazy (Glen Ballard Mix)
18 Baba (Ave Maria Mix)
19 Symptoms (B-Side)
20 Too Hot (Live Toronto 12-12-2002)
21 My Humps (BEPs Cover)
22 Not As We (Radio Version)
23 Break (B-Side)
24 Flinch (Radio Version)
25 20/20 (B-Side)
26 Underneath (Zoned Out Remix)
27 Professional Torturer (B-Side)
28 It's A Bitch To Grow Up (B-Side)
29 I Remain (B-Side)
30 Wunderkind (B-Side)

*remix re-edited for omnipop = pop culture blog

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Lost Soundtrack! Julie Andrews in Star!

2011-03-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

I've always loved Julie Andrews. I know, you're not supposed to admit that out loud in 2011.

Julie has made a lot of movies that were sadly neglected or unappreciated at the time they were released but in hindsight were recognized for the classics they were.

Probably no Julie Andrews film was more misunderstood upon it's initial release than 1968's Star.

The film premiered in London & San Francisco and it was lavished with praise by local papers. 20th Century Fox thought it had a major hit on its hands and ordered a lavish promotional campaign including a press kit that came in a miniature trunk created by a toy company to look like a theater troop's traveling gear. The film was set to be sent into reserve seat theatres in most major markets in a sprawling 175 minute Road Show presentation.

Shortly thereafter, 20th Century Fox arranged a screening for the New York press, and the celluloid hit the fan. The audience in attendance started laughing in the wrong places. Film Critic Brett Daniels of The New York Times left at intermission and wrote a scathing review declaring the film was overblown and old fashioned. Star! was falling on it's face.

The previously good word of mouth stopped and like so many good films before it, it became the in film to hate that year. Fox, having spent a LOT of money on production and promotion of the film, started to panic hardcore.

A radical plan was put into action. Fox decided to re-edit the entire film and consulted with a focus group to re-name the film something that made people who came to see Julie in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, relate to the movie.

Those Were The Happy Times, a re-titled, 120 minute version of Star!, rolled into general admission theatres a few months after the original film tanked. This new version was considered such a departure from his original vision that director Robert Wise demanded Fox take his name off promotional materials promoting the new cut.

This new version was missing so many scenes that audiences walked out in droves, even from discount showings, because the film made absolutely no sense. Those Were The Happy Times met the same fate as Star! and tanked too.

It's the only time in Hollywood history a film was released twice under 2 different names and fail miserably both times.

Andrews was reportedly so devastated over what she felt was some of her best acting and singing being received so poorly, that she went into a period seclusion and depression.

Fast forward 20 years, a film library in San Francisco asked Fox if they could pay them to strike a fresh 35mm print of Star. Much to everyone's surprise, the original 70mm camera negative was completely intact and was in mostly good shape.

Because so few general admission theatres, such as drive in's and second run houses, were able to play 70mm in 1968, a 35mm print Star! was cut up to make Those Were The Happy Times. Ironically enough, this probably prevented the camera negative from being damaged or altered.

This brings me to the music of the film. Music, glorious music. Many Julie Andrews aficionados consider Julie's musical performance in Star! to rival even those of her earlier career triumphs. In other words, this is the definitive Julie Andrews at the peak of her powers as a performer, vocalist and actress.

She is mind blowing in the film's many and varied, lush musical production numbers. I dare anyone to find anything in MGM's canon of golden age musicals to rival the film's closing musical number The Saga of Jenny. Andrews dances, sings, shoots and lands on her feet though a ring of fire within the span of the number and is visibly out of breath at one point while singing LIVE during it. She deserved an award for just being able to sing while being balanced on a guy dressed as Satan's feet. Yes, this movie is bananas. Thanks for noticing.

Until you can be lucky enough to watch this wonderful, under appreciated musical for yourself, (Preferably on Laserdisc. The DVD is the wrong aspect ratio and B&W newsreel footage was incorrectly tinted Sepia on the DVD.) check out the expanded soundtrack album below featuring several versions that were never commercially released.

I like to give credit where credit is due. Huge props to The Rumor for creating this expanded soundtrack. Your work is greatly appreciated by myself and countless others who love this film. Thank you! :)

Julie Andrews - Star! - Expanded Film Soundtrack
01 Fanfare
02 Overture
03 Star!
04 Piccadilly
05 Oh, It's A Lovely War!
06 In My Garden of Joy
07 Forbidden Fruit
08 N' Everything
09 Burlington Bertie From Bow*
10 Parisian Pierotte*
11 Limehouse Blues*
12 Someone To Watch Over Me
13 Dear Little Boy
14 Intermission
15 Someday I'll Find You
16 The Physician Intro*
17 The Physician
18 Do, Do, Do
19 Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?
20 My Ship
21 The Saga Of Jenny*
22 Star (Extended Single Version)
23 Burlington Bertie From Bow^
24 Parisian Pierotte^
25 Limehouse Blues^
26 The Saga Of Jenny^
27 The Physician+
28 My Ship+
29 The Saga of Jenny+

*Film Version
^Edited Soundtrack Album Version
+Original Performance by Gertrude Lawrence [Bonus Tracks]

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Rare! Tori Amos - The B-Sides - Volume 3!

2011-03-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

First off, I'd like to apologize to all all of the faithful visitors to this blog for all the dead links and for my lack of updates over the last year or so. I'm running my own business so that keeps me very busy. I am gonna try my best to be a better blog host. I'm gonna try to update all the dead or broken links very soon. Please be patient and give me time. With that said, thank you for your kind comments and emails. I love sharing rare material and my love of pop culture in all it's forms with all of you. :)

Well, I finally got around to compiling volume 3 of Tori Amos' never ending cache of B-Sides. The compilation below entitled More Boys covers the Boys For Pele era B-Sides and rarities.

It should be noted that the inspiration for this collection came from another blog located here on Blog Spot called Ear Candies: Sweet Stuff For Your Ears, that sadly has not been updated since 2008. You can read the original post here.

The running order was borrowed from Mr (or Miss) Ear Candies' blog but the artwork was created for this blog and all these were taken from the omnipop archive of rare Tori material.

I've also included two rarities not on Ear Candies.

The first is Horses remixed 90's style by Canadian DJ and Remix Artist Gavo. Gavo and I used to email back and forth back when the internet was a much smaller place. He sold this version to Tori's label at the time and it was to be included on a Boys For Pele remix album that sadly never materialized.

I saved the best for last. BT, who remixed Talula for the movie Twister, created a spectacular remix of Putting The Damage On that was only released on a promo compilation of Tori's hits that was sent to radio stations. The harmonies on this version are just stunning and it's extremely sad that it's never been commercially released. Enjoy!

More Boys: The B-Sides, Volume 03
01 The Fire-Eater's Wife
02 Abbey Road
03 Walk To Dublin (Sucker Reprise)
04 Om La Boombleigh
05 Blue Skies (with BT)
06 Hungarian Wedding Song
07 Sister Named Desire
08 Landslide
09 Samurai
10 I'm On Fire
11 This Old Man
12 Alamo
13 London Girls
14 Toodles Mr. Jim
15 Graveyard
16 That's What I Like Mick (The Sandwich Song)
17 Frog On My Toe
18 Amazing Grace/Til The Chicken
19 Horses (Gavo's Houseback Mix)
20 Putting The Damage On (BT Twilight Mix)

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Rare! Tori Amos - B Sides - Volume 1!

2011-03-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

I read a lot of sites and blogs on the internet and if I find something that I want to share that I think deserves crediting, I credit it. There's another blog here on Blog Spot called Ear Candies: Sweet Stuff...For Your Earsthat has been one of my favourite blogs for awhile now. Sadly, it's owner (whomever they may be) has abandoned the blog and hasn't updated since 2008.

Well, from the comments left on the site, it seems to still get a lot of visitors.

The curator of the blog has some truly fantastic posts and ideas but sadly most of the links are broken and don't go anywhere anymore.

A few posts that caught my eye were about Tori Amos' highly impressive collection of B-Sides and alternate tracks. The blog's owner compiled them into 5 compilations broken down by era of Tori's career, the first being one that covered the Little Earthquakes era from 1992-1993 entitled Upside Down.

Today after reading this sadly neglected blog, I decided to pick up the baton and recompile all of these B-Sides into my own version of Volume One with new artwork, several that I remastered with the help of a pro audio engineer in 2005 and some bonus mixes that I've decided to call Forgotten Earthquakes.

