Saturday July 17th, 2021 is the second drop of vinyl goodies at independent shops.
From watching store owners and people who are passionate about Vinyl on YouTube there is a vast spectrum of opinions.
The consistency of this special day are the expectations people have for certain titles to appear on the release list.
As many people are disappointed as thrilled by the discovery each time out.
This is exactly the reason why going to record stores had always been a source of pure joy for me.
The record store is where I found my first Queen album! It’s where many now classic artists are found when they were new.
This Saturday I have the deep pleasure of going to one of the largest independent stores in the USA—Princeton Record Exchange in New Jersey with my best friend from high school.
Picture Vinyl, First time on Vinyl live albums from legendary artists, special singles, special color vinyl, box sets, and records being pressed for the first time since their original release sometimes decades ago.
This year Box sets feature a studio album set from Randy Newman; War has a 5 album set of color vinyl of their core catalog not seen on vinyl since the mid seventies!
Two E.P. titles are Queen+Adam Lambert Live Around The World including 2 tracks not found on the #1 album plus a 7″ Freddie Mercury song, Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow on pink vinyl packaged with the e.p.
A late addition to the release list, Foo Fighters Dee Gees features their covers of iconic Bee Gees hits and a side of their own.
Soundtracks are always big. This time out Aliens The Matrix, and Harold & Maude are being featured.
There are three volumes of rarities from The Monkees. Each title comes on color vinyl. You won’t know the color until you open it!
Live albums from Ramones, Suzi Quatro, Aretha Franklin and John Prine are limited editions.
I bought my first Iron Maiden record in 1982. “The Number of the Beast” garnered great reviews from the heavy metal community.
Here in America it also received threats from church officials as being an agent of satanism. Heavy metal music does a lot of satanic material. It just fits the genre so well. This kind of music is a tonic for many fans. I love complex guitar based music. Soaring vocals are a huge component as well.
Circus magazine wrote a response to the controversy. The article explained Iron Maiden are not devil worshippers, just devil-may-care.
I was a fan for life after that era. Their mascot Eddie, a re-animated ghoul, appears on every album cover. Created by Derek Riggs, he assumes different types and styles that fit each album’s themes and concepts.
From their eponymous debut in album to their first double studio album in 2015, the band’s music has evolved from traditional metal to a more progressive groove.
Their line-up changed several times. Original vocalist Paul DiAnno quit due to substance abuse. His replacement was Samson singer Bruce Dickinson who turned out to be their ticket to global stardom.
For two albums, Bruce was replaced by Blayze Bayley. Their 10th and 11th albums were as good as anything they had done before but fans did not like this change.
In the year 2000 the band made a huge comeback with Bruce’s return. Guitarist Adrian Smith also came back. This current line-up of the group proved to be their best.
Since the year 2000 Iron Maiden are Bruce Dickinson (Vocals), Steve Harris (Bass), Adrian Smith (Guitar), Dave Murray (Guitar), Janick Jers (Guitar), Nicko McBrain (Drums).
The past 20 years of a nearly 50 year career have produced critically acclaimed records like “Brave New World”, “A Matter of Life and Death”, “The Final Frontier”, and “The Book of Souls”.
This followed their now classic albums of the 1980’s: “Killers”, “The Number of the Beast”, “Piece of Mind”, “Powerslave”, “Somewhere in Time”, and “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son “.
A documentary film, “Flight 666”, follows Maiden on a record setting world tour in which lead singer Bruce Dickinson piloted the band’s plane called Ed Force One.
Around the world Maiden’s fan base grew not only larger but younger too. In my opinion Iron Maiden have the best fans.
In the past four decades you will have seen people wearing Iron Maiden shirts or patches or bracelets or hats.
In 1982, Eddie was a demon spawn. Then in 1983 he was condemned to the rubber room. In 1984 he was an entombed pharaoh. In 1986 he became a cyborg. In 1988 he became the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.
Now in their fifth decade, Iron Maiden are nominated to the Rock Hall of Fame.
Not seeking this award, the band will continue to empower their massive audience that spans the globe with their upcoming seventeenth studio album.
Bassist Steve Harris founded the group on Christmas day 1975! He said at the end of each decade that Maiden had another ten albums in them. And their sixteen studio records all have songs that became big concert classics.
