Can You Re-Master A Stairway To Heaven?

Since Star Wars creator George Lucas and the makers of Beatle-mania locked onto heaping amounts of financial success; the trend's been set...music companies are in the business of re-mastering! Is it a well needed last attempt at pulling the nearly dead compact disc department out of a recession? Re-mastering surely can't be for digital downloading! Overrated, heavily saturated after mixing compression has depressed the sound system. I love what Neil Young did at his daughter's wedding, "I'll pay for a mobile disc jockey but he better be spinning 45's and albums!" Young is on a massive crusade to reinvent "Music" listening parties that start and finish with a turntable and diamond tip needle. That's why the writers, producers and background singers should be investing in re-mastering! Radio Shack should be selling record players and Best Buy needs to open a section fully dedicated to vinyl. In my ******* dreams! Quality Classic Rock has been dumb down to IPod's and Smart Phones. I'm a huge fan of I Heart Radio but hate it when guitar licks and earth shattering bass beats come out sounding like pebbles hitting tin cans. I've created my own KISS station and lose direction. The critics were right; KISS sucks in digital format. I can't believe I just wrote that... Time for a re-mastering KISS Album listening party. Crank that **** up and rediscover why I raid my sister's cardboard boxes full of acrylic paints and designs. It burned like hell while it was on but damn if I didn't feel like a real Rock Star. Well guess whose gotten into the re-mastering business? Zeppelin! RollingStone Magazine was there when Jimmy Page said, "It will be coming out, bit by bit," The Led Zeppelin guitarist is referring to his current labors in the band's archive, preparing new deluxe editions of each of Zeppelin's studio albums, from 1969's Led Zeppelin to 1979's In Through the Out Door, plus the 1982 post-breakup collection, Coda. Page says the reissues will include "added sonic and visual thrills," and he expects to begin issuing the first albums in the series sometime next year. Details of the project emerged during Page's interview for the new issue of Rolling Stone – his longest and most extensive conversation with the magazine, coinciding with the release of Celebration Day, the new film and album of Led Zeppelin's 2007 reunion concert at London 02's arena. I had asked Page about the reissues in a phone interview three days before our first session in London, but he preferred to wait and discuss them in person – which he did, as soon as we sat down in a lounge in his management's office in London. "The catalog was last remastered 20 years ago," Page said, referring to the 1990 release of the four-CD box set, Led Zeppelin. "That's a long time. Everything is being transferred from analog to a higher-resolution digital format. That's one of the problems with the Zeppelin stuff. It sounds ridiculous on MP3. You can't hear what's there properly." Whole Lotta Extras Based on the unreleased studio tracks that have circulated on bootlegs since Led Zeppelin split in 1980, following the death of drummer John Bonham, the group did not record a lot of additional songs for each LP. "But there was an overage of material – different versions of things, different approaches to the mixes," Page explained. He mentioned experiments with equipment and sound on early alternative takes at Headley Grange, the English manor where Zeppelin recorded some of their most iconic work, particularly their 1971 untitled fourth album. "The classic there was 'When the Levee Breaks,'" Page said, "where the drums were set up in the hallway. You know what it sounded like – immense – from the recorded version. But we used the drums in the hall for a number of things, like 'Kashmir' [on 1975's Physical Graffiti] – some with closer miking. So there were a lot of different approaches. It will be fascinating for people to witness the work in progress." Page is also looking at relevant live recordings and film to accompany the reissues. "There are concerts that were recorded – some that might have appeared on bootleg in some shape or form – and a certain amount of footage, though not a lot," he said. "I started doing this with [2003's] Led Zeppelin DVD and [the 2003 three-CD set] How the West Was Won, which was a superb live performance." Page believes BBC Sessions, a 1997 release of Zeppelin's recordings for British radio, "didn't have that open horizon" of the group's best concerts, "where you're just going and going, right over that horizon. "But all of it is good," Page said of the music his band left behind, on record and in the vaults. "It has its own character and validity." Your Time Is Gonna Come Pressed on a release date for the initial reissues, Page warned that "you've got to get to the point where all of the members of the group are in agreement," referring to singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones. "I would hope it is sooner rather than later. But it will be in the course of next year and going on for awhile. "And I'm not just throwing on any old flotsam and jetsam," he insisted, referring to the bonus material. "This will be really substantial stuff."

