On the turntable this Sunday...Wings At The Speed Of Sound

Wings at the Speed of Sound is the fifth album by Wings and was recorded and issued in 1976 in the midst of a large world tour as the follow-up album to the popular Venus and Mars. It is the band's only album where every member sings lead on at least one song.

After a series of concerts in Australia in November 1975, Wings took a break from the tour to spend the holidays with their families and in January 1976 booked time at Abbey Road Studios in London to record Wings at the Speed of Sound. It was the first time McCartney had recorded an album in England since Red Rose Speedway. Due to the tour commitments, Wings were not afforded the opportunity to record in another locale. By the end of February, the album was complete, and Wings went back on the road.

Around the time of the studio sessions for Wings at the Speed of Sound, McCartney was facing criticism for Wings simply being a vehicle for himself. He encouraged each of the band members to contribute a song during the sessions, though this would become one of the reasons for the criticism of the album. McCartney had previously attempted to create a democratic album in Red Rose Speedway, though it would be rejected by his record label.

Engineer Peter Henderson later commented, "I remember one of my first engineering jobs, working with Paul McCartney on Wings at the Speed of Sound — he'd do two vocal takes and ask, 'Which is the better one?' And when he played guitar, he'd really lean into it and give it everything he got."Two tracks ("The Note You Never Wrote" and "Warm and Beautiful") were arranged by Fiachra Trench.

Bono Wants to Apologize for His iTunes Apology (Ultimate Classic Rock)

At first, Bono seemed taken aback by the outrage generated by U2‘s placement of their new album into the iTunes libraries of 700 million users. He even apologized.
The more Bono’s thought about it, however, the more he’s decided that saying he was sorry was the wrong approach. “I’m already working on the apology … for the apology,” he told Mojo. “Because I’m very proud of what we did. It’s one of the proudest moments in U2’s history.” 


Read More of Nick DeRiso's article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Bono Wants to Apologize for His iTunes Apology 

UCR's 2014 Box Sets Holiday Gift Guide

As music fans, there’s nothing we like to receive more during the gift-giving season than a big ol’ box set. Stuffed with outtakes, previously unreleased songs, alternate mixes and other rarities, box sets separate casual music fans from the dedicated ones. And we definitely fall into the latter category. There are plenty of great boxes to choose from this year, spanning everything from career-encompassing collections to single-album expansions to legendary Holy Grail recordings that fans have been waiting on for almost 50 years. So, take a look at Ultimate Classic Rock’s 2014 Gift Guide: Box Sets, and let your friends and families know what you really want this year. 

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: 2014 Box Sets Holiday Gift Guide 

Dave Grohl Says The Kardashians Scared Him Off Pot (Ultimate Classic Rock)

Dave Grohl briefly started smoking weed again, but has sworn it off thanks to one of reality television’s most recognizable names, the Kardashians. 


Read More of Nick DeRiso's Article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Dave Grohl Says The Kardashians Scared Him Off Pot 

Rush's 2015 Plans Could Include New Music and Touring (Ultimate Classic Rock)

Now that they’ve finished taking their year-long vacation, what’s next for the guys in Rush? 

The short answer is that they don’t really know yet, but as Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson recently told Radio.com, they’re more than ready to get back to work. “Some days I feel like being back out on the road and taking advantage of the fact that it’s our 40th anniversary,” mused Lifeson. “On other days I sit around messing with musical ideas and think, ‘We’ve got to start writing.’”

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Rush's 2015 Plans Could Include New Music and Touring 

Listen: Dave Matthews Band Premiere "Granny" Studio Recording (jambands.com)

Dave Matthews Band will reissue their iconic 1994 album Under the Table and Dreaming later this month. One of the bonus items on the first ever vinyl pressing is a previously unreleased studio recording of “Granny,” taken from the UTTAD sessions. 

Read full article @ jambands.com

On the turntable this Sunday...Tour de France Soundtracks

Tour de France Soundtracks is the tenth studio album by the German electronic group Kraftwerk, released in August 2003. It was re-released in October 2009 under the title Tour de France. The album was recorded for the 100th anniversary of the first Tour de France bicycle race, although it missed its intended release date for the actual tour. It includes their 1983 single of the same name, the cover artwork of both releases being nearly identical. The announcement of the release caused much anticipation, as it had been 17 years since the group had put out a full album of new studio material (1986's Electric Café, also known as Techno Pop).