More volumes of B-Sides by Tori (and others!) to follow. Thanks to Mr.(or Ms.) Ear Candies for the inspiration. :)

Forgotten Earthquakes: The B-Sides, Volume 01
01 Take To The Sky*
02 Here. In My Head*
03 Angie
04 Song For Eric*
05 Upside Down*
06 Sweet Dreams (1992 Version)*
07 Sugar*
08 Ring My Bell*
09 Ode To The Banana King (Part One)*
10 Thoughts*
11 Smells Like Teen Spirit
12 Mary (1992 Version)*
13 Little Drummer Boy*
14 Humpty Dumpty*
15 The Happy Worker (From Toys)
16 The Pool*
17 Thank You
18 Flying Dutchman*
19 Crucify (Alternate UK Single Mix)
20 China (Radio Edit)

*These tracks were remastered in 2005 for this blog and appear on the previous compilation The Bee Sides.

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Rare! Tori Amos - B Sides - Volume 2!

2011-03-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

Here's the next volume of Tori Amos B-Sides, this time from the era covering Under The Pink.

I'd like to thank Ear Candies here on Blogspot for giving me the idea to compile these for my blog. I'd just like to stress that these tracks came from my own archive of Tori Amos material. I borrowed the track running order but this compilation contains new artwork created for this blog, has more tracks and some selections(*) were remastered for this blog previously. Enjoy!

Those Formative Years: The B-Sides, Volume 02
01 Sister Janet
02 Famous Blue Raincoat*
03 All The Girls Hate Her
04 Black Swan*
05 Honey
06 Losing My Religion
07 Over It
08 Take Me With You
09 Butterfly
10 Strange Fruit*
11 If 6 Was 9*
12 Daisy Dead Petals
13 Home On The Range - Cherokee Edition
14 Peeping Tommi
15 A Case Of You*
16 Down By The Seaside (with Robert Plant)
17 Honey (Demo)*
18 God (CJ Bolland Remix)
19 I Wanna Get Back With You (with Tom Jones)
20 Attila The Honey (Spoken Word - From "Tori Stories")

*These tracks were remastered in 2005 for this blog and appear on the previous compilation The Bee Sides.

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Respect! I found the black spark.

2011-03-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

Track Listing
01 Not Over You
02 They'll Never Take The Good Years
03 Anytime You Like
04 Woods
05 Swordfish Hotkiss Nite
06 Toxic
07 Famous
08 Maps
09 Sun's Gone Dim And The Sky's Turned Black
10 In For The Kill
11 Fostercare
12 The Dumbing Down of Love
13 Tell Him
14 Cards In Your Heart
15 The Wilhelm Scream

For Black Spark & all the Spark Plugs. Love, omnipop :v)

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Rare! Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes Remixed!

2010-10-18T01:06:00.000-07:00

In 2000 shortly after I started browsing the interwebs for music, I discovered a website called I Hate Elevator Music started by a man named Jon B who was remixing Tori Amos' brilliant album Little Earthquakes one track at a time. Of course, I saved them and I've held onto them for safe keeping all these years.

Jon's mixes are really fun and really bring this album to another level. I'm aware some fans will probably scream foul but I have to say I enjoy this in a different but equally enjoyable way as I do the original album.

Jon B has reactivated I Hate Elevator Music here on Blogspot (at my begging!) and I couldn't be more pleased. He is THE remixer of all things Tori. Please stop by his blog and listen to his remixography because it's all really wonderful.

It should be noted that two other remixers contribute one track each to this project. xerxes contributed the amazingly beautiful and ONLY tasteful remix of Me & A Gun on Earth and Matthew John Youens' mash-up The Power of Teen Spirit featuring vocals by Tori and music by Madonna closes the collection.

I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Enjoy!

Track Listing
01 Crucify (Good Friday Mix)*
02 Girl (Everybody Else's Mix)*
03 Silent All These Years (Really Deep Mix)*
04 Precious Things (7th Grade Mix)*
05 Winter (Frontbite Mix)*
06 Happy Phantom (Nun Chaser's Edit)*
07 China (Porcelain Mix)*
08 Leather (Big Fat Remix)*
09 Me & A Gun (xerxes 2004 Remix)+
10 Little Earthquakes (Aftershock Mix)*
11 Crucify (Golgotha Mix)*
12 Take To The Sky (Little Passion Mix)*
13 The Power of Teen Spirit (MJY Mash-Up)^

* Remix & Additional Production by Jon B for I.H.E.M.
+ Remix & Additional Production by xerxes
^ Remix & Additional Production by Matthew John Youens

If you'd like to keep up with what we're doing over here at omnipop central offices or have questions about finding anything mentioned on this blog, you're going to need to FOLLOW US ON TWITTER and communicate with us there from now on.

Patty Griffin - Silver Bell (10th Anniversary Special Edition)

2010-09-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been following this blog since it started on Myspace several years ago know that I'm a HUGE fan of Patty Griffin and her shelved 2000 album Silver Bell.

In a previous post here on Blogspot, I offered a version of the album obtained from a band member involved in the actual album sessions which sounded better than probably any other version floating around online.

The album's original release date was to be September 2000 and ironically earlier this month I obtained a promo sampler from the UK containing more of the album in "master" quality sound which made me rethink the overall sound of the album once again.

The version I offer here in honour of the shelved project's 10th anniversary is an entirely new, exhaustively researched remaster for best sound possible. The tracks were taken from 5 different audio sources: a disc given to me in 2000, the US advance sampler, the UK advance sampler, a promo disc from a former label employee and a disc from the band member. So, as I detailed before, this project is close to my heart and I've enlisted the help and guidance of professionals to ensure it sounds as good as humanly possible from the audio sources available.

In honour of this special occasion I'm proud to share 6 bonus tracks including the previously unreleased (at least I've not been able to find it anywhere) single edit of Little God created by Patty's former label for radio airplay.

Thanks to modern technology, the input and time of people involved in the album's creation and fans of this blog who have been so supportive over the years, Patty is better than ever in her shiny new lossless gown with all the extras for the occasion. Enjoy. :v)

Original LP Remastered | FLAC | No Bonus Tracks
01 Little God
02 Boston
03 Perfect White Girls
04 Truth # 2 (with Emmylou Harris)
05 What You Are
06 Silver Bell
07 Driving
08 Sooner or Later
09 Top of the World
10 Sorry & Sad
11 Making Pies
12 Mother of God
13 One More Girl
14 Standing

One Disc Version [all links open in new windows]

Disc One | Original LP Remastered | 192 kbps
01 Little God
02 Boston
03 Perfect White Girls
04 Truth # 2 (with Emmylou Harris)
05 What You Are
06 Silver Bell
07 Driving
08 Sooner or Later
09 Top of the World
10 Sorry & Sad
11 Making Pies
12 Mother of God
13 One More Girl
14 Standing

Disc Two | Bonus Tracks | 192-256 kbps
01 Kiss Them For Me (Outtake)
02 Little God (Unreleased Single Edit)*
03 Making Pies (Live)
04 Top of the World (Live)
05 Truth # 2 (Live)
06 Silver Bell (Live)

*Previously Unreleased

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Rare! Tori Amos - D.M.C.T.V The Remixes!

2010-08-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

In October of 2002, singer/songwriter/piano temptress Tori Amos released her "sonic novel" Scarlet's Walk, a sprawling 18 track collection of post 9-11 inspired songs that some critics went as far as to say was her "masterpiece".

Early promotion of project was like nothing seen regarding Amos' work. Major videos were produced including A Sorta Fairytale, giving the idiosyncratic performer her first taste of major airplay on a mainstream cable channel, with the short film created for the song starring Oscar winner Adrien Brody, going top ten on VH1.

Amos is protective of her art and she reported later in her autobiography that her then record label and her management team came to blows as to how to handle subsequent singles released from the project.

It's well known that Amos has a large "club kid" following and remains closely connected to the community they foster. She was once famously quoted as saying "we have to represent for the children". So, it was no surprise that remixes were commissioned for the what turned out to be the album's final single Don't Make Me Come To Vegas. What one finds curious is it's mixes were technically never issued on compact disc or digital format despite promises from Amos' label of a forthcoming CD Maxi. The remixes did finally see the light of day via a 12" vinyl single containing some of them but leaving off the one version that actually charted on Billboard's club play chart, The Lafosse Mix.

Digital versions finally turned up on a mega rare promo only CD-R, missing one track. Amazingly, many years later, it still seems to sell for obscene amounts of money. Was Amos' label trying to destroy her? It has to be the most questionable marketing move ever to make something people want after the smash success of a previous single this hard to find.

