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That Eric Alper

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Home Blog Page 2007

1985 Video On The Birth Of Compact Discs

Feb 15, 2015

This story is from 1985 and heralds the debut of the compact disc in the US. The host at the beginning of the story is former Detroit NBC Affiliate WDIV anchor Mort Crim, the same newscaster Will Farrell said the inspiration for Ron Burgundy.

Not even the music industry would have ever predicted by 2004, worldwide sales of CD audio, CD-ROM, and CD-R reached about 30 billion discs. By 2007, 200 billion CDs had been sold worldwide.

A few fun facts about the CD:

* The first public demonstration was on the BBC television program Tomorrow’s World in 1981, when the Bee Gees’ album Living Eyes (1981) was played.
* The first commercial compact disc was produced on 17 August 1982. It was a recording from 1979 of Claudio Arrau performing Chopin waltzes (Philips 400 025-2). Arrau was invited to the Langenhagen plant to press the start button.
* The first popular music CD produced at the new factory was The Visitors (1981) by ABBA.
* The first album to be released on CD was Billy Joel’s 52nd Street, which reached the market alongside Sony’s CDP-101 CD player on October 1, 1982 in Japan.
* The first artist to sell a million copies on CD was Dire Straits, with its 1985 album Brothers in Arms.
* The first major artist to have his entire catalogue converted to CD was David Bowie, whose 15 studio albums were made available by RCA Records in February 1985, along with four greatest hits albums.

Groovy Greeting Cards From The Swinging Sixties

Feb 15, 2015

Here we have a collection of groovy greetings cards from the swinging sixties that use music and being mod as a way to celebrate a birthday, Easter, or to get well.

Via Voices Of East Anglia

Iggy Pop Narrates This American Life Biography Of William S. Burroughs

Feb 14, 2015

This American Life host Ira Glass was never into William Burroughs. Didn’t get why people love his writing so much. Then he heard this radio story that changed all that, partly because it wasn’t very reverential about Burroughs. For Burroughs 101st birthday, we hear that story.

Iggy Pop, the documentary’s narrator, begins by listing some of the artists and artistic movements influenced by Burroughs: Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Steely Dan, Kurt Cobain, Lou Reed; punk, heavy metal. We hear from director John Waters on the impact on him of Burroughs’ open homosexuality and frankness about sex. Others talk about Burroughs’ heroin addiction and obsession with guns and weapons. Burroughs shot his wife to death in what he said was a terrible accident.

Iggy Pop picks up the story of Burroughs by explaining “Cut Up” — Burroughs habit of randomly jumbling, repeating and re-assembling words and phrases in his writing. David Bowie and others picked it up. We hear about Burroughs’ privileged childhood in St. Louis and his lifelong critique of exactly the world of power and money he grew up in. There’s archival footage of Burroughs and others reading his sci-fi stories, and finally Burroughs appearing on Saturday Night Live.

Great ASCII Visual of Led Zeppelin Performing “Whole Lotta Love”

Feb 14, 2015

From Film Cement:

New York based artist/musician, Yoshi Sodeoka has taken videos of rock luminaries such as Hendrix, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and the Sex Pistols and replaced the music with cheesy midi tracks. He rendered the visuals in ASCII characters and created some seriously mind-melting little quicktime movies. I kind of imagine that this is what the world looks/sounds like in the heads of those old death-ray-eyed space robots from 50’s sci-fi films.

Matt Nathanson Plays 3 AC/DC Chords. You’ll Never Guess What The Crowd Does Next

Feb 14, 2015

During a bit of stage banter at a New York show last summer, musician Matt Nathanson brought Andrew McMahon onstage to do Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” he tore into the riff for AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.” It was only meant to add to what Nathanson was saying between songs in his set, but the crowd picked it up immediately and didn’t let the song end. You can see drummer Chris Lovejoy and guitarist Aaron Tap exchange glances and then McMahon asks Nathanson “What’s happening?” and McMahon responds, “I don’t know!”

