New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter
Alan Lewis, Editor

Our Corner of the Rock 'n' Roll Life

May 30, 2009
Issue 2009:329
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We've got Thrills, chills, Dirty Water
: : : What more do you need?
When the big beat hits ya
Comin' from your transistor
: : : Like the T at full speed
When the big beat hits ya...

"Boston Lullaby," Dudick/Naihersey.
: : : Copyright c. 1980 by Camaraderie Music, BMI.
: : : All rights reserved. Used with permission.

:

:

BRATTLEBORO, VT, May 30 - It is more than a little bit of a last-minute surprise
that we have lots more news than we thought. We actually did not receive a
great deal of mail this week; but now I can plainly see that an extremely high
percentage of it made the cut in terms of being the kind of items we usually
post here. I will work into this issue just as much as time permits.

Sorry this mailing is so late. I even hurried.
.


READ WHAT INTERESTS YOU, scroll, scroll, scroll on past whatever does not.
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RECORD RELEASES THIS WEEK
Listed by Newbury Comics, Excerpted by Us

<> The acts this week that I recognize go back quite far, while my youth-culture
consultant did not see much that interested him. So get prepared for a trip
down memory lane. Though many of these acts are super, few if any of them are
new and on the current cutting edge.

ALVIN, DAVE-And The Guilty Women-$12.88
BRUBECK, DAVE-Time Out: 50th Anniversary Edition-$19.99
BURTON, G/METHENY, P-Quartet Live!-$16.99
CLASH-Singles-$9.99
CREEDENCE -Concert: 40th Anniversary Edition-$11.99
CREEDENCE-Creedence Covers The Classics-$11.99
DAVIS, MILES-Sketches Of Spain: 50th Anniversary Edition-$19.99
DENVER, JOHN -Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits-$9.99
ELO-All Over The World-$9.99

HOPKINS, LIGHTNIN'-Very Best Of Lightnin' Hopkins-$7.99
<> I absolutely LOVE Lightnin' Hopkins on electric guitar; but on every single
album of his that I have ever owned, he has played strictly acoustic.

MARILYN MANSON-High End Of Low (Deluxe)-$16.99
MARILYN MANSON-High End Of Low (+ Bonus Track)-$9.99
MARLEY, JULIAN-Awake-$9.99
MINGUS, CHARLES-Mingus Ah Um: 50th Anniverary Edition-$19.99
MOORE, MANDY-Amanda Leigh-$13.99
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK-Greatest Hits-$9.99
PROCOL HARUM-Live In Concert (W/Danish National Concert Orchestra)-$11.88
WINTER, JOHNNY-Anthology-$24.99

<>

featured dvd new release Available Tuesday, May 26th

090808_EvntHrizonNew In Town
$17.99 DVD

SOURCE: Newbury Comics official website, May 26, 2009.

:: dave alvin, dave brubeck, bary burton, creedence clearwater revival, miles
davis, john denver, electric light orchestra, lightnin hopkins, lightning
hopkins, julian marley, pat metheny, charles mingus, mandy moore, johnny winter
::
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PRESS RELEASES THIS WEEK

<> As far as I can see and as far as I recall, we did not receive any relevant
press releases this week. This is quite unusual.
.

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JOSH BROOKS
CD-Release Show

Josh Brooks
"Lesson Learned" (CD, S.n., 2009)

Manufactured, marketed, and distributed by

http://www.myspace.com/joshbrooksvt

The career of Josh Brooks has not been a long one. Not yet. But for an easy
majority of the time, he has been among Vermont's most respected songwriters.
As a performer, Brooks' career has run through several phases; and we understand
that, as a listener, he has gone through even more phases. His mailings
characterize him as a "Vermont roots songwriter," and this is Josh Brooks at his
positive best. In his early days, when he would slip off into the blues, he
would particularly shine. A later era, when he began working with drummer Kent
Blackmer, an extended family member, may mark the point that he found the Josh
Brooks style. These two musicians can achieve a remarkably full sound without
many instruments - say, guitar, harmonica, and drums - and with little if any
amplification. A lot of acts claim to do this. These two guys really do it.