Tori Amos - D.M.C.T.V. (Remixes) | 2002 | FLAC

01 D.M.C.T.V. (Lefosse Mix)
02 D.M.C.T.V. (Timo On Tori Alternate Version)
03 D.M.C.T.V. (Timo On Tori Breaks Remix)
04 D.M.C.T.V. (Timo On Tori House Remix)

HUGE THANKS TO PAN FOR MAKING THIS POST POSSIBLE!

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Groovy! Jody Miller - I Walk The Line!

2010-05-04T00:50:00.000-07:00

Jody Miller is probably best known for her "answer" record to Roger Miller's King of the Road, a novelty record called Queen of the House.

Sadly, what she's not known for is her amazing Go-Go cover of the Johnny Cash classic I Walk The Line. This forgotten gem from 1965 sounds like it belongs on the soundtrack of the nonexistent sequel to Pulp Fiction.

Like far too many 60's ladies, almost all of her music is no longer in print. So, omnipop would like to correct the glaring oversight of this groovy tune never being released as a proper single 45 years ago. Enjoy!

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Cool! Nikka Costa - Ching Ching Ching!

2010-05-03T15:43:00.001-07:00

Nikka Costa, aka the Funky White Bitch, has just returned with a new single with an entirely different sound entitled Ching Ching Ching.

The single is miles away from her last outing, a brilliant classic Memphis soul influenced album Pebble To A Pearl, released on the relaunched Stax Records. It has a quite pronounced pop slant reminiscent of P!nk. So, it comes as no surprise that Costa will be her supporting act for a series of dates in Germany starting later this month.

It is reported that Costa will release a new album in Europe sometime during the Fall on her label Go Funk Yourself Records. No word when the album will see a US release but Ching Ching Ching is already gaining airplay on UK & German radio.

Nikka Costa European Tour Dates (supporting P!nk)
05/29/2010 Köln Rhein-Energie-Stadion
06/02/2010 Heilbronn Frankenstadion
06/03/2010 Stadtallendorf Hessentag
06/06/2010 München Reitstadion Riem
06/08/2010 Berlin Waldbühne

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Listen To This! Simon Curtis - 8bit Heart!

2010-04-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a boy who wasn't like other boys. He made a Nickelodeon TV movie but instead of going the way of the cheezy, brain dead mall dollies that seem to be forced upon us like rabbits, he wrote an album of intelligent, danceable pop and more impressively, set about creating his very own "Robot Army". That album, recorded in a West Virginia basement, is 8bit Heart and the self proclaimed "Robot Boy" of which I speak is Simon Curtis.

At first glance, what could have been an embarrassingly bad idea on all sides, (former teen television star/concept album) is simply the best album created by a former Nickelodeon star since Alanis Morrissette unleashed the 32 million selling tidal wave known as hurricane Jagged Little Pill upon an unsuspecting public.

Here's the part that may shock you, the album is already in 100,000 homes and it's not even for sale in a store. Come again? Curtis has GIVEN the album way via his website and has reportedly clocked over 100,000 downloads in a remarkably short amount of time.

8bit Heart opens with a voice that would not sound of place in a George Orwell novel droning on about a "Robot Boy" who wants to find love and despite his best efforts is cursed with an "8big heart". It's apparent Mr. Curtis listened to Janet Jackson's 1989 concept opus Rhythm Nation at some point (or similar concept projects) and wants to introduce his listeners to his very own personal playground. In this fascinating soundscape, it's Simon's club. We just dance in it.

Catchy melodies and hooks whiz by you like machine gun fire. The disc's (or download's) third track Fell In Love With An Android is such a delicious pop nugget punctuated by Mr Curtis' falsetto that you can almost see Darren Hayes reaching for a tub of comfort ice cream at not having recorded it first. The album goes along nicely until track 10 kicks into high gear. Beat Drop is furious torrent of creativity that presents an excellent argument for the pop song as an art form. With it's brilliant sample of an aria from Mozart's The Magic Flute and party jam lyrics, it's a #1 single you've never heard. In other words, it truly kicks ass.

Vocally Curtis casts himself somewhere between Hayes and Justin Timberlake but to say he sounds like either would not be accurate and would not warrant such detailed breakdown of his album. It's a voice despite being surrounded by dance/pop production has an urgency you believe and want to know what or whom has caused it so much distress.

Curtis said on his Facebook page that he "won't stop working until he bleeds for his fans". But luckily for Mr Curtis, if he keeps making albums like 8bit Heart, his dreams of world robot domination will be close at hand and no blood need be shed in the process.

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Lost Classic LP! Nikka Costa - can'tneverdidnothin' (2004 Version)

2010-03-11T01:11:00.000-08:00

In late 2004 Nikka Costa's then record label (who we won't mention by it's misleading name) sent out advance copies of her new album can'tneverdidnothin' for press review. It's first single I Don't Think We've Met was released to radio and a few magazines gave the forthcoming project praise and fans such as myself waited for it's release.

Nikka claimed in interviews that when the album's original release date neared, she asked her label to go back to the studio to alter certain tracks and record new ones. This simply is not true.

I know for a fact after speaking with a former label staffer that after the first single stalled at radio, the head of the A&R team told her, "Either do what we say or the album isn't coming out".

Nikka went back to the studio to remix and re-record several tracks from the project, removing much of the original album's charm in the process.

Several tracks were either totally altered or removed from the project. The brilliant party jam and opening track I Don't Think We've Met was sadly removed and several other songs were re-recorded in less intresting versions.

A totally different album finally arrived in stores (complete with bland cover artwork) in 2005 to critical and public indifference. In trying to make Nikka more middle of the road, her label removed the very thing that made the album stand out, it's unique arrangements & mixes.

Another brilliant album %$#@ed up by major label tampering.

Original Track Listing
01 I Don't Think We've Met
02 Till I Get To You
03 I Gotta Know
04 Around The World
05 Swing It Around
06 Happy In The Morning
07 can'tneverdidnothin'
08 I'm Gonna Leave You
09 The Last Time
10 Hey Love
11 Fatherless Child
[hidden track] Midday On Mars

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Self Indulgent! The Day I Met Sean Hayes!

2010-03-10T11:24:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time on a website on a much slower, simpler internet, far, far away, there was a 20 y/o who liked a movie very much called Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss. More specifically, he had a crush on the actor who played the title character.

He made a website for the film and read everything he could about the guy who played Billy. Finally, one day he got up enough courage to write a fan letter to an address he found in California for the actor's agent and included his phone number and said he'd love to ask him some questions about the movie.

Well, that 20 y/o was me and the actor was a guy named Sean P. Hayes who went on to be better known as Sean Hayes aka Jack McFarland on NBC's mega hit Will and Grace.

Then, one afternoon the phone rang. I still remember every word.

Hello?

Hi! This is Sean P. Hayes. Is this -------?

WHAT?! Who is this again?

This is Sean P. Hayes. Is this xxx-xxx-xxxx?

YES! So, sorry!

No Problem. So how are you?

I'm great. Thank you for calling me!

Hey, no problem! Your website is great! Did you wanna ask me some questions about the movie?

Yes. Do you mind if I switch my tape recorder on with the phone attachment?

Oh, feel free!

First off, do you mind if I ask you something personal?

Uh..umm....sure.

Are you Gay?

(silence)

Well, the reason I ask is I am and I haven't told anyone. I think you're the first person I've told.

(still silence)

I'm the first person you've ever told?

Yeah, my family doesn't know yet.

Wow, that's really touching. To answer your question, I'm happy with my Boyfriend but can we keep that off your website? I don't want anything to interfere with my getting roles.

Oh, that's fine. Do you want me to switch the tape recorder off?

Yeah. If ya don't mind. Please don't play this for anyone.

*cuts off tape recorder*

Sean, it's off.

I appreciate that. You seem like a nice guy.

I proceeded to ask a few questions about the movie and thanked him for his time.

Before we hung up I asked him if he had any roles coming up to which he replied, "Yeah, I did a pilot about 2 months ago but I don't feel like it's gonna get picked up." to which I responded "Well, if you could play Billy on television you'd be really famous!" Good to know I saw something before the rest of the world did. LOL

I kept the tape for a few years and when gay rumors started popping up, I destroyed it. I didn't want to be the one who outed Sean. He did a nice thing calling a lonely guy in the middle of South Georgia and for that I'm grateful.

Hopefully, everyone isn't annoyed I've started writing more personal stuff related to pop culture. But I just wanted to take a moment and congratulate Sean on being able to live openly. I truly hope he's happy in his personal and professional life.