Kevin Hart Readies Biggest Comedy Tour In History With The “What Now?” Tour

Feb 14, 2015

Superstar entertainer, actor and comedian, Kevin Hart, announced today a massive North American arena tour. The WHAT NOW? TOUR will take the award-winning comedian to 45 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Promoted by Live Nation, the biggest comedy tour in history kicks off on April 9, 2015 in San Antonio, Tex. at AT&T Center and includes dates at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden as well as a stadium date in Philadelphia, Penn. at Lincoln Financial Field. A full list of tour dates is below. Tickets for the WHAT NOW? TOUR go on sale Friday, Feb. 20 at www.whatnowtour.com.

Kevin Hart is one of comedy’s biggest stars with a celebrated and award-winning career that has seen the talented entertainer become one of the industry’s most important and influential voices. Since his career began Hart has worked non-stop and in 2015, he will release two movies as well as hit the road for his WHAT NOW? TOUR. Kevin can currently be seen in Screen Gem’s The Wedding Ringer and in March 2015, will star opposite Will Farrell in Warner Bros. Pictures’ Get Hard. In 2016, Kevin will star in Ride Along 2, the anticipated sequel to last year’s $100 million blockbuster hit. The consummate worker, Hart is a force in television too where he is currently Executive Producing the hit show, Real Husbands of Hollywood, which premiered its third season in September on BET.

In 2012, Hart was tapped to host the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards garnering much industry praise for his appearance. His comedy tour, Let Me Explain, took him to 90 American cities before hitting countries throughout Europe and Africa. A testament to his talent and popularity, Kevin became only the second American in history to sell out London’s O2 Arena. In addition to sold-out tours, Kevin’s additional film credits also include Top Five, Think Like A Man Too, About Last Night and This Is The End.

WHAT NOW? TOUR
All dates, cities and venues below subject to change.

Thursday, April 09, 2015 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
Friday, April 10, 2015 Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena
Saturday, April 11, 2015 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
Friday, April 17, 2015 Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center
Saturday, April 18, 2015 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Sunday, April 19, 2015 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Friday, April 24, 2015 Orlando, FL Amway Center
Saturday, April 25, 2015 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Sunday, April 26, 2015 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena
Friday, May 01, 2015 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
Saturday, May 02, 2015 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
Sunday, May 03, 2015 Richmond, VA Richmond Coliseum
Friday, May 08, 2015 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
Saturday, May 09, 2015 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
Friday, May 15, 2015 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Saturday, May 16, 2015 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills
Sunday, May 24, 2015 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
Friday, June 05, 2015 Boston, MA TD Bank Garden Arena
Saturday, June 06, 2015 Baltimore, MD Royal Farms Arena
Friday, June 12, 2015 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Sunday, June 14, 2015 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
Friday, June 19, 2015 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Saturday, June 20, 2015 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
Sunday, June 21, 2015 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
Thursday, June 25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center (BET Experience)
Thursday, July 02, 2015 New Orleans, LA Mercedes-Benz Superdome (Essence Festival)
Friday, July 03, 2015 Memphis, TN FedExForum
Tuesday, July 07, 2015 New York City, NY Madison Square Garden
Saturday, July 11, 2015 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Thursday, July 16, 2015 San Jose, CA The SAP Center at San Jose
Friday, July 17, 2015 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Arena
Saturday, July 18, 2015 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
Friday, July 24, 2015 Montreal, QC Bell Centre (Just For Laughs Montreal)
Thursday, July 30, 2015 Chicago, IL United Center
Saturday, August 01, 2015 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Thursday, August 06, 2015 Washington DC Verizon Center
Friday, August 14, 2015 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Saturday, August 15, 2015 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Thursday, August 20, 2015 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Friday, August 21, 2015 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Saturday, August 22, 2015 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Syracuse, NY Oncenter War Memorial Arena
Thursday, August 27, 2015 Albany, NY Times Union Center
Friday, August 28, 2015 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Sunday, August 30, 2015 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field

Daniel Lanois Announces Live Dates. Flesh and Machine Juno Nominated

Feb 14, 2015

Sonic explorer Daniel Lanois has just announced a series of North American live dates. The renowned musician and producer will be performing in support of his groundbreaking new album Flesh and Machine which has been Juno nominated for ‘Instrumental Album’ of the year. “Many thanks to the Juno folks for taking the time to listen to what I regard to be some of my most adventurous work”.