I am listening to "Lesson Learned," the new Josh Brooks CD, for the first time
right now, and it gets off to a promising start to say the least. This is no
time of day for a lot of sound - not in an apartment building such as this one,
anyway. With the volume cranked down, this disc has "live," demo-like sonics
that are often enough called ragged but right. The disc would probably benefit
from more volume than I can give it at such an early hour, but this is pretty
good as is. "Lesson Learned" comes across very nicely at a soft volume. It
would be easy to imagine listening this way again sometime on purpose.

We had heard a little pre-release build-up for "This Bar Is Full of Broken
Hearts Tonight" and we definitely like it.

Brooks and Blackmer have got a good thing going here, and we will keep
listening. But otherwise, we have to switch over to Brooks' announcement of his
upcoming release show. I will just add that from what has played so far, it is
highly likely this will become my own personal favorite Josh Brooks album. With
a harder edge and roughed-up harp here, a more determined kick to the beat and a
wail in the vocals there, and more than a few nods to Bruce Springsteen's "The
River," it would have been tough for Brooks and Blackmer to go far wrong. And
they didn't. Well done! This is a big foot-tappin', roots-rockin' step forward
for The Joshua Brooks Band. Here is the announcement.

<> "As of this evening we're only seven days away from the official release of
my new album 'Lesson Learned!' I'll be at the American Legion with my Band (aka
Kent Blackmer on drums) on Friday, June 5th to play songs from the new album and
some not-so-old favorites. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:00, tickets are
$5. There will be a cash bar and light snacks, and copies of Lesson Learned
will be available for $10. You can preview tracks at

http://www.myspace.com/joshbrooksvt

"The reviews are coming in as well:

"'Lesson Learned is part country, part rock `n' roll- think a little Johnny Cash
with a dash of classic Bruce Springsteen. The album really hits its stride with
"Rosetta / Sad Wedding," an eight-minute track that builds from a pared-down
acoustic ballad to a gorgeous, mesmerizing instrumental riff. And with the
finale, Brooks hits one out of the park. "Half the Man I Used to Be" is a
triumphant song, and an enthusiastic exclamation point at the end of an
altogether enjoyable, highly listenable record." (Kathryn Flagg, Addison
Independent)'

"I hope you can make it out to Vergennes on June 5th - but if not, I'll be
playing around the northeast in the coming months. For folks in the Northeast
Kingdom [region of Vermont], it'll be sooner rather than later - I'll be [at?]
The Music Box in Craftsbury on Saturday, June 6th at 8PM. Tickets are $8, and
you can get info at www.themusicboxvt.org. Thanks and I'll look forward to
seeing you down the road!"

http://www.myspace.com/joshbrooksvt

SOURCE: Josh Brooks, "CD Release Concert," May 29, 2009.

I HAVE SINCE LISTENED . . to "Lesson Learned" from start to finish and would not
change a thing I had already written about it. This is the Josh Brooks Band at
its best. There is excellent listening matter here.

= = =
= = =

GUITARZAN AND PHIL AIKEN
At Toad
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Saturday, June 6, 2009

<> "Guitarzan returns after half a year of hibernation. The show ... will be on
Saturday, June 6. Phil Aiken's Pianozan opens at 10, Guitarzan on at 11. At
Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Porter Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts."

SOURCE: Russell Chudnofsky, "Guitarzan Saturday, June 6 at Toad," May 29, 2009.

= = =
= = =

THE STONE COYOTES
"A Rude Awakening"
CD-Release Event

<> "New England: 'A Rude Awakening' CD release show JUNE 13 at The Rt. 63
Roadhouse in Millers Falls, Massachusetts."

SOURCE: The Stone Coyotes, "News, Shows," May 26, 2009.

WHEN ONE CONSIDERS . . that Barbara Keith of The Stone Coyotes was an English
major in college, her mailings are remarkable for their terseness.