Sean Hayes & Kristin Chenoweth will star the very first Broadway revival of Promises, Promises opening March 27, 2010.

Photographs of Sean Hayes & Kristin Chenoweth by Dale May. Courtesy of Time Out New York. Sean's Advocate Cover Courtesy of Here Media Inc.

SAD! R.I.P. Corey Haim!

2010-03-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

Former Tiger Beat cover boy and beloved star of the popular 80's film The Lost Boys, Corey Haim has died of a suspected drug overdose in Los Angeles at the age of 38. Further details are still pending. Sad. R.I.P.

SAD! Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse Dies!

2010-03-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse took his own life last night here in Knoxville, TN.

I don't talk about personal stuff on this blog but he was a customer of the record store I used to work at here in town and we had talked about vinyl in the past. Mark truly was such nice guy and I didn't know he was "famous" until about the third time I met him. He never let it all go to his head and was such a humble guy. He will truly be missed by a lot of people. R.I.P.

If you'd like to keep up with what we're doing over here at omnipop central offices or have questions about finding anything mentioned on this blog, you're going to need to FOLLOW US ON TWITTER and communicate with us there from now on.

Rare! Sheryl Crow - Rarities!

2010-03-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

I've been a HUGE fan of Sheryl Crow since the day I saw her debut CD Tuesday Night Music Club at Sam Goody when I was about 14. When the first few notes of Run Baby Run came flooding through my speakers, I was totally blown away. I just thought she was the best thing since sliced bread.

Ms. Crow has amassed a huge amount of rare, alternate and hard-to-find material in her almost 20 year career and since I've been on her bandwagon since the start, I have a LOT of hard to find singles, collections and rarities.

If you saw the post below, I have a new office in my home. It's a creative little nook and it's made me yank out all sorts of things I've been meaning to post on this blog for years. YEARS. This collection of Sheryl Crow rarities was probably the first post I had the idea for but putting it together was a bit of a pain. You see, every one of these tracks are on 22 different cds. That's right, every song is a B-Side or track on a different disc and tracking them all down in a collection of my size can be a daunting task. But, here we are 5 years later, I finally finish this post. Enjoy! LOL

Track Listing
01 Straight To The Moon
02 Let's Get Free
03 I Want You
04 Sweet Child O'Mine (Rock Mix)
05 Kiss That Girl
06 Tomorrow Never Dies
07 C'mon, C'mon (with The Corrs)
08 You're Not The One
09 D'yer Mak'er
10 Free Man
11 Hard To Make A Stand (Alternate Version)
12 In Need
13 Chances Are
14 My Favorite Mistake (Demo)
15 Carolina
16 Old Habits Die Hard (with Mick Jagger & Dave Stewart)
17 Sad Sad World
18 All By Myself
19 Missing
20 Resuscitation

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Self Indulgent! Tour of omnipop central!

2010-03-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

Someone wrote me recently and asked, "Does omnipop just appear out of thin air or is there a magical space in which it's created?"

Welllll.....They didn't quite phrase it like that. Okay, so what if they said "Can I see your desk?" It counts! LOL

So, here's a rather self indulgent photographic tour of omnipop Grand Central aka our office. Hope you come back after seeing this. LOL

Movie Corner: NINE Poster and tons o'DVD's!

Just The Essentials: Box Sets, Film Cell & Prayer Candle. LOL

Father, Son & Holy Ghost: Marvin, Mr. Bump & John Lennon.

The Lady Who's LP This Blog Takes It's Name: Ms. Sam Phillips.

Thank God For Free CDs: The omnipop Archive.

Big Loan From The Girl Zone: Tori Amos Collection.

Where It All Happens: Wanted! New Laptop! :v)

omnipop's Top Ten Albums of 2009!

2010-01-03T23:36:00.000-08:00

10 Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces (Universal Republic)

09 Owl City - Ocean Eyes (Universal Republic)

08 Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw)

07 Gregory Douglass - Battler (Emote)

06 Sacha Sacket - Hermitage (Golden Sphinx)

05 Anne Heaton - Blazing Red (Q Division)

04 Matt Duke - Acoustic Kingdom Underground EP (Ryko)

03 Luke Bryan - Doing My Thing (Capitol Nashville)

02 Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster Reloaded (iTunes Argentina)

01 Sam Phillips - The Long Play (Littlebox/SamPhillips.com)

omnipop's Best Picture of 2009: NINE!

2010-01-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentleman, it is with great pride and sincerity that omnipop would like to bestow it's first ever Best Picture of the year award to a film that not only dared to be original when safe is the norm, shiny when most are dull and daring when the fashion is to be anything but, Rob Marshall's brilliant film adaptation of the 1982 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical, NINE!

NINE is the musical adaption of Federico Fellini's 1963 masterpiece, 8½ brought to Technicolour life by wonderful music, amazing performances and glamourous sets and costumes.

It's a "cool, 60's blonde" of a film, concerning an Italian director named Guido Contini, the always wonderful Daniel Day Lewis, who is suffering from a serious case of writer's block and in his panic induced delusion, is visited by the women who serve as the creative inspiration in his life.

And what women they are! Sofia Loren! Nicole Kidman! Penelope Cruz! Marion Cotillard! Judi Dench! Holy Academy Award Winners, Batman!

Critics have universally panned the film and after viewing it not once but twice in less than a week in the theatre, one has to wonder if it's just the "in" movie to hate this year. It simply is not the horrible film they have sadly accused it of being. NINE is absolutely the most enjoyable film we had the pleasure viewing this year and if more critics weren't afraid to go outside the box of popular consensus, then perhaps this film would receive some praise it so justly deserves. More directly, just because a film is full of Hollywood A-Lister's, released by a major studio and based on a musical that isn't currently hip in the court of public opinion, doesn't mean it isn't wonderful.

It's true that most musicals don't take place within in the surrealism of Fellini source material but for those who are willing to dig a little deeper and think about the context of the film they are watching takes place in, NINE will ultimately offer more satisfying rewards than less intellectually trying entertainment at their local multiplex. Viva Italia!

omnipop = pop culture blog would like to thank The Weinstein Company for graciously providing tickets to the first screening we attended. However, omnipop fully paid for the second screening attended and in no way did this generosity colour our choice for bestowing NINE with our Best Picture of 2009 award.

Watch This! The Young Victoria!

2010-01-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

Last night omnipop saw Emily Blunt absolutely glow in the glorious film adaptation of the early life and reign of Queen Victoria of England, fittingly entitled The Young Victoria.

While most costume pictures can seem stale, boring and overly long, this film thankfully moves along quite nicely. More precisely, Ms. Blunt floats through the movie with the poise and grace of an actress twice her age, from a sadly gone era in filmmaking.

She plays the young queen with a vigor and life so lacking in most film portraits of historical figures. Her Victoria is very much a vibrant young woman alive with passion of both the mind and spirit.

It's no wonder she has received a well deserved Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama, for she is truly wonderful and just so there is no confusion, she is the movie.

Rupert Friend is also charming playing her devoted husband, Prince Albert of Germany. Their on screen chemistry is truly lovely to watch. I can't remember a more romantic relationship captured on film in recent time.

Critics have called this film, "boring", "dated" and "overblown" among other things. Well, I will say it's not for those who are not fans of romance, English History or historical drama. But, for those who are, it's a visually sumptuous banquet of a movie that will fill the heart and the senses with the virtues of a time before the hectic pace that has become the norm in our modern world. Highly recommended.

SAD! BBC Icon Sir Terry Wogan Retires!

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

Gosh! More sad news!

Veteran BBC Disc Jockey and International Broadcasting Icon Sir Terry Wogan, longtime host of BBC Radio 2's, "Wake Up To Wogan" signed off for the final time Friday after 27 years on the air.

Sir Terry was a cherished member of almost every British household. And as in our case, thanks to shortwave radio and later the internet, many Americans took him to heart as well.

Kate Bush could certainly credit Wogan for some of her early career success. He famously adored Bush's first single Wuthering Heights so much that he once played it twice in a row for stunned morning drivers, charmed by what they heard. So much so in fact, the song zoomed to number one.

Wogan also had a successful television career, including three decades commentating on the Eurovision Song Contest, a kitschy competition featuring pop music from across Europe, probably best known for launching the career of Scandinavian pop supergroup ABBA.

It was announced that controversial DJ Chris Evans will be taking over Wogan's Radio 2 morning show prompting some angry letters to BBC Directors. Wogan first told his audience of the news by joking "come next week I'll be turning into Chris Evans".

