Pop Pic: Alice!

 


Out May 14: half-speed remastered, vinyl 50th anniversary edition of Paul and Linda McCartney's classic RAM album

Details from the news release:

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 masterpiece RAM, the album will be reissued May 14, 2021, as a limited edition half-speed mastered vinyl pressing. You can pre-order it now from independent stores via Record Store Day or on Paul's official site.

Paul’s most recent release, the #1 album McCartney III, recorded in “Rockdown” last year, saw a return to the homespun, lo-fi style of the earliest days of his solo career. The eclectic charm and intimacy of 1970’s McCartney and 1971’s RAM found Paul redefining his post-Beatles creative identity, while unconsciously rewriting the rules of pop music and creating new genres along the way—or as Pitchfork would later describe RAM’s sustained influence on generations of fans and musicians alike, "inventing an approach to pop music that would eventually become someone else's indie-pop.”

The only album to be credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney, RAM was created mostly at Paul and Linda's farm in Scotland (following initial, more traditional studio sessions in New York). Unlike the completely solo sessions that resulted in Paul’s eponymous debut album, the recording of RAM found Paul and Linda enlisting a number of musicians, including Denny Seiwell who would become a founding member of Wings, Paul’s next musical adventure.

The RAM sessions were completed in early 1971, also yielding the standalone single Another Day, a worldwide hit that preceded RAM’s May 1971 release.

RAM’s singular sonic palette was unlike its predecessor—or anything else for that matter—and has grown exponentially in stature and influence over the decades. Critically polarizing at the time, the album was instantly beloved by fans, hitting #1 in the UK and giving Paul his first post-Beatles American #1 single, the GRAMMY-winning Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. In recent years the record has continued to solidify its standing as one of the most loved in Paul’s unparalleled output. Fans and critics alike continue to sing its praises: Rolling Stone has hailed the album as a "masterpiece" and "a grand psychedelic ramble full of divine melodies,” Pitchfork has praised it as "a domestic-bliss album, one of the weirdest, earthiest, and most honest ever made,” and Mojo, perhaps most accurately of all, has deemed RAM “quintessentially McCartney."

Vintage picture sleeve: The Beach Boys' "Girl Don't Tell Me" b/w "Barbara Ann"

"Girl Don't Tell Me" is one of my favorite Beach Boys tunes and the only one I can think of that explicitly carries a Beatles influence. Listen below!

Coming Up: The Yardbirds - "Roger The Engineer: Super Deluxe" box set


Out June 18. Order from Amazon now.

Details:

Demon Records is proud to present the ultimate reissue of The Yardbirds' 1966 album Yardbirds,(often known as 'Roger the Engineer'.) 

Recorded by the classic line up of Jeff Beck, Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja and Paul Samwell-Smith, the band began exploring new sonic territories, pushing their blues-rock sound into the realms of the avant-garde, psychedelia and Indian music. 

Using original tapes, this super deluxe edition features new and definitive remastering by Phil Kinrade at Alchemy Mastering at AIR, overseen by original album producer Paul Samwell-Smith. 

Includes: 

  • Yardbirds in mono -Remastered from the original British ¼" mono master tapes, newly transferred for this release at Abbey Road Studios. Pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl, housed in a replica of the original British album sleeve.  

  • Yardbirds in stereo -Considered by producer Paul Samwell-Smith to be the definitive version of the album, the stereo mix has been remastered from the ¼" master tapes which were newly transferred for this release at Alchemy Mastering at AIR. Pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl, housed in a replica of the ultra-rare German sleeve.  

  • Happenings Ten Years Time Ago 7"-The classic psychedelic single (featuring future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones) has been newly remastered for this release.  

  • 3 CDs-Featuring the mono and stereo mixes of the album on CDs 1 and 2 and bonus tracks on CD 3. Highlights on CD 3 include newly remastered non-album singles, rare alternate versions, and a previously unreleased early mix of 'Turn Into Earth' which reveals a searing guitar solo by Jeff Beck.  