= = =
= = =

GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS
Big Changes in the Night

Bryan Dondero has left Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Potter and company saw
this as an opportune opportunity to rethink the makeup of the band. Here is
part of what the latest mailing had to say:

<> "With great excitement, we will be climbing onto the bus this week with two
new Nocturnals: Bassist Catherine Popper and guitarist Benny Yurco. Catherine
is, by all definitions, a 'Cat.' She has played with legends like Levon Helm,
Micheal Stipe, Willie Nelson, Dr. John, Norah Jones and Ryan Adams and the
Cardinals. She has wowed crowds with her solid style and her uncanny stage
prowess and we are over the moon to have one of our longtime musical crushes
joining our band of merry ... people! In the spirit of merriment, our longtime
friend Benny Yurco has also accepted the charge of 'sonic filler-outer' (aka
rhythm guitarist and vocalist). His killer skills and unflappable spirit will
no doubt bring the band a whole new bag! We'll be pounding the rock club and
festival circuit all summer and fall with stops across the country, and, no
doubt to a city near you!"

SOURCE: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, "Happy Summer, Weary Hibernators!" May
27, 2009.

= = =
= = =

ROCK BAND
Bonaroo and Iron Maiden Packs

Rock Band "Bonaroo Pack"

Tracks:
Ben Harper and Relentless7 "Shimmer & Shine"
Coheed and Cambria "A Favor House Atlantic"
Coheed and Cambria "The Running Free"
Phish "Wilson (live)"
Shooter Jennings "Steady at the Wheel"
TV on the Radio "Wolf Like Me"
(All tracks are original master recordings)
These tracks will be available for purchase as part of the "Bonnaroo Pack" or as
individual tracks for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems.

Followed the week after by Maiden:

Aces High (Live)
2 Minutes to Midnight
The Trooper
Wasted Years
Number of the Beast
Run to the Hills
Can I Play With Madness?
The Clairvoyant
Powerslave
Fear of the Dark (Live)
Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)
Iron Maiden (Live)

I didn't see pricing or pack information in the newsletter, so we'll have to
wait for next Friday.

SOURCE: Stephen Lewis, E-Mail Message, May 29, 2009. Data drawn from the Rock
Band newsletter.
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BRIEF ITEMS :

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UPPER CRUST
Boston Cream Pie

Here is another surprise disc - a surprise to me at least - that my listing
project has turned up:

Upper Crust
"Cream of the Crust"
(CD, Upper Crust Ltd. UPCL 1, 2006)

The folk at www.CDFreedom.com call this "A Timeless Collection of Upper Crust
Classics remixed and remastered."

I don't know about you, but this makes it sound highly worthwhile to me. The
Upper Crust was/is a perfectly hilarious Boston rock band.
.


WBCN (EARLY) AND FREE-FORM RADIO

<> Mike Andrade calls himself a "Radio Nut" and he has a very strong interest in
a fascinating topic, freeform radio. In an exchange of e-mails on Friday, he
sent the following links which may interest many of our readers, particularly
Bostonians, ex-Bostonians, and other scattered radio nuts:

RockRoll360 - American Revolution: Beginnings of Underground Rock Radio
WBCN Pt. 1

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1343

RockRoll360 - American Revolution: Beginnings of Underground Rock Radio WBCN Pt.
2

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1345

Or go to this site and look for episode you want

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/category/rockroll360

SOURCE: Mike Andrade, E-Mail Message, May 29, 2009.
.


EARLY COUNTRY MUSIC OF NEW ENGLAND

<> We have gathered some information, but need to gather more, about CDs
released in Europe of the music of Yodeling Slim Clark, Betty Cody, and Hal
Lonepine - stars of early New England country music.

From a quick, first look, Slim Clark seems to be particularly well represented.

Maine's Betty Cody had a really fine hit called "Tom Tom Yodel." It may seem
corny, but this record was definitely nothing of the kind. It was a fine piece
of work. Hal Lone Pine was a solid writer of country songs, including "Tom Tom
Yodel." These two were the parents of legendary guitarist Lenny Breau.