Sir Terry, your American cousins here at Omnipop would like to wish you well and good luck with any future project you may undertake!

A Very Sordid Holiday

2009-12-13T01:52:00.000-08:00

Del Shores and partner Jason Dottley have lowered the price to $29.99 of the limited edition, autographed DVD box sets of their brilliant satire about white trash in the Deep South, Sordid Lives: The Series. Remember, these are amazing collector's items and would make great gifts for any fan of black comedy or Mr. Shores' previous work such Sordid Lives: The Movie. By the way, Del asks everyone to vote for Sordid Lives for best television series @ The Q Awards.

Mr. Shores, Mr. Dottley and various members of the Sordid Lives cast are currently touring the country with an evening of comedy, song and heartwarming memories entitled, A Sordid Affair. I'm told through a friend in Atlanta that the performance promises to be an amazing evening that will be the ultimate "Sordid" experience! More information including how to buy your own special meet & greet tickets can be found here.

omnipop wishes everyone very Sordid holiday season.

omnipop gives back: The Appalachian Santa Train
We'd like to remind everyone that charities are having an especially hard time this year making sure that everyone has a gift under the tree come Christmas morning.

CSX Railroad delivers gifts and holiday cheer to one of the poorest parts of the United States, The Appalachian Mountains, with it's Santa Train, delivering gifts and help to towns in rural Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Due to cultural stigmas, persons are 10 times less likely to seek government assistance in this part of the country.

Omnipop would like to ask you to make a donation to your favourite charity or consider sending monetary donation to the CSX's Santa Train so they may continue to bring joy to some of our country's neediest residents. Thank You & Happy Holidays!

Send donations to:
Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce
Attn: Santa Train
151 East Main Street
Kingsport, TN 37660

(423) 392-8800
info@kingsportchamber.org

Concert! Lady Gaga - Boston - 12/01/2009

2009-12-02T01:03:00.000-08:00

Lady Gaga performed the first date of the US leg of her Monster Ball World Tour 2009/10 tonight at The Wang Center in Boston and of course, omnipop was there.

You can usually figure out pretty quickly how hot an artist is by the number of scalpers outside of a given venue the evening of a show. Well, they swarmed around like birds. One told me "it's the hottest show of 2009" (it's these men's job to figure these things out). Needless to say, this was the hardest show to get into I've ever attended.

Thanks to a kind lady journalist who flew especially just to review this show, (yes, it was that important), I was lucky enough to procure a ticket.

After arriving at our seats, FOUR FRICKIN' ROWS FROM THE FRICKIN' STAGE, this blogger had a slight happiness meltdown and prepared for the events of the evening.

A semi-transparent screen descended from the ceiling onto which a green pattern that appeared inspired by the early 80's film Tron was projected complete with a 3D rendering of Lady GaGa, counting down the seconds to the start of the concert. To borrow from the little man sitting in front of me, it was "FIERCE!"

This introduction perfectly set the tone for the brilliant presentation I witnessed for the next two hours that was fascinating mix of avant-garde, social commentary, art, fashion, David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust, Grace Jones and Martha Graham. Yet, it was current enough to represent for "the children". In other words, it was a pop spectacle worthy of the hype.

Gaga said near the close of the evening "You'll always remember the night you became a monster". That we will, Gaga. That we will.

Setlist

Intro
PSA For Homeless Gay Youth

01 Dance in the Dark
02 Just Dance
03 LoveGame
04 Alejandro
06 So Happy I Could Die
07 Boys, Boys, Boys
08 Teeth
09 Speechless (Solo Piano & w/ Band)
10 Poker Face (Solo Piano)
11 Poker Face
12 Fashion
13 The Fame
14 Money Honey
15 Beautiful, Dirty, Rich (Remix)
16 Paper Gangsta
17 Paparazzi
18 Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)

Encore
20 Bad Romance

Rare! Dolly Parton - Hello I'm Dolly

2009-10-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

October 27th will see the release of a 4 CD career spanning, multi-label box set simply entitled Dolly by country music superstar, songwriter hall of fame member and living legend Dolly Parton. This four decade spanning multi-label set will feature an impressive collection of rarities and previously unreleased material.

Curiously enough, her debut album, though released briefly in the late 80's on CD, has been out of print for over 20 years despite fans screaming at the powers that be that control the masters for her output from Fred Foster's now defunct Monument label to reissue the album in some form.

Also included here are some single only cuts from original Monument 45's that in some cases have not been heard since they were originally released. Enjoy!

Track Listing
01 Dumb Blonde
02 Your Old Handy Man
03 I Don't Want To Throw Rice
04 Put It Off Until Tomorrow
05 I Wasted My Tears
06 Something Fishy
07 Fuel To The Flame
08 The Giving and The Taking
09 I'm In No Condition
10 The Company You Keep
11 I've Lived My Life
12 The Little Things
13 What Do You Think About Loving? [Bonus Track]
14 Busy Signal [Bonus Track]
15 I Took Him For Granted [Bonus Track]
16 Don't Drop Out [Bonus Track]
17 Ping Pong [Bonus Track]

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Cool! Sam Phillips - The Long Play

2009-10-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Singer/Songwriter Sam Phillips, for whom I've run an unofficial newsgroup for the last 9 years, launched an exclusive online community yesterday for her listeners dubbed The Long Play. Details are above. As Sam's former producer T. Bone Burnett said to me in an email once "Sam is the best there is". I couldn't agree more.

Rare! Massive Attack - Massive Mixes

2009-06-21T17:26:00.001-07:00

Track Listing
01 Madonna featuring Massive Attack - I Want You
(Master Mix) 1997
02 Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This...
(Massive Attack Mix) 1999
03 Les Negresses Vertes - Face A La Mer
(Massive Attack Mix) 1993
04 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Musst Musst
(Massive Attack Mix) 1993
05 U2 - Mysterious Ways
(Massive Attack Mix) 1991
06 Garbage - Milk
(Massive Attack 'D' Mix) 1996
07 Boy George - One On One
(Massive Attack Mix) 1992
08 Kwanzaa Posse - African Vibrations
(Massive Attack Mix) 1992
09 Massive Attack & Mos Def - I Against I
(12" Mix) 2002
10 Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers
(Massive Attack Mix) 1992
11 Neneh Cherry - Man Child
(Massive Attack Remix) 1989
12 Indo Animata - Love Will Be On Your Side
(Massive Tabla Mix) 1996
13 Primal Scream - Exterminator
(Massive Attack Mix) 2000
14 U.N.K.L.E. & Thom Yorke - Rabbit In Your Headlights
(3D Reverse Light Mix) 1997
15 Lisa Stansfield - Live Together
(Massive Attack 'Big Beat' Mix) 1990
[Bonus Track] Garbage - Milk
(Massive Attack Classic Mix) 1996

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Lost Classic LP: Patty Griffin - Silver Bell

2009-05-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

I will save the long story for another post. I'll just say I love this album and I spent a lot of time over the last 9 years trying to track down a real copy.

Well, it never went to press. It probably never even got a real promo release.

Folks who worked somehow on this project tend to have a CD-R laying around containing a pretty good version of it. So, after years of looking, this probably is a clear as we're ever going to hear it.

The version I offer here came from a band member who played on the actual sessions. An artist I made friends with had a copy he gave her and she copied what she had for me.

This version sounded amazingly clean from the get go (free from the hiss and pops that plague most other versions currently circulating) so I won't call this a remaster so much as a clean up. I cleaned up some fades and prepared it in such a way that all the tracks flow into one another. I was made aware of this concept when I met an assistant engineer who helped in the actual sessions at Kingsway in New Orleans in 2000. He informed me Patty and her producers had wanted the entire thing to flow into each other, so I did just that. After this clean-up process, the entire thing was assembled and burned according to Red Book specification to a MFSL 24K gold disc using Sony CD Architect.

There are some intresting things about this version that are different from other versions currently floating around online. First off, I was told this was the "advance, advance" version and so a few things got edited down. There is a count-in at the beginning of the song Standing that I've never heard on any other versions currently out there. Also, the song Kiss Them For Me which is a cover of a song by Siouxsie & The Banshees was on this version. I moved it to the end of the CD however as a hidden track because the band member my friend got this from said it was removed from later copies.

I could rattle on for days and tell you how Patty's label was really stupid for not releasing this album but Patty has stated she's had a richer career having to fight for her art. When asked to comment on what she thinks in retrospect of the album not having been released she responded, "I'm a believer in fate. In a way I'm relieved it didn't come out. I needed to get out of there."

