Michael Jackson: 1958–2009

When I heard the news, I was in the S&V sound room listening to (wait for it) "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." True! Specifically, when my mother called (a true rocker, she), I had just heard "Shine . . . Part VII," which ends with these lines:

Come on you boy child,
You winner and loser,
Come on you miner for truth and delusion, and shine!

After getting the news . . . what else could I do but press Play again? In came "Part VIII," where the funk meets the Floyd. It was almost as if the Ghost of Pop had entered the listening room and melded with the music.

Then, of course, came the concluding "Part IX" — which, according to David Gilmour, is "a slow 4/4 funeral march . . . the parting musical eulogy to Syd."

You can't make this stuff up.

(Why was I listening to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" anyway? Well, an acquaintance had given me a DVD-Audio burn of the old quadraphonic mix of Wish You Were Here, now in 4.1. But that's a story for another time.)

Back to Michael Jackson . . .

Boxed Set of the Month: Jane's Addiction

I'm not the world's biggest fan of Jane's Addiction (far from it), but the Limited Edition of A Cabinet of Curiosities (Rhino) is so compelling visually that it draws me in, like C.S. Lewis's wardrobe. As such, it's a lock for our Boxed Set of the Month for April.

For starters, there's a lock  — er, metal latch — on the outside of the wooden box. Open the doors, and you'll find another set of doors that seem to have glass windows (they're plastic, actually, but never mind). Open again, and you'll find the contents: 3 CDs, 1 DVD, a booklet, and an envelope of curios.

At roughly 6 x 6 inches, it's a far cry from March's Boxed Set of the Month, the massive reissue of Pearl Jam's Ten (see entry). But this is a handsome cabinet indeed. And whereas the Ten set is listed at $200, this one is only $75, with Amazon.com selling it for just over $50.

Details . . .

Drummers can snare Miles

Do you think you know — or do you think you are — the drummer who has everything? Well, he/she/you will now have to make room for the Miles Davis Kind of Blue 50th Anniversary Snare Drum, offered by the Innovation Drum Company (in conjunction with Miles Davis Properties, LLC) via the Blue Drums name.

But you'd better act kind of fast, because this is a very small Limited Edition. How many snares will be made? Only 50, of course.

And how much will the drum cost? Only $50, of . . . kidding. There are two price options: $1,600 and $3,750. No freeloading here, Freddie!

Details about this (and another Miles product) below . . .

"Variations," "Soloist": classical is popular

In one of those nice instances of serendipity, classical music — specifically, Beethoven — is the foundation of a new play and a new film.

On Broadway is Moisés Kaufman's 33 Variations. The play was first seen in 2007 in Washington, D.C., and then last year in La Jolla, California. But this is its big coming-out — especially since the star is Jane Fonda, making her first Broadway appearance in 46 years. She portrays a musicologist trying to determine Beethoven's reasons for composing 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli. Parallel to her character's struggles with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), we see Beethoven, played by Zach Grenier, raging against his own failing health.

Both Fonda and Grenier are excellent, and they're well supported by Colin Hanks (Tom's son, in his Broadway debut) and Samantha Mathis. There's a remarkable scene in which Grenier demonstrates the intricacies of Beethoven's work — and visually, the scene is reminiscent of Tom Hulce's Mozart finishing the Requiem on his deathbed in Amadeus. Indeed, 33 Variations could lend itself to a similarly stirring film treatment. But for now, you can only see it on Broadway — and only until May 24, because this is a limited run.

Fake band to sponsor . . . real band?!

"Guitar Hero Aerosmith Presents: Aerosmith." Hmmm. Isn't that kinda like the cartoon TV series of the Beatles presenting the Beatles?

The more I mull this over, the odder it seems. Then again, anything goes in the 21st century!

Tour dates? Here ya go.

— Ken Richardson

What's on Richardson's iPod?

No, not the Richardson you're thinking of. This is Tony Richardson here, the younger son of Ken. I'm writing this from my dad's office because today is Take Your Sons & Daughters to Work Day.

Now, I realize that usually this event is for the younger generation. But even though I am 17 years old, go to high school, and am a licensed pilot (more on that later), I'm still participating because it's my last chance to do so.