Yodeling Slim Clark was a very special character. He always stuck tight to
cowboy songs, yodeling, and all kinds of old-fashioned country material. He
picked his bass strings with a thumbpick, getting an uncommonly strong beat. He
insisted, when asked about his New England locale, that being a cowboy was not a
matter of geography: it was a way of living. And he proved it. Shortly before
he died, Slim Clark was notified that he would be inducted into the Cowboy Hall
of Fame. From his point of view, there was probably no greater honor.
.


ODDS AND ENDS

<> We have been advised, by a friend of the band, that the 1970s Pioneer
Valley/New York City/Sesame Street trio, The Deadly Nightshade, is now on a tour
of the East and a website is in the works. A lot of New Englanders have been
fans of this ensemble, and many people have loved and continue to love the
group's fiddler, Helen Hooke.

<> According to the official home page of Vermont's Patti Casey, a gifted
singer-songwriter with a country slant, she is working on her next album. Her
latest disc is

Patti Casey
"The Edge of Grace"
(CD, Long Shot Music LSM 004, 2005)

Evidently Casey has been taken by surprise by the amount of work she has gotten
since joining Woods Tea Co.

<> We are in receipt of the latest two albums by The Stone Coyotes out of
Greenfield, Massachusetts. This is an outstanding band and not to be missed.
Both albums are really good, but the next-to-latest is especially terrific:
right up there with this legendary trio's very best. It is

Stone Coyotes
"VIII" (CD, Red Cat Records 19, 2008)

It would probably be between "VIII" and "Ride Away From the World" as to which
TSC disc is my all-time favorite. "Ride" is loaded with some of The Stone
Coyotes' best-known songs, while "VIII" is more compact and focused. Great
stuff all around!

<> The Ray Mason Band has a new CD and release shows are coming in June. It
will be our endeavor to run this again closer to the events, but we will give
advance notice now that the first release show is set for Saturday, June 20,
2009, at Mocha Maya's in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. The new disc, which
has arrived here but so far I have neither actually heard nor even seen it, is

Ray Mason Band
"Like Bugs Chewing on Paper"
CD, Captivating Music, 2009)

Love that title!

<> The booking of the Boston Babydolls into The Church of Boston on Sunday is a
really close fit with my sense of the absurd. No offense to the BBabydolls
intended. They seem to be good people and, as previously noted, genuine
enthusiasts. But to me, this booking sounds just plain funny.

<> Laurie Geltman is joining Woody Giessman in a benefit performance for his
Right Turn organization June 6, 2009, at Arlington Center, Massachusetts. We do
not have details of Geltman's CD with her Los Angeles band, Layne. I'll see
what I can do about rounding them up.
.


SIDEWINDERS

<> A lot of terrific music came out of the 1970s, but nothing is for everyone.
Many fans of the sensitive singer-songwriters of the day and of country rock,
folk, and new age music were looking out for mellow sounds while they were
trying to lead laid-back lives.

The Sidewinders headed in a different direction, going back to rock basics and
putting real rock 'n' roll drive into their music. This was right after some
terrific music labeled "Bosstown" was torpedoed by an ill-advised corporate
promotion that came to be known as "Bosstown." And rock bands such as The
Sidewinders and The Modern Lovers were very much needed. Boston and New England
were really lucky to have both.

We lately received an inquiry for the Sidewinders album.

Sidewinders
"The Sidewinders"
(LP, RCA Victor LSP-4696, 1972)

We were able to match our correspondent with the original vinyl, which was for
sale online. We hope it works out.

The Sidewinders is one of several earlier acts that we receive a small but very
steady number of inquiries about. I can never remember them all at any given
time; but those that are coming to mind at present are

The Blend (Maine/New Hampshire)
Bill Chinnock (Maine/New Jersey)
Oak (Maine/New Hampshire)
Private Lightning (Boston and environs)

Massachusetts' own Billy Squier of "The Stroke" fame was in a late lineup of The
Sidewinders. Though by no means a punk band, the Sidewinders' return to the
basics was an important first step toward the punk and alt-rock revolutions that
put Boston in a leadership position in the world of rock 'n' roll.