Original LP Remastered | FLAC | No Bonus Tracks
01 Little God
02 Boston
03 Perfect White Girls
04 Truth # 2 (with Emmylou Harris)
05 What You Are
06 Silver Bell
07 Driving
08 Sooner or Later
09 Top of the World
10 Sorry & Sad
11 Making Pies
12 Mother of God
13 One More Girl
14 Standing

One Disc Version [all links open in new windows]

Disc One | Original LP Remastered | 192 kbps
01 Little God
02 Boston
03 Perfect White Girls
04 Truth # 2 (with Emmylou Harris)
05 What You Are
06 Silver Bell
07 Driving
08 Sooner or Later
09 Top of the World
10 Sorry & Sad
11 Making Pies
12 Mother of God
13 One More Girl
14 Standing

Disc Two | Bonus Tracks | 192-256 kbps
01 Kiss Them For Me (Outtake)
02 Little God (Unreleased Single Edit)*
03 Making Pies (Live)
04 Top of the World (Live)
05 Truth # 2 (Live)
06 Silver Bell (Live)

*Previously Unreleased

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Camp Movie Classic: Showgirls!

2009-05-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

I love Showgirls. It's one of those special cases where everything in a film is bad. The acting is awful. The writing sucks. Even the costumes and the music are bad. It's one of those films that has so much trainwreckery that it's not just a bad movie, it's a scorching hot mess!

The plot (if you can call it that) concerns a girl named Nomi, played by Elizabeth Berkley who anyone over 25 will remember as Jesse on Saved By The Bell, who dreams of starring in a splashy, T&A show Goddess at the Stardust on the Vegas strip.

The first time I saw this movie I sat there the whole time thinking to myself that Zack from Saved By The Bell was gonna show up at any moment and save her from the proceedings. Unfortunately for Berkley's career, he never showed.

The dialogue has to be heard to be believed. You could quote this movie for a week and still not run out of tacky things to say. And if you're looking for a career change, it's a great on the job training video as to what you can expect as an "exotic dancer".

The only person who is aware they are are in a bad movie is Gina Gershon. At one point during the film she turns to Elizabeth Berkley and says, "You are a whore, Darlin'. We all are! We take the cash. We cash the check. We show 'em all what they wanna see." Then, a few moments later after stripping off most of Berkley's clothes she says, "See, Darlin', you are a whore". Berkley runs away and Gershon snarls, "Guess we're done." Not as long as we all keep coming back for more, Darlin'.

Showgirls is available on DVD from MGM Home Entertainment and is currently showing for free on-demand for the month of May on Comcast Digital Cable.

Lost Classic LP: Cher - The ATCO Sessions

2009-05-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

By the end of the 60's, Cher had suffered a series of career setbacks. Her records with Sonny were no longer selling. Mr. Bono had sold every stick of furniture in their house to finance Cher's film debut Chastity, only to have it flop like few films have flopped before. Things looked pretty bad.

After taking stock of her stalling sales, ATCO Records sent Cher to the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama to make a comeback album. Produced by the same team behind Dusty Springfield's Dusty In Memphis, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd & Arif Mardin, Mrs. Bono and label heads thought they finally had a hit on their hands. The resulting project, 3614 Jackson Highway was lavished with critical praise but failed to chart and was promptly sent to the cut out bin.

Upon the commercial failure of Muscle Shoals sessions, Cher returned to New York for her final sessions for ATCO. Recorded late in 1969 at Gold Star Studios, these sessions were assembled for onto a mono compilation reel along with some non-LP singles for commercial release sometime in early 1970. The untitled, cancelled album sat on a vault shelf until 2001 when the Wexler/Dowd/Mardin sessions were reissued on compact disc as a limited edition with the shelved album included along with 2 extra songs as bonus tracks.

3614 Jackson Highway has just been reissued in the US, however the lost LP I offer here and it's two additional bonus tracks are not included.

I don't believe in providing music for free that is legally available for sale so I have ommited all tracks that are on this new reissue of 3614 Jackson Highway.

I invite you to support legal music by buying this new reissue of 3614 Jackson Highway and to enjoy this lost gem!

Track Listing
01 Easy To Be Hard
02 I Believe
03 Danny Boy
04 Mama Look Sharp
05 It Gets Me Where I Want To Go
06 You've Made Me So Very Happy
07 Yours Until Tomorrow
08 The Thought of Loving You
09 The First Time
10 Chastity's Song (Band Of Thieves)
11 [bonus track] Chastity's Song (Band Of Thieves)
12 [bonus track] Superstar

Please leave comments regarding this post in the comment box on the main page. Thank you.

Lost Film Classic: Who Killed Teddy Bear?

2009-03-25T03:16:00.001-07:00

Network, a UK based reissue company dedicated to bringing lost films, television series and out-of-print music titles back into circulation, has just released the first official DVD release of one of the most groundbreaking films of all time, Who Killed Teddy Bear? starring Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse and Elaine Stritch.

Refused certification by British Film Censors upon it's first showing in the United Kingdom in 1965, it's regarded there and on this side of the pond to be one of the finest lost works of modern noir cinema. Try this on for size, it boasts such current themes as stalking, phone sex, porno addiction, voyeurism, masturbation, fetishism, lesbianism, sexual perversion, incest, sadomasochism and murder. And that's just in the first 30 minutes.

This film was and is so forward thinking, it's almost hard to believe it was made in 1965. You could certainly see it being made now. It's a well acted, well written, dark psychological crime thriller concerning Nora, a pretty nightclub DJ (Prowse) and Lawrence, a pornography addicted, mentally ill, bodybuilding busboy who spends the movie making obscene phone calls to her and not wearing very much (Mineo). (Mineo's skin tight white jeans have to be seen to be believed!) Elaine Stritch rounds out the cast as Nora's lecherous lesbian disco manager boss, Marian.

Mineo is best remembered in this film for his notorious pool sequence in which he wears a swimsuit so tight and mostly transparent that the scene was cut in several prints that bootleg DVDs floating around in the underground market were taken from. (Network assures us that the film appears exactly as it was shot, with no footage missing in their official release, with the scecne and Mineo's lack of clothing intact.)

If this sounds like a hoot of a movie, it is. It's scary yet campy fun that reminds us, they (unfortunately) don't make 'em like this anymore.

Who Killed Teddy Bear? is available as a Region 2 DVD remastered from original film elements from Network UK.

Non-Region 2 readers should note that several online retailers carry multi-region DVD players at reasonable prices.

Read This! Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You by Peter Cameron

2009-03-24T14:21:00.001-07:00

This is the first book I've reviewed for this blog. It's that good.

I used to read a lot of popular fiction but in recent years I find myself reading more and more books that are over 30 years old and it's a true joy when I discover a newly written book that moves me.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You by Peter Cameron is a coming of age tale centered around a 18 year-old loner living in New York named James Sveck. He's surrounded by quirky group including his newly married, overly nurotic, gallery owner mother, his hipster/art scene sister and his low-rent celebrity grandmother "Nanette" who describes herself as "the poor man's Kitty Carlisle Hart."

James has just been accepted to Brown University but thinks he would be happier "moving off to some midwest state like Kansas, buying an old house and learning a craft like bookmaking" much to the chagrin of his mother and Wall Street executive father who is convinced James is gay.

A scene involving the flamboyant manager of his mother's gallery about ordering a mango salad had me laughing out loud. While others, had me on the verge of tears.

It's touching, funny, witty and ackward all at the same time. Needless to say, I really loved it and I think after you pick up your own copy you will too.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To To You by Peter Cameron is available in Hardback and will be released in Paperback April 28, 2009 from Picador Books.

New Music From Sam Phillips 04/01/09!

2009-03-24T13:51:00.001-07:00

We're told via Sam Phillips' News Group that Sam will be sending some sort of new music or music related news to her official mailing list April 1st.

So, if you're not already signed up for Sam's News Group and her official mailing list, make sure you do so before April 1st!

Sam Phillips On The Interwebs
Sam Phillips dot com
Sam Phillips @ Myspace
Sam Phillips @ Facebook
Sam Phillips News Group

Mandy Moore - New LP - 05/26/2009

2009-03-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

Mandy Moore will release her new album Amanda Leigh May 26th. Moore's previous two efforts Coverage [Epic - 2003] and Wild Hope [Firm Music - 2007] were both critically acclaimed (Spin went as far to say that Coverage was the best covers LP since Bowie's Pin Ups) and more mature than her previous teen pop albums, featuring contributions from such respected musicians as The Weepies and Rachael Yamagata.