  • 24-page 12" x 12" booklet -Includes rare memorabilia and photographs, an exclusive introduction by Jeff Beck, testimonials by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and MC5's Wayne Kramer, plus an extensive essay and track-by-track liner notes by David French based on new interviews with Jimmy Page, Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty and Simon Napier-Bell.  

  • Fold-out poster inspired by the original 'Over, Under, Sideways, Down' single release advertisement.

 


New comics collected editions out this week: Fantastic Four - Antithesis; Green Arrow - 80 Years of the Emerald Archer

Click the links to order from Amazon.

Legendary artist Neal Adams illustrates his first ever full-length Fantastic Four story - and FF legend Mark Waid is back to join him! An unstoppable meteor of unknown origin has just erupted from hyperspace - and unless the Fantastic Four can keep it from hitting Manhattan, millions will die! But worse is yet to come. Galactus has vanished - and only he has the power to defeat his Negative Zone equivalent, the mysterious Antithesis! The Silver Surfer leads Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny on a mad race across the galaxy in search of the World-Eater - but if they fail, desperate times may call for desperate measures. Cosmic rays gave them their powers - but what will the Power Cosmic do to the FF?! Plus: two classic tales by Waid and Adams!
Collects: Fantastic Four: Antithesis (2020) 1-4, X-Men (1963) 65, Fantastic Four (1998) 60

Read iconic stories selected from eight decades of the Emerald Archer starring: Oliver Queen and Connor Hawke. With appearances from Green Lantern, Black Canary, Speedy, and more!
    Includes newly restored versions of "The Rainbow Archer" and "The Green Arrow's Mystery Pupil" from issues of Adventure Comics! Plus commentary from former Green Arrow writers, artists, editors, and showrunners: Mike Gold, Mike Grell, Ann Nocenti, Greg Berlanti, and Marc Guggenheim!

Artifact: Mid-century letter holder

A handy place to put your mail, if it ever gets to you.

Upcoming DC Comics collected editions: Bronze-Age Batman, JLA, Legion and more

Coming up over the next several months, some nice collections of  Bronze-Age DC stuff, with some Golden Age Batman sprinkled in. Click the links to order from Amazon. 

Superboy arrives in the future for the wedding of Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad only to find a world totally different from the one he is used to visiting. The future is now an armed camp and the Legionnaires insist it has always been that way. With Superboy unable to convince his teammates that something is wrong, the wedding proceeds as planned, only to have the bride and groom kidnapped by the Lunarites. Convinced that the altering of history is the real issue, Superboy leads a group of legionnaires back in time, while the rest of the group attempts to rescue their teammates. Can Superboys team correct the flow of time and save all the future? Includes a 2-page pin up of the entire Legion by Mike Grell and an 8-page feature containing information on each of the legionnaires by Paul Levitz, illustrated by James Sherman and Jack Abel.

Since the 1970s, José Luis García-López's rendition of Batman has been one of the most iconic and recognizable in comics. This new hardcover collects covers and stories from Batman #272, #311, #313-314, #318, #321, #336-337, #353 (1940s series), Batman '66: The Lost Episode #1 (2006), Batman Confidential #26-28 (2006), Batman Family #3 (1975-1978), Batman: Gotham Knights #10 (2000), DC Comics Presents #31, #41 (1978-1986), DC Special Series #21 (1977), Detective Comics #454, #458-459, #483, #487 (1937), The Best of the Brave and the Bold #1-6 (1988), The Brave and the Bold #164, #171 (1955), The Joker #4 (1975), The Untold Legend of the Batman #1-3 (1980), and World's Finest Comics #244, #255, and #258 (1941 series).

In these stories from the early 1980s, Batman fought evil side by side with DC Comics' greatest--and, occasionally, strangest--superheroes, including these tales guest-starring such legendary characters as Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Superboy, Swamp Thing and more.
    Collects THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #157-200.