Unusually for a Kraftwerk album it did not have separate German and international vocal mixes, but was released only in one version, with a mix of French, German and English. The lyrics were co-written by Ralf Hütter and Maxime Schmitt, who had previously been manager of the Capitol label at Pathé-Marconi (part of the EMI group, the company that distributed Kraftwerk's music in France) and had been involved with the band since the mid-1970s.

It was recorded by the band in their Kling Klang studio, located in Düsseldorf, Germany; Hütter and Schneider working with Fritz Hilpert and Henning Schmitz. This four-piece line-up then took the album on an extensive world tour in 2004. On the tour, they performed the music from four laptop computers running sequencing, sampling and synthesizer software, also controlling and synchronised with large video displays. In 2005, Kraftwerk released Minimum-Maximum, with separate audio and video releases featuring songs performed at various venues during the 2004 tour.

A short jingle was supplied to the television broadcaster Eurosport for use in their coverage of the 2003 Tour de France.

A newly remastered edition of the album was released by EMI Records, Mute Records and Astralwerks Records on CD and digital download in October/November 2009, with heavyweight vinyl editions released in November/December 2009.

Dave Grohl Doesn't Mind Being Outsold By Pink Floyd (UCR)

For all the publicity that has surrounded Foo Fighters‘ ‘Sonic Highways,’ which includes an HBO documentary series, it appears that it will come in second to Pink Floyd‘s ‘The Endless River‘ at the top of the U.K. chart this week. But frontman Dave Grohl doesn’t seem to mind too much.  

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Dave Grohl Doesn't Mind Being Outsold By Pink Floyd 

Hard Rock, Harder Times: AC/DC Return Without Two Key Members (Rolling Stone)

The first bad sign came even before AC/DC started recording their new album, Rock or Bust, in Vancouver last May: The group's longtime drummer, Phil Rudd, was 10 days late for the sessions. "One minute he was coming, then he wasn't, then he was," lead guitarist Angus Young recalls.  

Read more of David Fricke's Article @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/acdc-malcolm-young-phil-rudd-rock-or-bust-20141114#ixzz3JFwqfE4V 

Grateful Dead Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide (Ultimate Classic Rock)

The Grateful Dead are an American institution, one of very few bands that did exactly what it wanted and still managed to be incredibly successful. Over the years, and through countless live shows, the band stayed true to its creative vision. 

Read More: Grateful Dead Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide 

Ryan Adams Brings Rarities, Banter in Carnegie Hall Return (jambands.com)

Ryan Adams returned to Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday night for a rare solo acoustic show as the singer-songwriter supports his latest self-titled release. 

Read more @ jambands.com

New Music Tuesdays: CoS Review for TV on the Radio-Seeds

Countless albums have been written after the passing of a loved one. Albums written after the death of a bandmate come about less often, but they happen. Some of these rage and seethe, tearing at the concept of death, while others wallow in sadness, filling the room with tears.  

Read full album review @ Consequence of Sound

Watch Pink Floyd’s New Video for ‘Louder than Words’ Read More: Watch Pink Floyd's New Video for 'Louder than Words' | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/pink-floyd-video-louder-than-words/?trackback=tsmclip

Pink Floyd have released a striking video for ‘Louder Than Words,’ just as the song begins arriving worldwide on ‘The Endless River‘ today. The track is the only one with a vocal on the band’s new album, which will most likely be the final Pink Floyd studio project.


Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Watch Pink Floyd's New Video for 'Louder than Words' | 

On the turntable this Sunday...Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded between January and August 1970 and released on 5 October by Atlantic Records. Composed largely at a remote cottage in Wales known as Bron-Yr-Aur, this work represented a maturing of the band's music towards a greater emphasis on folk and acoustic sounds. This surprised many fans and critics, and upon its release the album received rather indifferent reviews. 

Although it is not one of the highest sellers in Zeppelin's catalogue, Led Zeppelin III is now generally praised, and acknowledged as representing an important milestone in their history. Although acoustic songs are featured on its predecessors, it is this album which is widely acknowledged for showing that Led Zeppelin were more than just a conventional rock band and that they could branch out into wider musical territory.