Peaceful Easy Feeling From The Eagles Reaches New Height

Although Freebird from Skynyrd and Rock n Roll All Night from KISS clearly deserve it...how often is a song (not Christmas tune-age) honored with its own special day? Millions of us helped push The Eagles Greatest Hits up to the top of the biggest selling CD's of all time. Wall to wall it's a brilliant display of Americana you never grow tired of cranking up until the woofers wobble while you sing completely out of tune but whose watching? Much of its success is based on the song Peaceful Easy Feeling; this Saturday its presence in our music lovin bad habits is about to get its own page in the history of Rock n Roll. SAN DIEGO, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Tempchin, sole composer of the multi-platinum hit made famous by the Eagles titled "PEACEFUL EASY FEELING," will have his song recognized by the Honorable Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego, CA, with an Official Proclamation of "Peaceful Easy Feeling Day' Whoa! Who and what is a Jack Tempchin? Jack Tempchin is a six-decade-long resident of San Diego, multi-platinum songwriter, and graduate of San Diego State University. He began his musical adventure by booking famous acts at SDSU's Backdoor venue while penning out some of the eras best in success and easy to sing along with including "Peaceful Easy Feeling" officially released as a single by the Eagles in 1972. Jack's not your typical fame seeker...he's always been incredibly quiet and positive, a force for the community as he plays almost every charity event presented to him, including Make-A-Wish San Diego, Feeding the Soul Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Museum of Making Music, North County Humane Society, and many others. Originally signed by Clive Davis as a member of the Funky Kings to Arista Records. He's contributed a total of five songs recorded by the Eagles. He's co-written a dozen hits with Glenn Frey for Frey's solo career, including 'Smuggler's Blues' and 'You Belong To The City' for the original 'Miami Vice' TV show and the theme song for "Thelma and Louise." His popular songs have also been performed and/or recorded by an incredible array of career artists, including George Jones, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Chris Hillman, Dwight Yoakam, NRPS, Johnny Rivers, Kate Wolf, Tom Rush, Richie Havens, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits and more. He has also had tunes sampled by multi-platinum rappers Coolio and Jay-Z. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Peaceful Easy Feeling's release as a single by the Eagles on December 1st in 1972, Jack Tempchin has been performing regionally in San Diego and throughout California. He also celebrates the new release of his live DVD/CD set titled "Jack Tempchin Live At Tales From The Tavern," out on December 4th and available in digital format now on iTunes and CDBaby. Filmed by famed rock photographer Henry Diltz, this new release includes several of the huge hits performed by the man who wrote them on solo acoustic guitar in front of an enthusiastic live audience. Jack Tempchin's MyPeacfulEasyFeeling.com blog allows for fans of the song to post their own story about their memories of the tune alongside his story about where in San Diego he was when he wrote it.

New Music Coming From Hendrix

First and foremost if you're gonna dedicate your life to being on the "Radio" you have to be willing to accept the bathroom mirror image of being a "Freak." Now that we've covered the rules... Jimi Hendrix is alive and well. You don't need Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan movies to prove musicians and poets have naturally gifted tools to participate with tomorrow unborn future. Elvis did it. Prince is making sure he does it. Are Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac truly gone? Why's there so much new music? Turns out Jimi Hendrix had a fix on the rock that rolled out of the studio. RollingStone Magazine reports what many of us never knew; the record engineer and producer Eddie Kramer had a front-row seat to the genius of Jimi Hendrix. As the guitar idol's right-hand sound man, Kramer engineered Hendrix's classic Electric Ladyland and served as the director of engineering at the musician's state-of-the-art Electric Ladyland studios. As he explains in this clip, their recording space was where Jimi truly felt at home. "In '68 and '69, Jimi was in the studio constantly," recalls Kramer. "His whole life was in the studio." In this interview, Kramer reminisces about the experimental vigor that fueled Hendrix in his final days as he began recording his next album. The previously unreleased recordings comprise People, Hell and Angels, out March 5th. Kramer is also excited to cue up the lead single, "Somewhere," a track that features Stephen Stills and drummer Buddy Miles and displays a particularly bold usage of Hendrix's soulful guitar squall. "That's a fantastic example of Jimi's amazing control of the wah-wah [pedal], the tone of the wah-wah – how that affects the whole song," he enthuses.