The Justice League moves into the second half of the 1970s with adventures guest-starring the Justice Society of America, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and a group of heroes from the long-gone past, including Jonah Hex, Viking Prince, Enemy Ace, and more. Plus, the League's mascot, Snapper Carr, turns against the team, the Phantom Stranger helps the team battle a returning pantheon of ancient gods, the Martian Manhunter faces Despero for the lives of the League, and the Secret Society of Super-Villains swap bodies with the World's Greatest Super-Heroes. Plus, Black Lightning is invited to join the JLA--but he turns down the invitation for mysterious reasons.
    Collects Justice League of America #147-181.

These stories from the early 1950s feature alternate versions of the Caped Crusader, as well as Batman's foes The Joker, Two-Face, the Penguin, and Catwoman. Along the way, the Dynamic Duo travel back in time to meet "The Batman of Yesterday," and encounter another Batman in modern-day Gotham City. Plus, Batman joins the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Catwoman stalks a beauty pageant, The Joker directs his own movie crimes, and more.
    Collects Batman #76-84, plus stories from Detective Comics #192-208 and World's Finest Comics #63-70.

The Man of Steel calls upon his fellow heroes to help him defeat villains in stories that span over five years of the pre-Crisis DC Universe! Witness these epic team-ups with comics’ greatest heroe —including Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Flash—as well as Daily Planet’s mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and even Santa Claus!
Superman’s Greatest Team-Ups is written and drawn by comics legends LEN WEIN, CURT SWAN, MURPHY ANDERSON, DICK GIORDANO, and many more! Collects DC Comics Presents #5, 9-10, 12, 14, 19, 28, 30, 35, 38-39, 45, 50, 58, 63, 67, 71, and 97.

Upcoming Marvel Comics collected editions

Coming up this summer, a new series of Marvel Masterworks edition in paperback with nice, new cover art, plus Kull, Cap and Loki omnibi. And more!

Click the links to order from Amazon.

The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators — now available in an accessible new format the whole family can enjoy! See the X-Men from the very beginning with the debut of Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman and Marvel Girl — Professor X’s original teen team with a mission to forge peace between man and mutantkind! Thrill to their first encounter with the Master of Magnetism, Magneto — and meet his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! Plus, the X-Men battle the immovable Blob and the untouchable Unus — and have run-ins with the Sub-Mariner, the Avengers and Ka-Zar, lord of the Savage Land! Written by Stan “The Man” Lee and illustrated by Jack “King” Kirby, it’s super hero adventure at its very best!
COLLECTING: X-Men (1963) 1-10

The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators — now available in an accessible new format the whole family can enjoy! While testing an experimental spacecraft, scientist Reed Richards, pilot Ben Grimm and siblings Sue and Johnny Storm were bombarded by mysterious cosmic rays! Returning to Earth, they found that they had gained fantastic new abilities, the likes of which had never been seen before! That voyage was the first of many extraordinary adventures for these friends, who became known to the world as Mr. Fantastic, the Thing, the Invisible Girl and the Human Torch — Marvel’s first family, the Fantastic Four! But can even this astonishing quartet protect the planet from the likes of the Mole Man, the Skrulls, the Puppet Master, the Sub-Mariner…or the diabolical Doctor Doom?
COLLECTING: Fantastic Four (1961) 1-10

The stories that built the Marvel Universe, from the brilliant minds of legendary creators — now available in an accessible new format the whole family can enjoy! When young Peter Parker gains remarkable abilities from a radioactive spider, he must step up and try to become a hero — while also dealing with the fantastic pressures of an everyday teenager! For with great power, there must also come great responsibility! Enjoy these stories of spectacular web-slinging adventure from Spidey’s very beginning — including the tragic origin that started it all; the first appearances of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson, Doctor Octopus, the Sandman, the Vulture and Electro; and guest-star nods from the Fantastic Four and Human Torch! Relive the foundation of every amazing arachnid adventure that followed!
COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 1-10, material from Amazing Fantasy (1962) 15