Examining the ever evolving relationship between musicians and technology, Flesh And Machine inventively takes organic instrumentation and alters the sounds with an assortment of recording technologies in real time. The record stylistically references the classic Brian Eno albums Lanois worked on while also charting new ground with it’s intense hypnotic rhythms and evocative soundscapes.

In a live setting, Lanois further explores the relationship between musician and technology, inventively bringing his studio process to the live setting in an absolutely riveting manner. “What I do in my laboratory is seldom witnessed but now all this is going to change,” he promised the Wall Street Journal recently. “I see this work as an opportunity for me to be part of a new congregation.”

Watch Lanois’ absolutely devastating performance of the track “Opera” here:

Live Dates:
03/01/15 Mon, Portland, OR – Doug Fir
03/02/15 Tue, Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
03/03/15 Tue, VICTORIA, BC – Alix Golden Hall
03/04/15 Wed, VANCOUVER, BC – Commodore Ballroom
04/30/15 Thu, OTTAWA, ON – National Arts Centre – Southam Hall
05/01/15 Fri, TORONTO, ON – Horseshoe – CMW
05/02/15 Sat, HAMILTON, ON – Mills Hardware
05/03/15 Sun, HAMILTON, ON – Mills Hardware
05/05/15 Tue, ST. LOUIS, MO – The Duck Room
05/06/15 Wed, IOWA CITY, IA – The Englert Theatre
05/07/15 Thu, MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
05/08/15 Fri, CHICAGO, IL – Empty Bottle
05/09/15 Sat, FERNDALE, MI – The Loving Touch

The Greatest Concert Posters, Courtesy of Globe Poster Company

Feb 14, 2015

The Globe Poster Printing Corporation, historically one of the nation’s largest showcard printers, has been telling the story of American music and entertainment through bright and iconic posters since 1929. Globe began by printing posters for vaudeville acts, movie theaters, drag races, burlesque houses, and carnivals and became known for its work with R&B, soul, and jazz performers—including James Brown, B.B. King, Otis Redding, Ike and Tina Turner, Billie Holiday, and Solomon Burke—as well as gospel, rock, hip hop, funk, and go-go acts.

Posters Via

This Is Greatest Clip Explaining Music Production

Feb 14, 2015

It’s from 1996′s Vibrations – and yes, that is Christina Applegate, as Anamika, a manager at the hottest dance club looking for the next new genre to exploit. Watch how this character explains techno and all its production glories right in front of you.

Advertisers Announce Effort to Keep Ads Off Illicit Sites, With The Help Of David Lowery

Feb 14, 2015

From Illusion Of More:

A longstanding challenge with regard to websites that profit from pirated media, counterfeit products, and/or malware is the frequent placement of major brand advertising on the pages of those sites. Musician David Lowery’s activist website The Trichordist has published lists of major advertisers whose banner ads have appeared on various pirate sites, seeking to hold advertisers accountable for supporting exploitation of musical artists. This kind of activism has drawn both public and industry attention to the problem. In its most basic form, the principle is that Legit Entity A should not benefit from a site that derives its traffic by exploiting Legit Entity B. That probably sounds reasonable to most people, including most advertisers themselves, but what to do about it is another matter — until now.

This morning, the advertising industry announced a new, voluntary initiative that helps advertisers better understand the nature of sites on which their ads may be placed. The initiative produced by the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) is called the Brand Integrity Program Against Piracy and it was developed in collaboration with the three major advertising associations — the Association of National Advertisers, the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau.