RETRO KIMMER'S BLOG

8.08.2012

ROCK HISTORY FOR AUG 8

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1970 - Creedence Clearwater Revival released "Looking Out My Back Door."

1970 - Janis Joplin bought a headstone for the grave of one of her personal idols, blues singer Bessie Smith.

1975 - Hank Williams, Jr. tumbled 500 feet down a mountain in Montana. Following two years on the mend, he made his return to music.

1982 - Jefferson Starship’s Mickey Thompson married Sara Kendrick.

1986 - David Crosby was released from prison after serving a sentence for possession of drugs and weapons.

1992 - Metallica frontman James Hetfield was injured by an onstage explosion at a Montreal show. At the same concert, a riot broke out after Axl Rose cut Guns 'N' Roses' set short due to a sore throat.

2000 - Oasis walked off stage in Portugal for the second time in two weeks after drummer Alan White was pelted with a rock.

Birthdays:

1956 Ali Score of A Flock of Seagulls
1957 Dennis Drew of 10,000 Maniacs
1959 Rikki Rockett of Poison
1961 The Edge of U2

JIMI HENDRIX 70TH BIRTHDAY EXHIBIT "HEAR MY TRAIN A COMIN"

When Jimi Hendrix arrived in London in 1966, he was just another would-be rock star with a few pennies to his name. Within a few months, he’d become an international phenomenon — and cemented an association with Britain that remains a cause for celebration in the UK today.

Hendrix’s British roots are reflected in the new exhibit ‘Hear My Train a Comin’: Hendrix Hits London,’ currently showing in London’s Hospital Club and scheduled to move to the EMP Museum in November. Occupying an impressive 2,500 square feet, ‘Hear My Train a Comin” offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with more than 100 Hendrix artifacts, including some that have never before been shown in public.

The show is coming together with the full cooperation of the Hendrix estate, with his sister Janie showing her support in a press release where she promised it’s “certain to be an informative and fascinating exhibition.” Added Janie, “It is wonderful to be able to share so much of Jimi with fans. There is no question that it will solidify my brother’s place at the very top of music’s pantheon.”

“Jimi Hendrix surmounted racial and cultural barriers in America and Great Britain at a time when youth culture, pop music, and society were radically changing,” observed Jacob McMurray, senior curator for the EMP. “One of the most innovative musicians of the 20th century, Hendrix continues to influence an ever-increasing number of musicians, artists, and fans in the 21st century.”

Highlights from the exhibit include Hendrix’s handwritten lyrics for ‘Love or Confusion,’ pieces from the guitar he smashed during his June 4, 1967 gig at the Saville Theater, Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell’s kit, and assorted articles of clothing.

SHARON OSBOURNE QUITS "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT"

No one knows how to wage a public feud quite like an Osbourne, as NBC discovered recently when the clan’s matriarch Sharon, wife and manager of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, quit her post as a judge on ‘America’s Got Talent‘ while blasting the network for allegedly discriminating against her son Jack after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

According to Sharon’s allegations, the younger Osbourne, who was set to star in the upcoming reality series ‘Stars Earn Stripes,’ was notified of his termination by email just two days before shooting was set to begin on the series — and despite his diagnosis, he had every expectation of being able to compete in a show that, in the words of the AP, “puts celebrities through arduous military-style exercises.”

Not surprisingly, the network’s chairman, Bob Greenblatt, denies Osbourne’s claims, insisting that NBC “does not discriminate on any basis,” although he did stress that ‘Stars Earn Stripes’ includes “dangerous water stunts, strenuous physical activity, and uses live ammunition.”

Concluded Greenblatt, “We have the deepest affection for Sharon Osbourne and consider her to be part of the NBC family, and our hearts go out to her, Ozzy, Jack and his family at this time.”

JOHNNY DEPP SITS IN WITH AEROSMITH!

Johnny Depp news.au (starting to look like Keith Richards...)

JOHNNY Depp appeared in good spirits at a "legendary" Aerosmith party.

The actor hung out with former American Idol judge Steven Tyler and his band mates at the Pink Taco in West Hollywood following their concert on Monday night. Other celebrity guests at the bash included Jim Carrey and Lana Del Ray who partied with the rockers at the venue they hired exclusively for their after-show party.

"Aerosmith rented the place out," a source told TMZ.com. "It was one of the greatest parties I've ever seen... legendary."Earlier in the night, Depp stepped out on stage with Aerosmith help them out with songs like Train Kept a-Rollin.

Fortune Records 3942 Third Ave Detroit Michigan

THE FORTUNE RECORDS STORY

Ron Murphy is Detroit’s premier music authority and has worked in the music industry in Michigan for over 40 years. Ron’s story first appeared in a Michigan music magazine called R.P.M. in September of 1983.

The first songs cut in the new (11629 Linwood) Fortune Studio were recorded on a Magnacord tape machine. In 1953, they purchased an Ampex model 350 which was used to record all of the Fortune masters, until the early sixties.

Fortune Records used simple basic recording techniques and just a few mikes that let the quality of the singers voices, and musicians playing shine through without any gimmicks.

Written by Ron Murphy... posted on Soulful Detroit

The first time I visited Fortune Records was February 1960 and I was going to be a singer, so my best friend and I skipped school to go make a demo record. When we got down to the Fortune studio on Third Street and walked in, a man wearing a hat and an overcoat came out said “Hi boys, are you lost or what?”

Then he laughed and I explained that I had called last week about making a demo, then I asked again about the price just to be sure and he said “that’s right, I’ll give you couple of takes on a tape and then cut the dub for $7.50 – so are you ready? I said yes and gave him the money and we went to the studio in the back.

3942 Third Ave in 2001 just before demolition

I recorded one song and went into the control booth to listen back. While listening the man said, “Well how do you like it?” I told him it sounded pretty good. He replied “What do you mean pretty good? I’m giving you my best sound!”

The Fortune Records story started almost 40 years ago. Devora came to Detroit from Cleveland, Ohio and was introduced to Jack Brown through a blind date set up by a friend. Devora was already writing poems and songs, even though Jack was working as an accountant at the time, he liked her songs and encouraged her to send them to a few music publishers.

Devora Brown: songwriter, pianist, record store owner, producer, engineer, song publisher and co-principal of Detroit-based Fortune Records...Jack Brown: co-principal of Fortune Records with their daughter, Janice

By this time Devora married Jack Brown, and in 1947 after little response from other publishers they decided to start a publishing company and record the songs themselves.

Jack and Devora Brown set up the publishing company with Devora’s brother helping out. In 1956 the Browns purchased the building at 3942 Third Street and moved into what was to become Fortune’s permanent home.

When Motown Records started to become successful around 1962, I remember asking Devora how come they let Motown get ahead of them. She replied “We had all those people down here but they sure didn’t play that way for us.”

Unlike most record companies of the 50’s, Fortune Records had a sound all of it’s own. You knew it was a Fortune Record without looking at the label. Just like Motown in the 60’s.

Other than the J-V-B record label started by Joe Von Battle in 1945 (which folded in 1968), Fortune has now become the oldest steady record producer from Detroit, Michigan. Out of all the record companies started in Detroit, including Motown who left, Fortune Records outlasted them all.

Ron Murphy

September 1983

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: NEW ALBUM.. 4TH STREET FEELING

Melissa Etheridge

This has been one action-packed summer for Melissa Etheridge -- she's already a month into an extended world tour (check your local listings for a concert near you) and it was recently announced that she's been tapped to perform at the Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show at the 2012 Radio Show produced by the NAB and the RAB. Her appearance is scheduled for Thursday, September 20 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, and is sponsored by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"Melissa Etheridge is an extraordinary artist who's sure to deliver an unforgettable performance at this year’s Marconis," said NAB EVP of Radio John David. "We look forward to hearing her perform classic hits as well as songs from her highly anticipated new album."

Ah, yes, the new album -- Melissa's forthcoming Island Records album, 4th Street Feeling is set for release on Tuesday, September 4. The album's first single, "Falling Up" recently debuted on RollingStone.com and is available on iTunes starting today.

And Ms. Etheridge is not planning to take any time off in the foreseeable future -- she continues to host her successful Melissa Etheridge Radio Show, syndicated through Benztown Radio Networks, plus she's preparing to be honored by the National Women's Museum of Art in Washington as part of the new exhibition,

"Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power," organized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The exhibit starts on Friday, September 7 and runs through January 6, 2013.

Pre-sale for Melissa's new album (4th Street Feeling) starts Aug 7, 2012

Melissa's latest studio album will be available for pre-order and the first single, “Falling Up” will be available for sale beginning on Tuesday, August 7. The album will be released September 4th by Island Records.

Recorded in Los Angeles at HOB Studios, the album was produced by Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones) and Steve Booker (Duffy), and co-produced by Melissa. Melissa wrote twelve new songs for the album, which features Blair Sinta on drums, Brett Simons on bass, Zac Rae on keyboards. Melissa takes the lead on vocals, piano, harmonica, banjitar and some of her most stirring lead guitar work to date.