This is a snapshot song list of my favorites from the band’s ongoing career:
Remember Tomorrow
Strange World
Transylvania
Iron Maiden
Wrathchild
Running Free
Sanctuary
Murders In The Rue Morgue
Another Life
Innocent Exile
Prodigal Son
Killers
Phantom of the Opera
Die With Your Boots On
The Prisoner
The Number Of The Beast
Run To The Hills
Revelations
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Flight Of Icarus
Where Eagles Dare
The Trooper
Still Life
To Tame A Land (inspired by Dune)
Sun And Steel
Aces High
Two Minutes To Midnight
Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Powerslave
Sea Of Madness
Somewhere In Time
Wasted Years
Stranger In A Strange Land
Moonchild
Infinite Dreams
The Clairvoyant
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
The Evil That Men Do
No Prayer For The Dying
Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter*
Holy Smoke
Public Enema Number One
Be Quick Or Be Dead
From Here To Eternity
Afraid To Shoot Strangers
Wasting Love
Judas Be My Guide
Weekend Warrior
Fear Of The Dark
Sign Of The Cross
Lord Of The Flies
Man On The Edge
The Aftermath
Judgement Of Heaven
The Unbeliever
Futureal
The Angel And The Gambler
The Clansman
The Educated Fool
Wildest Dreams
Rainmaker
Dance of Death
Paschendale
The Wicker Man
Brave New World
Blood Brothers
Out Of The Silent Planet
Different World
Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
The Pilgrim
The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
Lord Of Light
Satellite 15…The Final Frontier
El Dorado
The Alchemist
Isle Of Avalon
Star blind
The Talisman
The Man Who Would Be King
When The Wild Wind Blows
If Eternity Should Fail
Speed Of Light
The Book Of Souls
Death Or Glory
Tears Of A Clown
Empire Of The Clouds
*The only single to reach #1 on the chart.
Up the Irons!
The list of songs above reflects how well Iron Maiden have covered their horror, science fiction, fantasy, and historical literary interests.
Their songwriting is done now by each band member. Steve Harris is their lead songwriter who composed epic songs lasting a minimum of six minutes on every record. Frontman Bruce Dickinson wrote the longest track in their history so far. “Empire Of The Clouds” runs 18 minutes!
Arguably the most epic of bands, I hope Maiden get elected to the rock hall of fame this year. They deserve this honor.
Dearest readers I leave you with a few of my favorite versions of mascot Eddie:
Top L: Book of Souls Top R: Seventh TourBottom: Legacy Of The Beast
David Bowie ICON; Published by ACC ART Books; 181 Pages. http://www.iconicimages.net; http://www.accartbooks.com; Picture Editing: Stephen Reid, Daniel Rachel and Carrie Kania Interviews and Text: Daniel Rachel and Carrie Kania; Project Editor: Carrie Kania; Publisher, ACC Art Books James Smith Editor Susannah Hecht Design Craig Holden Production Stephen Mackinlay
Photographs by FERNANDO ACEVES BRIAN ARIS PHILIPPE AULIAC ALEC BYRNE KEVIN CUMMINS CHALKIE DAVIES JUSTIN DE VILLENEUVE VERNON DEWHURST GAVIN EVANS GERALD FEARNLEY LYNN GOLDSMITH GREG GORMAN ANDREW KENT MARKUS KLINKO GEOFF MacCORMACK JANET MACOSKA TERRY O’NEILL DENIS O’REGAN NORMAN PARKINSON MICK ROCK JOHN SCARISBRICK STEVE SCHAPIRO BARRY SCHULTZ RAY STEVENSON MASAYOSHI SUKITA Introduction by GEORGE UNDERWOOD
This is the finest collection of photographs you will ever find depicting perhaps the only singular rock icon to rival the visual power of Elvis. From the very start of his career David Bowie wanted to become a star. He did not covet rock stardom. No. He aimed higher. We should all be grateful.
The editors at ACC make clear this is not a complete set. That would encompass thousands of pages.
What we have in our hands with this tome is a representation of fine rock photography from 25 of the most legendary artists in this field.
If there is one common thread running through these pages its the sessions for each studio record being seen without their final texts or titles.
David Bowie represented so many different avenues of creativity it’s impossible to pigeonhole him into any category or frame. Every picture in this book will leave you with an impression that is yours alone to decipher.
For this is the goal of a genuine artitst. To keep you guessing. To keep you wondering. To leave you utterly astonished.
The team that made this book possible attempted a seriously daunting feat. They got a group of the world’s finest photographers to contribute their best work to a singular project.
This work shows the many sides of David Bowie from his debut through his glam starpower to his thin white duke class and the many projects that drove his creativity and genius.
This resulting coffee table prize is a success. If ever there was a time we needed art of this caliber it’s now at the end of 2020.
Evan's Gate 