Thousands of years before the dawn of Conan, barbarian tribes rose across the Thurian continent, threatening the civilizations whose crumbling city walls still stood against them. In this ruthless age, there rose a man-an exile, no less-who would come to rule mighty Atlantis in the years before it crashed beneath the waves. This man was Kull and a host of Marvel's greatest talents would chronicle his saga-his exile and savage youth; his exploits on the high seas; his rise through the gladiatorial pits and military ranks; his reign as king; and his epic battles with the skull-faced sorcerer Thulsa Doom. Experience Kull's complete black-and-white magazine tales in this Omnibus volume, all painstakingly restored from the highest fidelity materials in Marvel's archives
COLLECTING: Kull and the Barbarians (1975) 1-3; Savage Tales (1971) 2; Savage Sword of Conan (1974) 1-3, 7, 9, 14-16, 19, 23, 34, 39, 42-43, 52, 55, 61, 119-122, 124-141, 143-145, 147-152, 158-159, 161, 165, 169-170, 172-173, 177, 182-183, 186, 190-194, 196-199, 202, 213, 215, 229-233; Savage Tales Annual (1975) 1, Marvel Previews (1975) 19; Bizzare Advantures (1981) 26; Conan Saga (1987) 13, 25, 47, 57, 97

The classic villainy of the God of Mischief is celebrated in an Omnibus full of diabolical deceit! Featuring every Loki appearance from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s legendary era of THOR — and more — it’s a volume full of brotherly rivalry, deadly plots and wicked magic! Across the ages, Loki’s tricks on Thor are a treat to read, as he wreaks havoc in Asgard and Midgard — banishing Jane Foster to Limbo, trading spells with Doctor Strange, masterminding a Thor/Silver Surfer battle — and of course, causing the Avengers to first assemble! Bring on the wiliest bad guy of all!
COLLECTING: Avengers (1963) 1; Journey into Mystery (1952) 111, 113, 115-123; Thor (1966) 153-157, 167, 173, 175-177, 179-181; Thor Annual (1966) 2; material from Journey into Mystery (1952) 85, 88, 91-92, 94, 97, 100-104, 107-108, 110, 112, 114, 124-125; Thor (1966) 126-129, 142, 147-152; Strange Tales (1951) 123; Tales to Astonish (1959) 101; Silver Surfer (1968) 4

The early ’70s were interesting times for America — and adventurous ones for Captain America! Featuring more than 40 issues of Cap action, this oversized omnibus collects writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema’s iconic run on the Star-Spangled Avenger! Cap battles enemies — and allies — including Doctor Faustus, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Captain America and Bucky of the 1950s. And that’s just the beginning! The Falcon co-stars throughout, and only the combined efforts of Cap, the Falcon, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the X-Men can hope to topple the Secret Empire! Prepare to relive a shocking saga that defined Captain America for a generation. But what happens when Cap quits — and becomes the Nomad?! Each issue has been beautifully restored, including the original letters pages! 
COLLECTING: Captain America (1968) 149-192; material from Giant-Size Captain America (1975) 1, FOOM (1973) 8

Marvel celebrates the 80th anniversary of the legendary red, white and blue super-soldier Captain America with a second Omnibus hardcover of vintage 1940s Timely tales! Across 12 giant-sized classics, Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes battle Axis invaders, fifth columnists, weird terrors, robotic menaces — and the iconic super villain the Red Skull! The World War II-era action takes place both stateside, and in the European and Pacific theaters of battle! Foes include the reanimated murderer Killer Kole, the lethal and lovely Queen Medusa, and Black Talon and Black Toad! Each 64-page issue is jam-packed with adventure, including superstar backups featuring Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch, and diamonds in the Golden Age rough like the Fighting Yank, Roddy Colt, “Headline” Hunter, the Secret Stamp, and Stan Lee’s whimsical feature, “The Imp!”
COLLECTING: Captain America Comics (1941) 13-24