Umphrey’s McGee Celebrate 2000th Show with Bustouts, Live Staples (jambands.com)

Umphrey’s McGee celebrated their 2000th show together at the Orpheum in Madison, WI, their second of two shows at the Midwest venue.  

Read full review @ jambands.com

Jimmy Page: 'Led Zeppelin Was an Affair of the Heart' (Rolling Stone)

"I don't intend to revisit the vaults for awhile," Jimmy Page says with a smile, sitting in the opulent library of a Victorian hotel in London. The ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist, 70, has spent much of the last decade in a retrospective frenzy: collating the images for his lavish, photographic memoir, Jimmy Page, first published in a collectors' edition in 2010 and now widely available; and curating acclaimed, deluxe reissues of his band's historic studio LPs. Rarity-laden editions of 1971's Led Zeppelin IV and '73's Houses of the Holy come out on October 28th, and Page has finished preparing the rest of the catalog for release. 

Read more of David Fricke's interview with Jimmy Page @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/jimmy-page-led-zeppelin-was-an-affair-of-the-heart-20141028#ixzz3IfqHfebg 

Robert Plant Turns Down Almost $800 Million to Reform Led Zeppelin (jambands.com)

Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant reportedly turned down £500 million (approximately $795 million) to reunite Led Zeppelin. According to The Mirror, Plant was offered a contract for 35 dates in three cities--London, Berlin and New Jersey--by Sir Richard Branson and ripped it up in front of surprised promoters. The other members of the group all agreed to the deal. 

Read more @ jambands.com

Furthur Break Up, Fueling Grateful Dead Reunion Rumors (UCR)

As the Grateful Dead‘s 50th anniversary approaches, Furthur, the band formed by the Dead’s Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, have called it quits. And the news is fueling rumors that the Dead may reunite next year to celebrate their golden anniversary. 

Read More: Furthur Break Up, Fueling Grateful Dead Reunion Rumors | Ultimate Classic Rock 

CoS Album Review: Foo Fighters-Sonic Highways

The story of Sonic Highways is both admirable and flawed in its conception. Foo Fighters, now nearing 20 years into their career as a rock band, decide to push themselves in new directions, traveling to eight American cities, recording with local legends in famed studios, leaving Dave Grohl to wait until the last minute to write the lyrics for each song, so as to be inspired by the surroundings, the experience. 

Read Philip Cosores' full review @ Consequence of Sound

Are Van Halen Mixing a New Album? (Ultimate Classic Rock)

If the rumors are true — and there is now some serious doubt — then we may be hearing a new Van Halen album sometime real soon. 

Read More: Updated: Are Van Halen Mixing a New Album? | Ultimate Classic Rock 

On the turntable this Sunday...Led Zeppelin IV

The untitled fourth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, commonly referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, was released on 8 November 1971 on Atlantic Records. Produced by guitarist Jimmy Page, it was recorded between December 1970 and March 1971 at several locations, most prominently the Victorian house Headley Grange. 

After the group's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III received lukewarm reviews from critics, Page decided their fourth album would officially be untitled. This, along with the inner sleeve's design featuring four symbols that represented each band member, led to the album being referred to variously as , Four Symbols, The Fourth Album, Untitled, Runes, The Hermit, and ZoSo (which was derived from Page's symbol).  In addition to lacking a title, the original cover featured no band name, as the group wished to be anonymous and to avoid easy pigeonholing by the press.

Led Zeppelin IV was a commercial and critical success, producing many of the band's most well-known songs, including "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll", "Going to California", and the band's signature song, "Stairway to Heaven". The album is one of the best-selling albums worldwide at 37 million units, and with a 23-times platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America, it is the second-best-selling album in the United States. Writers and critics have regularly cited it on lists of rock's greatest albums.

Geddy Lee and Eddie Vedder Confirmed for 'Evening of Who Music' (UCR)

An impressive assortment of artists will come together Nov. 11 to celebrate the Who‘s 50th anniversary — and raise some money for a great cause in the bargain. 

The all-star event, called ‘An Evening of Who Music,’ is scheduled to take place at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London... 