It is always great to get an opportunity to pay tribute to The Sidewinders and
The Modern Lovers.
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLINE
Monday Morning

Ex-Wilco member Jay Bennett dies
Yahoo! Music – Mon May 25, 6:00 am ET

Former Wilco band member Jay Bennett has died at age 45.

<> I actually missed this news story when it broke on Monday. Possibly some of
you did, too. I first saw the news this morning. - Ed.

RIP
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS
Friday-Saturday Overnight

Ozzy Osbourne sues in NYC over Black Sabbath name
AP – Sat May 30, 12:47 am ET
FILE - This Sept. 25, 2007 file photo shows Ozzy Osbourne as...

NEW YORK - Ozzy Osbourne has accused former Black Sabbath band mate Tony Iommi
of taking over the heavy metal titans' name and costing him royalties from
merchandise sales.

Probably needless to say, the Reuters news service also weighed in on this
story.

Ozzy Osbourne sues over rights to Black Sabbath name
Reuters – Fri May 29, 8:03 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Black Sabbath frontman Ozzie Osbourne has sued his
former band mate Tony Iommi over the ownership of the group's name.

WE NOTED BACK ON . . May 9 in our Issue 326 that the rock world was being
treated to "something like two Black Sabbaths at once." Evidently this
arrangement has not turned out to be a comfortable fit for all concerned. - Ed.
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLINE
Friday Evening

CHICAGO AND EARTH WIND AND FIRE
Together Again

Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire mull joint album
Reuters – Fri May 29, 6:17 pm ET

DETROIT (Billboard) - After several years of touring together and a new joint
charity single, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire are contemplating a full-scale
collaborative album project.
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLING
Friday Evening

PHIL SPECTOR

It would be hard to imagine that you haven't seen nor heard this, but here it is
anyway.

Phil Spector gets 19 years to life for murder
Reuters – Fri May 29, 7:27 pm ET
Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson listens as music producer...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Still maintaining his innocence, music producer Phil
Spector was sentenced on Friday to at least 19 years in prison for the 2003
murder of a Hollywood actress and could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLINE
Tuesday Morning

Weezer to release own Snuggie blanket
Yahoo! Music – Tue May 26, 8:00 am ET

Weezer have teamed up with a leading U.S. blanket company to produce their own
branded blanket, according to reports.

THIS fills an obvious need. - Ed.
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end BRIEF ITEMS

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NEMSnews

New England Music Scrapbook
Brattleboro, Vermont

E-MAIL us via:
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Please do NOT click the Reply button. Clicking Reply sends your message to
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<> If you have friends who would be interested in any of the items in this
issue, please forward this newsletter to them. Thanks! We believe this is one
of the main ways we pick up readers.
.


<> As a rule, we do not post SHOW LISTINGS. The reason is quite simple. Though
our name is the NEW ENGLAND Music Scrapbook, probably an easy majority of our
readers are based outside the six New England states. The great majority of
show listings would be of no interest at all to the great majority of our
readers.

We make exceptions when show listings are part of an item of more general
interest. CD-release events are great examples. For us, the main point of an
item of this sort is that an act has a new record. The show being announced is
of secondary interest to us - if that - as far as the contents of our newsletter
goes.

In the very few, truly exceptional instances where we post show listings...
.

... Shows can be canceled, sold out, or even moved to another date or location.
We recommend checking the Web, calling ahead or otherwise confirming details.
.


To SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter:
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E-MAIL us via:
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(Please do NOT click the Reply button.)

NEWSLETTER's Yahoo Groups Home Page:
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General CONTACT Information:
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Issue 2009:329

Published no less often than monthly.
We're guessing eventually we'll settle
into an every-other-week schedule.

Copyright © 2009 by the New England Music Scrapbook. All rights reserved.

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