The music on my iPod is probably not what you're thinking of either. Just take a look at my first playlist:

The Doors’ “Break On Through (to the Other Side),” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River” and “Fortunate Son,” Rare Earth’s “Get Ready,” Deep Purple’s “Hush,” Count Five’s “Psychotic Reaction,” the Bob Seger System’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”

That playlist is called "Vietnam-Era Music." It may be hard to imagine a teen in 2009 listening to music from way before he was born, but I remember listening to Oldies every morning since I was 10 years old. I grew up hearing the rebellious songs that first came out during the Vietnam War, and I still like them today. They all have a good beat for any occasion, whether it be driving or flying.

Speaking of driving, here are some of the songs on my playlist called "Driving Music":

April 18 is Record Store Day!

Worried about the demise of independent record stores nationwide? Then make a date to visit your local "mom and pop" shop this Saturday, April 18 — the second annual Record Store Day.

Bands will play. Special releases will be available. And despite the logo above, this isn't only about vinyl; it's about everything that your local record store offers. Including little things like music knowledge and customer service.

For a complete list of participating stores, product exclusives, in-store performances, and related events, go to recordstoreday.com.

Last year, my photographer son Tony and I went to 4 Record Stores in 1 Record Store Day. Visit that link to get a taste of what the second RSD will be like.

Alas, I will be unavoidably otherwise engaged this Saturday, so I won't be able to do another multistore mecca. But I hope to visit at least one shop before the sun goes down.

Don't let the sun go down on your local record store. Spread the word about Saturday, go to the store, buy some stuff, and buy some more stuff. You'll be glad you did.

— Ken Richardson

Beatles remasters: "Listen"

Verlyn Klinkenborg has done it again. Bitstream browsers will recall that, one week ago, I linked to his New York Times editorial on Maurice Jarre. Now, in today's paper, he has submitted a similarly rhapsodic piece on the coming CD remasters of the Beatles' catalog, under the simple title: "Listen."

Reminiscing, he writes: "Growing up . . . I owned a cheap portable record player with a volume knob, a single tone control, and a primitive needle. But when you hear 'Ticket to Ride' for the first time, all the fidelity you need is between your ears."

I can (and will, eventually) take issue with his assertion that the original Beatles CDs were a sonic "disaster," but never mind that now. Simply read his new editorial to help you once again take a trip down your own personal Penny Lane.

And stay tuned here for my follow-up piece on the Beatles remasters re: What They Got Right and What They Got Wrong, coming soon.

— Ken Richardson

Beatles CDs remastered. Finally.

That's right, the press release just arrived this morning at 9 o'clock on the dot. Here it is, in full. And stay tuned to our Bitstream blog in the coming days because, after I've had some time to mull over the press release myself, I'll be firing off a post or two on What They Got Right and What They Got Wrong.

— Ken Richardson

THE BEATLES’ ENTIRE ORIGINAL RECORDED CATALOG REMASTERED BY APPLE CORPS LTD. AND EMI MUSIC FOR WORLDWIDE RELEASE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 (09-09-09)

London, England – April 7, 2009 – Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalog, which has been digitally remastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (09-09-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated videogame The Beatles: Rock Band.

Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original U.K. album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

The albums have been remastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London over a 4-year period, utilizing state-of-the-art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analog recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalog has seen since its original release.

The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the U.K., and Magical Mystery Tour, which became part of the Beatles’ core catalog when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections Past Masters Vol. I and II are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on CD. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.

Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson: Superstar!

. . . or so you might surmise from the high-profile placements he's been getting in the press lately. As you know, we here at Sound & Vision have been longtime supporters of Steven Wilson and his modern progressive-rock band Porcupine Tree, especially owing to their interest in high-resolution reproduction and surround sound. (For a list of interviews, articles, and reviews, simply enter Porcupine Tree in our search window.) So it's especially gratifying to see Wilson popping up prominently in other magazines these days.

First, he's on the cover of the current issue (March 2009) of EM: Electronic Musician. Inside is a substantial interview focusing on Wilson's new solo album, Insurgentes. You can read the interview here. And after you finish the final screen, be sure to click on the "Extended Interview" link.

What's more, the current issue (April 4, 2009) of Billboard has Wilson's byline on an "Opinion" article called "The Album Is Alive." Subtitle: "Technology Doesn't Mean the End for Extended Work — or Artistic Packaging." You can read the editorial here.

Meanwhile, this year — like every year  — will continue to be a busy one for Wilson. First up: the initial pair of King Crimson reissues, Lizard and Red, which he has remixed in surround (more details to come). Next up: a new Porcupine Tree studio album, expected this fall, supported by a tour.

— Ken Richardson