From the sound of the first single, a modestly titled stomper called, I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week, Amanda Leigh promises to be another groovy effort from the future Mrs. Ryan Adams.

Track Listing
01 Merrimack River
02 Fern Dell
03 I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week
04 Pocket Philosopher
05 Song About Home
06 Everblue
07 Merrimack River (Reprise)
08 Love to Love Me Back
09 Indian Summer
10 Nothing Everything
11 Bug

Mandy Moore's new LP Amanda Leigh will be released May 26, 2009 on Storefront Entertainment.
Pre-Order CD | Preview Tracks @ Myspace

Mike Schmid - The House We Built - Review

2009-01-30T00:46:00.000-08:00

Mike Schmid - The House We Built - Video Review

Mike Schmid Discography
The House We Built (2008)
The High Cost of Living (2006)
Self Titled (2001)
Snow Day: the Christmas e.p.

Mike Schmid on the Interwebs
Mike Schmid dot com
It's All True: Mike Schmid's Blog
Mike Schmid @ BroadJam dot com

Nikka Costa - New LP - 09/30/2008!

2008-09-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

Nikka Costa's first album since 2005's can'tneverdidnothin', her debut for Concord Music Group's newly relaunched Stax label, Pebble to a Pearl will be released on Vinyl LP on September 30th and Compact Disc October 14th.

Costa's myspace page lists a phone number where fans and well wishers can call and leave messages of support and encouragement. It's an intresting idea and gives the impression the lady cares about the people who keep her in shoes. If you would like to reach out and touch Nikka, give her a ring at (818) 237-9801 and tell her omnipop: a music blog sent ya!

New Patty Griffin LP - 10/07/08!

2008-09-11T01:02:00.000-07:00

Patty Griffin will be featured as a performer and a songwriter on the Columbia Nashville soundtrack Billy: The Early Years coming October 7, 2008.

From the press release:
Patty Griffin gives voice to the beautiful “Ruth’s Prayer,” a poem written by Graham’s late wife, Ruth Bell Graham, and set to music by Alan Jackson, who was inspired to write the song after first seeing the poem in his copy of the Reverend Graham’s biography. Jackson himself sings the sweetly romantic love story, “Look at Me,” written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet, while Griffin’s songwriting appears on the soundtrack in the form of “Heavenly Day,” recorded by Brandon Heath, this year’s GMA Dove Award winner for New Artist of the Year.

Matt Duke - New LP - 09/23/2008

2008-09-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

Philidephia based singer/songwriter Matt Duke's second album Kingdom Underground arrives September 23rd via MAD Dragon/Rykodisc.

I first heard of Matt when I got his debut Winter Child a few years back. From the sound of the new tracks, the new album is gonna be even better than the first one.

So, check out some of his new songs:
The Father, The Son & Harlots Ghost
Sex & Reruns
30 Some Days
Rabbit
I've Got Atrophy On The Brain
Rabbit (Live @ Living Room, NYC)

New Sam Phillips LP Track by Track Review

2008-05-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

No Explanations
On the opening of her first self produced album Don't Do Anything Ms. Phillips comes off as the confident singer/songwriter she is crooning with renewed voice, her doubled vocals making the destruction of love and the world she knows sound far sexier than it should. The drums kick in and you know you're in for a sinfully good round of the blues.

She opens by singing "I thought if he understood he wouldn't treat me this way." Phillips has said in press regarding this forthcoming project that this album is and isn't about the dissolution of her marriage. But, one gets the sense that she wants you to wonder if she's not writing about her own life. She has called herself an abstract painter more than a journalist when she writes songs and from the layers she creates you get a sense that she's only letting you in on part of the events that inspired this track.

Can't Come Down
This number has a shuffle guitar and an almost "Sam and the Beanstalk" kind of lyric. She sings "I tried to pull the rope down from the sky but it wouldn't come down so I started to climb. I've got a great work to do." Well, the work she does on this track works quite nicely.

Another Song
The introduction of this one obviously is played back on Sam's microcassette recorder she has been performing Animals on Wheels live with since she was in Wim Wenders' The End of Violence. The rest of the song is Sam and probably Patrick Warren on piano trying to make sense of love lost with the words "Did you ever love me?" repeated more than once. But, Sam is never one to wallow in sorrow and just when you think it's a weepie the most angelic "la la la's" giving a sweet glimmer of hope chime in.

Don't Do Anything
"I love you when you don't do anything". That's the simple opening line of the title track. Sam has said more than once on her 2004 A Boot and A Shoe tour that she brought the audience torch music and that torch music by her definition was carrying a torch for someone who doesn't love you anymore but you still have hope. After a brief pause she smiled and said "Well, we're here to tell you that hope will kill you. So, just stop that." Sam apparently still has hope and it's lovely.

Little Plastic Life
Punchy piano and harmony make this uptempo number a fun little exercise in self examination with Sam gleefully singing "I detected fire in myself before the flame that burned it out to the ground."

My Career In Chemistry
I heard this one and I yelled "GO SAM!" at the speakers. Jay Bellerose is definitely the star of this track. His drums pull you in and Sam's singing sounds all the more powerful as a result of the driving tempo he provides. The Section Quartet also provide urgent strings that add to the overall feel.

Flowers Up
Like a lost John Lennon piano demo, this track cuts through you like a knife. The opening lyric, "Imagine no one noticing you, seeing what they can't see" and the way Sam sings it made every hair on my arm stand up. The Section Quartet make another appearance on this one. Up there with the best work of her career so far and a high contender for my favorite song of the year.

Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us
The world has heard this song. Praised by critics as the standout track of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's duo project. So, now we get to hear Sam's version that inspired their cover. Well, Alison's version never made me dance this much. Sam's original has a joy and what can only be described as a teasing quality not there in the cover.

Shake It Down
The percussion, the rhythm, the vocal, this is musical seduction at it's best. Sexy as all heck.

Under The Night
Sam's guitar that you "plug in" is quietly crashing here. The harmony reminds me of the darker moments of Martinis and Bakinis. Sam sings that the "world is cruel" but the song is magic.

Signal
This track made it's debut on the music player of Sam's website last year. It's a deeply opaque song of longing and quiet desperation. The instrumentation with it's lush strings and crashing drums is a nice contrast to the lyrics.

Watching Out Of This World
Sam says goodbye. The curtain comes down. Her official debut as producer is sealed with the lush layered vocals of this sublime closing track.

CLOSING THOUGHTS
As Sam has said on her blog it's a "short playing" record. This makes me sad considering we've waited 4 years since A Boot and A Shoe. The studio recording of tour favorite When You're Down did make a brief appearance on Sam's myspace music player but is sadly absent here. Was It All In My Head? which also debuted during the 2004 tour also didn't make the final cut. Hopefully they will be offered as bonus tracks somewhere. There has been talk of the new version of Black Sky and some other remakes being offered in some deluxe form and for our sake I hope they are because the world needs more Sam Phillips songs. Sam knows the art of not overstaying her welcome or making the listener sit through overly long songs that don't have to be. She knows that saying less is sometimes more and as always she does it beautifully.

Sam Phillips - Don't Do Anything will be released as Nonesuch 257020 on June 3, 2008 and frankly, you're a fool if you don't buy it.

An Audience With Miss Coco Peru!

2008-04-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

The fabulous Miss Coco Peru made her Boston club debut last night and I was there! Her act is a fantastic mix of comedy, theatre, music, group therepy and motivational speaking with the word fuck thrown in a lot for good measure. :)

I had the fortunate pleasure of meeting Miss Coco and her manager Michael earlier that day at my job. So, it was a pure delight to have someone I've admired for such a long time take time out of her busy day to invite me to her show and be so gracious to me after. She even signed the Trick press kit for me! She's a class act and a true lady who really cares about her fans.

Michael her manager wanted me to mention to all the readers here that Coco will be performing this year in Rohobeth Beach, Provincetown and various spots all over the US and Europe. Check Miss Coco's website for a calander of all the spots where you can see her fabulosity up close and personal.

By the way, the BRILLIANT cast and director of the film Girls Will Be Girls has recently reunited to do a series of shorts featuring the same patented brand of comic bitchery that made the film so wonderful. You can also check out Miss Coco Peru, Evie Harris and Varla Jean Merman performing material by Richard Day at GirlsWillBeGirlsOnline.com! And pick up a fabulous Girls Will Be Girls t-shirt or DVD while you're there!