Writing Instruments Are Just As Head Banging As My Ibanez Flying V

This is the new Mont Blanc John Lennon writing instrument. Try and tell me such tools don't speak a language of their own and as writers we are to listen to every word and magicially put it into a shape of music a first grader will understand. You have arrived at the most perfect time. The keeper of the Rock Jock Blog only seems away. Written thoughts of chapters past decorate the halls for now. Please take the time to enjoy, empower and help deliver my reasons for locating a constant positive locked as well as lost somewhere in the center of a world completely addicted to negative vibrations. The author has been called away to paint into place collected sentences. Each paragraph is said to be the elements required to make a book but we all know I'm not into such things. Therefore, let's play it a different way. I've heard an incredible story and within the days, months, maybe a year upon his return...it will be put on display. That is my guarantee. Thank you for your patience during this time of creative flow.

Paul McCartney's Magical Mystery Versus INXS Calling It Quits

A bit of a rough discussion taking place behind the four walls that keep "Radio" afloat. What is the more important subject: Paul McCartney launching another magical mystery tour or after 35 years of riding buses around the world INXS calls it quits? How many fans of music knew both parties were lit up and fully still Rock-able? Yeah...well get this! No more office bickering! You're getting both... Steve Knopper from RollingStone Magazine writes: A guy who can backload his concert with "Hey Jude," "Yesterday," "Helter Skelter," "Get Back" and "Day Tripper" can pretty much do whatever he wants for the first two hours. For most of his first U.S. show in more than a year, Sunday night at the Scottrade Arena in St. Louis, Paul McCartney swung between crowd-pleasing Beatles favorites (he opened with "Magical Mystery Tour"), deep Wings tracks ("Mrs. Vandebilt") and super-obscure solo experiments ("Sing the Changes," from 2008's duo project The Fireman). It wasn't until after 10 p.m. on a Sunday night that he rolled out the old reliables in the third hour. Not so pretty of a white picket fence on the playgrounds governed by INXS. R.S. reports INXS are calling it quits after 35 years, the band announced onstage yesterday at a gig in Perth, Australia, according to news.com.au. The band was midway through a set opening for Matchbox Twenty when drummer Jon Farriss said the performance would be the band's last. "I'm getting teary," Farris said, before the group played "I Need You Tonight," one of its biggest hits. Farris and his brothers Andrew and Tim Farriss formed the band with singer Michael Hutchence in 1977 in Sydney. They had grown into international stars by the mid-Eighties thanks to albums like 1985's Listen Like Thieves and 1987's Kick, a massive worldwide hit that included the singles "Devil Inside," "Never Tear Us Apart" and "Need You Tonight." After Hutchence committed suicide in 1997, Jon Stevens took over the lead spot for a few years before the band chose new frontman J.D. Fortune through the reality TV show Rock Star: INXS. Fortune was their on-again, off-again singer before Ciaran Gribbin took over in September 2011.

What's In A Name? Jermaine Jackson Just Changed His...

A couple years back I penned out and recorded a song called, "Kicked Out Of Heaven" where I attempted to tackle our addiction to Social Media. My question was, "What's in a name when there's someone new on every page?" Not new people! New you! The average person seems to change their email address, webpage, identity on Face Book and Twitter at the twist of the cap. It's as if we're searching to become or to locate a reaction to an action therefore making you more marketable than the last three attempts. Do you think I'm crazy to think like this? My Arroe-ism's aren't too far off the rocker. RollingStone Magazine reports Jermaine Jackson filed a name change petition in a Los Angeles court yesterday requesting to change his famous last name to something a bit brighter: Jermaine Jacksun. The older brother of Michael Jackson said the shift was for "artistic reasons," according to the Associated Press. While the filing doesn't divulge more information, Jackson's friend Steve Dennis spoke on behalf of the singer, saying that artists changing their names is not uncommon, and "Phonetically, it changes nothing." "It is something he has chosen to do," Dennis added, "and it's fair to say that you cannot blame this one on the boogie, you've got to blame it on the sunshine," alluding to the Jackson 5 disco hit, "Blame it on the Boogie." Jackson will find out if he can become Jacksun at a hearing scheduled for February 22nd in Los Angeles. Wow! To each their own and within every shape we recreate you gotta wonder if the Poet's sitting alongside crowds of gathered combination aren't in essence unveiling truths based on what you're about to do. A few months after Youtubing Kicked Out Of Heaven, I released another song, "Social Me-dia" based on how every step, decision and desire must pass a self examination performed hourly on the web. It's all about me meaning you! And how many people do you know that can't seem to set aside their smart phone? Yep...just a Poet with a pen and it's you that gives me inspiration...