What if the Marvel Universe was not as you know it? Infinite realities offer infinite possibilities for classic creators to unleash their wildest imaginations — and ponder: What if Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four? Or Captain America rescued Bucky in World War II? Or Doctor Doom became a hero? The FF get different powers! Other people get Spidey’s powers! Jane Foster finds the hammer of Thor! The Avengers assemble in the 1950s! Jack Kirby bombards the Marvel Bullpen with cosmic rays, Conan walks the modern day Earth and Doctor Strange becomes a disciple of Dormammu! Peter Parker stops the burglar who killed Uncle Ben, the Hulk keeps Bruce Banner’s intellect, the Invaders fight on after World War II and the Invisible Girl marries Namor — plus more thought-provoking tales that make you ask: What If?
COLLECTING: What If? (1977) 1-15, 17-22

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes face the champions of another reality! In the Avengers’ home dimension, Hyperion, Nighthawk, Doctor Spectrum and the Whizzer are sinister enemies! But in another world, they are the heroic Squadron Supreme…and they’re about to meet the Avengers head-on! As if the madness of Brain-Child wasn’t enough, the two teams clash in a classic world-hopping, time-bending conspiracy involving Kang and the evil Serpent Crown! Plus, Thor battles not one but two Hyperions! A reinvigorated team of Avengers meets their match, but can the stranded Squadron find a way back home? And when a new cross-reality team of survivors forms — including Blur and Power Princess — this new Squadron quickly attracts the attention of the uncanny Avengers!
COLLECTING: Avengers (1963) 69-70, 85-86, 141-144, 147-149; Thor (1966) 280; Avengers (1998) 5-6; Avengers/Squadron Supreme Annual '98; Squadron Supreme (2015) 3 

Presenting a universal gateway into the House of Ideas! You know you've experienced it before, True Believer: you loan your friend a comic book, only to have it returned unfinished. "I tried to read it," they say, "but I just got lost." What went wrong? Comics can be like a foreign language - if you don't learn them young, you might need extra help to catch on. Other clever cartoonists and scribes have shared their theories on the grammar of comics...but it's never been done in the Mighty Marvel Manner before! So get ready, because Mysterio has trapped Spider-Man inside a comic book - and Spidey's going to help you navigate through the gutters, balloons, panels, pencils and more! Follow along as Spidey figures out how to escape and save the day!

Pop Artifact: Superman of Metropolis award certificate

Congrats!

Best comic book covers of the week

Vintage promo poster for Marvel Comics blacklight posters

So cool to switch on the black light and look

Hot Trax '71: Dionne Warwick, Donny Osmond, Nilsson and more

Forgot last week! New songs on the charts on March 20 and March 27, 1971! Listen to the Hot Trax '71 playlist on Spotify.

Dionne Warwick - Who Gets the Guy

Ray Price - I Won't Mention it Again

Elton John - Friends

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - I Don't Blame You at All

Johnny Cash - Man in Black

Barbra Streisand - Time and Love

Perry Como - I Think of You

Tyrone Davis - Could I Forget You

The New Seekers featuring Eve Graham - Nickel Song

Merle Haggard and the Strangers - Soldier's Last Letter

The Ray Charles Orchestra - Booty Butt

The Intruders - I'm Girl Scoutin'

Booker T and the MGs - Melting Pot

Tommy James - Adrienne

Richie Havens - Here Comes the Sun

The Kimberlys - I Don't Know How to Love Him/Everything's Alright

Nilsson - Me and My Arrow

Neil Diamond - I Am... I Said

Dawn - I Play and Sing

Bread - If

Kenny Rogers and First Edition - Someone Who Cares

Donny Osmond and the Osmonds - Sweet and Innocent

Kiki Dee - Love Makes the World Go Round

Poco - C'mon

Derek and the Dominos - Layla

Andy Kim - I Wish I Were

Mountain - The Animal Trainer and the Toad