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Geddy Lee and Eddie Vedder Confirmed for 'Evening of Who Music' 

Jeff Lynne Working On New ELO Music, Will Play US Dates (Billboard)

At Tuesday night's (Nov. 4) Classic Rock Honours in Los Angeles, ELO mastermind Jeff Lynne was feted with the very deserving Outstanding Contribution to Music award. “I think it’s because I’ve done a lot of stuff,” Lynne joked to Billboard after the ceremony. 

Read more @ Billboard

Flaming Lips Wayne Coyne Guide To The Beatles (Rolling Stone)

Wayne Coyne was born in 1961, and some of his earliest memories include his older siblings playing newly released Beatles records at their Oklahoma house. "It just always had this power over me," Coyne says. The Beatles' influence can prominently be heard in the Flaming Lips albums like The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and after tackling Dark Side of the Moon in 2009, the band decided to re-imagine Sgt. Pepper's as With a Little Help From My Fwends.

Read more @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/flaming-lips-wayne-coyne-guide-to-the-beatles-20141030#ixzz3I2RMVhnK

Pink Floyd Release New Song, 'Allons-y (1)' (Ultimate Classic Rock)

Pink Floyd have released another new song from their upcoming album, ‘The Endless River.’ The piece, a short instrumental called ‘Allons-y (1),’ gives fans a taste of the atmospherics surrounding what looks to be the band’s finale. 

Read More: Pink Floyd Release New Song, 'Allons-y (1)' 

Phish Halloween Review (Rolling Stone)

At last year's Halloween show, Phish's sixth, the band played an unrecorded collection of original songs. Friday night, it was unclear what they would do for their seventh: Would they fall back on the previous tradition of presenting a "musical costume" and cover another band's album, or would they challenge themselves to do something different entirely? Always moving forward, they chose the latter, taking on a long-forgotten record in an original set that entertained not just the devoted fans who made the trek to Las Vegas but the band members themselves.

Read more @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/phishs-chilling-thrilling-halloween-show-by-the-numbers-20141101#ixzz3I2N1xYsb

Jimmy Page Hints at Unreleased Surprises in Upcoming Led Zeppelin Reissues (UCR)

Jimmy Page‘s work curating the ongoing series of deluxe Led Zeppelin reissues has already given fans a number of previously unreleased recordings — and the best may be yet to come. 

Read More: Jimmy Page Hints at Unreleased Surprises in Upcoming Led Zeppelin Reissues

On the turntable this Sunday...Houses of the Holy (Reissue)

Houses of the Holy is the fifth studio album by British rock band Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records on 28 March 1973. It is their first album composed of entirely original material, and represents a musical turning point for the band, who had begun to record songs with more layering and production techniques. 

Containing some of the band's most famous songs, including "The Song Remains the Same", "The Rain Song" and "No Quarter", Houses of the Holy became a huge success, and was certified eleven times platinum by the RIAA. In 2012, it was ranked #148 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The title track was recorded for the album, but was delayed until the band's next release, Physical Graffiti, two years later.

Much of the album was recorded in Spring 1972 using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio at Stargroves, a Berkshire country estate owned by Mick Jagger. Some songs from the album had initially been tried out earlier than this, such as "No Quarter", which was first attempted during a session at Headley Grange.

Several of the songs were produced as trial recordings (demos) at the personal studios of guitarist Jimmy Page and bass player/keyboardist John Paul Jones. Having recently installed these studios in their homes, it enabled them to finish the arrangements which had been laid down earlier. In particular, Page was able to present complete arrangements of "The Rain Song" and "Over the Hills and Far Away", while Jones had developed "No Quarter".

Another bout of recording took place at Olympic Studios in May 1972, and during the band's 1972 North American tour additional recording sessions were conducted at Electric Lady Studios in New York.

Some songs which were recorded from these various sessions did not make it onto Houses of the Holy, namely "Black Country Woman", "Walter's Walk", "The Rover" and also the would-be title-track, "Houses of the Holy". All of these songs were retained and later released on subsequent Led Zeppelin albums.

Read more at Wikipedia

Phish Light Up The Forum in Los Angeles (jambands.com)

Phish returned to The Forum in Los Angeles last night for the first since time 2003. The quartet came out the gate strong as they opened the show with “46 Days” and “Tube” before working in their first “Train Song” in 52 shows.

Read full article @ jambands.com