Kid Rock Finally Says "Yes" To ITunes

Lets bust open a can of "WTFI" You already know the junk in the trunk that pertains to WTF...now spike it with the word "IF" WTFI! Let's say you were born to Rock. The garage and basement are a great place but you bust free from that space and through scientific mystic rainbows the universe lands your guitar strap on huge stages that feel like they stretch from Charleston, SC to Memphis. To own a stage that big you gotta be big. So big that sportin your tunes on websites has never come across as a well thought out ride. Yet fans always find a way to musically trade. In the end who truly wins? Napster wasn't the first to illegally digitally spit up vibes. They became the most exposed. In the end...it forced music companies with fat *** presidents to look a little deeper into the channels of modern technology. From the trenches of flat out creative but horridly poor because of it...came ITunes, Amazon, Walmart.com and massive amounts of other copycat sites that felt they belonged at the celebration. Not overnight but maybe six pence past the richer...writers, producers and groupies disconnected from Radio and began to pour hordes of tunes into IPods, smart phones and whatever else could handle your reasons for wanting astronomical amounts of music knowing full well there's only about 50 to 150 you listen to over and over again. Up on the house top there did sit...a few musical bystanders not so into it. Their art being an important part of the expression puzzle deserved better treatment. If a Rock fan was to be had, they would do all they could to load up at old fashioned Best Buys and Targets. I can't tell you the last time I purchased a compact disc. Oh wait! I tried to land my fingers on a performer called Rumor but the man behind the counter said, "I can only order it." WTF! A man by the name of Kid Rock loved his fans beyond the norm. He wanted to treat them with ample amounts of respect. How dare he whore his lyrics! To be part of his fan family meant not buying his music on ITunes and other web based outlets ending with .com or .we make more money than you neener neener. Sadly...I haven't purchased Mr. Rock's last releases due to no longer dancing with discs. Until this year when Santa has finally heard my Christmas wish. RollingStone Magazine reports Kid Rock, who has pointedly stonewalled Apple in the past, will release his new LP Rebel Soul through the dominant online retailer. The album, due on November 19th, is available by pre-order on iTunes, and its first single "Let's Ride" is already for sale. "We have landed," says Lee Trink, the Detroit rapper's manager. Until now, Rock withheld all his music from iTunes, and he once recorded a sarcastic video encouraging music pirates to "level the playing field – steal everything." "Times are different than they were on the last release," says his manager. "There are fewer record stores available, and there are fans who don't necessarily want to get in the car and drive to the store. They've been accustomed to buying it digitally. He's proven his point that he was able to have an incredibly successful record without iTunes, [but] that doesn't mean you can't reassess the landscape and take a look at people's buying behaviors." After lengthy conversations with Trink and Atlantic Records executives, Rock made the decision himself. He has argued for years that albums should be sold as a unit as opposed to a collection of inidivual tracks, and has ripped Internet pirates for dictating how he gets to sell his own music. In the summer of 2008, as "All Summer Long" was dominating the charts, he told Billboard: "As soon as someone says, 'You have to be on iTunes . . . they're the Number One retailer' . . . I don't have to. Because I remember being a kid when I heard a song that I liked, I would jump on the bus, ride to Detroit, get a $2.50 transfer and walk a mile to the hip-hop store to buy the new Eric B. and Rakim record. You're not going to stop people from obtaining what they want if it's available at some level." Rock has appeared to needle Apple and iTunes over the years, selling his music through competing online retailers such as Amazon and walmart.com; in his "steal everything" video, he deadpanned: "Bill Gates and Steve Jobs – they're not gonna miss a couple laptops and a couple iPods." Trink, a former top executive at EMI and Atlantic, wasn't managing Rock when he authorized other retailers, so he wouldn't comment on that issue. Rock has also appeared to contradict his label's iTunes policy – like all the big record labels, Atlantic has sold the majority of its catalog through the online store since it opened in 2003. (iTunes has sold 25 billion tracks as of March, long ago becoming not only the top online music retailer but the top music retailer.) Contractually, Trink says, "Let's say there's a disagreement in how the language read – but [Atlantic executives] respected his wishes. It didn't wind up being a point of contention." Now, Rock is no longer one of the final iTunes holdouts. Although the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Rock's hero, Bob Seger, have caved in recent years, AC/DC, Tool and Garth Brooks remain absent. (Trink says Rock's reps are even considering a Spotify release, although they haven't made a decision.) So far, competing retailers haven't complained about Rock's iTunes decision, Trink says, and pre-order sales of Rebel Soul are strong. "Now is the right time," the manager adds. "Digital will only be a greater and greater proportion in the way recorded music is purchased. At a certain point, there will be a very tiny, tiny proportion of physical goods. You're going to have to make that decision."