Miss Coco Peru, Evie Harris and Varla Jean Merman in Girl Stalk

Back from "Wanderland" with "Hard Candy"

2008-04-25T01:17:00.000-07:00

1992 saw Madonna unleash a musical/sexual tidal wave entitled Erotica featuring Dita Parlo, a mistress of the proceedings who spoke/sang in a cracked whisper that was some of the most fascinatingly memorable moments of aural and musical sexuality ever committed to record. Dita, Madonna's alter ego for much of the album, was an object of fascination and admiration for countless women and men who found themselves swept up in her commands to "do what I say" and her teasing promises that there is a "certain satisfaction in a little bit of pain."

Madonna quietly put her clothes back on in 1993 shortly after "disappointing" sales of the project and it's companion fantasy photo book. Dita went away never to be heard from again or so we thought.

On the opening track of Madonna's latest album, Hard Candy the Pharrell Williams/Netunes produced "Candy Shop" there was a familiar voice proclaiming that her "sugar is raw, sticky and sweet." It took a few listens to realize that our Dita is back and she's been traveling.

Pharrell and the rest of the Neptunes crafted a strange and personal soundscape in 2002 so otherworldly Virgin Records America dropped the US contract of R&B diva Kelis. This collection of sonic experimentation, Wanderland, Kelis second studio album, made her a critical darling in the UK and she did guest vocals on singles of such alterna-hipsters as Bjork and Moby. The album was full of clever, off kilter beats that were recycled on everyone from Britney Spears to now our Dita's welcome return.

Dita takes a few breaks like on the album like on Timba-Lake jam "Four Minutes" where the Jus-Mad-Tim trio plans to get funky before the Rapture. However, this is Pharell and Chad Hugo's party with Madonna dancing and being the facinating, sexual, spiritual creature she's been for the last 25 years.

She's back. Trust me. Dita we love you. Don't ever go away again, Darling. We promise to be good.

Madonna - Hard Candy (Warner Bros.) will be available April 29, 2008 as a conventional CD, a deluxe limited edition, a deluxe swirled vinyl LP set w/ bonus disc.

Kelis - Wanderland is avilable from Virgin Europe.

Jenn + Anne + Rose

2008-04-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

I've admired Jennifer Kimball since the day I saw her perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 1994. I've also been lucky enough in the last year of living in the Boston area to be able to see her perform twice with the most recent time being Friday evening at the Oasis Coffeehouse in Waltham, Mass. Jennifer, for those of you who do not know, has made two beautiful solo albums Veering From The Wave and Oh Hear Us that will enhance the home stereo of any music lover.

Anne Heaton has recorded two critically acclaimed albums and is releasing a third shortly entitled Blazing Red. Anne informed me when we chatted after the Oasis show that anyone who pre-orders her new album will get a limited edition 21 track live cd featuring live versions of several of the songs on her first two albums as well as a stunning cover of Damien Rice's "Cannonball".

Rose Polenzani has made 3 albums since her 1998 debut Dragersville including two for Indigo Girl Amy Ray's Atlanta based label Daemon Records. Her latest August is a collection of "misfit home recordings" that Jennifer Kimball described as "pure magic". Rose's forthcoming, as-of-yet untitled new album will be released sometime in May. Check her website for more details.

Jenn, Anne and Rose will all be performing together again this friday as part of the Sub Rosa, a "hootenanny" hosted by Ms. Polenzani at Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. I'm sure the ladies and their "15 or so friends" would be tickled as peach pie if you would come and stop by for the party.

Jennifer Kimball's latest release Oh Hear Us is available via her website.
Anne Heaton's forthcoming Blazing Red is available for pre-order at her website.
Rose Polenzani's newest CD August is available for purchase at her website.

Jennifer Kimball, Anne Heatoni and possibly Anne Heaton will next perform together:
Friday, April 25, 2008
SUB ROSA (Hosted by Rose Polenzani)
Lizard Lounge
9:30 PM Cambridge, MA
1667 Massachussetts Ave
(617) 547-0759

Sam Phillips' New LP 06/03/2008!

2008-04-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

It seems quite appropriate that the first new blog written here on blogger dot com, the new home of omnipop, should be about Sam Phillips. After all, Omnipop (It's Only A Flesh Wound Lambchop), her 1996 album of unjustly ignored, highly creative songs that predicted the coming of Jon Brion 9 years before Fiona Apple stepped out of her Extraordinary Machine, is the very thing from which this humble music blog takes it's logo and name.

I could spend countless lines explaining the depth of her talents but as Sam once said, "We're all wet from big splashes these days."

So, what I will say is Sam has never made a bad album and she has yet another collection of songs which I'm sure will be of the same understated, yet powerful songcraft for which she has become known for entitled Don't Do Anything coming out on Nonesuch June 2, 2008.

In the meantime, you must check out Sam's past discography and visit Sam's news group for all the latest.

Don't Do Anything by Sam Phillips will be available June 3, 2008 on Nonesuch.

Sam Phillips - "Can't Come Down"
From the forthcoming LP "Don't Do Anything" (Nonesuch)

Shelby In Memphis

2008-04-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Shelby Lynne's career has seen great highs, critical failures, Grammy awards and multi-million dollar flops. It seems only natural that her latest album is a tribute to another artist who's career also saw great highs and lows, Dusty Springfield.

Just A Little Lovin' (Lost Highway) is dripping with the white girl, Alabama soul that's become Lynne's trademark over the course of her 20 plus year career. The album's concept came to Lynne after meeting fellow Springfield fan Barry Manilow at a Grammy luncheon. During their chat about their love of all things Dusty, Lynne told Manilow of her label's disappointment with her last album, 2005's unjustly ignored Suit Yourself, and their indifference to her ideas about what her next project should be. Manilow reportedly said, "Why not just do some Dusty Springfield songs?"

After presenting a few ideas for original songs to her Capitol A&R rep, he reportedly told Lynne, "What can I do with these?" She responded "I think I'm going to go do Dusty Springfield songs with Barry Manilow!" Only then did Capitol become receptive to giving Lynne any money to finance another album.

Lynne called around L.A. and finally veteran producer Phil Ramone was recommended as the perfect person to turn the knobs for the project. Shortly after the recording process began at Capitol's famed Tower studio at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, Lynne's contact lapsed. Playback of the rough tapes for Capitol's A&R team was met with mixed reaction. After a final meeting with the label, Lynne made it clear she considered the album not only "damn good" but that she was not willing to change a note. Lynne was handed the tapes for the sessions and yet again went about finding a new place to call home.

Lost Highway, an artist friendly imprint of Universal Nashville, approached Lynne and promised to release the project as recorded. Allowing her creative and artistic control right down to the mood of the album's photography.

Dusty Springfield was often called "difficult" by critics because of her dedication to professional perfection and her frequent change of labels. Like Lynne, Springfield was simply unwilling to let a bunch of suits tell her what she needed to sound like.

Dusty In Memphis her 1969 Atlantic debut basically killed her career. The album originally only sold 100,000 copies in the US before its initial pressing was deleted. It barely charted in the UK and cost Springfield her deal with longtime label Phillips/Ponogram. Critics on both sides of the pond at the time accused the record of being a lame, white lady version of Memphis Soul. That was 1969.

In 2007 not only is it on every all time best album list currently in print but it's usually in the top 10. To call Springfield's Memphis a masterpiece would still be an understatement. The album is iconic and is still in many modern critic's opinions the coolest album ever recorded.

Springfield made a disco/pop album in 1982 entitled White Heat for Casablanca Records that was considered so bad that it was not even released by PolyGram's UK arm Mercury. Yet in 2005 Universal/Mercury UK not only re-released the album on CD but they unearthed several 12" mixes and bonus cuts.

Lynne made an album in 2001 with pop producer Glen Ballard to critical and commercial failure. Love, Shelby was such a flop that her label Island/Def Jam dropped her even after the Grammy Winning, platinum success of her previous album 2000's I Am Shelby Lynne.

Springfield made albums that were decades ahead of their time and didn't let anyone tell her who she needed to be. Shelby Lynne follows a similar path.

Lynne made a short film about the making of Suit Yourself in which she recounts a story of her grandmother's horror at learning she wanted to be a singer. The youngster responded, "I'm gonna suit myself." Thank God for us and for Dusty's memory she does.

Shelby Lynne's Just A Little Lovin' is available now on Lost Highway.

Dusty Springfield's Dusty In Memphis is available in a remastered, expanded edition from Rhino.